Tag Archives: travel

Niagara Falls – trip ideas and more

Less is more. We know that saying in relation to art. Specifically modern art. What if that saying applied outside of the world of art? I think we could all learn something, especially when it comes to travel, from this saying. How many times you visited Niagara Falls?

Its not uncommon for us to get sucked into the “check list” style of travel. While in my opinion there is nothing wrong with this style of travelling, I do believe that it doesn’t do the destination justice. I believe that we would enjoy our trips more if we took the time to enjoy them. Sounds simple, right?
Yet, how often do we see tour buses, off loading a group of tourists who simply snap a picture of the view and head straight back for the bus? Sure, we all have a bucket list. Things that we want to see at a certain destination, but I believe that the approach can be changed, or at least improve. Instead of packing several things into the days itinerary, wouldn’t we be able to enjoy the trip so much more if we use the approach “less is more” and simply put three things in the itinerary? In the same sense of “less is more”, enjoying three activities to the fullest at a destination instead of piling on several can help us enjoy the trip so much more.

Here is where the Niagara Falls Region comes in.

The Niagara Region is a perfect blend of country living and the city, making it the perfect get away.
Wineries, Amazing Hotels, Great People and lets not forget the Niagara Falls… What does this region not have?

So how do we make the most of a trip to the Niagara Region? Below are just some of the events that may get your attention. Plan accordingly!

April – Easter – follow this link to get an idea where to lunch and dine on Easter weekend. And don’t forget to have a reservation!

June – Comic Con is a popular event that takes place on June 3 -5 at the Niagara Falls Convention Centre, Niagara Falls Canada, just steps away from the majestic Falls.  This popular event features more than 200,000 square feet of exhibitors, comic books, movie cars, cosplay contests, celebrity autographs and photo-ops, a video gaming arena, Falls Horror Fest and so much more!

Niagara Falls Region Biking
Niagara Falls Region Biking

As soon as you wish – If you love your bike and a passionate cyclist – you’ll appreciate this useful info – here.

August – The 28thedition of the Canada’s largest multi-sport event, will take place in Niagara from Saturday August 6thto Sunday, August 21st, 2022.  The Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games will celebrate the wonder of sport alongside arts and culture. The Games will honour Niagara’s Indigenous communities and showcase a remarkable heritage of hard work and innovation in one of the world’s most awe-inspiring destinations. With world-renowned hospitality, the people of Niagara will welcome visitors from across the country.  

October 23, 2022 – One of the oldest and most scenic racecourses in North America following the Niagara River and ending at the majestic Canadian Horseshoe Falls. The Niagara International Marathon is truly international with the start in Buffalo, NY and end in Niagara Falls, ON. The Half, 10k, and 5k distances all start and end in Canada.

With new Hotels and Spas opening this year, the Niagara region is a must for anyone visiting the area!

And one last tip – here is a great place to stop for lunch, dinner or afternoon tea – Old Stone Inn.

And last one – here are some VERY useful links:

Enjoy Your trip to the fullest: do you really need your phone?

Ding! A notification goes off. As you check what it was, you get sucked into your phone. All of a sudden you remembered! You wanted to send a picture of the beach to your friends! One thing leads to another and next thing you know, you are completely immersed in your phone. Completely oblivious to your destination and the fact that you were supposed to be “on vacation”.

Sounds familiar?

While phones can be a fantastic time saving device (GPS, Calls, Text etc.), they do take away from the raw experience of the trip or destination. Its not uncommon nowadays to see people glued to their phones, unable to relax and simply enjoy the present moment. We seem to have become very attached to the idea of proof – pictures and videos of our travels. While by no means is this a bad thing, I do however believe that we are on thin ice. We seem to have become more interested in the videos and pictures we take of the destination, rather than the destination itself. We seem to have begun viewing things not through our own eyes, but rather our phones screens.

 It has become not uncommon to be at a destination or activity and to be distracted by your phone.

are phones that important?
Do we really need the phone?

You can see this almost everywhere, people take a picture or video of the view from a viewing platform and walk away. Without really soaking in the view. Without really enjoying it.

