Ok, I know I’ve been promising this to you and sooooo here it is - the first clip. Filmed last weekend at the Horne Lake Wakeboard Tournament, on Vancouver Island, BC., this clip is a montage of some of the best borders in the competition. They represent Mens 1, Advanced Open and Pro.
Appearing in the video are:

Lonnie Barr

Jarrett Robertson

Ross Elandeil

Justin Anderson

Gordie (C’mon Irene) Lahane

Matt Tyson

Tyler (Hammer) Ham

If I have missed anyone or have gotten the names wrong - please leave me a comment. I would like to thank Al and Barb Shanks as well as everyone in the boat: Dayton, Skinny, Alex, Iggy and especially Richard for allowing me into the boat and for answering all my questions. Oh, and a special thanks to Mr. Parker, you have a really nice boat.

I hope you enjoy it and please tell your friends to check it out as well.

Tomorrow’s clip, “Crash Reel” is a must see and as the name suggests, it’s all your crashes, the good, the bad and the oh-so-ugly. I will be back in the editing studio next week with more coverage from the event.

Good luck to all the Island borders headed to Kamploops this weekend for the Kamploops Family Festival Wakeboard Tournament.

Cheers

Julie

In honor of my upcoming birthday and the ensuing celebrations, this week’s recipes honour the mighty Caesar. The first tomato and clam juice concoction was invented in 1969, by a bartender named Walter Chell, to commemorate the opening of an Italian restaurant in Calgary, Alberta. (I was invented in 1965, by Roger and Doris Nelson in Centreton, Ontario)

This past spring at the Cottage Life Show, I had the privilege of watching a representative from Mott’s Clamato stir the crowd into a frenzy as he demonstrated the art of making a Caesar. Over 250 million these are sold annually, making it our number one selling cocktail in Canada. Here are some new twists on our old favourite.

Lemon Infused Caesar

Glass: Highball rimmed with celery salt or Clamato Rimmer

Garnish: Pepperoni stick, lemon wedge

1 oz. Bacardi Limon Rum

2 Dashes Franks Redhot Caesar Spicer

3 Pinches Clamato Rimmer

4 Dashes Worcestershire Sauce

4 oz. Mott’s Clamato

6 oz. Ice

Directions: Rim the glass with lime and Clamato Rimmer or celery salt. Fill glass with ice, add all ingredients and mix thoroughly. Garnish with a pepperoni stick and lemon wedge.

Caesar Margarita

Glass: Margarita glass rimmed with fresh ground salt and pepper.

Garnish: Cilantro sprig, lemon and lime wedges

1 oz. Olmeca (Gold) tequila

1/2 oz. Cointreau

Fresh lemon wedge

2 Dashes Frank’s Redhot Caesar Spicer

3 Dashes fresh ground salt and pepper

4 Dashes Worcestershire Sauce

4 oz. Mott’s Clamato

6 oz. Ice

Preparation:Muddle all ingredients, (put in tall glass and stir with a spoon) except for Mott’s and ice, in a mixing glass. Then add Motts and ice and mix thoroughly. Strain mixture into rimmed margarita glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a fresh sprig of cilantro, lemon and lime wedges.

Hot Pickled Caesar

Glass: Mug rimmed with Clamato Rimmer

Garnish: Dill pickle spear, lemon twist

1 oz. Polar Ice Vodka

2 Dashes Frank’s Redhot Caesar Spicer

3 Pinches Clamato Rimmer

4 Dashes Worcestershire Sauce

1/4 tsp. extra hot Horseradish

2 tsp. pickle juice

4 oz. Mott’s Clamato

6 oz. Ice

Directions: Rim the glass with lime and Clamato Rimmer. Fill glass with ice, add all ingredients and mix. Garnish with a pickle spear and lemon wedge.

Please drink responsibly.

Hail to the Caesar.  Cheers!

Julie

For anyone who is at their cabin this week in British Columbia, today’s blog is dedicate to you. It is soooo not fair!. Here in B.C., we have gone from the hottest week on record, last week, to the wettest week on record, this week. And with rain forecasted for the next five days, we are if for a very soggy stretch. Kid’s Activities normally appear on the Saturday blog, but I have put together some ideas that will hopefully keep you and your children from going stir-crazy.

Movies are always a favourite. Judging by the crowds at today’s matinee of Ratatouille, a story about a rat who escapes the sewers of Paris to become a French chef, I predict this will be the sleeper hit of the summer. This is a great family movie with a funny storyline and Pixar’s amazing animation. I haven’t enjoyed a kids flick this much since Finding Nemo.

Board games are another great way to have fun and beat your kids so to speak. There are the old favourites: Monopoly, UNO, and Scrabble, but Sarah, from Kids Books, Vancouver, B.C., recommends checking out these:

• Rush Hour made by Binary Arts. This is a board game/puzzle/toy. It’s small and portable making it great for cart trips.
• Frog Juice by Gamewright, is a card game suitable for kids 8 and up.
• Slamwich and Rat-a-Tat-Cat, both made by Gamewright are also card games recommended for children age six and up.
• Labyrinth by Ravenburger, is one of Sarah’s personal favourite. This game is not only good for kids, but the adults like to play it once the younger folks have gone to bed.

