Among the treasures and pleasures of cottage living are the people you meet. Typically they are like minded folk who enjoy the same types of things, people who have all joined the same club, the cottage club. And among those treasures you often get to enjoy a meal or two in the company of your cottage club neighbors.

Wendy and I were able to enjoy that pleasure tonight, dining in fine style at Lonesome Larry’s cottage, with supper provided by the always charming, and oft referred to here, GGOTL, Gorgeous Gwen Of The Lake, Ol’ Lonesome’s wife.

But I am getting ahead of myself…first I want to tell you about Lonesome Larry and the chainsaw….

Ol’ Lonesome and I were busy today, as busy as two old retired guys can get, salvaging firewood from trees being cut down to facilitate a new cottage being built nearby.

It’s one of those fun projects that old retired guys like to do involving chainsaws and four wheelers and free stuff. In this case the free stuff was maple firewood and we were determined to get as much of the free stuff as we could before supper or a myocardial infraction interfered.

Everything was going pretty good. We were cutting and piling firewood on one of the trailers Lonesome keeps for stealing firew…I mean obtaining free firewood from the new neighbors.

We chunked the heavy maple logs up into liftable pieces, loaded it in the four wheeler trailer and towed it back to be deposited on our growing woodpile. That is until…

Ol’ Lonesome ran over the chainsaw with the four wheeler.

Now, if he tells you this story, he will likely tell you that I laid the chainsaw on the four wheeler without securing it to anything and when he popped the clutch and sped away pulled away to go back for another load of wood the chainsaw “fell off the four wheeler”.

Well…somewhere in the middle of that is what really happened, but neither one of us is really sure what happened, other than that there was a rather loud crack, then a hollow ringing sound and then the sound of…well….language unfit for my delicate sensibilities.

I was caught off guard somewhat, given that it all happened quite quickly, while I had my back turned, looking around the construction site for any lumber that might be available for kindling. Kindling like that is best gathered at night, after the construction crew leaves, so as not to bother them while they are working. I figured we might be able to find some in the stack of 2X6′s piled neatly by the side of the driveway.

I snapped out of my kindling planning rather quickly as ephitate after ephitate broke the sultry, peaceful quiet of a foggy Spring day beside the lake.

“&%^%$#@-*&^%#@#@#” cried Larry, “%$#@#$#@-@#$%$#$%$??*&^&*&” he continued…For a second I thought he had either run over the dog or hit his head and now was speaking in tongues…I have no idea what “speaking in tongues” actually is, but I wondered if perhaps that was what he was doing.

%^%$%$$##@ Chain Saw!!! he groaned as he jumped from the four wheeler with a rather sprightly leap I might add, the most sprightly I had seen him all day. He reached down and picked it up, the red Jon Serad chainsaw looked OK to me from a distance, but as soon as he grabbed the one piece handle and I saw it was now a two piece handle, I knew there was a problem.

Larry, in his finest moment, described the problem…”The &%^$#@^%$ is %$%#@#%^&*&&*& and the &%$%$#@$^%^%$%^%@#@$ handle is broken !!”

This was followed by some further descriptions of the issue, as he explained what was wrong. As he described it, “The %$%$##$%^%$$#_**%$%$#@#$%-&^%^&^%$#@#@#@$#^%%$$*&*&^%$#@#$%^& %$%$#@#$&^%$%^# and then %^%$#@#%*&^%$%#@#$ because $#$#@#$&^%&*&^&**&%$#$@ handle is %$%$#@#%$#&%*%$# broken.”

This was followed by more of the same.

“All is not lost.” I said, in my calm, church-like choir singer voice, “We can fix it, or I’ll just go get my saw and we can keep cutting.” I had little faith that we could fix it, but I wasn’t about to tell him that.

I don’t think Larry had a lot of faith in my chainsaw, as he nodded, then said something about “&%^&^%$#$*&%^%” and then dashed off toward his camp, shouting something about contacting Dave, “There is still time for him to bring his if they haven’t left yet!” With that he disappeared into the camp. I was reminded of the telegraph dispatcher, John Coleman, who had sent a message that stopped a train seconds before the Halifax Explosion of 1917…but that is a whole nother story….

When he came back outside, he appeared calmer, having gotten the message through to Dave in time. Even I felt relieved, like I had a small part in stopping the train.

We took the damaged chainsaw to his garage workshop and had a look at the situation.

Considering it had been dropped and/or run over by a four wheeler, things weren’t all bad. Nothing a little piece of metal for a brace and some black electrical tape won’t fix, was the agreement we came to after mulling over the damages like surgeons consulting on a major operation.

In no time we had a myriad of parts all over the workbench and the broken handle removed from the saw and in our hands, ready for repair. A piece of pipe hanger metal for a brace and a roll of electrical tape and it was good as new if not better. The electrical tape kind of cleaned the saw up a bit. We’re not sure the chain brake still works, but, as we agreed, that is just one of those safety features that you don’t need as long as you are careful.

Now all that was left was to put it all back together. Here is a brief synopis of how that went….$%$#$%$#@ and $#$%^%$#@ and oh %^%$##$#@$%$#$&*^&%$#$#!

I briefly considered casting the devil saw into the lake and running for home, but figured he might run me down with the four wheeler, owing to my advancing years and lack of running stamina. So we persevered.

All was going quite well until one of us, who shall remain nameless, but it wasn’t me, turned the chainsaw cover assembly upside down to “clean out the sawdust” and a screw fell out bounced off the steel toe of his bright orange rubber chainsaw boots and disappeared in the gravel in his driveway. Yep, it appears Larry had a screw loose.

I briefly reconsidered my prior suggestion that we take the chainsaw out of the workshop and into the driveway so we could see better…in hindsight that may not have been a good idea.

Now you know what happened…yup…more %$%$#$ and $%$#$#@#$%. I kept my eye on him because he kinda looked…well…let’s just say I kept an eye on him.

