Lilac Festival

Last Saturday, our family headed to the annual one-day Franktown, Ontario Lilac Festival.

There were a lot of things to enjoy... Free live music. Free horse-drawn wagon rides that took visitors down Lilac Lane.

This year, a local historian entertained us with stories of the early days of the 200-year-old village. He commented that, although Franktown was an early settlement, its growth later slowed because the railway did not pass through the town.

I always enjoy seeing updates on the repairs to the original stone wall that surrounds the first church built in the community.

It's definitely a labour-intensive job!

(I remember when these completed parts - above - were under renovation a few years back.)

The festival is s busy place: Craft tables. Food for sale. So many fun things to do, see and buy... 

A great opportunity to support local crafters - and the church - I purchased a festival t-shirt, a church cookbook, fresh rhubarb, baked goods, burgers - and locally made toys for the kids.

A fun day was had by all!

Stopping in Kingston

On our recent trip home from Toronto, Terry and I decided to take it easy and stop in Kingston - then take the scenic back road from there to Prescott.

The day was sunny...

Everywhere we went, people were out - enjoying the sun ... and the beaches on Lake Ontario..

After driving across town, we stopped at the White Mountain ice cream shop.

Then across the causeway...

And on to Brockville and Prescott.

A two-lane bike path runs along the scenic river road. Every time I see it, I wonder how we could arrange to either walk or ride a bike on it sometime - maybe a section at a time.

That could be a lot of fun!

Downtown Rib Fest

The Ottawa downtown rib fest - on Sparks Street - will be happening over the next few days.

My older son, who works nearby, was there last night...

There are a number of vendors - all with their own special secret sauces!

The hardest thing is deciding which to get!

I'm partial to Camp 31.

We often go to their "bricks and mortar" restaurant in Paris, Ontario - a short distance from the Mary Maxim yarn shop that I like to visit.

Prices tend to be the same, wherever one chooses to eat...

With great weather, the event is sure to be fun!

Dandelion Drink...

Whenever I deal with dandelions in spring, I am reminded that they ARE edible plants - roots, leaves and flowers. If only people would eat them, they wouldn't be the nuisance they are in our gardens! (So maybe we should start eating them...)

But... I've never had the slightest urge to do so!

Fast forward to this past Christmas... My daughter introduced me to a new hot drink she was enjoying... a coffee alternative - made from roasted dandelion root (and chicory).

I was curious... so I gave it a try.

Loved the taste! Very much like coffee...

(Though I still need my morning coffee to wake up!)

Favourite Store

We all have our favourite stores.

This is one of mine..

I could happily shop in every department...

The joy of creativity, of making things! To me, this store sells JOY!

Mall Walking

Ottawa hosts a lot of races over the summer. I've never participated in any - but, a few weeks ago, my grandkids and their parents did a 1K walk in support of the local children's hospital. 

I'm interested in another walking competition as well - not because I plan to participate or because I know any of the participants - but because a local man who just turned 100 will be competing for the first time. In fact, they had to create a new age category for him!

Like me (and my mother before me), he is an avid mall walker.

To me, that's exciting! Not saying that mall walking is a sport - or that it's as healthy as walking in the great outdoors...

(Though it might be!) 

But it definitely keeps you active and in shape... in case you decide to walk in a 5K race, even if you're 100!

Beautiful Back Roads

We were recently in Toronto for a few days. We hadn't been there since last October.

En route home, we took the "backroads" from Kingston to Prescott.

Tourist season hadn't begun yet, but there were boats in the water.

Then we had an experience we've never had before... Suddenly a large bird, flying low, flew towards the top left corner of our windshield. Terry and I were both shocked - it happened so quickly and unexpectedly!

I waited for the familiar thud of a bird hitting a window. We hear it at least once a summer as birds fly straight into our windows at home.

Would our windshield crack?!

But no! No thud, no crack. It slid over the roof of the car. The vehicle behind us swerved so as not to hit it.

All I can say is - I hope it survived.