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

This is the time of year when I seem to be going from one big lunch or dinner to the next. Last night it was sweet coconut curry chicken satays and fry bread with peanut sauce at the Flying Dragon. Tonight it’s roast beef and mashed potatoes at my husband’s Christmas party. Saturdays are crammed packed with pancakes and sausages as we have breakfast with Santa, and the weekdays are an endless feast of homemade shortbread, rum balls, spicy meatballs and wine. Lots of wine. It’s generally around this time when my pants get tighter and I develop “muffin top.” It’s not pretty, but my lose red sweater will generally hide this temporary condition. The last thing I am going to experience over the next 31 days of holiday gluttony is a hunger pang. I go to bed full, stuffed in fact, but I am one of the really lucky ones.

Driving home from a Christmas party the other night, I am listening to my favourite radio station, 95 Crave, appealing for donations for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB). I hear these appeals every year, but what stopped me cold, was when I hear that moms are diluting their baby’s formula to make it go further. I contact Arlene Kravitz, the GVFB’s director of communications, to better understand why this time of year is so important for them. “75% of what we need to operate the food bank for the year comes in November and December,” she explains. “Is it true that 41% of the food bank’s recipients are children,” I ask? “Yes, and summers are when the need is the greatest, because kids are out of school, and don’t have access to the lunch programs,” Kravitz explains.

When I ask her what their ideal donation is she replies, “High protein food like peanut butter, fish, and meals- in- a- can, anything with over 9 mg of protein.” In addition to providing food at the depot, the GVFB also supplies food to over 100 agencies that provide meals to homeless people. They feed over 25,000 people a week. She also says cash is greatly appreciated. With a $5 donation, they can buy $15 worth of food. “Everything makes a difference. No donation is insignificant.”

People can sign up to make monthly cash donations to their local food bank. If I make a monthly donation of $20, that will buy over $720 of groceries for the year. I can afford $20 bucks a month.

Here’s to not going to bed hungry.

Julie

If you’re heading to the cottage for the holidays and are taking a gang with you, here are some group activities to keep them amused and prevent you from getting cabin fever.

• Puzzles - Placing a puzzle on a side table is like putting out a bowl of potato chips. People will pick away at it until it is finished. It’s a great activity for any age group, but if your crowd is older, you might want to pick up a 500 piece puzzle.
• Gingerbread House - Do not attempt to make one from scratch! Costco, Superstore and any other retail outlet stock gingerbread house kits. They can be assembled in under 45 minutes and cost less than $10. Encourage your kids to get creative and host a prize for the best house. Not sure if they’ll have more fun building it or eating it.
• Movie fest - Invite your guests to bring their favourite DVD or video. Pop a bowl of popcorn and let the credits roll.
• Make your own Christmas movie. Make a documentary of your family’s holiday. Ask them to share their favourite memories of 2007, one thing they would like to do to change the world, and their wishes for 2008.
• Get outside and play in the snow, assuming you have snow of course. Pack the tobaggon, the foot warmers and a thermos of hot chocolate with a nip of Bailey’s and hit the slopes.
• Take along a yoga DVD and mat to the cabin. Try doing it first thing in the morning before anyone else is up. It’s a great way to stretch and centre yourself, especially if you’re holidaying with a large group.
• Board game tournaments - Break out the Scrabble or Monopoly board. If you are looking for something new, here are Amazon.com’s best sellers: Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader, Apples to Apples, and Blokus Strategy Board Game. Play nice.

I always love to hear what you’re up to - so fire away and let us know how you plan on spending the holidays.

Cheers,

Julie

When it comes to making shortbread cookies with my children it’s, well, a disaster.

While my children, Ben and Jillian, eagerly drag out the box of metal cookie cutters from the cupboard and sort through them deciding which shapes to use, I pull out Martha Stewart’s Basic Sugar Cookie Dough recipe. My right shoulders begins to knot. As Ben struggles to lift a chair over to the counter for he and Jillian to stand on, the dull ache spreads to my neck. By the time all the ingredients are lined up on the counter, my whole right side is throbbing.

Together we cut in one cup of butter, add a cup of white sugar, then gently turn on the mixer to medium. We stand back and watch the mixer’s big paddle flick butter onto the counter. Both children fight over who gets to crack the egg and add the tablespoon of vanilla. I turn off the beater while Ben adds the first cup of flour followed by some more mixing. Jillian finishes it off by tossing in the remaining cup and a half of flour.