“This a typical &#$@%$# day here on the point” Larry said, as he peered into the gravel, looking for the missing screw, “Just a typical %$%$#@# day, this kind of stuff goes on all the #$#@–#@#$# time around here.”

We searched for that screw for about a half an hour. Two middle aged guys in rubber boots bent over peering at the ground, duck walking around the yard, looking for what is the equivalent of a needle in a haystack. Had we been quacking, I think we may have got the attention of the black ducks in the cove, but the sounds we were making were more along the lines of %$%$#@#%…well…you get the picture.

At long last we abandoned the screw search when Larry took a similar one off the his son’s outboard motor. It fit quite well. He muttered something about the outboard working fine without that particular screw, it wouldn’t be missed.

So…the end of a long day of working was followed up by supper. It was a delightful new recipe that Gwen, in the way of women everywhere, managed to create with a little of this and a little of that and wow…it was good. I enjoyed it, went back for seconds, as did everyone at the table.

It was then that I asked, in cottager innocence, “What’s this called? It’s really good.”

Larry spoke before Gwen had a chance, leaning forward into the table, smiling as he replied, saying, “This is Gwen’s recipe for Rocky Point Slop”

I didn’t see the ceramic casserole dish hit Larry, much like I didn’t see the chainsaw fall off the four wheeler, but I heard it, a loud crack, followed by a hollow ringing sound. Suffice to say, some electrical tape and a splint or two, and he will be good as new in a week to ten days….if we can find the missing screw.

© 2012, Rob Dares. All rights reserved. The Cottage Chronicles / Rob Dares material is copyrighted, please contact me if you wish to inquire about reposting etc

©2012 The Cottage Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.thecottagechronicles.com The Cottage Chronicles

Victoria Day Weekend

The upcoming Victoria Day Weekend in Canada, often referred to as the May 24th Weekend, even when it doesn’t fall exactly on the 24th, is the official start of cottage season.

This is the weekend when many cottagers begin their summer season, the launch of what becomes their weekly pilgrimages to the camp. For some, this will be the first time they have seen their cottage in months.

It’s a busy weekend for many cottage folk, there are water pumps to connect, window shutters to remove, wharves to put in the lake, boats to service and beds and bedding to air out in preparation.

Recreational Property Report

It’s also the time of year when Royal LePage releases it’s annual Recreational Property Report.

The online survey was completed with a sample of 1,000 Canadians who currently own a recreational property or are looking to purchase a recreational property within the next five years. In addition to a survey, the report includes information on current property prices for a 3 bedroom 1000 square foot cottage on a standard 100 foot waterfront lot with land access.

Cottage Property Prices Less In The East

The property prices show that the Maritime Provinces and Newfoundland offer the lowest prices for a cottage compared to the rest of Canada where real estate prices are much higher. For example, $110,000 in New Brunswick compared to $500,000 in Muskoka.

The recreational property survey portion of the report reflects some interesting trends in cottage purchases, such as friends or family pooling their resources to buy a property together, people purchasing cottage property as an investment and whether or not purchasers and current cottage owners have considered renting their cottage as a way to offset purchase and maintenance costs.

Not surprisingly, prospective purchasers appear to be more open to the idea of renting their cottage to offset costs than do current owners.

What caught my eye were some of the pictures of “cottages” shown in the report. Many of them appear to be closer to homes than my idea of a cottage.

These are not your Grandaddys camp tucked away in the brush, blackflies and gnarly conifer trees on the rocky shore of Lake Buckwash.

These are more appropriately called summer homes, many of them coming close to the grand tradition of country estate properties, with large homes, attached garages, landscaped lawns etc.

If you are considering purchasing a cottage or already own one, this is an interesting report to read. You can find it here: Recreational Property Report.

© 2012, Rob Dares. All rights reserved. The Cottage Chronicles / Rob Dares material is copyrighted, please contact me if you wish to inquire about reposting etc

©2012 The Cottage Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.thecottagechronicles.com The Cottage Chronicles

One of the nicest things about Spring time at the camp, is the sound of the “Spring Peepers” chirping and singing as their breeding season begins in the small wetland area behind the camp.

The Sound Of Spring

The sound of the little frogs is indicative of Spring and for me, synonomous with turning the corner from winter to Spring.

There is nothing nicer than to sit on the back step of the camp in the evening and listen to the litle frogs start their nightly chorus.

Mostly peeps, some long, some short, with an occasional low croak thrown in occasionally for good measure, it’s the kind of sound that is easy to listen to as you drift off to sleep, tired from a day of outdoor activities.

I often open our bedroom window a crack at night, just to be able to hear the little fellars.

Northern Spring Peepers can be found all over the eastern United States and the eastern Canada. They are actually tiny frogs, less than an 1 inch (25 mm) to 1.5 inches (38 mm) that weigh between 0.11 ounces (3.1 g) and 0.18 ounces (5.1 g).

Peepers are usually tan or dark brown in color with a marking on their back that is roughly the shape of an “X”

Tree Frogs

Some folks refer to them as ‘tree frogs’ because they have large toe pads for climbing, although it appears that they prefer to spend their time in the swamp and hopping around in the debris on the forest floor.

I have watched them swimming around in murky water of the bog and wondered how such a small critter can make such a big sound.

I cannot tell you how many evenings I have prowled around in the swamp trying to get a glimpse, or better yet, a picture of these marvellous little creatures. Unfortunately, it is easier said than done.

First of all it’s dark and scary in the swamp and wet…very wet…and did I say scary? Lord only knows what other creature is prowling around in there too, a thought that usually crosses my mind after I am knee deep in the bog.

Spring Mating Call

The peeps we hear are made by the males, looking for a mate. No surprises there. The more frogs there are, the more agressively they call.

While they seem to call more often as night falls, they do call all day here behind the camp, although not as often, or for as long.

Evening is their favorite time to breed, so naturally things heat up a bit as darkness falls. I suppose if I looked like a frog Wendy would want the lights out too….

