Vacationing in the Fall

My favourite time of the year is the fall, especially if we are lucky enough to have an Indian Summer. According to Environment Canada, the rest of September and October are going to be seasonally high.

Many people are finding the beauty of taking their vacations in the fall. I think as we get older, we tend to not like the heat of the summer as much, I know I hate the humidity of August.

That means warm sunny days for long walks taking in the breathtaking colours and cooling off for sleeping at night. Swimming is also not out of the question either. Our lake is small and the water temperature has been warm this summer.

I love lighting a fire in the outdoor fire grill, sipping a glass of wine, starring up at the stars and on the really special nights the still sounds of the lake shattered by the haunting cry of the loon.

Our lake has two pairs of adult loons, we are very lucky that they come back every year.

Another reason to love the lake in the fall is that the lake is not as populated and there are far fewer boats to have to listen to. I know that boats have their place but I prefer less noise from the boats and more sounds of the wildlife. You can peddelo around our lake in about an hour and it is the perfect way to just leave any stresses from everyday life behind.

Our birdfeeder draws an abundance of bird varieties. At this time of the year we are seeing grossbeaks, bluejays, woodpeckers. We spotted a new variety which my husband and I are trying to identify, we love to pour over the numerous bird resources that we have at the cottage.

Fall is sweater time, the smell of work burning stoves, magnificant fall colours, warm days and crisp evenings. It doesn't get much more perfect than that.

Our fall season for this year is fully booked but if you think you might want to make a change and rent during the fall season of 2010, take a look at our rental site: http://www.cottagesincanada.com/roysretreat. I would suggest that you book early, my spring/summer season for 2010 has only two available weeks and I am taking reservations for the fall 2010.

Have a great fall season, no matter if you are on vacation or not. Just get out and smell the wonderful air.

Jackie

Roys Retreat

Summer Cottage Rental

When should you start your research to find that perfect summer getaway? If you are considering renting a lake-side cottage for the summer of 2009 it is never to early to start.

I know that it is only the beginning of February but if you don't want to be disappointed you should start now. The two busiest months of course are July and August and there is always a rush to not only find a suitable rental but to find ones that are not already booked(the best cottages are rented by now)

If last year is any example, our cottage was booked for the entire season by the end of February. My phone and email didn't stop in July and August with families trying to find an available cottage. The odds of finding anything that is on the lake, close to Ottawa and is clean and comfortable during July or August is next to immpossible when you leave your plans that late.

I have been fielding inquiries for rental since last November and was not able to accomodate the dates that these familes wanted. I know that it is a leap of faith to send a deposit in February when you might only be renting in August but please take my advice or you will surely be dissapointed.

Our cottage has only a few weeks available for this year's rental season. Many families overlook the month of June for rental but in past years this month sometimes can be a great option. I remember in years past swimming in the lake in June and having wonderful warm weather.

According to the weather forcasts from Environment Canada May and June this year are going to be warmer than ususal "And looking further ahead, while the forecast is just preliminary, Phillips said it appears temperatures in most areas from northern Saskatchewan east in April to June could be above normal. Phillips said that could change, but at the moment "that's what our best models are telling us right now."

If you want to take a look then please visit www.cottagesincanada.com/roysretreat. Don't delay, don't be dissapointed, more and more couples and familes are taking their vacations closer to home. My site has an availability calander so please check it out before you get in touch. Thanks and I hope that you have a great summer.

The Fat Lady Has Sung!

........ so to speak. Have you ever heard the phrase "it's not over until it's over" We have been renovating and decorating for so long, the last three years to be exact that you would think that we would have things well under control and totally completed.

We rented to our first ever guests in June (see their review below), I kid you not, I had a paint brush in one hand and a mop in the other. The floors were still wet as they arrived at the cottage. You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.

My Dad, Mom, Husband and myself arrived very early the morning of our first guests arrival and if you could have seen the disaster zone (the tv shows have nothing on me) you would have said that there was absolutely no way we could be ready on time.

My husband had his table saw out in the middle of our lower deck, with wood and mess everywhere, (after pic above) my mom was frantically cleaning in the kitchen (we had a leak under the sink the night before and didn't have the parts to repair, so of course, everything was set back while this was attended to - murphy's law) my dad was outside, raking, weeding and generally try to organize and I was running around like a crazy women. The only regret that I have is that we were so pressed for time, we did not take a picture of the chaos.

