Vacation

I don’t know about you, but where I live, things are just starting to open up with the Covid Pandemic. Museums apparently aren’t scheduled to reopen until September.  This makes me sad as visiting small museums is one of the joys I have.  But until September all I have going for me is staycations, vacations and dreams.  

Staycations

When Covid first hit all sorts of companies came out with free things to do online. Things to learn, see, and do. I discovered zoos, music festivals, companies that read books online, and so much more.  

One of those things that I picked up was online seminars with Huron County Historic Society.  They’ve done a variety of interesting seminars all with a historic basis.  The Gaol is doing an event where you can “meet the prisoners” which sound very interesting. 

We weren’t able to do a whole lot, but we’ve done some trails as a family.  We recently completed this one. 

When I think of what we can do this summer, between work commitments and what not?   We’ll have family over to celebrate birthdays, and go to the beach, 

Vacations

Vacations… ah, the fun of camping.   This is our ideal vacation. But even though we both love to camp, we have differing ideas on what makes camping good.  We often camp the first week of school, though the older the lad gets the less willing he is to do this as it sets him back with courses taken at the highschool. 

Me: I want books, snack food, trails to walk and time at the fire (small tidy fire).   Fishing in the evening or early morning.  Food that is simple and easy to prepare, or unique (something new to learn).  Camp bread was a huge hit one summer. 

Hubby: Kayaking, fishing (lots of it), big fires, and food over the bbq/fire as much as possible. He keeps trying to convince me to go back-country camping. 

The lad: Lots of hiking, biking, kayaking, and such like.  He likes to be busy. So we’ll pull out card games when he’s not otherwise occupied.  BUT sitting at the campfire now brings out the phone and the fun of memes shared. 

Dream Destinations

Dream Destinations is actually a challenge from the online book club I’m part of.  It made sense to include it here eh?  🙂   When I asked my lad where he’d like to go… Camping, up north!   But beyond that he doesn’t know. 

Me: I have a dream to go to Alaska.  I want to experience the tundra, and snow sled races, and night during the day and more.   A few years ago I read a book about Sled dogs, it was a good read.  🙂 As I’m thinking about this post I wonder if I should grab up some other books about sled dogs and learn a bit more about them. 

When I asked my man, that love of my life, what his dream vacation was.   He hadn’t a clue.  🙂   He likes to camp and spend time with his family. It’s a good thing eh?  To know your fellow’s biggest desire (beyond serving the Lord) is to spend time with his loved ones. That’s a pretty good dream destination don’t you think? 

So what about you? What are you planning for Staycations, Vacations and Dreams … are foreign destinations in your sites?  Or do you prefer the more rustic forms of spending family time together? 

Hubby needed a break from work!  He took two days off (woot woot!!!) Our original plan was to go camping but he messed up his finger at work.  He needed to keep it clean and dry so I nixed that idea.  It helped that we still couldn’t get the trailer out of the driveway due to the construction.  I thought I would share our vacation highlights with you all. 

We took the plunge and rented an airbnb unit and it worked out okay.  Three beds, and one air mattress kept everyone content.   We did lasagna the first night and I picked up cheese and deli meat for sandwiches.   Before we got there though we stopped at Colborne Lodge.   I’m going to do up a whole separate post for this visit, but here’s a picture to hold you over. 

We took our student to a capoeira lesson on Wednesday night.  He was SO excited!!!  Capoeira is a system of physical discipline and movement originating among Brazilian slaves, treated as a martial art and dance form.  Our student is a level 6.  It was fascinating watching him and the other students at the close of the class.  You could see how the other students were still at learner levels and the joy the teacher had in working with a student of a higher level.    To my uneducated eye they looked very similar in their abilities. 

We were encouraged to come back after class so I didn’t see a whole lot of the lesson (just catching the last 15 minutes or so).  The lads and I went for a walk up the street and having a hot chocolate to warm up a bit. .

On Thursday we headed out to the Royal Winter Fair.  We try to go every year…I think we’ve only missed two years in the past 16 years.  We took in the goat show, cow show, horse shows, saw the chickens and walked through all the booths. Hubby found these great workboots that he brought home with him, and I was sorely tempted by a pair I found, but… I didn’t bring them home, couldn’t justify the cost as nice as they were or not!  🙂

One of the highlights of the Royal for me is always watching the cart ponies.   Watching them drive on, and trot… I just thoroughly enjoy them.  This year my pick of the group came second and third. The lad’s pick came first as did hubby’s so they obviously knew something I didn’t this year!  🙂

We had the fun of watching a sheep dog demonstration this year.  The shepherd showed how the dogs progressed from puppy through experienced dog.  I think this was dog number three but I’m not sure.  (she had four dogs total).  Her last dog was so well trained and handled the sheep so prettily.

I have an affinity for chickens so I spent a good amount of time looking through the chickens at the royal.   They also had a pen with a variety of ducks in them.  I had a pet duck as a child so ducks always make me smile.

Watching these line dancers had the three guys walking away from me fairly quickly.   Took me a while to find them afterwards (they found seats in the horse arena) BUT it brought a smile to my face watching them!  🙂

Horse Show

We attended the Horse Show at night.  Watching the bigger horse teams, some small pony carts, and some horse trainer dude that none of us were wildly impressed with. The main event was show jumping…it was good to see Ian Millar out… but I said to hubby “boy. he’s getting old”. Two younger Millar’s were in the event as well. 

 

 

 

The boys had some fun and thoroughly enjoyed the bag of free carrots we got.  They were tender and tasty and a great snack while watching the horses jump!

We saw some fun things at the exhibits.  The boys participated in a VR demonstration. They ate some good cheese (samples you know).  We did miss the cheese demonstration they normally do, and no free potatoes this year either.  🙁

We were delighted by these topiaries!   Aren’t they wonderfully done?

We saw the butter sculptures and fruits/veggies.  Sheep, cattle and more. 

The Livestock: 

All in all it was an excellent day.  Long, tiring, but fun.

Back to the Airbnb for lunch and then up early Friday Morning to go to our co-op class in Stratford.  Long drive but it turned out well.  I asked my Brazillian Student to teach Capoeira to my phys ed class and he said “I like it.  I like to teach the children”.   We did our presentation of our science class learning and called it a good vacation.   On the Saturday hubby and I did lunch out on our own while the boys hung out at home.