I love my cabin.  Yet every time I look around our 6,000 square foot lot, I see a multitude of things that need to be done: dock needs to be replaced; deck needs to be stained; weathered lattice needs to be painted; yard needs some shrubs for added privacy; the lawn needs to be re-seeded; and the piles of driftwood lining the shore should be burned.  The “to-do” list is endless and exhausting.  It seems we spend all our precious time trying to enhance the cottage’s physical appearance.  And those are just the outside jobs.

This past weekend was no exception.  Saturday and Sunday were spent washing and waxing the boat, weeding the flower beds and cleaning the cabin’s floors. Ugggggggg.  I am worn out from all the work; I almost can’t wait to go home where I pay people to do these things for me.

As far as cottage improvements go, I know I am not alone.  A recent Cottage Life Webpoll found that 54% of respondents were expanding or doing some kind of project.  Walking down our cottage road, I discover many of my neighbors hard at work with their own renovations.  In fact, it’s hard to find a cabin that’s not under construction.

When and how did we become so obsessed with our recreational appearance? Has need for perfection manifested itself in our homes and weekend retreats? Are we driving ourselves crazy trying to make them look good?

Cobi Ladner, Editor of Canadian House & Home magazine, cited an alarming trend.  Many of the homeowners featured in their publication divorced after their renovations were completed.  Does our obsession for perfection make us crazy, and what happens when there is nothing left to fix?

As a perfectionist, I tend to focus on the negative, when I really should be focusing on the positive: the rugged mountains that surround our lake, the tall cedars that blanket the water’s shore, the bald eagles skimming the water hunting for fish, and the deer grazing along the road.  I am not going to find any of these featured in “top decorating trends for 2007,” yet this is what makes cabin living so special to me. 

In an attempt to save my sanity and my marriage, I am going to rip up this year’s to-do list and make a new one.  Topping the list will be: have fun and focus on the positive.

Cheers,

Julie

It’s a Friday night here in Vancouver. Now that the kids are tucked into bed, I am running around the house packing for a three day weekend at the cabin. While food and clothes are important, it is the weather that has got my attention.  Rain.  The weatherman is calling for rain both days.  With two children ages five and seven, our 784 square foot cabin can easily go from haven to hell in only a matter of hours.  As the saying goes, “It pays to be prepared.”

Below are some of the activities we are going to do this weekend.  They are suitable for kids ages four to eight.

Books

Our favourite chapter book this week is, The Tale of Despereaux, by Kate DiCamillo.  Winner of the John Newberry Medal, it’s all I can do to keep myself from reading it after the kids have gone to bed.

Colouring books can be hit and miss.  But the Dover Coloring Book series are factual and provide information about the contents of the colouring page.  These books are great if your child likes animals.  My kids like cutting the pictures out after they are coloured and using them to make posters. 

Games

• Buggo, made by Ravensburger, is a concentration card game that’s easy to pack and is fun for the whole family to play.  It’s a memory game as well as a counting game. 

• Fairytale Snap, by Usborne, is a great card game for two or more players and very popular with the princess crowd.  You can play it as Snap, Go Fish or Concentration.

• Stamping is a great craft to do with the kids.  I bring coloured paper and make cards for teachers, birthdays and thank-you notes.  I buy our stamps and ink pads at the dollar stores.

• The Crayola Storyteller is designed like a plastic book notebook with a mini recorder located along the side.  The plastic cover opens up like a book with 8.5” x 11” paper inside. My kids like to draw a picture, then hit the record button and tell the story.  Crayons are stored in the side pocket making this a great activity for the car. 

With all the great activities I have prepared for this weekend, what am I going to do if it’s sunny?  I hope you have a great cottage weekend whatever the weather.

Cheers,

Julie  

At the start of cottage season a lot of spring cleaning need to be done.  First there is the inside of the cabin: floors, fridge, cupboards, bathrooms, and bedrooms, followed by the outside: eve troughs, windows, raking, and dock installation.  But don’t relax just yet, because next up, the boat.

Getting a fiberglass boat ready for the season takes lots of cleaner, wax and muscle.  This is one activity everyone in our family helps out with.  Each year I haul out an array of cleaners: Vim for the fiberglass, Windex for the glass and Armoroll for the vinyl seats.  But this year I decided to explore some environmentally friendly cleaners that will get the boat ship shape for the water.

Cleaning Fiberglass

This is a two step process: First you need to use a cut wax, or a cleaner with a grit to remove the osmosis – that white chalky film on the boat’s exterior.  We’ve always used Vim, but this year I’m going to try a baking soda paste by mixing equal amounts of baking soda and vinegar.

