Have you ever been somewhere that has left a lasting impression on you? Somewhere that all other places with be judged against? No, I’m not talking about the Dominican still, this time it’s much closer to home. Just outside of Aylesford, Nova Scotia, actually!
This is a flashback to the fall. I took a ton of pictures but never shared anything about this trip and I’m not sure why. We had so much fun and made memories with good friends that will last a lifetime. And it was all because of 4H!
Let me start at the beginning as to how we ended up on Loon Lake and who this ‘we’ is that I am refering to! In 4H, if you place first in your class at the exhibition then you have the opportunity to go on to the Provincial Show – aka Pro-show – and compete against the rest of the first place winners from the province. Lena won 1st for her Exploring 4H box at the Pictou Ex last summer, which meant she got to go on to Pro-show which was being held in Lawrencetown. Now, she didn’t love 4H last year and it was a struggle, she talked about quitting on many occassions. But we didn’t let her and then she goes on to win at the Ex. Well, winning has a way of swaying a heart, you know? So, of course she wanted to go to Pro-show and who could blame her!
Lena’s friend, Michaela and her horse Sophie, also made it to Pro-show so we decided to try to find a place that could handle 2 moms and 4 kids, and rather late in the game. Here’s what I didn’t know…people book their rooms for Pro-show a year in advance. And Lawrencetown isn’t a big town so everything in the area surrounding it was booked up solid. So, we turned to Airbnb and started looking at options down in that neck of the woods. { And I just want to say how fun it is to look through Airbnb homes!! I could waste a lot of time doing that! } We finally found a place that would sleep us all, even though it was a bit out of the way, but we decided to grab what we could and book it.
I have not one regret. A log cabin on a lake. Paddle boats rides, misty mornings, bonfires and spell-offs to determine who slept where, plus a few wild rounds of Heads Up. Sugary cereal, coffee on the dock, the most thorough host and stillness offset by loads of giggles. Grocery store pizza, exhibition food, 3rd place finishes, learning to do by doing, quilts and new friends. Exploring new parks, taking the scenic route and forgotten purses. It was a pretty fun weekend all around.
If you are looking for a place to unwind and get away from, I would highly recommend staying at this Airbnb, you can see the listing HERE. I’d love to get back there during the summer but there was something about being there in the fall, too. Pierre was a great host, too, so friendly and made sure we had everything we needed.
Heidi and the older girls headed to the Ex grounds early one morning and the little ones were still sleeping so I grabbed some coffee and headed to the dock to sit and enjoy the quiet solitude of the morning. It was so incredible. It was a time that I will hold dear – the mist on the lake, the beaver who swam across in front of me, the ever changing scene playing out in front of me. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. The pictures can not truly capture the beauty and stillness of it.
We had sort of planned to spend a fair amount of time at Pro-show but then when we saw how awesome our accomadations were, we decided we’d rather take advantage of everything there. We had bonfires and s’mores and told crazy stories. We took turns in the paddle boat out on the lake. We played Heads Up and laughed like fools….and I think the grown-ups enjoyed it more than the kids! We even collected an extra kid who didn’t want to hang with her mom and sisters after a chilly night that involved a horse trailer, air mattresses and raccoons.
All in all, it was a fun weekend. I’m glad for the friends who are game for a gamble on an Airbnb. And for kids who work hard and strive to better themselves. Ahhh, the memories!
To be continued,
Lori
