Last night we attended a function in Toronto for the Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC) - it was truly a family affair with Stephen preparing mini Ruebens (made with our very own beef, naturally) and serving Red Fife Wheat Shortbread cookies, while Greg, Peter and I mingled with the writers.

The shortbread cookies were popular, with several munchers requesting the recipe....
so here goes....Red Fife Wheat will be grown on property this summer (very historical if you didn't know...)

Red Fife Wheat Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients:
Butter 3 lbs
Sugar 1.5 lbs
Eggs 4 (of course we use our own fresh eggs)
Red Fife Flour 2.5 lbs
Hard Flour 2 lbs
Baking Powder 1 oz

Cream butter and sugar, add eggs, then add flours and baking powder. Blend together.
Roll out and use your cutest cookie cutters or cut in unimaginative squares.
Bake at 300 degrees F until the cookies are light brown.

Jazz them up with herbs - we served rosemary - add the herbs with the flours.

Enjoy! If you don't want to bake this low-cal treat, join us for Sunday Brunch, where they are featured on the dessert buffet.

What started as a cool, dull day ended with a beautiful moon on the lake...pretty romantic.

The day was productive....renovations in the spa are coming along; the students with Adventures in Tourism (a Rotary Club initiative) seem to be enjoying their orientation into hospitality; Sunshine is very robust and comes running when she thinks you might be the afternoon bottle feeder; the grounds are being raked and the horses are anxious to get on the trails. Spring is in the air....

Just noticed there is space in the middle of July....not too late to book your family vacation.

It was amazing to see the ducks and geese cruising on Rice Lake this morning - clearly they are happy to be back. You will be too!


Eating local continues to be more than a trend - check out Good Food Revolution @ http://goodfoodrev.com/ The article "What Local is Really About" by Chef John Lee describes his take on the subject. Please read the account of the recent winemakers dinner....it's well done!

Woke up this morning and the ice is gone...one last floater by the superior cottages...should be missing by noon. The bluejays, ducks, geese and squirrels are busy at the feeders....no herons yet.

Things are heating up for the Victoria Weekend (May 21) and the Eastern Ontario Adventure Rally (May 28 weekend)....have you booked? Don't be disappointed!

The Spa continues to operate in Cottage #2 while the exercise room and spa area in the main building are renovated. Spring is a good time for a massage to get rid of the winter kinks.

Next up is Easter - Brunch is popular with locals. Just so you know, the Easter Bunny stops here so it's an ideal weekend getaway! Happy Spring!

On February 20, 2010 Jamie Wallace and Mike Racine were married here at the Resort, their photos are so engaging and fun I couldn't resist featuring them - photographer Gerri Weatherbee did an amazing job of capturing their fun-loving personalities and the mood of the day! What a great start to a wonderful life together!


Renovations will begin on the Spa and exercise room this week....no concerns for the indoor swimming pool and sauna. I'll post the plans as soon as I can snag them.

Bluejays are back.....
they seem to like peanuts.....











Spring is here and of course we had a light snowfall just to prove it! At the barn, Sunshine continues to do well with her surrogate mothers (Albert, Peter, myself and others)- she is looking very healthy and playful. You must go to the barn and visit.

Plans are coming together for the Vintage Boat Invitational (for the Renaissance Mariner) July 04 here at Elmhirst's Resort. Drivers and watercraft must total over 100 years so you can imagine the stories and photo opportunities that day. Interested? Call and leave your contact information so we can send you regular updates.

New names for blog....vote for your favourite: 1) Living the Dream 2) the underground 3) Cottage Candid 4) Days and Nights in Paradise 5) Undiscovered

Love to hear from you!

Enjoy the week ahead.

It's March Break at the Resort and we've been busy with crafts, farm walks, collecting eggs, pony rides, wagon rides, wine tasting, kiting, decorating cookies and campfires - not to mention wii machine competitions and swimming......the weather has been glorious for bike riding and our pine cone bird feeders are a big hit - robins have been spotted! The indoor swimming pool is filled with future Olympians and a few mothers have managed a massage.....it's a great week! Still time for a few days off.....

The Sportsmen Show is on in Toronto but who wants to be indoors?

