Cottage Country Lifestyle - Spring 2023

Welcome to the Spring Issue

Step outside and take a deep breath; smell that? It’s spring!

Science tells us that the aroma we associate with spring is actually a soil-based compound called Geosmin. This organic compound has an earthy scent and flavour, and is produced particularly by microorganisms in the soil and is best sensed after rain, or while digging in the garden. But, oh! Isn’t it lovely? Our senses know spring is coming, with April showers and May flowers.

March and April are a great time to plan out your gardens, and get seeds started for fruitful growing as it warms; it is also a great time to plan for outdoor improvements and landscaping projects. Perhaps this spring you are creating a bucket list of experiences, planning for a summer full of fun. Spring is just a great time for plans in general, it is a fresh beginning as the earth regenerates and shows us her true grace and colour after the slumber and coziness of winter.

Welcome to the Spring issue of Cottage Country Lifestyle Magazine, we hope you will find lots of interesting reads, and enjoy devouring this issue as much as we enjoyed creating it for you! In this issue you will find Fisher Excavating on the cover, they are ready and waiting for

all your spring landscaping plans. You will also flip the pages to find kid-approved adventure crafts from Jacob Rodenburg, and Jaquelyn Toupin. We are getting fishing fever waiting for the Peterborough Cancast Fishing Show, happening at the Memorial Centre this April, and we brought lots of fishing content to the spring pages to get you in the mood to cast a line. The Riverview Park and Zoo in Peterborough announces that they have babies; and the Kawartha Wildlife Centre talks about what to do when flying squirrels invite themselves inside. We have the last of our snowmobiling content for the season from the Intrepid Snowmobiler in this issue, and usher in content for riders getting ready to hit the trails on ATV’s with the Kawartha ATV Association. The Fenelon Falls Country Living show is back for 2023 and we are happy to be sponsors once again, stop in and see all the wonderful vendors they have lined up this year.

Have something you want to see in the magazine? We love to hear from you! Send your suggestions and comments to our inbox on any of our social media platforms or email us: cottagecountryemily@gmail.com

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt” –Margaret

Atwood

“Spring is the time of plans and projects”

- Leo Tolstoy

Dreaming of Summer Days Fisher Excavating

permits, and within the limits of environmental law.

Dreaming of summer days is good fuel to get your spring projects rolling. Often landscaping ideas are creeping into our minds as the snow melts and we see the grass and soil peeking through. It is also the season for new builds; as the ground thaws ground can be broken for foundations. Whether it’s landscaping, building or new dredging at your waterfront property, there are many steps needed for your project to take place. Permits need to be pulled and so forth. Fisher Excavating takes great pride in making sure that the jobs done around your property are done to code, with

Dwaine Fisher is a long-standing resident of Kawartha Lakes, the folks there know the Fisher family well and they have been steadfast members of Lindsay and Kawartha Lakes business community since husband and wife, Dwaine and Lindsey Fisher started business in 2006. Since then, their business has expanded from a few machines to a full lineup of equipment, including a full-service barge, and a 72" rock saw that mounts to their 140 excavator for cutting shoreline stone. Other equipment in their fleet includes a long reach excavator, and a 210 excavator that holds a brush head capable of turning everything in its path to wood chips. They also possess hammers for the excavators and a D8 Dozer for larger rock jobs, plus a road grader – perfect for cottage road maintenance.

Home base for the Fisher Excavating family has recently moved, they now call the perfect property just outside of Fenelon Falls toward Bobcaygeon home to their fleet of equipment. This new home for the machinery also includes a large insulated shop, which means that all of Fishers machinery can be maintained and fixed on-site.

This new location doesn’t change their serviceable area though, they still make themselves available for work from Lake Scugog right to Haliburton, and Dwaine and his staff always work closely with your other contractors for a seamless experience.

For the Fisher team, the job doesn’t begin when the equipment moves onsite – it begins long before that by walking the customer through all aspects of the project, whether it is a septic system, shoreline improvement, or other excavation project; you can expect the best in customer service from Dwaine and his team.

For every job, the Fisher team arrange for all required assessments and permits to ease their customers peace of mind. “As a construction business owner, we understand that we need to have insurance on our machines and our workers, but many people don’t know that environmental insurance is required when a construction company would like to work on and around any waterways.” says Dwaine.

If it is shoreline work you are thinking about, Dwaine’s field of expertise includes his understanding of local water levels and the ramifications of changes in those levels. He has an excellent working relationship with Trent-Severn Waterway and the Kawartha Region Conservation Authority, and understands their perspectives on shoreline conservation and habitat protection. For instance, did you know there are rules in place which prohibit disruption of the water sediment during certain months based on your area? Maintaining this delicate balance when working between water and land is of the utmost importance when working with the environment. Dwaine has a great perspective on shoreline conservation as well as important habitat protection, and takes all of this into consideration when planning the work on your property.

If it is a septic you need; spring is a great time to get this work done before the warmer summer months arrive, and Fisher is fully licenced to take care of septic work for you. It is also a great time for work at the cottage that requires a barge to bring in machinery that might not get there without water access.

From residential to commercial, grading and dredging to concrete work, river rock, armour stone and so much more, Fisher Excavating and Grading is proud to serve Kawartha Lakes.

Fisher Excavating and Grading

www.fisherexcavating.ca

705-878-6474

info@fisherexcavating.ca

96 County Road 30, Fenelon Falls

Haliburton Highlands

Maple Season

All over the Haliburton Highlands maple producers large and small are getting ready for this sweetest time of year; putting in taps, stoking fires and turning ordinary tree sap into the liquid gold that we all know and love.

Maple Season means many things to many people. Whether you look forward to visiting a working sugar bush to see maple syrup production behind-the-scenes, or sampling culinary creations featuring maple syrup, we have the experience for you. Our maple syrup producers welcome you to discover the magic of creating this iconic local food with guided tours and hands on activities. Is there any more iconic food experience than maple taffy on snow?

Maple syrup is not just for pancakes! Our local culinary specialists love to use the liquid gold to create everything from maple tarts to craft beer to fine dining experiences. Several of our chefs are recognized for their commitment to local ingredients – and nothing is more local than maple syrup – to create compelling

fine dining experiences. Our local bakeries and cafes will wow you with their mapleinfused creations (can you say maplebacon butter tart?!?). Even our local craft breweries get in on the act, creating limited-run beers using maple sap instead of water; bottoms up!

With so much to do, you are going to want to make a weekend of it. Our website has a complete list of charming places to stay

and outdoor adventures to help you work up an appetite for all the treats you are going to experience.

So, break out your rubber boots, welcome back the sun, and come join us for the Sweetness of Spring!

www.myhaliburtonhighlands.com/maple-season 1-800-461-7677

tourism@myhaliburtonhighlands.com

There is a welcome feeling of rejuvenation this time of year. The days are longer, the sun is stronger, and the ice starts to give way to running water. Just as the streams are starting to run, so is the maple sap, which is the start of Maple Season!

Abbey GardensCommunity Trust

For most people, when they think about their cottages or homes in Ontario’s “cottage country”, the first thing they think about is the lake. Campfires by the lakes, drinks on the dock, boating, fishing –so many things we love about this area revolve around being on or near the water. This is especially true in the Haliburton Highlands, home to over 500 lakes spread across a beautiful and rugged piece of the Canadian Shield, featuring sandy shores and breathtaking cliffs, and everything in between.

These lakes are not only a source of recreation and tourism, but also play a vital role in the region's ecosystem. Development along these shorelines has increased over the years as more people invest in lakeside homes, and urban landscaping methods can have serious ecological impacts to the health of our lakes. To protect and preserve these valuable natural resources, shoreline naturalization is becoming an increasingly important initiative in Haliburton County, and the ecological team at Abbey Gardens Community

Trust is doing their part to educate and engage the community to participate in a better way to beautify their shores.

Abbey Gardens is a charitable organization with a mission to regreen a former gravel pit into a community destination that provides recreational, educational, ecological, and economic development opportunities to live more sustainably. There are public trails, a disc golf course, a Food Hub and café specializing in local food, a market garden, a craft brewery, a wood fired pizza truck, an event space, and so much more. A big part of their mission is rooted – literally! –in restoring, rehabilitating, and reforesting areas that have suffered major ecological damage. The restoration team, led by Ecologist Cara Steele, works closely with organizations like Trent University and U-Links to study various soil remediation, cover cropping, and planting methods to examine what methods yield effective results for the unique ecosystems of Haliburton County.

In 2022, Steele partnered with Kennisis Lake Cottage Owners Association (KLCOA) in a pilot project to restore eleven shoreline properties across three lake systems, planting over 1250 native plants and shrubs. The goal of the pilot was to educate lakeside property owners about how natural shorelines can still be beautiful, while protecting overall lake health.

75% of our shorelines should be in a natural state for a minimum of 30 m (100 feet) back from high water, otherwise water quality will degrade over time. Shoreline naturalization is the process of restoring a lake's natural shoreline, typically by planting native species of vegetation along the water's edge. Natural shorelines are vital to maintaining the overall health of a lake. Shoreline plants protect from erosion, wave action and ice damage, moderate water temperature, flooding, and absorb nutrients from human activity.

Did you know that shorelines are called the Ribbon of Life?

Eighty to ninety percent of species depend on shoreline habitat for nesting, shelter, travel, reproduction and feeding.

