In My World

Normandale -- Ghost Town and Ontario’s Original Steel Town Normandale is a veritable “ghost town”. While I don’t know of any hauntings, it earned its nickname due to a rapid reduction of residents after a short-lived boom in the 1800s. Today, however, no more than 200-300 people live there. Another noteworthy tidbit about this miniature town is its dibs on an Ontario “first”. It may be surprising, and is definitely contrary to popular belief, but Hamilton is not Ontario’s original steel town. Instead, this smaller than small town claimed that title in the early 19th century. Normandale sits along the shores of Lake Erie in  Norfolk County . At its peak in the mid- to late-19th century, between 400 and 750 residents called this little lakeside town home. An old gazetteer published in 1846 described Normandale as “having a population of 300. A thriving village with a post office, a tavern, one tailor and two shoemakers.” Today, a short drive through the town will reveal a few restore...

We've been able to have a lot of fun this past month and that is all due to the fact that I am a thrifty planner and Hal has a good job.  The chequing account has taken a bit of a beating never-the-less . . . but OH the memories we've made. Box ON! Letterboxing Meet Up in Kingston ON      Letterboxing in Owen Sound Four days and three nights at Windswept Cottage, Port Lambton Thanksgiving Dinner (no photos!) Doors Open St. Thomas

TECUMSEH 1768-1813 Born in a Shawnee village in what is now Ohio, Tecumseh became in the 1790s co-leader with his brother, the prophet of a movement to restore and preserve traditional Indian values. He believed a union of all the western tribes to drive back white settlement to be the one hope for Indian survival and spread this idea the length of the frontier. Seeing the Americans as the immediate threat, he allied himself with the British in 1812, assisted in the capture of Detroit and was killed near here at the Battle of the Thames on 5 October 1813, while retreating with General Procter from Amherstburg. (from a sign at the monument) This site commemorates the Battle of the Thames and the death of the great Chief Tecumseh. Tecumseh’s death represented the loss of a dream for First Nations people. Although a monument is present across from the battlefield near Thamesville the location of his burial remains one of the great mysteries of the last two centuries. (from http://www...

Every Christmas a group of our friends do our Christmas "baking" together.  Each person contributes to a fund and then Deb and I go shopping at Hollandia Cookies outlet in Mt. Brydges, picking a wide variety of their delicious cookies by the case.  I always grab a couple of honey cakes for french toast . The cookies are divided evenly between the participants.  Christmas "baking" done.  These cookies freeze and thaw quite nicely so you will always have treats on hand for holiday visitors.

I've only been to Winter Wheat a few times over the years but each time I go I am overwhelmed again with how perfect it is. "Set in the tranquil shadows of stately pine and spruce trees just south of Sparta, Ontario, Winter Wheat invites visitors to slow down and take delight in the unexpected."  (from their website ) We recently visited and there was even more to see in the woods than my last visits. And when you get tired of wandering through the trees you can wander into the store and be absolutely amazed. This is a miraculous place that should be visited over and over and over again.

I cannot believe I've never blogged about this place yet.  One of our favourite stops when we are in the Kitchener-Waterloo area is to At the Crossroads Family Restaurant in Elmira . . . but more about them another time.   We always make sure to wander through The Mercantile at the Crossroads.  It is a fascinating shop with something special for everyone and every room in your home.  It is always an adventure wandering through.  To find out more about this store, check out this link . These photos were taken the very first time we took Nanna and Mom for supper At the Crossroads in November 2014.  Sorry for the blurry shots.  These photos were taken with my old dying camera. And this is Nanna's very first selfie: