Grant D Fairley

Up to the Cottage: Memories of Muskoka Grant D Fairley

Journey back with Grant D. Fairley to a time of small family cottages in Muskoka . This is a book of short stories of what it was like to spend our vacations at a family cottage on Mary Lake near Huntsville and other places in the Muskoka District.

Beginning with the family renting a cottage in the 30's through the purchase of land and then building the cottage in the 50s, the Cowans, Meusers and Fairleys all became part of the story of the lake just as the cottage became a rich part of their life story too. These first-hand accounts reflect both a bygone era and the new world of cottaging in some of the most beautiful places on Earth. For those who remember those rustic days - you will warm to the happy memories of cottage life in the 50s & 60s & 70s. The stories continue through the development years of 80s & 90s. The tales continue up until 2004.

Readers find themselves reminded of their own cottage, cabin or camping experiences.  Wherever "away" was for you - this book will help you revisit those same kind of memories that are universal for people over those decades. 

So, pull yourself up by a fire at the cottage to read this book. If you are not at the cottage, this book will take you there through these enchanting memories and stories of the people and places of Muskoka, Ontario, Canada.

Chapter Titles

Into The Mist
The Cottage
Go North Young Man - Somehow!
A Greater Purpose
The Road More Traveled
What's That Smell?
Warm Thoughts
Cottage Worthy
Sounds of Silence
On The Surface
All Creatures Great & Small
Cottage Types
Clammed Up
Mission Impossible
Bugged
The Waltons
The Guest Book
That's Entertainment
For The Birds
Well - Well - Well
Measuring Up
Slip Sliding Away
Something's Fishy
Don't Let The Rain Come Down!
Look Up - Way Up!
Many Wanderings
Please Pass The Salt
Ahoy There
I Know A Secret
Not For The Faint of Heart
Ready - Set - Fire!
One Dark Night
Shaboo
The Man In The Green Can
Take A Letter
Courage
Far and Wide and Weird
The Road Less Traveled
Jackson Falls
Half A Mile To Halvastraw
Clean As A Whistle
A Fine Port
Nothing To Fear
Creative Licence
In To Town
Rainy Day People
Beyond The Sunsets
The Other Way
Put The Worm On Tighter Uncle John
Moose Wars
An Old Seabreeze
What Do You Mean By "There"?
Saluting The Generals
The Muskoka Blues
A New Age Was Upon Us
Watching Scotty Grow
Blessings Received
The Turkey and the Church
Fond Farewell
Sandy Feet
James Alexander Cowan
About the Author