A Touch of Heaven

As anticipated, the bulk of my summer was spent at our family cottage where I was able to relax and rejuvenate before heading back for another busy school year in Korea. I can't think of a more perfect place to enjoy God's gift of nature and connect with family and friends.



This year we added a new resident to the neighborhood. From where I usually sit on the front deck, I had a perfect view of the daily activity of a hummingbird building its nest and defending its young from surrounding wildlife. Not only was I mesmerized by the flights in and out of the nest all summer but I was truly amazed at the strength of the nest itself, especially knowing it's made of moss, plant fibers and spider webs! I wondered how it would hold up one day as we experienced some incredibly high winds, but somehow the nest stayed attached and the eggs remained where they belonged as the branches whipped in all directions. Amazing construction... and this bird didn't even go to a School of Architecture! =)


Cottage living include moments shared with family as depicted in these pictures. Here we have my Mom, nephew Jared holding Candy and brother-in-law Albert on the front porch enjoying some conversation and observing life on the lake. Dad is often found at the BBQ as Mom, my sister Dianne and I are often found around the Scrabble board. Where else but from my hours of playing Scrabble would I get my stupendous vocabulary that elicits such flavorful lexis as found in this blog?





What can I say about my time at the cottage, except that it is cherished and has been part of my life since I was three months old. I don't exactly remember those earliest days but I sure have memories of my time at the cottage through every other stage of my life -- from swimming in the lake and playing in the woods as a child to learning to drive boat and car as a teenager to returning year after year as I've lived in various parts of the world as an adult. I've even been privileged to attend the same chapel in the woods during the summer months for over 40 years!


It truly is amazing to witness God's creation in this corner of the world from morning mist to the evening skies, a mere glimpse of what He has in store for us when we reach our eternal home!

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
Psalm 19:1-4

Hiking Cottage Country

Not too far from the cottage we can access one of the longest nature trails around, called the Bruce Trail. Believe it or not, this continuous trail extends some 800 kilometers (500 miles) along the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario alone.

For those of you not from this part of the world, the Niagara Escarpment is virtually a steep cliff averaging 75 meters (250 feet) that runs from upstate New York right through our cottage country, around Michigan into Wisconsin and Illinios. The most familiar evidence of the Escarpment occurs when the Niagara River runs over it to form what we know as Niagara Falls. Hard to believe this sheer rock face extends over 1600 kilometers (almost 1000 miles).



There are a seemingly unlimited number of access points to the Bruce Trail and each trail ends up being a feast to the eyes. Two of my favorites are Inglis Falls and Lion's Head, both within a half-hour's drive from the cottage and both on July's schedule of things to do.

The group Jamie's Jems, as they affectionately call themselves, is made up of Alison, Judith and Ginny. This very entertaining group of friends provided me company to Inglis Falls and even organized a picnic lunch while we were there. Nothing like eating outdoors with good friends in beautiful surroundings!






A couple weeks later, I was able to join my friend Becky on a trip to Lion's Head along the same Bruce Trail only further north from Inglis Falls. It doesn't matter how many times I hike this area, I always stand in awe at the views before me. Along the edge of this trail along the Escarpment, you can see Georgian Bay below which looks more like an ocean than just an inlet on a lake!







A day of hiking combined with lunch at the Lion's Head Inn made for another perfect day on the trail.

Cruisin' the Night Away

Life at the cottage isn't only about hiking and swimming, for there are opportunities to attend local community events. When I was living at the cottage year round a few years back, I was able to go to such events as dinner cruises on the Chi-Cheemaun (ferry service between islands on Georgian Bay), Port Elgin's Pumpkinfest and various other fairs and concerts in Owen Sound. Not exactly New York City but we're also not limited to watching grass grow =)

The summer months tend to draw vintage car owners and enthusiasts together to share in their love of the automobile. If the local A&W restaurant isn't sponsoring a 50's night with tail finned cars and waitresses on roller skates, then the town of Southampton (population 3000) blocks off its streets so visitors can peruse vehicles from as far back as the 1920s! I took my camera one Thursday evening so I could share with you some of my favorites. Can you find the 1948 Monarch, 67 Corvette and 1947 Chevy?








Then when you're tired of looking at exteriors and want to see what's under the hood, you can go to the local race track to see the action. Ever since my Dad took me to the track as a kid, I've tried to keep up the tradition at least once a year at Sauble Speedway. It is definitely a unique cultural experience that gets in your blood -- of course, the smell of hot rubber and fumes helps a little =)