November Forest

The forest in November is a trove of subtle treasures. With the flash of foliage fading, textures and patterns are revealed -- at least to those of us who stop to look.

There is unexpected artfulness in colonies of fungi growing on fallen logs. Just a few months ago these were obscured by leafy underbrush.

Leafless branches (in this case on my favourite tree, Bertha) reflect an unseen root system. Elsewhere, a spire of an old trunk, whittled by time, reaches for the sky.

In November, we can see the varieties of bark which sheath the trees. Beeches in tight-fitting smooth grey, ironwoods in shaggy scales, maples in deeply creviced armor. The ropy bark of cedar trees draws the eye upward and inward.

Of course, the forest is not all brown and drab. There are brilliant shots of green running throughout the woods. Our "Mossy Trail" is, as one might expect, verdant even now with a patchwork of different mosses. 


But even in the deciduous hardwood section of the forest, pockets of green thrive. Rocks, roots, stumps and living trees are covered in green velvet. Tender ground cover and ferns brighten creek beds and marshy areas.

If one takes the time to look (and really, in November we have the time) the forest is anything but stark or barren. It is, as ever, a dynamic work of art and design.

All photos were taken on the private hiking trails here at Fern Glen Inn with a standard point-and-shoot camera. You're invited to come experience them for yourself. Bring a macro lens and wide angle lens if you have them to do an even better job of capturing the landscapes -- the big and the miniscule -- that make up this forest.

Season for Readers and Writers

The quiet season is upon us and things are, well, quiet. Oh sure, there are still trails to hike and sights to see, if you're so inclined. And most of the parks, galleries, shops and restaurants are still open, though perhaps with shortened hours to match the shortened days. But if you're looking for non-stop excitement amidst a high-energy crowd of adventurers, you won't find it here (at least not until the snow comes!). 

On the other hand, if a low-key interlude of ambling walks in the woods and toasty, fireside nightcaps are your thing, then you've found the right place and time. The quiet season at Fern Glen Inn offers crisp air, stark landscapes, and the pace and space to breathe and be.

It's the perfect time for those of us who revel in the written word. Be you a writer, an aspiring writer, an avid reader, or one who wishes you had more time in your daily life to lose yourself in a good book, this is the season for you. 

To help you celebrate books and other quiet pleasures, we're offering two special packages and more...

Solo Writer's Retreat

A popular quiet season package, the Mini Sabbatical is perfect for writers. Whether you're working on your memoirs, a collection of poetry, your great Canadian novel, or simply catching up on a personal journal, this getaway will free you to focus.

The Solo Writer's Retreat Package includes:

• 2 nights accommodation for 1 person
• breakfast both mornings
• lunch and dinner on your full day
• writing journal for you to keep

$239 + tax

Available until December 15, 2011.

Book Lovers' Romantic Getaway

Perfect for partners who need a bit of quiet time to just be together. Read, walk in the woods, play scrabble while taking turns choosing pretty chocolates from a box of truffles.  

The Book Lovers' Romantic Getaway includes:

• 2 nights accommodation for 2 people
• breakfast both mornings
• box of 8 gourmet chocolate truffles
• sturdy Fern Glen Inn book bag for trips to the library and book store

$239 per couple + tax

Available until December 15, 2011.

20% Discount at The Bookcase

The Bookcase independent bookstore in downtown Huntsville is a great place to spend a lazy afternoon. Louise Parkinson, owner of the store and founder of the NorthWords Literary Festival, has written a guest post on Books for Writers. Read her post and mention it in the store to receive a 20% discount off all regular priced books in store for the month of November.

Book Swap

Bring a book to add to our eclectic collection and take one of ours home with you. We have all sorts of genres and authors; there's sure to be something for everyone.

NaNoWriMo Support

Are you participating in NaNoWriMo this month? What do you need to achieve your word count? Extra coffee packs, a thesaurus, a self-serve lunch so you don't have to interrupt your creative flow, moral support or a figurative kick in the pants? Let us know and we'll do our best to help you reach your goal.

Learn more about National Novel Writing Month at www.nanowrimo.org 

Call or email us at Fern Glen Inn, or book online for your quiet season getaway.

