So Long Summer......

So where the heck has Summer gone?!?! 

I can't believe it's already September and when I look back at the last few months, I realize how jam packed with fun and great times they were and I'm so very grateful. I'll take you on a photo journey of the Summer of 2017 and all that it held for me, my family and friends.

I ate some fantastic meals with some wonderful people this Summer. There was a point where I ate at the Bread Bar in Guelph 3 times in a week and a half! One of my favourite ways to spend an evening is with friends, surrounded by great food and drink!

Not only did I have great meals with friends, I had great times with friends! One of those oh so memorable days was the Queen's Plate at Woodbine in Toronto with some pretty incredible women!!

Making memories with friends doesn't just happen in restaurants and sports venues, it can also occur in our own backyards! Whether its under a pergola on the deck of my friend's 100 year old home or on a bouncy castle in the yard of a friend who has held her summer bash for 20 years, thinking back on these times bring a huge smile to my face!

Then there's Saturday mornings at the Farmer's Market (and Balzac's). I didn't get there as often as I would have liked to, though I did find other Markets this summer as well, it was always a great way to kick off the weekend!

I've done a lot of walking this summer (sometimes on my own, sometimes with a friend) and I've been able to truly enjoy the city that I call home. I've watched the gardens transform over the months and as always, admire the beautiful homes/architecture this city has to offer.

My happy place.....the back deck of my city cottage. Some great stories, laughter and memories were made here this summer. I even fell asleep a few evenings under the stars and the canopy of the trees. It truly is my escape in the ity

One thing that illustrates to me that the Summer truly got away from me, is the fact that I really only got to the lake once.....yes, only once....and only for a few hours. There was no cottage this year, no swimming in Lake Huron, but, that's ok....there's still September and I enjoy time at the lake just as much (if not even more) now....

I spent a lot of time with this big guy this summer (isn't he handsome?!) and finally got my photo of him, 'Look Me In The Eye", printed on canvas! If you'd like your own, have a look in my website shop!

Even though there are around 20 days of Summer left, Labour Day Weekend always feels like the unofficial end to Summer...the sunset of summertime :(

I hope you've all had the Summer that you were hoping for and had the chance to make as many wonderful memories as I did (and am very grateful for). Cheers and so long to the Summer of 2017!

RR

2016 - A Year in Review - January to June

Welcome to my 2016 Year in Review!

I decided to split it into two posts as it has truly been a jam packed year, with so much to share/remember!

JANUARY

The year started off with a bit of a snow storm at the Country House. As you can see, Charlie (and his Mom) didn't let a little snow hold them back from getting outside and enjoying the Winter weather!

We had our annual Gals Weekend at The Rock in Port Elgin and decided to spend an afternoon at MacGregor Point Provincial Park to do some hiking and some skating on their outdoor skating loop through the forest! What an amazing day/weekend!

January (and actually many more months this year) reminded and illustrated to me that life has a wonderful way of showing us that the ones we love are always with us, no matter what! I had had a bracelet made last Christmas with a set of antlers engraved on it to remind me of my Dad (he was quite the outdoorsman). As Charlie and I were out for a walk down the laneway one January morning at the Country House, something peaking out of the snow along the freshly plowed side of the lane caught my eye (thankfully I also inherited my Dad's keen eye). I bent down to pick up what I found to be this shed antler.....I couldn't contain my excitement and literally ran up the lane to show Mom. If that plow had been just a few inches further over, this would've been caught in the plow and I never would have found it. Thank you Dad, for reminding us you are always with us! xo

FEBRUARY

I did quite a bit of travel early in the year, for both work and pleasure. Work-wise (for my 9-5), I had staff across the country and I was lucky enough to travel to Vancouver and Montreal to meet with them and enjoy those cities.  I always have and always will love travelling and you'll see more of my travels coming up in the next few months.

In addition to travel, I also love to get outside. We have an annual Ski Bunny Weekend at Blue Mountain in Collingwood which is always a blast! This year it was a bit rainy and we didn't really hit the slopes, but it didn't stop us from wandering around the Village and downtown Collingwood. This has to be one of my favourite 'small towns' in southern Ontario. We already have our 2017 trip booked and I can't wait!

