Winter Work at Arowhon

We have decided to work as much as possible this winter to complete all our planned projects earlier!  So then if there is time, we can tackle more jobs!  I always have a wish list in my pocket.  One family of “regulars” have asked for a deck on Birchview!  What would you like to see at Arowhon Pines?  Let us know and we will add it to the list.

To bring in the new year, the temperatures this week turn VERY cold – tonight it’s minus 23 degrees Celsius and snow is in the forecast.  Luckily our carpenters, Pat Land and crew are bundled up and used to working in this.      

An addition is being built at the back of the kitchen to accommodate a gorgeous new staff dining room and more storage.  Although every room is getting a new touch here and there, we’ve concentrated on renovating the remaining rooms in Sherwood and Bridgewood.  When we demolished some walls in the fall, we found Knob and Tube wiring (not live of course) which was a method of electrical wiring used until the 1940s - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knob_and_tube_wiring.  As well, there was cardboard from boxes, used for insulation, addressed to Mrs. M. Kates (who was Lillian, Eugene Kates’ mother).  I love finding all these interesting things.      

Here are some photos.  We’ll keep you updated as it progresses!

In the meanwhile, Happy New Year to all!

ALGONQUIN toques

Theresa & Adam's new ALGONQUIN toques from www.norquayco.com.  They also make gorgeous artisan canoe paddles.  Made In Canada.

It's still summer...in Australia!

Hello Theresa, David and Adam,

This is DL from Adelaide, South Australia, writing to you. My dear sister-in-law, EL, has just forwarded to me a lovely email you sent her.  I’d like you to know what a thrill that gave me. In fact, it gave me goose-bumps because, just before opening E’s email, I’d changed the desktop background photo on my computer from the Via Rail cross-Canada train to – wait for it – the Arowhon Pines dining room!!

I loved reading your message, and seeing the photos of the dining room in snow. What a contrast – and what beauty of a very different kind, too.  My stay with you, though brief, was absolutely marvelous, and I enjoyed staying in my beautifully refurbished room in K and E’s cabin. The meals in your dining room were sensational!

I took a series of magical photos of Arowhon Pines at dusk, and am attaching some for you. The first one is the one that I’ve got on my desktop now. I hope you enjoy them.

Warmest regards,
DL

Merry Christmas!

Click to view our December Newsletter with winter photos and

a new recipe for Arowhon Caramelized Apple Tarts - perfect for the holidays!

Gorgeous winter photos of Arowhon Pines

Although Arowhon is closed for the winter, some of our staff are still working, renovating the kitchen and cabins – we checked up on them on Monday!   

Arowhon is as pretty as ever, surrounded by a frozen Little Joe Lake and snow covered trees.  On the way back to the city, we talked about how great it would be to invite guests for a day of dog sledding, skating on the lake, and having hot chocolate around the fireplace in the dining room.  We quickly talked ourselves out of it!  For now, our contractors will be the only ones enjoying the spectacular icy views! 

There are many people who visit Algonquin in the snow.  Click http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/involved/calendar for a list of winter events in the Park.  If you do go, send us your photos! 

First snowfall of the season on October 31st

It’s chilly, wet, grey and absolutely beautiful in Algonquin Park.

Closing up Arowhon Pines for 2014

Closing up Arowhon Pines is always bittersweet.

First and foremost is that we will miss your friendly faces. 

We have a long list of jobs to do this fall and estimate being here for most of the winter, as we continue to renovate the rooms and update our kitchen.  Starting tomorrow though, we join the nine to five shift with weekends off (!!!) and look forward to spending some time with our families!   

Thank you for a wonderful, busy season!  Stay in touch!  See you next year!

Love Theresa, David and Adam

And all of us from Arowhon Pines.

The Christensen Family

Thank you to the Christensen family for their years and years of visits to Arowhon Pines.   See you next fall!

Hot, sunny with peak fall colour

Best weekend ever – hot, sunny with peak fall colour!  Gorgeous Saturday full of family canoe trips, kayaking, sailing, SUPing, hiking and yes, even swimming!

Early September at Arowhon Pines

Last night's temperature dipped to almost freezing and we all woke to a frosty morning.  With the mist still on the lake, some brave souls still went for a swim.  Autumn is a favourite time of year for many, with crisp, clear nights, great for star gazing and sunny days, perfect for hiking and spending time on the lake.  The leaves have started to change and the Arowhon Road is listed as among the best places for spectacular autumn views!  Visit the Park fall colour graph at  www.algonquinpark.on.ca/visit/general_park_info/fall-colour-report.php

There is still availability in the fall including Thanksgiving Weekend to enjoy with your family and friends.  Click for reservations. 

 We look forward to welcoming you! 

Bon Voyage Butterflies!

It was with mixed emotions that I tagged my butterfly today and let her go.  I was happy to watch her climb to the tops of the trees then later, free fall to feed on the sunflowers.

I loved seeing them as caterpillars too, ravenously munching on Algonquin milkweed.  In the blink of any eye they became cocoons, before morphing magically into these beauties.

Arowhon Pines became a monarch way station last year as part of www.monarchwatch.org.  We reared and tagged 19 butterflies.  This year there were 180 caterpillars!  So far 160 butterflies have been tagged and now they are setting out on their journey to Mexico!  The rest will be hatching soon!

The most heartwarming of all was to see everyone, guests and staff, both young and young at heart, enjoying the experience.

A BIG heartfelt thank you to Donna who researched all of this, and whose genuine enthusiasm, patience and hard work made this a huge success!

Bon Voyage Butterflies!

P.S.  As happy that I was seeing the monarchs, I could not help feeling a little angry, sad and ashamed that something like Monarch Watch has to exist at all.  We’ve cut down their habitat, mainly milkweed and poisoned their environment.  Did you know that last year was the poorest on record for monarch sightings in Mexico, where they roost for the winter?  What of our brown bats too whom we have not seen for years?  Do you remember the barn swallows that used to live in the rafters of our dining room verandah?  They too have disappeared from here.  

Sunny and hot August weekend at Arowhon Pines

Sail. Canoe. Swim. Relax. 

Find your inner peace, outdoors.

Pictures of August 4th BBQ

These photos say it all!  Extraordinary guests, weather, music, artists, farmers, suppliers and FOOD!

A great way to end a superb long weekend!

Love from Arowhon Pines.