Wouldn’t the trip be so much more enjoyable if we took the time to savour it – without your phone?

When we return home from our trips, its becoming more and more common that we share our experiences through our phones. We show pictures and videos to friends back home. While that is a fantastic way to share the experience (and make others who couldn’t come along jealous), I believe that it becomes a problem when the picture or video is more important than enjoying the trip itself. At the end of the day, I think that there is an important question to be asked here. One which has no right or wrong answer.

That question is “Why?”. Is the purpose of the trip to take as many photos as possible before rushing off to see the next checklist item? If so, then by all means, go ahead. However,  people seem to get inadvertently sucked into this rat race without much thought. Interestingly, didn’t we take the trip or vacation with the goal of getting away? Of getting away from that same rat race which we have been dragged into?

I personally think that this approach of “checklist” travelling is wrong. By this I mean getting out of the bus, snapping a few quick pictures and heading straight back in. I think its important now, more than ever that we not lose our sense of place. For many of us, seeing a certain destination is a once in a lifetime opportunity and yet, we seem to waste the experience aspect of the trip or destination in exchange for the social aspect – the likes, follows and re-tweets. I believe that arriving at a destination – lets say a viewing deck of a large canyon, for example – taking a picture, sending it to your friends and heading back to the bus is the wrong approach. Why not take the time to appreciate the view?

“Phones are a fantastic tool, but are we going to far?”

Do we really need our phones?
Do we really need our phones?

There is a reason that even bands are starting to take action. Go to any concert and instead of seeing people enjoying the music, having a great time and dancing, you will see people taking out their phones and taking pictures and videos. It seems that they are viewing the concert through the little screen on their phones rather than simply enjoying the night…

Another big aspect is the story telling one. When we return from any trip, we love to tell others about it. In fact, I think that telling others is probably one of the major reasons people like to travel. We like the social attention which comes with telling others about our trip. Yet, what happened to telling stories about the trip? We seem to just show each other the picture and that’s it.

“We [seem to] like the social attention which comes with telling others…”

Sure, the picture gives the person an accurate idea of what things looked like, but I think that it is trumped by the interest and excitement that surrounds someone telling a story about their trip. Stories are important, they are vital to us humans.

Do we really need our phones?
Do we really need our phones?

Yet, we seem to simply show the pictures and end things there, rather than sharing something interesting we learned, saw, heard or experiences while on the trip. I think most of us would be more interested by hearing the story about how one of our friends got scared of an Iguana and the chaos that ensued when they saw one, rather than simply seeing a picture of an Iguana and moving on.

So next time you are on your trip, take the time to really soak things in. Ask yourself whether you really need to bring your phone – after all, we somehow managed to live without them before…

Enjoy the trip and the stories and experiences that come along with it.

Happy travelling!

Kayak on the bay, Praslin, St. Lucia

St. Lucia is one of the islands where you can find all kinds of activities to satisfy even very demanding souls… Here is one relatively new idea – kayaking to the Praslin Island offered by local kayaking pro organised under the name “Kayaking on the Bay”. As part of the trip you learn some of the local history and tradition… 

St.Lucia, Praslin Island

The tranquil Village of Praslin is nestled between two districts Dennery and Micoud on the East Coast of St Lucia. As the gateway to some of Saint Lucia’s rarest indigenous nature, Praslin is an idyllic rural quarter populated with several small fishing settlements along spectacular Praslin Bay. Here, one may notably find many excellent examples of the traditional and highly distinctive Saint Lucian fishing boats, which are still crafted by hand in many villages. Other notable traditional crafts, like broom stick making, are produced in neighboring communities such as Mon Repos and Patience.

Praslin Island Natural Reserve, St.Lucia

Praslin Island and the Fregate Islands are pristine nature reserves, where unique species such as the boldly colored Blue Whiptail lizard make their homes. For a slightly tamer presentation of native flora and fauna visit the beautifully manicured Mamiku Gardens that date all the way back to 1766. The gardens are part of the Mamiku Estate, once the home of the Baron de Micoud, a former Governor of Saint Lucia. The estate still operates today as a banana and flower plantation. Praslin village was originally named “Les Trois Islet” and was renamed in 1780 to honor the Minister of the Navy to Louis XV, the Duc de Praslin. 

