In three short days, Summer will be here again!
Remember last year how we told you about our Summer Vacation at The Farm and mentioned a Part Two?
Well, in honour of all things ten months late, I thought that I'd tell you about the second half of Summer 2012 at...
Note that I've also been posting a current link to my Facebook post in my list of "Current Giveaways" in the left hand sidebar <--- over there.
Besides all the excitement about the giveaway wall post, I'm glad to see that my story about arthroscopic knee surgeries didn't turn you off. You'll be glad that you stuck around when you hear the story about Aunt Liz and her cheese.
Aunt Liz knows how to make cheese. Like really knows how and has shared this knowledge with others. Kind of like how Ed tells people "How to Make a Record".
For the purposes of this post, let's just say that it's a really lengthy process with at least 12 intricate steps and that on more than one occasion Aunt Liz has stated "if I have to tell one more person how I make cheese I'll...".
Of course I asked.
When The Zoo was at The Farm for our annual Summer Hoe-Down, Aunt Liz and her Employer "Primeridge Pure" graciously gave us 3,481 pounds some fresh, homemade and vegetarian Primeridge Pure cheese curds and cream cheese.
Speaking of cheese curds, Ed could eat them seven days a week and he knows a good one when he tastes it. And these ones SQUEAK! In order to provide you with an accurate review, Ed consumed several containers of the product and determined that Primeridge Pure - Pure Curds should be awarded...
But, it didn't end there. We took the Chili Pepper Cream Cheese up to September Camp (the second leg of our summer vacation, post coming soon) and it was gone so fast I didn't get one picture of anyone eating it.
If all you've ever had is store bought brands, then you need to try these cheeses. You can get them at their flagship store in Markdale as well as at the East Lynn, Bloor Borden, Sick Kids, Ryerson and Owen Sound Farmer's markets.
Connect with Primeridge Pure via;
Website: www.primeridgepure.ca,
YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToNeKIRTSpo
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Primeridge-Pure/133572833331008?fref=ts
Press/Awards: The business just received a Premier's Award for Agri-Innovation, and will be coming to Rowe Farms in the very near future. The YouTube video (link above) was created by OMAFRA about the operation. The Globe and Mail wrote a great piece in June 2012.
Note that Journeys of The Zoo was provided with products that enabled us to write this post. However, there was no expectation of a review. In fact, the owner didn't even know that we had a blog.
My parents bought the 1880's Farm in 1968. Not because they necessarily wanted a 100 acre functioning farm but because the piece of land that they got with their Devils Glen Ski Membership ($500 for a membership and plot of land at the hill) was full of quick sand.
Years later, my Uncle (Dad's Brother) bought the farm next door (not "bought the farm") and then married the daughter of the man that owned the property to the back of us. When you include the farm that my Uncle has since bought across the road, that makes 450 acres of fun for the whole Zoo!
My uncle is a full-time farmer with a bunch of beef cattle (at least 40 cows?) so there's never a shortage of chores, especially during the summer and The Zoo loves helping out.
Riding the wagon collecting square bales and then loading them into the barn, bottle feeding one of three sets of twin calves born (The Cow would only care for one), helping deliver calves, drive around turning off electric fences during storms, and the list goes on. Note that we may or may not have done any of these chores.
What we definitely did was: Ate Poppa's birthday cake, ate cheese curds till the cows came home, hung out in the tent with Aunt Sally.
But, they (and Uncle Kevin) spent most of their time on their newest toy... a Trampoline.
We knew that it would be a success because, the week before, we'd been in New York State visiting friends and they had the exact same one and the kids loved it!
After the fairly quick and easy installation, we made sure to implement some safety rules and let the fun begin. I never thought to read the 3,890 page pamphlet on all the things that you weren't supposed to do. Unknowingly, we may or may not have broken all some of the safety recommendations.
Thankfully, our story ends there but the day I got home, I spoke with my girlfriend and she told me how her child had been injured just that week while on a trampoline and we read other newspaper articles like this one from CBC News. Gulp.
After a two week visit, we came back to Ottawa to rest up and prepare for the second leg of our summer vacation...
But not our cars.
Weird.
For those of you that don't know, Bucephalus was Alexander the Great's horse. He was super sleek and famous. Just like our van.
