Every year for Mother’s Day my children buy me a plant, shrub or tree. Last year I received two magnolia trees. This year I’m hoping to receive something that bares fruit- ideally a cherry tree.

Inspired by last weekend’s Vancouver Sun columnist, Steve Whysall, (see Sweet Treats) I’d like to turn our backyard into a fruit orchard of sorts.

Due to bears, deer and other little four-legged creatures, we are discouraged from planting any kind of fruit trees at the cabin. Although my neighbour Ed has a great apple tree that kids and animals both enjoy, I’ve shied away from planting anything edible.

This article offered some great advice on buying buying fruit producing plants and trees. Specifically, if you’re planting a fruiting tree, vine or bush this year, don’t expect a bumper crop. You have to be patient as it can take several seasons before a plant starts producing lots of fruit. It goes on to explain that most fruit trees are sold in three or five gallon pots, but if they’re available, it’s recommended to buy more mature specimens in seven or 10-gallon pots, in order get more fruit sooner.

If you want more information on how to plant the trees and bushes, including pruning techniques, the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands is your best source see www.agf.gov.bc.ca/aboutind/products/plant/raspberry.htm

The following are a list of the best fruiting trees and berry-bearing shrubs for the Lower Mainland of Vancouver which is classified as a zone 7-8. Vancouver Island is a zone 8.

Cheery Tree Varieties

When buying a cherry tree, buy a variety that is self-pollinating, so you don’t need to plant more than one kind. The most popular varieties are:

• Lapins, Glacier, Stella and Sweetheart

Apples

Apple trees need a pollinator. As long as there is another tree in the neighborhood, there should be no problem with pollination. Crabapple trees make great pollinators. Recommended varieties include:

• Honeycrisp, Liberty, Braeburn, King Gravenstein, Melrose

Blueberries

Blueberries are self-furtile, but you get more fruit if you have more bushes with similar flowering times, early, mid or late bloomers. Recommended cultivars:

• Duke, Patriot, Blue Crop, Chippewa and Blue Gold

Raspberries

Recommended varieties:

• Heritage, Meeker, Autumn Bliss, Tulimeen

I’m looking forward to building up our back yard garden. Planting trees and shrub given to me by the kids makes it even more special. We might get started a little earlier this year as Earth Day is next Sunday. What better way to celebrate than planting a cherry tree or some blueberry bushes.

Cheers,

Julie

The road to paradise can be a bumpy one, particularly if your child gets car sick. Over 58% of kids ages four to 10 experience some form of motion sickness, occurring more frequently in girls than boys. The good news is they will usually outgrow it.

Joanne, a mother of four young boys, who all suffer from motion sickness, knows only too well the challenges of taking car trips with her young nausea prone family. “We can barely go two blocks before we have to pull over because someone is feeling sick,” she explains.

According to the Hospital for Sick Kids in Toronto, motion sickness occurs when two different messages conflict in a child’s brain. One of the messages comes from a part of the inner ear responsible for controlling your child’s balance. The other message comes from the child’s eye. Motion sickness is a normal response to perception of motion where there is sensory conflict. It can occur when traveling by car, boat, airplane or amusement rides. I personally can get motion sickness just on swings.

If your children suffer from car sickness, here are some ways to deal with it:

How to Avoid and Treat Motion Sickness

• It’s recommended to avoid heavy meals up to two hours before traveling
• Avoid foods like dairy, protein, deep-fried or high in sodium like chips or french fries
• Have the child try to focus on a point outside the car on the horizon
• Make sure the child’s seat is facing forward
• Open the window - fresh air can bring a lot of relief
• Have the child close their eyes
• CD’s, cassettes and even watching a DVD all help the child focus on something else
• Frequent stops
• Medication -if taking gravel it should be taken before the trips starts
• Ginger (powder, fresh root, tea, liquid)has also been proven to be just as effective as dramamine in treating nausea

I’ve learned from our own personal experience that watching DVD’s and sleep are the best way to avoid car sickness. It’s also a good idea to keep a supply of zip lock bags and wipes tucked in the backseat pockets just in case you can’t pull over.

