Life at the Cottage

Life at the Cottage

by Toby A. Welch

Copyright 2013 Toby A. Welch

Smashwords Edition

http://www.tobywelch.ca/

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Cover art by SeppVei

Look no further for a book that covers all aspects of cottage life! Delve into a wide variety of subjects including winter cottaging, cottage decorating options, cottage kits, flag flying, lightning, geocaching, natural mosquito controls, dock alternatives, ice thickness safety on frozen lakes, cottage creatures, what to do with dead trees, firebreaks, cottage guests, bird watching, creating a cottage manual, solar shingles, cottage security, cottage safety issues, and having a private island cottage. Over 70 sources share their expertise on all things cottage!

Table of Contents:

Inside the Cottage:

Do I Need a Cottage Manual?

Redecorating the Cottage

Cottage Life:

Would You Consider a Private Island for Your Cottage?

Snow-Covered Cottaging

Is a Cottage Kit Right for You?

Cottage Guests

Cottage Creatures:

Beavers - The Good, the Bad, and the Snuggly

The Lure of the Loon

Bears in Cottage Country

Cottage Fun:

Treasure Hunting at the Cottage - Go Geocaching!

Bird Watching at the Cottage

Around the Cottage:

Should a Dead Tree Leave?

Return of the Weather Vane

Flying Flags

Creating Firebreaks Around the Cottage

Lightning Strikes at the Cottage

Harness the Power of the Sun With Solar Shingles

Swatting Naturally

Batten Down the Cottage

Invisible Fencing at the Cottage

Banish Biting Bugs

Safety at the Cottage:

Cottage Safety Myths Debunked

Carbon Monoxide Kills at the Cottage

Ladder Safety at the Cottage

Whitewater Rafting Safety

Is Mould Lurking in Your Cottage?

Survive the Summer Heat

ATV Safety

Water Issues:

Water Conservation, Australian Style

Falling Through the Ice

Dock Options for the Cottage

Cold Water Boot Camp

Ice Damage at the Cottage

INSIDE THE COTTAGE

Do I Need a Cottage Manual?

Life is easier for cottagers who own a cottage manual - all the information you need is in one place. The reasons to keep a cottage manual are numerous:

- To keep track of chores and routine maintenance. The manual may even entice other family members to share in the cottage duties.

- A way to remind yourself how things work when you’ve been gone from the cottage for awhile.

- As a guidebook for invited guests who don’t know how the cottage runs. With a completed manual, anyone should be able to stay your cottage with few unanswered questions.

- If you rent out your cottage or plan to in the future, the manual will show renters how the cottage operates.

- It is a place to keep track of what you need to do to open the cottage in the spring and close it in the fall (if you aren’t a year-round cottager).

- The ideal place to keep information about future projects for the cottage or things you want to tackle when you have the time.

- A how-to-run-the-cottage manual incase someone else needs to take care of the place.

- A handy tool for when you sell your property or pass it on to someone you love.

By creating a cottage manual, you will save a lot of time in the future by investing a little time now.

You have two choices for your manual – you can purchase one or make your own. Buying a manual that allows you to fill in the blanks is less time-consuming. You can fill it out in less than an hour and it is done. The downside is that it is not tailored to YOUR cottage and there will not be enough space for information that you want to input. It is hard to make the book your own.

If you decide to make a cottage manual, there are some things to consider:

- What system do you want to use? Consider using a binder with loose-leaf paper, a heavy-duty notebook, a computer program, large note cards, or an organizer. Some cottagers use a word processing program to hold the information and print out an updated hard copy every few years. Manuals don’t have to come in a book form. Each system has its pros and cons.

- You may choose to include loose pieces of paper with information such as maps and/or photos. Is a system with some type of pockets or sleeves the best option for you?

- Do you intend to keep the manual at the cottage or would you prefer a portable guidebook?

As things at the cottage are constantly changing, choose a system that allows for on-going revisions. Today’s main concern may be getting rid of the critters that have taken up residence in your cottage but next season you may be focusing on building your dock.

Once you have decided on a system for your manual, spend some time listing what categories to include. Here are some ideas to get you started:

- Opening the cottage

- Contact information

- Neighbour information

- Guest book

- To-do list

- Local amenities

- Water systems

- Electrical systems

- Garbage

- Recycling

- Composting

- Heating

- Hot water heater

- Water pump

- Generator

- Propane system

- Septic system

- TV/Satellite TV

- Outdoor shower

- Repair records

- Equipment

- Safety issues and orientation

- Fire concerns

- First aid

- Weather information

- Animals

- Important documents

- Maps of the area

- Cottage Watch Association

- Projects to consider in the future

- Closing up the cottage

- List of people to contact in an emergency

When starting your manual, take pride in your project. Spend a few extra minutes on the first page. Include your full names, contact information, and the cottage geographical information and GPS coordinates.

