Sarah Richardson Q & A with our Style Editor, Marc Atiyolil
Canadian Home Trends’s Style Editor, Marc Atiyolil:
Congratulations on the new series, Sarah’s Cottage. What can viewers expect to see this premier season?
Sarah Richardson:
They’ll see what it really takes to build an off-the-grid solar-powered oasis in the middle of nowhere. We are 17 miles from town by boat, so just getting to the island is a challenge all in itself. The project was a large scale renovation: an addition to a small, existing, 10 year old cottage. We were under very tight time line pressure to complete both the project and the TV series as we were shooting another series (Sarah’s House, airs Tuesdays on HGTV), and I was about to have a baby.
Marc Atiyolil:
With Sarah’s House going on another season, Sarah’s Cottage being launched and the new baby, how are you finding time for everything?
Sarah Richardson:
Right now I’m trying to focus on taking a few months off and dedicating most of my time to my daughters and enjoying watching them grow. When I’m in production on my shows I juggle, delegate and prioritize. If I can’t get it all done during business hours I go back to work after the kids go to bed if needed. I never work on weekends and thrive on the family time we spend together.
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Photo compliments of HGTV – Canada
Beautiful Home in Nova Scotia
Perched on the southwestern edge of the gulf stream in all its splendor, ready to receive the strongest of gales, this solid granite property is ready for anything the Atlantic ocean cares to throw at it. Built mostly of local Nova Scotia granite, this full 2-storey dwelling has already weathered the likes of Hurricane Juan without flinching an eye. Entertain with your own private lobster parties hosted in your own covered patio and bedrooms for 3 additional couples to stay over. This Nova Scotia ocean retreat is anxious for its next set of owners.
Features
5,000 square feet of living area
2.77 acres
390′ of ocean frontage.
Fabulous views
Beautifully landscaped patio with 2 built-in gas stoves
Granite fireplace
Pond and heated fresh or salt water spa pool
Private gated community
Two levels above ground with lower level 2 car garage & additional storage
For More Information About This House Contact:
Tim Harris, Tradewinds Realty Inc
www.seanovascotia.com
Organizing Your Home Organizing Your Life
To organize your home is not just about things looking neat. It’s also about having more time to do the things you want to do, to know where everything is and have peace of mind that what you need is placed where you need to find it.
And we all have a place in our home that needs work, whether it’s simply a junk drawer in the kitchen, the “spare” bedroom that has become a catch-all for anything that you don’t know what to do with or an entire house where things are left out because there isn’t room or a place to put them.
So with the New Year approaching, wouldn’t it feel great to finally get in control of what you have and to get rid of what you don’t need? Therefore, all that remains is what is really and truly important to you and you can see and/or find everything – finally!
But you don’t have to try and figure out how to do it alone. If you could have, you probably would have by now. So that’s why bringing in an expert such as the owner of For Space Sake, Pauline Boisselle can really transform your space – and your life.
Pauline and her staff have been helping people be clutter free and organized since 1989 and say, “If we can help you sleep an extra 10 minutes a day because everything is in its place: then we have done our job!”
They can help you improve your closets, kitchen, bath, laundry, garage, living room, den, basement and even mudroom! You can do everything from improve your “under the sink” storage to installing bike racks in the garage.
Going to the store is inspiring as the bright white space is inviting and organized – everything you want your space to be. And you can decide, depending upon your budget and your level of commitment, whether you want to just put a few shelves in your existing closet to help make a little room or go in and redo the whole thing!
For Space Sake offers a complimentary in-home consultation, so that you can show the area that you want to work on and a consultant can show you options of different ways to approach the space. The great thing about this is that it doesn’t cost you anything and you are getting fresh eyes on a problem that you haven’t been able to solve on your own. You’d be amazed at how a few small changes can really reinvent a space and how much difference it will make in your home and in your life.
Investing in making those few small changes will save you time and energy in the long run. No longer will you spend your morning rushing around looking for your things or evenings on your knees, trying to get at something unreachable at the back of the cupboard underneath the sink.
You can live an organized and efficient life. Just call For Space Sake and they can show you how.
Text by Stephanie Dickison
Photography by Fred Elcheshen
Traveling In Canada: Best Places To Go
By Nancy Johnston
We Canadians have our national secrets. We keep them well hidden, tucked unassumingly in amongst mountains and in tiny fishing villages along our shores, places no one would think to look. We don’t have to worry about espionage though because these secrets would only be of interest to those looking for the best places in the country to visit. Before you plan your next vacation, take a look at some of the possible destinations we have here at home. Whether you want an exciting adventure or just some R&R in a unique locale, we have it all. Canada is a great place to visit even if you live here!
Consider visiting the East Coast if spectacular scenery, fresh lobster and an unforgettable vacation experience appeals to you. Follow the lighthouse trail as it makes its way along the coast; spend the night in one that has been converted to an inn. Scuba dive shipwrecks from the south shore of Nova Scotia to Cape Breton Island then shed your gear and tee up at one of the top golf destinations in the world. Highland Links, Bell Bay, Le Portage and Dundee have all been rated winners and are must visits for golf enthusiasts. See the highest tides in the world wash in and out twice a day at the Bay of Fundy where the tide rises six to eight feet an hour.
In Ontario the best place to visit is Niagara with its wineries, botanical gardens, the famous falls, John Daly’s new golf course, and just about anything else an active tourist wants to do or see. Hike along the escarpment. Take a jet boat or helicopter tour for a closer look. There is never a dull moment, unless you prefer it that way. In that case, try staying in one of the many hotels or bed and breakfasts at the former British colonial town of Niagara-on-the-Lake where the pace is slower.