There are several benefits to shoreline naturalization. Firstly, natural shoreline planting helps to prevent erosion and sediment buildup, which can harm water quality and wildlife habitat. Additionally, native vegetation provides food and shelter for wildlife, improving the overall biodiversity of the lake.

Another key benefit of shoreline naturalization is that it helps to reduce the impact of human activities on the lake. Natural shorelines act as a buffer between the lake and the surrounding land, absorbing runoff and filtering pollutants before they reach the water. This helps to maintain water quality and protects the lake from potential harm caused by human activities such as agriculture, forestry, and development.

As shorelines along lakes and rivers are being developed, these areas are at greater risk to erosion and reduced water quality. Naturalizing shorelines by planting native flowers, trees and shrubs help to keep our lakes swimmable, drinkable and fishable. A major takeaway from the pilot program was that homeowners felt overwhelmed and unqualified to do their own native planting. Like any planting project, there are a lot of factors to take into account when thinking about naturalizing your shoreline, such as hours of sunlight, soil conditions, your personal property use, preferences, the amount of time you’re willing to invest in maintenance, and more.

In response, Steele and her team are expanding the shoreline restoration outreach program to support more homeowners throughout Haliburton, Muksoka, and the Kawartha Lakes.

Through site visits, planting plans, and hands-on planting, the team will address individual property needs and restoration goals from start to finish.

If you’re looking for a DIY option with a little help from the experts, Steele has curated shoreline plant kits that are uniquely tailored to the site conditions prevalent in our area. The Pollinator Garden Kit is for sites with dry to normal soil that experience part shade to full sun. This kit includes a mix of wildflowers, grasses, shrubs and trees that will attract pollinators throughout the whole season. The Open Shoreline Kit benefits sites with low lying areas that have moist soil and at least six hours of sunlight per day. The wildflowers can be planted right at the waters’ edge to create a beautiful display of colour. And finally, the Forest Garden Kit is appropriate for shaded shorelines that have dry to normal soil. Alternatively, the plants can be used to naturalize and add plant diversity to shady upland areas.

This year, Abbey Gardens has partnered with Friends of Ecological and Environmental Learning (FEEL) to host their Native Plant Sale, featuring beautiful hand picked native plants, trees, and shrubs, as well as Steele’s curated Planting Kits. All proceeds from the sale go directly to support the Children’s Water Festival and restoration projects at Abbey Gardens.

To learn more about the shoreline planting outreach program, FEEL plant sale, shoreline kits, or more, visit abbeygardens.ca or email Cara Steele at cara@abbeygardens.ca!

PKHBA Supports Local Builders

Peterborough and Kawartha Home Builders Association is deeply ingrained and committed to building communities in the neighbourhoods we serve. We have a solid base, and deep history in this area.

It started in 1956 when some suppliers and builders got together to lobby the high prices of building with a larger voice. The Association group formed a small grassroots organisation and has grown to over 100 members. Three of the founding members are still active in the association 65 years later; Kingdon Timber Mart, Doughty Masonry Center and Doughty Aggregates.

The PKHBA is part of the Ontario and Canadian Home Builders Associations. These three associations work together to provide builders with a stronger voice in Ottawa, at Queen’s Park and at our local city halls.

PKHBA covers the entire City and County of Peterborough as well as the City of Kawartha Lakes.

As the association has grown over the past 65 years, the professionalism of our local builders has also grown. The local Association provides training opportunities as well as networking opportunities for members to share best practices and ideas.

PKHBA was honoured to win the Local of the Year award from the Ontario Home Builders Association at the September 2022 conference. The accolade was due to our local work with high schools and colleges to promote skilled trades as well as our revamped social media and marketing reach.

The pillar of the association is building community. Our members build the communities for us and the next generation to live, work and play in. PKHBA members strive to uphold our code of conduct

and raise the professionalism of the industry.

Not only do we have the history and proven methods that support our members but PKHBA is always searching for new ways to connect with builders and communities. That is why PKHBA is a pilot location for the new national renovation program because of our outstanding RenoMark members.

RenoMark is the Seal of credibility for Renovators across the country. When you call a RenoMark member you know that you are getting quality. Many PKHBA members are also provincial and national award winners with projects that have successfully competed with many builders in the province of Ontario and across the Nation.

In February the National Housing Design Awards Gala will reveal the winners and three PKHBA members are contenders; Linwood Homes, Trademark Homes and Dietrich Homes. PKHBA has been an innovative local association, helping change the face of building across the province in the country by sharing best practices and supporting fellow HBA’s.

For more information, visit www.pkhba.com

Photo: Rebecca Schillemat with Paul Lumsden and Hans Kepplar. Paul started the awards for PKHBA and both men were past presidents.

SpringHas Sprung!

After the long winter, there is nothing quite so wonderful as seeing the first blade of grass peeking through the earth, or hearing the sweet song of the first robin returning from their winter migration. Spring is in the air! At Birchview Design Inc., we are always inspired by the beauty surrounding us in nature, and this is especially true in the very special season of spring. Using our award-winning King Street project, we are sharing some inspiration for how to add some fresh spring-like vibes to your next renovation or build. Read on, friends!

AFTER

Fresh space

BEFORE

Your home should feel like an oasis away from the constant hustle and bustle of the outside world, and walking into a space that is curated to be rejuvenating and restorative should be high on your planning priority list. One of the best ways that we achieve this feeling for our clients is with open concept spaces and a wellthought-out floor plan. Consideration of natural light sources, direction flow, and use of space all play a vital role in the direction of the design.

Does your dream space have big windows to watch the birds? Cathedral ceilings to let the sunshine fill the room? Less walls and for bigger kitchen dance parties? Well in advance of plotting out your architectural drawings, start a list that you can add to whenever you think of something that you wish you had in your current space. Once you are ready to look at plans, your “must haves” will provide a clear direction.

Continued on page 18

*Before Photo “Multiple walls & lower ceilings split this main floor into smaller areas, making it feel dark and tight”.

Nature-inspired colour palette Springtime brings with it the most beautiful burst of colour. From the vibrant pink of a new tulip, to the mellow green of a sugar maple tree bud, almost every colour of the rainbow shows up and out for our second season. Bringing a few of these tones inside your home can keep the happy-go-lucky feeling of spring going all year long. Our go-tos for wow factor are interesting tiles, a bold accent wall, or a fun pop of colour for the millwork (this particular one is called “Blustery Sky” by Sherwin Williams).

Looking for something a little less permanent? Try incorporating colourful pillows, rugs or a large-scale piece of art from your favourite local artist to add instant interest and excitement to your space. To ensure cohesion and a relaxed vibe, be sure to pick only one main colour family to carry throughout the area.

Bringing the outdoors, in Spring is the best time of year to take advantage of the natural decor around you! A simple sprig of greenery in a vase paired with your favourite cookbooks or bowls is easy & practical decor, or, make a statement with branches in a gathering of pottery. Source the more permanent finishes in your new space with your outdoor scenery in mind; such as hardwood flooring, stone countertops, ceiling beams, textile and paint colours. If you are lucky enough to have a fireplace as a focal point, consider opting for a zero-clearance gas insert and cladding the surround in materials such as stone, or painted shiplap with a wooden mantle to emanate an organic feel.

Birchview Design Inc. is an award-winning interior design team serving clientele in the Kawartha Lakes, GTA, and beyond. As a full service studio, the firm offers an all-inclusive, simplified experience with elevated design expertise.

www.birchviewdesign.com

Bailey Feeney

Bailey Feeney has the most pure and smooth personality, and when you get the chance to talk to her you find she is like a bright light on a dark day. Her voice shines when she talks about her creative lifestyle, and how she came to do what she loves –which is creating the most artistic, beautiful, and functional silver jewellery.

Bailey grew up surrounded by the arts; her parents ran a theatre company, and her father is a brilliant painter and sculptor – she came by her talent for creating honestly, and says she has known in her heart forever that creating beautiful things was what she wanted to do.

Currently Bailey lives on an 8-acre farm where they grow garlic and she home schools her son. On her property located in Wainfleet, ON Bailey opens her studio doors by appointment. You will find this blissful space a fully stocked studio. Bailey also offers calming energy and aura cleansing services in the studio. You will also find offerings from other selected artists, as well as local honey from her property, sage, crystals, and candles. But this space she has curated is not where her jewellery exploits began…

Bailey grew up participating in theatre for over 18 years, she also trained in dance and spent time busking; she found joy in participating in creating art for others to enjoy in one form or another. She also says she has always made jewellery in some form or another, and at the age of 16 she started collecting her grandmothers vintage buttons. From there Bailey started making and selling her intricate pieces made of buttons and strings of pearls. At the age of 24 Bailey had the great occasion to be invited to study with self-taught silversmith Peter Lyewellyn in Georgetown P.E.I. She travelled with a 6-month plan, and ended up staying a year as Peters apprentice, growing her talent as a seasoned silversmith. Bailey has sold pieces to over 10 countries including Canada, United states, England, Australia, Germany, France and even Trinidad and Tobago.

“We spent every day in his studio in the backyard from 10AM-10PM creating. We laughed a lot and drank copious amounts of coffee; I soaked it all in like a sponge. I learned so many skills from him.”

Lemonade Designs, Baileys current artistic business was born in 2015 and it gets its name from the popular saying “I’m taking all of the lemons and making lemonade.” Bailey says that the name is her anchor and her reminder; it can be hard sometimes being an artist not knowing how things will go, how your creativity will be received and enjoyed.

