The Far Northern Cottage

[Razgovory]

I see the dock, but where are the spiders?

[Malthus]

Your pictures probably have the coordinates in the code... just saying

Probably.

Anyway, it isn't really a secret, you could probably find the exact location without too much trouble. 

[merithyn]

You're lucky that I'm such a fangirl that I wouldn't dare deface Ms. Atwood's private place...

[Malthus]

You're lucky that I'm such a fangirl that I wouldn't dare deface Ms. Atwood's private place...

Just for you, some old photos ...

The three siblings at the cottage in the 1950s (the kerosene lamp on the table is still there - we use the same one).

http://margaretatwood.ca/photos-2/#jp-carousel-801

Same area, 1942, my grandfather and Peggy as a kid.

http://margaretatwood.ca/photos-2/#jp-carousel-804

[merithyn]

Come on now, Mal. I said that I was a fangirl. You think I haven't seen those before? Give me something new, man!

[Malthus]

Come on now, Mal. I said that I was a fangirl. You think I haven't seen those before? Give me something new, man!

Heh, my dad has some old slides that haven't been shown publicly. I may upload some, as soon as I figure out how.

[11B4V]

... or "Cabin", for you south of the border. 

Went up for a few days with my family plus my brother-in-law (wife's brother) and his kids. Had to leave a day early because of predicted high winds and thunderstorms - the place is on an island and it is very easy to get trapped there by bad weather.

Some pics:

- The cottage itself - built in the early 1950s by my grandfather:



Below is the original draft of this poem:

http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2000/11/18

The poem is about the burning down of the original cabin on the site (hit by lightning).

It has lots of original poems by my aunt decorating the walls. Miraculously, so far, no-one has broken in and stolen them, though the place has been broken into a few times:



My wife, on the dock:



The kids boating:



Typical landscape:

Yip nice. I could live there no problem.

[Valmy]

Just for you, some old photos ...

The three siblings at the cottage in the 1950s (the kerosene lamp on the table is still there - we use the same one).

http://margaretatwood.ca/photos-2/#jp-carousel-801

Same area, 1942, my grandfather and Peggy as a kid.

http://margaretatwood.ca/photos-2/#jp-carousel-804

Wow you can really tell those are Malthus' people.

So...do you have to dig a latrine also?

[Ed Anger]

Shitter's full.

[Grinning_Colossus]

That looks beautiful. How long does it take you to get up there?

[Tamas]

Any giant spiders around?

[Malthus]

Wow you can really tell those are Malthus' people.

So...do you have to dig a latrine also?

Well, there is an outhouse. Basically a shed built over a hole in the ground.

[Malthus]

That looks beautiful. How long does it take you to get up there?

From Toronto, around six hours driving, then another forty minutes by motorboat. Makes it not really worth going for the weekend.

[Grey Fox]

It's like a 10 hours drive for me.

(I wish you wouldn't use imgur so I could see the pictures at work)

[Malthus]

Any giant spiders around?

Yup.

http://www.cottagetips.com/tips/facts-about-dock-spiders/

They grow to an unnervingly large size - around 4" for the largest specimens.

Fortunately, they are basically harmless. They can bite, but their bites aren't dangerous, and they are pretty timid.

Unfortunately, they are fast. They can scuttle like lightning.

It is fun watching them hunt for little fish - another unusual thing about them, is that they can swim, like little spider submarines.

Everyone has, at one time or another, had an unnerving experience with Dock Spider eggs, releasing thousands of spiderlings when disturbed:

http://www.cottagetips.com/2012/07/dock-spider-nest/