Sunday, April 8, 2012

MISKODEED

An Ojibwa tale tells of the encounter between two men, the elder Peboan and the younger Seegwun who visits him, where overnight they compare their influences on the landscape. By sunrise the old man melts away, his true nature revealed as Old Man Winter to his guest, the Spirit of Spring, leaving behind in his place, Miskodeed.
[Thanks to fellow blogger Susan Oling, for contributing her photo.]

During my ramblings through the woods today I came across several patches of Spring Beauty, and was reminded of the tale, the Ojibwa calling this wildflower Miskodeed. The name of the young character from this story, Seegwun, the Spirit of Spring, is also the source of the name and meaning that's attributed to the Muskoka steamship.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

TOBIN THERE, DONE THAT


This afternoon I kayaked around the perimeter of Tobin Island, the largest island on Lake Rosseau, which took me over five hours as I explored every inlet and bay along the way. It was a beautiful sunny day after freezing temperatures overnight, that created clusters of icicle formations at the shore that resembled candles being dipped.