This year will mark Baileys 10th anniversary as a metalsmith and she is excelling in creating lifelong mementos for people to wear and appreciate as lasting heirlooms. “Knowing that things I have made are going out further than their home town, out to around the world is amazing. My work, what I create, every piece that I make is to inspire an emotion in someone; to offer feelings of empowerment, inner strength, inner beauty.” Positive and uplifting affirmations are often found stamped onto Baileys one-of-a-kind pieces, and she is a passionate champion for mental health, and is an advocate for the Niagara Sexual Assault Centre.

When asked why she creates, Bailey answered: “It allows me to communicate with people; all the undertones in my work are about loving yourself, reminding you that you are enough – I need that for myself, mental health is extremely important. Every person that I have ever met in my life has always needed to be reminded that we belong somewhere, that we are cared about, worthy of being loved. When I create pieces, I feel all of that in myself – but every person that wears my jewellery is worthy of feeling these things too. 90% of my sales are people buying for themselves, a treat yourself moment, it fills me up.”

Covid created tense times for many artists, and Bailey found that pivoting from in-person shows and turning to social media was a saving grace, but also a really neat experience. She began releasing her collections as live sales on Instagram and in doing so has found a lovely, supportive coven of people who come together to admire, comment, and share her designs; no talk of negativity, simply all about the joy of sharing a common interest.

Baileys style can be described as bohemian, earthy, bewitched and natural. She uses a selection of high-quality gems and stones and creates magically spun silver around them. She also uses stamping in her work and you can find the mantra ‘I am enough’ stamped on many pieces. “I want my work to evoke the notion of pride and enjoyment and empowerment” says Bailey. Collections are released throughout the year with limited inventory, and every collection has a different theme based on things that inspire her, these themes affect what materials are used. For example:

By Emily Ireland

The Cove Collection was mermaid inspired, it featured pieces made with seashells aquamarines, lapis lazuli and followed a beachier theme.

Do you have a silver heirloom, perhaps a spoon from Grandmothers collection? Bailey takes custom orders and is fond of upcycling family heirlooms. She is also able to melt down sterling silver pieces to give them a new life in your daily jewellery rotation. Bailey also offers memorial jewellery for loved ones we have lost, if you would like to incorporate hair, or ashes in something lasting, Bailey takes the utmost care in creating a memento you can carry with you next to your heart.

Follow Bailey on Instagram @lemonadedesigns

Find her available work online: www.lemonadedesigns.com

THOSE WERE THE DAYS

“A Lesson Learned”

When my wife and I visited Germany a few years ago, we were guests of a remarkable woman, I swear she was born with a smile on her face. A few months ago she lost a leg to diabetes, the operation was not successful and the doctor was forced to take her other leg. Within weeks the hospital said she would need another operation but, although she knew the outcome, she said enough is enough. During the trying year before her passing, her son sent us many photographs and emails, each one depicted this brave lady smiling or laughing. Those images of her being unphased during her ordeal bothered me for quite some time until I remembered when my own mother was in hospital. I visited Mom every day and she always had a funny story to tell, moments of levity, comedic situations and living skits which evoked laughter from both patients and staff.

The man across the hall was prone to taking jaunts from one room to another then forgetting exactly where he should end his journey. One most memorable day he wandered down the hall in just his undershirt. Some remarked that from the back he looked like a shrivelled up old parker house roll and others were not sure what he looked like from the front but gathered from the expressions on the nurses’ faces when ushering him back to his room, it must not have been a pretty sight.

Mom’s roommate rarely got out of bed, she was convinced she was dying but that was far from the truth. Nurses had a difficult time getting her to even just sit in a chair. Mom used her wheel chair to get to an area where she could look out the large windows. I don’t know how, but one day Mom convinced the woman to accompany her. After finally maneuvering their wheel chairs to the area, Mom nudged the woman and in a teasingly voice said, “So, do you come here often?”

Patients suffer from various maladies but they still have a sense of humour, some times though, that humour can be a bit snide. One lady continually rang her buzzer calling for nurses. Staff expected nothing would be wrong but they came anyway knowing she rarely received any visitors and was just lonely. She generally prefaced with some loud moaning and groaning enticing the nurses to respond when a man across the hall hollered, “hey, keep it down over there.” But that only made her moan louder, “ I want to roll over because my bum hurts.” she hollered back. Everyone in earshot broke into laughter when the man retorted with, “of course it does, it has a hole in it.”

Hospitals are no laughing matter, nor are patients there to be the brunt of other people’s humour. Many areas of the hospital demand and should receive the respectful quiet it deserves, but on the floors where patients are in stages of convalescence, they do not want to see visitors standing at the foot of the bed wringing their hands. Every time I entered Mom’s hospital room, she grinned from ear to ear, oh yes, I learned a great lesson, laughter is the best medicine.

Russ Sanders epigram@ nexicom.net

Relaxing Outdoor Living Areas by Nortech

Enjoy the natural world in comfort from a screen porch or sunroom with Sunspace WeatherMaster Windows

Do you remember spending summer afternoons on your grandparents' porch, sipping lemonade and watching the world go by? Or lazy days at the cottage, lying on a dock and taking in the beauty of nature? These childhood memories are precious and evoke feelings of contentment and wellbeing.

Sunspace WeatherMaster Windows can help rekindle those happy memories and create new ones for generations to come by transforming your sunroom, porch or outdoor living space into the perfect haven to relax and unwind. Your WeatherMaster windows will allow an abundance of natural light into your space creating a bright and welcoming atmosphere. At the same time, WeatherMaster windows offer the ultimate in weather protection allowing you to enjoy your outdoor living area no matter what the weather has in store; when the windows are closed they provide comfortable protection from the elements. You can sit and enjoy a cup of coffee while watching the rain teem down or bask in the sun on a warm summer day.

Are you tired of being constantly pestered by bugs while trying to enjoy your outdoor space? Say goodbye to bug bites and hello to peace and quiet with WeatherMaster windows! With the ability to open for 75% screen ventilation they offer the best of both worlds: the beauty of the great outdoors without the annoyance of bugs. Sunspace’s WeatherMaster windows

are very versatile and can transform almost any open space into a 3-season screen room so you can enjoy your outdoor living space without having to worry about flies, mosquitoes, and other creepy crawlies invading your personal space. Enjoy the beauty of the natural world through the seasons, from the comfort of your own patio chair.

If you’re looking to add a touch of fresh air and sunshine to your life, ask Nortech Windows Doors and Sunrooms about Sunspace Weathermaster Windows today!

Nortech Windows Doors Sunrooms

705-738-0304

www.nortechwindows.com

3300 County Rd 36, Bobcaygeon

The Importance of Using Native Plants Along Your Shoreline

Having a shoreline buffer – a strip of trees, shrubs, grasses and perennials on your property along your shoreline – provides many benefits. Shoreline buffers help protect against erosion, filter runoff, absorb nutrients, reduce the risks of flooding, protect property values and provide important food and habitat for wildlife.

When creating your shoreline buffer and choosing plants for your garden, it’s important to remember that not all plants are created equal; some can even be harmful to the wildlife we are trying to help!

Choosing native plants helps take away the guess work. Native plants have co-evolved with, and are therefore adapted to, the local environment and wildlife. Pollinators, including bees, flies and butterflies, benefit from their nectar-rich flowers and birds and mammals benefit from their nuts, seeds and fruit. On the other hand, many domestic flowers have been bred for showiness and some have lost much of their nectar and pollen producing capacity. Some have even been cultivated in such a way that insects have difficulty reaching the nectar in the tightly bunched flowers.

When considering plants for your shoreline, remember that invasive plants are definitely a no-no! Invasive plants are not native to an area and with no competitors or predators they aggressively spread, displacing our native species and degrading habitat.

It's also important to choose plants that are free of neonicotinoids, or neonics for short. Neonics are a group of insecticides that are known to be toxic to the insects that feed on the treated flowers. Studies have shown that even low doses of neonics can cause pollinators harm. They can affect their ability to navigate, collect food, even reproduce.

As an added bonus, native plants typically require less maintenance and are less susceptible to disease and pests. They can have beautiful colourful blooms in spring and summer, berries in the fall and stunning fall foliage. Before you buy, check with your plant

provider to make sure your plants are native and neonic-free. Your local wildlife will thank you!

For more information on how you can show your lake some love, visit LoveYourLake.ca. Love Your Lake is a shoreline naturalization program developed by the Canadian Wildlife Federation and Watersheds Canada.

Written by Terri-Lee Reid, Freshwater Researcher with the Canadian Wildlife Federation Photo credit: Sarah Coulber, CWF

Designing & Playing By The Rules

As a designer, I’m often asked, “How do you know what to do in a room?” Well, a home can “work” (or fall flat, for that matter!) due to a number of factors. With that said, there are some things that all great spaces have in common. Here are my top three rules for rooms that “work.”

By designer Amanda Shields

Always prioritize function. Coming from a designer, this may sound counter-intuitive, but if a piece has no practical purpose in your life, then it’s just clutter. Don’t get me wrong, there’s definitely a time and place for beautiful objects and in some cases, their express purpose is adornment, but for anything other than art and accessories, consider its functional value first. Ask yourself: Does it work? Does it fit the space? Does it meet a need? Then, layer in aesthetic value and how that this particular item will contribute to the intended look and feel of the room.