The second step is the wax. Waxing not only makes your boat shiny, it also acts like a sun block and protects your boat’s exterior.  Greg Reimer, owner of Parksville Boathouse, Parksville, B.C. suggests applying several coats of wax, “You can’t wax your boat enough especially now that the sun is so damaging.”  He suggests waxing the top coat of your boat half way through the season for added protection.

Vinyl Seats and Cushions

There are several products that clean vinyl well.  Reimer recommends 3M Marine Vinyl Cleaner and Restorer.  A natural alternative is to mix 1 tsp. ammonia, 1 cup hydrogen peroxide, with 2/3 cup water.  Apply with a cloth.

Chrome

Reimer uses a stainless steel cleaner called Wenol, available at any hardware store.  It cuts corrosion and rust.  Baking soda or mineral oil for polishing and vinegar to remove spots are the enviro friendly picks.

Carpets

While Reimer does not state a specific carpet cleaner, he does recommend a hand held steam-cleaner vacuum called ,the Shark. Alternatively, try sprinkling dry corn starch on the carpeted area and vacuum.

One final note, for more information on natural cleaners for your boat visit: www.hometownannapolis.com/parks_boating.html.  While the natural cleaners recommended are less harmful, they are still toxic to marine life.  Use them sparingly.      

Growing up on a beef farm in rural Ontario, my culinary endeavors were influenced heavily by the Kraft Summer Recipes inserts that came in my mom’s Chatelaine magazine every spring.  Between the barbeque sauce and the worstershire sauce, our meats were covered.

It wasn’t until I married my husband, Bill, whose family immigrated from Hong Kong,that I discovered, “One of these things is not like the other.”  Looking inside his cupboards for the first time, I was amazed by the strange sauces that lined the shelves.  What was this stuff and where was the ketchup?

Bill’s family did not use Kraft barbeque sauce, yet strangely, their steaks, ribs and wings were tender, succulent and simply delectable.   

Over the years, 13 to be exact, I have used these sauces on different cuts of meat and am happy to share my results with you. The following is a list of “must haves” for your cupboard.  All of these sauces are available from Loblaws Super Stores.

Must Have Sauces

• Lee Kum Kee’s Chicken and Mushroom Marinade – great for marinating chicken wings (put 3 lbs of wings in a zip lock bag, pour in 1 cup of marinade and refridgerate for 1-2 hours) bake for 45 minutes at 350 degress.
• Lee Kum Kee’s Vegetarian Mushroom Flavoured Stir-fry Sauce – use to marinate steaks, or coat roast beef prior to cooking. It is also great on cooked broccoli.
• Oyster Sauce – marinate steaks or roasts for up to 3 hours, this is a great tenderizer for flank steaks as well.

Asian Barbeque Ribs

• 3 to 4 pounds of spareribs

• Salt & Pepper

• 2 tbsp of sliced ginger

• ¼ cup chopped shallots

• 2 tbsp sesame oil

• 1 bottle (443 mL) of Lee Kum Kee’s Hoisin Sauce mixed with 3 cups of water

Directions 

Sprinkle ribs with salt and pepper.  Place ribs in broiler pan under broiler for 30 minutes (15 minutes on each side) to brown and remove excess fat.Put sliced ginger, shallots and sesame oil in the slow cooker.  Slice ribs into serving pieces and put into cooker.  Pour Hoisin sauce over ribs.  Cover and cook on low 8-9 hours or high for 4-5 hours.  Serve with steamed rice.  

When your husband, sneezy, and your son, wheezy, both suffer miserably from allergies and asthma, spring cleaning at our cabin takes on a whole new meaning.  One of the biggest culprits is dust mite allergens: a microscopic scavenger insect that consumes skin particles shed by humans. Their fecal pellets and body fragments are the main source of allergen in dust. 

These nasty little invisible creatures love: humidity, warmth, shed skin and darkness.  Every year when we open up the cabin, I hit the war path to eradicate them.  Armed with my bucket and vacuum, I leave no mattress unturned.  One of the best ways to eliminate bed dust mites is to use a dust mite mattress cover which is a zippered vinyl allergen proof cover.  You need one for the box spring, the mattress, pillows and comforter.  Make sure to wipe them with a damp cloth weekly.  These covers can range in price, but I usually buy mine at Walmart and throw them away at the end of the season.  They are not strong enough to withstand the washer and dryer (ours melted in the dryer last year).

In order to kill dust mites in bedding, you need to hot wash bed linens and blankets weekly.  The hardly little creatures are killed at water temperatures greater than 140 Fahrenheit or 55 Celsius.

The other challenge I face is eliminating dust-mite havens.  This means no stuffed toys, book cases, or rugs, in our bedrooms which are a major repository of dust mites.  All furniture and fixtures in these rooms are damp dusted after vacuuming is completed.  Vacuuming itself does not remove dust mite particles and make sure you wipe the bed frame.

