FLAVOURS OF FALL

I honestly don't know anyone who does not like fall. Not in Canada anyway. It is beautiful, vibrant and cosy like a warm hug but oh, so short to visit. And we all know what's coming next!

So we Bellevillians took advantage of this rich season with a little community partying!  The market was just a buzz of activity and I picked up fresh mushrooms, beets, beans, apples and pears which made for one heavy backpack.  So I needed a little sustenance. I stopped into the Bourbon & Bean, a new little coffee shop.

The affable fella behind the counter made me a knockout cappuccino to go with my nut-laden honey cookie.

Down the street, most appropriately, was an accord player in front of the L'Auberge de France restaurant where I picked up an apple croissant for Sheldon.

But the party was in full swing at the east end of town with Porchfest. People meandered all over listening to talented singers and musicians serenading from porches or people's lawns. 

One of the biggest draws were the "Impish Grins" on Bridge street.

My dear friend Ted was rocking' the bass!

Apples and nuts, fresh vegetables, music, music in the crisp fresh air. All made up the Flavours of Fall.

MARKET FRESH HARVEST PARTY!

It's the best time to check out the local produce at your local Farmer's market or stand. In Canada, we have such a wide variety of goods available; vegetables, fruit, cider, wines, honey, breads and I could go on. Good time to dig in!

I like to celebrate by hosting a dinner that I call a "Market Fresh Harvest Party." I invited a bevy of folks over to bring a dish consisting of at least some locally fresh ingredients, set the table, light the candles and let the feast begin!

We started with a fresh sweet potato soup that my friend Kelly brought. This was sweet and spicy and rich. There was a slight chill in the air and this was a great way to warm up the tummy.

Onto the main meal! So.Much.Good.Food! Kelly's husband Marcus who I suspect is in the wrong career and should be a chef, brought a breadless stuffing.

There was also local beans, pickles, carrots and I made a mushroom parmentier.

My good friends Kevin and Shari brought this gorgeous beet salad.

And Justin and Cheryl who own a local farm (Providence Family Farm) where they raise fresh nonGMO produce provided for the meatatarians: ham and chicken and their homemade Kambucha! I'm not a big Kambucha fan but I have to admit, it was delish. Besides, it's a really fun word!

Full yet? Hope not cause there's dessert coming!  I made a fresh blueberry/peach crumble pie and picked up local grapes.

There was local honeycomb. Just slice of a chunk of that little miracle and pop it in your mouth!

How about a chocolate chip cookie made from Providence Family Farm butter and lard to go with your coffee?

The kids ran around the back yard and squealed like only kids can. Lulu pilfered as many scraps from willing volunteers that she could and we all enjoyed the abundance.

Thanks to everyone who came and provided such amazing food! 

JUST YOUR AVERAGE EVERY-DAY IDIOT LOOKING FOR ANSWERS

You Idiot!! I mutter under my breath. You might be quick to say, now Cyndi, you are not an idiot and you should never bad mouth yourself!

But I like to call a spade a spade and sometimes, it's true - I'm just an idiot. 

I put my hand on that hot stove.

I walk towards the smoke cause I know there's fire.

I say the wrong thing, at the wrong time, to the wrong person. 

I've discovered something though and that's part of the point. I learn something when I screw up. I usually learn a lot. Don't always  remember to avoid that particular faux pas but I will..eventually. 

Some people spend their lives seeking pleasure, or power, or money. I've always been keen on seeking wisdom. 

So what is wisdom? Good question! I'm still learning but this is what I've figured out so far. It's readily available for anyone who wants it, but you have to seek it like a hidden treasure. How you spend that treasure is also wisdom. You have to know how to apply the knowledge - timing can be everything. And not just timing but delivery! As my son-in-law would say "Read the Room!"

Wisdom is insight, sound judgement, plain old good sense. It is no respecter of person or age. Scripturally speaking it is begins with the Fear of the Lord, which in layman's terms means a good healthy respect and understanding that there is a God who happens to have the answers and you are more than welcome to ask Him. 

You can certainly gain wisdom from experiences, from reading, listening, watching. You can be considered wise if you know when to talk. I think you are even wiser if you know when to keep your mouth shut. 

I will continue to seek out wisdom. In my book, it's a treasure that's worth finding. And I'm just your average every-day idiot looking for answers. 

WHEN THEY RETURN TO THE NEST

The goal was to keep it a secret! Adrian and Carolyn were coming from B.C. to meet their brand new nephew and we wanted to surprise Randi and Dan. I'm pleased to say we pulled it off and once they were here I went into full-on celebration mode.

This was a quick trip so we packed it all in, starting with spending the day at the Sand Banks in The County. I love spending time with these two, no matter how short!

A full day at the beach required refreshments! Adrian made us a beautiful cocktail from "Pims" and fresh fruit. My Padawan has learned well!

The next day meant getting as many of the family together for a feast that we could manage on short notice. 

This included both sets of great grand parents, the kids, Carolyn's parents and the star of the show, Soren!

He took to his Uncle Adrian well!

And listened intently to what the Great Grandmothers had to say

We continued to pass him around which he put up with

But had to stifle a sneeze at one point!

Carolyn's parents decided to consider him an honorary grandson

I actually took advantage of having a few other photographers around at finally got a pic with Soren myself.

The years raising children seem long and can be tremendously difficult. But then, they leave and sometimes move far, far away. So when they return to the nest, take time to celebrate, reconnect and love one another!

MUD PUPPY RETREAT

I was at the Ophthalmologist's the other day. I explained to the girl checking my eyeballs out I had just returned from the cottage and had barely had time to make myself respectable before my appointment. "Oh yeah!" she said "I've been a mud puppy most of the summer!" A mud puppy is when you are barely decent - no makeup, lucky to have your underwear on, occasionally washing your face, you get the picture. 

So when I went on a girls only camping trip we coined it a "Mud Puppy Retreat". I went with my friend Kelly (she's always up for adventures - see blog about the time we climbed a snowbank - January 2016) and her daughter Naomi. 

We did a back country trip in Bon Echo at Joeperry Lake. 

Naomi was a kayak-pro!

While Kelly and I canoed over with most of the gear.

As always, we ate well! Salmon with veggies and garlic sticks. We tried our hand at a new option which we deemed "Banadadillas" which is basically like a quesadilla except there was banana and peanut butter in them.

And Kelly's husband Marcus freeze dried us enough stew to feed nearly every camper on the lake! 

I love back country camping - you can't beat the scenery!

Beauty sunsets....

And waking up to beautiful mornings. 

We had a crazy thunderstorm where there was so much rain the bottom of my tent was akin to a water bed. But we mud puppies managed to keep that campfire burning!

Of course, there's always something left behind and in this case, it was the stove which I was supposed to bring. So a quick canoe back across the lake and a drive in to a store solved that problem. 

It was a great trip and we are hoping to make it an annual event. If you don't mind thunderstorms when you are in a tent, water snakes and being a Mud Puppy, maybe you can join us!