Handbook
for the Little Cottage
We invite you to settle in this place for
awhile: breathe the air, amble, sit, get
cozy, create, stretch out, walk to the
lake or ride into town.
Renew your senses and listen to the
quiet voice inside. Find the space and
time to do nothing, and in that nothing,
may something true grow.
2
You are at
34 Silverbirch Road,
off of Maplewood Drive, near Kressler Road and Wilmot Line,
just west of North Waterloo.
In an emergency, call 911.
Cell reception is sporadic – you may need to walk to Maplewood with your cell.
Questions?
Call Leanne or Dave
- home: (519) 576-9381
- Dave’s cell:
- email: tlcartistretreat@gmail.com
The xxx Lake community is a quiet private community started in....
The lake is one of the cleanest in Canada. It...
This area was settled by Mennonites in...
It is known for...
3
Table of Contents
Food .............................................................................................................................................................. 4
Water ............................................................................................................................................................ 4
Heat ............................................................................................................................................................... 4
Woodstove .................................................................................................................................................... 4
Internet: ........................................................................................................................................................ 5
Security: ........................................................................................................................................................ 5
Company: ...................................................................................................................................................... 5
Parking: ......................................................................................................................................................... 5
Garbage: ........................................................................................................................................................ 5
Candles .......................................................................................................................................................... 5
Neighbours: ................................................................................................................................................... 6
Groceries: ...................................................................................................................................................... 7
Restaurants: .................................................................................................................................................. 8
Churches ....................................................................................................................................................... 9
Nearby Towns: ............................................................................................................................................ 10
4
BASICS
Food:
Canned food for sale in cupboard?
There are many places to buy groceries or eat out in the area. Please see the “Groceries”
and “Restaurants” sections in this handbook for suggestions.
Please do not leave any food out at any time – keep all food in the refrigerator (including
fruit, bread, etc) so that we can avoid having mice or ants move in.
Water:
Heat:
Woodstove:
NEVER BURN THE STOVE WITH THE DOOR OPEN. THIS IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD. ALSO
MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING IS EVER TOUCHING THE STOVE. That includes logs you are
trying to dry and towels…
Building a fire is pretty straightforward. Slide the airflow control at the bottom open all the
way to the left. Use newspaper or cardboard and small sticks for kindling. Put a smaller log
or two on top and using a match to light the newspaper. Add larger logs only when the
smaller ones are ignited fully. Once the fire is really going, you can adjust the airflow lower
for a slower burn…Feed with logs as necessary. Bring in more wood to try in the space
beside the stove (not touching) and your logs will burn better. Do not overfire the stove: if
any part is glowing red the top or the chimney, it’s too hot. Dampen the airflow by sliding
the control to the right and stop adding wood!
More logs can be found...
Sticks of hardwood are stored in boxes under the cottage.
Dead twigs and brush can be found around the property for kindling.
Please replenish the stock of wood and kindling inside the cottage for the next person,
before you leave.
5
Internet:
There is no internet or wifi here. Please take advantage of this to enjoy the slower pace of
life and nature! If you need to access internet, you can find it at the St.Clements library (go
north on Maplewood till you reach St.Clements).
Security:
This is a quiet and safe neighbourhood. The neighbours are aware of any comings and
goings and keep an eye on things.
Keys? Locking up?
Company:
Please do not have guests over unless this has been preapproved by Leanne or Dave. We
love having people use our space, but for the sake of the neighbours we need to know
exactly who is using it and when!
Parking:
The area to the right of the cottage is designated as a parking spot. Please help our lawn to
grow by only using this spot. The road is narrow and it can be tricky to pass or turn. The
neighbours are grateful when you show consideration in your use of the road.
Garbage:
Please do not put garbage outside. At the end of your stay, empty your garbage, recycling,
and compost into the appropriate containers in the crawlspace under the cottage, putting
lids on tightly. If you have something you fear will go smelly (eg.bones, meat, meat
packaging), we ask that you keep it in the fridge until you leave and then take it with you to
dispose of at a public garbage can. If you can rinse or wipe dirty compost/recycling/garbage
containers in the cottage after emptying, we would be very grateful!
