Cottaging inspires cottage industries. From dock builders to cottage security systems to mouse traps, nowhere is this more evident than at the recent Fall Cottage Life Show.

Take for example, Catsue (Cathy Susanne) McBroom, president of Chantry Island Design, who used the show to launch her new line of “Cabana Wear” that hearkens back to the classic and comfy cabana clothing of the late 1950s and 1960s.

It is her retro women’s terry cloth lined bathrobes that first catch my eye. They are beautiful, fun and create a sense of nostalgia.

The line is inspired by McBroom’s early childhood, where she spent her summers on the shores of Lake Huron’s Southhampton beach, across from Chantry Island lighthouse. She recounts:

“Southampton is a “big water” beach, more like an ocean beach with sandbars stretching out into the surf. The wind can come up quite quickly, so it gets chilly there. I remember my Dad had one of those cabana shirts. It was terry cloth lined and buttoned up the front in a classic stripe pattern on the outside.”

Her playful fabrics are hand selected by McBroom from suppliers are across North America, and constructed here in Canada. At the moment, Chandry Island Design are available only by mail order through the company’s online catalogue at www.chantryislanddesign.com. CottageDaily.com will be giving away one girl’s size 4-5 Romper - shown in today’s photo.

To enter, email (julie@cottagedaily.com) a photo of your favourite cottage moment along with your name and where the photo was taken. We will be posting the photos on CottageDaily.com.

Also congratulations go to Mike and Brenda Homuk, who won the chair cushions we were giving away at the show.

Cheers,

Julie

It’s nine a.m. on Sunday morning when the OPP call to inform you your cottage has been broken into. Some neighbours discovered your back door ajar during their early morning walk. The officer explains your boat house door has also been jimmied, and needs to be repaired before it can be secured.

If you’re lucky, the cottage is only a three hour drive away; but not everyone is lucky.

Or, what if you’re almost home after a relaxing weekend, and you have that nagging feeling that you’ve left the stove on. What do you do?

These are issues that every cottage owner dreads. Fortunate are those who have a neighbor or a friend, who lives close by, and can check on your property for you.

Protecting a cottage is not just about preventing break-ins. Frozen pipes, uprooted trees, and heavy snowfall can also wreak havoc on summer homes.

We check it out, founded by Angela Balan, who is also a cottager, provides peace of mind for property owners. Her company perform routine inspections on vacation properties, inside and out, and posts a report on their website complete with photos. In the event of an emergency, they guarantee a four hour response time, and will make “temporary fixes” to any problem they discover.

“If a cottage is left open after a break-in,” explains Balan, “more damage can occur, particularly with animals or inclement weather. Our people secure the place, take photos and post a report on our secure website. The owners then go online where they can view the damage.”

We check it out, also maintains a network of trades people who will perform the repairs on your behalf. I could see this service working really well for people who fly south for the winter or for folks living out of province.

A membership can be split between a city property and a vacation property. You can have them inspect your city property in the summer and your summer property in the winter.

Memberships vary in price, but a basic plan which includes six regularly scheduled inspections and two emergency visits, costs $379 a year.

Unfortunately, this service is only available in Ontario - Muskoka, Haliburton and Kawaratha regions, but rest assured, they are expanding across Canada.

So the next time you arrive home only to discover you’ve left your make up bag at the cabin, don’t panic, we check it out will Fedex it to you.

Cheers,

Julie

Forget the bowl of cold limp corn flakes, savour instead, warm golden pancakes, filled with melting chocolate chips, and marinated in sweet maple syrup. Now that the weather has turned colder, it’s time to warm up our breakfast.  Nothing tastes better than a thick buttery pancake, or a crisp English muffin, topped with Canadian bacon and creamy hollandaise sauce. Guaranteed to keep you warm on cold fall mornings.

Today’s recipes will get even the deepest sleepers out of bed, as the tantalizing aroma from the chocolate chip pancakes wafts through your cottage. How do I know? They come from the Fabulous Fairholme Breakfasts & Brunches cookbook, perfected by the inn-keeper herself, Sylvia Main.

