"Paradise Hill"

On Sunday, April 28, we returned to our lake house on the Rideau Waterway in Ontario, Canada.

She named their lake property "Paradise Hill" back in 1992 after they had retired from New Jersey and moved to their newly built house on Sand Lake.  Located on the beautiful, little known Rideau Waterway in southern Ontario, they rejoiced every day that God had planned for them to spend their retirement years in an earthly paradise.

For one thing, the Rideau Waterway fascinated them with its history.  Built back in 1832 by the British, the waterway canal served as a defense against possible invading armies from that upstart neighbor south of the border, the United States of America.  The War of 1812 had given the British much concern as American forces fought on the St. Lawrence River near Brockville, Ontario.  (The Americans lost that battle.)  So the British enlisted a man by the name of Colonel By to build a canal from Kingston (original capital of the territory) to Ottawa.  Many lakes dotted the area so Colonel By, studied the geography and mapped the route.

One of the formidable challenges were the rapids around the area known as Jones Falls, a sizeable drop to navigate.  Colonel By supervised building a dam at the Jones Falls site to control the water flow and then proceeded to build four locks so that boats could descend to the next lake.  That dam in 1832 was known to be an architectural marvel at that time.  Jones Falls is actually located at the southern end of Sand Lake and Davis Lock at the northern end.

At the juncture of every lake throughout the canal system, locks had to be built because of the typographical changes in elevation.  They were, of course, hand operated.  The charm of the Rideau Waterway is that most of these locks are still hand operated.  There is very little commercialism at the lock stations.  You can buy an ice cream cone (Canadian ice cream is superior because of the high amount of butter fat - Yum) or fishing lures or perhaps a minor gift item, but nothing high-tech.

Sitting on their screen porch of their lake house this May of 2013, she gazed out over the lake.  She saw no cottages.  Only the quaint, small white lockmaster's house at Davis Lock could be seen across the water about a mile away.  Otherwise, just sandy, rocky shore line with pine and maple trees towering above.

They thought back on how they purchased the property and realized that purchase was God designed.  When they first came to Sand Lake in 1969, they had four little children and very little money.  They rented a cottage for $35.00 a week!  Of course, the 'log cabin' had no running water and an outhouse.  But it sat right on the shoreline of a large lake, the children loved carrying the water pails to the pump and drawing fresh water, playing in the clear warm water at the beach and walking barefoot.

Sand Lake had cottages spotted around the lake but they were hidden behind trees.  So, for years they looked for a 'place'.  Lack of money left them with a dream.  Then in 1985 an opportunity lighted!  She was employed as a nurse, the kids were rapidly finishing college so they made an incredible offer for seven acres of waterfront.  It was accepted and at last they held their dream!  Of course one big challenge remained - there was no road to the lot, only water access.  But they parked their car at a friend's cottage at the far end of the lake and paddled 30 minutes in their canoe to their dream land.  This went on for several years - camping in the 'Shack', gazing at sunsets, fighting off porcupine, making trails through the woods, bathing in the lake (who was there to spy???), cowering at the sound of wolves devouring their prey, awakening in the middle of the night to the osprey's blood curdling squawk, listening to the unique and varied melodious loon songs, keeping close watch on the yearly new pair of loon chicks, fishing and gorging on dinners of fresh large mouth bass and enjoying peace and quiet.

Then the two farmers who owned the land through which they needed road access both died and their widows granted the access.  In fact, one of the farmers, Ted Ritz, told his wife as they were in the ambulance going to the hospital, as he was dying from cancer, "Ruby, make sure the Weisigers get that right-of-way through our property!"  The road was built in the winter of  '88-'89 and in that summer they celebrated Beth and Bruce's wedding in the newly built gazebo.  Then in 1992, after much planning, building and praying, a year round home stood on Paradise Hill!

Gardens, a boat house, the 'Little House' (another cabin) kept them busy improving their property.  Her gardens filled with clemantis, daisies, roses, lilies, phlox, astilbe, peonies, morning glories, obedience plants, spring daffodils and tulips, iris, geraniums, petunias, and impatience caught the attention of the local horticultural society and subsequently an author who sought stories and photos of Ontario gardens.  Thus the need to come up with a name for their property.  Without hesitation she announced, "Paradise Hill".  Her gardens received notice in that book.

So here she was back 'home'.  She hired someone to rake and clean the garden beds.  With all the perennials blooming, the gardens would be 'au naturel'.  Because of her arm and leg weakness she was unable to garden.  But, she concluded, she would enjoy the naturel beauty of God's creation, instead of trying to create additional years of perfect gardens.  She talked a friend into coming and planting some pots with colorful annuals.  That would have to be enough!

A rain shower poured down on the land one afternoon.  And she marveled.  Even the rain had a soft beauty as the drops splatted on the metal roof.  Yes, she was glad to be back and ever thankful of this amazing gift of land God had given them.

Soon the 12 grandchildren would arrive and fill the house, screened porch and property with laughter, squeals, busy activity, games of 'kick the can', wet swim towels, shouts from the swimming raft, screams from the water skiers, young fishermen expertly filleting fresh caught bass, barking dogs and appetites hungry for PopPops' waffles topped with delicious local maple syrup!  Yes, it was going to be a wonderful summer!

"Praise the Lord!  Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord!     Psalm 150