Categories
Cottage Life

These cottage-themed picture books are kid-approved

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There are three things I know for sure about my five-year-old neighbour, Isaac: he enjoys visiting his grandparents’ cottage on Pigeon Lake, Alta., about an hour southwest of Edmonton, where we live; he’s an enthusiastic participant when I read picture books aloud; he has great conversational skills and likes to come to my house to talk. So, when I discovered some picture books for kids at our local library about going to the lake, I knew I had the ingredients for a summer activity he’d enjoy.

Sitting together on my back deck, we found out that not all cottage-themed picture books are appealing to a five-year-old kid. Some had stories that went on too long. Some had illustrations that weren’t that visually attractive. The books that Isaac liked best had delightful plots and characters, a kids’-eye view of the world, interesting language, and pictures that held a few surprises. 

Categories
Cottage Life

Find the right snowshoes for you

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Snowshoes turn snow covered forests, lakes and mountains into a winter wonderland waiting to be explored. When shopping for a pair, start with where you want to go and what you want to do with them: up mountains, on mostly flat terrain, or maybe running. This will help filter between different materials, designs, features and cost. Then use the manufacturers’ size chart to figure out the right length of snowshoe for your weight. Tip: don’t forget to add anything you want to carry.

Don’t miss our list of places to go snowshoeing in Canada.

Check out this art made on snowshoes.

Categories
Cottage Life

Find the right snowshoes for you

Our editorial team independently selects these products. If you choose to buy any, we may earn a commission that helps fund our content. Learn more.

Snowshoes turn snow covered forests, lakes and mountains into a winter wonderland waiting to be explored. When shopping for a pair, start with where you want to go and what you want to do with them: up mountains, on mostly flat terrain, or maybe running. This will help filter between different materials, designs, features and cost. Then use the manufacturers’ size chart to figure out the right length of snowshoe for your weight. Tip: don’t forget to add anything you want to carry.

Don’t miss our list of places to go snowshoeing in Canada.

Check out this art made on snowshoes.

Categories
Cottage Life

Create a holiday bird feeder tree

If you’re looking for something fun to do with the kids this season or want to up your wintertime bird feeding game, decorate a tree in your yard with some DIY edible decorations. You may also get some squirrel or deer visitors; which are an extra visual bonus for the kids.

“What I think is fun about this idea is that you turn just filling up your bird feeder every day into a family activity,” says Jody Allair, Director, Community Engagement at Birds Canada. He says it’s a festive thing to do that goes beyond your typical decorating and becomes something the birds will appreciate. It’s also a way to build connections to the natural world. “We need more of those,” he says. “This is a great arts and crafts project to do as a family, and the reward is having birds in your yard.” It’s win-win for you and the birds.

First, pick a tree in your yard. Allair says it doesn’t have to be a conifer – even a bush will suffice. Speaking of trees, he also says once you’re done with your real Christmas tree, instead of putting it in the dump or in the garbage, you could ‘plant’ it outside once you’ve removed the tinsel, garland, and decorations. Of course the stump won’t take root in the frozen ground, but its branches can offer additional habitat for animals.

And since you’re doing all this to help the birds, “there are important elements to keep in mind to create a bird-friendly environment,” say Allair. “Don’t place the food or items in an area where birds are going to collide with the windows. Be strategic.” Also, if you have cats, keep them inside or on a leash. For anything you wish to hang, use natural string (the thicker the better he says); never use fishing line. “Natural string that can break down in the sun after a few months is fine.”

Now to the fun part. Here are five DIY feeder ideas you can make yourself this winter:

Hang bird-friendly Christmas cookies. Use this recipe from Birds Canada. Let your kids choose which shapes they’ll want their cookies to be.

Love blue jays? Give them peanuts, or peanut butter. “The best way to present them is with a peanut wreath, or Allair says you could simply string them together and hang them up. “They’re crazy for peanuts.”

Meet the blue jay

Pinecone feeders. Go for a nature walk and gather some pinecones (not spruce, though, as Allair says they’re too soft). Tie on a string for hanging them up, then add peanut butter. (Allair says regular popular store brands are okay.) The hearty, rigid cones have lots of openings to fill.

Make your own suet balls or cakes. These offer a lot of messy DIY fun for kids. Allair recommends using large plastic margarine tubs to keep the mess at a minimum – unless you like lard all over the place. “It’s fun to roll the suet in seeds,” he says. Which type is best? Allair recommends black oil sunflower seeds – they have a high fat content, which birds need, and all species of birds are able to open them (no nutcracker required).

Log feeder. If you’ve got some hollow branches on hand, you can hang those, filled with peanut butter. “The birds will pluck out the peanut butter,” he says.

The main goal for each of these is to provide things the birds would like to eat in the natural world, “but you’re presenting it in a festive way,” he says.

You can also DIY a more traditional bird feeder and fill it with seed. To attract cardinals, include some sunflower seeds inside. Cardinals are “robust and like the perch,” Allair says, so they’ll need a sturdy structure where they can enjoy their meal.

If you provide a mix of food, you can expect chickadees, red-breasted nuthatches, downy woodpeckers, blue jays, and hairy woodpeckers.

Once your tree’s all decorated, relax with some hot chocolate by the fire and watch for visitors that stop by to admire – and eat – the outdoor decorations.

Know someone that’s an avid birdwatcher? Allair says Birds Canada’s Project Feeder Watch program makes a great last-minute gift.

 

Categories
Cottage Life

Create a holiday bird feeder tree

If you’re looking for something fun to do with the kids this season or want to up your wintertime bird feeding game, decorate a tree in your yard with some DIY edible decorations. You may also get some squirrel or deer visitors; which are an extra visual bonus for the kids.

“What I think is fun about this idea is that you turn just filling up your bird feeder every day into a family activity,” says Jody Allair, Director, Community Engagement at Birds Canada. He says it’s a festive thing to do that goes beyond your typical decorating and becomes something the birds will appreciate. It’s also a way to build connections to the natural world. “We need more of those,” he says. “This is a great arts and crafts project to do as a family, and the reward is having birds in your yard.” It’s win-win for you and the birds.

First, pick a tree in your yard. Allair says it doesn’t have to be a conifer – even a bush will suffice. Speaking of trees, he also says once you’re done with your real Christmas tree, instead of putting it in the dump or in the garbage, you could ‘plant’ it outside once you’ve removed the tinsel, garland, and decorations. Of course the stump won’t take root in the frozen ground, but its branches can offer additional habitat for animals.

And since you’re doing all this to help the birds, “there are important elements to keep in mind to create a bird-friendly environment,” say Allair. “Don’t place the food or items in an area where birds are going to collide with the windows. Be strategic.” Also, if you have cats, keep them inside or on a leash. For anything you wish to hang, use natural string (the thicker the better he says); never use fishing line. “Natural string that can break down in the sun after a few months is fine.”

Now to the fun part. Here are five DIY feeder ideas you can make yourself this winter:

Hang bird-friendly Christmas cookies. Use this recipe from Birds Canada. Let your kids choose which shapes they’ll want their cookies to be.

Love blue jays? Give them peanuts, or peanut butter. “The best way to present them is with a peanut wreath, or Allair says you could simply string them together and hang them up. “They’re crazy for peanuts.”

Meet the blue jay

Pinecone feeders. Go for a nature walk and gather some pinecones (not spruce, though, as Allair says they’re too soft). Tie on a string for hanging them up, then add peanut butter. (Allair says regular popular store brands are okay.) The hearty, rigid cones have lots of openings to fill.

Make your own suet balls or cakes. These offer a lot of messy DIY fun for kids. Allair recommends using large plastic margarine tubs to keep the mess at a minimum – unless you like lard all over the place. “It’s fun to roll the suet in seeds,” he says. Which type is best? Allair recommends black oil sunflower seeds – they have a high fat content, which birds need, and all species of birds are able to open them (no nutcracker required).

Log feeder. If you’ve got some hollow branches on hand, you can hang those, filled with peanut butter. “The birds will pluck out the peanut butter,” he says.

The main goal for each of these is to provide things the birds would like to eat in the natural world, “but you’re presenting it in a festive way,” he says.

You can also DIY a more traditional bird feeder and fill it with seed. To attract cardinals, include some sunflower seeds inside. Cardinals are “robust and like the perch,” Allair says, so they’ll need a sturdy structure where they can enjoy their meal.

If you provide a mix of food, you can expect chickadees, red-breasted nuthatches, downy woodpeckers, blue jays, and hairy woodpeckers.

Once your tree’s all decorated, relax with some hot chocolate by the fire and watch for visitors that stop by to admire – and eat – the outdoor decorations.

Know someone that’s an avid birdwatcher? Allair says Birds Canada’s Project Feeder Watch program makes a great last-minute gift.

 

Categories
Cottage Life

Create a holiday bird feeder tree

If you’re looking for something fun to do with the kids this season or want to up your wintertime bird feeding game, decorate a tree in your yard with some DIY edible decorations. You may also get some squirrel or deer visitors; which are an extra visual bonus for the kids.

“What I think is fun about this idea is that you turn just filling up your bird feeder every day into a family activity,” says Jody Allair, Director, Community Engagement at Birds Canada. He says it’s a festive thing to do that goes beyond your typical decorating and becomes something the birds will appreciate. It’s also a way to build connections to the natural world. “We need more of those,” he says. “This is a great arts and crafts project to do as a family, and the reward is having birds in your yard.” It’s win-win for you and the birds.

First, pick a tree in your yard. Allair says it doesn’t have to be a conifer – even a bush will suffice. Speaking of trees, he also says once you’re done with your real Christmas tree, instead of putting it in the dump or in the garbage, you could ‘plant’ it outside once you’ve removed the tinsel, garland, and decorations. Of course the stump won’t take root in the frozen ground, but its branches can offer additional habitat for animals.

And since you’re doing all this to help the birds, “there are important elements to keep in mind to create a bird-friendly environment,” say Allair. “Don’t place the food or items in an area where birds are going to collide with the windows. Be strategic.” Also, if you have cats, keep them inside or on a leash. For anything you wish to hang, use natural string (the thicker the better he says); never use fishing line. “Natural string that can break down in the sun after a few months is fine.”

Now to the fun part. Here are five DIY feeder ideas you can make yourself this winter:

Hang bird-friendly Christmas cookies. Use this recipe from Birds Canada. Let your kids choose which shapes they’ll want their cookies to be.

Love blue jays? Give them peanuts, or peanut butter. “The best way to present them is with a peanut wreath, or Allair says you could simply string them together and hang them up. “They’re crazy for peanuts.”

Meet the blue jay

Pinecone feeders. Go for a nature walk and gather some pinecones (not spruce, though, as Allair says they’re too soft). Tie on a string for hanging them up, then add peanut butter. (Allair says regular popular store brands are okay.) The hearty, rigid cones have lots of openings to fill.

Make your own suet balls or cakes. These offer a lot of messy DIY fun for kids. Allair recommends using large plastic margarine tubs to keep the mess at a minimum – unless you like lard all over the place. “It’s fun to roll the suet in seeds,” he says. Which type is best? Allair recommends black oil sunflower seeds – they have a high fat content, which birds need, and all species of birds are able to open them (no nutcracker required).

Log feeder. If you’ve got some hollow branches on hand, you can hang those, filled with peanut butter. “The birds will pluck out the peanut butter,” he says.

The main goal for each of these is to provide things the birds would like to eat in the natural world, “but you’re presenting it in a festive way,” he says.

You can also DIY a more traditional bird feeder and fill it with seed. To attract cardinals, include some sunflower seeds inside. Cardinals are “robust and like the perch,” Allair says, so they’ll need a sturdy structure where they can enjoy their meal.

If you provide a mix of food, you can expect chickadees, red-breasted nuthatches, downy woodpeckers, blue jays, and hairy woodpeckers.

Once your tree’s all decorated, relax with some hot chocolate by the fire and watch for visitors that stop by to admire – and eat – the outdoor decorations.

Know someone that’s an avid birdwatcher? Allair says Birds Canada’s Project Feeder Watch program makes a great last-minute gift.

 

Categories
Cottage Life

Our teens still love the cottage, and this is why

As a family who loves to travel, we’ve always enjoyed the experience of planning family trips with our kids, and that remains true now that they are teens. As they have grown, certain aspects of our trips have changed, but their love of family travel and the memories we create has remained. 

In a typical year, we rent a cottage on Prince Edward Island for our summer family vacation. This trip is filled with traditions that we have all come to love and repeat year after year. 

These traditions begin during the road trip itself. After about six hours of driving from our home in Orleans, Ont., we stop for lunch at the tourism centre in La Pocatiere, Que. It’s located right off Autoroute 20 on the shores of the St. Lawrence River. While there are fast food places nearby, we always pack a lunch and eat outside for this stop. We stretch, walk around, take pictures to mark the year, and enjoy the smell of the salt water in the air. While it’s a milestone that represents the halfway point for the first day’s drive, it’s also when it feels like the trip has really begun.

two teens sitting on a porch swing looking at the water at the rest stop at La Pocatiere, Quebec
La Pocatiere, Que. Photo by Rebecca Stanisic

Another cottage road trip tradition is when we finally arrive at the Confederation Bridge and leave New Brunswick to begin the crossing into P.E.I. Everyone is excited at this joyous moment; it signifies the end of our travel days and the beginning of our relaxing vacation. We look out over the glistening water (it seems like the weather is always beautiful when we cross), we sing a silly song that we made up when the kids were younger, and we celebrate the end of our journey with a famous Cows ice cream cone when we reach the other side. 

During our stay at the cottage, we have plenty of traditions that I know my teens want to continue. For example, the annual family soccer tournament, two vs. two, is a must-do event. Our makeshift soccer field always includes baseball gloves for goal posts, and we all enjoy a panoramic view of the water while we play for bragging rights. 

a teen looking out on the water from the family soccer field
The soccer field. Photo by Rebecca Stanisic

We also always look forward to having campfire dinners during our stay. We move the beach chairs to the fire pit, roast hot dogs and marshmallows, play music, share stories, and tell jokes. There’s something about the taste of that hot dog that beats all others.

The list of our family’s cottage traditions could go on and on. Even as our teens grow older, we continue to turn to many of them as a way to reconnect with each other and renew cherished memories that have become such an important part of our family travel adventures. These traditions are a way to track moments in time that feel familiar and like home, even when we’re away.

Categories
Cottage Life

7 books for kids who love pond hockey

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Did we miss your favourite? Let us know at edit@cottagelife.com

Categories
Potins

Jenny McCarthy to wed this year

Jenny McCarthy and Donnie Wahlberg will marry later this year.

The ‘View’ host and the New Kids on the Block star got engaged last month, but won’t be waiting too long to tie the knot, as she hopes to do so in New York ”soon”.

She added to E! News: ”I will say fall of this year!”

The blonde beauty already knows who she wants to design her wedding dress – and it’ll be more upmarket than what her bridesmaids will wear.

Asked who will design her dress, she said: ”Gucci, yes. Gucci, maybe.”

She then jokingly added: ”[The bridesmaids will wear] Forever 21, for sure.”

And the 41-year-old star will have plenty of company walking her down the aisle.

Explaining who will be bridesmaids, she said: ”[My sisters], all the comedians on the ‘Dirty, Sexy, Funny’ tour and Donnie’s sisters.”

Donnie’s family own a restaurant, Wahlburgers, in Boston so Jennie hopes his chef brother Paul will cater their reception.

She quipped: ”Why not some Wahlburgers?”

Jenny has 11-year-old son Evan from her six-year marriage to John Mallory Asher, while Donnie has sons Xavier, 21, and Elijah, 12, with his ex-wife Kim Fey, who he was married to from 1999 to 2008.

Categories
Pets Files

How pets help autistic children learn empathy

For most children, a pet is a great way to learn about responsibility and enjoy the unconditional love of a furry family member. And for children with autism spectrum disorder or ASD, pets also provide companionship, safety and independence – as well as help build social skills they can use throughout their lives.

The idea is that a family pet may help break the isolation of children suffering from ASD, allowing them to better interact and communicate with the world around them. Autism is a very complicated disorder without a single diagnosis, but it is known for “social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior,” according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Novelty of pet plays an important role
Specifically, getting a new pet after the age of 5 may help autistic children improve their ability to share with and comfort other people according to new research from the Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire de Brest in France.

Researchers compared autistic children whose families adopted a pet after the child had reached the age of five, to those whose families had no pets in the home. In a separate study, researchers also compared autistic children born into homes that already had pets to those born into pet-free homes.

Children age 5 and up benefit most from new pet
Children with pets showed improvements in two areas: “offering to share” and “offering comfort” – but only when the animals had been introduced to the home after the child’s fifth birthday. Children who had been around a pet since birth showed no difference in social skills; similar to children who had no pets at all. However, children who were introduced to a new pet after age five interacted more with the animal, families reported.

Researchers aren’t entirely sure why the new arrival of a pet, after the age of 5, makes such a difference for children with ASD, while being around a pet since birth had no effect on them. They suggest it could be the novelty of a pet that catches the child’s interest, or the way a new pet brings the whole family together. The child may be old enough to pick up on the easy social cues involved with a pet, and imitate how the adults talk to and care for the animal. More research is needed to better understand the link.

Service dogs for autism expensive
While this study provides some exciting new possibilities for dealing with autism, the idea of using service animals to help children with the disorder is nothing new. Not only can service dogs help with behavioral problems, but they can even be trained to track down autistic children who have a tendency to wander off.

Service dogs need extensive training and that comes with a hefty price tag. For many parents, it’s more than they can afford: like the Eaton family, currently struggling to raise the required $15,000 to get a specially-trained dog for their 11-year-old son. Do you know someone with an autistic child? Check out these charities 4 Paws for Ability and Autism Dog Services, which provide service dogs to autistic children in need.