This stunning victorian Hotel, located in Victoria, B.C., was recently named Top 10 City Hotels by Sunset Magazine; recommended by Conde Nast Johansens 2007, and the 2006 Grand Award Winner and Canadian Best Bed and Breakfast of the year. Wow. Not only is this a great place to sleep, it’s also a great place to eat.

Main explained during a recent telephone interview, all of the recipes in the book have been tested 1,000s of times. This is one of those cookbooks you want to have at least one copy of, preferably two - one for home and one for the cottage.

As we get closer to Christmas, we will be featuring the Manor’s brunches, great because they can be made in advance. And scones, heavenly white chocolate cranberry orange scones. A decadent treat when served with piping hot chocolate for the apres skiing, skating or snowshoeing crowd.

If you can’t wait for the recipes on CottageDaily.com, you can go to their website and buy the book online.

Blueberry Pancakes (I use chocolate chips instead of blueberries when they’re not in season - 1/2 -3/4 cup chipits)

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3 tbsp sugar
• pinch salt
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• zest 1 large lemon or orange
• 3 cups buttermilk
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter melted
• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• maple syrup

Preheat griddle or skillet on medium heat.

Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and salt in a bowl. Stir until thoroughly mixed and make a well in the centre. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, lemon or orange zest, buttermilk and melted butter. Pour mixture into the centre of the well and gently fold together. The batter should have a pebbly or slightly lumpy consistency.

Coat the griddle with vegetable oil. Pour about 1/2 cup batter onto the heated griddle, about 2″ apart. Scatter 8 to 10 blueberries (or chocolate chips) on top of each pancake. When the bubbles begin to appear on top, carefully flip over each pancake and continue to cook until golden brown.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve warm with maple syrup and butter.

Fairholme’s Eggs Benedict

Blender Hollandaise Sauce (this is soo easy to make and it turns out perfectly every time)

• 3 egg yolks
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• pinch cayenne
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 butter

Melt butter in microwave. Place egg yolks, lemon juice, cayenne and salt in blender and turn on high for about 10 minutes.

With blender running, pour the melted butter into the egg mixture in a slow steady stream.

Allow the butter to fully incorporate and blend for 30 more seconds. The sauce should be light, creamy and smooth. Serve immediately.

• 8 large poached eggs
• 4 English muffins
• 8 slices Canadian bacon
• 8 slices tomato
• 2 tbsp chives or parsley, finely chopped
• cayenne
• butter

Poached Eggs

Fill a skillet almost to the brim with cold water. Bring water to boil over high heat and reduce to medium or gentle simmer. Crack eggs one at a time into a small teacup. Pour each egg slowly into the gently simmering water. Allow the whites to start coagulating before dropping in the entire egg. Bring the water back up to temperature between each egg.

Allow eggs to lightly simmer in poaching water for 2 1/2 - 3 minutes or until whites are completely cooked. Remove each egg with a slotted spoon and drain excess liquid.

Putting it all Together

Lightly toast and butter English muffins, keep warm in oven. Heat Canadian bacon in skillet with a little butter, do not brown. Place in oven with English muffins.

Place English muffins on plate. Top with Canadian bacon, tomato slice and poached egg. Pour 1-2 tablespoons Hollandaise Sauce over each egg. Garnish with chopped herbs and a pinch of cayenne.

Thank you, Sylvia for sharing these delectable recipes with us. If the making them seems a little daunting, why not take a short cut. Simply book yourself into Fairholme Manor and dial “O” for room service.

Cheers,

Julie

“An owner discovered his two sheds on Bay Road had been broken into. A generator was taken along with a chain saw and generator fuel,” reads the email from the Horne Lake Recreation Management. These emails serve as a constant reminder that at some point our cabin could get broken into.

My fellow blogger, Heather at www.cottageblogger.com, recently discovered a break in a neighbor’s cottage they had been keeping an eye on. The cottage wasn’t damaged. The thief had riffled through the cupboards and stolen a $40 telephone , but it was the emotional impact, the feeling that their safe haven had been violated, that caused them the most distress.

Our cottage association is very good at educating us on security.  Below are some tips from Brian Jeffery, on behalf of the security committee, taken from our recent newsletter:

1. Make sure that your driveway is chained or gated when not in residence
2. Take any valuables home that you won’t be using during the winter
3. Engrave your driver’s licence number on any valuables you will be leaving at the cottage
4. If you are going to leave your boat on the trailer at the lake for the winter, insure that the trailer is securely locked or better still, remove one of the wheels on the trailer.
5. Keep window blinds closed and place dowels or pieces of wood in your sliding window and doors.
6. If you have any additional tips - please share them with us in the comment box below.

We also gave our next door neighbors, who often go up in the winter, our cell numbers in case there is a break in. The biggest challenge is getting the property secured after it’s been forced open and making sure other intruders, like bears, or raccoons, don’t decide to make themselves at home. Fortunately, I have a sister who lives within a 45 minute drive of the lake, but not all of us are so fortunate.

On Friday, I will be blogging about a company, “We Check it Out” who performs routine inspections on your vacation property and provides emergency visits on your behalf.

Cheers,

Julie

If you had to pick your favourite cottage toy what would it be? Your boat, Jet Ski, wakeboard, fishing rod, or maybe it’s your hammock. Cottages are our playground, and the lake, our sandbox. I firmly believe you can never have too many toys.

Our newest toy, an air hockey table, is proving to be the most popular one yet. It is an excellent choice for those who cottage year round. Anyone can play it, but you do need two people. While air hockey might not be your typical cottage toy, trust me, if you have the space this is a good pick.

Although they are very bulky, they are easy to assemble - just make sure you know how to operate a power drill. I recently purchased ours at the Superstore for $178.00 plus tax, but other stores, like Sears, also stock them. Note - Costco does not.  Our table is 72 inches long and stands about four feet high, and has a digital display to record goals. It fits nicely into our basement.

What is so surprising is that four-year-old girls, as well as 50-year-old men, enjoy playing this game.

I think this would make an excellent family Christmas present and might give the kids a much needed break from their Playstation. I didn’t think you could break a sweat playing this sport, that is until I played my sister. Caution should be used when playing family members, especially older siblings, like your 43-year-old sister.

We are planing a “tournament” over the holidays and are inviting our friends to sign up. I wonder how many calories I could burn playing air hockey?

If you have purchased any new toys for the cottage, or are considering some for Christmas gifts, we would love to hear what they are, and who they’re for.  And if my husband is reading this, the keys to a new Malibu wakeboard boat would fit nicely into my stocking.
Cheers,

Julie

Note - the photo shown above is taken from the Sears website.

Walking into the condo, I can feel my heart sinking. The old blue carpet is worn and frayed around the edges. The white walls are scuffed and gouged. Entering the living room, my eyes are immediately drawn to the bright pink flowers covering the circa 80’s blue couch. As I gaze around the room, I quickly note the cheap brass picture frames unevenly doting the walls. The white laminate kitchen table and chairs match the kitchen cupboards. Its hard to focus on the room’s spaciousness and the incredible views when all I can think about is, ‘how could you make this place look better?’

Regardless of whether I am buying a vacation property or a home, I like properties that have been fixed up. The nicer the renovation, the more I like it. According to Glen Mishaw, a real estate agent in Whistler, I’m not alone. He notes that painting the walls and putting down new flooring will show a property better and sell it faster. When I ask him for a dollar figure he declines to comment.

So how much is a renovation worth to a buyer and how much can it increase a property’s value? That’s going to depend on the market and the property. A unit we are currently considering buying, if it was renovated would likely list for $40,000 to $50,000 higher than the current asking price.

