anna weekend.

we weren't sure if m was more excited about the anna coming part or the picking her up at the train station part.

we spent lots of time on our porch, playing trucks, drawing with chalk, drinking beer, playing trucks, watching the world go by, drinking coffee...

anna & i decided to take a little foodie trip to the niagara region (can you call it a tradition to go on a little trip if you've only done it once before?)

best. ice cream. ever. seriously. (toute sweet in jordan station is canada's best kept secret.)

browsing in jordan, we came across a metalsmith who specializes in making roses and other intricate work. this one flower was part of a truly stunning coffee table that i was not able to adequately capture in my pictures.

the guy's workshop on the outside.

our first wine tasting. 13th street winery.

i know i look as though this is a drunk face (don't worry, i still have my never-been-drunk status in tact, despite 2 wine tastings on one day.) in fact, it is a look-at-me-i'm-somewhere-overnight-without-my-kid face. :)

this was one of our favourite wines of the day (the cabernet franc), at the second wine tasting at the thirty bench winery. i took a picture of the decal too, because the description is so so awesome: if the grand canyon could sing, it would sound like johnny cash. if it could be a wine, it would taste like this. this is a big, rich, deep wine. it has a character and depth that will improve with age. we should have called it "the wine in black." as i said, awesome.

back at our b&b, the lovely among the vines, we took a stroll through the vineyard and "spoke nicely to the grapes," as we were instructed by carollyn, our hostess.

of course, i can't forget to mention that our foodie day was in honour of miss anna's birthday, which was celebrated in style with a birthday candle in peach trifle.

we ate at about thyme, a tiny place with unbelievable food. the menu was set, which usually means i have trouble in the dessert department, but not this time. fresh stewed peaches on chocolate cupcake with raspberry drizzle. seriously.

the next day, it was necessary to build in some exercise to make up for all that eating & drinking. so, the above photo is from a mini hike that was mini partly due to the fact that floppy shoes are not appropriate hiking footwear, and partly due to the previous night's rain turning the path into a mucky mess. ah well, it was still beautiful.

before heading home, we stopped for peaches...

...& cheese & bread.

a niagara feast: walnut bread, peach & tomato salad with grated sheep's cheese from the upper canada cheese company, accompanied by thirty bench riesling. deeelish.

banana bread breakfast with coffee.

the bread had just come out of the oven, but m was ready.

m found a kindred spirit for swinging...

& napping.

we miss you already, anna. see you at christmas.

xo.