“Kayaking on the Bay” Welcomes you to Prasllin Island!

In this old canoe fishing village, where practices are still being kept “Kayak on the Bay” offers you the pleasure of enjoying a kayak trip to a lush private beach located on an Islet, while a beach barbeque is prepared for you. Upon arrival on the property of “Kayak on the Bay” you will be greeted by your wonderful host Marva along with the tour guides.

Kayaking on the Bay, St.Lucia

On the property one can find a variety of local tropical fruits and a small backyard garden with some of the herbs used to prepare meals for the journey. You will be briefed on the safety regulations and a description of what the tour entails before embarking on the trip. 

St. Lucia, Praslin Island, Kayaking on the Bay

The Bay is truly majestic with a sand bank that runs down the middle of the bay 1-2 miles long; to the top of the bay lies a beautiful reef which creates the calming effect… Abundant sea life is found along the reef, which continues along the bay to a join the Irish moss farms.

Irish Moss Farm, Praslin Island, St.Lucia

Upon arrival on the Praslin Island, a tour guide takes you  on a short hike to the top of the Island to enjoy the views and to spot some of the local birds . While you are out on the hike your Island lunch is prepared for you… It comprises of fresh grilled fish and chicken with green banana salad (green bananas, veggies and codfish), cheesy potatoes, sweet corn and fresh garden salad. This is served with fresh local fruit juice… 

Kayaking on the Bay, Praslin Island, St. Lucia

After lunch you bask on the beach with the views of the scenic topography of the Praslin village. Being on the Island really gives you the sense of your very own hide away. Before heading back to the property and towards the end of the tour you are guided to the Irish moss farms which lies to the opposite end of the reef and disembark for a 10 minute hike along the coast to catch one of the views. For a low fee of ninety dollars you get to enjoy the wonders of nature and the tranquility of your very own Island getaway for the day…

If you like kayaking and interested to take this tour, you may call +1 758-719-9329 or contact them via Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/Kayak-on-the-Bay-1317154738416915/

Unleash your inner adventurer in Norway’s wilderness on the new Western Fjords Hiking Tour

50 NORTH Logo

Vancouver, Febrauary 4th, 2019–  Nordic Travel Specialist, 50 Degrees North, has introduced a new, exclusive 9-day tour, ‘Western Fjords Hike’. Aimed at all active adventurers with a reasonable fitness level and a love for hiking, this tour takes them into the heart of the unique, secluded and exceptionally beautiful Western fjords in Norway, away from the summer crowds.

The ‘Western Fjords Hike’ follows 50 Degrees North’s signature style of taking travelers ‘off the beaten path’ and into hard-to-reach yet profoundly stunning and authentic parts of the Nordics. This is enabled on this tour partly by their use of a private minivan with space for up to 12 people – both a highly flexible and safe alternative to public transport or a private rental car. However, the hikes in this tour make the experience all the more exclusive and unique, offering breathtaking panoramic views that few travelers get to see for themselves. 

“This tour follows the same route as our ‘Western Fjords of Norway tour’, complete with our own private minibus, but is geared to those with a good level of fitness and endurance. This is an active tour with guided day hikes and some of the trails are very steep and long – a great challenge for anyone seeking an active escape in secluded and beautiful scenery”, says Tietse Stelma, 50 Degrees North’s CEO and founder. 

The self-guided tour starts from Bergen and finishes in Ålesund. In between, travelers get to hike in several breathtaking locations, join the locals on a ferry ride from Bergen to Kalvåg, catch a private 50 Degrees North minivan through the Western fjords with Loen as the main base, and travel along the Norfjord and the Hjørundfjord, two stunning fjords surrounded by lush forests and small, scenic villages. Once in Ålesund, the trekkers also get to embark on an exciting Wildlife Sea Safari in a high-speed RIB-boat. 

The trip runs weekly from July to September, 2019 with fixed departures from Bergen every Thursday
(4049 AUD / 2914 USD / 3950 CAD per person). 