Getting a property ready to sell is a time consuming process. Aside from painting and new flooring, here are five easy ways to make your property more saleable:

1. Pictures - take them down or hang them properly, especially if they are uneven and mismatched. It’s better to leave the walls bare.
2. New bedding - most big box stores sell “bed in a bag” combo sets. Get rid of the ratty comforters and go with neutral shades.  Throw cushions are great for adding splashes of colour but use sparingly.
3. Lighting - get rid of those brass lamps from the coffee table and the night table. Ikea is a great place to go for inexpensive modern lights.
4. Clear off your counters - get rid of candles and holders made prior to 2000. Burn any flowers or plants that are synthetic or dried. This includes all swags, silk ivy plants, wreaths. Old wine bottles belong in the recycling bin not on top of kitchen cupboards. Store family photos in a rubber maid container along with the other stuff from your closets.
5. Window treatments - balloon valances, hanging blinds and cheap plastic blinds detract from the view. Ikea, Target, Walmart and even Home Depot, all sell neutral window treatments and wrought iron rods. Curtains can neutralize a room and create a clean modern look.

A lipstick renovation is all about painting the walls, putting down new flooring and following steps one through five. It’s important to remember, most women make the decisions and we love lipstick.

Cheers,

Julie

Today’s recipe, chicken, beef and shrimp satay with peanut sauce, makes a great appetizer or meal, especially when served with an icy cold beer and a crusty bread (for mopping up the sauce).  They’re also a nice accompaniment to a caesar salad.

I’m going to serve them at my husband’s 40th birthday party this weekend. Satay’s are a good, but tricky appetizer. There is just enough meat to make it worth the struggle, but juggling a skewer on a cocktail plate can be a bit trying. The trick is to pack the meat to one end so it is easier to remove and make sure there are lots of napkins to catch the drips. It’s also important to soak your skewers for at least 30 minutes.

Today’s recipe was inspired by Cottage Life’s Summer Weekend Cookbook. But the recipe listed below comes from Epicurious.com.’s readers review.

Try it out and let me know what you think. The peanut sauce, from the summer vegetable rolls, got rave reviews. I quadrupled the amount from the original because I am serving a large crowd. The satays will feed eight so I will likely triple this one as well.

I hope it works. If not there are always the meatballs to fall back on, see Yummy Easy Peasy Appetizers for sweet and sour meatballs.

Peanut Sauce

12 tablespoons finely chopped onion
4 small garlic clove, minced
3 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
4 teaspoon vegetable oil
12 tablespoons water
4 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
4 tablespoon hoisin sauce
4 teaspoon tomato paste
3 teaspoon sugar

Cook onion, garlic, and red pepper flakes in oil in a small heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until pale golden, about 4 minutes. Whisk in remaining sauce ingredients. Simmer, whisking, 1 minute, then cool.

For Saté:
½ cup teriyaki sauce

¼ cup soy sauce

¼ cup hoisin sauce
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 ½ tablespoons minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons brown sugar
24 medium uncooked shrimp, peeled, deveined
1 ¼ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips

1 ¼ pounds beef skirt steak, cut into 3×1/2-inch strips, or filet mignon, cut into 3 x 1/2 x 1/4-inch strips

36 (about) bamboo skewers, soaked in water 30 minutes

Banana leaves or ornamental kale

Lime slices

For saté: Combine first 5 ingredients in large glass baking dish, Stir until sugar dissolves. Add shrimp, chicken and beef; stir to coat. Cover; chill 30 minutes to 1 hour. Do not marinade any longer - it will reduce the meat to mush.

Remove shrimp, chicken and beef from marinade. Thread on separate skewers, using about 3 shrimp per skewer and 2 beef or chicken pieces per skewer. Place on platter. (Can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Cover and chill.)

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat) or preheat broiler. Grill skewered meats until cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Line large platter with banana leaves. Place sauce in bowl in center of platter. Surround with skewers. Garnish with lime and flowers, if desired, and serve.

Cheers,

Julie

Cottage n. N Amer. a two story winterized dwelling complete with master bedroom, ensuite bath, spacious living and dining area, finished basement with home theatre system, used for vacation purposes, usu. located in a rural area near a lake or river (also attrib: cottage country).

