The following is the conclusion to the story that appeared yesterday. In honour of our one year anniversary, I wanted to share it with you.

Here’s to sharing many more cottage moments together.

Cottage Season - Squatters Welcome Con’t

The hardest part of this lifestyle was actually getting invited to a cottage. It was tricky, if not downright difficult to be subtle while trying to extract an invitation from a cottage owner. Often there were the parents and other siblings to consider, and maintaining that fine balance between guest and nuisance. It was especially difficult watching other people leaving the city early on the eve of long weekends when faced with the prospect of having to spend three interminable days cooped up in a small stifling studio apartment.

Despite all these obstacles, nothing diminished my passion for cottaging. It only strengthened my resolve. Someday I too would have a place of my own and a boathouse full of toys to go with it. It just wasn’t right now. So I consoled myself by pouring over cottage listings and reading Cottage Life magazine in search of that perfect piece of affordable waterfront property.

On June 28, 2004, my 20 year search ended. I found my cabin. A three bedroom cedar structure that looked more like an ATCO trailer than a home, but it had 55 feet of glorious waterfront and a floating dock. It was mine. I could relax. I no longer had to worry about being “invited back”. There was food in the fridge, and for the first time in years- my very own bed. Toys to play with– too many in fact: a boat for water skiing, a wakeboard, a kayak and even a windsurfer. There was a dock to dive off and a place to sit and watch the sunsets. My neighbours have become my really good friends, and together we enjoy campfires and happy hours.

Cottages like their owners are a work in progress. The first year it was a new deck. Last year, a new coat of paint – first inside, then out- and some much needed landscaping. This year it’s a new generator and solar panels, maybe even a lazy boy rocker. Regardless of what changes I make to the cottage itself, as I stand on my dock and stare out at the lake, it is the water that I am drawn to -this rippling blue playground, with its sandy-rutted bottom and endless possibilities. It is in these moments that I connect with my past.

As a new cottage season begins, I am filled with gratitude. I am grateful to my parents for providing me with my early cottage experiences. I am grateful to all those people who welcomed me into their weekend sanctuaries and I am especially grateful to the universe for providing me with a place to call my own and squatters to share it with.

Cheers,

Julie

Today marks the first anniversary of CottageDaily.com. I would like to thank everyone who’s stopped by, read the articles and left their comments. A special thank you to those who clicked on the Google Ads. I think I’ve made $16 advertising revenue to-date.

It was also a year ago today that I published my first article in the Globe & Mail - on what? Cottaging of course. Today’s blog is the first part of the article; the second half will appear tomorrow.

For anyone who owns a cottage and for those who dream of someday owning their own cottage - this blogs for you.

Cottage Season - Squatters Welcome

Standing on the edge of the warm shallow water, we waited for my mom, Jackie Kennedy look-a-like in a polka-dot bikini, to rake away the long green spindly weeds and dead sunfish found pooling in our sandy bay. Brought in by the waves from the boats, my mom dutifully pushed them back out into the lake, so my brothers, sister and I could go swimming. We were renting a cottage–small and worn down by time and other renters- on Rice Lake, Ontario, -a lake known for its muskies, pickerel and dense weed beds.

Over the course of my childhood we “experienced” many cottages throughout the Kawarthas. All were similar in nature: compact plain kitchens with beige linoleum flooring, two bedrooms with sagging mattresses – (perfect for jumping on), and rusty brown sleeper sofas. The feature we loved most was always the lake with its warm brown sandy carpet - an inviting playground for any child.

We ceased being renters when I turned 12. My parents bought a bright sunset orange cottage on Sunset Bay (the colour of our cottage was no coincidence). We were back on Rice Lake, the place where it all began. It was love at first sight. I loved our little “doll” house: the dated furniture- cast-offs from the previous owners’ living rooms, the big copper dials on the circa 1950’s kitchen stove. But most of all I loved the lake, whose enticing magic drew my siblings and me to it like children to finger paint. The lake: a giant aquatic canvas filled with endless possibilities.