I normally take daily photos - this week has been so much fun I haven't had time! Promise to show you the early morning view of the lake tomorrow.

Martina has the Easter tree cut and ready to decorate with her hand painted eggs......it should be in bloom for Easter. Have you made your Easter Sunday Brunch reservations?

Peter has his motorcycle out and has been looking for riders....it must be spring!

Meet Sunshine, the orphaned calf at the stables...her mother died in calfbirth and Albert has taken over the daily feedings. Come on up to the barn and visit.




Plans are well underway for the July 04th Floating Poker Run (driver and boat must total 100 years or more). Standby for details.

It was strange watching the Opening Ceremonies for the Paralympics and not being involved...the games promise to be very exciting! Catch the sledge hockey if you can.

My last day in Vancouver was bittersweet - looking forward to returning to Rice Lake but sad to leave. Nice day on the beach.
Colourful streets herald spring.
The colours are so inviting!








Remember my turkey invaders at the window? This seagull must be related....he would not go away - freaky!







Just in case you were wondering....the Oscar party was a big hit! We ate junk food, critiqued the gowns and picked the winners....we were good!

Leaving Black Rock, the waves and the views, was difficult enough but we were rewarded with pods of dolphins dancing and jumping beside the ferry back to Horseshoe Bay.








Friday was a spring day with cherry blossoms and sunshine (the mountain lions were clearly guarding the city). Things are gearing up for the Paralympics....only a week away.

I'm trying to see all the Oscar nominated films so I can argue for my favourites on Sunday night - I'd love to hear back with your choices. Although I enjoyed Avatar I don't think it's the best picture I've seen.....too many other brilliant options.

Went on a spirit walk today on the Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet - saw an eagle, tame wildlife, whales and some humans.













Crashing waves are mesmerizing. As you can see, it was a perfect day on the coast. This is my Canada!

Siwash Rock in Stanley Park always makes me feel small. It was hard to get motivated today - no people around, no venues to visit, no specific job to complete...Vancouver is getting lonely.





Boarded the ferry for Nanaimo this afternoon enroute to Ucluelet, on the west side of Vancouver Island. My friend has a unit at Black Rock Oceanfront Resort (it's amazing) - can't wait to get out walking tomorrow. The waves are crashing on the rocks beneath my window and the stars are so close....more tomorrow.

Today I was a tourist rediscovering the Vancouver I love. On the 10 km walk around Stanley Park there are great views of the Olympic rings with the skyline in the background. It was lovely to see delegates from other countries enjoying the quiet beauty of the Park. Where did all the people go?

The sails of Canada Place are very distinct and the new Convention Centre has a green roof (grass growing)...ideal for driving golf balls into the water.....

These laughing buddhas at English Bay just crack me up....this is only part of the corner display. Everytime I see them I am reminded not to take myself too seriously.

My work mates met on the dance floor of the Volunteers Party tonight, because that's what friends do! We had a blast. I'm going to miss everyone I worked with....base, out.

The evening was yet another thank you from the Vancouver 2010 Team - as volunteers we have been treated royally -so recognized and motivated.....we don't want to go home!

Whatever you paid for a ticket to the Mens Gold Medal Hockey Game, you got your money's worth today! What a game! The streets of Vancouver were absolutely bare until Crosby scored his overtime goal - then the city overflowed. It may take several days to register the electricity in the air. Both teams played their hearts out and the fans were appreciative - Team USA was hot! What an amazing close to a great Olympic Games. Is it safe to say "we own the podium"?

I'm so very proud to be Canadian, to have had the opportunity to be here, volunteering - it was a high - and I didn't even get a medal! Thank you to everyone who followed my blog and sent along comments or emails....glad to know you were interested.

In our Communications Centre we were busy with preparations for the Closing Ceremonies....here's my group of co-workers behind the scenes. Secret squirrel operation.....

After the fireworks, after the crowds emptied out and we closed up, it was eerie walking home and seeing some of the venues almost completely taken down. I can't even imagine what Vancouver will be like tomorrow.

We have a few days to recuperate and then everything gears up again for the Paralympics. Wonder if they'll need experienced volunteers for Sochi,Russia in 2014?

Thinking ahead to March Break and how I can incorporate my Olympic training into family programs...can you stand it?