Christian Island | Mama Cormier

…June 30, 2025

I arrived at my cottage for the first time this season. Knowing we were going to be in London for a month I hired two young men (friends of the family) to go to the cottage and open it up, tidy, sweep, wipe down counters and set up the deck furniture and build me a railing for the deck. It was the best money I ever spent.

When I arrived I only had to make up my bed, cover the couches, start the fridge and put away the food. Today I will do a deeper clean of the cupboards and give all the dishes a quick wash.

This morning I made my first thermos of filter coffee and prepared oatmeal with fresh Ontario strawberries, drizzled with wildflower honey, cream and cinnamon. Yum!

…despite the warm and sunny weather

I brought home all the bedding to wash and the canned and bottled food. There is no heat in the winter so any food left behind would freeze and cause the bottles and tins to explode. All the clean bedding, pillows and paper products age packed in sealed containers or bags so that any mice that might find their way into the cottage don’t chew them up for their nests. Luckily in the last few years there has been little evidence that mice moved in.

It’s very difficult closing the cottage in September. Many believe that this time of year has the best weather. Warm during the day and cooler at night….perfect for sleeping. Normally I wouldn’t close until mid October but this year we have a family wedding to attend and Thanksgiving is going to be at our daughter’s place.

All the outdoor furniture is brought indoors and the propane tanks are turned off and the BBQ is covered and moved closer to the building.

Good-bye Christian Island. See you next year!