Spring Peepers are estimated to live about 3 years in the wild. That means the same ones that entertained me last year, might still be out there entertaining me again this year. I like that, it’s like having a bunch of little buddies in the swamp.

While Spring Peepers are not considered endangered, they, like so many other woodland creatures are under increasing pressure to survive as their wetlands get filled in for suburbia and as dry weather conditions lessen the amount of water in the swamps, bogs and wetlands where they live.

Yet another reason why it is so important to keep our wild areas wild and be extremely careful working around watercourses, swamps and wetlands.

So, because I love ya, I pushed the thoughts of swamp monsters and alligators to the back of my mind, gathered up my courage and headed off into the swamp tonight, camera in hand, in order to bring the sounds of the Spring Peepers to you.

Yup, that’s the kind of guy I am…

I tried to get Wendy to do it instead of me, but she graciously declined…said she was busy.

Unfortunately it was too dark for video, but I did get some pretty good audio which I captured on video.

The deep breathing you hear on the audio could be me running or a panther sneaking up on me, I didn’t hang around to find out.

Shut off the lights, close your eyes, and have a listen:

© 2012, Rob Dares. All rights reserved. The Cottage Chronicles / Rob Dares material is copyrighted, please contact me if you wish to inquire about reposting etc

©2012 The Cottage Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.thecottagechronicles.com The Cottage Chronicles

I apologize but I am going off topic a bit, but I have no choice. This post is about something near and dear to cottagers and non-cottagers alike. The end of the world.

End of Time Averted

Yup. Sounds like we got some good news folks. An archaeologist has discovered a never-before-seen Maya calendar in Guatemala that buys us a little more time!! You can find out more about it here: End of Time Averted

The Mayans, an ancient people, played a wonderful joke on the world by creating a calendar that ended in December 2012 prompting all kinds of theories, conspiracies and supposition, juxapostion and all the other ‘positions’ that the end was once again nigh…upon us…

Little did they know that there calendar would foster many, many books, websites, surivalist groups, news reports and Tim Horton’s coffee break discussions as it did. Or did they?

It’s unfortunate that I recently borrowed a big bunch of money based on the idea that I wouldn’t have to pay it back. At the time, “No Payments Until 2013″ seemed like such a good idea.

However, it’s fortunate in that we don’t have to worry about how to survive the end of time, which, to be honest was kinda bothering me. I wasn’t losing sleep or anything, but occasionally I would pass gas which I attributed to the stress of the end of time drawing nigh.

What I have been doing is working pretty steady around the cottage, in what felt like a race against time, trying to get stuff done before time ran out. I have learned that I work much better with a deadline, something that might have been useful to know when I had a job.

“Why Rob?” you ask, thinking it a good question, “Why would you bother doing renovations and stuff when The End of Time is coming? Why not say the heck with it and go fishing?”

Well, I didn’t want to leave behind a messy camp. It may be the end of time, but what if there are others who survive and dig the place up in some kind of future archeology project? I really didn’t want them to think I was a lazy camper who didn’t keep a tidy place.

The latest revelations are true because it’s on the internet and I believe everything I read on the internet, which is how I got into this mess in the first place. However, given that the coming date for oblivion, here-to-for based on some old carvings in a rock, has been pushed back from the previously known end of time dates carved in a rock, I can start to slide again.

It’s kind of interesting that now, as we are coming down to the proverbial end of time wire, that someone would make a lifesaving discovery such as this one. How timely is that. We are down to less than 7 months and yowza! We get a reprieve.

I dunno about you, but I am feeling kind of disappointed about this recent change to the end of time. Not that I was looking forward to it, but this news, coming now, is a bit of a let down. I have been patiently waiting to see how the doomsayers and predictors and conspiracists explained the end of time not happening in December. Not now, not 7 months before the panic that would have ensued had this gone on at least a few months longer.

Well…given the deadline has changed, I think I will go fishing. I can fix the wharf tomorrow.

In closing, and yes, thankfully I am closing…let’s listen to this video. This is Beyonce, and the song is End of Time.

© 2012, Rob Dares. All rights reserved. The Cottage Chronicles / Rob Dares material is copyrighted, please contact me if you wish to inquire about reposting etc

©2012 The Cottage Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.thecottagechronicles.com The Cottage Chronicles

Family camping is a great activity for everyone, provided you are prepared, especially if you are taking younger children along with you. Here are some tips for a successful family camping trip.

Family Camping

Planning a family camping vacation just takes a little preparation. You need to consider everyones different interests and stay within your budget. Camping is a good way to have an inexpensive family vacation at least after the initial investment in supplies, as it is most often a cheaper alternative to hotels.

Campgrounds that cater to family camping usually offer events for the whole family. Many family campgrounds have theme weekends with special activities which adds a layer of excitement.

Most campgrounds have swimming pools or waterfront access as well as playgrounds and there are always plenty of kids around.

If you were hoping to do some sight seeing as well, campgrounds are popping up on the outskirts of many major cities so you can enjoy the fun of family camping while still visiting local museums, theme parks, and other points of interest.

By choosing to camp you have the option to prepare meals daily instead of buying meals at a restaurant. An investment in a good camp stove will allow you to make family favorites like pasta and save loads in restaurant bills.

You can also make lunch sandwiches to take on outings, or enjoy a bowl of cereal each morning at the picnic table.

Unlike many city hotels, parking is included with most site rentals at campgrounds so you don’t have to worry about budgeting extra for overnight parking.

Most campgrounds include amenities like heated washrooms, showers, laundromats, and even WiFi so the degree to which you “rough it” is up to you!

Usually campgrounds designed for family camping have an indoor games room or meeting place for the kids, particularly good if you have teenagers who instinctively want to spend time with others of their own age.

Activities

If you are considering a family campground, ask if it has a games room or other place with activities for the older kids, particularly on a rainy day.

If you have room in your vehicle, many families take bicycles with them on family camping trips as the campgrounds offer lots of roads for children to ride where there is not too much traffic. Some family campgrounds offer bikes that you can rent.

