May 2021 Issue

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Cottage Life will help you enjoy life at the lake even more with fun and informative articles on everything from how-to projects to inspirational design ideas.

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What's Inside May 2021

Features

The Seven Deadly Sins
By Eva Holland, Roy MacGregor, Vicky Mochama, Omar Mouallem, Mark Schatzker, Clive Thompson & Zoe Whittall
We asked seven of Canada’s top writers to confess how the cottage can bring out the best (and the worst) in us.
Container Camp Charm
By Bonnie Schiedel
When they had to replace their falling-down A-frame, this Thunder Bay, Ont., family found a surprising solution for their new camp.
Support Authority
By Patricia Maitland
Is your cottage foundation on its last legs? How to tell—and how to fix it.
Grill Guide 2021
By Jennifer Danter
Get it while it’s hot! Expert secrets for using rubs, sauces, and glazes. Plus, essential barbecue maintenance tips.

Departments

Waterfront
Top 10 opening weekend activities; a cottage tragedy silver lining; what’s an AED?; Ötillö: the hottest new cottage pastime; better internet is coming; grill this, not that; Reporter; cottages are expensive—consider a condo
Workshop
Five different deck railing designs; smelly outhouse solution; soldering vs. brazing vs. welding; fishing gear fix-up; build this light for uneven surfaces; get in shape for DIY season; a clever solar pontoon conversion
Cottage Q&A
By Jackie Davis
Mice and matches fire concerns; how to save birds and preserve your view; is two-ply safe for septics?; cedar shake maintenance; new insurance hikes.

Cottage Watch
By Conor Mihell
It’s a tale as old as time: quiet cottagers vs. noisy wakeboaters. Is there a way to enjoy these activities and keep the peace?
Zim Weighs In
By David Zimmer
Sharing the waterfront—it’s easier said than done. But it’s for the best when you learn to get along with your neighbours.
Style Ideas
By Beth Hitchcock
These two young families updated a dated bungalow with a fresh look by sharing the load (and the fun).
Nature Scrapbook
By Tim Tiner
Flower flies, which are often mistaken for bees, neither sting nor bite, but they’re a similarly important pollinator.