Measure before you buy. You’re ready to hit the furniture showrooms. Maybe your renovation is finally finished, or your home has been begging for a redesign. Either way, this day has been a long time coming. But before you rush out with your credit card in hand, don’t forget your measuring tape. Here are some standard measurements to keep in your back pocket:

Seating usually sits 18 inches up off the floor. Factor this into your ideal height for coffee tables and side tables.

The coffee table should be about 2/3 the

width of the sofa.

The distance between seats (like a sofa and armchairs) should be between three and 10 feet.

Leave 12 to 24 inches between an area rug and the wall, depending on the room size.

Artwork should sit 56 inches up from the floor (standard eye-level), or six to 12 inches from the top of a sofa, console table or fireplace mantel.

The dining table should allocate at least 24 inches per diner, but ideally 30 inches

This brings me to another common measurement mistake: guesstimating furniture size. Remember that your home is very different from the furniture showroom, and the same piece of furniture will look completely different once you bring it home – that is, if it fits through your door. Avoid disappointment by measuring all doorways and hallways, and the area where the piece is intended to “live,” making note of ceiling

height, windows and any other large-scale furnishings or focal points that may affect its positioning. Ensure you also consider traffic patterns and “breathing room” around your furniture – more on that, below!

Give your furniture space. A fabulous room isn’t just about the furniture in it. The air around your furniture is equally important, both in terms of aesthetics and function. “Negative space” refers to the empty areas in your home. In a designed room, strategic areas are intentionally left empty for a couple of key reasons. From a functional perspective, the area around your furniture allows you to use it with comfort and manoeuvre around it with ease. Negative space also gives your furnishings the required “breathing room” to stand out in the space without competing focal points. Finally, they give your eye a break.

To refresh our homes ahead some people will lean on the help of a professional designer like myself. Others take the do-ityourself approach. Regardless, always keep in mind some decorating rules are there to be followed for good reason and will really help you create the perfect stylish and functional place to call home .

Lifestyle Matches Greener Homes Grant

Home renovations can be a costly endeavour, and sometimes it seems that when we really need to take care of something – like windows, it can be quite a large sum of money.

Perhaps you live in an older home and you’ve been thinking about putting in new windows to replace those old drafty ones for a while, the benefits of new windows are definitely great when it comes to lessening heating costs; and the updated curb appeal doesn’t hurt either. Now is a really great time to get the ball rolling on this investment.

With the help of the Canada’s Greener Homes Grant, Lifestyle homes wants to ease the cost of installing those new windows and doors by matching your eligible

amount from Canada’s Greener Homes Grant, dollar for dollar!

In order to guarantee their best pricing for all Lifestyle Home Products customers; Lifestyle went ahead and have prepurchased all materials from their suppliers for 2023.  These bulk purchases allowed Lifestyle to receive deep discounts from their vendors which means that we can pass savings directly to you, their customers.

The Canada Greener Homes program will offer homeowners grants of up to $5,000 that can be put toward the installation of such energy-saving projects like Lifestyle Homes vinyl replacement windows; add in the added $5,000 from Lifestyle and you could save up to $10,000!

Lifestyle Home Products’ vinyl replacement windows are created to the highest standards at their factory in Peterborough, Ontario. These premium-quality vinyl windows are harmonized tested and certified by third-party organizations, including ENERGY STAR® and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), to ensure you receive high-performance products that are built to last. Lifestyle also offers their guarantee that your window installation will last a lifetime.

Lifestyle manufactures most types of vinyl windows and creates customized window solutions for your home with sizes, shapes, hardware, and frame colours that suit your décor. The popular replacement windows they offer include: awning, bay and bow, double-hung tilt, double-slider tilt; and of course, custom window styles as well. Once you’ve made your selections, Lifestyles factory-trained and certified craftsmen will install your new windows with precision.

So don’t delay, call Lifestyle today – their caring staff will help you navigate the process of new windows and how to get the ultimate savings while doing so.

Visit

The Benefits of Grounding and Connecting with Nature

Our planet, just like its inhabitants, contains a natural and subtle electrical charge or energy field. The practice of grounding and connecting with nature allows us to experience positive

benefits to our mind, body, and spirit through the act of physical connection with the Earth and therefore the planet’s energy. While grounding and connection with nature are not quite the same thing, I personally feel they offer many of the same tangible benefits.

New research is emerging to show that grounding (physical connection with nature) and time in nature (such as forest bathing) can aid in a myriad of conditions. From insomnia and anxiety to inflammation and heart disease, studies are showing that time spent in nature can benefit many of the common conditions humans struggle with.

When I suggest this therapeutic method to my clients, one of the biggest road blocks I hear is ‘time’. Ironically, it is the continual need to be productive, work constantly, and be available at all hours that results in the requirement to connect with the natural world around you. Some of the easiest methods of Earth connection are walking barefoot or lying on the ground, submersing yourself in water (ideally a lake or ocean) or going for a walk in the forest. There are even products you can purchase such as grounding mats, that allow you to experience the benefits from the comfort of your home.

Correne Omland, Clinical Herbalist, Teacher & Healer

Spiraea Herbal Clinic www.spiraeaherbs.ca facebook.com/spiraeaherbs youtube.com/spiraeaherbs instagram.com/spiraeaherbs

Planting Seeds for Fruitful Year

What if we followed the weather’s cues to design our best lives? In the Northern Hemisphere, if we dedicated our deep winter to restorative rest, warming foods, community, and a time to dream, this means that spring will, naturally, become our yearly rebirth. All of those dreams we’ve had simmering away all winter long can finally break free into little baby sprouts.

So, what has been consuming your thoughts this winter? What needs some shaking up in your life so you’re not spending next winter worrying about the same old stuff? This is your best place to start. When we make a list of the things that aren’t working, we can move ourselves into a mindset of power where we can see the steps towards repair instead of using our most precious resource, time, repeating old mistakes. Be truthful with yourself but kind.

Is your ultimate goal this year to grow food to feed your family? Now’s the time to dig a garden.

Is your dream to buy all of your Christmas gifts with extra cash?

What’s that side hustle going to be?

Do you want to end the year feeling connected to your children and happy with yourself? Find a supportive coach or therapist and start taking baby steps now!

If you’d like to eat nourishing meals, how can you step up your game in the kitchen, or how can you outsource the task to someone who loves this work?

Spring reminds us that we have to plant the seeds in order to enjoy the flowers. It delights us with green and pastels (a bit of mud) and the freshness of new life in both flora and fauna. Most preciously, it gives us a spark of energy and the blueprint for forward motion. What are you planting this year?

Jacquelyn Toupin is a birthkeeper & intuitive healer supporting women to evolve into their truest selves. You can follow along on her instagram @my.sacred.wild

What's in Our Archives?

When visitors attend the Peterborough Museum & Archives (PMA), usually it is to experience the gallery exhibits. Exhibits tend to be objects with supplemental images, maps, and other documents. Have you ever wondered from where those twodimensional display items came? In most cases, they can be found among the PMA’s own archives.

The PMA’s archival holdings contain more than 2,000 individual collections, including: letters; journals and diaries; maps, surveys, and plans; business and organizational records; Peterborough newspapers; court and municipal records; artwork; and several hundred thousand photographic images. These items mostly have to do with Peterborough city and county, but there are some surprising items with, at first glance, little or no apparent local connections. Because of my interest in military and naval history, I will highlight one favourite document in this category.

It is a note of recommendation for Royal Navy midshipman John Roche (misspelled as “Roach” in the document). It states that he served on HMS Foudroyant from June to October 1799, behaved “with Diligence, Sobriety and Attention”, and was “always obedient to Command”. It is signed by the

ship’s commander “T.M. Hardy, Captain”, who would become Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy (1769-1839), and is best remembered as Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson’s flag captain on HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. With some research, however, one would discover that the Foudroyant was Nelson’s flagship when Midshipman Roche served on board her – so … he may have known, or at least met, the admiral.

John Roche had a successful wartime career, participating in several major battles and rising to the rank of Commander. After the Napoleonic Wars, he retired from the Navy, emigrated to Upper Canada, and settled his family on a farm near Bailieboro.

Later, he moved into Peterborough, where he died from a fall at the age of 70 years in 1848. His document came to the PMA as part of a collection from the Pengelly family – descendants of Captain Robert Pengelley, another Royal Navy officer, friend, and former Bailieboro neighbour of the Roches.

You never know what piece of history you may touch while exploring your community archives!

By: Don Willcock, The Peterborough Museum & Archives, 300 Hunter St E, Peterborough,

705-743-5180

www.peterboroughmuseumandarchives.ca

The Fun of Making Maple Syrup

Spring is in the air! As the temperatures warm and you see the signs of the earth waking up after winter; birds chirping, things are thawing and softening – Canadians minds turn to maple.

The season came a little early with warm temperatures in February this year, but maple season is upon us. I had the chance to chat with Jill Staples of Staples Maple Syrup, and she gave me the lowdown on the basics of making maple magic.