One final note, mites love humidity so do not use a humidifier if you are a fellow sufferer.  We had to move our son’s room at the cabin to a dryer, sunnier spot.  It takes a lot of work to keep the cabin dust mite free, and still we have sniffles and sneezes, so I make sure I have lots of Claritin and Kleenex on hand for the cottage season.   Guzuntight!

Hypoallergenic Bedrooms (courtesy of BC Children’s Hospital)

• Eliminate bed dust mites – zippered vinyl allergen proof mattress covers

• Kill dust mites in bedding – hot wash bedding

• Decrease dust-mite havens

• Reduce humidity

• Avoid pets & pet secretions – pets out of house

• Reduce circulation of allergens: completely block off forced air vents in bedroom. Heat bedroom with a baseboard heater (ideal 65F, 18C). Clean or change furnace filter monthly.

• No smoking inside the Home

• Reduce pollen in bedroom: if pollen allergy is a problem, keep the window shut in the bedroom during the specific pollen season involved unless it’s raining.

• Replace curtains with a blind

• Remove carpets from bedroom and replace with linoleum or hardwood

• Relocate bedroom upstairs if it’s in a damp basement

• Get rid of pets – do not replace them if they die

• Stop smoking

As a teen, I spent my summers doing rooster tails around Rice Lake on a pair of old wooden Go Go water-skis. The bindings, made of plastic, were designed for a men’s size 10 foot, but that didn’t slow me down. Now twenty years later, shivering with that same mixture of fear and cold, I tuck my knees up to my chest, try to avoid the outboard motor’s sputtering gas fumes, and yell, “Hit it.” Suddenly I am launched on top of the water. The slick blue wakeboard with its vice-like bindings anchor me in place as I cut through the wake feeling that old adrenalin rush.

The prehistoric Go Go water-skis now hang on the boat-house wall, antiques by today’s standards. While water-skis celebrate their 85th birthday, those early wooden planks have made way for newer, more exciting rides: from windsurfing to kiteboarding, surfing to wakesurfing, skateboards to wakeboards and now wakeskates-it has been a real trip. Kyle Gordon, store manager of Boardsports, Toronto, attributes the boards’ evolution in part to extreme sports and the media attention they receive. Twenty years ago water-skis were the only game in town. Today, when asked to pick their bestseller–it’s all over the board.

Windsurfing boomed in the 80’s and early 90’s, but fell out of favour soon afterwards. Since the late 90’s, the boards have been totally redesigned, losing their long, sleek narrow profile to a shorter fatter more stable design. The results have been dramatic. According to Gordon, “You can now rip the top off some waves. The new boards are three to four times as fast and you no longer spend all your time trying to stay on the board.” Gordon states, “It is a completely different sport and is making a full comeback.”

While wakeboards continue to be their #1 selling board, wakeskates, dubbed a “skateboard on water”-have become pretty popular too. These four foot fiberglass slabs are the size and shape of a wakeboard-but don’t be fooled, with no bindings to hold you firmly into place, skilled skaters must rely on balance and their feet’s ability to grip the foam core, while doing 360s and aerial jumps. They are a cross-over between skateboarding and wakeboarding.

For more information and pricing on these boards visit http://www.boardsports.ca/ and get boared silly.

Monday June 11, 2007

Decorating a cottage is a lot like playing house. As a child, I spent hours arranging the furniture in my little pink house.  Placing the miniature Victorian chair beside the dressing table, moving the tiny canopy bed against the wall, and tucking the rocking chair in front of the fireplace were just some of the many decorating touches I made to my little home.  Walking into our new cabin for the first time three years ago and seeing the miniature bedrooms with their low ceilings, the tiny bathroom with its narrow shower, I realized we had just bought the perfect 780 square foot waterfront doll house, complete with deck, dock and boat. 

While my husband talked about the pending septic system upgrade, I was busy making notes and taking measurements for our new curtains; while he talked about building a new deck, I was focused on finding kitschy duck lamps, patchwork quilts and colourful throw rugs.  I was in decorating nirvana! 

Three years later and I am still at it.  On a recent trip to the Spring Cottage Life Show, held in Toronto this past March, I found some great head cushions for our Muskoka deck chairs.  They are bright, colourful and designed for the outdoors.  The bold fabric is made from UV inhibitor Sunbrella; a material that can stand up to the sun.  The cushions are anchored over the top of the chair by a piece of recycled plastic, and can be adjusted to accommodate the chair’s occupants.  Recycled plastic comprise the cushion’s interior. Besides being environmentally friendly, they won’t mildew, rot, rust or support insect infestation, but the best part - they are really comfortable.

