Sunday, February 26, 2012

Winter Break

Just to get away from the mid-winter blahs, John and Margaret-Ann booked an overnight stay at the Oban Inn in Niagara-on-the-Lake for Saturday, February 25th.

On the way there, they stopped at the Fielding Estates Winery in Beamsville for a little decadent pleasure – a pairing of five wines with various chocolates, two milk chocolates and three dark chocolates, from around the world… wonderful!!!

They arrived in Niagara-on-the-Lake late in the afternoon and, after checking into the Oban Inn, went for a walk through Town, ending up at Queen’s Royal Park at the mouth of the Niagara River.

Back at the Oban Inn, John and Margaret-Ann had time to relax for awhile before changing and making the short drive along the picturesque Niagara River Parkway to St. David’s for a lovely dinner at the Ravine Bistro Restaurant.

At breakfast the next morning at the Oban Inn, the waitress turned out to be from Cologne. John and Margaret-Ann told her of their wonderful trip to Germany this past summer and the waitress told them to stop at Denniger’s Foods Of The World in Burlington if they wanted some traditional German style food.

On the way back to Brampton, they did stop at Derringer’s and picked up some great looking Leberkäse (German meatloaf) and Maultaschen (a kind of German ravioli) – they can’t wait to try it!

By late Sunday afternoon, John and Margaret-Ann were back in Brampton, well rested and refreshed – bringing to an end yet another excellent adventure!

Enjoy the pictures. Roll the cursor over the pictures to read the captions. Click on a picture to enlarge it, then click on the back arrow button in the top left to return to the blog.

 

The view from Fielding Estates Winery in Beamsville -- looking across the vineyard to Lake Ontario. February 25, 2012Margaret-Ann at the mouth of the Niagara River at Niagara-on-the-Lake with Fort Niagara on the US side in the bacckground. February 25, 2012Margaret-Ann at Queen's Royal Park in Niagara-on-the-Lake. February 25, 2012John at Queen's Royal Park in Niagara-on-the-Lake. February 25, 2012Looking through the gazebo at Queen's Royal Park in Niagara-on-the-Lake, across the mouth of the Niagara River to Fort Niagara on the US side. February 25, 2012The gazebo at Queen's Royal Park in Niagara-on-the-Lake with the Toronto skyline just visible on the far side of Lake Ontario. February 25, 2012Prince of Wales Hotel in Niagar-on-the-Lake. February 25, 2012The Clock Tower and Court House Theatre on Queen Street in Niagara-on-the-Lake. February 25, 2012Sign at the Oban Inn in Niagara-on-the-Lake. February 26, 2012The Oban Inn in Niagara-on-the-Lake. February 26, 2012Ravine Bistro Restaurant in St. David's (part of Niagara-on-the-Lake). February 26, 2012

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Jaye’s First Birthday

It’s hard to believe that a year has past since the birth of John and Margaret-Ann’s first granddaughter, Jaye. But that is exactly what happened on February 17th. The next day Jaye’s parents, Meredith and Michael, hosted a birthday party at their home in Georgetown.

Enjoy the pictures. Click on a picture to enlarge it, then click on the back arrow button in the top left to return to the blog.

IMG_0701Jaye welcomes the guests to her first birthday party.

 

Margaret-Ann with Jaye at her first birthday party. February 18, 2012Margaret-Ann, one of the first to arrive, gives Jaye a big hug.

 

Jeremy, Ben and Margaret-Ann at Jaye's first birthday party. February 18, 2012Uncle Jeremy, cousin Ben and Margaret-Ann watch as Jaye starts to open her presents.

 

Meredith, Michael and Jaye looking at books she got for presents at her first birthday party. February 18, 2012Meredith, with Michael looking on, reads Jaye one of the new books she received as a present.

 

IMG_0900Cousins Will and Ben give Jaye a hand with her new toy train.

 

IMG_0693Meredith baked cupcakes for the party.

 

IMG_0692Iced cupcakes with pictures of the birthday girl for the quests…

 

IMG_0691… with a plain cupcake and a “number one” candle for Jaye!

 

Jeremy and Jaye at her first birthday party. February 18, 2012Jaye wonders if cousin Will knows what’s coming next.

 

IMG_1066Will gives Jaye a little help blowing out the candle.

 

Jaye with the candle from her cupcake at her first birthday party. February 18, 2012“So what’s the big deal? Now I have an unlit candle.”

 

IMG_1084“So now we get to eat the cupcake?”

 

IMG_1108“OMG, cupcakes are delicious!!! Who knew!”

 

Jeremy eating a cupcake at Jaye's first birthday party. February 18, 2012Will agrees!

 

Ben eating a cupcake at Jaye's first birthday party. February 18, 2012Ditto for Ben!