First you need to tap the maple trees with a spile and bucket to collect the sap. Once you have collected enough sap to boil, then the work of boiling it down to syrup begins. Jill warns that this is an outdoor job; if you boil down in the kitchen, everything will become sticky. Choose an outdoor boiler, or BBQ and big pot. It takes 40 litres of sap to make 1 litre of syrup, and about 4-6 hours of boiling. Be sure not to boil too hard or long, as the syrup will boil over or burn! Finished product is when the syrup is 7 degrees above the boiling point of water or a density of 66. Be sure to bottle the finished product hot (180 degrees), or store in the fridge or freezer to keep from spoiling.

These are the basics of making maple syrup on a small scale, where as the Staples produce on a large scale. They have 3500 taps which produces approx. 3500 litres of delicious syrup per year. They have a fully automated system of pipeline with monitors that send alerts to their phone if trouble arises, and it is boiled on a 4x14 evaporator, then hot packed at 180 degrees requiring all hands on deck for the family during the busy season.

Staples Maple Syrup is a family run business based out of Cavan, Ontario. You can find Staples award winning syrup in local grocery stores, Kyoto Coffee, and gift shops, and also at the Peterborough Farmers Market every week. Visit them on April 2nd for their free open house and experience for yourself how their syrup is made.

Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram

www.staples-maple-syrup.myshopify.com 439 Highway 7A, Cavan, ON

4 TIME WORLD CHAMPION ROYAL WINTER FAIR

Putting Snowmobile Trails To Bed

What happens to the 2,000 kilometres of OFSC Prescribed Snowmobile Trails in our area when winter ends? As the sledding season draws to a close, longer days of sunlight, warming temperature and meltwater combine to erode what was a solid trail base of snow, hard-packed by groomers throughout the winter. Gradually and inevitably, our snowmobile trails simply disappear.

These recreational trails are operated in the hinterlands by clubs who are members of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC). The trails are located in a giant rectangle located between

and put their trails to bed for the season. Then their trails go Red (Unavailable) on the OFSC Interactive Trail Guide (ITG) and many clubs post shut down notices on social media.

When that happens, more work follows for club volunteers, as they essentially reverse many of the preparation efforts made the previous fall to get trails ready. This dismantling process is a massive undertaking. It would be akin to a county or municipality closing all of its own roads for an entire season, temporarily removing every piece of traffic, directional and safety apparatus previously installed. Except of course, that such road closures wouldn’t occur in hard to reach, remote areas or be done by volunteers.

the north shores of the Kawartha Lakes and the southern boundary of Algonquin Park. It’s a huge area anchored in the southwest by Fenelon Falls, northwest by Haliburton, northeast by Bancroft and southeast by Havelock, where these snowmobile trails connect most of our communities during the snowy months. About 70% of them are on private land and 30% on public.

There’s a delicate tipping point between decent spring trail riding conditions and impassable ones, and that point rarely occurs at the same time from year to year or even region to region. So each local snowmobile club makes the call when to stop grooming operations

Of the 30% of snowmobile trails on public land, many are also designated for year-round multi-use, such as TOP Trail B103, the Victoria and Haliburton Rail Trails that run between Fenelon Falls and Haliburton. The process for ending the snowmobile season on these recreational trails is comparatively straightforward, since many signs are permanent, and these trails remain active for other approved users.

But the 70% of trails on private property are a different story. No one is allowed to enter private property without prior permission in any season. Our snowmobile clubs have that permission from many landowners for snowmobile-only trail use of a defined piece of their land during the winter months. This means no other motorized users are allowed on these trails at any time of the year. So when the trails shut down for snowmobiling, sledders are also prohibited from entering them and doing so is trespassing, just the same as everyone else.

Volunteers remove trail stakes on private property

At that point, the club goal is to remove as much indication as possible that the private land served as a snowmobile trail for a few months. Volunteers take down and store thousands of trail signs, stakes marking fields or water crossings, roll up snow fences, remove any debris and litter, close gates, block entry access, and check that “Private Property - No Trespassing and/or “Trail Closed” signs are in place where needed.

As season’s end approaches, our local snowmobile clubs are asking every area snowmobiler to join them in expressing a big “thank you” to the generous landowners who allowed snowmobile trails on their property this winter. Our local clubs also remind operators of ATVs, side by sides, dual sport motorcycles and off-road trucks, to respect our landowners and volunteers by only riding where you have permission and it is legal to do so, which is never on any OFSC snowmobile trail on private land in any season. Let’s ride responsibly out there!

Contact Your Club To Lend A Hand: Buckhorn & District - buckhorn@district2ofsc.ca

Haliburton County Snowmobile Association - info@hcsa.ca

Havelock & District - hdsc-info@district2ofsc.ca

Kawartha Lakes Snowmobile Club (Fenelon Falls) - klsc@sympatico.ca

Old Hastings Snow Riders (Bancroft) - oldhastings@district2ofsc.ca

Paudash Trail Blazers (Apsley) - volunteer@paudashtrailblazers.on.ca

Stoney Lake Sno Riders - stoneylake@district2ofsc.ca

Twin Mountains (Bobcaygeon) - twinmountains@district2ofsc.ca

Learn More About Snowmobile Trail Riding At: Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs – www.ofsc.on.ca

Intrepid Snowmobiler – www.intrepidsnowmobiler.com

Volunteers remove and store 1000’s of stakes and signs.

Clubs close the gates when there’s not enough snow to groom.

Cottage Memories

Chronicles of A City Boy’s Life In The Country

PUMP PERILS

Pumps are the great cottage equalizer. No matter how much design, decor or dinaro has gone into your abode. When the pump stops, the world crashes to a halt and castle transforms to hunt camp. Enterprising realtors could charge one dollar for the structure and many other thousands for a working pump. The ad could read: "Two thousand square foot pump house for sale."

If I exaggerate, it's because I'm a pump peril survivor. Like that November the water stopped. My usual cursory dickering about with the pump, such as checking to make sure it was still there, produced the usual no result. So I decided the problem was the foot valve but chose not to call our pump man for help.

I say "our pump man" because I feel a close and proprietary interest in someone to whom I have paid an endless stream of cold cash to repair my dickering. He has a new van; I have the same old shaky pump. He exclaims “they don't make them like this anymore!” I think he's paying off his new RV. Certainly, he has his own key and nameembossed coffee mug in our cupboard. Meanwhile, I remain closer to pump purgatory than pump paradise.

But I digress. Foot valves have a nasty habit of being located below the surface. Ours being in the lake, under bloody cold water. So there we were again, the wife in her dingy to watch me freeze or drown, and I in my ill-fitting dry suit. The combined natural buoyancy of that suit and my suet kept me bobbing in the bay like a float with a fish on – until clutching a concrete block as ballast, I sank to the valve. It was blocked by zebra mussels, which I managed to scrape off while warding off hypothermia with hot thoughts about the fool who didn’t let the pump man do this.

Fortunately, I usually don't get wet when the pump packs it in. That's because there is no water. Like the time I was dickering in the dead of winter and lost the prime. The wife accused me of being past mine.  “Never fear, says I, “all we need is water - we can melt snow!” Do you have any idea how much snow it takes to make a cup of water? In an hour of scooping, melting and pouring

I'd barely filled an eye dropper.

Several hours later, after several gallons had disappeared into the primer hole, I concluded we must be filling both the pump and the holding tank. Otherwise, where could all that water be going? Then the wife suggested smartly: “Did you close the valve? Maybe it’s going down the line and back into the lake, honey?”

Wondering just how much snow I'd have to melt to fill the lake, I relented and called our pump man. The worst part of pump penance isn't the outlay of cash or my failed dickering. What really gets me is the uncertainty. At odd hours I find myself ambushing a tap or sneaking in for a quick flush, to reconfirm that the pump is still pumping. When I have water, I hoard it in every conceivable vessel against inevitable pump-induced droughts. The wife says there are so many containers of water lying around inside that neighbours are offering to re-shingle our roof.

So the next time the pump perished, I called everyone for help. Everyone but the wife, who wanted a crack at it too. Three of us macho types spent a frustrating afternoon to no avail, exhausting our collective patience, expertise and beer supply. As I began to speed dial our pump man, I smirked to the wife: “Why don't you try it, honey?” I'd barely said “Hello”, when I heard the pump kick in and water flow. “Just calling to see how you like your new RV,” I said, and hung up.

The wife is now our resident pump expert. She maintains and repairs; I handle the wood, BBQing and outhouse. And rather than make embarrassing admissions to our pump man, I quietly had the locks changed. His coffee mug mysteriously disappeared last year. The only thing I pump now is iron.

Craig Nicholson is a long-time Kawarthas cottager who also provides tips and tour info for snowmobilers at intrepidsnowmobiler.com and for PWC riders at intrepidcottager.com.

Sharing the Trails with KATVA

It’s that time of year when everyone is suffering from the winter blues and excitedly waiting for spring to come. Especially those in the off-road vehicle community. While there may only be less than 3 months before the trails open, don’t let that stop you from getting out for a ride.

Although there are no winter trails here in the Kawartha’s, there are a number of Ontario ATV trails that are open during the winter season.

Most ATV clubs who have winter trails are careful to plan trails that won’t conflict with the snowmobilers in winter. The number one reason that ATVs and snowmobiles don’t share many trails in Ontario is for safety. ATV and Snowmobile riders tend to operate at different speeds in the snow. The second but equally important reason we try to keep ATVs off snowmobile trails in winter is because we want to respect the short season snowmobilers have here in central and southern Ontario. ATVs, SxS and offroad motorcycles are guaranteed a 7-month riding season, but snowmobilers aren’t afforded the same opportunity, so we need to let them enjoy the trails while they can.

