Gowganda Lake Lodge

***MAKE SURE TO CLICK THROUGH to my Picasa Photo album TO SEE THE FULL SIZE IMAGES & TEXT***

Haliburton Highlands Weekend & Long Term Weather February 4 – Feb. 9 2012

 

This week’s Haliburton Highland’s weather remains slightly warmer than normal with no snow at all before Thursday, February 9. The week’s temperatures will see-saw somewhat with variable clouds, cloudy periods, and cloudiness with sunny breaks all on the menu through Thursday.

Nighttime temperatures will be cold and well below freezing.

Minden CAR RACES ON ICE!!! this weekend!

With a cool $200 prize for the first place male and female in the open category, Sir Sam’s Ski & Bike is hosting the first bordercross race of the season. Scroll down and click the 2nd image two times to enlarge to full size and read all about it!

If you are more the indoor, stay-warm type like me you may well enjoy the spirits and good company found at The Wild Moose Pub‘s Single Malt Social. Described as a ‘scotch nosing and dinner experience’ you will experience too, a different 1 oz. single malt whisky explained with each course. I hope they do something similar over the summer while I’m there as it sounds like a great evening! (Scroll above and click the image two times to enlarge to full size and read all about it!)

It’s never too early to begin planning for this coming summer’s good times and with the holiday season upon us it is easy to get a leg up on your summertime plans when you make it a dramatic Christmas! You can enjoy a great summer of drama, comedy and music and between now through January 15, 2012 you can do so for a great price! Pay just $11o for a season pass to all 5 shows at the Highlands Summer Festival and for just $67.50 you can take in the delightful offerings of the Highland Opera Studio with a season pass! Christmas gifting couldn’t be easier and your recipient is sure to be thrilled. Be sure to read about the many choices in entertainment in the Haliburton Highlands by scrolling below and clicking each graphic two times for full enlargement. Happy Holidays!

Gilmour Ontario Sunset (late November 2010)

What’s Happening in the Haliburton Highlands NOW! November 23-30, 2011:

Festival of Trees:

November 25-27 2011

The Minden Hills Festival of Trees is a magical event for the entire family, filled with wonderful things to see, interesting shops to visit, and fun activities for children–all with a Christmas theme. Enjoy the lights and outdoor arrangements as you stroll throughout the grounds. Be sure to check out the children’s art & craft workshop in the Schoolhouse and don’t forget a visit to the Sugar Plum Candy Shop!

Minden Hills Cultural Centre

176 Bobcaygeon Rd. Minden

Contact: Sian Cox

Tel: (705) 286-2808

Email: culturalcentreinfo@mindenhills.ca

www.mindenculturalcentre.com

Community Care Haliburton County Christmas Bowling Party
November 26 2011:

Annual Community Care Haliburton County Christmas Bowl-a-thon.

All proceeds to benefit local residents accessing services provided by Community Care. Enabling seniors and adults with disabilities to remain at their place of residence and live independently. Two flight times, 1:30pm or 3:45 pm teams or individual registration welcome (Minimum $20.00 pledge to bowl for free) Great time, all ages welcome….see you there. To register call Hilary at 705-457-2941 or Val 705-286-3900

The Fast Lane Hwy 35 Minden

Contact: Val Lennox

Tel: 705-286-3900

Email: thefastlane@hotmail.ca

(Hope you made it to this! I really would have went!)

Haliburton Village Santa Claus Parade

November 25 2011

Theme: “A Pioneer Christmas” Spectacular Night Parade starts at 6:30pm Bands, Floats, Marchers, Horses. Join in the fun – to enter call Jim at 705-457-4031.

Haliburton Village Highland Street

Contact: Jim Frost

Tel: 705-457-4031

Email: frostdownhome@bellnet.ca

http://haliburtonbia.ca/haliburtonbia

Township of Minden Hills Santa Claus Parade:

November 26 2011

Parade start time 11:30 a.m. Sponsored by the Township of Minden Hills in partnership with its volunteers, local businesses and organizations. We will be commencing from the public parking lot across from the Fire Hall, please bring your float between 10-10:30 so we may organize all floats. Come and meet Santa after the parade, hot chocolate, free photographs with Santa, treats…lots of fun for the kids and kids at heart! Hope to see you there! Parade route from the public parking lot, Newcastle Street to Bobcaygeon Road, north on Bobcaygeon to Parkside and right to the Minden Arena.