If its Quebec’s best kept secret vacation spot you’re looking for, you need to visit the Magdalen Islands. This region, comprised of more than a dozen islands, truly offers something for everyone. International level competitions like PKRA, the kite surfing world cup, the Canadian windsurfing championship and the Tour Bleu kayak festival and competition all take place here. Ride horseback along the golden beaches or do some off-road cycling along the cliffs in Cap-aux-Meules. If it’s adventure you seek, look no further. The islands can be reached by air from Montreal, Mont-Joli or Gaspe or by car via ferry departing from Souris, Prince Edward Island.
Recently awarded the 2006 Tourism Industry Association of Canada’s National Award for Tourism Excellence, Manitoba’s own Oak Hammock Marsh tops the list of interesting places to visit in the Keystone Province. Located at the southern tip of the Interlake region, the marsh sits between Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba. Hike some of the 30 kilometers of trails and explore some of the Eco-system on your own or take a guided canoe trip across the water in Oak Hammock Marsh and find yourself in bird-watchers’ paradise. The restored prairie marsh, aspen-oak bluff, waterfowl lure crops, artesian springs, and some of Manitoba’s last remaining patches of tall-grass prairie combine to make this destination an educational experience for the whole family.
Planning a ski trip and want to try something a little different this time? Alberta offers you the chance. In a blast from the past, the historic Skoki Ski Lodge located in Banff National Park, is what other ski lodges aspire to be these days– truly rustic. Time has literally stood still at this lodge giving a pioneer experience. Getting there can be a challenge in itself as the lodge can only be accessed by horseback or ski. If it’s complete solitude you want this is the place to find it, make your reservations well in advance though as this exclusive lodge can only accommodate twenty-two guests at a time.
British Columbia is worth visiting for many reasons. Start at Vancouver Island and make your way to Campbell River for the salmon-fishing experience of a lifetime. Pan for gold in Sooke. Take the spa trail from Malahat Mountain to Tofino for a pampered, restorative road trip that is second to none.
Plan your next excursion closer to home and you won’t be disappointed.
How Safe Is Your Computer?
Text by Reena Nerbas
Computer hackers are a sneaky group armed with a variety of ways to observe Internet surfing habits, trick you into spending money and wreck your entire hard drive. The time has come to fight back!
There are four main problems that computer users generally come across on a daily basis.
Spy ware: Software that gathers information through an Internet connection without knowledge of the user (usually for advertising purposes). The information spy ware collects, can range from all the web sites you visit to your sensitive information including user names and passwords.
You are at risk when downloading files from unknown sources, such as websites you don’t trust, by clicking on popup windows, installing browser components, or by executing email attachments. One of the best products on the market today to attack spy ware is called AVG (Anti-Virus Grisoft) developed by EWido for the Microsoft Windows platform and for Linux.
Hijacking: A type of network security breech in which the attacker takes control of a communication – just as an airplane hijacker takes control of a flight, similar to spy ware but designed to track your shopping habits. If your computer is hijacked there are a few obvious clues that will help you determine the problem. Typically your home page will change and be replaced with advertisements targeting your interests based on the sights and trends of the web sites you visit. For example if you have recently researched purchasing a car, the web page would be full of car ads. As well you would likely notice car ad. pop-ups. Another hijacking clue is that your tool bar will change without you having made any adjustments. The best way to tackle this headache is to bring the computer into a reputable computer dealer to fix the problem. One option is for the computer technician to wipe the computer clean so that you can start fresh, but more often they will be able to safely correct the problem using less drastic measures.
Pop ups: While working on-line you are unexpectedly informed that you have won a contest, “just click on the button below to claim your prize”. According to Roger Dueck of eBytes, “Don’t do it! This is a great way for you to run the risk of inviting virus or being added to large data bases. In fact even if you get junk mail that says, “click on the bottom if you do not want to receive this information”, don’t do it. Again you run the risk of being added to thousands of data base lists or hijacked, only making the problem worse instead of better”. As a solution for pop-ups, Internet XP has a new pop-up blocker built into it. Also, you could run anti spy ware programs at least once a week.
Viruses: A program written with the purpose of entering a computer without the user’s permission or knowledge. A virus attaches to files or boot sectors and replicates itself, thus continuing to spread; this can cause serious damage or effect program and system performance. Viruses are often harmful if left on a system. The most popular anti-virus program today is “Norton”. The drawback is that it is a power hog and can take up a lot of room on the system thereby slowing the computer down. According to Manuel Giesbrecht of eBytes, “Kaspersky” made by a Russian company is one of the most secure anti-virus programs available; it also takes up less space and uses less resources than “Norton”.
There are a number of ways of combating junk mail. Installing third party software is the best guarantee to keep out uninvited junk because each email address must be accepted by the user; no one else can get through. Also make sure that your software is up-to-date. Windows XP is more effective than Windows 2006. Another option is to divert mail into a junk email box. That way you can go back and check if you missed an email that you were expecting and inadvertently added to junk mail.
Until new and more effective programs are created to tackle computer headaches, the best defense is to purchase the correct programs for each problem. Make sure that the program you use is up to date and disconnect the Internet overnight. If you are connected to DSL you are more susceptible to viruses but if you have a router or a firewall then the risk is minimal. Although problems may not be completely eliminated, you can reduce the risk of computer complications with little expense and effort.
