Maddy and I were very lucky growing up. Our parents didn’t have a lot of extra money so we didn’t go on vacations. However, our grandparents had a cottage and going there every summer had a very formative impact on our lives. We were city kids, although we did spend our time prowling in the Don Valley.
At the cottage we learned to swim, waterski, play badminton, play card games and backgammon and cribbage. Who can forget late nights playing Inkum, Pinkum, Feather Duster with Grandma and our cousins.
I remember going to Trudy’s with Jen, Kath, Maddy & Allyson to spend our allowances on candy and to get the yummiest bread ever baked. Sometimes, we took the boat to the Marina to get candy. While touring the lake en route, Dad would tell us about its history. I was especially fascinated by the burnt out ruins of a stone chimney of “Dickie” island. I don’t remember the details but I bet my Uncle Tom could fill in the gaps for me.
I remember driving to the Prouse’s, not sure why we weren’t boating, and their road had these stomach dropping bumps and we would beg Dad to speed up while we drove over them.
We would go to Bancroft for the world’s best Chelsea Buns and a Dairy Queen ice cream. We went to Haliburton for the Slide Ride, which was sooo awesome (except when we ran over the frog….blech). It doesn’t even exist anymore, too dangerous.
I have so many more memories. I have some photos too….but, alas, not here, at the Sausage. I have only one of my sister in our super cool red motor boat. I loved that boat. Grandpa would try to make us fall while we were skiing. He’d cut turns so sharp that Superman would’ve fallen behind him.
Now, I don’t have a lot of money for fancy vacations but my kids are as lucky as I am because their Grandparents have a cottage, The Sausage. There’s the main Sausage and the Cocktail Sausage (the second, smaller, cottage). So called because we are on one of the breakfast food lakes, Sausage Lake. There have been many, many jokes cracked over the years. That’s where we’ve been chilling since July 1st and I can’t tell you how amazing it is. They hang out with their cousins and have a grand time running amuck around. See for yourself!
Did you grow up going to a cottage? What are your memories of it?
I live at Broadview and O’connor?!!! I love it!
I live right by Thorncliffe Park, just over the bridge by O’Connor. It’s a good ‘hood. I’m there all the time to go to Iqbal Foods!
What fabulous memories, Erin! I loved reading this – I could picture you so vividly as a child having all those adventures. We don’t have a cottage but have had the privilege of visiting our friends’ cottage near Minden. Every summer we take our kids up for a weekend, and it’s absolutely magical. How great that your kids can continue the tradition.
What great memories! We never had a cottage but a dear friend of mine did and we got to spend some time there every summer. I loved reading racy novels on the veranda, going diaper-bobbing (where you put you legs through the arm holes of a life jacket and float) in the windy lake, and walking to town to get popsicles and ju-jubes. Such a magical childhood time.
We were just a little south of there, Broadview & O’Connor . Our house had a little valley behind it that came out at Fantasy Farms & Tomborden Mills. Across the street & at the dead end was the Don. My piano lessons were around Thorncliff & we would shop at the mall sometimes. In fact, I got busted by the mall “police” for shoplifting a Michael Jackson cassette there. Not my finest moment.
I was lucky in that both of my grandparents had cottages and I have very fond memories as well. Wearing my grandmother’s clothes and putting on plays singing (badly) into the wrong end of a screwdriver, swimming all day and hotdogs on the hibatchi.
Thanks for this great post Erin. Love the pics
I grew up in Thorncliffe Park – N.E. of the Danforth (Greek town)… we would scramble down the steep hills behind the apartment buildings and play in the woods all day long in the summertime, especially. We could walk to the Science Centre (and beyond) through the valley. We felt completely safe too, though we did encounter the odd flasher/creepy dude every once in a while – my parents would have gone completely mad if they knew. :{
PS – these pics are all just too adorable!!
Tracey, what part of the Don? I wonder if we were playing close to one another? Joe many degrees of separation?
Jen, let’s hear some of your stories. I have an awesome (not) pic of us in front of Trudy’s. In track suits. Nuf said.
Tracey, what part of the Don? I loved playing down there. I always felt safe.
Fabulous pics, Er! I LOVED the cottage as a kid and really wish my kids had more of an opportunity to do the cottage thing. But we are lucky to travel a lot and visit other people’s cottages. I totally feel all “ahhhhhhhhhhh” looking at your pictures!
I wish I did. We were city kids too, with not a lot of money for vacations and things… we prowled around the Don Valley constantly – right behind our apartment building… forts, frogging, dreaming… my husband’s parents always had a place though. We might be able to make some memories of our own, visiting them!!
Your place sounds amazing, lady. Enjoy it!! 😉