This week I took a minor break from home to visit an old friend and my sister after a long pandemic lockdown. It has been so long since I have seen either of them; I took a brief road trip.
My friend bought a new home in Tiny Township, near Midland, Ontario. She has wanted me to come for a visit for some time and so Tuesday I packed up the car, left hubby on his own and drove from here to Midland.
The trip took over three hours, passing many familiar towns like Peterborough, Omemee, Lindsay, and Orillia, before I continued west into unfamiliar territory.
I took highway 12 from Lindsay to almost the end of the journey, never knowing how much a road can be chopped up and combined with other roads, causing a bit of confusion.
Finally, passing Midland, I knew I was nearing the end of the journey.
My friend bought a new home in Tiny Township, near Midland, Ontario. She has wanted me to come for a visit for some time and so Tuesday I packed up the car, left hubby on his own and drove from here to Midland.
The trip took over three hours, passing many familiar towns like Peterborough, Omemee, Lindsay, and Orillia, before I continued west into unfamiliar territory.
I took highway 12 from Lindsay to almost the end of the journey, never knowing how much a road can be chopped up and combined with other roads, causing a bit of confusion.
Finally, passing Midland, I knew I was nearing the end of the journey.
The little farmhouse she has bought is off a somewhat quiet road, backing on to a golf course.
As I approached, I was greeted by her “fierce” guard dog, Tito. The long-haired Chihuahua is just eight months old but determined and busy as a two-year-old child.
After settling in and visiting the chicken coup where my friend houses her two chickens and ten others that belong to a friend, we headed off to pick up her lawnmower before settling in for a quiet afternoon. If I had gone a few weeks earlier, I would have also met fifteen other chickens, one of which was on my plate for supper that evening.
We then settled in for a tasty glass of red wine and a chat before dinner. My friend is an excellent cook and made a recipe from Jamie Oliver containing only five ingredients, Chicken, garlic, oregano, potatoes and tomatoes. Fresh green beans accompanied the meal, followed by a slice of chocolate cake.
After an enjoyable visit, we settled in to watch a movie, “Rebel in the Rye”. While the film did not get great reviews, I enjoyed the period piece and the comparison between a genuine writer and one who searches more for the acclaim attached to being a famous writer.
After an enjoyable visit, we settled in to watch a movie, “Rebel in the Rye”. While the film did not get great reviews, I enjoyed the period piece and the comparison between a genuine writer and one who searches more for the acclaim attached to being a famous writer.
Up early the next morning, we planned a visit to “Balm Beach” in Tiny Township on the shores of Lake Huron. While I would not consider myself a beach person, I embraced the outing, making it more about site seeing and visiting with my friend’s daughter and her two lovely girls.
We took along a picnic lunch and beach toys for the children and spent a few hours sitting under the protections of an umbrella or wading out into the shallow but sandy lake. The water was refreshing, Lake Huron being one of the more northern great lakes of Canada. Today, it was a barbeque and an early night as I was leaving in the morning.
I left Tiny at eight the next day and travelled back along Highway 12 to Orillia, then north on 11 to the exit at Bracebridge. It is a beautiful drive with dramatic changes to the topography once out of Simcoe County. Farmland gives way to the Canadian Shield and wilderness.
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We took along a picnic lunch and beach toys for the children and spent a few hours sitting under the protections of an umbrella or wading out into the shallow but sandy lake. The water was refreshing, Lake Huron being one of the more northern great lakes of Canada. Today, it was a barbeque and an early night as I was leaving in the morning.
I left Tiny at eight the next day and travelled back along Highway 12 to Orillia, then north on 11 to the exit at Bracebridge. It is a beautiful drive with dramatic changes to the topography once out of Simcoe County. Farmland gives way to the Canadian Shield and wilderness.
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The drive from Bracebridge to Haliburton is also full of views to fill the eyes. Grey craggy rock cuts expose black-bottomed lakes or bogs. This year because of the rain the lakes are high and full of white waterlilies and lots of greenery.
I arrived in Haliburton not stopping in the villager, rather going to my sister’s, avoiding the broo-ha-ha of the tourist town. I have never understood why the city folk who come to their cottages like to spend time in the village as much as they do, rather than their lakeside cottages.
My sister lives on a quiet street in a beautiful wooded lot. Her only complaint is the deer ravage the hostas in her garden, as well as other plants they find tasty. This year in particular there have been many fawns born, one mother with three. It made me think of rebirth and better times ahead. I am always hopeful.
We went out to the nursery to look at some plants they offered but returned home empty-handed but with ideas for next summer.
When we got back, Alfie her little rescue dog was anxiously awaiting.
My sister lives on a quiet street in a beautiful wooded lot. Her only complaint is the deer ravage the hostas in her garden, as well as other plants they find tasty. This year in particular there have been many fawns born, one mother with three. It made me think of rebirth and better times ahead. I am always hopeful.
We went out to the nursery to look at some plants they offered but returned home empty-handed but with ideas for next summer.
When we got back, Alfie her little rescue dog was anxiously awaiting.
We had a pot roast with parsnips, carrots and potatoes was on the simmer awaiting us for supper. No one makes better pot roast than my sister. The wine I brought was a perfect choice for the dinner. A light pineapple dessert finished the supper.
She has done wonders with the house she bought just a couple of years ago and her choice of paint colours has given her home a fresh look.
I had to head home the next day and soon after breakfast, I packed up and left. It was a long-awaited visit, and I was glad to see her in good health and spirits. The ride home was the usual, uneventful.
I had to head home the next day and soon after breakfast, I packed up and left. It was a long-awaited visit, and I was glad to see her in good health and spirits. The ride home was the usual, uneventful.