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For an occurrence to become an adventure, it is necessary and sufficient for one to recount it. ~Jean-Paul Sartre

Books For Writers

This month, as we revel in the written word, I've invited a local bibliophile to write a guest post on Books for Writers. Louise Parkinson is the owner of the Bookcase independent bookstore in Huntsville. She's also the driving force behind the NorthWords Literary Festival which brought a number of stellar authors—including Margaret Atwood, Terry Fallis and more—to town this fall.

Louise has provided an excellent list of resources along with some sage advice for writers and aspiring writers. And to top it off, she is generously offering a discount on books at her store this month. See details below. 

I hope you enjoy Louise's guest post as much as I do. If so, please take a minute to let her know—either in the comments here or in person at The Bookcase.

Happy reading everyone,

Jackie

Hey there

I’m Louise Parkinson and I own the Bookcase in beautiful downtown Huntsville.  Jackie has asked me to be a guest blogger to talk about what I feel are the best books out there for writers.  I am a writer myself so I have personally seen and read many books on writing.  I have also spoken to many authors about the tools and books they use for reference.  And yes, surprisingly, there is a lot of consistency in it.  Let me share some of the titles that keep popping up.

The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B.White

Everybody’s bible on writing.  Small but very powerful.  An absolutely must have for all writers – no question!  If you haven’t got it, you need to go out and get this invaluable resource right now.

On Writing by Stephen King

Don’t be put off by the author here.  I am in no way a Stephen King fan, but this is one of the best writing books out there.  It is part memoir, part inspiration and part instruction booklet.  After reading this you will have no choice but to sit down and create your own masterpiece! 

Reading like a Writer by Francine Prose

If anyone has had the pleasure of reading anything by Francine Prose, you will know that she is one of the greatest writers of our time.  Her work is stunningly beautiful.  It makes sense that what she has to say on writing is worth hearing.  She insists that we need to know what good writing looks like before we are able to do it ourselves and in this book she teaches us how to do exactly that.  A valuable resource.

Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott

"Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he'd had three months to write. It was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my  brother's shoulder, and said, 'Bird by bird, buddy.  Just take it bird by bird.”  Anne Lamott

Anne Lamott is another author that if you are not familiar with, you should seek her out.  I know a lot of people who just adore this woman’s work and for good reason.  One of the main messages of the book is start small and don’t let the bumps along the way derail your attempts.  Told with humour and grace.

How to Write a Sentence by Stanley Fish

Fish obviously loves the written word and you will too after reading this. His insights into crafting the perfect sentence every time are invaluable to any writer.  He uses examples from the great masters of fiction to ensure you are able to recognize and create sentences that will inspire and move you.  Outstanding book.

There are many books out there on developing characters and plot and other matters of form, to help you develop your skills.  One that I seem to go back to time and again is The Writer’s Notebook Craft Essays from Tin House, Various Authors.  Tin House runs a well established writer’s school in the States which offers writer’s craft courses each summer.  This book is a compilation of the best classes and essays from the program presented by some of the best in business.  A great resource to have on hand.

Finally, I would like to add the most important tool of all for would-be writers and one that is surprisingly often overlooked, and that is reading.  To be a good writer you need to be exposed to good writing.  Read everything you can from your genre and everything you can from outside your genre.  If you are writing picture books for kids, read every picture book you can find, study them and find out what makes them work.  If you are writing fiction, read fiction voraciously, looking at different styles and techniques.  It takes time and effort but it is the only way to learn.  Unfortunately most people don’t bother to do it.

Good luck with your writing.  If you are in Huntsville, come by and say hello.  Come in the month of November and mention this blog and I will give you 20% off all books.

Kind regards,

Louise Parkinson

The Bookcase

93 Main St. E

Huntsville  ON  P1H 2B9

705 789 9111

www.thebookcase.ca

louise@thebookcase.ca

End of Season Blues

October is heaving her last sigh and it signals the end of our busiest seasons. In the heady days of summer and the colourful days of autumn foliage, a steady stream of visitors come to Muskoka, Algonquin Park, the Almaguin Highlands, and right here to Fern Glen Inn. And though you might think the pace wears us down or uses us up, quite the opposite is true.