Unfortunately our cottage days were cut short after my parents’ separated in my late teens. At the tender age of 22 I became a cottage squatter forced to rely on the kindness of other cottagers. Always on the look-out for invites, I found myself in some rather unusual and at times downright awkward situations. Cleaning out eaves- troughs, standing in frigid waters installing docks, and enduring intoxicated family members who called me by the ex- girlfriend’s name: these seemed small prices to pay for waterfront privileges. Waking up and finding nothing to eat but beer was another squatting dilemma.

Tomorrow the conclusion,

Cheers,

Julie

Despite missing the 8:30 a.m. sailing by 6 cars, we still managed to arrive at the cabin in pretty good spirits largely due to the weather.

Saturday’s temperature hovered around 28 degrees celcius when we finally pulled up to the lake. It was downright hot, so hot, our neighbours, who were in swimming with their kids (they had wet suits on) invited us to join them. Declining their invitation, we quickly got to work unloading the car and opening up the stifling cottage.

This past weekend was the kind of weekend you could only dream about. It was hot and sunny. The lake was flat calm on Sunday - perfect for wake boarding and yes, I donned my wet suit and went for a ride.

We kicked off Happy Hour season Saturday afternoon on Jan and Stew’s deck. It’s hard to believe eight months had passed. We pick up right were we leave off, although everyone’s kids are about a foot taller than when we last saw them, and some are heading off to university in the fall.

I couldn’t have asked for a better start to the cottage season. It was awesome.

Please drop me a line and tell us about your opening up weekend.

Cheers,

Julie

This weekend signals the start of our pilgrimage back and forth to the cabin. Opening and closing weekends are the more arduous ones due to the amount of stuff we seem to lug back and forth. Invariably, I’ll think of something I’ve forgotten, usually once we’re on the ferry.

In an effort to be more organized this year, I’ve created a check list - which I will be posting on the side of this page. Hopefully this will help me, and maybe you, get it all together and to the cottage.

Cottage CheckList:

• Assured Loading Pass for the ferry/ferry schedule
• DVD Player
• Cell Phone Charger
• Camera
• Kid’s activity bag (crayons, animal activity books, cards)
• Sunblock
• Bedding/Laundry
• Hats, flip flops, raincoats
• Cleaning supplies - vinegar, Method all purpose, baking soda, paper towels
• Weed wacker
• Tool Kit
• XM radio/iPod/Portable Speakers
• Dog Leash
• First Aid Kit
• Food
  • Fridge
    • Milk
    • Juice
    • Beer
    • Mineral Water
    • Margarine
    • Condiments - ketchup, relish, mustard
    • Salad dressing
    • Jam
    • Cheese
    • Potato Salad (Safeway)
    • Burgers
    • Hot dogs
    • Meat
    • Salad/ Veg/Fruit
  • Cupboard
    • Cereal
    • Tea/Coffee/Filters
    • Bread/ Buns
    • Snacks/popcorn/almonds/crackers
    • Seasoning salt
    • Marshmallows
    • Peanut Butter
    • Dog Food
  • Sundry Items
    • Foil/Plastic wrap/ziplock bags
    • Toilet Paper
    • Paper Towels
    • Batteries - 9volt
    • Fire starter
    • Dish soap, hand soap

Have I got everything? I won’t likely remember until tomorrow morning when I’m sitting on the ferry, but as long as it’s not one of the kids or Daisy, we’ll be just fine.

Happy Long Weekend.

Cheers,

Julie

You know it’s a long weekend when….

1. Gas prices go up
2. Long Line-ups at the border
3. Cars have sprouted kayaks
4. No parking spaces at the liquor store
5. Pick-up trucks are towing boats with coolers in the back
6. Canadian Tire is advertising sleeping bags, tents and fishing rods
7. Ferry sailings to Nanaimo, Tsawwassen and the Gulf Islands are sold-out
8. Nobody’s at yoga class
9. Friends have already left for Toffino

Have I missed anything?