For more information on the ‘Western Fjords Hike’ tour, please visit:https://www.fiftydegreesnorth.com/tour/western-fjords-hike

For more information on the ‘Western Fjords of Norway’ tour, please visit:https://www.fiftydegreesnorth.com/tour/western-fjords-of-norway-tour

Woodside National Historic Site

Woodside National Historic Site

The house and the park located on 11.5 acre property covered with mature trees. The park offers perfect place for walks and picnincs, beautiful shaded lawns and paths during the summer. The house opens for visitors from October till Chrismas.

Woodside National Historic Site, Entrance
Woodside National Historic Site, Entrance

Mackenzie King House

The house dates back to Victorian period, was built by James Colquhoun. After his death in 1877 varuois tenants occupied the house. One of them was the Kings family. They lived in this house from 1886 till 1893. The house was a home for a boy who later became Canada’s tenth Prime Minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King. The family had four children, and while visiting the house we can see their rooms and well kept personal items. His father John King was  a lawyer, and he taught his kids English, French, math and science. There is a large collection of boks, many of them are rare originals…

Woodside National Historic SIte, house of William Lyon Mackenzie King
Woodside National Historic SIte, house of William Lyon Mackenzie King

The house has a spacious living room with piano. The room was filing up with various guests during many holidays…

Living room in William Lyon Mackenzie King House
Living room in William Lyon Mackenzie King House

Travel  at that time was a challenge, so the house has a nice guest bedroom with all the necessary items…

Guest bedroom in William Lyon Mackenzie King House, Kitchener
Guest bedroom in William Lyon Mackenzie King House, Kitchener

The sisters were sharing the bedroom, we can see some of the clothing and original furniture.

Girls' room in William Lyon Mackenzie King House, Kitchener

We had a chance to enter the room of William, quite small and with very modest furnishings. The bedrooms are all on the second floor and interestingly, there is no heating – only the first floor of the house is heated, so in the winter the heavy blanket and the hot water bottle did the job!

Woodside National Historic SIte, house of William Lyon Mackenzie KingWoodside National Historic SIte, house of William Lyon Mackenzie King

The most important item of the kitchen is the original wood-buning stove. It is fully operational and if you visit the place during Christmas Holidays you may be lucky to try fresh baked cookies or bread! They say tastes amazing!

Woodside National Historic SIte, house of William Lyon Mackenzie King
Woodside National Historic SIte, house of William Lyon Mackenzie King

The House is not just a museum, there are different events and workshops offered for students.

To learn more visit https://www.explorewaterlooregion.com/listing/woodside-national-historic-site-kitchener/     and      https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/on/woodside

Noreen Young’s “Under the Umbrella Tree” now on YouTube!

Noreen Young’s “Under the Umbrella Tree” now on YouTube

Gloria the Gopher, from CBC’s vintage “Under the Umbrella Tree” children’s series, is very happy to tell everybody that she and her friends Holly, Iggy the Iguana and Jacob Blue Jay, are now streaming on Canada Media Fund’s new channel, Encore+ on YouTube.  This is a channel that features Canadian television classics that viewers will enjoy seeing again and again.

26 English episodes.

26 French episodes.

For more information about Noreen Young, please see Wikipedia

Please note also:

A Puppet Retrospective comprehensive exhibition of Noreen Young’s puppetry creations and art works over the years.

The exhibit will run from July 14 to September 22, 2018 and the official Opening Night will be held on August 4 from 2 – 4 at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum in Almonte.

Saturday August 25, 2 pm. Rock the Arts performance

Rock The Arts puppets performance will perform at the museum on Saturday August 25, starting at 2 pm to complement Noreen Young’s Puppet Retrospective exhibition, which runs July 14 to September 22. They will perform “Animal Adventure.” More details on the website rockthearts.ca

Saturday September 22, 2018, 1pm. Come play puppets with a PRO

Ever wonder what it would be like to puppeteer on a TV show? Always wanted to give it a try?

Well, here’s your chance.