When you check-in at the campground, pick up a brochure listing the activities offered, and find out the times, locations of those activities etc. Usually there is something for everyone, so it is a good idea to review the activities and decide which ones everyone wants to do. Wagon rides, sing-a-longs, teen dances, swimming lessons, are among some of the many activities often offered at parks catering to family camping.

Exploring

Upon arrival at the campground, spend a few minutes with younger children exploring the campground, showing them where the pool, activity center, etc are located and make sure they memorize the road name and campsite number where you are located.

Some campgrounds have myriads of roads and it can be frightening if a child cannot find their way back to their particular campsite. Show them their boundaries, where they are not allowed to go, such as beyond the campground gate, or past the campground store etc.

Also ensure they understand that there are vehicles on the roads and they need to be aware of that and get off the road when a vehicle is coming.

Children should be advised to stay out of other campsites, and not to be running through areas where others are camping. Most family campgrounds have playgrounds and open “greenbelts” where children can run, play games or other do other activities like flying a kite.

Family Bonding

Camping is also a perfect opportunity for family bonding. It requires a great amount of teamwork to get tents set up, prepare meals, build campfires, and so on.

Encourage your children to assist in the setting up the tent, unpacking etc, make their participation important, even if Dad does do a bit of swearing when he is trying to figure out which tent pole goes where….

If you all share one tent it can be fun being all one place. Little children really get a kick out of sleeping in a tent with Mom and Dad, while the older ones often enjoy sharing a tent of their own.

Campfire Time

A nightly campfire provides a chance to unwind together and talk about the fun of the day and what might be on the agenda for the next day. It’s quiet time that doesn’t often exist in the hustle and bustle of every day life amid the distractions of video games and television.

Buying Quality Gear Pays Off

If you’ve never camped before you will need to invest a little money up front in camping supplies, but if you buy quality gear you’ll have it for years to come!

Family Camping Safety

If you are camping with young children be sure to explain camping safety to them. Major points of course, fire safety, caution around the camp stove and camping lanterns, make sure to tell someone where you are going if you leave the campsite and going to the bathroom with a buddy at night.

Swimming, whether in a pool, lake or ocean adds another dimension to be considered. Younger children should never be at the pool without a parent, and older children should only be around the pool when there is a lifeguard on duty and always with a buddy.

It’s helpful to have regular “check-in” times for all children, when they can report back to Mom and Dad. That also eliminates the need for parents to go looking all over the campground to find the children. For older children, having a pair of these Two-Way Radios can be really helpful. It puts you in contact with your kids and vice versa and saves you having to go find them at meal times etc. You can call them on the radio and tell them it’s time to come for supper!!!

Be sure to have a fully stocked first aid kit, sunscreen & bug spray. Insist on everyone applying and re-applying sunscreen throughout the day to avoid sunburn. Remember, when camping, most of the time you are outside, exposed to the sun and wind which can be hard on skin, especially the skin of younger children.

Extra Blankets

It can be helpful to pack some extra blankets. It can sometimes get cool at night and your children will appreciate being snuggled in a their sleeping bag with an extra blanket or two on top to keep them cosy and warm. If your child has a favorite stuffed toy or teddy bear, make sure he comes along on the camping trip too, it will help make the trip less stressful, especially for younger children not used to sleeping in a tent.

Family camping trips are a fantastic way to enjoy a family vacation while saving a little money. It’s a chance to bond, spend more time outdoors and see the sights of a new city. It’s also a chance to enjoy have a little adventure close to home if that better fits your summer schedule, two days of camping can be a perfect escape from the pressures of everyday life.

When planning a trip of any kind, it’s always important to do your research. Compare prices, amenities and distance to area attractions. Consider the online reviews of previous campers and find the campground that suits your needs best!

© 2012, Kim Dares. All rights reserved. The Cottage Chronicles / Rob Dares material is copyrighted, please contact me if you wish to inquire about reposting etc

©2012 The Cottage Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.thecottagechronicles.com The Cottage Chronicles

I was outside this afternoon chopping some hardwood into firewood size chunks when Wendy came to the door of the camp and said, “You’re doing great, soon you’ll have it all split.”

“Yes” I said, “Well you know me, I’m a worker....” I raised the splitting maul over my head like Mel Gibson raised his sword in Bravehart.

I turned back to the next big piece of future maple firewood waiting to be split before Wendy had a chance to roll her eyes on my comment, but not before hearing her say, “Just don’t overdo it.”

I addressed the chunk of wood with the axe, much like Tiger Woods addresses a woman golf ball. I gave a combination karate-ju-jit-su cry and swung the axe over my head, “iii-eeeeeeeee-yahhhhh-ghitz-a-goomie-wow-wow“!!!

I smacked the splitting maul into the top of the next chunk of hardwood, it split apart quickly and one piece bounced out and smacked me in the right shin, forcing a slight grimace to my otherwise stoic, manly countenance. In other words I swore and a big tear dribbled down my cheek.

But I continued with my task, swinging the maul with the vigor of a man in his 50′s and thinking about Wendy’s advice, “Don’t overdo it.”

When you really consider those words, you realize that is one of those things that is easy to say, easy to agree to, but when it comes right down to it, quite difficult to actually put into practice.

I swung the genuine hickory handled splitting maul again, delighting in the smack! and crack! as another big chunk of maple divided and fell apart in two pieces. I jumped back just in time to avoid getting hit in the shin again and almost tripped over another piece that was laying on the ground behind me.

Despite the delight I was taking in seeing the wood split into nice burn-able pieces, I couldn’t help but hear Wendy’s words of warning, “Don’t overdo it.”

How, I wondered, can I not overdo it? The more I thought about it, the more I realized that might be impossible because I really wouldn’t know I had over-done it, until…well, I had over done it.

Otherwise, in order to avoid over-doing it…well…I’d really have to stop right now, just after getting started. In fact, I’d be better not to have started at all, that way I could be sure that I wouldn’t overdo it. Looking at the big pile of hardwood waiting to be split, stopping now seemed like a good idea.