I had the pleasure to get to know even better and work with an amazing woman this year who is not only an inspiring entrepreneur, but also a great friend! My friends and family mean the world to me and I feel so incredibly blessed to have people in my life who are so generous, thoughtful and caring! You is Kind, You is Smart, You is Important! xo

MARCH

And then there's this guy! My year in review wouldn't be complete without including my Charlie. He turned 11 on March 5th and even with his majestic grey beard, he's still a puppy at heart. He has brought so much love and laughter to our family....he truly is one of the most special creatures I've ever had in my life! Love you Char Bear!

Lake Huron didn't freeze over in the winter of 2015/2016 and it was a beautiful, sunshiny, but chilly day at the Goderich beach. Mom and I had a pizza picnic that day (in the car) and Charlie and I got to go for a walk on the beach. It was surreal to have sand under our feet (vs snow) in March at the lake. I love this picture at it perfectly juxtaposes summer/winter, with the lifeguard stand and the snow fence...you have to love life at the lake!

I'm a gal who really enjoys a great coffee and on my Saturday morning trips to the Guelph Farmers Market, I like to stop into one of the many great little coffee shops downtown. One of my favourites is Balzac's and it's a favourite for many reasons, in addition to it's amazing java! Their decor is spot on, the staff is super friendly and they have a small down/small business type of focus/feel. I also grind and brew their coffee at home too (thanks Anne-Marie and Mike). Cheers to another year of great coffee!

APRIL

Not only does Guelph have great coffee shops, it's also a food lovers 'go to' for amazing restaurants. This is one of my favourite brunch (well really any meal, but especially brunch) spots in town, 39 Carden Street Bistro. Our bloggers group has enjoyed their scrumptiousness and has written about this establishment in the past and my friends and I enjoy their wares quite frequently. On the day pictured, a friend and I were out for brunch, planning a grand adventure.

Speaking of grand adventures......a good friend and I traveled to the City of Lights in April....talk about a trip of a lifetime! We stayed in a beautiful boutique hotel, immersed ourselves in the Parisian lifestyle and had our breath taken away on more than one occasion by this absolutely stunning city and its architecture. It truly was the grandest of grand experiences!

Back home, after 5 years and a few wobbles, it was time for a new back deck! I was lucky enough to have a wonderful crew build this stunner for me and you'll have to wait and see how it all came together for a summer of fun and entertaining!

MAY

My bestie and I went to see these guys.....my favourite band (Pearl Jam) and THE man, Mr. Eddie Vedder, with a voice unlike any other! It was an evening to remember....and we even stayed at the King Edward (a lil play on Eddie) in downtown Toronto!

May also means it's time to start gardening! I always make my own planters/urns and I needed to replace some perennials in the front garden this year too. I just love gardening...it gets me outside, away from the computer and the end result is always so rewarding. 

Welcome to my Summer oasis! I'm so very happy with how this turned out and after many great days/nights back here this past summer, I can't wait for next summer and making more memories surrounded by fairy lights, under the canopy of the walnut trees.

JUNE

Some very special ladies gave me this mug and if you follow my on Instagram, you will see that it is definitely one of my favs! I use the word 'holistic' A LOT (they can attest to this) and we were always going a million miles a minutes (hence the needs to hustle), so it's absolutely perfect!

Just before I switched jobs in a June, a gal pal and I squeezed in a weekend trip to St. John's Newfoundland.

We fell in love with this province....its stunning landscape, its incredible friendly people, its delicious food and beverages.....we hiked everywhere, enjoyed some of the best meals I've ever had, saw icebergs and Puffins and I can't wait to go back!

What better way to kick off the summer (and wrap up the first six months of 2016), then with great friends, amazing food, a beautiful backyard, a bonfire, laughter, LOTS of wine and a celebration of some amazing women! 

Cheers to the first six months and stay tuned for another post of what the rest of the year had in store for me!

RR

See you in September.....

...See you when the Summer's through....

Is it just me, or has time moved to fast forward mode? It seems like just yesterday it was April, the new deck was being built and I was looking forward to a Summer of sun and fun!

It is now Fall, I have no idea where Summer went (not that it wasn't full of sun and fun), but my gosh, before we know it, it will be Christmas.

Don't get me wrong, I had a great Summer. Lots of things going on, new beginnings, new adventures, time spent with old friends and new friends, but most of all....new memories have been made and for that, I'm grateful!

The first few months of summer are captured below in photos that when I look at them, bring a smile to my face....