Minden Village

Tel: 705-286-1936

Email: rcox@mindenhills.ca

Santa Day at Rails End SATURDAY!:

November 26 2011

Enjoy a visit with Santa from 1 – 3 pm at Rails End Gallery!

Volunteers will present a FREE seasonal craft activity and everyone is welcome. Bring a contribution for our non perishable FOOD SCULPTURE – and join in its creation.

The Photo Shop will be there taking Santa pics too! ($5). This event is presented by Rails End in partnership with the Haliburton Village BIA.

Rails Gallery and Arts Centre

23 York St. Haliburton

Contact: Laurie Jones

Tel: 705-457-2330

Email: info@railsendgallery.com

www.railsendgalley.com

Community Christmas Tree Lighting & Carol Sing!!!

November 27 2011 – Dorset

Community Christmas Tree Lighting, hot chocolate, hot dogs and carol singing at 4:30 p.m.

Dorset Recreation Centre

1051 Main Street Dorset

Contact: Melissa Alfano

Tel: 705-766-9968

Email: drc@algonquinhighlands.ca

www.ahrecreation.com

More after the jump!

Image Transfer Holiday Decorations

November 29 2011

Image Transfer Holiday Decorations Instructor: Erin Lynch Adult/Youth Thursday November 29th 7-9:30pm $30 includes all materials. Accent your home or tree with festive decorations you have created using an image transfer technique.

The Art Hive

10239 Hwy 118, between West Guilford & Carnarvon

Contact: Wendy Wood

Tel: 705-754-0021

Email: thearthive@live.ca

www.thearthive.com

Cool Things that have been going on so far this week:

Book Launch: “A Raccoon in Sheep’s Clothing”

November 23 2011

Donna Bisschop is better known in Haliburton County as a fine artist then as a writer but to her, weaving tales with a pen comes as naturally as it does with a brush. Her new adult novel, ‘A Raccoon In Sheep’s Clothing,’ will be launched at R.D. Lawrence Place on Wednesday, November 23 at 7pm. A Raccoon In Sheep’s Clothing’ features the type of symbolism and metaphors that Bisschop is known for in her paintings.

The story is about Mack, a raccoon running for ruler of the world, an insurance agent named Harrison and a shaman plus various underworld beings, including the Red Fire Dragon. Things ‘heat up’ when Harrison is reduced to a mere eighteen inches in height and asked to become the raccoon’s campaign manager. The focus is on Hermes Seven Laws of Relativity, how what we are doing on Earth is unsustainable, that timing is everything and magic most definitely exists. It is a love story about how one small and insignificant being in the guise of Agent Harrison leads life from a place of integrity because sometimes that’s all there is left to work with.

This sounds like such an awesome book. I think it’s really important that we visit and revisit the realities of living on Mother Earth as well as recognizing the responsibilities that are inherent in being a resident. I also totally dig knowing that ‘magic most definitely exists’!

R.D. Lawrence Place

176 Bobcaygeon Rd. Minden

Contact: Donna Bisschop, Author

Tel: 705-457-9509

Email: earthart@interhop.net

http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Raccoon-in-Sheep#!/pages/A-Raccoon-in-Sheeps-Clothing/268583206518889

Gooderham, ONTARIO, CA - WeatherNetwork.com - Credit: Lance Coulthard // November 15, 2011

The weather in the Haliburton Highlands is mild and wet. It’s barely hitting freezing during the overnights, with the days quite moist. Next Friday looks to be a bright and sunny day though, with seasonable temperatures.

Some Fun Things To Do in the Haliburton Highlands:

Check out the name of this store, The Maple Moon. I love it! My boys brought me (I stayed home with the pooches for the season inaugural trip) a really cool pressie this summer past here. I'm making a point to visit The Maple Moon next summer when we should be there upwards of 2-3 weeks straight.

Festival of Trees November 25, 26 & 27, 2011

Make sure to click each announcement to be able to view it  full-size.  The Christmas sale begins this weekend, the Festival of Trees, next weekend as the Christmas sale at the Maple Moon continues.

Remembrance Flag (click for detail) CREDIT: Richard Johnson National Post (CA)

SOURCE: National Post Staff   Last Updated: Nov 10, 2011 6:29 PM ET

107,161 Canadian soldiers have died fighting for Canada and in peacekeeping missions. With this in mind, the National Post’s graphics team reflects on the scale of the sacrifices of our troops.

