Local explorations
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My name is Scilla
Early spring blooms are starting to show their cheerful faces. Bright sunny daffodils, tiny crocuses, and delicate snowdrops to name a few. It’s still too early for the emblematic trilliums to blanket the forest floor. This will come soon. In the meantime I have been enjoying the masses of little purple flowers sweeping across grassy areas. A pop of brilliant colour shimmering in the green. Except every year I forget the name of this amethyst jewel. Scilla! Siberian squill is another name for this flower that grows from tiny bulbs each spring and multiplies easily. Cobalt blue petals hang from slender stems like a tiny umbrella. Inching up mere 4…
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A peak behind closed doors
We may be staying at home, but we can still indulge in some virtual exploration. I thought it would be fun to peak inside some closed doors. Winery doors specifically. It turns out I have a lot of photos from past visits to the Twenty Valley (in the fall 2019). I have written posts on some, but there are many wineries I never wrote about. So please join me on a photo tour. Get comfortable, grab a glass of wine if you wish, and let’s go see what’s behind these inviting doors. Our first stop is Kew Vineyards. You’ve already had a glimpse at their delightful outdoor patio on the…
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Happy tweets
March 20 is the UN International Day of Happiness. As I wrote last year, it’s all about spreading the message of happiness and kindness (and I had some inspiration from a kind friend to do so!) The day is designated by the United Nations to recognize “progress should be about increasing human happiness and wellbeing, not just growing the economy.” I continue to enjoy the daily little nudges from the Action for Happiness app to remind me of ways to be happy everyday. Today’s message is “Celebrate the International Day of Happiness“. So happy International Day of Happiness! One topic that comes up frequently in the daily nudges relates to…
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A sparkling memory
Pop. The gentle popping of a cork to open a bottle of sparkling wine is a joyful sound. The pop releases effervescent vapors in a delicate swirl around the narrow opening, as if freeing the magical bubbles trapped inside. This particular pop releases a nice memory as well from my visit to De Simone Vineyards in Niagara. De Simone Vineyards was one of the wineries that Eleacia circled on my Niagara wine map when I visited Southbrook Vineyards in February 2020. The neighbouring winery was just down the street on Niagara Stone Road. Luckily I took her up on her recommendation. That very same day. The tasting area at De…
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Year in Review
It’s been a year since my first post when I created this blog. Perhaps it’s my government policy training that compels me to look back over the year to assess progress and identify highlights….or simply remember what I did! I started out by setting goals for myself, including trying new things and travelling more. The year took an unexpected turn (for all of us) so expectations needed to shift. My ‘highlights’ below were not necessarily planned at the outset, yet I feel better for them. I was fortunate to have time to: Become fully acquainted with the natural surroundings and hidden gems on my local paths and trails (even the…
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An autumn hike bookended by wineries
“You see that path over there?” our friendly server walks to the large window in the wineshop and points to the vineyard below. I follow his gaze out the pane of glass to a wide path that intersects the vineyards at Vineland Estates and ends at a dense cluster of red, orange and yellow trees. “There’s an entrance to the Bruce Trail there.” My husband and I were picking up a few bottles of wine at Vineland Estates, and hoping to combine it with a short hike on this sunny October day. The winery staff was super helpful in pointing us in the right direction. This short section of the…
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Curbside visits in wine country
Vineyards make a beautiful scene. In any season. In the fall, the bushy leaves change from deep green to rusty and golden hues. In the winter, the rows of barren vines take on a minimalist look. A dark gnarly silhouette against the white snow. Each day I visited the Twenty Valley this fall and winter was special. Winery tours and tastings with friendly servers. A cosy fireside raclette. Even a brewery visit in the midst of the vineyards. I was looking forward to returning in the spring to see the changing landscape once again. I assumed I could return. Again and again. Whenever I wanted. How wrong I was. Three…
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A happy souvenir
Year in Review
An entertaining tasting at Creekside Estate Winery
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Sit and remember
Memories are powerful. You could even say they are like a superpower (Meik Wiking in the Art of Making Memories goes so far as to say so). I tend to agree. If you take the time to focus, to nurture a happy memory, it can transport you back to the specific moment. The feeling of the moment returns. Puts a smile on your face. I am fascinated by the things that can trigger a memory. A smell triggering a fond childhood memory. A taste. The call of the loon reminding me of the cottage. A song making me want to dance like I’m in my 20s. Returning to a meaningful…