As I mentioned above, it was time for a new deck. A great crew of guys spent 3 days in April, through snow and rain (yes, remember how chilly April was) and built me my gorgeous new sanctuary! I had been waiting 5 years for this so I thought, hey, if I'm getting a new deck, I should likely get some new outdoor furniture too. After a ridiculous amount of research, looking, scouting etc, I ended up with this sectional/dining set from JYSK as well as 2 new loungers. 

Many an afternoon/evening were spent back here, either with friends, family or in perfect solitude. This was truly my early summer hi-light and I'm looking forward to the many years of enjoyment still to come!

It wouldn't be a Southwestern Ontario Summer without time spent at the lake....Lake Huron that is. From Southampton to Port Elgin, Kincardine to Goderich and of course Bayfield, all of these beautiful lake towns were frequented on various weekends.

There were pizza picnics, shopping sprees, sunsets, sand between our toes and the glorious sunshine on the days we got in the car and headed to this body of water that has drawn me to it every year for the past 37 years. I feel very fortunate to have grown up quite close to these towns and this lake and am even more grateful that I still get to enjoy them in all of their glory today!

Whether it was beside a camp fire, a night at the races or on a golf course, there sure was a lot of laughter (and even a few tears) this summer. We all need more laughter in our lives! From old stories, to crazy horse names, to realllllly bad drives off the tee, it's been really nice to have tears of joy run down my cheeks as I'm surrounded by those that mean the most!

I spent a lot of time with just me, myself and I this Summer too (that does happen when you live by yourself I suppose), but I really do cherish that time to myself. Whether I'm reading, organizing, making lists, planning or just lying in the sun on a lounger on the deck, this time for 'me' is so critical and important. It was a summer that helped me realize what's truly important to me on many levels and evenings spent like the one pictured above on the back patio, have helped me re-focus and realize what matters most!

I hope you all had a wonderful Summer and cheers to the change in seasons ahead!

RR

A Lot Can Happen In A Year!

2015..

A year I will never, ever forget... a lot sure can happen in a year.

A year of heartache, new beginnings, new paths being built, time spent in the country, time spent in the city, time with family, time with friends, tears, laughter and reflection...

I want to say a HUGE "Thank you" to family and friends for your love and support this year. I can honestly say that you have all been what has kept me going on many occasions this year..... Again.... Thank you! xoxo

The photo above is a snapshot of my 2015 and it not only reflects the year that has happened, but the year to come ahead too....

Time spent with friends, time spent outdoors, time at home, healthy living, my Charlie Bear, diving into home decor inspiration and liking the small joys that a simple life brings.

I plan on continuing to live a simple life, enjoying the little things, making memories and really embracing life and living it! Every single moment!

2015, you prepared me for just about anything life could throw at me.

I've grown personally and professionally. I've developed a few more life lines (ie. wrinkles) and a thicker skin. There has been much laughter and many tears. Through it all, I've remained me and have hopefully become a better version of me.

Cheers to the year ahead....2016, I'm ready for you!!

RR

In The Blink Of An Eye...

I'm lounging in bed listening to Ray LaMontagne's 'For the Summer' and it hits me just how quickly this Summer flew by! I know we say this every year, but this year it has literally gone by in a blink of an eye! 

The photo above was taken one early Summer evening at the country house and Charlie and I were both enjoying just lying in the freshly cut grass, taking in all that is country living (and he was also on high alert due to all the bunnies hopping around us). 

Charlie loves going to the lake just as much as I do. He spent an afternoon swimming in the waves and it was like my 10 year old was a puppy again. I practically had to drag him back to the truck...he didn't want to leave!

I seem to have spent a lot of time at the lake this Summer.... Port Elgin, Sauble Beach, Bayfield, Kincardine.....the shores of Lake Huron are one of the places I love to escape to whenever I can.

A friend and her family and I spent a day at MacGregor Point Provincial Park. We hiked along the shore line, waded in the water and had a nice relaxing evening by the fire.... It was time to put our feet up after walking 20,000 steps that day. We also watched the sunset and was it ever spectacular!...I've written about this before, but you will be hard pressed to find a more beautiful sunset then those you can watch along the shore of Lake Huron!

We also had our second annual Gals Week at the cottage in Sauble Beach. It was a week of amazing weather, lots of sunshine, sand between our toes, frosty beverages, some shopping and again, enjoying all the beauty that the shore of Lake Huron has to offer. It was such a great week and I can't wait till next year!

It was also a Summer of 'get togethers'....whether it was a potluck brunch at a neighbour's house up the street (isn't that a scrumptious looking spread above?) or a night with gal pals with pizza and taste testing some local craft beer, it was so good to be able to get together with those that matter most!

It was also a Summer that included a lot of gardening! The gardens at the Country House were expanded and we made many stops at local garden centres, such as Wild Things near Clifford Ontario, to help fill the space around the house..There's something almost therapeutic about getting your hands dirty, putting the plants in the ground, watching them grow over the Summer and seeing how the garden changes as the Summer extends into Fall.

And of course, it wouldn't be Summer without nights out on my back deck. I didn't spend as much time out there as I would have liked to this summer, but when I did, it was so relaxing and it allows me to forget that I live in the middle of a city.

I hope you had an amazing summer too....and cheers to the sweater and boots season that lies ahead!

RR

5 Years....

I can't believe I've been blogging for 5 years..... 

5 years..... Half a decade..... 

As I look back through the memories, posts and events, I experience every emotion possible. It is the ultimate roller coaster ride and I'm so grateful to have this online journal, my story, full of joy, sorrow, happiness, sadness, excitement, disappointment, hellos and goodbyes....

Blogging hasn't just been a way  for me to capture stories and memories, blogging has actually facilitated and allowed quite a few of those memory making events to occur. If I hadn't started blogging, so many wonderful people would not have entered my life and if there's one thing I cherish other than the journal of memories my blog has created, it is the friendships that have formed because of how people share the love of creativity, writing and inspiring others.

I never would have guessed that four years ago when I moved into my city cottage that there'd be 5-6 other bloggers within a 4 minute walk and these gals are some of the most amazing women you'll ever meet. I'm so blessed to have them as sounding boards,sources of inspiration and most importantly, friends.

We sit in each other's living rooms, on each other's decks or in restaurants and pubs, brunching, munching, drinking, sharing, venting, motivating, brainstorming, laughing, crying, having moments of strength, moments of weakness and most of all, we unconditionally help each other grow and get to that next step.

I can say with absolute certainty that I could not have made it through the past 4 years without these amazing women (and all of my other friends for that matter) and I thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for all of the "absolute wonderfulness" you've brought to my life.

I've sat at this desk,surrounded by inspiration, and written many posts. Almost everything in that room is a source of inspiration for me, from the desk my brother made me, to notes from friends, to the quotes on the wall. I can't help but feel like creating when I'm in that space.

That's another great thing about blogging....Very few blog posts are completed without photos, so in addition to having memories in the written form, I also have them in the photographic form as well.

Whenever I need a 'pick me up', I look through my photo album on my phone and a smile comes to my face. The day at the beach, a stunning sunrise/sunset, Charlie snoozin' on the couch, a scrumptious dinner, a great home decor find at the market...every one of those photos holds some sort of significance and to be able to share them but also keep them for posterity on the blog means a lot to me.

I think I get my love of photography from my Dad. He never went far without a camera in his hand and I will cherish the photos he took forever.

One of my favourite things about blogging is developing the story behind the post and the various ways to share that post once it has been polished to the point of hitting the "publish" button.

Most of my posts start with a photo and develop from there. For instance, the photo above is one I took on a hike in Kananaskis Alberta. The photo summed up the elements of the day perfectly (the spectacular beauty, the rugged terrain underfoot, the towering mountains still covered in snow that slowed out climb, the crisp blue sky) and the post literally just rolled out from under my fingertips. I wanted to share every minute of that day and the exhilaration I felt with every step up that mountainside.

Once the post is up, let the fun begin by sharing it with others. From posting more photos on Instagram to writing a blurb on Facebook and even 'tweeting' on Twitter, the word needs to get out that a new post is up and ready for review! To say I'm mildly addicted to certain social media platforms is a very safe statement to make. I must say that Instagram is my favourite, as a 2 minute flip through, and 'hearting' photos is one of the best mid day pick ups one could have!

Perhaps my biggest 'fan' (and the world's best proofreader - aka retired English Teacher) is my Mom. I bounce so many ideas off her; she keeps me true to the written form as it should be (though I do sneak in a few "Ardis-isms' here and there) and I value her feedback more so than anyone else. Cheers to you Ma and the next 5 years of our journey!

Thank you too to the publications, individuals, friends and fellow bloggers who have shared my work over the past 5 years. Seeing your name in print or hearing how your work has inspired others never, ever gets old...and it makes your heart beat a little faster in sheer happiness!

And then there's Charlie...My furry, four legged, tail wagging muse.... The creature that always brings a smile to my face.....The "retrieval" in Rustic Retrievals... I can't imagine the last 5 years (actually 10 years) without him as my sidekick!

At the end of the day, first and foremost, I blog for me... for myself. It is an outlet, a way to capture memories, a way I hope to inspire others, a way to share ideas...and as I mentioned above, it's my story to the world. I can't wait to see what the next 5 years have to bring and I hope you continue to join me for the ride!!!

RR

Anchored to Friends...

I came home to this invite and bracelet in my mail box late last Fall... little did I know the Gals Weekend at The Rock would be as much fun as it was! You get 12 girls under one roof for a weekend and there's bound to be tonnes of laughter, great food and drink, amazing company and new friendships made.

I really only knew our hostess and had met a few of the other girls once or twice at a house party or birthday, but I knew any friend of our hostess would be a pretty cool gal and sure enough, what a fantastic group of gals it was! We even had our own hashtag and motto for the weekend... #livelifeanchoredtofriends ... 

This was the view out of the front window of The Rock (aka my friend's family's Lake House in Port Elgin). I always love getting to the lake in the winter as you never know what wonders Mother Nature may have in store for you. Their home is absolutely gorgeous and if I should ever build my own home, I'm going to instill the assistance of my friend's Mom in the design of it as every detail of this home is perfection! 

We even had a mascot for the weekend....

Meet Randy!! I think I need a Randy for my house!

This was a 'no jeans allowed' weekend, therefore, we lounged in our Lulu's, ate, drank, played card games, ate and drank some more, got to know each other, laughed, watched movies and ate and drank some more. Absolute girly perfection!

This is just an example of the scrumptiously yummy food we had in abundance all weekend! Needless to say, at one point I felt I needed to burn a few calories and went for a walk down to the harbour and main beach.

Winter along Lake Huron is always stormy and snowy, but beautiful! This is the lake town I frequented most often growing up, so it felt almost surreal to be on that beach all by myself. I'm used to being there in the summer with it being super busy (see this post from this past summer) but it was really cool to look around and be the one and only person there.

On the Sunday before we left we decided to explore Lake Huron...Literally on top of Lake Huron. The gals scaled 'The Twin Peaks' and had shot putt competitions with the gorgeous ice orbs that had formed.

Here is our hostess with the mostest (below), Captain Carlie.... Talk about a wonderful, thoughtful woman with a heart of gold who I am very lucky to call my friend!  Not only is she uber thoughtful, but her attention to detail is second to none! She got each of us a memento to remember the weekend by and according to the temp tattoos she also got for us, it was "Party Time" allllll weekend long!!

Here we all are....... This was right before we jumped into a game of Cards Against Humanity.... Talk about a great way to get to know the people you're with!

I can't thank Carlie (and her family) enough for allowing us to spend the weekend in their home-away-from-home. It was a weekend full of so many memory making moments and I hope to see these gals again soon!

LIVE LIFE ANCHORED TO FRIENDS!!!

RR

Christmas Means to Me....

Christmas means transforming my home for the holidays by bringing out some sparkle and shimmer.....

Christmas means beautiful simplicity.....

Christmas means getting creative.....

Christmas means enjoying the creative talent of others and supporting local boutiques and shops ....Gorgeous as always Blushshop!

Christmas means traditions and making memories with friends....

Christmas means bringing the beauty of Mother Nature into your home....

Christmas means sitting back and enjoying the view.......

Christmas means snowflakes, red, white and family.......

Christmas means smiles, memories and Ho Ho Ho.......

As beautiful and happy as this time of year is.......It is also a time that can be not so happy. We do our best to focus on the good times.....the great times.....especially when we're surrounded by such joy and cheer....but we also tend to be reminded of those times that involved loss into our lives....that brought sadness. 

Christmas means two more things...and these are so very key! Christmas means to be grateful for who and what we have in our lives and it also means to reflect on and remember who and what we DID have. I find myself looking at pictures more often this time of year....seeing the smiling faces of moments that have passed by can be bittersweet. For that moment captured on film, life was just that....smiles and laughter...something to be so grateful for. But those smiling and happy people may no longer be with us...and while their smile makes you smile, your eyes fill with tears as you reflect and remember.

The holiday season can really be an emotional roller coaster for a number of reasons. When I find myself in a bit of a low spot on the holiday ride, I remember what Christmas means to me and I act on it. Whether I head downtown to admire the store windows or I curl up on the couch with a warm beverage, light all the Christmas lights and become enveloped with their glow...that low spot quickly starts moving up hill and smiles return.

A while back, I blogged about holiday stressors and ways to ensure you take care of you this Christmas. I hope you're doing that..taking care of you! Enjoying the season, just how you want to...remembering what Christmas means to you...

My wish and hope for you this holiday season is that it brings you a thousand reasons to smile.....and adds even more items/moments/memories to your list of what Christmas means to you...

RR

Small Business Everyday (not just Saturday)

The Abbey Interiors and Boutique - Guelph, Ontario

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you know I am a HUGE supporter of local and small businesses! I feel that Small Business Saturday really should be Small Business Everyday as these shops and boutiques bring us so many unique and wonderful items. By shopping from your local or small town merchants, whether they be in a store front or online, you are supporting families, neighbours and your friends...and...you are getting amazingly wonderful and one of a kind pieces in return!

There won't be a lot of writing in this blog....The photos are a list of my 'go to' small and local businesses. Just click on the photos and they will take you to the websites for these fantastic shops and boutiques! 

Remember..... #SHOPLOCAL

Blushshop - Guelph, Ontario

Coriander - Guelph, Ontario

Knitley Road (and A Paper Buffet) - Etsy         *Photo by Knitley Road

life i design - Online

Paperfelt Paper Goods - Online

Pixel Paper Hearts - Online

Hive - Bayfield, Ontario

Jacha Minerals - At Three Salon in Guelph, Ontario and Online 

The Garage Home Decor - Belmore, Ontario

Fairly Frosted Vegan Bakery - Guelph

You can also support your local restaurants too! Southwestern Ontario has some AMAZING chefs and a plethora of resources for local food sourcing and cuisine! Take advantage of local talent and scrumptious food by eating at your favourite local bistros, diners and restaurants. Here are some of mine:

39 Carden St - Guelph, Ontario

The Barley Vine Rail Co - Orangeville, Ontario

Atmosphere Cafe - Guelph, Ontario

Ox - Guelph, Ontario

I hope you have a chance to get out this weekend and enjoy your local businesses and restaurants! There's something special and very much needed about supporting those friend and neighbours around you, to help them grow their business so you can continue to go back and enjoy their wares!

RR

Traditions....

I'm a huge fan of traditions.....

When we were kids, every year at Christmas time we'd load up a sleigh with all the neighbours and go for a night time sleigh ride, pulled by two Clydesdales, with us all bundled up in snow suits and under blankets, looking at the stars and hoping we'd see Santa fly over. Every Fall, I make a point of going back to my alma mater, the University of Western Ontario/Western University, for the Homecoming football game and festivities...I still can't believe it's been 12 years since graduation.

One of my favourite traditions though, is the annual trip to the beach with my gal pal Kristy for our birthdays. She's one day older than me and we've been celebrating together since we met in grade 9. I'll never forget our 16th birthday....we arrived home to my house to a Pacer...yes, a car that was older than both she and I at the time, and we proceeded to do everything in our power to get that car stuck in the muck, somewhere on the 50 acres...and get it stuck we did!! 

As we've gotten older, we no longer try to get cars stuck (though we still have between then and now...gotta love Country Gals) and we definitely don't get to see each other nearly enough....so when we do, we make the most out of every minute!

This year, for a bit of a milestone birthday for us both, we headed up to Port Elgin (another town that holds lots of memories for us as that was one of our 'go to' lake towns growing up) and Southampton to spend the day with our toes in the sand and the sun on our face. We had breakfast down on the water at a little resto that's been in the Port Elgin Harbour as long as I've been going there (ie. well over 30 years), we wandered out the break wall, down the beach and just relished the time re-living and remembering almost 20 years of friendship!

Port Elgin Harbour...

Port Elgin Break Wall

Get Kristy and I together, even after months of not seeing each other, and it's like we just saw each other yesterday. We are quite a pair of Gemini 'twins', always encouraging one another to dive right into life and get our feet wet!

She has such cute, tiny feet!!

We then headed over to Southampton, driving the lake road between the two towns. It truly was THE perfect summer day to be at the lake.....

Southampton Beach...

Cheers to great friends, Cheers to traditions and Cheers to the memories that those friends and traditions bring into our lives!

RR