Well, maybe not frog whispering so much as frog herding, but I’m adding it to my CV. The cute little critter hopped into my sister’s ground floor entry while I was unloading the car. I would have stopped to snap a photo, but my bedroom was just around the corner and as much as I like frogs, I really didn’t want to sleep with the fella.
After frog whispering failed to coax him on his way, I tried frog wrangling. He promptly peed on my hand and slipped out of my grip to hide behind a chest. That’s when I resorted to frog herding. I could have used my sister’s help, but she was busy laughing at me from up the stairs. Thankfully, with a gentle nudge, the frog eventually found its way back outside.
And the frog was just the start of my Ontario holiday visit with family and friends in Muskoka’s cottage country. My time in Ontario is short, so we make the best of it. We roasted marshmallows over bonfires, cruised the river a time or two, and enjoyed a glass of wine with the sunsets.
And once again, I was honoured to be invited to read at the McKellar Public Library. Maxine, Joan, Jackie and Pat made me feel at home, and they’ll welcome you as well because this library is all about community.
I’ve written about it twice before (2013 and 2014), so won’t repeat it here except to say you won’t find another library around where your library card will get you a book, a fishing rod and tackle! So if you find yourself on Highway #124 passing through McKellar, be sure to stop in for a visit.
This year, I made a side trip to Halibuton to visit a cousin who’s building a home on Paradise Lake. What a beautiful spot! Their claim to fame may be the biggest dock spider on the planet – kind of reminded me of the disembodied hand named Thing from The Addams Family TV show.
Soon enough, my Ontario visit came to a close, and on my way home I dropped by Barrie for a visit with great friends, a garden tour and an impromptu porch reading. It was a fine way to end my holiday.
As always, it’s good to get away and just as good to get home. I’m unpacked now and all caught up on laundry and emails. Best of all, I’m digging back into my writing projects. Yes . . . that’s an “s” on the end of projects, and I can hardly wait to share them with you.
This was my second reading at the McKellar Library, and once again, Maxine and Joan did a tremendous job of hosting the event. Not only was my reading announced on the Township’s roadside billboard, but they also advertised it in the local paper and even announced it on 103.3, Moose FM.
The wedding came off with only the one (expected) hitch. The bride was stunning, her groom handsome. Vows were spoken, cake was eaten, toasts were made, but it was the first time I’d seen a drone taking photographs.
When we were kids, we’d see maybe one boat go by each day, and when it did, it was an event. It didn’t matter that the boats were almost always canoes or small aluminum fishing boats. We’d run to the shore to see who it was and shout out, “Having any luck?” Sometimes they’d hold up their catch and we’d wave. Because of the falls, the river’s a dead end, so the boaters would all have to come back our way. We’d wave again and call out “Good luck,” and they’d disappear around the bend. Today, over the course of a day, a dozen pontoon boats or PWCs might motor past.
McKellar is in Ontario’s cottage country. It’s one of those towns people in Toronto refer to as “up north,” which covers a lot of ground. For me, McKellar, Broadbent and Parry Sound are places where I spent considerable time in my youth. Grandparents, aunts and uncles had homes and cottages in the area. My parents have lived there for many years, and one of my sisters has moved into my grandmother’s house and turned it into her cottage.
The library does an outstanding job promoting local authors, even ones like me who have moved away. They encourage library usage through innovative measures – did I mention the fishing poles? Not only do they loan out books and current issues of popular magazines, they also have a large collection of DVDs, videos, large print books and talking books. They offer free Internet and wireless service and if the mood strikes you, you can borrow a pedometer.