Cottage Life

Anonymous

Grace....I love the smell of hyacinth....mmmm.....I think I will go buy myself a pot or two! I have been a florist for most of my working life so I do love my flowers! DH's foot still pains him from that fall.....I think he'll be more cautious from now on! Can't wait to get going on things again and dreaming of life at the cottage once more.

Well, I'm sure there must be more cottage lovers lurking in the bush! Come on out and join the fun! We want to hear your cottage stories!

Lynne

Hi

My foundest memories are when I was young going to my Aunt's camp (as it's called here in NH) on a lake. It was only a half hour from home, and whenever it got steamy, we'd go out there. Their camp was really a house. A cape with a walkout basement. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, kitchen and a living room that took up one side of the downstairs. They also had a front screened in porch across the whole front. My 3 older girl cousins (youngest was 2 yrs older than me, the oldest of us 4 sisters)would take us for boat rides, waterskiing, tubing, sailing,or just go swimming with us. We'd go for hikes in the woods too and pick wild blueberries. They had a dog that caught fish with her mouth as we fed the sunfish breadcrumbs. They also had 2 cats, 3 chickens, and 2 rabbits (that had babies every summer). They would move out there every year for the whole summer as soon as school was out. They sold their home in town and moved there permanently for 5 years. They sold it to move back to town when my uncle had a stroke about 20 yrs ago.

My husband's parents bought a camp on a lake when he was 10 (35 yrs ago). I started dating him at 16, and we always spent lots of time  up there. His parents moved up there permanently 3 yrs ago. It's about an hour away. We used to stay up there for a weekend every summer till his parents sold their house in town. It was built in the 20's. Originally, it was one floor. A kitchen, living room, 2 bedrooms and a bathroom, a front sunporch facing the water. No foundation. The water came from a hose dropped in the lake. They would bring up their own drinking water from home. They added on a upstairs withing the first few years they had it. It was heated by a fireplace, and a gas parlor heater. They had a vent in the ceiling and the stairway (with a trapdoor they closed in the winter, when nobody was using the 7 beds upstairs) that would allow the heat to go upstairs. In the winter, you'd have to cut a hole in the ice and lug buckets up to the camp to get water for the toilet and washing (no showers!). We did not go up much in the winter. Now since the moved up there, they jacked up the house and poured a full foundation with a walkout basement. The added on to the upstairs, and now have 3 seperate rooms up there. They lost a bedroom downstairs, for the cellar stairway, and made there master bedroom bigger by taking a third of the front sunporch (now they have a lake view from their bed!). It's on a dirt road, off a dirt road, off a tarred road, 3 miles in from the main road. Very quiet there. There is always a pair of loons there and many ducks and canadian geese (they are trying to get rid of them). There are also a pair of Great Blue Herons. I loved to hear the loons calling at night. Our 4 kids love tubing and often bring friends up. There is a dock for the pontoon boat (his dad's) and our motor boat. They also have 2 canoes, a kayak, and a paddle boat. My husband's sister's mother-in-law lives next door in the summer, so the 13 grandkids used to run between the 2 camps (they are now 12-28yrs old, so not so much running!). There is a raft 100' out to swim to too. It's off the beaten path and is quiet there. The kids love fishing and catch lots of sunfish. Sometimes they'll catch a bass or a perch. Whenever I go up there, I just feel the tension ease out of me. It's like one big heavy burden lifts off of you.

We rent a cabin on a lake every summer for a week or 2, but someday, I hope to own one and move there after we retire. (Come on powerball!).

Springtime can't come soon enough!

Lynne

Lynne

Oops, also, I heard they had multiple holes in the outhouses for different size bottoms. The smaller one for the kids, etc.

Lynne

sccruiser

It's lovely today. We had rain last night--love hearing it dripping on the roof--no drug needed to sleep!



Got up this am to everything being washed clean and the smell of the soil and redwoods is so strong. Just wonderful. Makes my day and can't wait to get in the garden.



I have a new inhabitant under my house. This big tabby with white feet and belly just appeared last week. At first he ran away when I put food out. Now he sits under the house and looks at me, but won't come closer than about 15 feet. I'm not sure if he is feral or someone moved away and left him.



He was drinking water this am. When he hears the tv go on in the late afternoon, and me padding around the family room, I hear this male cry. Out I go to put the food. He chomps away and returns to underneath the house. It is cozy and warm under there so I know he's in a safe place. I'm hoping if I continue to talk to him he will become more comfortable and get close enough to get him in the house or pick him up. I'm sure it will take a long time, but I'm retired so home everyday at some point and therefore figure he has a stable food and water source so won't leave!



He looks just like another stray we took in (who wasn't fixed) so wonder if this is his offspring. The earlier male, we had neutered and shots. He belonged to a family on our mountain who ignored him. Came down and just wouldn't leave. After he healed I was able to give him to another woman who has Lymphedema and wanted a cat who wouldn't scratch. They absolutely love him and when I took him there he just came out of the carrier, walked around, and then acted like he had lived there all his life!