Puppeteer, Bob Stutt, has decades of TV and film experience including seven years with the Friendly Giant, ten years with the Muppets and ten years as Basil Bear on Canadian Sesame Street where he was also lead writer. He performed Iggy Iguana on CBC’s “Under the Umbrella Tree” and also “Molly Doll” on The Big Comfy Couch. Bob has also filmed over 100 TV commercials in Denmark for the Danish National Railway.

And now he would love to spend some time playing puppets with you!

We’ll provide the cameras, monitors and a few puppets. You provide enthusiasm, imagination and any puppets of your own that tickle your fancy.

Come be a star for a day and experience first-hand the challenging, inspiring, silly world behind the puppets you see on TV.

Admission is $20 per person. This three-hour workshop is open to adults and kids over the age of 10 with a limit of ten to twelve people.

Dancing Bass Lodge, Lanark County, ON

“Dancing Bass” Lodge – the the name says it all… the place should be rich for fish and all day water fun! It was so desired escape from the bustling life of the large city…

Dancing Bass Lodge
Dancing Bass Lodge

The house is located in beautiful Lanark County, quite easy to access from major roads and only about 30 minutes away from Ottawa!

View of the lake, Dancing Bass Lodge
View of the lake, Dancing Bass Lodge

There are only a couple of cottages that are currently available for rent and those are located on the shore of the Lower park Lake. The location provides for the endless view of the lake surrounded by the forest…

Walk in the woods, Dancing Bass Lodge
Walk in the woods, Dancing Bass Lodge

From the terrace of the cottage we watched nice sunsets and could not stop admiring the tranquility  of the coming evening – only some random sounds of the bird or loons…

Lake near Dancing Bass Lodge
Lake near Dancing Bass Lodge

Early in the morning when one could see the light fog over the surface of the water we would grab out fishing rods and set up right on the small pier with hope for a catch. The lakes are rich for various fish and if you have enough patience you won’t go away with empty bucket!

Fishing near Dancing Bass lodge
Fishing near Dancing Bass lodge

Fishing near Dancing Bass lodge
Fishing near Dancing Bass lodge

Back in 60s here was a fish camp with 10 Log cabins. The current management took over about 10 years ago and they are doing an excellent job in rebuilding the old log houses. The cottage has all new furniture, large bathrooms, bright all equipped kitchen with dishwasher and wood stove in the living room for cooler days.

Dancing Bass Lodge, interior
Dancing Bass Lodge, interior

The original farm house from the late 1800’ still sits on the property, along with a sugar shack and barn, it is located on the border of  two lakes, Lower Park Lake and Horne Lake.

Dancing Bass Lodge, Original Farm House
Dancing Bass Lodge, Original Farm House

Both lakes offer lots of fishing and endless water activities. We had a boat ride to the swimming hole – and that was fun!! 

Boat trip, Dancing Bass Lodge
Boat trip, Dancing Bass Lodge

The day seemed too short – not enough time for all the activities; from the terrace we loved to watch the hummingbirds, the lake and just relax…

Dancing Bass Lodge, relax and enjoy
Dancing Bass Lodge, relax and enjoy

Dancing Bass Lodge is currently offering two completely refurbished cabins to rent for a minimum of four days from on or about June 1st to the 15th of October.

Make sure you call them for best directions from the main road!
To make a reservation  https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/14296437 email dancingbasscan@aol.com; phone : 613-259-5713 or 602-421-1066

Group of Seven, stone Cellar, Perth, Ontario

Every summer we try to make a few local trips to explore our province and  one of the regions we love to visit is Lanark County, which offers perfect combination of small towns, cottages on the beach and wild life. And after spending couple days in the cottage (“The Dancing Bass” Lodge cottage) we went to Perth for some shopping and lunch.

That lunch was a very special treat for us! Based on the art of Famous Canadian Group of Seven Chef Jamie Troutman from “The Stone Cellar” created the menu that interprets various elements present in paintings in “edible art”. Hours of research made it possible to reflect the famous Canadian art in the fine Canadian cuisine. In his creations Jamie is using the true Canadian ingredients coming from local farms. Chef Troutman, as per his own words, using the “deconstruction of the elements” from art into cuisine.

