Photo courtesty of Miranda Thomas
One Huntsville artist shows just how tactile textiles can be
By Sarah Ryeland
Miranda Thomas has been an artist for as long as she can remember. And for someone who’s only 26 years old, that adds up to a lifetime of creation.
“I’ve always been an artist,” she says. “For as long as I can remember I’ve been drawing, painting and creating things.”
But it wasn’t until fairly recently that she discovered her passion for textile arts…
Posted in Art You Can Feel, Summer, Summer 2011
Tagged 2011, Art, Artist, Miranda Thomas, muskoka, Sarah Ryeland, Summer
Photo by Sarah Ryeland
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How two fires in Huntsville’s past bring a family’s history to light
By Alison Brownlee
A Huntsville building and the family history behind it may have been forgotten had another landmark – the Empire Hotel – not gone up in flames in October 2009.
The Empire sat on the corner of Centre and Main streets and when the hotel was demolished, it left the side of the neighbouring building exposed. The exposed wall showed a crumbling sign that read something like “Merchant Tailor” on an exterior brick wall. Alison Brownlee dove into Huntsville’s history to discover just who this merchant tailor was…
Posted in History Revealed, Spring, Spring 2011
Tagged Alison Brownlee, Empire Hotel, Flaxman, Huntsville, muskoka, Spring 2011
Photo by Jon Snelson
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Huntsville’s the Music Man runs on homemade baking and community spirit
By Gillian Brunette
Four Muskoka residents – an engineer, a music teacher, a high school student and a former furniture maker – might well have never met, but for the fact they share a common passion.
Love of the performing arts.
They also have a strong sense of community and for that reason the four, along with dozens of other likeminded folk, come together periodically to put their talents to work for the benefit and pleasure of their fellow citizens…
For more photos click here
One Muskoka blogger takes the web by storm
Story by Sarah Ryeland, Photos by Ed Boutilier
Muskokans often pride themselves on their ability to unplug and get away from it all. One of the main goals of cottagers and year-round residents is to come up here to disconnect, turning off mobile phones, stowing laptops and enjoying a tech-free world.
But for some of us, Muskoka inspires a different reaction.
For Ed Boutilier, coming up to his northern home is a chance for him to connect to the wilderness – and the Internet. An avid photographer, Boutilier shares his passion with followers of his blog, MuskokaBlog.com.
Dubbing himself a “weekend warrior”, Boutilier sheds his nine-to-five businessman persona when he gets to Muskoka and takes to road to find inspiration for his art…
Posted in Spring, Spring 2011, The World According to Ed
Tagged Art, Artist, Ed Boutilier, muskoka, Photography, Sarah Ryeland, Spring 2011
March 27
Community Mural
Huntsville
The Community Mural will take place from March 27 – 29 at the Huntsville Hospital cafeteria from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information, please contact the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce at 705-789-4771, ext. 21.
Spring Craft Show
Huntsville
The Spring Craft Show will be held at the Huntsville Place Mall from March 29 – 31. Hours are: Thursday, Friday: 9:30 a.m. – 9 p.m., Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more information please contact Dianne Mehaffy at hpmall@cogeco.net or call 705-789-3889.
Posted in Events Calendar, Spring
Purchase a copy of "Bird Bath" and donate to Japanese relief efforts
By Sarah Ryeland
Napster loves Sideroads of Muskoka and he also loves the people of Japan. That’s why this season he’s created a custom painting for Sideroads, dedicated to the people and pets affected by the earthquake and tsunami.
This painting is called Bird Bath, and was created on March 14 with the help of Nancy Tapley and Sarah Ryeland.
If you look closely, you’ll see a dark lake, with bluebirds splashing and playing in the water. Above the water, there are birds soaring into the sky, playfully diving and twirling.
To us, this painting represents hope and a fresh start. It reminds us of birds returning to Muskoka in the spring, rebuilding their nests and lives and strengthening bonds.
The people of Japan need our help to find hope and rebuild their homes and lives. If you’d like to help Napster help the people of Japan, you can purchase a copy of this painting with all proceeds going to the Canadian Red Cross for Japanese relief efforts.
Cards and prints range in cost from $3 to $40, and you can even mix and match to get your favourite Napster pieces.
Contact Napster via email at ntapley@vianet.ca, or visit his blog here.
Posted in An Unlikely Artist, Help Napster Help Japan, Spring, Spring 2011
For more photos, click here
How one talented cat is making a difference
Story and photo by Sarah Ryeland
Meet Napster.
He is mysterious and aloof. He has struggled with his weight. He loves to paint. And he’s a cat.
Napster’s life story has all the typical trials and tribulations you’d expect from an artist. Born to a wild mother 12 years ago in Bobcaygeon, the kitten was soon abandoned and left to fend for himself until someone scooped him up and brought him to Muskoka…
Posted in An Unlikely Artist, Spring, Spring 2011
Tagged Art, Artist, Charity, Japan, muskoka, Nancy Tapley, Napster, Sarah Ryeland, Spring 2011, Wing and a Prayer
Story and photo by Andrew Hind
“Bruschetta is the signature Italian appetizer, and not only are they really tasty they’re easy to make and are extremely versatile,” enthuses Chef Andreas Drechsel, Sous-Chef at The Rosseau Resort. “Here at Teca we have a bruschetta platter that shows the various exciting forms bruschetta can take, but even that is just tiny sampling of what you can do on a basic premise.”
Any bread can be used for bruschetta, but baguettes are the easiest and most common. Cut the bread ¼ inch thick and on an angle so you have a bigger surface on which to place toppings. Drizzle olive oil on the bread, and rub on roasted garlic. Bake in the oven until each side is golden brown (“It will only take a few moments, so don’t walk away,” cautions Drechsel). For an authentic rustic taste, brown the bread on a grill…
Posted in Recipes, Spring, Spring 2011, Sun-kissed Food, The Best Bruschetta
Tagged Andrew Hind, Bruscetta, muskoka, Recipes, Teca Restaurant, The Rosseau
By Andrew Hind
There are numerous types of pizzas and toppings, but there are also some universal secrets to the perfect pizza.
1. Less is more. Keep it simple and focus on a few preferred toppings
2. Use fresh tomato sauce; it makes all the difference
3. Use fresh, homemade dough
4. Make sure the pizza has a frame around the edges, la cornice as it is called, because pizza is always eaten with your hands and a frame prevents your fingers from getting too messy
5. For a really authentic pizza, roll the dough as thin as possible. The toppings will then be the focus of the flavour, not the dough
6. Ideally, pizza should be baked in a wood-fired oven for the right flavour and texture
7. Ovens should be pre-heated to about 230-240 degrees Celsius
8. Oil the baking sheet with olive oil and lightly sprinkle with semolina flour
Posted in Recipes, Spring, Spring 2011, Sun-kissed Food, The Perfect Pizza
Tagged Andrew Hind, Pizza, Recipes, Spring 2011, Teca, The Rosseau
Photo by Andrew Hind
By Andrew Hind
Spring has arrived. The warmth of the sun, the gurgling of water cascading down streams, the pleasing melody of a bluebird first thing in the morning and the crystal blue sky above add a bounce to one’s step. It’s an invigorating, exciting time of year. Our appetites change with the seasons, and come spring we begin looking for foods with fresh ingredients, foods with more color and taste than what we’ve been eating all winter, perhaps something a bit more exciting to match the exuberance that naturally swells within us as days warm…
Posted in Spring, Spring 2011, Sun-kissed Food
Tagged Andrew Hind, Italian Food, muskoka, Recipes, Teca
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Sideroads of Muskoka 