Little did I know when I immigrated to Canada in 1962, working as a registered nurse in London, Ontario and then in Ottawa, that I would some day make my home in Muskoka, this most beautiful land of lakes, waterfalls, and pine trees.

It was while working at the Grey Nuns' Ottawa General Hospital that I was drawn to a renewal of spirituality that led me to enter a Toronto convent in 1964 and to discover my Muskoka.

My first visit to Muskoka was in 1965. I was 27 years old and a novice in the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine, an Anglican order of nuns whose Mother House was in Toronto and whose summer house was in Port Sydney. As the car drove over the hill that magnificent July day and Mary Lake came into view, I was held captive by the sight. That captivity was complete the moment I opened the car door at the summer house and breathed in the scent of pine.

I was privileged to come to that house in Port Sydney each summer for the 16 years I remained a sister in the convent. When I left the convent in 1980, Muskoka was enclosed in my heart and soul. I promised to return as soon as I was able to do so. A drive up to Muskoka one day rekindled that desire -- not only to spend a vacation here in the future, but to own property, build a house, and live in Muskoka all year round. ... Please go to www.muskokamagazine.com to read the rest of the article.