Lawren Harris, Icebergs by Chef Jamie Troutman

The shot glasses made of clear ice represent the art of Lawren Stewart Harris, who was criticized as being cold, but in fact deeply spiritual and one of the skilled abstract painters.

From ice and cold we suddenly surrounded by flowers and greenery of “Tangled Garden” by J. E. H. MacDonald –  Jamie Troutman’s sunflower salad full of summer colours and fresh herbs… MacDonald’s art is distinguished by dark palette, tough, rich and at the same time elegant design. And Jamie is using the dark of the stone slab as background for the splash of colours…

Group of Seven MacDonald Tangled Garden
“Tangled Garden” in sunflower salad by Chef Jamie Troutman

From flowers and greenery of the garden we travel to Nova Scotia with help of another Jamie’s culinary creation based on “Nova Scotia Cove” again by J. E.H. MacDonald.  Scallops and wild rice combined in a beautiful setting with shells to represent seashore…

Group of Seven, edible art
Chef Jamie Troutman, Scallops  served with Wild Rice – “Nova Scotia Cove” by J. MacDonald

We keep our taste buds tuned as next we get served Canadian beef – so tender! …accompanied by some root vegetables… chef’s creation based on the painting by Arthur Lismer “Habitant Farm”…

"Habitant Farm" Lismer and Chef Troutman
“Habitant Farm” by Arthur Lismer and Chef Troutman

Lanark County is well known for Maple Syrup producers and it would be logical to find this unique Canadian product in local cuisine and famous art.

J. Troutman "Maple Glazed Pork" based on "The red Maple" by A. JacksonJ. Troutman “Maple Glazed Cheese” based on “The Red Maple” by A. Jackson.

Our experience would not be complete without the dessert!Apple dessert based on "Asters and Apples" by J. MacDonaldApple dessert based on “Asters and Apples” by J. MacDonald

If you decide to indulge in creativity and fine cuisine make sure to make a 48 hours reservation, and if so, you may need to find a fine place to stay. Luckily the area offers a good variety of hotels – one of our favourites is “Perth Manor” which offers classic architecture, cozy rooms, beautiful garden and friendly atmosphere.

The Stone Cellar Restaurant                                                                                   Address: 71 Gore St E, Perth, ON K7H 1H Menu: thestonecellar.com                                                                                       Reservations: opentable.com                                                                                 Phone: (613) 267-0200

Perth Manor Hotel                                                                                                 Address: 23 Drummond St. West, Perth, ON                                       Phone: (613) 264-0050 and if this one is not available –

Best Western Plus Perth Parkside Inn & Spa                                                   Address: 82 Peter St, Perth, ON                                                                 Phone: (613) 326-0082.

Puppets with Noreen Young

Puppets with Noreen Young

Last summer we planned to visit the International Puppet Festival, which is held annually in Almonte, Ontario. Unfortunately this year’s Festival was cancelled due to shortage of funds –  however we found out that it is possible to have  a puppet making workshop, which was a very attractive idea. We stayed in the Blue Hen Farm B & B, which is not far from Almonte, so we signed up and could not stop discussing various ideas for our puppet characters.                                                 Some of you may remember the TV shows with  Noreen Young and her famous puppets… Well, I never even thought that one day I will be able to meet all of them in person! Even more – make  a puppet with my hands!

When we came to Noreen’s house she greeted us at the door and we went to her workshop in the basement and saw her show room…        It was SOO COOL!!! All her puppets were there including Gloria, Jacob and Iggy from “Under the Umbrella Tree”  episodes. There were a lot of various characters, all dressed up and ready for the show time! For a moment it felt like I am part of this colourful crowd and we can chat any nonsense!

In the next room we met two bunnies who could talk! The rabbit had pink ears and his girlfriend was wearing a dress… 

My favorite puppets from Noreen’s collection are the ones with an arch for the head and you move the sticks as your hands or feet – it was so funny!

After giggling and laughing we went to the room to make the puppets… We started with the mouth… then added the head… Noreen said don’t think about the character now – It will come by itself! We took her advice and just followed our inspiration!