Here’s hoping your long weekend is warm, sunny and full of fun. I’m secretly hoping I’ll be able to go for a wakeboard. We used to always have bragging rights on who was the first person in the lake (putting in the dock doesn’t count). I’m hoping to bag those rights this weekend.

Cheers,

Julie

Now that the weather’s warmer everyone is coming out of hibernation and heading outdoors. From now until late fall, an average of six people will be attacked by bears, here in BC.

Bella Coola Valley BC, situated in the Central Coast mountains, about one-third of the way up the province, has been described as “The Killer Bear Capital of the World,” due to its high level of human bear conflicts. It’s an area with special grizzly bear management issues.

It was here, this past Saturday, where the province’s first bear attack of the year took place, according today’s Globe and Mail article, Animal Control. It has yet to be confirmed whether the attack was related to a food or garbage problem, but the article goes on to explain that over 700 bears are destroyed each year because they pose a danger to the public, largely because they’re looking for food.

It’s carelessness with garbage and food that attracts bears into areas where they shouldn’t be.

Our cottage, and many others across Canada is located in bear country. Below are are 10 tips from the Bear Aware program designed to reduce the incidents of problem people - opps, that should read bears.

Bear Aware Tip Sheet

1. Keep Garbage inside the house
2. Don’t add meat products or cooked food to compost, turn it regularly and keep it covered
3. Pick ripe and fallen fruit daily*
4. Remove unused fruit trees*
5. Use bird feeders only in winter*
6. Keep ground free of seeds
7. Clean barbecue grill after each use
8. Store grill in a covered area
9. Bring pet dishes inside and clean up spills
10. Store pet food indoors

* Our cottage association discourages us from having fruit trees and bird feeders at the lake

Tomorrow we will test your bear knowledge and provide tips on how to use bear spray.

Cheers,

Julie

Are you starting to get excited yet? For those of us keeping track, there are only 12 more days until the May long weekend - a weekend that heralds the start of cottage season. I must admit, the weather isn’t exactly inspiring me to think summer, at least not here in Vancouver.

In between burst of rain, the temperature is still unseasonably cool. In some places, the lakes are still covered in snow - guess those folks are going to have to hold off putting in the dock - or maybe break the ice first and then install it.

Mentally I’ve started to prepare for the upcoming migration. I’ve been making little piles around the house of “things to take to the cottage”. There is the bedding - stuffed into green garbage bags, a new table cloth, wet suits and old coats.

I’ve finally talked Bill into buying a new boat which opens up a whole new can of worms. And the summer guest list - who we’d like to invite, is being bantered about. If any of my friends are reading this, now is a great time to take me out for lunch and butter me up - so to speak.

If I had to say what I’m looking forward to the most - it’s just being back at the lake. I miss sitting on the couch staring at the water - something I never seem to tire of. I’m also hoping to get out my kayak and go for a paddle - the middle of the lake is a great place to do some soul searching and navel gazing.

So today’s question is - what are you looking forward to the most this summer? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Cheers,

Julie

People often share things with writers that they wouldn’t normally share with others. As a writer I have the privilege of meeting and talking to people who I might not otherwise encounter in my day-to-day life. I tend to be curious by nature, and am used to asking the questions.

It came as a bit of a surprise when Heather Bayer, my fellow cottage blogger, tagged me on Sunday and asked me to write seven strange but true facts about myself.

Ugggggg, I like reading strange things about other people. I am not comfortable disclosing mine to the world, especially with RunningCar in the audience (RunningCar is my oldest brother). I’m experiencing the same discomfort now as I did at my wedding when my family members got up to toast me, the bride. You never know what family members will say at an open bar wedding.