I briefly considered putting the splitting maul back in the shed and sitting down on one of the adirondack chairs to watch the waves on the lake. That would be one way to avoid the consequences of over-doing it.

But, I mused, it’s entirely possible that I have already over-done it, and…well…it was too late to sit down and watch the waves break over the big rock off Lonesome Larry’s point. I might be better to go in the camp and get rubbed down in Rub-A5-35 and take a couple drags off the bottle of nitroglycerin spray that my father used to use 20 years ago.

See the problem with trying to avoid over doing anything, is that you really don’t know you have overdone something. Those kinds of things don’t usually become apparent until you collapse in the yard, splitting maul in hand, drool coming off your tongue which lolly-gags out of your mouth grotesquely as you experience a massive coronary arrest.

Failing a coronary, which I admit is quicker, albeit a little messy with the drool and all, it might not be until later when you realize you pulled all the muscles in your body, later on in the evening, when they tighten up like the springs in an old Rolex.

Sometimes it’s not until the next day that you realize you “over-did it” the day before, when you wake up unable to move without pain, wondering if that dream was real and you did get hit by a freight train.

Eventually my mind turned to other things, more important things, like what we were having for supper….if it was supper time yet…if the rain was going to finally start so I could knock off the wood splitting and go inside….I wondered if a Labrador Retriever really can be trained to read lips….I even briefly thought about getting myself a model train set for the shed….don’t know where that idea came from….

I wrestled another chunk of maple up on the chopping block, hesitating a little before I grabbed the maul again, trying to not over-do it.

In fact, I put the maul back down and just stood there for awhile, watching a @#$#@@ squirrel eating all the birdseed out of the bird feeder.

As I stared at the little bugger busy chowing down on sunflower seeds and mixed nuts, I said out loud, “Don’t let Wendy see you, or that might be your last meal, get a tummy full and then get going…………Don’t overdo it….”

© 2012, Rob Dares. All rights reserved. The Cottage Chronicles / Rob Dares material is copyrighted, please contact me if you wish to inquire about reposting etc

©2012 The Cottage Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.thecottagechronicles.com The Cottage Chronicles

The times they are a-changing….

General Store Closing

In cottage country the general store is usually the focal point of the local community. In some ways it could be said the general store is the community, especially in the smaller locales, where there isn’t much more than the general store and gas bar when it comes to businesses and a sense of place.

The general store is the place where many of the local residents find employment for the summer, where people eek out a living year after year, forgoing their summer so they can cater to yours.

These are the places that house the local post office, the gas station, the coffee shop and the general store…the store that has a little bit of anything and everything.

You know the store I am talking about, you have one in your cottage community I am sure, if not right in your community, not too far away.

The kind of store that has catered to the come-from-aways each summer for what seems like forever, selling everything and anything a camper or cottager might need, and even some things you don’t need.

The type of store that is an adventure to browse, where the items on the shelves are not usually the typical run of the mill same-old-same-old found in the larger department stores in the city.

Tough Times For Small Stores

But, as I said, the times they are a-changing. These days it is harder and harder for small family run rural stores and gas stations to keep going. The bigger grocery and department stores are reaching further and further out into the country. Almost everyone has a car, truck, motorcyle or helicopter or motorized scooter and while complaining about the price of gas, we’ll happily burn $5.00 in gas to save 32 cents on a loaf of bread and then complain about the price of gas.

Recently our cottage general store has come to the end of the line, it’s going out of business. There is an unsettling realtor’s For Sale sign nailed to the side of the building, and prices on everything in the store have been marked down to clean out the remaining inventory.

These types of rural stores are disappearing, slowly but surely. They are the victims of urban sprawl, increasing competition, higher labour costs, and more. It’s the old adage, when things go wrong, they really go wrong.

When it happens close to us we lament the demise of our local general store, forgetting how we balked at paying a few cents more for a pack of cigarettes, a pound of sugar or a bottle of propane for the camp barbecue.

We forget about the costs the storekeepers incur stocking their little general store with much needed essentials for us, the wayward cottagers who arrive from the city each Spring, all full of cottager exhuberance, excited to get to the lake.

We forget about how difficult it is to keep a store open and running from early in the morning until late into the night, day after day, usually seven days a week all summer long.

When the rest of us are basking in the summer sunshine, floating around the lake on our pontoon boats, casting a fly into our favorite trout pool, reading the latest novel on our Amazon Kindle while swinging the afternoon away in a hammock, the storekeeper is minding the store, keeping things going and the shelves stocked with a little bit of everything so that it is there when we need it.

A Long History

The closing of our local general store marks the end of an era of sorts. The store has been open since 1932, it was renewed and made larger many years ago, but the culture of the original general store always remained.

That store has been serving fishermen, hunters, cottagers, tourists and local residents longer than most of us reading this have been alive. It was there long before the road was paved, when wagons pulled by horses outnumbered the cars.

The general store was there when men came to the area to work in the woods cutting lumber, it was there when locals worked as hunting and fishing guides to take folks to the back woods on sporting adventures and it was there when the province started paving the highway that ran past it.

It was there in the 40′s when the world went off to war and it was there when the world came back. It was there when I started to drive, it was there when I bought gas for my first boat, in fact, it was there my entire life, a familiar place with familiar faces, a tradition, when it comes to going to the camp.

New Owners

Our local general store was in the same family until very recently, changing hands a few years back. The former owners, descendants of the original storekeeper, sold it a few years ago, when they decided it was time for a much needed rest and retirement.

The new owners changed things up a bit, as new owners of anything are typically wont to do, but for all intents and purposes, it was still “our” general store and much the same as it had always been. It was still a great place to pick up something we forgot to bring for the weekend, have an ice cream on a hot afternoon, gas up the boat, or meet some old friends just to chat.

