Sunshine, snapping cold and a skiff of fresh snow…..ingredients for a great winter day. Debbie went walking with a family and they decided to go skating tomorrow….hearty group. Another cold day should bring the kiteboarders out on the ice.

Indoors we are preparing for New Years Eve – a subtle dinner celebration for those who want to be home with their loved ones to ring in the new year-Homecoming Jan 08 (the best weekend ever) and the Kiteboarding Weekend in late January – don’t stay home, come and join us.

So many good movies just released…..what is your favourite? Poll on blog….let’s hear what you think is a “must see”.

Congratulations to Charlotte Kloosterman and Adam Van Spronsen who were engaged at the Resort this evening. Adam surprised Charlotte with a very romantic proposal in The Enterprise Room. Their smiles alone made this the good news of the day. Wishing you both every happiness together….now let’s plan the wedding!

Merry Christmas from the ice rink on Rice Lake, at Elmhirst’s Resort. Despite the cold, the resort kids wanted to try out their new skates. The ice was ideal for a pick up game or a few twirls. Rosy cheeks were rewarded with hot chocolate and holiday treats. Hope your day is magical, filled with warmth, friends and family.

Final item of business at our management meeting today was to send best wishes for a happy and safe holiday to our friends around the world. This evening guests are invited to join us for cookies, hot chocolate, carol singing and of course, the reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” as we sit around the fire. We’ll be thinking of you and hoping you are with loved ones tonight.

It was a cold one today….down to -7 C early evening; the chickens are huddling together (they really didn’t like having new bedding and shavings installed….broke the rhythm); our neighbours got together for a bit of Christmas cheer at Stephen and Caroline’s – nice evening. The only thing that could have made it better? Victory for the Leafs.
To keep things toasty we are burning oat hulls from Quaker Oats – Peter is up before the sun checking on the product and ensuring the heat is keeping up to demand. So far, so good…..indoor pool is very inviting.
It’s great to come home after work, sit by the fire and read the cards and letters from friends – thank you all.
One more day to get those last minute gobsmacking gifts….enjoy the long lines at checkout or call us for Gift Certificates and start the holiday season early. If you are heading out to see family tomorrow, travel safe.

It was a rockin’ time at our employee Christmas event tonight….everyone was dressed up and out of uniform. After a sumptuous buffet we retired to the Wild Blue for a Rockband competition….it was lively and entertaining – no worries about any of the staff leaving us to join a travelling band. Get your family together and try a favourite Beatles tune – the challenge is on – are you ready?

Great to see Barney and Emily at Sunday Brunch – married here, moved to Toronto for work, home to visit family. Barney is the toon man responsible for our Friends Colouring book and the wall art in the Treehouse.

Seafood, berry crepes, hot and cold selections, desserts…..yours for the enjoying at Sunday Brunch.

You know the world is out of control when the hot items for Christmas giving are trackers for your children, cellphones, GPS and SPOT – satellite signal tracking devices. What happened to holding hands? No family member should ever be lost or without 911 service now….of course, you could just book your family vacation at a small lakeside resort and forego the security devices for real outdoor fun. Be free…be one with nature…smell a wood fire (gas fireplaces just don’t smell)…walk in the woods or skate on the lake…it’s not too late. Christmas cottages still available for those who dare to experience winter in the raw. Embrace winter at Homecoming Weekend January 08-10; try kiteboarding on the ice January 29-31; plan an overnight for Valentine’s and February Family Day now – excellent gift for the entire clan. Stand up to winter!

Caught in the Wild Blue Yonder on iphone, looking very amorous, were Leanne and Dirk, married at the resort a year ago and Barry and Carol, also married at the Resort. Champagne toasts for all. Happy Anniversary and best wishes.

The Olympic Torch made a guest appearance in the bar tonight to the delight of those who missed the relay.

The sun shining on the hand painted creche (by Claude Tombs) reminded me the holiday season was close at hand. Gift Certificate sales are booming for teachers, relatives and special friends. Dining, weekends, Health Club memberships, spa services, sightseeing flights and horseback riding are most popular. Great idea for those “hard to buy for” folks on your list.

Torch fever continues as we watch the flame arrive in Toronto. Please check out the story by my torch mate, Mark Bonokoski,columnist for the Toronto Sun – his front page feature Flame On! captures the emotion of our group in Lakefield yesterday. It’s a lovely article – I passed the flame to Mark and as he begins his run I am in the background getting my fuel source disabled. The relay may not have been on livecam but you can relive the moment with film by Henry on YouTube (Anne Marshall, Olympic Torch Run, Lakefield). My torch was in the lobby today but for some reason I felt better having it at home.

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