Traveling to the Niagara region of Canada

Gary and I took a break from the farm this weekend and took a trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. This beautiful village and popular tourist destination is located in Southern Ontario where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario in the Niagara Region. It's the closest we could get to being in France this year. We have visited several time but have never stayed the night. We stayed in the historical hotel Prince of Wales Hotel. This treasured landmark hotel is an oasis of Victorian elegance filled with 21st century comforts.

We received the royal treatment. A bottle of wine and chocolate covered strawberries awaited us in our room. And later turn down bed service and a rose were left on our bed. I think I could get use to this.

The village takes pride in the flowers they grow throughout the village. Of course it doesn't hurt that the Niagara Park Botanical Garden and Butterfly Conservatory is only miles away.

My travel buddy.

Every street lamp looks like this. Gorgeous!

We planned our trip to co-inside with Niagara's Peach Festival. The village pulls out all the stops to celebrate the harvest of the areas peaches. The main street is blocked off for vendors selling everything from peach pies, yogurt, wine and more.

These peach jelly, jams, salsa, dressing and bread pudding looks so yummy.  I want one of everything.

We indulged in a peach pie and peach blossom. Luckily we came armed with forks. Did I say we've been here before.

Soldiers from near by Fort George National Historic Site marched in a parade to the fort.  The fort offers a fascinating and thought-provoking experience by allowing visitors to be immersed in a very important part of the history of Canada, the War of 1812.

I love old cars. These antique MG's and Triumph were on display.

I want this one!

This steam engine was used to cook corn on the cob.

We had the opportunity to meet with Robert & Melissa Achal from neob (Niagara Essential Oils and Blends) Lavender Boutique in Ontario.  They are located in what is called the greenbelt area of Canada which has a growing zone of 6.  They graciously gave us a tour of their facility and we discussed their distillation process. Their experimenting with distillation has brought them many different oil blends with roses and peppermint.

It was a quick trip but we soooo needed it!

wordless wednesday

Seven years of love!

Seven years ago I married the love of my life.  And last night we celebrated at the Sherwood Inn where it all took place.  As we relished over a wonderful meal sitting on the porch overlooking Skaneateles Lake we couldn't help but notice a wedding reception in the next dining room.  It was like looking in a mirror.  The smiles and excitement of the bride and groom was remembrance of our selves.  Starting a new life together and sharing all the joys and challenges. 
We are very fortunate to have found one another especially since we weren't looking.  We locked eyes in the travel section of Borders bookstore and talked for 2 hours over a cup of tea.  And we have been traveling the world ever since. 
Who knew on that wedding day that a bouquet would start a success business growing lavender, and visitors to the farm would become some of our closes friends.  We look forward to growing old together over a field of lavender.

And they lived happily ever after.

wordless wednesday

Yarrow

How I long to lay in my hammock.

I've been feeling a little sad this week.  I feel the season is quickly passing me by and I haven't been able to take it all in.  Every year my husband puts up our hammock in one of our favorite spots in the garden.  And every year we don't have time or take the time to enjoy it before the end of the season.  Our day on the farm never ends and we do have responsibilities.

Here it sits amongst the weeds.

The lavender has been harvested for a couple of weeks and hanging in the barn. And the oats were harvested this weekend. 

The grain is harvested and the straw is left on the ground until it can be baled.

A truck full of oats.

An auger is set up to move the oats from the truck to a grain bin.  Where it will be stored until we sell it or is feed to the sheep.

The straw is then baled in round bales to be used as bedding for our sheep or sold to horse farms.

Blanket and George are getting bigger everyday. 

At least someone gets to take the day off.