If you have a remedy, please share it with us in the comment section.

Cheers,

Julie

“Do we have ski school today?” my six-year-old daughter asks. It comes out sounding more like an accusation than a question. “Yes,” I reply in my firm non-negotiable voice. Trying to avoid an energy sucking discussion, I quickly change the subject. “But after skiing we’re going over to Hanna’s hot tub.” Hanna is her classmate and best friend who’s parents also own a condo at Whistler. We’re all up here skiing this week. It’s our March break.

Despite explaining to my children, on more than one occasion, that they are in fact very lucky to get to ski here, and that people fly from all over the world to ski on these very same mountains, they are not enjoying their March break.

Herein lies the crux of the matter. My children are over-privileged. It’s not something I set out to do. Rather, it’s come about as a matter of circumstance.

How do you teach kids to be grateful for something when they don’t know anything different. They’re enjoying activities and holidays that I didn’t even know existed when I was their age.

Leaving them at home is not an option either. It would be really hard to say to them, “Your dad and I are going skiing this weekend. When you turn 40 you can join us, because by then you’ll be old enough to appreciate it.”

While my parents bought our cottage when I turned 12, I actually didn’t start skiing until I was in junior high school. It was only from saving my summer job money that I was able to afford my first pair skis - Elans with the yellow and black stripes. When I told my son excitedly that he was getting brand new skis, he just shrugged and rolled his eyes. A dinosaur from the dollar store gets a bigger response.

It’s the same attitude at the cabin. I want my kids to be grateful for their lifestyle, but I honestly don’t think they’re going to appreciate it until they actually leave home (again, that’s assuming they actually leave home).

I’m open to any suggestions and parenting advice from those who have bravely gone before me.

Live from Whistler Mountain - home of the over-privileged,

Cheers,

Julie

While most of eastern Canada is still digging out from the heaps of snow they’ve had piled on them, here on the west coast it’s practically spring. The grass is green, the crocuses purple, white and yellow heads are in full bloom, and the cheery tree blossoms are just about to burst open. Oh yeah, and it’s raining.

Cottaging on the west coast, especially during March break, is a bit of a crap shoot. You might get some sunshine, but best not to count on it. If you’re planning on renting a cabin for the spring break pack your rain gear: gortex shell and pants, fleece and rubber boots.

As far as activities go we won’t be doing any snowmobiling or skating at our cabins. It’s more like walks on the beach looking for treasures carried in by the winter storms or weather permitting going for a kayak.

If your cabin in on the ocean, it’s also a good time to do some whale watching as the gray whales are migrating. In fact, from March 15 - 23, 2008 Tofino’s is hosting its annual Gray Whale festival. Up and down the shore the blow-spout mist can be spotted as the whales come up for air.

In order to stave off bordeom and subsequent fights, I plan lots of day trips for the kids as March is typically a very rainy month. Some of our favourites are Coombs Country Market for breakfast or ice cream (see Goats on the Roof article). Going swimming at the Ravensong Aquatic Centre, and if we’re feeling really adventurous Mount Washington is only a 45 minute drive and from there we can skiing, snowshoeing or tubing.

It’s very different from cottaging in eastern Canada; there’s no ice fishing in fact our lake never freezes. We won’t be snowmobiling or building snow forts, but we do manage to have a good time - west coast style.

Cheers,

Julie

It’s snowing in Ottawa and most of eastern Canada, the prairies, and Alberta are buried under a blanket of snow. The May long weekend is 12 weeks away. On Vancouver Island, B.C, Horne Lake doesn’t get warm up until July. So why am I out shopping for swim suits now and telling everyone to do the same?

Selection. The swim suits are just hitting the shelves and now is the best time to get them. The Lands End Kid’s catalog arrived on our doorstep yesterday loaded with colourful swim wear. My kids usually swim in a rash guard shirt to protect them against the sun. This catalog is brimming with vibrant short and long-sleeve rash guard shirts that offer 50 UPF.

