I have spent Canada Day over the years in many different
places but none better than up at the lake in Ontario on our family
island. Two and a half acres of wooded
bliss. My Dad built a 10 x 12 cabin
to house the seven of us in the early years.
I was two years old when I first went there and many moons later, it is
still one of my favourite places on earth.
The potable water (Anstruther Lake tea is still the best),
the loons calling in the early morning through the mist, no electricity or
running water, and hundreds of campfires over which we cooked our meals and
sang at the top of our lungs, often collapsing in laughter at my Dad’s
falsetto, or our own made-up words to well-known classics. And yes, accompanied by the twang and giggles
of fledgling ukulele players. (My dog
has fleas!!)
I remember being fascinated by the moon and making sure that
my sisters and I slept outdoors when there was a full moon – in our bathing
suits – to see if we would get moon tans. The boys on the lake enjoyed buzzing
the island with their motorboats, knowing full well we would be thrilled by
their attentions as we scampered about in our bikinis.
Aaah… so many delicious memories – the annual mile-long swim
(since named after my Dad), learning how to water ski and wind surf, picking
enough wild blueberries for Mom to make us her superb home-made pies, huddling in the tent during magnificent thunderstorms, sliding down the moss-laden waterfalls
at the nearby portage, cliff diving, fishing for bass, canoeing and learning
how to gunwhale bob… oh! and the first time I was allowed to take the boat
without an adult over to the landing (I think I grew a foot that day). After that, any excuse to do “errands” for
Dad, I was at the ready!
As we all grew, so did the need for a larger cabin. We set to building the current main cabin (20
x 40). I was the chief electrician as we
decided to bring hydro onto the island.
Dad painstakingly taught me how to run wire, drill the holes in the 2 x
4s and hook up the outlets and switches.
I think I was about 12 or 13. To this day, it doesn’t phase me (pun intended)
to try and fix malfunctioning circuitry. (I can even do a three-way switch!)
I learned so much on those summer weekends. I loved Dad teaching me how to do things that
I didn’t know I would enjoy learning! I
just loved being with him because he was so passionate about his little corner
of Canada. It was and is
quintessentially Canadian. I love it
there.
When both my boys were born, I made it a priority to spend
some time there with each of them so they would hopefully get imbued with my
love of the place. They were so tiny, I could heat up water on the Coleman stove and pour it into the cooler for their bath. I’d sit on the dock in perfect silence (except for the odd mosquito!) and sing to them. It was the perfect place to bond with my wee boys. To this day, Sean is deeply connected to it, and were Duncan
still with us, I know he would be too. I am hoping to take some of his ashes
there this year… that’s been a long time coming but it feels just right.
Thank you Dad for holding your vision so brightly to own a
piece of Canada that is indelibly printed on my heart. Thank you Mom for being there, every weekend,
feeding not just us, but all our friends that you so generously included on the
grocery list and in your heart. Thank you to my siblings for the roles you
played in my cottage life. I can’t stop smiling when I think about us all up at
the lake … you know what I’m talking about.
And the tradition carries on! Now my nephews and nieces spend their
weekends there and right now, I know they are celebrating Canada Day as the
photo shows… standing at the end of the dock, with sparklers, saluting the
place that is in our hearts. Thanks to my nephew, Riley Found, for this
fabulous picture. (And by the way, the
boat in the photo, is the one I took my maiden voyage in, all those years ago…)
I love my country and the people and places that I am
fortunate enough to have in my life.
Happy Canada Day.
Branded by wholesome cottage life,
Patriotically yours,
Buns
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