In many cases the ATV clubs and snowmobile clubs’ partner to manage and maintain the local trails, so they have an agreement to respect each groups time to access the trails. This collaboration and mutual respect between the two sports goes a long way to

benefitting the riders in Ontario.

If you’re looking for places to ride your ATV or SxS in the last couple of months of winter check out the Haliburton Forest & Wild Life Reserve or the Lake of Bays ATV Club. If you’re already a member of Kawartha ATV Association you can ride the Lake of Bays trails at no additional cost, or you can buy a day pass from them directly. There are also many winter riding opportunities in Eastern Ontario. The winter ATV trails are subject to some of the same conditions and closures due to lack of snow, as snowmobile trails are. It’s always best to call ahead and check to see if the trails are open, to avoid disappointment.

As always, remember to wear your safety gear and dress warm, but most of all have fun on the trails!

Kawartha ATV Association, PO Box 21, Lindsay   705-328-0931   www.katva.ca

Weekend at the Cottage Recipes

FLAKY TEA BISCUITS

A tried and true recipe that you’ll make again and again. Serve these biscuits with clotted cream and jam, as a side with soups and stews or as a sandwich base. www.weekendatthecottage.com/flaky-tea-biscuits-recipes

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• ½ teaspoon baking soda

• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter

• ½ cup yogurt

• 1/3 cup whole milk

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.

2. Stir flour, sugar, baking powder and baking soda together, then sift together into a large bowl.

3. Drop chunks of butter into the dry ingredients. Rub or cut the butter into the dry mix to create a fine meal.

4. Whisk yogurt and milk together then add to the meal mixture. Stir together, then bring together by hand to create a light dough.

5. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 1 minute.

6. Roll to a rectangular shape about 1-inch thick, then fold into thirds. Roll out again to a large rectangular shape, rotate 180° degrees, fold and repeat. Repeat this process 5 more times.

7. Cut out biscuits using a 2-inch cookie cutter, transferring them onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Gather scraps and repeat until all of the dough is used to create 12 biscuits.

8. Transfer to oven and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

9. Remove from oven and serve with butter and jam or a favourite spread / filling.

CHEESY BEEF TACO DIP

A weekend favourite. This creamy, cheesy Taco Dip makes a delicious snack and is perfect for entertaining. www.weekendatthecottage.com/cheesy-beef-taco-dip

INGREDIENTS

• 1-½ pounds ground beef

• 3 green onions, finely diced (reserve some green for garnish)

• 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely diced

• 3 tablespoons WATC taco seasoning

• 1 8oz. package cream cheese, room temperature

• 1 418 ml jar salsa

• 2 cups shredded cheese

For the taco seasoning:

• 1 tablespoon each: ancho chili powder, chipotle powder, chili powder,  onion powder, cumin

• 1 teaspoon each: garlic powder, dried oregano, Aleppo chili flakes, smoked paprika

To serve:

• Finely chopped tomatoes, avocado, cilantro and green onion for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

• Corn or tortilla chips

2. Cook beef in a deep pan over moderate heat, stirring frequently to break up meat. Sprinkle with taco seasoning and stir together. Transfer beef to a paper towel-lined colander to remove fat.

3. Place cream cheese into a medium-size bowl along with beef, green onion, jalapeño, garlic and seasoning. Stir, pressing ingredients into cheese to combine. Transfer to a 1-quart oven-safe baking dish, smoothing it out to an even layer. Pour salsa onto beef mixture and smooth it out. Sprinkle with shredded cheese.

4. Transfer to oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until bubbly.

5. To serve: sprinkle with finely diced tomato, avocado, green onions and chopped cilantro.

6. Serve with tortilla or corn chips.

Preparing for the Upcoming Fishing Season

The summer fishing season is around the corner! Whether you are a seasoned angler or a newbie hoping to cast a line for the first time, here are a few things you can do to prepare.

Purchase or Renew Your Fishing Licence

With a few exceptions, everyone between the ages of 18 and 64 needs a licence to fish in Ontario. But did you know that 100% of the funds collected from fishing licence sales contribute to conservation efforts? This includes things like fish stocking programs, science-based research and monitoring, habitat loss prevention, and educational programs like Learn to Fish. You can find out more at www.ontario.ca/outdoorscard.

Review Fishing Regulations

Fishing regulations may change from year to year. It’s important to know where you are allowed to fish during a particular time of year, what fish are in season, and how many fish of a specific species you can keep. By following these guidelines, you will ensure healthy fish populations for years to come. To learn more about fishing rules in Ontario visit www.ontario.ca/document/ ontario-fishing-regulations-summary.

Top Up Your Gear

This is the fun part! While you might have a few “lucky lures” in your tackle box, there is a thrill in topping up your stash. Visit your local tackle retailer to find the latest hot items. Now is also a great time to make sure your first aid kit is up-to-date and that you have essentials like lifejackets and other safety items.

Mark Your Calendar

Ontario has countless fishing events and festivals throughout the summer. Here are just a few you can put on your 2023 bucket list:

• Canada’s National Fishing Week: July 1-9, 2023 www.nationalfishingweek.com

• Ontario’s Family Fishing Events: May 13-14, June 17-18, and July 1-9, 2023, www.ontariofamilyfishing.com

• Kids and Cops Fishing Days: www.kidsandcops.ca

Fishing is an exciting activity for all ages. Better yet, it’s easy and affordable! For more recreational fishing news and information, visit www.keepcanadafishing.com or follow @keepcanadafishing on social media.

Spring is the Crappiest Time of Year!

When winter finally loosens its grip and spring is springing in the Kawarthas, shallow water bays are the first places on the lake to warm up. At this time of year these areas are teaming with life, minute minnows searching for microorganisms to feed on, bring pan fish in looking for an easy meal and warm water to start their spawning cycle. The most coveted species of pan fish for sport fishermen is the Crappie!

Crappie are tasty table-fare and offer a nice fight on light gear. They

are members of the Sunfish family which also includes both Bass species, however they are not always an easy catch like their cousins. Springtime can offer some of the best times for success when pursuing Crappie, as they can be found in huge schools in the mouth of bays looking to feed up and get ready to spawn. Depending on the year this usually begins in mid April and can last till mid May in our area and it can be broken down into three periods.

#1 Pre-Spawn: which usually happens when water temperatures in these pockets reach 51-60 degrees F. Crappie leave their wintering holes for the shallow warm water and aggressively gorge on small minnows to get ready for the spawn. In this period, they can be caught on small moving baits such as tiny crank baits, spinners or tiny swim baits work fast and cover a lot of water to find these active schools.

#2 Spawning: which occurs when the water temps reach 61-68 degrees F. When this happens, you can find fish on shallow beds usually located around submerged wood. Get yourself a good pair of polarized glasses and you can sight fish them with small tubes or grubs. This is my personal favourite way to catch ‘em.

#3 Post-Spawn: when they are done spawning Crappie again feed hard in these shallow areas slowly moving out to adjacent shoreline weed flats or points before heading deep and becoming more docile for the summer months. The post spawn time of year offers the best opportunity to catch a giant Crappie that are affectionately called slabs. These bigger females are done spawning and are hungry! They can grow upwards of 2.5lbs around here, and you can fish for them on bigger size spinners like a beetle spin grub combo, or use a float or bobber and use small live minnows or artificial style minnow baits. The float can be set to a certain depth and allow the bait to stay in the strike zone longer as Crappie are usually suspended in the water column.

The type of gear you need to have to Crappie fish can be as simple as a young kids combo rod with 6lb monofilament and a hook and bobber. The set up I like to use is a 6’6”-7’ light to medium action Daiwa Fuego spinning rod with a Daiwa Fuego 100 spinning reel with 6lb Daiwa Samurai fluorocarbon line.

Whichever way you decide to go after them, hang on because the action can be non-stop, fish after fish when you find an active school. So if you have never done it, get out there this spring - keep an eye on water temps in the bays, and try some Crappie fishing! I guarantee you it won’t be a crappy time!

Tight lines, happy fishing!!

Mike Williams

www.williamsoutfitters.com

FISHING GUIDE

Local fishing guide Mike Quesnelle is a long-time tournament angler and is the owner/operator of GOAT Angling Adventures. He has extensive knowledge of the Kawartha Lakes and surrounding areas fishing for Bass, Walleye, Muskie and more.

Your guided day on the water in a fully rigged Ranger Bass boat will be the Greatest of All Time!

GOAT Angling Adventures

705-934-1450

topwatermike66@gmail.com

www.goatanglingadventures.ca

FISHING GUIDE

Williams Outfitters is a Native owned and operated outfitting company that is located on the Curve Lake First Nation. Mike Williams, has had the privilege of learning both traditional and contemporary methods of fishing and his goal is to revive the art of the “Native Guide” this led him to develop adventure experiences for visitors to the area. Michael promises a comfortable fishing adventure that targets a variety of species as well as sharing his traditional knowledge and fishing secrets of the area.

Williams Outfitters

Mike Williams

www.williamsoutfitters.com

Finding Your Fishing Mentor

At Ontario Women Anglers, mentorship between members has been a joy to watch and something that has developed in our club through natural evolution. Experience levels among our members range from those that have never held a fishing rod to those that participate in tournaments and everything in between.

