Town & Country

July 2018

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Editor: Pat St. Germain – pdstgermain@gmail.com COMMUNITY & COMFORT FOOD KEESHA'S KITCHEN SERVES MOUTHWATERING MEALS AND MUCH MORE W I N N I P E G B E A C H POP-UP EXPERIENCE EVERY PIECE TELLS A STORY AT PROUTOPIA ART FAIR W I N N I P E G B E A C H PULLING UP STAKES LIFA HOME DECOR SHOP SEEKS BUYER FOR BUILDING G I M I L I H N A U S A OLD WORLD VALUES GENERAL STORE BUILDS ON LOCAL TRADITION PG 2 PG 3 PG 4 PG 6 PG 5 PRESERVING THE PAST HERITAGE VILLAGE NEARS 20TH ANNIVERSARY A R B O R G A year and a half ago, Eleanore and Randy McMahon were living in Winnipeg with their three adult children. But when they came upon a gem of a property and a chance to live their dream, they sold their house and moved to rural Manitoba to run a lakeside bed and breakfast. Partners for 41 years now, the couple met as teenagers and over the years they bought and sold a few houses, built one, raised three kids and took many trips together. They came to appreciate the bed-and-breakfast experience through- out their travels and shared a dream of one day operating their own. Named after their middle child, Aar- on's on the Lake Bed and Breakfast in Ponemah officially opened this summer. "Purchasing this property and deal- ing with all of the obstacles that came our way was so new and challenging to both of us, but it brought us even closer together when we realized how much we both wanted this and that our vision for transforming this property was so similar," says Eleanore. "We spent every night for the last year watching house-flipping shows on the DIY channel," she jokes. "Randy also watched a ton of YouTube videos while I lived on Pinterest." The epitome of comfort in a peace- ful little getaway, Aaron's on the Lake is a refuge in a world where many feel overworked and overwhelmed. The warm and welcoming hosts know how to make guests feel at home. Cinna- mon twists in each room are both trib- ute to Eleanore's sister Jan, who passed away from cancer, and testament to the thoughtful little extras that make a stay here a memorable and happy experi- ence. A basket with everything needed for a fire in the fire pit sits waiting on the Gardenview Room veranda. Break- fasts are delicious and generous. Aside from the breathtaking beauty of the area, it's these little gestures that visitors immediately notice. The couple made a conscious effort to reuse material from the property to finish the rooms. Their shared passion and commitment led to countless hours of work, ultimately resulting in unique spaces with a strong connection to his- tory and story. The Gardenview Room is made com- pletely of recycled and upcycled mate- rial and furniture. The Lakeview and Pierview rooms were taken apart and re- built using original material. The exte- rior cedar siding was removed, and each piece was spray-foamed and put back on, much like puzzle-building. "Randy and I put the siding back on ourselves during the month of Novem- ber," Eleanore says. "The cedar still had some of the original stickers on it show- ing that it came from a mill in British Columbia. The floors had some kind of vinyl flooring throughout both rooms. It was removed to show some beauti- ful B.C. fir. Randy refinished all of the flooring to its original state. We left the sink in from the original bunkhouse. All three rooms have their own private bathrooms and showers." Located at 311 Gimli Rd., Aaron's on the Lake offers spectacular views in a spot perfectly situated for rest and relax- ation. Every sunrise and sunset is magi- cal to watch up close and personal. The beauty of the Lake Winnipeg shoreline and the way the wind plays with the wa- ter pulsates with colour and serenity. Ponemah is just a five-minute drive from Winnipeg Beach and 20 minutes from Gimli. There are things to do all year-round, whether you're looking solely for rest and pampering or for ac- tive recreation. Swimming, boating, golfing, fishing, tennis, cycling and checking out yard sales are summertime favourites. Fall offers colourful views at a perfect time to be outside taking in all of nature's wonders. Ice fishing, cross-country ski- ing and snowmobiling are popular op- tions in the winter. And as the ice melts in spring, the leaves return, the flowers bloom, and the birds are louder than ever on their migration route. The area is also known for its wealth of artists and creative talent, making it easy to find a show of some kind at al- most any time of year. An ideal place for people who want to get away and enjoy comfort and tranquility, Aaron's on the Lake Bed and Breakfast is an Interlake treasure, a quiet sanctuary offering high-quality accommodation in a beautiful rural setting. Learn more at www. aaronsonthelake.ca. Sweet Dreams Country Town M A N I T O B A & Saturday, July 21, 2018 INTERLAKE EDITION Couple's bed & breakfast wishes come true B Y J A N I N E L E G A L PHOTOS BY DARCY FINLEY It was all hands on deck to revamp the B&B. PHOTOS BY DARCY FINLEY Randy and Eleanore McMahon (top) are already welcoming guests. Located at 311 Gimli Rd., Aaron's on the Lake offers spec- tacular views in a spot perfectly situated for rest and relaxation.

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