There is nothing better than curling up with a good book on a rainy or sunny day. Below are some of Kids Books‘ best sellers and staff favourites.

Ages 5 - 7 Picture Books

1. Skippyjon Jones in the Doghouse by Judy Schachnew (this author has written a whole series of Skippyjon books)
2. Stanley’s Party by Linda Bailey and Bill Slavin
3. Please Louise by Frieda Wishinsky and Marie-Louise Gay
4. Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt
5. The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson also by the same author, The Gruffalo

Easy Chapter Books - ages 6-8

1. Rainbow Magic series - popular for girls
2. Geronimo Stilton series
3. Frankie K. Stein series
4. Ghosthunters and the Totally Moldy Baroness by Cornelia Funke also a series book

Novels for ages 7-10

1. Bone #6: Old Cave by Jeff Smith
2. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
3. Fairy Rescue by Gwyneth Rees
4. World According to Humphrey by Betty Birney
5. Edge Chronicles series by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell

Here’s to staying sane, keeping dry and having fun this week.

Cheers,

Julie

My head is buried in a wall of water. I can’t see anything in front of me except the wake, which I am plowing through like a human submarine. Fighting my way to the surface, I see my water ski sticking straight up and down. My shoulders feel like they are being ripped from their sockets. My nose, filled with water, is burning. ‘What the heck is going on, why is the boat going so slowly, why am I not popping out of the water,’ these thoughts and a few obscenities are racing through my mind.

“Faster! Faster!” I croak, barely audible above the boat’s roar. Finally after a slow aching struggle, I manage to get out of the water and I’m off, skiing into the sunset.

Back at the dock, I give my husband the look. “What happened out there?” I ask. Actually, it sounds more like a demand. Bill returns my look with one of his own. “The boat was wide open,” he replies, “Wide open.”

Having just spent another $800, our second of the season, I am beginning to wonder when we call it quits and walk away. Our boat, a used Sunray, was purchased from the previous cabin owners. Wanting to ensure that I would be able to go waterskiing the moment we had the keys to the cottage in our hot little hands, I insisted on buying their boat.

Bill, the calm prudent voice of reason, wanted to shop around and get a newer model. Now, having lost the battle and the war, I am conceding defeat. I wish we’d waited, at least then I could blame Bill, versus the other way around.

Calculating the costs of our Sunray, including insurance and gas, I figure we’ve sunk at least $2,000 into it this summer. Assuming I ski 20 times, that’s roughly $100 a ski or $20 a minute. A new boat is only going to drive up the cost of my favourite sport.

At this point I am open to any and all suggestions and offers on our boat. Hey, I’ll even throw in a generator, used of course.

Cheers,

Julie

It’s 9a.m. on a dazzling Saturday morning. Standing on the gravel shore, dotted with white plastic tents, I am struck by how much work has gone into organizing this weekend’s Horne Lake Wakeboard tournament.

The registration table is busy taking last minute entrant’s forms as one teenager hastily fills in his information and slaps down a hundred bucks. Over at the food tent, Rick is mopping the sweat off his beat-red face as he slices ham and cracks eggs, preparing breakfast for the moms and dads who have come to support their fledgling offspring.

With the last registration form in, and the pro’s still asleep, the announcer starts calling the first group of competitors to the dock. It’s the novice division, open to anyone who has never competed before. The only skill required is the ability to cross the wake.

Slowly, the event begins to get underway after a few false starts. Tanner, the first competitor, is pulled out of the water. A novice, he sets the bar pretty high for the those who follow him.

The wakeboarders range in age, from seven to 49, and experience. Over the next two days they will compete for a total of two minutes. If it seems like a lot of effort for so little time in the water, most competitors would agree, a lot can happen in 60 seconds.

Once the boat rounds the big orange ball marker, signaling the start of their ride, the borders will begin jumping the three-foot swell, hoping to get as much height as possible. The older, more experienced riders, will thrust their bodies high into the air, turning summersaults as they land. They will criss-cross the wake doing forward and backward flips at speeds of 20 mph. The truly brave will do a slider, which involves hopping out of the water, riding their board along a narrow wooden rail, and jumping back into the water.

While their competition only takes 60 seconds each day, they and their families have come for the weekend. They’re friends who enjoy helping each other out. They pitch in and volunteer at events like this one that are held throughout the summer in B.C. It’s not just about the two minutes in the water, it’s about hanging out and having fun - serious fun.

Cheers,

Julie

PS - I have some great footage of the weekend’s event. Stay tuned for details on where and how to preview it.

360’s, flips, and rails are just some of the things we’re going to see today on Horne Lake.  Wakeboarder and Wake skaters are competiting for the next two days in the Horne Lake Wakeboard Tournament. 

Watching the local talent practice this summer, I can’t wait to see these amazing athletes go board to board. 

The competition gets underway down by the campground starting at 9 a.m. each day, so if you are in the area, drop by and be prepared to be impressed. 

I will be bringing you highlights of the day’s events so stay tuned. 

