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.

Bayfield, Ontario

And so we finally made it to Bayfield.  Bayfield is a picturesque small town on the coast of Lake Huron in Ontario, Canada.  There are no stoplights, no malls, no movie theaters, no . . . well, instead of what there is not, it is shorter to say what there is.  There is a lovely center of town which is a park, including a gazebo, a playground, and some grass.  Around it there are a couple of lovely, quaint, churches, a small convenience grocery store, and a community center.  Just next to the center park, is "main street" which is complete with two ice cream shops (and the commercial part of main street is less than a mile long,) many boutiques, restaurants, bars, a library, a bookstore, several art studios, and an inn (oh, and a dog store too, which we were sure to patronize, several times!)  You can get internet in front of the library (in it I'm sure too) and that's about it.  A couple blocks away from this "main street" is Lake Huron, with many beach accesses, a cute public park overlooking the lake, and a marina.  On a bluff overlooking the lake, sits an adorable cottage, and that is where we were lucky enough to stay, with our two dogs!  My brother's wife's mother owns this cottage, that was passed down to her, and is a super sweet lady and was generous to let us stay for a week in their paradise.  The cottage is rustic and charming- no internet, no air conditioning, just a breeze off of the lake and some lovely sunsets!  The dogs loved the very flat, very green yard that encircles the house- they ran many laps round and round the house with their "cousins."  The first night we spent with our "mother of our sister-in-law" whatever you call her, beyond wonderful (we call her Margie,) my niece, Ava, and Margie's dog, "Missy."  It was a bit stormy, but all of the dogs had fun anyhow.

Water Wubba is Vixen's love!

The next morning, Margie headed back home to Michigan, and shortly after, my Brother, Stephen, his wife, Karen, one of my nephews, Brendon, their 1-2 year old, rescued Weimaraner, Jackson, and their brand new kitten, Ernie, joined us at the cabin.  My other nephew, Spencer, instead embarked on a boyscout adventure to Jamboree!  Anyhow, you're probably ready for some pictures by now, so here they come.  It was stormy most of the day, but we got a couple of hours to play with the dogs down by the lake (well, and in the lake too!)

Benny retrieves his "West Paw Zisc"

Vixen retrieves his Water Wubba!

My nephew, Brendon, throws the ball for Jackson, while Benny brings back the Zisc!

Jackson swam until we left, Vixen has his Wubba, and Benny has his Zisc!

The sun sets . . .

The dogs had so much fun, but eventually the sun came down, and we went up (the hill, to the cabin.)

My niece, Ava, and her dog, Jackson, in front of the sunset!

 My niece, Ava, found a new passion in photography and took many, many pictures with my camera, including this family shot in front of the cottage:

In front of the cabin, watching the sunset (from left to right): me, Jackson (look over my chair,) Stephen, Karen, and Brendon

 And so, that day ends, and I move to the next post (in the interest of keeping things from rambling on and on . . .)