CUTTING DOWN TREES FOR FRIENDS OF TEMAGAMI

On October 28th Friends of Temagami was poised to start its annual general meeting at Smoothwater. Ironically, that was the very afternoon that old-time logger Viateur Couture arrived to assess three trees ready to fall on our lodge, or someone's car.  Now, when an expert like Viateur shows up and says he can work right then and there, you don't say no. So in less that three hours he took down a spruce, birch and white pine. It was a display of virtuosity. Now I have more firewood and pine to mill for future renovations. Indeed, it was a day to honour the merging of Friends of Temagami and an old-time logger, Viateur Couture. And it can never be said that Smoothwater doesn't provide ultimate and appropriate entertainment for her guests!

Hors d'Oeuvre, Appetizer, Amuse Bouche, Canape? What's the difference?

What's the difference? And who cares? The Romans made a flaky pastry, sheet by sheet much like our filo dough. France in 1440 established a corporation of pastrycooks, depriving the common person from baking and selling pastries. Catherine de Medici employed a pastry cook and brought many a fine pastry to France, including the macaron. From the 16th century on, convents made biscuits (bis cuit 'twice cooked') to be sold in aid of good works. In other words, pastries have been forever loved and are here to stay. Could there be any new inventions? Probably not, except when for an individual's ability to learn, experiment, invent and make it their own. Check out my pastry cooking class at Smoothwater, Saturday November 19th! Come hungry.

Journalism from May Delory's Blog

Smoothwater of Temagami, Ontario offers the opportunity to forage in the wild for your supper in Temagami to learn about local growing herbs, edible flowers and plants, and berries to incorporate into breads and pies and many other recipes that may indeed surprise you. Caryn shares ancient beliefs and medicinal uses for local growing plants. See more on May Delory's blog.

GONE FISHING!

By nature, I believe we are all hunters and gatherers. I've always thought of myself as more of a gatherer, until I got my Outdoor card which I needed for my little evening of fishing. Thanks journalist May Delory who asked for the fishing experience. And thanks to Doug Adams of Northland Paradise Lodge for guiding us on his secret lake, and his Pike filleting instruction. I live on James lake and my land produces enough Canadian potatoes to feast Temagami. Now I know I will never starve.

BREWING BEER

Yep, it's almost ready for drinking. This summer we have two beers for tasting. Raspberry (from Ray's Berry farm) and Sweet Fern picked at Franco's (Wolf Within Adventures). Here I am syphoning before bottling. And there I am with Rosa Shoel, wwoofer extraordinaire. I believe these beers are my best versions yet! Come for a complimentary tasting.

RABBIT LAKE ROAD RE-OPENS

A spring washout on Rabbit Lake Road is repaired sufficiently to allow road vehicles. The washout, just west of Glasford Lake, disrupted access to the Ottawa-Temiskaming Highland and Grand Campment hiking trails. It did not hinder Rabbit Lake access. MNR cautions that the short-term repair is not suitable for transports and other heavy vehicles.

WILL AND KATE IN TEMAGAMI PHOTO OP

Will and Kate are canoe tripping in Temagami. Kate definitely has a bad hair day as she emerges from her tent. Glad the two can have a real Canadian experience in Temagami. Algonquin is just too crowded. Imagine the entourage. And the secrecy about who is outfitting the trip, the route, and indeed, Park or Crown land! Which is politically correct? Whose Muskoka mansion will they visit after the trip for a BBQ? Um, did I say Royalty? Can't a person have a little fun? Temagami could use the publicity. Happy Birthday Canada!