I love driving to new places as well as retracing well worn paths.
I often ask my sister Jo-Ann to come along and join me on these quests. We often take turns being cruise director "Julie McCoy". Last year we went together on a garden tour in Uxbridge and she lead the way.
Midway through the day we visited her friend and owner of Blue Heron Books Shelley Macbeth. Her home was just down the street from one of the gardens and visiting her was refreshing and affirming for anyone who has a dream of being a successful small business owner. With the goal of heading to the bookstore on Brock Street, we stopped for lunch a couple of doors down at The Passionate Cook's Bistro where we had a wonderful meal consisting of charcuteries of cured meat and divine cheeses.
Once satiated we made our way to the books. Turns out that I love the intimacy and charm of small independently owned book stores. I was able to purchase interesting books as birthday gifts for my teenage children but I couldn't help falling in love with the displays for early readers.
Shelley also introduced us to the best smelling hand crafted soap and lotion I've ever come across created by artisan Tola Langhans at T.Langhans. A quick call to Tola turned into a house visit and big purchases for us. This was my starter kit. I quickly learned that the whole family also loved the delicate scent of the hand soap and lotion. I had to refill my stock and have since purchased more for all our powder rooms. There is nothing like that scent!
Not only did we see wonderful gardens throughout the town but we also ended the tour on a farm outside the city centre where we were invited to share a cool beverage with the owners after a personal tour of their gardens.
We sat on their veranda and relaxed after a wonderful day. They were such a generous couple, opening their hearts and gardens to the public and then to welcome us at the end of it all was beyond the call and completely unexpected. We talked about building community, sharing family cottages, nurturing gardens and spending quality time with family.
In the end that was what the day was all about - nurturing the ties that bind.
I hope this inspires you to take a day trip to find more connection to yourself and others.