Yahooooooo,

Julie

OK, so peasey is not a word. This week’s entertaining recipes are fabulous. Aside from being yummy, you only need three ingredients to make them. They are quick and easy to prepare.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

1 pkg. of frozen prepared Swedish Meatballs (you can use Safeway’s M&M meats, etc)

1 jar of Heinz’s Chili Sauce

1 500ml jar of Welch’s Grape Jelly

Directions

Mix the liquids in a large pot, bring to a boil and add the meatballs. Simmer for 20 - 30 minutes. Serve with toothpicks and French bread to mop up the sauce.

This will feed a large crowd 12 people min.

Chili Cheese Dip

This dip was first served to us by 14- year-old Jacob, who prepared it himself, and is one of his favourite happy hour snacks. It was love at first bite for me and a few others that afternoon. Thank you Jacob. This one is a also quick and easy to prepare.

1 pkg. of soften cream cheese

1 can Stag chili

1 cup of grated cheese (white cheddar, Monteray Jack etc.)

(If you are a fusser, you can add, just before you serve, a small amount of chopped green onions and diced tomatoes on top)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Spread cream cheese in the bottom of a round glass dish. Spread chili on top. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake until hot and bubbling. Before serving add onions and tomatoes. Serve with nacho or taco chips and cold beer. Ola!

Next week we will be featuring S’mores. This month’s issue of CottageLife magazine has some great S’more recipes. We are going to be testing them this weekend and will get back to you next week. Please send us your S’more recipes or try experimenting and tell us the results.

Cheers,

Julie

As a kid, I first learned to water-ski on an old pair of wooden Go Go water skis. The white bindings were made of plastic and designed for a man’s size 10 foot, but I was a very determined 12-year-old. Eric and Robert, my cottaged buddies, stood on either side of my skinny little body. Using their arms, they propped me out of the water so I was already standing when my dad throttled the boat’s engine. After numerous false starts and ingesting gallons of weedy lake water, I was finally up and out of the water and actually skiing for the first time.

Terrified and exhilarated in the same moment, I fell in love. Now 30 years later, water-skiing is still my favourite cottage activity. Despite loving this sport, I have never actually owned a new pair of skis. I always had previous cottage owner hand-me-downs.

This past spring at the Cottage Life Show, I impulsively bought the O’Brien Celebrity Combos. I discovered later what a great purchase I had made.

The O’Brien Celebrity’s are the number one selling recreational water skis, according to Shane Thompson, store buyer for Boardsports, Toronto. These skis fly out of the store every season. When asked what makes them so special, Thompson explains its their design.

“They are wider than traditional skis. The extra width, particularly up front, helps pop you out of the water faster. They also have a dual channel bottom that helps the ski track the water; this is especially good when the going gets rough and there is alot of chop.”

Thompson also likes their bindings. The rubber bindings can be easily adjusted and there is a rear holster strap for slalom skiers. When asked if they require any maintenance, he recommends not leaving them on the dock all day, “The sun breaks down the rubber,” so store them someplace shady.

I cannot wait to try out mine, and now that the boat is purring like a kitten, I will be back with an update on Monday. If anyone has any comments about these skis I would love to hear from you. Also, please share your first-time water-skiing adventures with us.

Here’s to brand new boards.

Julie

It’s a good thing we cannot see into the future. If I had known last week that everything from the CottageDaily blog, to the dog was going to break, I might have curled up into fetal position and stayed in bed until it was over.

They say bad things happen in three’s but I beg to differ. Standing there in the hot sun, watching the tall, bald, tow-truck driver with the black snake neck tattoo hook my Jeep up to the wench, I knew this was no ordinary week. In fact, loading the boat onto the trailer for the second time in less than 24 hours because it required additional repairs, I started to feel a deepening sense of doom.

‘I wasn’t expecting this,’ I thought to myself. ‘This is our only week of holidays and it is not going well.’ It would be really easy to list all the “unexpected” events that occurred over the last seven days, but I will focus instead on the positives, and share with you what I learned.

You cannot get Internet access on Horne Lake unless you have a satellite or a Blackberry. Rogers Portable Internet service does not work, no matter how many times you say, “please, please, please.”

Libraries are a good place to go for free Internet, but be warned, seniors can be very territorial where terminals are concerned.

There is an excellent veterinary hospital in Parksville. The Bellevue Veterinary Hospital is open seven days a week including holiday Mondays, just in case your dog removes her stitches before her gaping wound has healed.

BCAA is a good thing to have, especially if you don’t know how to change a flat tire, or your husband breaks a bolt while trying to change yours.

Family holidays are not actually a holiday, at least not the kind where you sleep-in, hang by the pool, enjoy spa treatments or go for nice long relaxing dinners. No, I’ve discovered they are more like a week-long marathon of running from activity to the next, usually determined by the children. Eating takes place in restaurants where you line up and everything is made of plastic including the table. Cell phones and GPS are a must for these family get-togethers.

Oh, and one final note, I would like to thank the great staff at Nanaimo Regional Hospital for the gentle care my daughter received. We were all relieved that her wrist wasn’t broken. My husband has vowed to be more careful when shutting the Jeep door.

It’s good to be home.

Cheers,

Julie