Do It All

You could do it all there, at the general store. You could buy gas for the boat, a fishing licence and some worms, propane for the barbee, a shiny new bar and chain for the chainsaw, a pair of rubber boots and a pair of sunglasses to cut the glare off the lake.

You could pick up a can of beans with pork for supper, all beef hotdogs for roasting over the rosy coals of starlite evening campfire, a much needed bottle of ketchup for your burgers or a roll or two of TP for the outhouse.

You could buy a hat to keep the sun off your head and some Noxema Skin Care Cream when the hat didn’t keep the sun off your face, and you could buy a greeting card or a gift for your neighbor celebrating a birthday you forgot. You could even pick up your pension cheque or love letters at the post office, if you had your mail forwarded to the cottage for the summer.

In cottage season, it was usually a busy place. The center of the community in more ways than one. There were weekly card games in their meeting room, occasionally dances in the parking lot, Saturday flea markets, and when there were local summer events like the huge sandcastle building contest at the nearby beach, they were usually somehow associated with the general store.

And the best part, at least for me, was when you had something to buy or sell you could put a sign on the notice board just inside the doors. That was always the first stop for me as I entered the building.

A Friendly Face

No matter when you went to the general store, you’d see someone you knew. Usually a fellow cottager, a neighbor, sometimes even friends from the city, stopping for gas as the toured the local area, and if all else failed, the person behind the counter was always glad to see you.

It’s a sad time in cottage land my friends when these small operations close their doors, regardless of the reason, whether financial, or just too much work and long hours for the owners. The reason is immaterial.

What is material is that the loss of the general store in your cottage community is a big one, and each time one closes, a little bit of rural cottage country is closed too.

Once it’s gone, once the doors close on that general store, picking up a forgotten bar of Ivory soap won’t be so easy. It will mean a longer drive to the next closest store, a grocery store.

Yes, I admit, the grocery store has most everything too, including a signboard for posting for sale notices and lots of toilet paper for the outhouse. But it’s not the same, it’s further away for one thing. It’s a grocery store just like any other grocery store in any other city or town for another. As nice as it might be, it will never have the character, the personality of that old general store in your community.

But the bar of soap won’t matter, you will just have to be more diligent in your packing. What will matter will be not being able to drive the five minutes to the store, seeing people coming and going through it’s double doors. Seeing life in the country happen right before our eyes on a sunny Saturday morning, as people come and go on their respective errands and journeys.

You won’t find that odd little fitting you need to get your ancient water pump working again, or the six inch bolt to replace the one you dropped in the lake when you were putting your wharf together.

Life goes on, it always does, but sometimes, it doesn’t go exactly how we would like. If the general store in your local cottage country is still open, drop by and get yourself a loaf of bread and some TP for the outhouse, and don’t forget to thank the owner for being there when you needed him.

Support Your Local General Store

Support your local cottage general store folks, pay the extra few cents for a loaf of bread, or a litre of boat oil, because like the song says, “You don’t know what you got till it’s gone.”

Now I am going to shamelessly ask you to help me, if you enjoyed this post, please share it with your Twitter followers, Stumble it, or Like It on Facebook. I really appreciate it.

© 2012, Rob Dares. All rights reserved. The Cottage Chronicles / Rob Dares material is copyrighted, please contact me if you wish to inquire about reposting etc

©2012 The Cottage Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.thecottagechronicles.com The Cottage Chronicles

Our roving report Lonesome Larry MacDonnell is at it again, this time trying to get internet hooked up at the cottage, along the way he runs into more trouble.

Innernet

Well Rob the cottage season is here and I have started to bring the old camp into the modern world, flat screen, microwave, and innernet so I can email across the cove instead of walkin’ over to swap the latest B.S.

I called the phone company last week to get the place connected to the world and guess what, that woman that works at the GPS place —( RECALCULATING ) — well her sister answered the customer service line at ( my service provider ).

I got her on the line after pushing about a dozen numbers and asked how she was doin’ today –long pause– how may I help you – I knew there was no sense of humor and this may be a high blood pressure call.

After a while we got to the point where she and me found the cheapest “bundle”, whatever that is, and we got to the billing and shipping details. When the billing address is in New Brunswick and delivery is in Nova Scotia, you know there is gonna’ be a SNAFU.

She got it “recalculated” that the “mow-dam” should be sent to Upper Lakeville in Nova Scotia, but I didn’t know the postal code. She accessed the Canada Post web site and figured on shipping to Sydney Mines, I’m glad she put me on hold , I needed a drink.

Gave her all the places within 10 miles but they weren’t on the list. I had a brain thing and told her to look up the code for someone on the Upper Lakeville road, the mail lady knows everything so she could bring it to the camp. No way, privacy act, can’t give ya somebody’s postal code.

I told her my buddy’s phone number up the road and she could send it there if she had his address ( first name I found in the phone book) it worked, told her I would write it down, she was of the opinion that most customers knew their postal code. I kept my mouth shut Rob, except to have another drink, opened up the camp log book and there on the first page Gorgeous Gwen Of The Lake (GOTL) had wrote down the Postal Code for the camp. They’re a step ahead ain’t they Rob?

So the “mow-dam” is on the way in a day or two and me ‘n Paul (LTD) are doin’ some excavatin’ work with his big yellow digger, well— he’s doin’ the diggin’ and I’m doin’ the watchin’ to keep him away from the wires.

I flunked my job, he hooked the phone line and tore it off the pole , time for a beer and a plan.

Called “ my service provider” , on the little Samsung personal communicator,(cell phone) she didn’t need the postal code but wanted to know where Upper Lakeville was !!!!

On hold again “recalculating”, where do they get that music???? She found me— in Nova Scotia— near Halifax , imagine that !!!!! A lineman would be there first thing in the morning to replace the phone that was out of service. Rob, I figured some guy in B.C. would get a service call and a new phone.

Sure ‘nuff next mornin’ here comes a white van with ten yellow ladders on top, out jumps a big tall young feller wearin’ a “TOOL-MAN” belt, hollers “hi, I’m Len Campbell.”