We had named him Buster.



Guess I'll name this one Junior!



Anyway, my one female (who acts like a male) is very jealous and tries to intimidate him. Right now he is letting her do that, and after awhile she moves away and just sits and watches him. She allows him access to the water, food, and under the house, but does not want him on the patio. If he tries to come up, she jumps on the rock wall and bats his tail. It was the same way with Buster. So we shall see.



Interesting that dh had gone to the pet store last week, and came home raving about a cat he saw that was up for adoption. Acted like he wanted another kitty (we have 2 now). Sometimes I guess you do get what you ask for LOL.



grace

Anonymous

Lynne...thanks for coming out of the woodwork! Don't childhood memories of days like that just stick with you? I find that what we loved as a kid we tend to build on for our own family later.....what fun! Oh and BTW....I think I better install a small seat in the LOO....one of my daughters biggest fears when she was young was falling through! Sending you LUCKY HORSESHOES!!!

Grace........what a cute cat tale! I hope the poor kitty gets over his fright soon and the matriarch of the property allows him a place on the patio....of course she will probably remain the boss!

sccruiser

I must be wanting to "nest" this week. I finally planted the primroses and a groundcover I purchased over 2 months ago. Felt good to get those plants in the ground and be able to enjoy them!



Have cleaned up the garden by the patio and this weekend will be doing some pruning.



What a joy I beheld yesterday. I have orchid plants that were divided and repotted two years ago. Yeah--this year I have orchid buds--5 branches on some of the plants--it will be a lovely view on the patio from the dining room for the next 2 months. I can never bear to cut the orchids and bring them in the house. In fact, it was just this year that I broke down and cut some of my flowering bulbs for a little get together with friends. I usually want to enjoy them for as long as they will last in the yard.



How will I ever cut the flowers from the cut flower bed I plan to put in place next year? Anyone else love gardening at this time of year?



Because of the large Redwood trees on the property I have direct sun on the property from April to October. My growing season and ability to have flowering plants is limited. However, I must say that my tree ferns, japanese maples and albutilons love this type of weather.



Anyone ever thought about putting in a labyrinth? I hope to this year or next. Want to put in with rocks and slate paths so I can keep down the water use on one side of the house. And it will also be where I put my granddaughter's play equipment. She's ready for a swing!

Anonymous

Well, just wondering what all you cottage lovers are up to?? It looks like the warmer weather has finally arrived here in Ontario. In the past week the trees have come out in buds and are starting to green things up. I have been watching the garden for signs of my perennials and have seen a few heads popping out of their winter beds. Next weekend is one of the busiest of the season in Ontario, the kick off to the start of summer and the start of the migration to cottage country! WHOO HOO! I have booked some extra days off to add to the long weekend for our first trip of the season to the cottage. It is always exciting getting ready to go with all the packing and sorting and anticipation of another summer season upon us! We Canadians really do burst out and become almost obsessed with our long weekends and trips to cottage country......is it any wonder after hibernating for 5 months of the year???? The highways will be jammed every weekend from here on in and good luck finding a vacancy at the popular provincial parks if you are a camper.

Of course the furry kids will be just as excited as the rest of us to get to the cottage! We can't forget those Timbits, that's their favorite part of the trip......treats for all on the way. So now the race is on to haul out everything that has to go back to the cottage and making up the list of things to buy, pack and bring.....especially the treats!

It's also time to resurrect the ongoing improvement plans......goal number one......get the hot water heater and shower installed so I don't have to keep going to Grandmas!

Hope you are all as excited as I am to begin a new season!

Anonymous

Grace.....how's that kitty doing??? Has he finally made it out from under the porch??

What's everyones plans for the summer???

sccruiser

Hi Viv,

The kitty disappeared. He hung around for a couple of days, and then my sassy gray kitty just sat and glared at him. I think he was intimidated by her--believe me, sometimes she intimidates me!!

In the meantime, I rescued a stray dog with a choke collar on but no tags. Kept him in my car overnight because my two dogs were going beserk! Took him to the shelter and they were going to keep him for 4 days, then do an assessment and if he passes put him up for adoption. My border collie loved playing with him at the dog park, but my Akita/Shepherd mix would have no part of hime! So I can't adopt him, like I need another dog!

My plans for the summer are to do lots of gardening! They just paved our road--first time since it was put in--like in the 40s. We had the driveway paved, just the upper one and I stopped it about 6 feet from the patio. So now we need to rototill and screen out the rocks (as it was rock driveway for years) and then I plan to put up a small arbor with a vine (can't decide what kind) that will take sun for six months and shade for 6 months. We are in the woods, so the sun goes around the mountain from October through April! And I will plant some hydrangeas, ground cover and perhaps a japanese maple--small one. That may take a good part of the summer.