Noreen Young puppets making workshop

At about noon we had a break for quick lunch and went to town shopping. Our newborn puppets needed some clothing! There is a store in Almonte called “The Hub” – what a treasure chest – we found a black suit, a dress, couple pairs of pants, pair of shoes… – all we need in 20 minutes and of perfect size (for a puppet of cause)!

We rushed back to finish our puppets and finally, after extensive gluing, painting, cutting we were ready to present our puppets to the world!

And as Noreen suggested, we all made different very original characters and we had so much FUN!!!!!!!!!

By: Anna

BLUE HEN FARM – TRUE experience

After the four and a half hour drive from downtown Toronto we arrived at the Blue Hen Farm.  Right at the turn we saw an old cupboard filled with jars of homemade preserves and a sign “Honk for Service”…  And we saw the farmhouse in the opening between trees.

Farmers Jeff and Leslie greeted us and as we entered the house we were amazed by the old fashioned setting of the rooms – furniture, chandelier and even the old upright piano that produced some wonderful melodies after our evening meals…

Executive Chef, Costas preparing dinner for Farmstead Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

 

Leslie and Jeff used to live in Ottawa and have jobs as many of us do… The idea of farming came up after some changes in jobs and also as a result of research of the food industry, commercial farming and agriculture.

Executive Chef Costas

Later, after getting settled in our rooms we headed down for dinner made by Chef Kostas who came out to tell us about the ingredients he used in his cooking, the dinner was amazing and filling.

As farmers do every day after dinner, we went into the barnyard to help with evening chores.

 

 

We found all the work surprisingly entertaining; we unloaded some 20 stacks of straw that will be used as bedding for the animals, fed the calves and pigs, brought the sheep and goats back to the barn and herded the chickens into their coop.

Farmstead Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

There was a special place where hens lay eggs, so we picked our breakfast! The eggs were dark and light brown, white and even light blue…

Once the chores were done, tired we went to our bedrooms; may be the mattresses were so comfortable or the day was long – falling asleep was no problem at all.

Farmstead Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

Farmstead Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

Farmstead Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

In the morning we woke up around half past six to the mouthwatering smell of bacon and eggs…

Breakfast during Farmstead Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

And after breakfast we went to the yard to do morning chores which repeats the evening in the back order – letting the sheep and chickens out,  showering and feeding pigs… and saying hello to all of the farm animals.

Farmstead Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

Evening chores during Farmstead Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

Farmstead Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

Farmstead Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

 

The goats are very young and new to the farm and don’t know the barn yard, so they we carried to the pasture  like babies!

Calf is sucking a finger, Farmstead Blue Hen Farm in Lanark County

Although all of the chores seem like quite a lot to do, they were our favourite part of the day. We also found that doing chores and waking up that early in the morning was very refreshing which was useful since we had a long day ahead of us. We found all of the animals so cute… and especially the three kittens that roam around the barnyard. There are also two dogs that help farmers by guarding  the barn yard from foxes and other invaders.

Leslie and Jeff ask that visitors do not  bring or wear any fragrances on the farm including mosquito spray, however they do supply their own free of charge so that you do not get bitten by pesky flies.  Leslie makes her own natural soap – I found it very smooth and took a little piece home as a souvenir. Around the house we also found natural fragrances, bug spray and soap – all handmade from natural ingredients that smell like summer fields…

Their mission statement is free range thinking, meaning all of the animals are free to roam the field and raised with no antibiotics or chemical supplements at all. “Being a novice in such a tedious business as farming should be challenging for city folks” – I asked… yes, and they learn every day.

We also had a chance to learn – about how to feed pigs and chickens and how to take care of sheep and goats;  we would join Leslie to let the animals out of the barn with the first rays of sun and get them all back in the evening…

For us it was just two days – but these days were filled with smiles and laughter, delicious homemade meals and that feeling of love and happiness…

After Dinner Chat

We took a lot of pictures that will remind us about this wonderful place and people that are so enthusiastic about  what they do.  Thank you Jeff and Leslie for teaching us some very basic skills that we miss in our city life!

So, time to leave The Blue Hen Farm… I think I  saw tears in some eyes…, we hope to come again.