Up the pole, hooked ‘er up then got on the phone, probably singin’ to “recalculating”.

Try ‘er out, the light is flashin’ and the tone is beepin’ so I 99 the thing and get a message that my phone is out of service, Len tells me “it ain’t now”!!! and heads out— lookin’ for another overload — or maybe a large dub dub.

Now we’re all fixed up ready for the “innernet”.

Waited a day or two, no “mow-dam” from Canada Post. She did send it to Sydney Mines I bet.

Over to the local post lady , tell ‘er my name and what’s on my mind, she’s got the box under the counter, didn’t know where to leave it. I don’t have a post box so they couldn’t leave a delivery card, good thing I dropped in, shippin’ it back tomorrow. My phone number is on the box under the post code. Thanks for keepin’ it safe for me. Bye. OMG I need a beer!!!!

Me ‘n Al open ‘er up and he’s pluggin’ wires and beatin’ on the laptop —— it ain’t workin’, Al knows this stuff, he was a “geek” before they invented one.

You know the next thing don’t ya Rob, called “ my service provider”.

“What’s your phone number?” don’t those people have caller ID??

“We’re sorry sir, that number is out of service.”

“No my darlin’ Len fixed it.” on hold, “recalculating”

“What color are the lights on your “mow-dam”?”

“Hard to tell they ain’t on my dear.”

“Sir , we will send a service person to your location within the hour there has been a DSL failure”

Kind of scary soundin’ but we’ll stay cool until help arrives.

Here comes Len, dust flyin’ and gravel beatin’ off the fenders, forgot to plug ‘er in at the box down the road. Thanks See ya. Just call Tech Support to get your thirty eight character, super secret , activation code and temporary pass word.

I recalculated that there weren’t enough beers for the weekend, left Al to make things right , headed for the pop-shop. Rob, do ya think you ‘n Wendy could show me how to run a “eye-phone”, there’s a special offer just came in on the email, I’m getting’ one !!!!

Gotta go, callin GGOTL to find out why the oven won’t come on, so many buttons on the damn thing.

© 2012, Larry MacDonnell. All rights reserved. The Cottage Chronicles / Rob Dares material is copyrighted, please contact me if you wish to inquire about reposting etc

©2012 The Cottage Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.thecottagechronicles.com The Cottage Chronicles

Getting ready for that first camping trip of the season is exciting, but there is a lot to consider. The weather for one, since it’s hard to predict exactly where the temperature will fall at night. There is also the issue of making sure the gear is still in good working order after spending the past few months in storage.

What To Pack For Camping

To simplify life a little, here’s a break-down of the major things you should have as you pack for the first camping trip of the year:

Shelter: Tent, Tarps, Pegs & Mallet, Ropes

Sleeping: Sleeping Bags, Pillows, Extra Blankets, Air mattresses or ThermaRests and pumps.

Eating: Table cloth & clamps, Cutlery, Utensils, Cups, Plates, Bowls, Can & Bottle openers

Cooking: Stove & Fuel, Lighter, Pots & Pans with lids, Cutting Board & Knives, Serving Dishes, Cooler, Scissors

Clean Up: Dish Cloths & Wash Bin, Dish Soap, Disinfectant Wipes, Garbage bags

Hygiene: Shower towers & face cloths, shampoo & soap, baby wipes, toothbrush & toothpaste, sunscreen & fly dope, Clothesline rope & pins

Campfire: Chairs, Roasting Sticks, Fire lighting tools (lighter, newspaper, cardboard, waterproof matches), Fire Shovel

Safety & Comfort: Flashlights & extra batteries, fully stocked First Aid Kit, Extra water & purification supplies (if necessary), Citronella Candles. Don’t forget your prescription medications as well.

Food Essentials: Ice, Salt & Pepper, Condiments, Milk, Granola Bars & Fruit

Recreation: Frisbee, Kites, Fishing Gear, Balls, Pool Toys, Books, Crank or Battery Powered Radio.

Check Your Gear

It’s important to check all your camping gear before you head out. Air out the tent, sleeping bags & blankets. Make sure air mattresses are free of holes and sleeping bag zippers work. Give camping dishes a quick wipe down and make sure there’s enough for everyone going on the trip.

Check the camping stove and make sure your have enough fuel to get you through and that you have a means to store it safely. Be sure the First Aid Kit is stocked and replace anything you may have used during previous trips!

Pack For The Weather

Depending on when you plan on going, your clothing needs may vary a little. Layering is essential in the Spring and even on those chillier summer nights. Long johns, a hat & mittens can go a long way on sitting by the fire late into the night.

Check the weather forecast for the area and dates when you will be camping and include the clothes that you will need for the forecast. Remember, it is easier to get cool than get warm, ensure you have something warm to wear.

Camping Tents

When it comes to camping tents, it pays to go a little bigger than you need so you have somewhere to store things out of the weather and still have room to sleep.

Pack extra’s of everything, nothing is worse that getting caught in a rain storm and realizing you don’t have another pair of pants or socks!

If you are low on space try rolling clothes rather than folding and stuff shoes with extra socks. Rain gear & sun hats are also essential to help protect you from the elements.

I recommend storing & transporting supplies in See-Through Storage Boxes as they keep things organized and are durable. To prevent leaving anything essential behind make a list and check things off as you load them into the car.

Patience and Enthusiasm

Bring an extra dose of patience, as if it’s your first camping trip in a while there will be some unexpected kinks to work out no matter how prepared you are!

Don’t forget to bring along you enthusiasm!! Nothing makes a camping trip more fun than having enthusiastic campers !!

© 2012, Kim Dares. All rights reserved. The Cottage Chronicles / Rob Dares material is copyrighted, please contact me if you wish to inquire about reposting etc

©2012 The Cottage Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.thecottagechronicles.com The Cottage Chronicles

This weekend we started on a job at the camp that I have been putting off for several years. Putting some new exterior siding on the boat shed.



