Watters Edge Cottage

11/05/2026

The best thing I watched recently wasn’t on my phone, although I did pick it up to record this. 😂

Both this year and last, I’ve watched the Canada geese gather at Watters Edge Cottage and follow the same fascinating routine before taking flight.

There’s a large main group, with smaller groups of about four birds keeping their distance at the front and back. The calling starts, a few birds head out first, then the big group follows. The smaller groups hanging back wait until the very last minute before joining them.

It looks like scouts heading out and a rear guard making sure everyone gets away. I can’t say that’s actually their job, but the repeated pattern is incredible to watch. Geese have strong family bonds, so some of those little groups may be families sticking together. ❤️

Whatever they’re communicating, there’s a whole conversation happening out there and slowing down long enough to notice it is one of my favourite parts of cottage life.

Honestly, nature is far more interesting than doomscrolling. Better soundtrack, too. 😂

Have you ever stopped to watch the whole departure, rather than just looking up once they’re flying overhead?

11/02/2026

Halloween at the cottage. 🖤🎃🕯️

It might not be the first place you think of spending Halloween, but being outdoors on a night that feels sacred to me made it the perfect place.

The lake disappearing into darkness. The warmth of the fire. Candles lit to honour those who have died, with a little light to help them find their way.

Surrounded by the elements, air, water, fire and earth in Scorpio season, it’s easy to feel the magic here. The wind through the trees, the lake beside us, flames dancing and the earth beneath our feet. 🍂🌊🔥

Whether you observe Samhain, honour loved ones during Day of the Dead, or simply enjoy Halloween, the cottage offers space to celebrate, remember and connect.

It’s also the perfect setting for a witchy photo shoot with your coven, aka your girlfriends. Bring the hats, gather by the water and let the scenery do its thing. 🧙‍♀️📸

And looking at our fireside photos, perhaps a few otherworldly visitors joined the celebration, too. 👻

Watters Edge has its own kind of magic, even after summer ends. 🖤

10/30/2026

🌿 A little extra space to enjoy at Watters Edge Cottage!

At the top of our driveway, you’ll find an open grassy area that’s yours to enjoy during your stay. Beyond spending time by the lake, there’s room here for some simple cottage fun:

🌱 Roll out a mat for morning yoga or stretching.
🧺 Spread out a blanket for a picnic.
🎯 Bring along lawn games like co****le or bocce.
🫧 Enjoy bubbles and a nature scavenger hunt with the kids.
📖 Settle into a lawn chair with a book.
✨ Lay out a blanket for an evening of stargazing.

If you’re planning your stay, pack a favourite lawn game, a picnic blanket or your yoga mat and make this little corner of the property part of your cottage memories. 💚

What would you use this space for?

10/24/2026

Sharing some local love for our friends at Barking Goat Farms! 🐐❤️

If you haven’t tried their goat milk caramel sauce, it is INCREDIBLE. Worth the stop all on its own but they’ll also have baked goods, wood crafts and dog treats!

They’re part of the Artisans’ Christmas Tour in the Country, a lovely excuse for a drive through Stone Mills and a little local holiday shopping. 🎄

📍 13 McGill Road, Centreville
🗓️ Saturday, November 7: 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
🗓️ Sunday, November 8: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

A little something for your gift list and some caramel sauce for yourself. 😉

Vendor Spotlight: Barking Goat Farms

Goat milk caramel sauce, baked goods, wood crafts and dog treats.

🎄 Open Saturday Nov 7th, 2026 (8-4) Sunday Nov 8th, 2026 (10-4)
📍 Located at Barking Goat Farms, 13 McGill Road, Centreville

Artisans’ Christmas Tour in the Country 2026
Join us the first weekend of November for this one of a kind shopping experience in beautiful Stone Mills just 20 minutes north of Kingston.

10/21/2026

There's a stage of life that nobody really prepares us for.

It's when the people who once cared for us start needing care themselves. ❤️

Maybe you're starting to notice changes in an aging parent. Maybe you're juggling your own family and work while taking on the growing responsibility of helping Mom or Dad. Or perhaps you've already navigated the difficult decision of moving someone you love into long-term care.

It's a chapter of life that so many of us are entering, yet we don't always talk about it enough.

Some of you know that beyond Watters Edge Cottage, I've spent much of my adult life as a family caregiver.

My husband sustained a traumatic brain injury in 2008, and I cared for him at home for 14 years before he moved into long-term care. Today, both he and my mother, who suffers from Parkinsons, live in LTC.

After nearly two decades of navigating caregiving, healthcare systems, long-term care, and family advocacy, I've gained a tremendous amount of firsthand knowledge. I learned much of it through experience, trial and error, and figuring things out when no one was there to guide me.

