Niagara Falls

Well, I have a ton of amazing photos from Niagara Falls; however, I am out of time- I must go to sleep as I need to wake up and go to work where I must add our new location to my insurance, file a bunch of bills that I am behind in filing, move the entire supplement and canned food section as we are to receive a new walk-in freezer "tomorrow," and so much more.  I hope that I can finish catching up before Halloween! 

This is where we walked the dogs!  Amphitheater overlooking the falls!

A few photos, before I go to bed- these are the photos of our morning before we headed on to "Maid of the Mist."  Note the glare- that's because we are looking out of the window of the dining room of our hotel!!

JP and I at lunch overlooking Niagara Falls!

After breakfast/lunch at the hotel, we headed out to "Maid of the Mist."  I have a lot of amazing pictures, but no more time, so next post will be beautiful waterfall pics . . . and much more.  Have a great day after Labor Day! 

OK, so I know this is a lot in one day, but let me remind you, I won't get another opportunity for quite some time.  So, our summer trip continues . . .  we leave our family behind in Bayfield, Ontario, Canada, and drive to Niagara Falls, Canada!

We stayed at pet-friendly Sheraton Hotel right on the Falls.  Directly across the street was an outdoor ampitheater:

JP with the dogs in the park across from the Niagara Falls.

Benny looks at the USA Niagara Falls!

Benny sits on the couch at the Sheraton on the Falls!

Vixen says goodbye as we head out to see the Falls. 

We did the Fury(video intro,) Maid of the Mist and the Journey Behind the Falls.  The dogs had to hang out at the hotel while we toured Niagara Falls.

JP and I (he doesn't want his picture taken) at Niagara's Fury, a 4-D preview the night before we did the falls.

That night, we watched the moon set over the falls and headed back to our room.

Benny eyes the "Sheraton" bed . . .

Vixen rests his head on the "Sheraton" bed.

And thus we went to bed ourselves, and awaited our visit under the falls the next morning.  To be included in the next post . . .

Wow, I can't believe how long it is taking me to share a single vacation- good think we don't take many!  Well, I'm enjoying it, and I hope you are too. 
So, the next morning I woke to this . . .

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and a ray of sunshine with Vixen!

Little Ava of Sunshine shared her morning with Benny . . .

Kitten, Ernie

And before we knew it, it was time for us to leave . . .

Ava helps put in the dogs' West Paw Eco Naps, and Jackson wants to come with us too!

And so, we say good-bye and head on to our next stop, Greene, NY.

More Canada Trip

Ah, it's been fun posting the pictures of our brief stay in Canada- it's like reliving all of the best moments from my home here in Raleigh, and not thinking about the days (months) of work ahead.  And so, I carry on . . .
And here is a picture that is made possible by a high-school best friend of mine who has a great blog, in which she created "GPOYW" which means, "Gratuitous Picture Of Yourself Wednesday."  It's not Wednesday, but who knows when I'll actually blog on a Wednesday, so here is another picture of me, despite my not liking pictures of me, thanks to Julie, and to my favorite round-the-clock photographer, Ava.  I have just woken up, showered, and donned my pinkest shirt for Ava (again, no makeup and my hair's still wet- I'm on vacation after all!) (Oh, and when the wine I'm currently drinking (a local, Cypress Bend, NC Table Wine) wears off, I will totally want to delete the pictures of me, but I won't because I'll be too busy working!)

Jackson, the un-tire-able Weimaraner!

We took over the table!  Instead of their normal raw diet, our dogs dined on Ziwi Peak or Stella & Chewy's, & their supplements- Bug-Off Garlic, Whole Dog Daily (we shared with Jackson who had an upset tummy,) and Healthy Motion (for Joints.)  My niece was awesome at feeding them and making sure they had enough water!

Ernie the kitten!  Smokey, my parents' dog that I found for them at the flea market, discovered this kitten during their Bayfield stay!  And now, he's an integral part of the family!

