As well as fun and relaxation, cottage living throughout the seasons is a reminder that all of us, even the most urbanized individual, are part of the natural world.

Listen carefully and you will hear cottage country whispering lessons that can make our lives less frenetic, less complicated. The mournful call of the loon, the wind sighing in the trees, the hammering of the pileated woodpecker remind us that we are a part of a more natural world too often lost in our urban societies.

Reflections from a still lake and a flickering campfire help us to realize that things might go easier for humankind if more issues were examined in softer, reflective light and without heated debate. People gathered at campfires, soothed by nature’s tranquility, tend to listen and be more thoughtful before they speak.

This book will bring you on a journey through four seasons of cottaging and show you that nature has a remarkable power to heal – it just needs the human race to give it a helping hand. Along the way it will introduce you to some tips and tricks for making cottage life more comfortable and enjoyable.

Jim Poling Sr. was a newspaper journalist for 35 years before turning to freelance magazine and book writing. Much of his journalism career was spent with The Canadian Press, the national news agency, in postings that included Edmonton, Ottawa, Vancouver, Toronto and assignments across the Far North, Alaska, Russia, Scandinavia and Cuba. He began his CP career as a reporter and worked as editor, bureau chief, editor-in-chief and general manager.

Jim Poling's profile page

This book would be a good reading companion on a holiday weekend — unless the boat's not in the water yet.

Waterloo Record