Candles:
Candles are a fire hazard and we would be devastated if this beautiful cottage burned down!
However, we feel candlelight adds to the coziness and beauty of the experience. To that
end, please use the contained candleholders that are provided – do not leave candles
burning unattended, and only light them in safe places.
6
Neighbours:
7
Groceries:
8
Restaurants:
9
Churches:
10
Nearby Towns:
St.Clements:
Turn left onto Maplewood and drive past Hessenstrasse to Lobsinger (5-7 min)
- public library
- grocery store
Heidelberg:
Once in St.Clements, turn right on Lobsinger and drive 5 minutes till you reach Heidelberg (corner of
Lobsinger and Wilmot Line)
- Heidelberg Inn restaurant: German food – family pub atmosphere
St.Agatha:
Turn right onto Maplewood, then left onto Kressler. Make a right on Wilmot Line and follow it until you
hit Erb’s Road. Turn right on Erb’s Road...this will take you into St.Agatha (turn left on Erb’s Road to go
into Waterloo)
- Stop2Shop convenience store and post office
- Pfennings Organic Food and Health Food Store
Wellesley:
Small quaint town centred around a beautiful set of ponds where you can sit on benches under trees or
walk around on paths.
Turn right onto Maplewood and then left onto Kressler. Take a left on Weimar Road and then right on
xxx. Follow this until you get to Nafzinger Road (at the Home Hardware). This is the outskirts of
Wellesley. Turn right to go into the small, quaint downtown.
- large duck ponds, walking paths, benches, playground
- Pim’s grocery store
- Home Hardware
- the Chop House restaurant
- Saturday market in the old mill
- The Old Mill restaurant
- small pharmacy
- the xxx restaurant
- several small gift stores
- the Bulk Pantry and gift shop
- public library
- pizza shop
- post office
- gas station/convenience
- medical clinic, dentist, optometrist
11
New Hamburg:
Beautiful old town with stone buildings and a historic downtown centre with shops and restaurants.
Centred around the Nith River, which flows through a scenic park behind the library and shops.
Drive to Wellesley. Instead of turning right on Nafzinger to go into Wellesley, turn left on Nafzinger and
take it 7 minutes till it hits xxx Road. Turn right on xxx Road and follow it past the outskirts-stores till the
road ends. Turn left and go over the bridge to find yourself in the old downtown.
- large public library
- parks
- Home Hardware
- police station
- Sobeys
- No Frills (on the highway just outside of N.Hamburg)
- large Mennonite Thrift Store (on the hwy just outside of N.Hamburg)
- Ten Thousand Villages fair-trade store (outlet division) (on the hwy just outside of N.Hamburg)
- medical clinics, yoga, massage, chiropractor, etc.
- restaurants and a nice cafe
- Office Pro
- gift stores
- consignment store
- and much more!
Waterloo:
There is much to see and do in Waterloo, but we are assuming you have come out here to avoid the
hussle and bustle of city life. However, if you are just needing some basics and you can’t find them in
the small towns around here, head into Waterloo via Erb’s Road to reach the shopping centre district.
Turn right onto Maplewood, then left onto Kressler. Make a right on Wilmot Line and follow it until you
hit Erb’s Road. Turn left on Erb’s Road and follow it past the dump to the edge of Waterloo.
In this area you will find:
- Goodness Me! Health food store
- Canadian Tire hardware store
- Zehrs grocery store
- Shoppers Drugmart
- Starbucks Coffee
- The Beer Store
- chain restaurants
- Mark’s Work Warehouse clothing store
- Winners Department Store
- and more... (if you turn right on Trussler/IraNeedles at the Canadian Tire roundabout you will drive
down a whole road of every box store imaginable)
Stratford: