Want to know what else you can do to have even more fun at the family cottage or vacation cottage this year?

This Cottage app is your answer! Download your FREE Cottage App today!

See why so many people are having more fun, what food they’re eating (and what and how to make all this stuff) plus great stories to read aloud (or by yourself if you dare) around the campfire.

Vacations at the family cottage are all about food, fun, fishing, boating and having fun on the water. And families.

Compiled in this app are great ideas to add to this fun including videos, photo galleries, recipes, stories, and great articles to add to every minute of fun times that you will spend with your family this year while spending your vacation at the family cottage.

Each area of food and fun ideas are organized for easy access.

And when you get a lull and come in from the lake take one of the quizzes to challenge yourself or even those around you! Stump them if you can!

Everybody loves their vacations pictures. You can easily share the fun you’re having by taking your own pictures and uploading them to the app – and then share these with all your friends and family – but try to avoid rubbing it in about what a great time you’re having! But you can if you want because you can post to Twitter, Facebook or even email your friends with whatever message you want – and even send them your own cottage pictures. Sign off with a message of “having a great time… wish you were here… ” (or not???) You decide. The app makes it fun to share your time at the family cottage with those you care about.

Also included are sources for books and information about cottages and cottage living and photos that remind you of how special the family cottage really is and why we all love to spend time with our friends and families at the family cottage – or any lake side cottage!

This app will make being on vacation and the time you spend at the cottage more fun for you – and it is also a perfect mobile reference for safety tips, recipes, entertaining tips, and what your next sweet treat should be as you’re sitting on the dock watching and listening to the waves roll in.

Click HERE to Grab your FREE copy of the Cottage App today!

Create Different Focal Points in Gardens

Special furniture designs
Garden furniture is specially designed for use in the outdoors and can also be used on your patio, deck or in your backyard. This kind of furniture can transform a boring space outdoors into a focal point that is delightful to look at, while at the same time it becomes a comfortable and expressive space. Garden furniture is usually made of materials that are weather resistant and durable. There is a wide range of garden furniture to choose from, but the main pieces to design and build your outdoor comfort area outlined below.

Garden chairs
There are a variety of chairs for gardens. They come in different styles and designs including hanging chairs, rocking chairs, stationary chairs and folding chairs among others. They are also in a variety of materials including wood, teak, wrought iron, resin, wicker and metal among others. The various comfortable designs allow one to enjoy relaxing outdoors.

Garden tables and unique table tops
Garden tables vary in size from small to large depending on their use. They are also in different shapes including round, square and rectangle. Based on what you need, and how you plan to use tables in your garden, the types of tables to choose from include picnic tables, patio set tables, side tables for lamps and other types of outdoor lighting, coffee tables and bistro tables among others. There are also stationary tables and folding tables. Outdoor garden tables are made of durable materials like wood, aluminum or plastic among other materials. Some are complete with tops, while others are pedestal stands where you can add a glass top or another type of table top unique to you. These are fun to experiment with if you are the type of person who shops antique stores, estate sales or tag sales where you can use many different types of items to create a stunning garden table top. Full article

What is a cottage home?

How cottages have changed.
Many are now living full-time in what was the family cottage or vacation home. Some are on lakes, rivers or are a cabin on the banks of a favorite trout fishing stream! Others enjoy ocean beach front cottages! An entire industry has emerged devoted to the atmosphere, sense and feeling of the cottage living lifestyle and cottage home decor.

The new cottage lifestyle
Retiring baby boomers are beginning to enjoy the adjustment to a downsized lifestyle. Visit any major bookstore to discover books and magazines which are devoted to an entire culture of the cottage living lifestyle and cottage style decorating!

A simple but elegant personal look
Decorating cottage style makes it easy to create rooms of relaxed simplicity brimming with comfortable charm. Add your own special flair every time you change pillows, create new slipcovers, add a stack of books on a new floral tablecloth. Paint the room and add new curtains and fluff up the pillows and plop down on the couch and curl up for a relaxing evening your way, in cottage style.

Stepping Stone Path

It’s easy to control where garden visitors go in your garden with fieldstone paths.

Decide where you want paths
Gather your garden hoses and use them to lay out the size and the shape of your walkways. Try to allow enough room to create curved paths as they appear more inviting than angular or straight paths. After you have your paths laid out using your garden hose, remove any soil, sod or grass to a depth of 5 inches.

Adding crushed rock
Unless you own a compactor, you’ll need to rent one from your local equipment rental company. Their staff will instruct you on how to operate the compactor. You’ll need 1/4″ minus crushed rock. Minus crushed rock is finely crushed rock no larger than 1/4″ that also includes much finer material. You will want to use 1/4″ minus crushed rock because it compacts well and makes the solid base you want for your walkway. If you are not sure where to purchase 1/4′ minus crushed rock, you can check with your local landscaping company. If you local landscaping company does not carry minus crushed rock they will direct you to where you can buy it.

Full story

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