In our organization, we use a “women-mentoring-women” approach where newer anglers are supported by those with more experience. The majority of the novice anglers in our club have expressed that they are more at ease learning from other women and that they experience far fewer attitudinal barriers.

I was very fortunate in having two primary fishing mentors: first, my father Craig, who introduced all of his children to fishing at a young age and was responsible for my re-introduction to the sport in 2008 after a 30-year absence; and second, Jason Lush, a friend from a local badminton club, who taught me many of the fishing skills I still use today.

While my experience in finding a mentor was relatively easy, it can take a number of outings with a variety of people before you find that one person that is willing to share their knowledge with you and spend time on the water putting it into practical application. With the right person, it won’t be long before you are setting up your own rod, learning fishing knots, understanding what baits and lures to use in various applications, and a host of other important skills.

Commitment and trust are essential parts in the mentor-mentee

relationship, for both parties. As a mentee, one should appreciate, not only the time the mentor shares, but also the years of experience and knowledge that they are willing to pass on. One way a mentee can show appreciation to their mentor is by contributing to the cost of gas put into the boat or by providing a meal during the outing. A mentor may also ask that certain fishing locations be kept in confidence as the work in finding may have taken years of research and time on the water.

A good fishing mentor is also a good conservationist, understanding the importance and responsibility of taking care of our natural resources for generations to come. They abide by the province’s fishing regulations, use proper fish care and handling techniques, dispose of their litter properly, and take on the role of steward in the outdoors. Good mentors coach and support new anglers while being sensitive to “stupid questions” mentees may feel they are asking.

If you are interested in learning how to fish or if you’re looking to get involved in an organization with like-minded women that participate in the sport, Ontario Women Anglers provides numerous opportunities to learn and get out on the water. To learn more about our club, please visit: www.ontariowomenanglers.ca

Pike to the Rescue!

As the snow melts away and the ice on the frozen lakes recede, many anglers are feeling the itch of the fishing bug. With Walleye and Bass seasons still months away, fishermen will target Crappie and Perch to help ease the pain. When I really need to feel something big on my line it's Pike to the rescue!

Spring is the best time for Northern Pike fishing.

• Depending on the lake you are fishing, Northern Pike typically spawn sometime between March and May. Once water temperatures reach between 40-45 degrees F. Pike will begin to show up in the shallows. They can spawn both in open water and under the ice and show a preference for shallow areas that are rich in vegetation. Isolated bays protected from winds tend to be the first to warm up and are a great place to start your search. In the Kawartha Lakes area, we have several lakes that offer a year-round open season for Northern Pike. Balsam Lake has become one of my favourites to target early season Northerns.

• Although normally a very aggressive fish, the early spring can be a challenge to tempt them into biting, here are a few tips and techniques to help you succeed.

• Start your search in shallow back bays sheltered from the wind and away from the main lake. The best bays will have an organic bottom with remnants of weed from last year as well as some new emergent weed. Not all the Pike will head to these back bays to spawn. Try your luck on large rock flats with sparse weed along the edges or main lake points as well.

• Keep in mind the water is still cold and the fish will be a bit sluggish. Slower presentations allow Pike to track your offering and entice a strike. I like to have several different lure options available including Jerk baits, Spinnerbaits, and In-line spinners such as Mepps & Panther Martin. Be sure to make use of a wire leader. Pike have extremely sharp teeth and large jaws, the perfect storm for getting your favourite jerk bait bit off. Try to use the smallest, lightest wire leader you can get away with, a heavy wire leader can affect the action of some lures making them less effective.

• Try using smaller lures this time of year. The Pike haven't really started to feed aggressively and smaller "snack sized" baits are likely to get more attention. Move slowly through prime areas trying to be as quiet as possible. The shallow water and lack of heavy cover will allow fish to spook easily, and an electric trolling motor or push pole is an invaluable tool.

• Make sure your fishing equipment is up to the challenge. I like to use a medium or medium/heavy action rod and 20lb braided line. My preference is a baitcasting reel but spinning reels are equally effective. A good set of pliers and jaw spreaders can help with the removal of lures, but be careful, those sharp teeth can inflict nasty cuts to misplaced fingers.

Those first few weeks after the ice has been out can be some of the best times to target Pike.

They are feisty fighters and a thrill for kids as well as adults to catch. In addition, if you are inclined to take a few home to eat,

the flaky white flesh is surprisingly tasty and firm thanks to the cold water this time of year.

Good luck and get outside!

Mike Quesnelle, GOAT Angling Adventures

www.goatanglingadventures.ca

topwatermike66@gmail.com

705 934-1450

Easter Pom-Poms

First of all, you could easily accomplish any of these ideas with some simple dollar store pom poms, but have you been acquainted with the simply joy of making a pom pom yourself? You can easily knock out a stack of the little fluffy gems while watching a movie or listening to an audiobook or it would be a simple craft to take on a long trip.

You’ll Need:

• Yarn of varying colours

• Scissors

• A fork

Here’s our tried-and-true method:

1) Wrap your yarn of choice around the prongs of a fork. This step involves a bit of trial and error, but wrap a little more than you might think to get a nice, fluffy pom pom.

2) Next, snip the yarn from the remainder, and then snip a separate piece of yarn about the length of your index finger to your thumb.

3) Tie the piece of yarn through the centre space of the fork, around the wrapped yarn and double knot it tightly.

4) Snip the wrapped string on both sides of the fork where it has made a loop and any pieces that are too long.

5) Relish in the simply joy of your homemade pom pom.

Pom Pom Garland

A long piece of string would be a convenient way to use up all of the poms you’ve just made throughout the duration of a long movie. Thread the string through the centre of your pom poms, spread them out evenly, and hang to enjoy a rainbow of fluff.

Pom Pom Hair Ties

Use a second piece of yarn to tie over top of the existing string in the centre of your pom pom and tie it to a hair tie, cutting free the remaining yarn. When styling your mini space buns or pigtails, use matching pom pom hair ties to finish your look.

Pom Pom Sling shot

Alright, if I’m going to teach you how to sling fluffy balls of string, you’re going to have to agree to be responsible and respectful! Okay? Please use a consenting target, like one you draw on a dishwasher with an erasable marker. Place your pom pom in the mouth of the plastic spoon, gently pull it backwards, and launch that thing to hit your bullseye, not any unsuspecting pas sersby. Promise?

Jacquelyn Toupin is a birthkeeper & intuitive healer supporting women to evolve into their truest selves. You can follow along on her instagram @my.sacred.wild

and the background recedes in ever lightening tones.

Here is a way that you can draw nature using completely natural ink and paintbrushes, using materials you’ve gathered in a nearby field or forest.

Making Natural Paint brushes:

Gather sticks that are about 6 inches long and ½ inch wide. Using scissors, gently harvest a clump of soft grass, a bundle of pine needles, a sprig of cedar, the tip of a mullein leaf, the ends of dandelion leaves – really anything that is soft and pliable. Using woolen yarn, thread or wire, tie the tips of your paint brush to the shaft of your sticks. Now all you need is some natural ink.

Here is how to make simple berry ink:

Gather ripe berries such as raspberries, strawberries and blackberries. I’ve had great success with Buckthorn berries. In a pinch, frozen berries will work as well.

Crush your berries until you have a fine pulp. Add a teaspoon of white vinegar and a dash of salt per pint of crushed berries. The

Pour into a small glass jar. Consider adding a whole clove of and/ or a drop of wintergreen oil before closing the lid. Do add a label and clearly mark with this is. You don’t want someone accidently drinking your concoction!

Experiment with other types of plants. Try leaves, nuts roots and flowers. Crush using a mortar and pestle. Add 1 cup of plant parts to 2 cups water. Remember to add a dash of salt and 1 teaspoon of white vinegar. Simmer for an hour or more, checking for colour change.

You are ready to use this. Apply to regular paper or watercolour paper using regular brushes or your own homemade nature paint brushes. Remember this – your ink will change colour in time, fading in sunlight or darkening, depending on the material you’ve used. Have a berry nice time!

Submitted by Jacob Rodenburg, Executive Director of Camp Kawartha, an award-winning outdoor education centre and summer camp.

Dwarf Crocodiles

Riverview Park & Zoo

Two baby West African Dwarf crocodiles were recently hatched at the Riverview Park and Zoo in Peterborough. Two eggs hatched on Dec. 17, 2022 after they were incubated for over 100 days. The hatchlings are the offspring of the Irwin and Lyle crocodile, residents of the Park and Zoo.

These west African crocodiles are the smallest of the crocodilian family. The two babies are currently 10 inches and 0.2 pounds (100 grams). Adults can grow up to five to six feet in length and 44 pounds.

West African Dwarf crocodile is considered critically endangered due to habitat loss in the reptile’s native African countries. There are an estimated 25,000 to 100,000 individuals in the wild. Under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (ICUN), the West African Dwarf crocodile conservation status is “vulnerable.”

Females typically lay an average clutch of 10 to 14 hard-shell eggs, though up to 21 have been recorded. It will take up to two years to determine the sex of the crocodiles as they can change based on their environment. The females only lay one clutch a year, and two baby crocodiles born is an important success for the species’ survival plans.

Crocodiles mainly eat fish, crustaceans and amphibians. At the zoo, the crocodiles are fed twice a week with a diet of various types of meat.

