maple in the county (not the country)

A few weeks ago no plans 

so we decided to go to Maple in the County.

Apparently Prince Edward County calls itself "the County" a lot.

Which implies that it thinks it is the only county

which can't be true.

But still,

they think they are the bees knees when it comes to counties

and I have to say, it's a pretty nice place.

We started the day by driving to Picton

where we stopped at The Bean Counter, a cute little coffee place

and started our maple extravaganza with a maple hot chocolate (for him)

and a maple latte (for me)

and two maple sticky buns.

It was a lot of maple

it was also our first food of the day and we were hungry.

Note the lack of photos.

Too hungry for photos.

We didn't exactly plan our visit

so we got there assuming that it would be obvious where we had to go

and where all of the events were.

It wasn't.

But the Bean Counter came through with some maps.

We knew we wanted a pancake breakfast so we headed to Fosterholm Farms.

Again, no pictures of the pancakes

but they were delicious.

There wasn't a whole lot to see at Fosterholm but we did buy some syrup and they recommended we go down the road to Vaderdale Farms.

Apparently their operation was still in action.

They also had maple taffy.

It got stuck in my teeth

but was, yes, delicious.

Sap bucket.

I think this was just for show.

They don't really use them anymore.

They mainline the trees and have huge lengths of tubing running through the forest.

Sugar Shack in action.

Let me tell you.

It smelled amazing in there.

It was a good day.
Nice to get out of the city.
Some people who sat next to us at the pancake breakfast
were amazed we drove all the way from Toronto
but we were glad we did.

P.S. Truth be told, I thought I posted this post ages ago.
Alas, it was saved as a draft and nothing more.
Better late than never.
It also makes me glad that all that snow is gone....

this land is my land part 2

Old Nova Scotia Textiles Factory

(they were going to make it into condos but it fell through)

Windsor, Nova Scotia

Blomidon Look Off - over looking the Minas Basin/Annapolis Valley

Bear River is a tidal river so some of the houses are on stilts.

Digby

(like seafood? This is the place for you!)

 Annapolis Royal

Fort Anne- Annapolis Royal

Graveyard at Fort Anne, Annapolis Royal.

Fort Anne

Things learned on this trip:

1. you can buy a century-old house in rural Nova Scotia for a pittance.

2. we may retire in Nova Scotia because of 1.

3. Nothing beats the smell of sea air. It's cleansing and peaceful, even when the ocean is not.

4. I miss home. I love Toronto, but it's no Nova Scotia.

junction flea

A few weeks ago fella and I were looking for adventure

and he randomly suggested we head to the Junction

since we hadn't been there in a dogs age.

So off we went.

And much to our delight we discovered

The Junction Flea!

A monthly flea/antique market that is stationed in a parking lot on Dundas West.

We were cynical at first because we are now old hands at wheeling and dealing at antique markets, auctions and estate sales.

Cynicism be damned!

We found some great finds!

New York World's Fair 1964-65 tray

$5

I loved this lamp

but it was kind of expensive

so I walked away.

Fella was looking at records

so I lurked around, waiting to show him the lamp.

I circulated the market

and found my way back. 

I admired it from afar. 

I asked the guy if he would give me a better deal on the price.

He was asking $75. 

He said he'd dropped the price from $125

and that 6 other people were interested

(Sure. Where were they? I wondered?)

he said I could have it for $65 because I was polite.

I went away

and came back

and kept checking

and took all that weird lurking behaviour to mean that it had to be mine.

So now it is.

I'm not sure where it will go.

But I love it. Especially the shade. 

Gorgeous.

Federal Glass Circus bowl.

I'd sworn off buying any more bowls

but I have one like this with the tiger pattern.

There are four in the set and now I have two.

I guess I can break my vow to complete my set.

How could I not?

$10

(talked the guy down from $15)

I think the last one of the season is coming up in the next week or so but it's definitely worth the trip to the junction.

And make sure you barter. The vendors expect it and I noticed that a lot of people were just paying sticker prices. (I guess they just didn't know any better.)

It's a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

(Just don't go hungry because the food is ridiculously expensive.)



walk the line

On the weekend we went up to Lake Simcoe / Keswick to go for a bike ride along the Lakeshore.

It was really, really hot

so we didn't last that long

but on our way back to where we'd parked the car, we happened upon a sign that said

"Labyrinth".

Interest piqued, we made our way up a little path

and found this:

I've never thought of myself as a "nature person" 

but there was a peacefulness to this place that reminded me of the bike trail in Quebec.

There was a sign that said that people had gone to this place 

to pray for 3500 years 

(I'm not sure if they meant that actual labyrinth or labyrinths in general) 

Now I don't pray

but I could see why others would.

It was quiet

and it smelled really, really good.

And the shade was a welcome relief from the hot sun.

There's only one way in

and only one way out

and it takes awhile to walk the path

(so you're tempted to cheat and skip to the middle)

but taking the time to walk it the right way

(as I made fella do)

gives your brain time to calm down

and change focus

(at least it did for me.)

At the centre there are stumps in the circle

so you can rest and reflect.

So if you're in Roches Point,

and looking for a little mental break

check it out.

P.S. I tried to look up it's location and discovered that there are a lot of labyrinths in Ontario

so you don't have to go all the way to Keswick,

http://labyrinthnetwork.ca/locator.htm

Who knew?