Thanksgiving Weekend - 3

After church on Sunday, Kevin and I and my parents drove up to Meaford.  The whole drive there was along the southern shore of Georgian Bay - desolate and windy at this time of year but still enjoyable.  We love visiting the Meaford Factory Outlet.  You never know what you will find there.  We make a trip every fall to get stocking stuffers and fill up the Samaritan's Purse shoeboxes.

Meaford is also home to the Scarecrow Invasion.  The whole town is decorated.  There are scarecrows in store windows, front lawns and climbing buildings and street posts.  These scarecrows were at a garage.

 These scarecrows were at country homes.

We took the scenic route home through the countryside.  It was a beautiful fall drive.  The colours were great.  We saw 2 deer and a flock of wild turkeys.  We stopped at Walter's Falls.  This picture is taken from the bridge over the falls looking down.

 

My parents and Alec went home today and we went to see Kevin's mom.  It was a great weekend. 

Thanksgiving Weekend - 2

After the corn maze, we went out to the pumpkin patch activities.  My parents and Jenna are having a duck race while Connor watches.  You use an old fashioned pump to race the rubber duckie down the chute.  Behind them is the catapault.  If you get your ball in a hole you win a free pumpkin.  My mom was the only one to get it in but she did it on her practice shot so it didn't count. The lady at the catapault had an interesting hat.  You can see it better if you click on the picture to enlarge it.Myself, Kevin and Connor racing while Amber cheers us on.  The mini-golf is behind us.

 

If you find a fake pumpkin hiding in the field you get a real one free.  Guess who was the only one to find one?  I was the only one last year as well - I found 2 last year.  They are very realistic replicas.  They are just a little shinier than a real pumpkin and have a seam on the bottom.  They come in all shapes and sizes. That is the fake I am holding.
Then we came back to our house where Alec had been tending the turkey all afternoon.  These pictures are proof that turkey contains tryptophan, which causes people to be very drowsy, even in a room full of people. 


Leanne had a headache (hence the sunglasses and ice wrap).

Thanksgiving Weekend - 1

Last year Connor and I had a great time at the local pumpkin patch so we invited my parents and my sister and her family up to join us.  There are 4 friendly farm animals hidden in the maze.  When you find them, you punch their picture with the shaped hole punch and turn in your sheet to win a prize.  I wonder how many children have nightmares about the cow.

The chicken was my favourite. 

Connor kept running ahead and hiding in the corn and jumping out to scare my mom.  She jumped every time.  Except this time.  You can see Connor's arm in the bottom left corner.  It isn't a great picture, but captures the fun.

 

My dad. 

Connor and the Green Monster

These pictures are a few weeks old but I haven't had time to download them until now.  When we were at the Coldwater Fall Fair  Connor met the Green Monster - not scary at all I promise.  Connor (and Victoria) love giant dill pickles and everybody loves chocolate so what could be better than combining the two and adding sprinkles to make it pretty?

Coast to Coast

Victoria has been in New Brunswick for several weeks, attending Mount Allison University.

Caitlin has just left Jasper on her way to her new position as an au pair in North Vancouver.  So tomorrow I will have children living on opposite coasts!

In the middle are us and Alec.  Alec will also be travelling tomorrow as he goes from Base Borden back to Kingston where he will start a course soon.  

Connor also does a lot of travelling ... on his bike.  And I am pleased to report he bought shin pads - no more owies.

Bike 2 - Boys 0

Connor this time.  No stitches but I wrapped it really well so it doesn't keep reopening since the worst one is close to his knee. 

A special day

Today Kevin and I went out for my birthday lunch.

We left the house at 6:40. Yes - 6:40 a.m.

We drove for 2 hours and got on a small cruise boat in Parry Sound. I thought it was really interesting that the Chippewa spent the first 35 years of service as a "Maid of the Mist". She has been sailing Georgian Bay for the last 14 years.

We traversed the waterways of Georgian Bay for 2 more hours and arrived at Henry's Fish Restaurant about 11:00. It is world famous. People fly in and boat in to enjoy the fresh fish. I had the pan fried pickerel and Kevin had the deep fried pickerel. Both meals came with fries (or rice), coleslaw and baked beans. I had a super runny butter tart for dessert. The meals were good - not as good as I expected after all the hype - but all in all it was a great day. The weather was perfect. I wanted a memorable birthday and I got it.

There are lots of other day and dinner cruises offered on Georgian Bay and Lake Simcoe so we are already thinking about our next trip.