While our guests are recharging their own batteries and filling up their own buckets of adventure, we somehow thrive on their energy, buoyed by their excitement. The pace is slowing now, as it inevitably does for the month of November, and I know I'll get a bit of the end of season blues. What can I say, I miss our guests already!


It's not like we don't have things to do. At this time of year, Jim and I fill our days with all sorts of things that need doing. Bringing in firewood to see us (and our many winter guests) through the snowy season is nearly a full-time job in itself. Many local residents start the process in September and are well finished the task by now. There are also maintenance jobs to take care of, repairs to make, equipment and outdoor furniture to put away until spring. Jim has his design clients to take care of and I teach a course in self employment for one of the local service agencies. 


So our pace isn't much slower, but it is different. And it doesn't generally include the whirlwind of people from around the province and around the world passing through our doors. This year we had people from England, Scotland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Zimbabwe, China, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Mexico, the United States, and of course Canada. I know I'm missing some countries but I think I've covered the continents!


We've welcomed newlyweds, and "oldlyweds", all sorts of couples, some family groups, solo travelers, life-long friends, and happy pooches. Everyone is different, yet we're all the same. Everyone has a story -- an interesting one! -- whether they realize it or not. And it's so amazing for us to enter into it and take up a small role in their history.


So we'll try to make use of the empty hours while we have them. And we'll happily welcome the guests who do come to share in the quiet season (it really does have its own charms). Then before we know it, it'll be mid-December; the snow will come and bring with it all sorts of people who will come to play in it. I can't hardly wait!

Cornmeal Drop Biscuits, the Souper Sidekick

Fern Glen Inn • www.ferngleninn.blogspot.com

At this time of year, with the days getting shorter and cooler, a big pot of hot and hearty soup is the superhero of supper. And what does every superhero need? Why, a sidekick, of course! That's where biscuits come in.

Like every upstanding citizen knows, a good sidekick should support the superhero, with complementing -- not competing -- strengths. It should contribute essentially to the victory, but not take all the glory. It is content to be simple and steadfast, leaving the complexities and flashiness to the superhero. A sidekick can stand on it's own in a pinch, but it really shines when working as part of a team. Does this have you thinking of Robin, Tonto and Cornmeal Drop Biscuits? It should!

Biscuits have all the characteristics of a great sidekick. They're unassuming and rather plain-looking, but hot and fresh from the oven, they're the perfect partner just about any type of soup or stew you can conjure up. And drop biscuits are super-easy and quick to whip together. Unlike flaky biscuits, they don't have to be rolled or patted out. No cutting into neat pucks or squares. Just drop the dough by spoonfuls onto a baking sheet and pop them in the oven. They'll be golden and ready to eat by the time the soup comes to a simmer.

I like the cornmeal in these biscuits for the added crunch and interesting texture. You can also dress these up for more of a staring role by adding all sorts of extras. Try stirring any of these into the bowl after you've cut in the butter but before adding the wet ingredients:

• sliced green onion
• snipped chives
• diced ham
• diced or shredded sharp cheese (cheddar, gruyere, emmental are good)
• crumbled feta or goat cheese
• chopped sundried tomatoes
• roasted red peppers or jalapenos
• hardy herbs (thyme, rosemary, sage)
• toasted walnuts
• whatever super accessories will work well with the flavours in your soup

Partner these biscuits with a stellar soup and you'll have a victory at the supper table!

Cornmeal Drop Biscuits

Makes 10-12 biscuits.

These are best served hot or warm, fresh from the oven, but can be reheated in a microwave or crumbled into a bowl of soup the next day.

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/2 cup (4 ounces) cold butter, cut into dice
• 1 cup heavy cream, table cream or buttermilk*, plus more if needed

Preheat oven to 375°F.

In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter or two knives; or rub together with your fingers.

Mixture should look like coarse meal with some pea-sized pieces of butter. Add any extras (herbs, cheese, etc).

Make a well in the centre and pour in one cup of cream (or buttermilk, if using). Stir with a spoon until just combined and no dry flour remains. Add more cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed to fully moisten the dough.

Drop by large spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake until golden brown and cooked through, about 20 minutes. Serve within half an hour.

* For the richest, most tender biscuits, use heavy cream and don't think about the fat content -- let a hearty, tomato-based bean-and-vegetable soup be the virtuous partner in this duo! 