**And I don't want all that knowledge to go to waste.**

I'm currently working on an **entire Long-Term Care Resource Series** through my TBI Wife Life website, designed to help fellow caregivers navigate a system that can feel incredibly overwhelming.

From choosing a long-term care home and understanding inspection reports to preparing for care conferences, advocating for your loved one, building relationships with staff, and navigating the emotional realities of placement.

My goal is to share the practical information I wish someone had given me, from one family caregiver to another.

🌿 **My newest free resource is The First 30 Days in Long-Term Care Workbook.**

It's a printable guide to help families find their footing during those first few weeks, with practical checklists, questions to ask, and guidance on understanding their changing role.

Because moving someone you love into long-term care doesn't mean caregiving ends. It means caregiving changes.

And while this page is primarily about Watters Edge Cottage, I also recognize that many of us are entering a season of life where caring for aging parents, supporting loved ones, and finding time for ourselves are becoming part of our everyday reality.

It's also why creating a place for rest, connection, accessibility, and respite means so much to me.

**We need resources to help us care for others, but we also need to remember to care for ourselves.**

If you're navigating this chapter, or know someone who is, I hope you'll follow along as I continue building this resource series.

❤️ Read the blog and access my free caregiver resources at:

**www.tbiwifelife.ca**

Please feel free to share this with anyone who might benefit.

Because you matter, too. 🌿

10/18/2026

A cottage getaway should be something the whole family can enjoy. 🌿🌊

Accessibility at Watters Edge matters to me personally. As Shawn’s wife and caregiver, I know how much planning can go into a holiday and how much the right setup matters.

Our cottage’s accessibility features include:

♿ An elevator connecting the levels through the sunroom
🛏️ An accessible master bedroom and bathroom
🚿 A large roll-in shower, with a shower commode or shower bench available
🤍 A standing pole in the accessible bathroom
🦽 A Hoyer lift available for transfers
🌊 A ramped dock with a lift into the water
🔥 A barrier-free fire pit area for evenings together around the fire
🛌 An adjustable queen bed will be in the master bedroom for our summer 2027 rentals

❄️ We also installed air conditioning this year, making those hot, humid summer nights more comfortable for a better night’s sleep.

With three bedrooms, two full bathrooms and a sunroom overlooking the lake, there’s space to spend time together or find a quiet moment of your own.

Everyone’s accessibility needs are different. Message me to talk through the setup, ask for measurements or photos, and see whether Watters Edge would work for you and your family.

You deserve a getaway, too. 💙

10/16/2026

🍂 October at Watters Edge 🍂

Summer gets plenty of attention, but October is a beautiful time to visit the cottage. The changing leaves are spectacular, the air is crisp, and a coffee overlooking the lake is a pretty good way to start the day.

There’s plenty happening in our surrounding Stone Mills communities on weekends, too! This weekend brings pumpkin trails, a corn maze, local vendors, live performances, haunted walks and a community breakfast. Check out the calendar for ideas. 🎃

Spend the day exploring, then settle into the sunroom and enjoy the autumn colours across the lake.

A little adventure, a little quiet, and time to exhale. 🍁

10/13/2026

WATTERS EDGE COTTAGE has always been shaped by my life as a caregiver. Finding a place where our family could spend time together, with accessibility, comfort, and room to breathe, felt personal.

I know some of you are here for those same reasons. You may be caring for someone you love, navigating changing needs, or trying to make space for yourself while carrying a lot.

That’s why I’m sharing a resource from my TBI Wife Life page: My Long-Term Care Checklist.

Considering long-term care can feel overwhelming. Knowing what to ask and what to look for can help you feel more prepared as you explore options for someone you love.

After 14 years caring for my husband at home and then navigating his move into long-term care, this is a journey I know personally.

You can find the checklist at https://www.tbiwifelife.ca/post/choosing-a-long-term-care-home, save it for later, or share it with someone who could use it.

Sometimes making room to exhale starts with a little support. 🤍

10/11/2026

HAPPY TURKEY DAY
Our tradition looks a little different, in our family we call it a pre-Halloween dinner 🎃🖤 Costumes optional, good food and laughter guaranteed.

Spending it on the lake with the leaves changing is pretty magical. Such an incredible setting to gather, and I’m fortunate that I live with an amazing cook. Dinner was delicious 😋 !

Feeling thankful for the people I love, time together, and the memories we keep making at the cottage. Next year we will be making them at my new house 🥰

BTW… only 20 days until Halloween! 👻

07/17/2026

After 18 years of caregiving, I thought I’d seen every wheelchair feature there was.

Then Shawn’s new power chair arrived with a joystick on the back so I can drive when he needs a hand.

Needless to say, my shoulders are wondering where this little invention has been all these years. 😂

Sometimes it’s the smallest innovations that make the biggest difference, not just for the person using the chair, but for the caregiver too. 💙