The zoo is the only free admission accredited zoo in Canada and is open 365 days a year. These baby crocodiles won’t be available for public viewing until the summer. You will find them in the seasonal conservation exhibit in the Dobbin Building near the train station.

Cathy Mitchell, Riverview Park and Zoo

Kawartha Wildlife Centre

After fall migration is over, and most birds have flown to find warm refuge further south, mammals are left to either brave the cold or hunker down for hibernation.

One of the most remarkable animals in Canada is the Southern flying Squirrel, able to glide between trees using extra skin present between its limbs that act as a sail.   This flying squirrel woke her finders in the early morning hours after making her way inside their house and 'gliding around the room'! Southern flying squirrels do not hibernate throughout the winter so they nest together in groups consisting of family and neighbours in treetop cavities to stay warm, and sometimes they find their way into attic spaces seeking radiant warmth.  As soon as weather permits, she will return to her

neighbourhood to reunite with her colony. In the meantime, she is being housed and kept comfortable in temperature controlled conditions in an effort to replicate her winter nesting environment

. If you have contained a flying squirrel (or any other animal!) from inside your home, garage or workshop during the winter, contact Kawartha Wildlife Centre or another authorized wildlife custodian before releasing it to ensure it is safe to do so. If you are concerned about nesting animals in your attic spaces during the winter, please do not attempt to trap and relocate them. Not only is it illegal to relocate wildlife in most situations in Ontario, it leaves them vulnerable to the elements, unfamiliar territory and predators, and risks spreading

diseases that can negatively affect the health of wild populations.

To support wildlife in need, please consider making a donation this season:

www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/33851

www.kawarthawildlifecentre.ca

Info@KawarthaWildlifeCentre.ca

705-292-9211

Spring Brings Flowers & Muddy Paws

Springtime is a great time of year to get outside with your pup and explore your local parks, but it can also be muddy and wet! To ensure you and your canine companion have an enjoyable walk this spring, here are 3 tips for rainy/muddy walks in Canada:

1. Be Prepared - Have mud-resistant gear on hand such as waterproof jackets and pet-friendly booties to keep them from getting too muddy or wet. Don’t forget to bring along some towels too so you can clean up messes once you get home!

2. Know Your Route – Since ground conditions can change quickly during spring rains, make sure you know the routes you plan to take ahead of time so that you can avoid hazardous areas or slippery slopes.

Local Humane Societies

Lakefield Animal Welfare Society 2887 Lakefield Rd., Lakefield • 705-652-0588

www.lakefieldanimalwelfare.org

Humane Society Of Kawartha Lakes 111 McLaughlin Rd., Lindsay 705-878-4618 • www.hskl.ca

3. Take Breaks When Needed – If there’s one thing we all know about dogs, it’s that they tend to have boundless amounts of energy! Make sure to take breaks when needed throughout the walk so both of you don’t overdo it in colder temperatures or unfavorable terrain.

Aside from rainstorms and mud, spring brings clear skies and beautiful blooming flora as well—so why not make the most of it? As long as owners stay prepared for messy weather, there's no reason why these two-legged/four-legged combos can't make the most of their outings during the season of renewal!

Be sure to follow me on Social for more tips!

@turnerandpoochtraining

You can also email me at ineke@ptbodogtrainer.ca

Animal Rescue Krew (ARK) 3307 Lakefield Rd., Lakefield • 705-651-0069

Peterborough Humane Society 385 Lansdowne St. E., Peterborough • 705-745-7676 www.peterboroughhumanesociety.ca

Home Again Bancroft 613-474-3450 • www.homeagainbancroft.ca

Things to See & Do in Northern Kawartha Lakes!

Fenelon Falls & District

Chamber of Commerce

We are excited to announce that the 2023 edition of “Things to See & Do” will be available at the end of May – just in time for your Summer trip planning!

The Coboconk, Norland, Rosedale, and Kirkfield “Things to See & Do” booklet is a wonderful resource for residents and visitors alike where beautiful sights and community information are right at your fingertips.

The print and virtual publication includes a collection of sights you must see, parks and other areas where you can bask in the visually stunning assets of our communities, local history fun facts, and even a few travel games – like our adventure word search! This in-demand publication also includes a directory of local businesses and community organizations.

From popular events such as Canada’s Fresh Water Summit Festival and Norland Summer Festival, to outdoor adventures at our beaches, provincial parks, and hiking trails – there is no shortage of fun or hospitality.

Want to have your business included in the directory? Or do you have a great idea of a hidden gem of a spot to share? With more than 4500 print copies and additional digital distribution throughout the Kawarthas, Peterborough and the GTA, this is a great place to be included.

For more information please email Hayley at chamber@coboconknorland.ca or visit  www.coboconknorland.ca

We look forward to hearing from you!

The Country Living Show Returns April 21st

Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of country living and local creativity! The Fenelon Falls Country Living Show is returning to the Fenelon Falls Arena & Community Centre from April 21st to 23rd. With over 100 booths, this show is a must-see for anyone looking to enhance their farm, home, or garden.

Not only will you explore booths with local businesses showcasing their unique products and services, but you’ll also find incredible local artisans and friendly local service providers. Enjoy a delicious onsite dining experience by a local restaurant, as well as the popular Hello Spring Sale from Barn and Bunkie. This year, the Country Living Show will also host workshops, family fun activities and giveaways! And best of all, admission is completely free thanks to the generosity of our admission sponsors.

Located, as always, at 27 Veterans Way, Fenelon Falls, Ontario, K0M 1N0, this show is the perfect opportunity to start planning your next

all the latest updates and news.

Vendor registration is still open, and businesses have until March 22nd to register. Additional information and the registration form can be found at www.countrylivingshow.ca/vendor-registration

As a large show that experienced record attendance in 2022, the Country Living Show is a great opportunity for potential sponsors to gain exposure and boost their sales.

We have a variety of sponsorship options available - if you’re interested in supporting the show or learning more about these opportunities, don’t hesitate to contact the Fenelon Falls Chamber of Commerce at hello@explorefenelonfalls.com or (705) 887-3409. See you in April!

The Kawartha Lakes Country Living Show

Fenelon Falls & District Chamber of Commerce

Spring is on it’s way and the warm weather brings our annual Easter Eggstravaganza event. We invite you to join in the fun and games in downtown Fenelon Falls on Saturday, April 8th. This free event is a great way to spend a day out with family and friends.

April 21st to 23rd is the return of the Kawartha Lakes Country Living Show, hosted by the Fenelon Falls & District Chamber of Commerce. This premiere event brings together vendors, community groups, artists and makers from Kawartha Lakes and beyond. If you’re new to the area it’s the perfect place to meet new people, join a local community organization and find just the right service providers for your home and cottage needs. Stop by the show for a great meal at the onsite restaurant or enjoy a fun workshop. There’s something for all ages and interests! Plan your visit at www. countrylivingshow.ca.

No matter when you visit Fenelon Falls you’ll find something to tempt your taste buds, inspire your creativity, brighten up your home or spice up your wardrobe. Local business owners offer personal and friendly services. Whether you’re here for a day, a weekend or a lifetime we welcome you to our village, a vibrant and growing community.

To find out more about Fenelon Falls; our businesses, attractions, event and opportunities please visit www.explorefenelonfalls.com or call Marylee at (705)887-3409.

Bring on the New Year!

Lindsay + District Chamber of Commerce

The LDCC is excited to announce a new Professional Development series for 2023, PD with the LDCC. Each month we will be offering members an opportunity to attend sessions that highlight topics, recognized by them, that are important to business owners in our area.

We kicked this series off with Diane Steven of the Kawartha Lakes Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre. February will highlight end of year tax information presented by Income Tax Plus and in March, a mindfulness session presented by State of Mind Hypnosis.

Sessions are held monthly at the Pie Eyed Monk in Lindsay, it costs only $10 and lunch is included. Keep an eye on our Social Media, website and Newsletter for details on upcoming events!

Follow us @ldchamber1962 #PDwiththeLDCC

Sign up for our newsletter at www.lindsaychamber.com/subscribe

Or stop by our office at 180 Kent St. West in Lindsay!

Promotional Videos

It was a busy summer and fall, with continued growth during 2022 after our “Hometown Holiday” shop local campaign last winter. The winter campaign was made possible when our partnership with the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, Millbrook & District Chamber of Commerce, and Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism resulted in significant grant from the Federal Government. The campaign involved local radio, newspapers, television, digital and social media platforms and significantly raised awareness of the Chamber and the benefits of belonging. The Chamber membership almost doubled in size as a result.

When you have momentum, it’s no time to slow down and the Havelock Chamber is not slowing down. We are in the middle of a website rebuild, a significant partnership with the organizers of the Havelock Fire & Ice Festival aimed at turning this event into a true month-long celebration of the winter season in the Havelock area, and a brand-new initiative to create promotional videos for each interested business and organization Chamber member. The videos will be 60 seconds or less, hosted on the Chamber YouTube Channel and will provide descriptions of the business/organization with links back to their website or social media channel. Of course, each member will receive a copy of their video with the rights to use it on their own sites, or in online ads. Putting videos in the hands of each eligible member, along with all the other benefits of belonging, adds up to a real value proposition for membership.

The Havelock Belmont Methuen & District Chamber wishes a great 2023 to all readers. Paul Stevens, President Havelock Belmont Methuen & District Chamber of Commerce

Havelock Belmont Methuen & District Chamber of Commerce