I did a quick online survey to comparing Old Navy, Gap and Lands End to see who had the best selection and prices. Old Navy emerged the clear winner on price, but their shirts aren’t as colourful as Gaps or Lands’ End. A boy’s surf shirt sells for $14.50 compared to Lands End and Gap whose both sell for $19.50.

I like Old Navy’s selection for boys, but for girls, the Gap’s colours and designs are fun and very girly (see above photo), especially if you’re not into catalog shopping. Lands’ End swim wear is definitely more expensive but when it comes to co-ordinating and accessorizing they beat everyone else hands down. Their white bathing suit cover-ups with bright fuchsia hibiscus are gorgeous. If you like things that match, Lands’ End’s lime green and blue beach towels are colour co-ordinated with kids shorts and tops. They will even monogram them for you. Too much.

I am off to load up on this year’s swim trunks, well ahead of the March break crowd. As for myself, I think I will hold off, at least for now. Bathing suit shopping for me is an entirely different experience.

Cheers,

Julie

There’s only one thing better than hot buttered popcorn - sweet caramelized maple popcorn. Taken from The Sapsucker, the local Vancouver Island maple syrup producers bi-annual newsletter, this sticky crunchy treat is a winner.

I must admit, I don’t eat sugar, but a lone kernel found it’s way into my mouth - and was it ever good. This is a fun snack to make with the kids.

Caramelized Maple Popcorn

• 1/2 cup popping corn
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup bigleaf maple syrup ( I used Canada No.1 medium maple syrup - store grade)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

Directions

Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pop enough corn to make 10 - 12 cups. Place in a large roasting pan and set aside. In a small saucepan melt butter then mix in syrup, brown sugar and salt. Boil for five minutes without stirring. Don’t let it get to hot, I burned my first batch. Remove from heat then stir in baking soda and vanilla extract. Pour mixture over popcorn and mix well. Bake for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

Looking for a good all-round barbecue sauce? The Ontario Maple Syrup Producers have a terrific website loaded with maple based recipes. Maple Syrup Barbecue Sauce is one that I have had great success with. It works well in a slow cooker with 3 lbs of ribs cut into 2 inch length pieces.

Maple Syrup Barbecue Sauce

• 3/4 cup (175 ml) pure maple syrup
• 1 cup (250 ml) ketchup
• 2 tsp (10 ml) grated lemon rind, optional
• 1 cup (250 ml) onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup (50 ml) brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1/4 cup (50 ml) lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 cup (50 ml) water
• 1/2 tsp (2 ml) salt
• 2 Tbsp (30 ml) garlic, finely chopped or crushed
• 1/2 tsp (2 ml) coriander, optional

Combine all ingredients in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, uncovered, in refrigerator for up to 1 month. Yield: about 4 cups (1 L).

Cheers,

Julie

The video screens with their flickering images can been seen through the rear window. It seems more and more people are opting to have DVD players installed in their mini vans and SUV’s. The days of singing and playing I Spy are giving way to video’s and hand- held Game Boys.

I must admit, we bought a portable DVD player for the car/kids four years ago. Bill and I still agree it’s one of the best investments we’ve ever made. It has saved our sanity when a ferry gets canceled or is delayed. Watching a video actually helps our daughter NOT get carsick on the road to Whistler.

We limit watching the DVD player to nighttime. On day trips, we try to engage the kids in meaningful conversations. These dialogs usually last about three minutes. Over the years, we’ve logged thousands of miles, either commuting to Fernie, B.C., or over to Vancouver Island, B.C. and now more recently, up to Whistler, B.C. In addition to sleeping, here are just some of the things we do to help keep our kids entertained on the long commutes:

Car Tricks

Brain Teezers

• Give the kids an answer like Canada and ask what the question is
• One person picks an animal and everyone else has to guess what it is
• Give famous lines from Disney movies or hum the songs and get them to name the movie

Card Games

• Brain Quest - 1,000 questions and answers - it comes in every grade level, and asks questions like, “Which takes up more space: hot air or cold air?”
• Professor Noggin’s Series - we have the Wildlife of North America Card game, but they come in a variety of interests. Example: Barn Swallow - do I eat fruit, insects or seeds?

