Cabin Fever in the Woods

One of the fears I had about moving here was that I would be isolated and would have to drive 2 1/2 hours to Halifax in order to fend off cabin fever. In fact, I hear many long-time Bear Riverites talking about the perils of cabin fever in winter. This must be why there are so many gatherings, parties and get-togethers.

Take last Saturday, for instance. We were invited to a potluck with live music. This is yet another example of the friendliness of people in Bear River. I had met Carol at 2 different winter solstice parties and then at yoga and she not only invited me to go swimming with her and some friends, she came and picked me up and dropped me off again. Then she invited us to her wonderful party! Larry and I had to drive out in the country to get there….about a 7 minute drive from here! We could tell where the house was in the moonlight because there were already a bunch of cars parked on the road when we got there. Through the trees and down the long lane, we could see flickering ice candles and torch lights, a big bonfire and a house full of people talking, laughing, and eating.

As Carol is the current chair of the Bear River Music Society I figured that the music would be great but I wondered where and when it was going to happen.

Well, what a surprise to find out that the music was already on……….in the cabin on the front lawn.

You see, Carol moved to Bear River in the 70’s and built a cabin with her husband for them and their baby Sarah. Eventually, the big house was built, but the cabin still stands and served on Saturday as an intimate space where we could share the wonderful music that was jammed. Words cannot describe how happy I felt to sit beside one of the guitarists and to watch and listen to him play … right in front of me!! The singing was wonderful, the woodstove crackled and I looked around in the glow of the fire light and Larry and I both wondered how it’s possible to keep on having this much fun and to spend time with so many people who seem to be getting off on the same things that we do.

You can see Larry and I on the couch on the far right hand side in this photo. (Thanks Sarah!)

Not everyone could fit into the cabin and some people were outside around the blazing bonfire while others told tall tales in the house and ate a smorgasborg of perogies, bean dishes, dips, salads, baked dishes, and even some home-brew.

The musicians said it was quite OK for me to share their music with you. Too bad my little camera couldn’t pick up the images better, but at least this will give you an idea of the sound: