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This Bodum Bistro Double Wall Latte Cup has become the coffee mug that I reach for each morning. I love the shape, the large size (18oz) and the light weight of the glass. The double wall borosilicate glass creates a mug within a mug which is pretty cool to look at, the coffee appears to be floating inside. The best part, it helps to keep the coffee or tea warm longer while the glass stay cool on the outside. My husband can attest to the fact that I wake up in the morning by lingering over a cup of coffee until the caffeine finally kicks in. With this latte cup, I can linger a little longer and not worry about the coffee getting cold – a real bonus. They come as a set of two, which means you won’t have to fight over who has the mug. I think they’ll make a great gift for some of my coffee loving friends and family this holiday season. For many people owning a cottage property is a dream come true. Prior to ownership, you’ll be faced with many important decisions and few as important as the location you ultimately choose. How far from your main home will your cottage or cabin be? How close to other neighbors is close enough? What resources are located near by? How will you access your cottage or cabin, by road or by boat? As an owner of a water access only cottage I can personally speak to the pros and cons of the boat access cottage lifestyle. Logistics can be challenging with a boat access cottage. In our case, we drive a great distance (9 hours plus) to reach our destination. The car part of the trip culminates with an 18 mile jaunt down a dirt road that leads to a small marina where we store our boat. From that point we unload all of our gear from the car into our boat. We have learned from experience that arriving during daylight makes this process significantly easier. Still, I remember a few arrivals that have taken place in the evenings and even though we end up tripping over ourselves as we dodge mosquitoes; few moment are as romantic as the moment we pull out of the marina and experience the cool night air and wonderful stillness as the boat moves across the glassy water in the light of an almost full moon. After about 10-15 minutes in the boat we can catch a glimpse of the red metal roof of our cottage in the distance. Excitement starts to build as we approach the dock. What lays ahead is at least an hour of what feels like endless schlepping of items from the dock to the cabin door, which happens to be located up a hill. This rugged terrain will either be a blessing as we age, as it will keep us in shape, or a curse, because it will cripple us. It is too early to tell. So, why do we go to such lengths and endure such complications? Shouldn’t a getaway be an easy place to relax and unwind? Well, I suppose that depends on your definition of relax. The fact that we are remote, that we have to exert so much effort to reach our cottage, to me, makes it that much more special when we arrive. Here are some of the advantages that I see:
But, this lifestyle is not for everyone. There are elements of a boat access cottage that are daunting, here are some things to consider:
While there are many logical reasons to choose road access over boat access or the reverse, it ultimately comes down to personal choice and knowing your passion. Logic can easily be replaced by romantic images or childhood memories that sometime supersede reality. Hopefully, I’ve given you some practical things to consider as you make your choice. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject – please feel free to comment and share your own experiences. We love to bring our pets to the cottage, but sometimes keeping them safe and comfortable can be a challenge. Depending upon your cabin’s location, you could be concerned about water issues, boating safety, pests and local wildlife. To ensure you and your pet have a safe and enjoyable visit we put together 10 helpful pet safety tips:
This past Fourth of July weekend we were lucky enough to spend four days at the cottage. The weather was beautiful, the water refreshing and the deer and horse flies unrelenting. We were prepared with our bug hats (i I spent the rest of the weekend swatting biting deer flies and horse flies away from Sophie’s head, it got so bad, we were forced to take refuge on the screened-in porch. I came back home to research tried and true techniques for getting rid of biting flies on our dog. The two lists below include some natural and homemade remedies and some store bought chemical based solutions made specifically for animals. Do not use DEET based products on your dog, they can make them very sick. Hopefully these tips will help your pet enjoy more time outdoors. Natural – Homemade Remedies for Flies:
Here are two chemical based solutions that people have had success with:
In our previous post we talked about cooking out at the cottage, so we thought it would make sense to discuss smart ways to serve and enjoy that food. I’m a believer in making things easy. After all, I go to my cottage to relax not to spend hours cleaning up dishes after entertaining. That said, I have a hard time using and discarding paper plates each time we have a barbecue. It’s not just because we’re environmentally conscientious – we have to haul our trash off our property each day via boat due to bears and other animals so it makes sense to reduce our waste as much as possible.  Bamboo Disposable Dinnerware After many months of searching we’ve found a few greener dinnerware options that work quiet well. If you’re looking for disposable dinnerware you may like Veneerware, disposable plates, trays and utensils made from organic bamboo. Bamboo is a fast growing renewable resource that is quickly becoming a popular choice for all kinds of home items. We like that no bleaches or dyes are used in the product and while they are made for single use, they are sturdy enough and durable enough to wipe clean after light use and can be reused. What we really enjoy, is what you can do once you are done – you can put them into your composter and they will degrade in about 4-6 months, so less trash to haul and worry about.  Recycled Plastic Disposable Tableware If you like plastic, we’ve found guilt-free Recycled Plastic Disposable Plates. These are made from 100% post consumer recycled plastic. In addition to having all the benefits that plastic plates provide, you can feel good that you are using products that required significantly less energy to produce. As a bonus, once you are done, you can continue the cycle by sending them back to get recycled yet again.  Recycled Melamine Tableware Disposables are great, but sometimes I prefer to use regular dishes and I don’t want to worry about them breaking if someone wants to take them down to the dock or out to the picnic table. Melamine can be a good option since it is very durable and can withstand a few drops from my favorite younger nephew. We like these colorful Celebration Plates, bowls and cups. They are made from recycled melamine, leftover from the manufacturing process of other items. Festive and available in several different colors they add some fun to the family picnic or dinner out on the porch. The divided barbecue plate is one of our favorites and younger children seem to gravitate to them naturally as it lets them keep their foods separated.  Eco-Friendly Dinnerware A truly modern and unique choice is the Eco-Elegance line of Eco-friendly dinnerware. These days it’s hard to find a product that is stylish, well priced, environmentally friendly and original in design. These dishes are all this and more. Made entirely from plant fibers the dishes take on the color of their natural materials which consist of plant cellulose, rice hulls and coconut fibers. The dishware is light weight, has a nice gloss finish and is dishwasher safe. What is truly unique about these eco-friendly dishes, is that the dishware is made to last for about 4 to 5 years. Hand washing instead of sending them through the dishwasher will extend their life. When you are done with them and are ready for a change, you can break them apart and put them in your composter. No guilt, no waste, no worries. So there you go, several options to consider this summer to make your life easier when entertaining or just relaxing and enjoying your time at your special getaway. Now you can have fun, enjoy a good meal and be green all at the same time. Summer at the cottage and cabin to many of us means sharing good times with family and friends. Food is usually a central part of the festivities, which means plenty of cookouts, campfires and picnics. Here are some tips to help keep you safe while you enjoy the S’mores.
We followed these steps to make a great cup of espresso:
Some Helpful Tips Using traditional Espresso coffee will get you a more authentic brew, but any strong blend will work. You will want to use an extra fine ground; finer than sugar, but not quite powdered. Grains should still be discernible to the touch. It is a good idea to clean your espresso maker soon after it cools; this will reduce the amount of staining that can occur. Store the pieces separately if you can, if storage space is an issue; make sure all the pieces are clean and dry before putting them back together. We recommend using a microfiber cloth to dry a stainless steel espresso maker; this will keep the mirror finish looking great. This is my favorite part, find a comfortable spot – I like my screened in porch which has a terrific view of the river, sit back, relax and enjoy. Inspiration can come from many sources, in this case the inspiration for www.cottagesimple.com came from our beautiful cottage located on the French River in Ontario, Canada. This special place has some special challenges – for starters it is still a work in progress. This season’s goal – running water! The site is accessible only by boat and it is off-the-grid.
 These unique circumstances require some unique products. Hundred of hours have been spent looking for the perfect lanterns, just the right Adirondack chair and the best solution to filter our drinking water. If we were challenged to find just the right products then others probably were as well we thought. Nine months later www.cottagesimple.com was launched. This blog is the perfect format to continue to share our cottage experience with others. We will bring you product reviews, helpful tips and resources that have proved useful. We welcome your comments, your experiences and ideas. |
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ntegrated bug net and bucket hat), which allowed us to still enjoy the outdoors. Our faithful dog Sophie was right there by our side, following us around and enjoying the freedom of roaming the property. While Sophie was enjoying the wide open spaces, I looked down and noticed the flies were enjoying Sophie.
We’ll be trying some of these techniques during our next visit to the cottage. We would love to hear from our readers – please send us comments and let us know if you’ve tried any of our suggestions and if they have worked. Don’t hesitate to let everyone know if there is something that works that hasn’t been mentioned. And, as always if you know of a great product and you think we should carry it, feel free to send us your recommendations.