The card games are great, but I tend to get a bit car sick reading the questions.

Make Up a Story

• This is still one of my all time favourites - Someone starts off the story and we go around the car with everyone adding to it. The kids really enjoy this one.

Car Bingo

• One of my friends made up her own version of car bingo - it was a binder filled with things the kids would see on their way to the Drummheller Dinosaur museum. Every time they spotted something, they put a sticker on the box. She made one for each of her three sons to keep them occupied on the long car ride. It was a work of art. I should also add she’s a teacher.

If you have any tricks for keeping your kids amused on the way to the cabin or anywhere else, I would love to hear what works and what doesn’t.

Cheers,

Julie

I’m sitting in the Whistler Walk-In Clinic, while the slim athletic doctor reviews my x-rays. “So how long have you been snowboarding,” she asks, her blond hair falling forward. “Um, well, it was my sixth time when I fell,” I reply, trying gently to shift the weight off my very, bruised backside.

“Are you a skier?” She demands, this time raising her sharp blue eyes above the laptop she is typing furiously onto. I am quickly realizing her concern is not focused on my very, very sore bottom, but rather on what I am doing on a snowboard in the first place. “We see a lot of snowboard injuries in here, mostly knees, wrists and elbows, way more than skiing. Take my advice and go back to skiing. It’s much safer.”

There it is my prognosis and my treatment along with a prescription for Tylenol 3’s. She has, in her not so subtle way, warned me that I am too old, and will likely continue to get hurt if I keep up this foolish notion of snowboarding.

Am I too old? Should I have started this sport sooner? In the prophetic words of W.M. Lewis,

“The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.”

Everything I read about our aging populations states that 60 is the new 40, so isn’t it only fair to conclude that 40 must be the new 20 or 30 at least? Is age a state of mind or a way of ensuring our survival? According to the Life Expectancy tables, Canadian women are now living (on average) until we are 82.3, and yes, we are still outliving our male counterparts who are checking out at 77.2. According to these tables, and not God, I will be around for at least another 40 years.

Walking by my snowboard, now gathering dust in our garage, I feel this twinge of disappointment. My posterior has long since healed, but the fear of falling and hurting myself again, prevents me from climbing back on the board. I am further taunted, each weekend, by the young fearless people who effortless curve by me, barely conscious of their skill and ability.

I don’t want to be too old to try anything, this excludes sushi. Sure I may be 40 ish, but like Jean Cretin, I plan on water skiing well into my 70’s, that goes for downhill skiing too. So maybe that’s the trade-off. Maybe I have a 100 runs left in my knees, and maybe staying away from snowboarding will ensure that I get to cash-in on every one of them.

In the meantime, if anyone is looking for a barley used snowboard, send me an email.

Cheers,

Julie

Whistler is filled with hidden treasures. Every time we come here, we discover a few more gems. The snow this week is  phenomenal. It’s like someone turned on the snow tap and forget to shut it off. It’s spewing like an out of control garden hose. Skiing down Ptarmigan, there is so much powder I get stuck and have to cross-country ski my way out, passing a snowboarder, buried to his waist in the fluffy stuff.

There is not enough room to list all of Whistler’s good qualities, but here are a few of my favourite moments.

