The Village at Blue Mountain

Sometimes you just have to grab a friend and hit the road.

The Village at Blue Mountain was a great place to spend the afternoon, even though we weren't skiing.

The Christmas store was full of beautiful things.

Including some fun Easter displays.

Beavertails and Poutine, of course.

Chocolate.

Gargoyles.

Lunch at the Firehall.

Winter is over (despite the winter storm headed our way tonight) but I hope to return to Blue Mountain with the whole family next winter...with skis and snowboards!

Happy Wednesday!

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Ice Fishing

There was concern among the local fishing community that the ice fishing season this winter would be in jeopardy, due to the late arrival of winter and the relatively mild temperatures we experienced through most of January.

But a cold snap in February allowed the bay to freeze enough that small groups of people could safely fish with lightweight equipment and temporary structures.

Sleds moved equipment, instead of vehicles.

And tents were used, instead of the sturdier huts that are usually in place through the winter.

We may not have the traditional semi-permanent fishing community established on the lake this winter, but at least the opportunity for a few days on the ice presented itself for those that enjoy fishing in this weather!

One last thing.  Do you use Steller?  I tried it.  I think I liked it.

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A Boy and his Dog - and his Sister

It's the perfect time of year for exploring local trails.

And for realising that you're never really too old to climb trees.

Month of June, I have high hopes for you.

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Sugar Bush

The sap is running.

Which means maple syrup.

It takes about 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup.

That's a lot of trees that need tapping.

This sugar bush has approx. 6000 taps on 80 acres.  They hope to produce 1000 gallons of maple syrup this season.

Shaw's Maple Syrup Bush

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Dog Days of Summer

It arrives like clockwork every year, this feeling of melancholy as summer draws to an end.  Next week everyone will be back to school.  We'll be up early, packing lunches, filling out forms, and adjusting to new schedules.... and I'm not ready.  

The uniforms are washed, and we have fresh pens and paper, but I'd much rather be packing up for another day at the beach.

It was a working summer, and although we tried to plan weekend outings, we didn't get very many items checked off of our summer to-do list.  It's disappointing, and adds another layer to blanket of guilt I sometimes feel as a parent.  I'm grateful for the years I was able to spend at home with my kids when they were smaller, but oh how I wish I could have had another summer with them.

I'm thankful for a big sister that took her brothers to the city for a museum outing, and a baseball game.  And for a big brother that remembered to include his brothers in after-work fishing and golfing. 

And for an impromptu trip to a small local zoo.  'Cause you're never too old for the zoo.

 

We had a wonderful weekend in Kentucky, and the boys had a fun cottage weekend with their dad, but I can't help but feel like I failed them somehow because we didn't get to do all the other things that we hoped to accomplish.

So here we are, heading into the last long weekend of the summer, wondering what we can squeeze into these last few days, and wishing that summer could last just a little longer.

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