Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/1128940
GRAN'S BAKE SHOP Open Mon-Sat 10:00 – 4:30 pm 100 First Street Lac du Bonnet 204-345-2983 Sobering Funeral Chapel Beausejour, Manitoba 204-268-3510 or MB Toll Free 1-877-776-2220 Memorialize the service of your choice with Earth Burial or Cremation On-Site Crematorium Services may be Pre-Arranged "Honouring Life" TRUST THE ROCK SOLID RELIABILITY OF ELITE REDI-MIX CALL:1-204-346-9999 eliteredimix.com 204-369-5308 • www.whiteshell.mb.ca/rennie RENNIE HOTEL Large variety beer vendor, beverage room, VLT's licensed dining room and accommodations. FOR GREEN FEES 2 1 Valid until October 31, 2019 (not valid with any other promotional offer) www.lavgolf.ca 204-424-5046 INTRODUCING MANITOBA'S FIRST FOOTGOLF COURSE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION FOOTGOLF Brokenhead River Community Hall Inc. 320 Veterans Lane BEAUSEJOUR, MANITOBA Air Conditioned Comfort Banquets - Socials - Showers - Meetings - Conventions Capacity 150-760 For more information please call 204-268-2146 : 4 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SATURDAY JUNE 15, 2019 EAST BRAINTREE Every writer dreams of a life spent writing in peace, banging out the next great novel on the old Smith-Corona ... or at least having a couple of unin- terrupted days to write a page or two. M argaret Feilberg and her husband, Bill Stevenson, are making that dream a little more achievable with their newly opened Brookeville Retreat in East Braintree, located about 115 kilometres east of Winnipeg and a 15-minute drive from Falcon Lake. The retreat takes its name from the historic Brookeville Granite Quarry. Feilberg says she was inspired to open the retreat on the property after taking on a writing project of her own. "I had taken several writing classes when I was living in the city and I came out to the country to our mobile home on the week- ends where there was nothing to distract me," she says. "I was able to concentrate and have some quiet to write my project. A couple of my friends came out on the weekends and then they did their writing projects here, so that's where the idea started." Brookside Retreat is situated on land that was owned by Feilberg's family. "We own 19 acres — it was my grand- parents' homestead which we bought five years ago," she says. "One cottage was already here and we moved three others onto the property. "We also have a school bus which has been made up into a little house and we already owned another larger cottage across the river on property which my fa- ther had divided." In addition to the cottages, Feilberg's husband is also renovating a large mobile home. The cottages are small, just the right size for a writer or two, and each one sports a different theme. "One is called A Passage to India. Its de- cor is inspired by different places in India, so the book is in the cottage with a shadow- box filled with different things from India and it has a little front porch with macramé swings outside," she says. Other themes include Out of Africa, Canadiana (decorated in all things Cana- dian), Cruise the Caribbean (Bring Your Own Boat) and a Danish theme — Bla- vand. (Danish for blue water, it is a popular recreational destination in Denmark.) The buildings have front porches and the one- bedroom units are big enough for a queen- size bed, a comfortable chair and a desk. The school bus is called Tours of Scotland (Stevenson is Scottish). Each of the cottages has a small fridge and one of the larger cottages has a kitchen and living area that can be shared amongst a group. "People can bring their own groceries and we'll supply staples like condiments and spices as well as pots and pans," says Feilberg. "I can do some cooking if arranged in advance." The retreat is designed for adults, and there is no smoking, and no pets. However, there is a dog spa and kennel nearby, along with a yoga/art studio. Feilberg and her hus- band are also involved with the Midwinter Heritage Museum, which is open on week- ends or during the week with a phone call. The property and surrounding areas fea- ture plenty of walking trails, and a plethora of flora and fauna. Over 100 orchids are na- tive to the region, along with a wide variety of mosses, and nature lovers will see a vari- ety of birds — including owls — deer and other creatures on self-guided tours. "There are two rivers in East Braintree and we are situated near the Little Birch River," she says. "It winds through our 19 acres, almost in a complete circle, and is very pretty." Brookeville Retreat is now open to writ- ers and book clubs (and nature lovers) for the summer, with cabins available until sometime in October. For additional in- formation about bookings and amenities, queries can be directed to Feilberg via email: brookevilleretreatinebt@gmail.com, or text: 204-885-6013. "It's a place where writers can come and have quiet," says Feilberg. "They can stay for a night if they like, or a week or even a month." BY WENDY KING A ROOM OF ONE'S OWN Writers' and nature retreat is open for bookings PHOTOS BY DARCY FINLEY Feilberg and Stevenson have decked out several cottages and a bus for writers and nature lovers. D D 3020 Thornhill Street, Morden, MB (1 1/2 mile west of Morden on Highway #3). Website: stardustmorden.com 24 hour info phone line 204-822-5638 If someone you know has Alzheimer's disease or another dementia, we're here to help. Call 204-943-6622 or 1-800-378-6699 alzheimer.mb.ca