SOURCE: Postmedia News   Last Updated: Nov 9, 2011 11:13 AM ET

By Glen McGregor

There is one line from the poem “In Flanders Fields” that in recent times, above all, commands our attention with its call, from the dead to the living, to remember.

“If ye break faith with us who die,”  wrote Lt.-Col. John McCrae, “We shall not sleep.”

Starting Thursday and continuing well into the next decade, the Ottawa Citizen will keep the faith through Twitter: starting at 11 minutes after 11 a.m. the account “WeAreTheDead” will recite the names of Canada’s war dead, one each hour of every day.

The association between the poppy and war dates back to the Napoleonic wars, when a writer saw a field of poppies growing over the graves of fallen soldiers.

During the Battle of Ypres in 1915, Canadian Lt.-Col. John McCrae was inspired to write the poem In Flanders Fields on sighting the poppies growing beside a grave of a close friend who had died in battle.

The poem was a great inspiration in adopting the poppy as the Flower of Remembrance in Canada, France, the United States, Britain and Commonwealth countries.

The first poppies were distributed in Canada in 1921.

Today, the volunteer donations from the distribution of millions of poppies is an important source of revenue for the Royal Canadian Legion that goes toward helping ex-servicemen and women buy food, and obtain shelter and medical attention.

PHOTO: Makeshift memorial to Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

At a makeshift memorial to Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier following Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ottawa, Nov. 11, 2006. (Tom Hanson/The Canadian Press)

Paying Tribute To Fallen Soldiers On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians are asked to pause in memory of the thousands of men and women who sacrificed their lives in military service:

At public gatherings in Ottawa and around the country, Canadians pay tribute with two minutes of silence to the country’s fallen soldiers from the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War, the Afghanistan conflict and peacekeeping missions.

(This Veterans Affairs map shows the gatherings for 2010.)

Also known as Veterans Day in the U.S., Remembrance Day was first held throughout the Commonwealth in 1919. It marks the armistice to end the First World War, which came into effect at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, a year earlier.

 

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!

Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields
Composed at the battlefront on May 3, 1915
during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium

http://www.flandersfieldsmusic.com/thepoem.html

Read more: http://www.thetfp.com/threads/remembrance-day-11-11-11.2341/#ixzz1dTtcc6zA

Who wouldn’t want to meet Mrs. Claus at her ‘sweet treat cafe’ on Saturday?

I’d love it if someone took photos and shared them!

Thanks to alavery@county.haliburton.on.ca

Chris's 19th - Roger, Chris, & Jim - August 20, 2011

After tomorrow it is officially vacation for Roger and me:

Chris has to go to school and work and Jim has a still-new job clocking in 6 or 7 days a week–and a real-no-excuses boss. Fortunately, Jim had a trip back east my see his grandparents not too long ago. <3

Chris is flying into Buffalo, N.Y. –20 miles from the Falls– on Friday morning—leaving Sunday evening. My mom’s memorial is on Sunday August 28th …with folks coming in to the Haliburton Highlands so we decided to make it more vacation-y and stay overnight at a close to everything place in Niagara Falls. Three stars that my oldest son helped me very much in finding–for cheap–check out the topographic map of how easy it is to walk to the Falls! Excitement!

Niagara Falls Ontario--topographic & map view

… then the next morning at 11 a.m.–perfect-ish for a night owl like me…pick up Chris and do something by the Falls before heading back to Maple Lake  until Labour Day… is the plan.

PHOTOS: Chris’s birthday at Fridays’ tonight- He refused the singing. (boo):

Chris 19th birthday aug20-2011-fridays-schaumburg-il-by cyn-mccrackan

- Plus:  No one* takes my picture – further proof

*only me

August 19 2011 - Son's 19th birthday Fridays with entire nuclear family!

Some Friday's decor that made me nostalgic and I was already _in_ that frame of mind! * On another note: Was I the only chick that thought Linda Ronstadt was hot like 'this'--versus her hot pants-period (later)? I thought so. She's got really soulful eyes.

Happy 19th birthday, Christopher!

After dinner we saw this film:

It was just OK…not great. A couple of the science-based plot holes really distracted me from the film. Also, they wasted Frieda Pinto (sp?) other than as eye candy.