Maps may be an integral part of your manual. Include written and picture maps of how to get to your cottage. Your written map will read along the lines of, From highway 37, turn left (west) onto range road 169. Follow the road for 500 metres until you come to a four way stop. Turn left (south) and follow the gravel road for five kilometres. Once you pass the CP Rail car cemented in the field of mustard … Include any maps that pertain to your cottage such as a map to the closest town, maps to important neighbours and friends, and a map of your property with the boundaries clearly indicated. Some cottagers also include maps of their garden with the plants clearly marked and maps of underground pipes and/or wires.

You may want to include photos to complete the information. Pictures will be an excellent visual aid for those not familiar with your cottage. Include pics of projects you have completed, pics of things you want to build to inspire you, aerial photos of your property, and, of course, snapshots of memorable times spent at the cottage. You get the picture.

The first time the pump on the well fails and you know the steps to get the water flowing again, you’ll be thrilled you have the manual. When you need to get ahold of the cottage association and it only takes seconds to look up the phone number, you’ll be even happier. And when you don’t have to hunt through the drawers to find your drawing of the dock you plan to construct this summer, you will be glad you took the time to put together your cottage manual.

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Redecorating the Cottage

Does Your Cottage Need a Decor Overhaul?

Most cottages are filled with a mismatched combination of secondhand furniture and dusty, dated decor items. But they don’t have to be! Let’s consider some redecorating options.

Samantha Pyn , decorator, stylist, and the host and principal designer of Summer Home on HGTV Canada, emphasizes how vital it is to plan your redecorating adventure before you get started, Before you start any makeover, planning is key. In the world of decorating and design, every decision affects what you can and can't do down the road. A solid plan and detailed checklist will keep you from crying as you go down the road on that three-hour journey back to the city.

The nautical theme has been trendy on the eastern side of Canada for awhile and is growing in popularity in western Canada. Think of crisp whites and fresh blues paired with boats and seaports and you have the nautical theme down pat. An anchor or two along with pictures or paintings of anything to do with oceans and rocky shores will establish the foundation of this theme. Possible nautical accessories include model boats, shells, and pieces of coral.

The shabby chic look has been popular with cottagers for decades. Lana MacRae, president and creative director of the Interior Design Firm based in Nanaimo, B.C., explains what the theme entails. Shabby chic incorporates glass, natural yarns, and crystals for a distressed, vintage inspired interior. To pull it off, MacRae recommends the following:

- Use one theme for ornaments, decor, and accent pieces (ex: birds, twigs/berries, ski lodge accent) so the cottage looks well put together rather than cluttered

- Bring the outdoors in by finding natural elements around the cottage to dress tables/mantels/doorways

- Pair touches of cream with burlap/twine, reclaimed wood (left natural or white washed), and cozy throws

- For a more formal and elegant touch to a shabby chic decor, incorporate velvet fabrics and small damask patterns

For cottagers who prefer a classic, timeless look without a plethora of clutter, consider Amish-style interior decorating. It entails an abundance of wood, solid furniture, quilts scattered throughout the cottage, and farm and nature-based art. Melanie Cheek with Simply Amish of Edmonton shares her thoughts on the Amish theme. It’s difficult to pin down an ‘Amish style’. It is largely solid hard wood construction rather than the full upholstered look. Styles range from the more traditional Shaker style, French Country, and Arts and Crafts to more modern styles. All Simply Amish furniture is handmade to order and comes with a lifetime guarantee on the material and workmanship; that is typical of most Amish product sellers as quality is the focus on such items.

The timber frame theme keeps nature in the forefront. It involves looking out windows, studying the view, and bringing nature into the cottage. Depending on the area where the cottage is located, this decorating theme can involve patterns that feature pine cones, trees, water, and animals, among others. Colours on the cottage walls should duplicate those outside or be off-white to show off the hues of the furnishings. When looking for decor items, collect materials found outside and bring them into the cottage. Consider using garden furniture inside the cottage. Bulbs brought indoors in pots are the perfect accessory. The trick to pulling off this theme is using nature-inspired items and fibers. A well-cushioned window seat in a sunny spot is a must!

Rustic Ranch, a massive store just north of Calgary, Alberta, is a major seller of country, western, and cabin rustic furniture and home decor. Julie Giles, one of the founders of Rustic Ranch, details how to decorate in the three themes, When dealing with country decor, western decor, and cabin decor, people often mix cabin and country decor or western and country decor; the western and cabin looks are not typically blended. A lot of people enjoy a mixed bag of things that go together. The trick to making the blends work together is by adding a lot of accent pieces. These themes are very forgiving as they are homey and cozy. It’s all about what feels good and what goes together well. It’s not fussy.

The colour palette for country and western decor includes lots of burgundies, dark greens, and navy blues. For a more modern look, black is mixed into the colour scheme. You won’t find anything bright, no neon pinks or lime greens or purples that are the trendy colours these days.

For cottagers who love to fish, a rustic fishing theme may be the ideal choice. Start with soft blue walls the colour of the closest lake. Add some wood planking on one wall or along all the walls for trim. Adorn the walls with oversized lures and mounted fish. Instead