"EVENTUALLY, ALL THINGS MERGE into one, and a river runs through it," writes Norman Fitzroy Maclean in A River Runs Through It. The book tells the story of two boys growing up in Montana and their shared love of fly fishing. In that story, the river is a metaphor for life; always sustaining, changing and nurturing. Terry and Gail Graham shared that insight when they purchased their 28 acres alongside the Elbow River in 1993, a year after the release of the movie based on Maclean's book. Terry, an avid fly fisherman, appreciated the peace that a river brings. He was semi-retired after selling his electrical engineering company in Calgary. He wanted a change from his hectic international career, and Gail also had more time after their three children moved away from home. Their dream was to open a bed and breakfast where they could invite guests to share a special part of Western Canada. Above all, they wanted a place to relax and enjoy nature. "It was an unbelievable coincidence when we found the property," Terry says. "I used to snowmobile through here years ago. We looked up and down the southern Rockies for one and a half years, and it ended up being right in our backyard." Their acreage, 40 kilometres west of Calgary near Bragg Creek, Alberta, nestles in the Elbow River valley. It's near Kananaskis Country, a multi-use, provincially managed public land system on the Rockies' eastern slopes. From the Grahams' property, the headwaters of the Elbow are 40 kilometres west, where mountains rise to more than 10,000 feet. Halfway between pure wilderness and a city of a million people, this spot, for the Grahams and their many guests, is paradise. As they considered how to develop the property, they were drawn to log homes, but agreed many looked dark and uninviting. They found support for their vision with log homebuilder Lloyd Beckedorf, of Moose Mountain Log Homes in Cochrane, Alberta. "He really understood our needs, and our desire to build the house so it was a part of nature," Terry says. "Who else has a deck with a creek filled with brook trout running underneath it?" Gail and Terry planned the layout of the 5,000-square-foot, five-bedroom home with their Silver Willow Lodge in mind. The design features a separate entrance and sitting room for guests, plus bedrooms on the second floor, away from the family's main living area. All the guest rooms, decorated with Gail's Rocky Mountain country touch, have ensuite bathrooms. The large deck, with a spa and stunning four-season views, is ideal for entertaining. The couple selected smooth stones for the fireplace, and hauled them from the adjacent creek bed. One hearth opens to the dining room, the other to the sunken living room. From vaulted ceilings to sky-high windows, the home invites nature inside, and people out into nature. The brightly finished cedar logs add warmth, and the spacious house exudes tranquility. The vaults, cantilevers and dormers challenged Beckedorf, Terry says, yet there isn't a flawed joint in the building: this despite the fact that the log home settled almost a foot as it dried. Shrinkage had to be accounted for throughout, from spacing over the windows to estimating the proper angle on the log stairway. "They really are master craftsmen. Lloyd even patented the joinery techniques that he uses to ensure that the corner notches and lateral logs actually tighten up when they shrink, so that the house is as energy efficient as possible." The house stays cool in summer and warm in winter. To walk the property is to trace the progress of time. The historic Stoney Trail, used by Stoney Indians for generations, leads along the edge of the riverbank. In the late 19th century, it became a fur-trading route. By the early 1900s, the ranching Fullertons had established a dozen hunting and fishing log cabins along the trail; one of three still standing is on the Graham property. "We were going to tear it down when we bought the land, because it was in such bad shape," Gail says. "But we got looking at the names written on the logs, and we decided that we needed to preserve that heritage. Some of the names go back to 1926." While the log home is a peaceful refuge, a wilderness is just out the back door. From their deck, the Grahams have observed a wealth of animals: wolverine, cougar, lynx, marten, moose, deer, elk, brown bear, and the occasional grizzly. Bird visitors range from herons and kingfishers to eagles and owls. Then there are the trout, abundant in the river and its tributaries, including the creek winding around the house. Terry inherited his love of fly fishing from his father, along with a cherished collection of hand-tied flies and exotic fly building paraphernalia. Fur from a rabbit skull or a feather from a peacock might be used in one of these miniature works of art. Terry continues his annual ritual of hand-tying flies and visiting favourite haunts along his property. "Over there, along that bank, is some of the best fly fishing in the world," he says. "I've taken 21-inch brown trout and 25-inch rainbow trout from that spot. We've got brown, eastern brook, mountain whitefish, rainbow, cutthroat and bull trout all in the same waters. That's almost unheard of anywhere else. People don't realize that the Elbow is still one of the great fly fishing rivers of the world." Catching and releasing leaves nature to the next generation. "I had to take a picture for my granddaughter because she didn't believe me when I told her I caught a fish," Terry says with a laugh. The Grahams take pleasure in sharing aspects of the wilderness with their nine grandchildren. Over the years, Gail maintained the lodge, cared for their guests, and enjoyed gardening and landscaping. Tending the expansive property might have been overwhelming, but she worked with nature, planting native species suited to the unpredictable Chinook winters. She surrounds the house with jolts of colour from annual plants. A favourite pursuit is walking the trails along the river's tributaries, observing the passing of the seasons and the annual rhythms of the river. There are rhythms in their lives, too. They closed the lodge three years ago, to enjoy more private family time. A recent health scare for Terry and a desire to see the world have them considering downsizing. Terry wants to take Gail to some of the places he visited during his years of business travel. Gail admits the transition will be difficult. "When we move, we'll miss the quiet and the solitude, and the experience of living with wildlife surrounding us. We'll miss our big family gatherings. I think the kids are more disappointed than we are." They say they feel fortunate to have been part of this timeless landscape and to have shared it with others. Wherever they go, this home and this river will inform their memories and define their sense of place.