Stargazing in the Lake Windermere and Radium Hot Springs area
Posted on February 16th, 2012 by cobblestonecreek
The night sky contains so many wonders that you’ll never be able to see them all in a lifetime. One of my most favourite activities when I’m out walking at night among our vacation cottages here in the Radium Hot Springs area of the Columbia Valley, is to “stargaze”. Just stand or sit there in my cottage chair, staring at the many stars and constellations that seem to twinkle so bright. I’ll admit that I am an amateur “stargazer” or “backyard astronomer” as I don’t know the names of most of the stars let alone where they are in the night sky. Read more…
Winter fun in the Columbia Valley…Get out here and “Play”!
Posted on January 12th, 2012 by Cobblestone
The Christmas and New Year’s season are now behind us, our families have gone home and as we reflect on the many great memories we made this last season with our family and our friends, some of us may ask what’s next? What could be our next family get together? Where and when would be a good time to meet up with our best friends? What could be our next adventure with…? Read more…
Desiderata…Latin for “desired things”
Posted on January 8th, 2012 by cobblestonecreek
I came across this prose while traveling this last Christmas season and thought it’s antidotes were worthy of restating.
“Go placidly amid the noise and haste and remember what peace there may be in silence. Read more…
Caring for your Poinsettia during the holiday season.
Posted on December 21st, 2011 by cobblestonecreek
For many of us, finding that perfect poinsettia is just like finding that perfect Christmas tree, and once we’ve found it, caring for it is just as important as that tree. I’ve lost several poinsettias to frost, just taking the plant from the store to the car, as poinsettias are very sensitive to the cold and wind. If the temperature is below 10 degrees Celsius, better have it wrapped (preferably with a paper wrapper, rather than plastic) by the store and make it a quick walk to the car.
Here are a few more tips on caring for your poinsettias, to ensure they last through the season.
Read more…
Holiday Entertaining with Mr. Potato…
Posted on December 19th, 2011 by cobblestonecreek
For many of us, the holidays are a time to reconnect with friends and family. Going for coffee, lunch or having a dinner party is a great way to connect and visit with those that mean the most to us, after all, a lot of folks associate good food with good friends which equal good times. The season for entertaining and connecting is upon us and what better way to prepare a lunch or meal, than to accompany it with a potato dish.
Here are three easy, great potato recipes that will complete any type meal:
Roast Potato Salad, Forrest’s Garlic Roasted Baby Potato’s and my personal favourite, Grandma’s Whipped Mashed Potato’s
Read more…
Tree-trimming 101: How to decorate for the holidays
Posted on December 4th, 2011 by cobblestonecreek
Thank you to Kim Palmer for allowing us to re-print this great article on decorating your tree for the holidays.
Christmas is less than a month away. But Kathleen and Dale Putrah’s home has been decked for the season since the week of Halloween.
“Decorating kicks off the season,” Kathleen said. “It puts you in the mood.”
The couple share a big house in Faribault, Minn., that serves as holiday headquarters for their big extended family. They also go big with their decor.
Read more…
Maple-Kissed Pork Chops
Posted on October 19th, 2011 by cobblestonecreek
A friend of mine passed this great pork chop recipe on to me the other day and at what better time to enjoy a pork disk with a sweet Maple flavour than the fall season. Pork has always enjoyed a great connection with sweet and spicy ingredients, so what better way to enjoy this pork dish than with this marinade, which is a balance of sweet and hot, with the added temptation of the woodsy flavour of real maple syrup. I must emphasize that only “real” maple syrup will do! Imitation maple flavoured table syrup just doesn’t make the pork, chop. 
Read more…
Fall twist on a Pumpkin Desert, try our Spiced Pumpkin Cake with Maple whip
Posted on October 5th, 2011 by cobblestonecreek
This is an old recipe, some of our grandmothers might remember, with a sweet fall twist. It is an easy cake recipe with ripe pumpkin and spices and can either be topped off with butter frosting or our favorite, Maple whip cream. Read more…