As our first guests arrived, they had no idea of what had been, thank goodness we just made the deadline. Of course, I see a gazillion things that did not get completed, mostly cosmetic, the cottage still needs to be painted outside, we still need to do more landscaping, the outside shed never did get organized, minor things in comparison to what we did accomplish.

We must have done something right, our very first guests have already re-booked for two weeks next year despite an increase in the rental fee. They very generously wrote me a beautiful recommendation. It makes we want to rent my own cottage - only problem, I can't afford it :)

Our week at Roy's Retreat was phenominal. An escape from reality, we were able tolive in the midst of serenity and beauty.>From the visiting heron and tortoise, to the calming sounds of wildlife andwater, everything about this cottage is perfect. This cottage has everything you could look for. We spent nights roasting marshmellowsin the chimea. We ate and played cards by candlelight in the screened in porch, tothe sounds of the loons. We caught an abundance of fish (which we released ofcourse). The water is beautiful and warm. Waking in the morning, I would sit with mytea at the dock and watch the sunrise. Sunset at Roy's Retreat is the most beautifulthing I have ever seen. There is not shortage of supplies, as the owners made sure we would have nothing to worry about during our stay. I would recommend this cottage for those of you who ache to get away. It is so close to the city, yet private and still.We loved it so much that we requested two weeks NEXT year. You won't be sorry.T.D. and W.D.

Here is what the guests that have rented our cottage for the month of July had to say "... absolutely beautiful cottage, the view is spectacular...way beyond our expectations..the pics on the website do not do it justice, we absolutely made the right choice"

I hope that if you are searching thru the hundreds of cottage rentals to find the perfect summer/fall retreat, that you will give Roy's Retreat a chance. The cottage has openings as of August 30th. Please visit http://www.cottagesincanada.com/roysretreat

Making the Decision is the Hardest Part

If you have never rented a cottage before, just where do you start? How do you decide? There are so many horror stories out there. You rent a cottage in good faith and when you arrive, yikes! it's a dump. This can ruin your whole vacation.

Several years ago my brother and his wife and young daughter rented what they thought was a beautiful waterfront cottage with a good clean lake and access to great swimming. What they got was not what was advertised at all. The cottage was in dis-repair and not to their cleanliness standards at all, the lake was like a swamp and never mind swimming you could barely walk for the weeds. Having driven several hours to get there they stayed one night, packed up and left the next day, disappointed and out of pocket for a vacation that they never had a chance to have. So what to do.

I know that if I was going to invest in renting a cottage, I would like to know a little history of not only the people owning the cottage but of the cottage itself. Our cottage has been in our family for over 35 years. The original cottage is nothing like it stands today. It has been extensively renovated. What started out as a 2 bedroom bungalow cottage on a very, very steep incline has been transformed to a two level three bedroom, with a covered and screened-in outdoor upper deck. The lower deck overlooks the lake and is a great place for sunbathing. The grounds have been leveled in parts and beautiful multi-level rock gardens have replaced the once impossible slope down to the lake. To the side of the garden is a large leveled area with a chimia. This is where we also have a birdbath and several bird feeders. This would be a great area for the kids to play as it is flat and safe.

The interior has been totally re-modeled and we have just re-decorated the entire cottage. The cottage is cedar with cathedral ceilings and is flanked with floor to ceiling windows that overlook the lake. The master bedroom is located on the first level just off of the living-room. As you enter the cottage you are greeted with an open-plan with a modern kitchen, dining-room and living area with an air tight wood stove. On the lower level are two more bedrooms and the storage/extra fridge room. The bathroom is brand new and has an extra large shower, new vanity with lots of storage and a new low-flush toilet. Brand new towels and linens are available as well as 6 over sized beach towels. All of the floors are laminate for a quick and easy mop to clean.

The bedrooms on the lower level have large picture windows which give you a lake view when you wake up in the morning. The beds are firm and all come with brand new hotel quality bedding and 4 pillows per bed. Blankets and comforters are also supplied. There is ample closet space for all of your belongings.

The things that we have done to prepare the cottage for you our paying guests are the same things that I would look for and expect if I was the renter not the rentee. Lakefront, spacious, comfortable, clean, excellent swimming, good neighbours, quiet small lake, easy commute. I hope that if you give us a try you will leave us with nothing but positive memories and come back to us year after year.

Happy Cottaging

Nature on your Doorstep

You just never know what the day will bring, loons of course, herons, (can you spot the one sunning on our dock), merganza ducks, beavers, turtles, birds galore, deer, squirrels and chipmunks. We have a resident chipmunk family that is quite unaffected by our presence. They run thru the levels of rock gardens in a seemingly endless chase of each other. It is quite entertaining to just sit and watch them play.

Because we just love to be surrounded by the sound of birds we put out several bird feeders. Frequent visitors are chickadees, downey woodpeckers, gold finches, purple finches, American redstart, hummingbirds to name just a few. Our favourite thing to do is to record any new birds that we spot in our Audobon Bird Book. At the side of our cottage we have a bird bath and sometimes it resembles a landing strip at an airport, it is amusing to watch them coming and going.

These are just a few things that I love about getting away at the cottage.

Happy Cottaging

The Magnificant Loon

Most of us would consider the loon as beautiful and special, symbolising wilderness and solitude. Many cottagers, campers and vacationers would feel their trip was incomplete without viewing a loon or listening to its haunting call.

The "Common Loon" is the species known to us. They migrate to the warmer areas around the Gulf of Mexico and on the eastern coasts of North America to winter, returning to our region when the ice melts in the spring.

In the summer months, the loon is a striking bird with its black-and-white chequered back, glossy black head, white belly and wing lining, and characteristic white necklace around the throat. Loons swim low in the water and their skeleton and muscular systems are designed for swimming and diving. They are streamlined with their legs placed far back on their body, allowing for excellent movement in the water but somewhat awkward on land. Many bones of the loon's body are solid, rather than hollow like other birds, which aids in their diving ability. The loon can stay underwater for almost a minute and can dive to depths of 80 metres. During the dive, the feathers are compressed and air is forced from between the feathers and from the air sacs in the body.

The life expectancy of the loon may be 15 to 30 years. They arrive in pairs and are solitary nesters, mating for life. Loons build their nest close to the water, with the best sites being completely surrounded by water, such as an island or half-submerged log. It is important not to disturb nesting loons or their eggs.

Loons are primarily fish eaters and will catch whatever species they can. Game fish, such as trout, are difficult for a loon to catch. A trout swims in a straight line and is capable of quick bursts of speed, allowing it to stay ahead of the loon. As well, the trout often heads for deeper water where visibility is poor and the loon loses sight of it. Loons are more successful at catching slower fish that zigzag to escape. They also feed on crayfish, aquatic insects, vegetation and leeches.

Loon chicks generally appear towards the end of June. They can swim right away but spend some time on their parents' backs to rest, conserve heat and avoid predators. The chicks do not return to the nest. Remember to admire loons from afar; do not chase or follow them too closely.
Despite the fact that loons live most of their lives on the water, they can also drown. A few years ago, a teenager with a 10 hp motor managed such a feat. He cornered a loon and terrorised it by circling around and around, forming a vortex that the loon could not escape. Some neighbours seeing this managed to warn this kid away but it was too late. By next morning, the loon was found drowned. Too tired from its exertions in trying to escape, it ran out of energy to save itself.

Arguably, the most fascinating thing about the "Common Loon" is their haunting and variable voice. They are most vocal from mid-May to mid-June. They have four distinct calls which they use in varying combinations to communicate with their families and other loons.

The loon is protected by federal law and may not be hunted. Recent studies have indicated that loon nesting success and survival of the young may decrease with increased lake acidity due to acid rain. Direct human disturbances can affect loons in many ways as well. Loons have adapted quite successfully to some level of disturbance by people on our lakes. Visitors to lakes with loons can help them by only observing adults and chicks from a distance and by not disturbing nests. People should never chase loons and should be careful with fishing tackle -- abandoned or unattended fishing lines may entangle and injure loons. Boats should be used cautiously around loons, avoiding wash near the lake edge.

Lac Bataille, Battle Lake where our cottage is located is very fortunate to have a resident pair of loons. Every year we wait in anticipation to see how many babies survive. The female will lay two eggs but many things can go wrong before the chicks hatch and reach maturity. It is very easy to tell when the chicks have arrived because you can hear people all over the lake yelling at anyone who gets to close to them. We all think that we are surrogate parents.

Thanks for taking the time to drop in. If you would like to be able to view this magnificant northern diver then maybe a vacation at a cottage should be in your future. The babies are born near the end of June so early July is a great time to see them. Drop by http://cottagesincanada.com/roysretreat

Happy Cottaging

Green at the Cottage

Everyday we hear about how we should go green to save our planet. Most of us do our part at home but how about going green at the cottage?

Most cottages are the dumping ground for old appliances, the ones that we replaced with EnergyStar complient appliances at our home. These old appliances are energy hogs as they tend to be 20+ years old. Replacing them often comes down to money. Running a second property is not for the fient at heart. In our case, our secondary fridge, the beer fridge konked out so we had the perfect excuse to replace it with the more efficient models available today. After all, it was the BEER fridge. Getting rid of the old appliance is not always that easy, especially an old fridge but we were very lucky because the municipality that our cottage is located in will take away old appliances and they in turn re-cycle what they can salvage.

So how do we do our part?

Small steps can make a huge difference. The first thing we did when we bought the family cottage was to replace all of the old light bulbs with CFL bulbs. This might seem expensive but these bulbs last for several years and they really, really save energy.

Compact fluorescent stats• CFLs use 75 per cent less electricity than incandescent bulbs.• The long lifespan of compact fluorescents -- five to 13 years -- means they enter the waste stream less often.• CFLs cost more upfront than incandescents, but you'll recoup the funds since they last longer and you save on your electricity bill.

Once your CFLs burn out you will have to dispose of them safely as they contain low levels of mercury and should not be thrown out in the garbage. Luckily Ikea and Home Depot recycle CFLs at no charge.

Another small savings is to unplug your appliances when they are not in use. I just recently found out that even if an appliance is not in use it still draws energy when it is plugged in. Of course running around plugging and unpluggin is not everybody's cup of tea. There is a new energy-efficient power bar that holds up to 8 plugs and can remotley turned on and off. It is available at Home Depot. (no I don't work for them, I just love their store)

At night-time my favourite thing to do at the cottage is to turn off the lights and I burn candles everywhere. My husband always says we are having a seance, but I love the effect and of course we are saving electricity.

Our next energy saver was quite a contentious issue. We made the decision to remove a portable dishwasher. If your cottage is like ours it always has large crowds on the week-end. The dishwasher was a huge help. One of the big problems with a three season cottage is that they are not insulated so a buil-in dishwasher is just not a possibility. Even though our portable dishwasher was under 5 years old, every spring it had a leak somewhere. When you are renting your cottage the last thing your guests want is a problem with an appliance, even it is only minor. The other issue was because of the amount of phosphates that dishwashers dump into our septic and then into our lakes. The consequences of using the dishwasher are as bad as fertilizers. For example, Cascade dishwasher soap contains 1 gm of phosphates per tablespoon. If you run your dishwasher once a day and use 2-6 tablespoons of soap you generate 700-2,100 gm of phosphates per family, per year. The alternative is to use bio-degradable dishwasher soap, just add a small amount of vinegar for added cleaning power. Check-out this website for info on green products: http://www.ecologo.org/

Not having a dishwasher turned into a benefit because our sink has a huge picture window directly in front of it. The view outside features a birdbath and feeders and there is always plenty of bird action to watch. Of course I hope that our cottage renters feel the same way.

The final major change we made was to remove the old 12 litre flush toilet which was definatley ready for appliance heaven. We replaced it with a 6 litre low flush model. The savings for us will be substantial as it will mean less money to have the holding tank emptied. I also love the self-closing quiet toilet seat. Every women's dream!

One of the major choices that we all can make to help out our planet is to recycle. Our cottage has door to door recycling pickup and the difference in our amount of garbage has been substantial. I know many cottagers don't have this service but taking any recyclables home at the end of your stay would be a great way to make a contribution.

If you would like to check out our rental site just visit: http://www.cottagesincanada.com/roysretreat

Thanks for stopping in and if you have any eco-friendly tips for around the cottage please leave a comment.

Happy Cottaging