Again, Benny and comfy spots, there is no separation!  (Please ignore the laundry, it was a very small room!)

We headed to the beach, which was warm, but super windy; so, there were lots of people on the sand, but only crazies (like us North Carolinians, in the water!)

Jackson fetches the Zisc!

It was extremely windy, and JP and I swam out to the ship, which was actually purposely sunk to help with erosion.  Since conditions made it like an ocean it took us an extremely long time to swim out, and we even thought about turning back; but if you know us, you know we never give up, and would have made it there if one of us needed the other to drag them.  We jumped off of the ship, swam back and went back to the cabin, to relax in the hammock.  (Karen, if you have those pictures of us jumping off, when others wouldn't, could you send them to me?)

Hammock, Vixen, Jackson, Cabin, and kids in the background.

Vixen, in his swimming, Dublin collar, watching a bunny in the distance . . .

So, if swimming is not an option, laying in a hammock in the warm sunshine definitely is . . .

ME, as taken by AVA

JP, as taken also by Ava.  Now, see the vacation in this photo, and revel in it: tie-dye shirt, hammock, book, beer, bluff overlooking lake . . .

Now, just add Vixen . . .

My niece, Ava, with my boys!

Vixen, at my hammock, wanting some lovin!

My cousin Ava, with my boys!  I love them all!

Benny, tired as he is, won't give up a tennis game!

Benny was worn out by the much younger, Jackson Weimaraner, but is never going to admit it!

Laying in a hammock on a bluff, looking at my most noble, regal, mutt . . . what could be better?

And thus ends another wonderful vacation day . . . until the next post . . .

Bayfield, Ontario continued

A few weeks before we went to Bayfield, my parents did.  They experienced a super heat wave (while we had one here in Raleigh.)  Now, a heat wave at a beach (it may be a lake, but it looks like an ocean) would be OK in my book- lots of swimming!  But, when we got there, we instead got a "storm-wave" instead.  Lots of overcast skies and a lake that was wavier than an ocean- literally, should have brought a surfboard!  So, we did some Main Street shopping (we have some great new wall art in our house, and, most surprisingly, a kitchen hutch- you'll have to ask if you want a pic or more details about that one) and some book reading, and we visited a Mennonite Farm, and the "city" of Goderich, and we hung out, played games, and Ava practiced her photography.  I have lots of pictures, so feast your eyes . . .

Benny and Vixen lounging around the cabin, with Brendon in the background!

 

Brendon could at last use his Canadian umbrella hat!  There's a reason to like rain!

 

 

 

 

This one's for you, Karen, a face only a mother could love.  . . just kidding, my adorable niece passes the time! (Looks kinda like me, doesn't it?)

 

 

 

 

We found this "Canada" shirt at the store, and thought maybe it will fit Ernie . . .

While you're feeling either happy or sad for the kitten in the Canada shirt, you can also see the screened-in dining room overlooking the grassy yard and Lake Huron (those chairs in the distance is where you sit to watch the sunset.)

The busy screened-in front porch: Jackson, Benny, Me, JP, Brendon- screened-in porches overlooking lakes in cabins with no air get lots of action!

A picture of yours truly; I don't like pictures of me, but this one is courtesy of my favorite photographer, Ava!  But, as a note, I am wearing NO makeup, have been swimming, and taking walks (and not showers due to the limited well-water,) and the bump on my left cheek is actually a scar (where I had skin cancer removed- another of those if you want more details, please write to me and I'll be happy to share more.)

And my photographer, my niece, my favorite little girl, Ava!  This photo was totally her idea- taken through the open window over my bed in the cottage!

Benny finds himself a comfortable spot in any bed!

Vixen awaits the sunset (you may notice that we got the three boys matching bandannas before we went to Canada, from our Christmas in July sale!)

The boys watching the sunset over the bluff!

The sun sets on another vacation day in Canada.