Despite severe misgivings, here are seven strange but true facts about myself:

1. I grew up on a farm in Northumberland County and was a member of 4-H and Junior Farmers.
2. Despite my brother’s urgings, I did not marry a dairy with quota, but a lovely man who’s family immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong when he was five-years-old. My children are a beautiful blend of Asian/Caucasian.
3. I studied violin all through elementary and high school, and played in the Northumberland Symphony Orchestra. I am now taking piano lessons.
4. I used to own a flower shop in Calgary - Anne Paterson’s Flowers. I did not know the names of the flowers or had any previous design experience when I bought the business.
5. I have a Wheaton Terrier named Daisy who sits under my office chair when I’m writing.
6. I do yoga and practice meditation first thing everyday for an hour.
7. I am addicted to sugar, so I do not eat desserts or anything else with sugar in it of any kind. My girlfriends think I’m strange.

O.K. There you have it. I think there are probably stranger things about me, I just can’t think of any off hand and I’m trusting RunningCar not to add to the list. Oh, all right one more - I used to eat cake mixes out of the box.

Cheers,

Julie

Technology is a great thing, but when it fails, stand back. Such is the case with our email alerts. For those great people who subscribe to our notifications, I sincerely apologize for the barrage of emails you have been getting from us. I know how bad it is because I get them too, sometimes two a day. UGGGG.

Emails can be overwhelming, kinda like a child tugging on your leg, saying, “mom, mom, mom,” over and over again. Like a ringing phone, we can’t seem to ignore them. This is stressful, confirmed by the number of people who canceled their email alerts this week. I totally understand.

As one reader wrote, “7 is too many.” So we have temporarily canceled our posting notifications. Going forward, we will not be sending out an email alert everyday, but rather one a week, highlighting the week’s stories. If you see something you like, click on it, if not - that’s what the delete key is for.

Like a cottage, we are a work in progress. We are continually striving to make CottageDaily.com a fun experience - your daily escape.

Once we get everything sorted out, we will open up the Hammock Give-Away contest again.

Thank you for your support and patience.

Cheers,

Julie

PS - We have had a lot of great feedback coming in from the Chic-Choc Mountain Lodge Granola Bars - They’re a hit. You can alter the ingredients, just keep the proportions the same.

One snowmobiler is confirmed dead and another body remains buried in what the Canadian Avalanche Centre is reporting their deadliest season yet. “Canada has never seen this many fatalities this early in the season,” states to Greg Johnson, an avalanche forecaster with the Canadian Avalanche Centre.

Four avalanche slides were trigger yesterday in British Columbia. Two separate avalanches, both in southern interior near Grand Forks region, caught snowmobilers off guard, resulting in their deaths. Two other slides were also reported, one at Big White ski resort, near Kelowna, where a snowboarder remains unaccounted for, and the other on Blackcomb Mountain in Whistler. While two skiers were partially buried at Big White, ski patrollers were on the scene and quickly dug them out. According to Johnson, rescuers are continuing their search for the missing snowboarder.

Johnson attributes the high mortality rate to the province’s unusual snow pack. “We have had fluctuating temperatures, followed by rain, and then cold and now heavy snow.” It’s not necessary the amount of snow, he explains, but the ability of the snow pack to adjust and stabilize to the added weight of the new snow.

The weaknesses or faults become buried deep in the snow. Avalanches occur when the pack becomes destabilized. The southern interior’s snow pack is creating a dangerous situation and poses significant avalanche concern from Rossland to Castlegar, to Fernie and now Kelowna, Johnson cautions. “They are bigger. They are more dangerous and there is very little chance you will escape if you become caught in one,” he warns.

He recommends people venturing into these areas to go back country skiing, or snowmobiling, educate themselves first. “Check the avalanche reports, talk to local guides and make sure you know the conditions of the area your in.”

I must admit, having spoken to Greg at the start of the season, my heart sinks every time I open the paper and read about another avalanche fatality. Please play safe.

Cheers,

Julie