The Body that Only a Mother Could Love
When we began the first leg of this years summer vacation, we couldn't have been more excited. Our enthusiasm was not dampened by the four-hour torrential downpour or the "Poltergeist-Like" activities of the door locks.
They would lock/unlock, or lock/lock/lock or unlock/lock/lock all by themselves. Seriously, it wasn't me. In the end, we just figured that all the rain had caused a short circuit in the wiring.
The juries still out on that one.
With some MacGyvering (new verb?) we managed to successfully complete our first mission by picking up and stuffing fitting Uncle Andrew into the van. This was no small feat considering there were three adults, two kids, three dogs and a cat. Not to mention all our gear and you've heard all about that.
Since darkness was quickly approaching, and our second leg involved a two-hour drive North, we decided to fill up with gas and get on our way.
And that's where the story begins or ends depending on whether you see the glass as...
After filling up, Ed couldn't get the car to start. The battery wouldn't charge. No problem, these things happen. And for just such an occasion, The Zoo carries a portable battery booster pack.
After a little bit of this and that, the van started but something was up with the "altinator charge" dial.
In case you don't know what I'm talking about, it's the dial right below the "thing-a-ma-jingie" dial and to the right of the "where-did-that-one-come-from-never-seen-it-before" dial.
Ours was in the Red. At Nine O'clock. Should have been at Midnight.
No matter how optimistic you are,
Ed figured that it was best to turn around and head the three kilometres back to Nanna's house and he couldn't have been more right because,
At the top of a small hill,
With Nanna's house in view,
And only one stop sign to go...
The engine died,
On a Sunday,
Of a Long Weekend.
With the skill of a Great One, Ed managed to guide Bucephalus over the curb and onto Nanna's front lawn.
And that's where it stayed for two days. Until we could get a mechanic to replace the battery and altinator.
All was not lost as we learned a very important lesson. Never travel on a Saturday or Sunday, especially over a long weekend.
Except for this past weekend.
Truth be told, we didn't learn a thing.
Besos, The Zoo
This year alone, we spent three months in Mexico. In April, we spent four days in New York City. In July, two days in New York State and I haven't even included summer vacation or our return trip to Mexico (in December).
Speaking of summer vacation, while the timeframe varies, it's never been shorter than three weeks and always includes five nights camping in Algonquin Park.
It also requires me to pack for at least two seasons; summer and fall, two lifestyles; sleeping bags and beds, not too mention items for seven beings; two adults, two kids, two dogs and "Aries the Cat". In turn, it should come as no surprize that we,
We've also driven to Mexico AND back six times (so technically, 12 times) so we've got the routine down pat.
Right down to the "discussions".
There is no disputing that Ed is responsible for packing the van and I am responsible for filling it.
Where our opinions differ is regarding what exactly it should be filled WITH. As the saying goes, "one man's junk is another man's treasure". Here is an example of a discussion that we have every.single.trip.
Note that the following dialogue might be slightly skewed in my favour.
Ed: Everything won't fit.
Me: Yes it will, you haven't even tried.
Ed: It won't fit. Is that really necessary (pointing to my undergarments).
Me: Yes, I need those.
Ed: I don't.
Like every other year, Ed will make everything fit.
It's what he does.
That and the roof cargo carrier and trailer will help...
After three weeks, five days vacationing at The Family Farm Compound plus five days camping in Algonquin Park, we're back in the 'Ston safe and sound. Our visit with family and friends was fabulous! I'll post all the boring details and pictures when I get my journal entr(ies) written.
In the meantime, I'll enlighten you with the obession that we brought back.
For the past few days, all Max can think and talk about are cars. It's the first thing he says in the morning and the last thing he says at night. During the day, it's a fight to get him off of one of his many cars to even eat a meal.
Tonight he took his obsession a bit far (or maybe not if you ask him).
A few minutes ago, he woke up from (what I thought was) a nightmare so I went in to console him. As I picked up my groggie and scared baby his eyes opened wide awake and he said "Car?". It's 11pm and the kid wants to ride in his cars. Needless to say, I put him back to bed and he was none to happy about it.
I guess it could be worse, he could be obsessed with cat poo...
Besos, The Zoo
As all great big sisters do, she brought the kids presents. An alphabet train set for Max and a Princess/Butterfly dress-up set for Artemis. Truly unique and what every kid(s) needs!
Besos, The Zoo
Besos, The Zoo