Cottage life

Cottage life

Timber! Woodpecker condos condemned and demolished

by Kath on July 18, 2026 Permalink

When my husband and I bought our lake house in the fall, we knew we had some unwanted building going on. We hadn’t seen the beaver yet, but from the sizes of the holes that were in a stand of evergreens on the side of the property, we knew we had (alongside our numerous songbirds) a pileated woodpecker in the neighbourhood. If you don’ t know what that is, imagine Woody Woodpecker. That huge cartoon bird was clearly based on the enormous woodpecker pictured here. Unlike the cute hairy and downy woodpeckers, this guy can measure up to 20 inches long. And… Read more…
Busy as a beaver

by Kath on June 6, 2026 Permalink

If you subscribe to my newsletter (hint hint!), you’ll already have heard a snippet of our beaver tales. For the rest of you, let me catch you up to date. My family has a cottage on a lovely lake in the Kawartha region of Ontario. It’s part of the Trent-Severn Waterway, and sits just to the west of Lock 32, the first lock in the system, a scenic 386 km long canal system connecting Georgian Bay to Lake Ontario. Fun fact, if you’re of a certain age, you’ll know this spot, made famous by the Tragically Hip. Some folks think Bobcaygeon is the… Read more…

Such an amazing storyteller. Reminded my why I love to read. Brought me back to by adolescence, to my younger years, to my middle age and gave me hope for the future. An epic novel that offers both a global and a uniquely Canadian perspective. Loved every minute. Gould not put it down. A MUST READ!” - NB_Mississauga (Amazon), Another Glass of Tea LOVED this book! I read this book in the summer while on vacation by the lake. It was exactly what I was looking for. I actually read it in one day and couldn't put it down. I highly recommend it to anyone! - Amanda Krisjanovs (Amazon), Another Glass of Tea A charming story of friendship, love lost and found, and life lived with openness and joy. Full of romance and enthusiasm....Another Glass of Tea made for a delightful summertime read. - Simone (Goodreads), Another Glass of Tea If you are looking for a good book to read by the lake I just finished "Another Glass of Tea" by Katherine Ward. .... I have to say this genre really isn't "my cup of tea" (sorry, I couldn't resist) but I really enjoyed this book. It is very well written, the characters are created to such a high degree you can't help but get invested in them, and the story line is so compelling you find yourself reading into the wee hours of the morning to find out what's going to happen. That's all I will say because I don't want to spoil anything for someone who chooses to read this book. I will tell you that it's well worth the read. - Mary Stiver (via Facebook), Another Glass of Tea Loved following Fiona's life through out the years and seeing the blend of Canadian and Turkish cultures. Great storytelling and characters, overall a great read! Looking forward to more books in the future!! - Aliya (Amazon), Another Glass of Tea Another Glass of Tea is a great book to read. Easy to understand eventhough it has twist and turns. I immensely enjoyed it. I learned a lot about other country’s cultures, about love and friendships and many more. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to read. - Rose Belcastro (via email), Another Glass of Tea Although we follow Fiona through her year as a high school exchange student in Istanbul, don’t be fooled into thinking this is a teenage book. Yes, through her teenage experiences, we learn a great deal about the culture and beauty of this fascinating city, but as we follow her return to adult life in Canada, we discover how her exposure to a different culture and the friendships made by a young girl affect her adult life. Along the way we meet some very interesting characters who make the story even more enjoyable.. Make sure this story of abiding friendship, of love, of painful loss, and of love rediscovered, is on your reading list! - Sue Lissaman (Amazon), Another Glass of Tea A story about young love and travel in a foreign country. Author Katherine Ward describes the sights and sounds of Turkey in such a compelling way that the reader is transported there. We follow the adventures of a young lady studying far from home and the friendships and romance made along the way. You won't want to put it down. - Monica Simpson (Amazon), Another Glass of Tea This book reminds me of my favorite all-time author, Maeve Binchy. The details about Turkey are also fascinating. It changed my mind from "why would you want to visit Turkey?" to "I want to go to Turkey and see Istanbul and the Bosphorus"! Ms. Ward's storytelling captures your imagination and is perfect for cuddling on the couch with a cup of hot tea and an afghan. - MegSLTX (Amazon), Another Glass of Tea A great read that I honestly could not put down!! The characters and relationships are complex, relatable and so enjoyable. You will not be disappointed! - Pieter (Amazon), Skipping Stones I could relate to the characters and many of the places . I am looking forward to the sequel(s). - Ric Scott (Amazon), Skipping Stones My wife is half way through your book...she says it's addictive. - GR (by text), Skipping Stones I really enjoyed reading this book .... Couldn't put it down. Loved how Derek's and Linny's relationship developed. Liked the small town feel and the dynamics of the friendships. It was a fun read. - Jboysmom (Goodreads), Skipping Stones Great summer read! Light and well researched. Very enjoyable - Kathi (Rakuten Kobo), Skipping Stones Great summer read! Light and well researched. Very enjoyable. - Cheryl C (Amazon), Skipping Stones Light hearted easy read, would be perfect for summer vacation! Leaves you feeling happy, who wouldn’t want that?! - Michelle Berardi (Good Reads), Skipping Stones A nice book, well-written and comforting. I would have liked to delve a bit deeper into the characters themselves, and I would have enjoyed an exploration or some more flashbacks of Linney and Derek growing up together.... I cared for the characters and found myself rooting for them. I also never found myself bored while reading this, so A+ right there! As someone who lived in Toronto, loves visiting London, and spent many summers in the Kawarthas, this was an appealing read for me. - Lisa E. (Good Reads), Skipping Stones