What I call the “boat shed” is also known as the “garage” “shed” “boathouse” and “Little Camp”. It got the little camp name because it was the original camp my father built around 1964.
Here is a picture of the old building before we began replacing the exterior siding.

Calling it a boathouse is rather ironic too, in that it hasn’t had a boat in it for 10 years, and calling it a garage is another misnomer because a car won’t fit inside….

Necessary For Storage

However, regardless of what we call it, the building is a necessity. It provides storage space for all the “stuff” you need around a camp, as well as a workbench and tools etc. It’s especially important given we don’t have a basement in the main cottage building.

The building is 20′ X 12′ and the current exterior siding is tongue and groove boards that were popular for camps and cottages back in the 60′s. However over the years the weather took it’s toll on the siding boards, water got inside in places, and it was almost impossible to keep paint on it.

To make matters worse, when we put it into service as a boathouse, we cut one end out and installed two large barn doors to allow us to put two aluminum boats inside. Unfortunately, those doors were facing the lake and suffered the ravages of wind and rain. Eventually they leaked.

Here is a picture of the old doors. You will notice I had covered them with a piece of plastic last year in an attempt to keep the rain out.

When stuff leaks…other stuff eventually rots. In this case, it was the edge of the floor along the front and the studs and framing on one corner.

On top of that, the old building was looking pretty rundown. In fact, it had become an eyesore, and everytime I looked at it, I shuddered, knowing it needed to be repaired and soon.

All this is a long roundabout way to explain that we repaired the shed this past weekend. I took my usual approach, bought some ranchwall exterior siding.

Ranchwall Siding Great For Exterior Siding

I find ranchwall siding great for fixing up a camp. It is already stained a red wood color on one side and comes in 4X8 sheets which are fairly easy to install right over the existing wood siding. Sheets of ranchwall are not cheap, costing about $25 per 4X8 sheet, however they are fairly easy for two people to install, and they have a ‘rustic’ look that I like on the camp. I don’t think I would want it on a house in the city.

The rotted studs and corner pieces had to be cut out, and replaced with fresh lumber. However, this was not without some risk. There was a possibility that the building may come apart, or twist, when we removed the doors and cut out the corner.

In order to minimize that risk Kevin rigged up a bracing system inside the building to hold the walls together once we had cut out….well essentially one end of the building.

Once we had the building walls braced, we were able to remove the old barn doors and related framing. In addition, we had to cut out the corner where the wood was rotten.

Luckily most of the rot was contained to the bottom end of the corner framework, so we only had to cut it back until we reached solid wood.

Then we began rebuilding the end, replacing the corner studs we had removed, and then building a wall frame to close in the end where the doors had been.

Installing Ranchwall Exterior Siding

From there it went fairly straightforward. We put the ranchwall exterior siding up one sheet at a time directly over the old siding. The new plywood siding added some much needed strength to the building.

On the end where we had removed the barn doors, we replaced the rotten studs, then built a 2X4 wall to fill in the hole where the doors had been.

Building the wall and replacing the corner took the most of our time as it required a fair amount of time to tear the doors off, and cut out the rotten wood, then the measuring and cutting to fit in new pieces. But once that was done, things picked up speed.

Ranchwall exterior siding is the same exterior building siding that I put on the main cottage last year. At that time Kevin and I put up quite a bit of it, so we had become fairly well versed in the process.

Here is a picture taken about halfway through the project. This shows the front of the building with the new exterior siding and the old tongue and groove siding being covered.

It’s important to get the first sheet of ranchwall up and square. From then on, it is fairly easy to put up until you come to windows or doors. At that point the openings have to be measured, marked on the ranchwall siding and cut out.

As you will see in the pictures, the new exterior siding changed the appearance of the old building quite dramtically. While I admit the ranchwall probably covers a mulitude of problems, at least the old building now looks much better. In fact, until you look close, it looks like a new building.

For the only remaining door to the shed, a man-sized door, we installed a piece of ranchwall over the existing wooden storm door. That resulted in a nice clean look to the side of the building.

It also made the door seem to disappear, at least until we added the hinges and door handles etc. Here is a picture of the front of the building showing the door now covered with ranchwall siding.

Eventually I will add some trim around the door which will make it show up a little more. I also will be replacing the door sill which has dropped down.

The corners of the building were a bit of a challenge, mostly because the old building is not particularly “square” anymore. So lining up the corners was a little tricky, but we accomplished it in a fashion.

The corners should look OK when I am finished, as they will be eventually be covered with some trim which will close up any small gaps etc.

In total, factoring in the cost of 20 sheets of ranchwall exterior siding, the nails, and 10 pieces of 8 foot long number 1 2X4 studs, the project cost me about $1000.00. I can add another couple hundred to that for the trim.

Tips For Installing Ranchwall Exterior Siding

Installing ranchwall plywood siding is not difficult, but it’s a two person job, one person to hold the plywood in place and the other to nail it.

You will need to be able to cut it for peaks and around window and door openings, so a circular saw is very helpful.

Inspect each sheet of the ranchwall to match the edges to the next one. Each sheet is engineered with one edge grooved and the other edge not. That means you need to ensure you put the ranchwall up so that a grooved edge meets a non-grooved edge.

Use wood siding nails, they have a rounded head, that is designed to bite into the wood for greater holding strength.

Do your measuring first to ensure you are starting and finishing each piece on the center of a stud for solid attachment. A chalk line, is essential, so is a level and square. All the usual carpenter tools come in handy.

Ranchwall siding can be stained or painted. The pre-stained plywood can be left as is for several years if you prefer.

The project is now about 75% complete. I will update with more pictures when it is finished. Up next, finish the back exterior wall, add the trim and stain.

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© 2012, Rob Dares. All rights reserved. The Cottage Chronicles / Rob Dares material is copyrighted, please contact me if you wish to inquire about reposting etc

©2012 The Cottage Chronicles. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.thecottagechronicles.com The Cottage Chronicles