We’re almost done now. A little more stirring and then it will start. The melt downs, their’s and then mine. What comes next is never shown in Martha’s glossy magazine. How do you take the melted glob of dough and make beautiful heart shaped cookies with red sprinkles? Maybe the question should be, how do you make these cookies without suffering a meltdown?

I’ve tried putting the dough in the fridge for two hours. I’ve even put it in the freezer for three weeks, but as soon as I get the buttery mass to room temperature, everything sticks. The dough to the parchment paper; the cookies to the cutter. Try as I may, none of our cookies are uniform, symmetrical or even remotely resemble a heart let alone a angel or Christmas tree.

So instead of posting a fabulous recipe for short bread cookies I am posting an SOS - if anybody out there has a good shortbread recipe that doesn’t stick to everything including the dog, and is child friendly, I would love to hear from you, so would Ben and Jillian.

Cheers,

Julie

PS - Below is Martha Stewart’s Recipe - it’s tasty but it’s trying.

Basic Sugar Cookie Dough

• 1 cup unsalted butter - room temperature

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 large egg

• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

• 1 tsp salt

• 2 1/2 cups of flour

Directions

In a the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, vanilla, and salt; mix on medium speed until combined. With mixer on low speed, add flour in 2 batches, mixing just until incorporated.

Divide dough into tow equal portions. Place each on a piece of plastic wrap; flatten into disks. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours or up to 1 week.

When ready to cook, preheat oven to 350 degrees, with racks on upper and lower thirds. Remove one sheet of dough from the refrigerator, and let stand one minute. Using a 3- inch snowflaked cookie cutter, cut into shapes. Place two inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Gather scraps, and reroll as above, chill until firm, 10 to 15 minutes, then cut more shapes.

Decorate cookies with sanding sugar or red sprinkles. Bake cookies until golden brown around the edges and slightly firm to the touch, about 15 minutes. Let cool on baking sheets. Store in airtight container at room temperature, up to 5 days.

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

If you are looking for a fun and easy craft to make with your children this weekend, caramel apples might just do the trick.

We made them this morning. The hardest part, next to peeling the wrappers off the caramels, is keeping them out of your kids’ and husband’s mouths.

All you need is:

• a one bag of Kraft Caramels -it actually comes with the sticks

• 5 granny smith apples

• 2 tbsp of cream

Directions:

Wash and dry the apples and insert wooden sticks in their core.

Unwrap all the caramels, placing them in a small pot, with 2 tbsp of cream. Heat on medium to low heat and stir until all the caramels are melted. Dip the apples in the caramel sauce until they are evenly coated. Scrap any excess off the bottom and place on a piece of wax or parchment paper. Cool and serve.

The kids can also roll them in chopped pecans or shredded coconut or decorate them with sprinkles. From start to finish it takes about 15 minutes.

Cheers

Julie

Sharing a cabin with bears in one thing. I have been well educated regarding these big black creatures.

• Don’t leave garbage laying around
• Always clean the barbecue after every use
• Avoid having bird feeders or fruit trees on my property
• Always make lots of noise when walking in the woods
• Never get between a bear and her cubs.

Enough said.

Cougars are another story. I know these creatures have attacked people on the Vancouver Island, usually children. Given the recent encounters on our lake, I wanted to find out how big a threat they posed to our safety.

I spoke to conservation officer, Ron Heusen, who is the field supervisor for central Vancouver Island. During our phone interview, one thing became very apparent, Ron has had a lot of experience with these big cats.

The first thing I wanted to know is, how big is the cougar population on Vancouver Island, and where do they live, i.e. how many are there on Horne Lake?

Ron explains, if you drew an imaginary line right down the centre of the Island, the majority of mountain lions can be found to the right of that line or on the eastern side. Campbell River, Courtney, Comox, Bowser, Qualicum, Parksville, Nanaimo and on down to Victoria, all have healthy populations.

Curious as to why the concentrations centred around populated areas, and not on the west coast coast, Ron states that deer are the cougars’ primary food source. These areas have huge deer populations making it easy for them to hunt and feed. This also explains why there have been no attacks on people in these areas.

Overall, the cougar population has been declining on Vancouver Island. While they no longer keep data on their numbers, conservation authorities are not seeing the kills (on livestock) like they used to. Cougars are showing up starving to death.

Ron attributes their decline to the extensive logging that is taking place. Wolves are the cougars primary competitor when it comes to deer, and even though there are very of them on Island, they are very efficient hunters. The logging corridors have enabled the wolves to hunt deer twice as fast and after they leave an area, the deer population has been decimated, leaving little food for the cougars. This massive loss of prey has hit the cougars hard.