I have plans to finish a stacked rock wall by the newly paved driveway, get my SIL to put up his daughter's swingset (we got for free), and rototill the north side of the house and prepare it for putting in a small waterfall, a labyrinth, large bushes to hide the one lane road belonging to the neighbors on the other side of the hill. And if all that isn't enough, I plan to put a stacked rock wall on the other side of the house, build stairs up the hillside off the dining room patio area, and install a gazebo up on the next level of the hillside. I know, at least I can dream it will get done someday before I die or we sell the house!! I think I'll get the first paragraph done, and that's about it--I have to be realistic--I also want us to have hammock time and some good book reading on the lounge in the garden!

Okay, who else has plans for the summer? 

Anonymous

Hi All

The cottage and camping season has arrived full swing! Yay! Well, the old fixer upper survived another northern ontario winter, no leaks, no sags and no breakins and thunder jug is still in operation. May was beautiful on the longweekend trip up but geez......we darn near froze when the power went out! Need to keep the woolies handy, you just never know if your gonna sweat or freeze that month.

Our next trip was mid June.....blackfly season! ACH!! This is when I usually plan for an indoor project if the flies are bad. We lucked out this year and had beautiful weather with enough wind to keep the pests away! We basked outdoors and DH even took the first dip of the season after baking in the sauna. Got my ceilings painted....something I've been procrastinating over and.......finally, DH got the hot water hooked up, YAY!

One more week to go and then 2 weeks at the cottage.......let the fun begin!

sccruiser

Hi All,

Yes, the tourists are starting to pour into our little valley. Lots of heat the last week or so, and finally cooler today--should only be in the 80s! Heat broke last night as fog moved in to cool us down! Got my hubby to finally put in the plants I bought 3 weeks ago and have been nursing through the heat. The yard is looking good. Even put in a basil plant, 2 tomato plants, and started Morning Glory from seeds as well as another seed variety called Giant Whites. They are sprouting, hurrah!

Enjoying the outdoors now that the 100+ degree temps have gone away. Hope the rest of the summer isn't this hot. We went to the pool Sat. & Sun. to keep cool. Lovely way to spend the morning together--followed pool with a little shopping at Trader Joe's then home to beat the heat in front of the fans!! Even tried to get the dogs into the grandbaby's wading pool, but even though they were hot, they would not go for it--I mean, come on, there was all of 4 inches of water in the pool--I used it though--heck, a short sit and then back in front of the fan--can you tell I don't care for heat much? Wreaks havoc on my lymphedema--and hard to put the pump jacket on when it is made of fabric that doesn't breathe well. LOL

Hope everyone else is enjoying the fabulous cottage life--out under the trees with an iced tea (or something stronger if you so choose), a good book, and for me, wonderful stately Redwood trees shading our yard. See you in the Forest! 

Anonymous

Well, I'm back from spending two whole weeks up north at the cottage. Our first week was spent on projects, projects and more projects! I got one whole room painted and was almost done when disaster struck! I had gone to see how DH was coming along with our shower installation in the new building and when stepping out onto the makeshift step, the step gave way trapping my ankle between concrete and the joist. As I was falling forward with my ankle wedged up and behind me, I had flashes of hospitals, casts and the end of my vacation! Needless to say I went down like a ton of bricks and was waiting to hear a SNAP! Thank goodness for low back slip on runners, the shoe stayed wedged but my foot slipped out after being smashed by the concrete. All I could do was lie on the ground in pain till DH got a cold towel to wrap it in. Once I got my breath back and determined it was not broken, I hobbled to the dock to let it soak in the cool water. Boy.......what a way to almost wreck a holiday. Putting weight on it was tricky for a few days but once I was up and moving I kept going determined to finish my projects! The big reward was finally having our own running hot shower, HOORAY!!!!

Our second week was spent at a more relaxed pace and friends joined us for a few days. The men caught a nice batch of bass which were served up as an appetizer. Me, I got skunked in the catch department. I just don't have the knack for fishing I guess! The weather was great and the swimming was wonderful!  We saw our first bear of the season......a tiny cub. The dogs were in heaven with all the freedom to run and explore and they slept like rocks crashing by 10pm every night.

Now that I'm back at work, I am looking forward to the next trek north! My ankle still looks nasty but will heal in a few weeks. DH fixed that step in a hurry!

Happy cottaging and camping! Hooray to summer!

Grace.........happy planting, one day I will get some gardens going too!

sahalie

WoW * VIV *

It's a couple weeks shy of the year anniversary since you started this wonderful fun thread.

It's been sleeping so I thought I would wake it up and applaud our cottages and or cabins.

Anyone else have daffodil stems popping up through the ground?  Me * I do.  Same time each year.

Our farm cottage is looking so adorable.  While away on a trip we had the best Cottage Keeper.

Hurrahhhhh for Cottage's everywhere!

XOXO