Jackie Davis

Toronto

Senior Editor at Cottage Life

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Articles

Cottage Q&A: Cleaning sap off a composite deck

1 week ago | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

What can I use to rid my composite deck of pine sap? We have a lot of trees and a lot of sap.—Patricia Anderson, via emailThere are plenty of tricks for removing pine sap from materials and surfaces; for spot treatment, we’ve recommended both vegetable oil and hand sanitizer. (See “Talk Dirty to Me,” Spring ’18.) Ideally, you’d ask your decking manufacturer for product-specific advice. But if you can’t, go with the gentlest option: good old (mild, biodegradable) soap and water.
Meet 8 of Canada's strangest lake monsters

1 week ago | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

Not all lake legends are human. “When my husband was a kid and visiting his grandparents’ cottage on Lac Pemichangan, Que., he invented a lake monster,” cottager Laura M. told us after we asked for your stories of legendary cottagers. “He called it the Porkyfish: porcupine plus fish. It had dead eyes, spikes on its back, and human arms. My grandparents’ cottage has since been sold, but we keep up the legend for our kids at our own cottage.”Okay, so Porkyfish isn’t real (Right?
Cottage Q&A: Is the insurance from a rental agency enough?

3 weeks ago | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

My family is considering renting out our cottage when we aren’t using it. We will be using a rental agency. The cottage is insured for liability and fire for family use. Should we take out insurance for rentals separate from that offered by the rental agent?—William Prest, via emailWell, you shouldn’t rely on it. Not without investigating whether or not your current coverage is going to be enough now that you’re renting out the cottage.
Cottage Q&A: Why do we have so many watersnakes?

1 month ago | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

I’ve been on a lake in the Kawarthas for more than 60 years. Last summer, there seemed to be an abundance of watersnakes descending on my waterfront. Frogs too, seemed to be more plentiful, which I am sure contributed to the snake population. Should I expect another summer of higher-than-normal snake activity this year? How can I get them to go somewhere else?—Rick Seto, via emailTo answer your first question…that’s pretty impossible to know.
Cottage Q&A: Will this ownership trick avoid the capital gains tax?

1 month ago | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

Can a husband buy a house in his name, a wife buy a cottage in her name, and have both exempt from capital gains by claiming separate principal residences?—Ed Vandersterre, via emailNot unless they go back in time. (Quick, to the DeLorean!) Before 1981, it was possible to do that, says Karen Slezak, a partner with the tax group at Crowe Soberman in Toronto.
Cottage Q&A: Why is this bird attacking our windows?

1 month ago | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

I have a problem with a robin hitting our west-facing windows. This has been going on since the middle of April. We have tried everything: discs in the windows, blinds closed, etc. It hits at least 10 times a day from early morning to late afternoon, and still it lives. I assume it is the same bird. Is this bird sick?—F. Barnes, Huntsville, Ont. Sick? No. But it’s possibly lovesick. (Hormone surges can cause bonkers behaviour.
Cottage Q&A: What attacked me in the lake?

1 month ago | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

Last year when putting in my dock, I was attacked by what I presumed were bugs. I was at first terribly itchy; I was left with a rash, which morphed into spots within a couple of days. The itching became a burning sensation. I now think aquatic plants were responsible. Do your experts have an opinion as to the culprit?—Tom Scanlan, Lake St. Peter, Ont.
Cottage Q&A: Is there an ideal water level for a lake?

2 months ago | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

There appears to be a debate between our lake residents as to whether increased lake water levels are a good thing. In one camp, they like the higher water level. They believe less aquatic and perhaps invasive plants are present, and they prefer the overall aesthetic. Others argue that higher levels are eroding the shoreline; more trees and retaining walls are undermined and fall into the lake. Who is right?—Michel Bourque, Val-des-Lacs, Que. Nobody.
Cottage Q&A: How do I get rid of the moss growing on my steel roof?

2 months ago | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

How do you remove moss from a steel roof?—Chris Gunther, via emailWait, moss grows on steel? Yes. Because moss grows wherever it damn well wants. All it needs is moisture and a little food. “Even though there’s no nutrition in steel, there is in the debris that falls on it,” says Gregg McBurnie, a former trained roofer and the owner of ROTban Ultra Cleaning in Coquitlam, B.C. Combine that with rain and shade, and moss can make a home for itself.
Cottage Q&A: Why did this slimy algae appear on our lake?

2 months ago | cottagelife.com | Jackie Davis

We got this weird green stuff in our lake this year. What is it?—Name Withheld, via emailWithout analyzing a sample under a microscope, it’s impossible to know for sure, but the experts we asked all believe that it’s likely filamentous green algae. Don’t panic: filamentous green algae—composed of hair-like strands that accumulate in floating “mats”—isn’t necessarily dangerous.