I recently wrote an article for Cottage Magazine, Retiring to the Cottage. Conducting my research, one thing became very apparent - nobody is retiring to the “cottage” anymore. They are actually retiring to either a brand new custom built home or an extensively renovated property situated on a lake or ocean.

And it’s not just the retirees. On my own lake, Horne Lake, located on Vancouver Island, B.C., old cottages are being torn down and replaced with large homes.

David Foote predicted this trend in 1996, in his book, Boom Bust & Echo. It’s not the boomers, but their kids who, back then, were demanding more space. Eleven years ago it meant bigger homes, but it has transcended to second homes by the water or condos near the ski slopes. Regardless of where we go for our escape, we want a spacious living area and we want it nice.

Even the rental market for cottages has changed. Gone are the days when we would take our cast-off furniture from home, where, if it still works it goes to the cottage - don’t bother. According to Heather Bayer, author of Renting Your Recreational Property for Profit, today’s renters want clean contemporary vacation properties.

Once gentleman I spoke to at the cottage show described how all the old cottages on his bay had been torn down and replaced with year-round properties.

This past summer I spent a week at my brother’s waterfront home, complete with jacuzzi soaker tub, dishwasher, washer/ dryer and finished basement with big screen T.V. I came home suffering from cottage envy. It was nice having all those amenities.

Do more luxurious cottages take away from our experiences at the lake or enhance them? I’ll let you answer that one.

Cheers,

Julie

Standing in our 10 x 10 booth at the Fall Cottage Show, I look over and see my niece’s normally pale face turn bright red. Walking towards me, I can sense something has just happened to her.

“Um, Aunt Julie?” she asks, “Yes Jill,” I reply slowly, “What’s up? Are you ok?” I am looking at her, starting to get worried. The show has just opened. We have barely begun talking to people. ‘What could have possibly happened so soon,’ I think to myself?

“Well,” she starts to explain, “I am telling this man about CottageDaily.com, and how it’s online, and he stops me and says, “I don’t have a computer.” And I tell him he should get one, and then he holds up his hand and he’s missing his fingers.”

I’m not quite sure what to say or do next, but we both seemed to be thinking the same thing, ‘What have I gotten us into?’

Lots. Over the next 72 hours, we meet 100’s of cottagers. For those who stop and talk to us, we are given a brief glimpse of what life is like on their lake. I hear stories that move me to tears. I get to share in the enthusiasm of new cottage owners. And I feel the growing concern and helplessness of those folks who own property on Georgian Bay.

The best part of the show is watching people’s faces light up when I ask them about their lake. Cottagers talk about their properties the same way parents talk about children – with love and pride. We just can’t seem to help ourselves. Oh, and one thing I learn, everyone’s cottage is on the “best lake.”

It’s the goal of CottageDaily.com to capture your enthusiasm and to tell your stories. We want to connect you with other cottagers from across Canada. In the next couple of weeks, we will be adding a forum to the site to facilitate this. You will be able to post questions, offer suggestions, and rant with yahoo cottager and cabin owners alike.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank those people who made this weekend such a success: My husband, who soldiered on despite his raging cold; my mom for standing in for him while he slept in the rental car; my niece and nephews for their great sense of humour and persistence; our nanny, who broke her foot and still managed to look after our children; and Heather, who told me I could do it. I couldn’t have done it without all of you. Thank you.

Cheers,

Julie

Walking around the Fall Cottage Life Show I come across a booth I can’t even get near. People are lined up in rows waiting for the person in front of them to leave so they can take their place.

Gently manouvering my way to the front I see a sign that says, “The Oust-a-Mouse Bait House.” Mice it seems are a universal problem when it comes to cottaging, and a big one judging by the popularity of this booth.

The “house” is a white metal box that stores the poison, but unlike traditional mouse traps that are baited and placed inside your cottage, this is a lockable, weather-proof container that is placed outside the building. The idea is to kill the mice before they can get into your cabin and wreak havoc.

Unfortunately I don’t have any more details on this amazingly popular product, but if you suffer from mice infestations you might want to check out their site at www.oustamouse.com.

Here’s to building a better mouse trap.

Cheers,

Julie