When I ask Ron about cougar attacks on Vancouver Island, he says they average one a year, usually children. He also notes Island cats are the most aggressive in North America. We have the highest concentration of people killers resulting in the most of fatalities of anywhere in North America. That’s the bad news.

The good news is the likely hood of being attacked by a cougar is 1 in 17 million.

Tomorrow, I will review what to do and what not do when confronting a cougar.

Cheers,

Julie

It’s 9 a.m. on Saturday morning when Lori Mcfarlane heads off down Horne Lake Cave Road, with a friend’s dog, Angel. Part lab, part dalmation, she and Lori are in search of a bear munching on berries, Lori saw earlier that morning.

They haven’t gone too far when Lori gets an uneasy feeling there is something behind her. She turns around and sees a cougar, crouched low to the ground, advancing towards them. Lori levels herself and tells the cat, “You Get!” The cougar, ignoring her warning continues to advance. Again she says, “You Get!” Angel, sensing danger, twists her body around behind Lori’s leg

Never takes it’s eyes off the dog, the mountain lion keeps coming. Lori notices it’s a rather young cat and appears very thin. Despite the drama taking place around her, Lori pulls out her disposable camera and manages to get three shots of the animal as it advances.

There is no doubt in Lori’s mind, the cougar is stalking the dog. The cat is close enough now, Lori could touch it with her boot. Suddenly, it hunches up, it’s muscles are ready to pounce. Lori quickly unzips her jacket, throws it wide open and screams as loud as she can. This sudden action startles the cougar who screams too, jumps up into the air, and immediately disappears.

The mountain lion is spotted again later that morning further down the lake chasing a neighbors cat along the shore. The conservation authorities are contacted, but the cougar appears to have escaped.

Does a starving cougar lurking near my cabin make me nervous? Yes. This past weekend as we were closing up the cabin, I gotta admit, I was much more aware of my surroundings, especially with the children and our dog.

According to the British Columbia’s Ministry of Environment’s website, cougars are attracted to small children. They are not sure if it is because of their high-pitched voices, small size, or erratic movements that make them difficult to identify as being human.  I personally think it’s because they are easier to attack and will provide less resistance than a 195 pound male.

Lori said the cougar’s scream sounded just like a baby’s.  When asked if she was nervous about the attack, she said she wasn’t, because the animal was so focused on the dog.  These large cat’s are attracted to pets, so it is a good idea to have them on a leash.  Never leave food scraps laying around for your pet as it could attract other animals or prey for the cougar.

It’s also recommended when you are out walking to carry a large stick, if you have children, keep them very close by and under control.  Dog’s will sense a cougar before we will.

If you encounter one, stay calm and talk to it in a confident voice.  Try to make yourself appear as large as possible, and never turn your back on the cat.  Stand your ground, or back away slowly, but do not turn your back on the animal.  If you would like more information on these large cats go to www.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/cougsf.htm.

I’m kinda glad this incident happened at the end of the season, but it is a good reminder that we share our cabin with some  neighbors, who would be only to happy to have us for their own “happy hour.”

Here’s to safe keeping.

Cheers,

Julie

If you are still trying to figure out what to do with all those pictures you took this summer, you may want to consider making a photobook or a calendar, and here’s why.

Last Wednesday’s blog, Picture This, talked about putting together photobook. A representative from Chapters Indigo saw the posting and is offering the first three readers a $10 coupon to try their service. Actually he offered them to me, but I am giving them to you, so you can try their service and tell me what you think about it. Send me an email at julie@cottagedaily.com if you are interested.

Calendars

If your family, like ours, is into making calendars with your digital prints, you may be interested in the following offer from Future Shop. This promo is only available to new Future Photo members. Go to www.futureshop.ca to enroll, membership is free, and you can make a calendar for free, a savings worth $19.95. Shipping may cost extra. The only stipulation is, you have to make the calendar within 60 days of signing up.

I like these calendars because I can personalized them with family member’s birthdays and anniversaries.

Fall CottageLife Show

One other item I would like to bring your attention to is, the Fall Cottage Life Show, taking place November 2 - 4, 2007 at the International Centre in Toronto. For those of you who live on the west coast, you may wonder why I am promoting this show. If you are thinking of doing major cottage renovations or are building a new one, the fall show focuses on building, renovating and decorating. It’s the only show of it’s kind in North America, and unlike other home shows, this one is geared to cottage and cabin owners. You can get a coupon for $2.00 off admission in this month’s issue. Besides, spending a weekend in Toronto really isn’t that bad.

Cheers,

Julie