I can’t wait to use mine.

• The cushions retail for $25 each/$50 for a pair

• To view colour choices go to www.crplastics.com

• These head rests are manufactured by Canadian Recycled Plastics of Stratford, Ontario

 Visit www.crplastics to find a dealer close to you.

Friday June 8, 2007

When one thinks of cottage toys, Costco might not immediately spring to mind.  But don’t discount the big box retailer.  Some of our best water toys have come from there, and year after year they consistently stock the favourites. 

The first toy we bought for the cottage was a three-person inner tube made by SeaDoo (Style #129483).  This is a must-have because you can take three people at once, eliminating wait time on the dock.  It works really well with small children because an adult can sit in the middle with the little ones on either side.  The handles give them something to hold onto when the going gets rough, and the head rests prevent you from snapping your neck, always appreciated, especially the day after.  Tied up to the dock, it makes a great toy for the kids to climb in and out of, and a great jumping platform.  Five stars for this one and a good value at $199.99. 

Last year we added a wakeboard to our collection of toys.  After visiting the local board shops in Vancouver, I was in a quandary.  I wanted a good all-round board, but I didn’t want to pay $500 plus another $200 for the bindings.  The other factor inhibiting my decision was not knowing if I was going to love this sport or not.  So I consulted Jacob, my 14 year-old neighbour.  A very intelligent and curious teenager, he recommended Costco’s Hobie Cat Wakeboard (style #124575).  It proved to be an excellent choice.  The bindings are very easy to get in and out of, requiring no dish soap, and the board handles well for a novice boarder (not that I am an expert or anything).  It too is a great value at $193.

Costco’s return policy is an added bonus as evidenced by Joe Flareski, Jacob’s dad.  When he discovered a hole in his three-person SeaDoo Tube Ray, he returned it without a receipt and was given a replacement.  Now that’s a return policy.

Don’t expect to find these toys online, for some reason Costco does not list them.  You have to go to the store to purchase them, but they are well worth the trip.

Thursday June 7, 2007 

On Thursdays we present menu ideas for the weekend.  This week’s recipes originated from my book club and I recently had the opportunity to try them out at my husband’s office party.  They have been stress tested and received glowing reviews.  They are all easy to make but require some prep time, most of which can be done first thing in the morning, leaving you free to enjoy the rest of your day.

Menu

Citrus Rice Salad

Chinese Salad

Marinated Kebabs

Citrus Rice Salad

• 2 cups uncooked basmati rice
• 1 cup of premium coconut milk (use the cream off the top)
• 1 cup mandarin sements (canned)
• 2 tbsp fresh mint
• 1/2 cup roasted cashews

Dressing

• 3 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tsp grated lime peel

Directions:

Place rice in a large sauce pan. Combine coconut milk with water and pour over rice.  Bring to a boil and cook uncovered until holes appear in the surface and almost all of the liquid is absorbed.  Cover, reduce heat to very low and cook 10 minutes.  Turn out rice into a large bowl and fluff to cool.  Add orange segments and herbs to rice.  Add dressing and sprinkle with cashews.

Note:  This recipe is best made and served the same day.

Chinese Salad

• 1 pkg Oriental instant noodles (chicken or beef)
• 1/2 cup of vegetable oil
• 3 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 tsp white sugar
• 1 head of romaine lettuce or 1/2 napa cabbage
• 4 green onions
• 1/2 cup toasted almond slivers
• 1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds

Directions:

The dressing can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge.  Combine soup flavour packets from the noodles, oil, vinegar, sugar and salt.

Chop lettuce, and onions,

Just before you’re ready to eat - combine dressing,lettuce,onions, almonds, sesame seeds and slightly crushed noodles.  Toss and serve.

Note: This salad will go soggy quickly so combine ingrediants just before you eat.

Meat Kebabs

• 2 lbs raw beef, lamb or pork cut into 1 1/2″ cubs
• 1 1/2 cups of Kraft Zesty Italian dressing
• wooden skewers soaked in water for 5 minutes (soak just before you cook)

Directions:

Chose one meat to marinate or do all three in separate zip-lock bags.  Pour Kraft dressing over each one and marinate in the fridge for at least 60 minutes.  The longer you marinate, the more tender and flavourful the meat. 

Bring meat to room temperature and thread onto skewers.

Grill meat over medium-high heat until kebabs are browned on the outside and tender on the inside.

Enjoy.

One of my favourite cook books is Cottage Life’s Summer Weekend Cookbook, by Jane Rodmell.  This is a cottage must have and makes a great hostess gift if you are invited to a cottage for the weekend.  Go to www.cottagelife.com to order a copy.