But if you can't do that with a clear conscious, use a lighter cream (table cream or half'n'half).

Buttermilk is an excellent low-fat alternative. The biscuits won't be quite as tender but they'll have great flavour.

The Turning of the Tamaracks

Visitors make a mad rush to Algonquin Park and the surrounding area every autumn in order to admire the scarlet hues of the hardwood forest. 


There are a number of Fall Foliage Reports tracking the progress of the maple trees—the amount of colour change and the amount of leaf fall—culminating in the status of Peak Colour. And once the peak has past, the park and its neighbouring towns quickly empty out with the collective understanding that it's all over for another year.


What visitors don't realize is there's a second act. One that I call The Golden Encore. I've written about it before and I'm compelled to write about it again because, year after year, it delights me still.

During this encore performance it's the tamarack trees who move into the spotlight instead of playing backup. By now the maples have lost their leaves, especially in the high canopy of the forest and the crests of hills. This allows the sun to reach the leaves in the understory, turning the maple seedlings yellow and peach. The birch trees are sporting bright yellow leaves and their clusters stand out among the bare deciduous branches around them. And dotting the hills, skirting lakes and bogs, the tamaracks are a brilliant gold.

An oddity in the tree world, tamaracks are the only coniferous tree (native to this part of the world, anyway) to turn colour and lose their needles in the fall. They can reach magnificent heights and are impossible to miss at this time of year. I love that they wait until the flashy reds of the maples are finished before they begin their show, so that we can best appreciate the vivacity of their colour against a more muted backdrop.

So while others are bemoaning the end of "leaf season" I am loving my walks in the woods, admiring the colourful carpet of fallen leaves underfoot and the swish of my feet shuffling through them. I'm driving the back country roads to town, where the trees press right up to the shoulder and I can see into the yellow interior of the understory. I'm walking up to the little lake and admiring anew the tamaracks that stake their hold along marshy shores. It's the denouement of leaf season, the turning of the tamaracks, the golden encore. And I love it.

And the winner is...

Fern Glen Inn • www.ferngleninn.blogspot.com

Our Summer Holiday Photo Contest has come to a close and the results are in! We had many entries that beautifully depicted the activities and sights our guests can enjoy during a summer holiday based at Fern Glen Inn.

For this contest, we had three prizes to be won—each a free night at the inn. Two prize winners were by random draw and one prize winner chosen by a panel of judges.

All photos were entered in a random draw to win one of the prizes. Every "Like" a photo received gave it an extra chance to win. Laura Jimenez's photo "Guardian Kitten" was the lucky winner for this draw. The picture shows a decorative "kitty" watching over the red and yellow inn against a backdrop of blue sky and green treetops. Congratulations Laura!

Everyone who "Liked" any of the photos was entered in another random draw to win one of the prizes. Erin D'Arcy was the lucky winner of this draw. She liked Stella Barnett-Walsh's picture of "Hartly enjoying the canoe ride with Dave". We look forward to meeting Erin when she claims her free night at the inn!

The Best Photo prize was determined by a panel of three judges: one from the Explorers' Edge regional tourism organization, one a photographer and cottage-county enthusiast, and another a visual artist with a love for the region.

All three panelists shared one common short-listed photo, and that was Diane Brough's "Pete, the friendly seagull". Diane and her family spent three nights here at Fern Glen Inn this summer. On a day trip over to Parry Sound, they took an afternoon cruise on the Island Queen, touring through the 30,000 islands on Georgian Bay. How considerate of "Pete" to pose so nicely for Diane!

Collectively, the panelists shortlisted 11 photos from the entries, and even that was very tough to do. Many of the entries beautifully captured the essence of a summer holiday within the broad area we love to play and relax in. Just two of the entries which deserve honourary mention are Pedro Goldman's lovely water lily "Summer Offering" and Mark Grieve's stunning sky over "Oxtongue Lake". 

We'd like to thank all the photographers who entered the contest -- and we're doing just that by offering each of them a $20 discount off their next two-night stay* at Fern Glen Inn!

Visit the contest photo album to see all the entries. And save your photos for our next contest!

* Valid on stays of two nights or more before March 31, 2012. One discount per photographer. One discount per reservation, not to be combined with other discounts, specials, or offers.