1. Taking a break from skiing to enjoy a cup of white hot chocolate from the Second Cup (located in the village beside Lululemon)
2. Tubing on the #7 black diamond run at the Tube park (we rope all four tubes together - thrilling doesn’t even begin to describe it)
3. Dusty’s for Happy Hour today - it’s crazy busy and we have to sit on the pool table, but the wings make it all worth while.
4. Snowball fight/snowball war with the kids on our way home from the hill.
5. Walking around Nita Lake on one of the many trails that surrounds the Village.
6. The friendly hellos and greetings from the lifties. The staff that operate the chairs come from all over the world to experience Whistler. It’s their enthusiasm and vitality that make the village a fun place to hang out, especially on Aussie Day.
7. The Fire and Ice show that takes place in the village every Sunday night (see above photo)
8. Skiing with my buddy, Jean, who is a level four ski instructor. Part coach, part tour guide, I have never skied so many black diamond runs in my life. Thank you Jean, for getting me down in one piece.

I could list the best restaurants, bars, and pizza joints, but part of the fun of Whistler is discovering them on your own. O.K. if you absolutely must know, according to the Pique Newsmagazine, here are some of the winners for 2007:

1. Rimrock Cafe voted best overall restaurant, best dessert - sticky toffee pudding, best service, and best place to go if someone else is paying
2. Samurai Sushi - best value & best take-out restaurant
3. Tapas - Urban Tapas Parlour
4. Steak - Hy’s Steakhouse (although the 3rd place winner - Ric’s Grill is my favourite, and good place to go if you have kids)
5. Best Burger - Spitz Grill
6. Breakfast - Wildwood Cafe (locals also love Southside diner at Creekside)
7. Apres Ski bar - The GLC - Giribaldi Lift Company (Dusty’s came in second)

Tomorrow wraps up our holiday. You know it’s a good one when nobody wants to go home.

Cheers,

Julie

Her pink ski jacket twirls around like a cone in a candy floss machine. Her shrieks of laughter echoed off the forests walls as we stop to stare at her. Her arms are stretched high in the air as her body spins around and around. The tube she is riding in picks up speed with every turn, until it reaches the bottom. Shaking her head she attempts to steady herself and shake off her dizzy fog, as she tumbles out of her tube.

Handing my plastic ring to the attendant, I plunk myself into my own frozen purple circle of fun. I arch my back, taking care to protect my derrieri from any surprise bumps on the ride to the top. The rope jerks, spinning my tube around, as I dragged up the hill to go tubing.

It’s a beautiful blue sky day. We are at Cypress Mountain’s tube park located on Vancouver’s north shore mountains. This is tobogganing at it’s finest. Smooth groomed slopes, with walls high enough to prevent people from crossing over, await us. Attendants hold our tubes while we ready ourselves. There are four of us wanting to go down together. We throw our rope with ring into the tube and then hop in - legs and arms sticking out on 90 degree angles. One hand grasping our own handle and one hand steadying our kids’ handles. Samantha, a young high school student, gives us a big push, launching us down the run. Quickly, we pick up speed. I look over at Jillian, my six-year-old, worried that she is going to start crying, but all I see is a smile, an ear-to-ear grin. The thrills come fast and furious, but before we know it, we’re at the bottom. We pile out, eager to do it again and again.

Snow tubing is one of those activities that anyone can do, provided they’re over four feet tall. All you need are winter boots, warm mitts, hat, ski jacket, snow pants and ideally sunglasses or goggles. According to the Snow Valley website, tubers hit speeds of up to 80 km/hr. Surprisingly no one is wearing helmets, but then again, no one falls out of their tube. Speed and fear are good deterrents. It’s cost about $18 for two hours and includes tube rental.

Our kids love it, but the long line ups for the rope tow dampen their enthusiasm. While Bill and I are eager to keep going, are children are done after two hours. This is a great family activity, or if you have visitors who are getting cabin fever, head for the hills. A word of caution though, we were tubing on a groomed controlled track. If you are sledding or tobogganing anywhere else, wear a helmet especially if it’s icy or there are rocks or trees.

If you are interested in trying it, go to Playday.com, to find a tube park in your area or call your local ski hill to see if they offer it. I’m not sure what is more fun, water tubing or snow tubing, but they both provide a thrilling ride.

Has anyone else tried this ridiculously fun winter activity?

Cheers,

Julie