Christmas comes but once a year but here at Loughbreeze Bay everyday is a special gift. The gift of Nature’s Glory, beautiful Lake Ontario, sun rises and sets, clear clean air, a near wilderness of indigenous trees, plants and small wild life. Watching The Lake’s currents with the breezes of the St. Lawrence will shed your stress and anxiety in the silence we enjoy.

I have spent the morning learning more about our area and all the happenings here!
Leaving on November 28 from Montreal, Quebec, finishing up in Port Moody, B.C., on December 18, The Canadian Holiday Train will embark on its two-week journey. Bring a cash or food donation to the Holiday Train event in our community and help feed the need. This is the 11th year that the Canadian Pacific (CP) Holiday Train has been raising food, money and awareness for food banks in communities across Canada.
Schedule for Monday, November 30
Perth – 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Wilson St. railway crossing, South side
Belleville – 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., South Church St. railway crossing, south of Dundas St. East
Trenton – 2:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m., Railway crossing at West Street
Brighton – 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., East of railway crossing at Prince Edward St.
Bowmanville – 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Scugog Road railway crossing
Oshawa – 8:45 p.m. to 9:15 p.m., CP level railway crossing at Thornton Road
For more information check out www8.cpr.ca/cms/English/General+Public/Holiday+Train.

Living here at Loughbreeze Bay has many interesting facets, just imagine the North Shore of Lake Ontario with all it’s natural beauty. We are blessed by an abundance of small wildlife, birds of every sort, deer, the occasional fox and skunk plus incredible sunrises with clear clean night skies fully enhanced by nature’s moon and star light. All of this as well as a neighbour whose fame and unprecedented accomplishments date back to the late 1930’s and World War 2. So famous indeed, that Canada Post is issuing a Commemorative Stamp in her honour, on October 17, 2009, her 90th birthday. Yes, Vi Milstead was one of Canada’s first female pilots. Her career began with an uncompromising dedication to becoming a pilot and carried her into military service ferrying an assortment of planes from Canada to England (ATA) during the war years. Local folklore relates she was so small, that she was forced to sit on a parachute pack to reach the controls of some of the aircraft.
Today, Vi lives on Lake Ontario’s north shore in an environmentally friendly home complete with wind generator for her electricity. On July 29, 2004 , Her Excellency the Right honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada appointed Vi Milstead to the Order of Canada.  Learn more about this dedicated and courageous lady at www. canadian99s.org/articles/p_milstead.htm .
also log on to Cramahe-now. blogspot and open the archives section Aug.16-23 and Oct.11-18 located further down the right side of the page cramahe-now.blogspot.com Watch the video from the CBC Archives “Spitfires in the Rhododendrons” where you can see Vi recounting those unforgettable times of flying in the Air Transport Auxiliary. Go to archives.cbc.ca, and search by the title “Spitfires in the Rhododendrons”. Another source of in
Congratulations Vi! We at Loughbreeze Bay B & B salute you for your unselfish life time of service.

Looking forward to seeing you.

We are so lucky to have great business neighbours.   This summer, we hosted a family from that wonderful southern state  of Alabama.  Imagine!  They had driven all that way in their huge dual wheel pick up, towing a 40 foot open trailer. They were here in Colborne to pick up their custom built copulas from Country Classics Cupolas. www.cupola.ca, Wow!  The good folks at Country Classics Cupolas called us to make a reservation for their American visitors.  The weary travellers needed a place to stay for two nights, while their cupolas were loaded and they visited our area.   It was a pleasure to welcome them.  Due to their late arrival, after 9 PM, we quickly russled up some of Canada’a best steaks on our barbeque.   As you can imagine, most of the dinner conversation covered their trip, highlighted with details about their stopover at the Hershey Chocolate Amusement Park in Hershey, PA www.hersheypark.com,.  The next night, again over supper , we were delighted to learn about their exciting day of  horseback riding.

For us, the visit was two days of many exciting exchanges.  They told us of their own horses, outlined their riding accomplishments and described their training facility.  Too soon, Big John, the father, announced that it was time for bed, advising us that they would be leaving very, very early.   With the truck and loaded trailer parked comfortably in the yard, we hustled off to bed just before midnight.  Four AM came around pretty quickly but sure enough, we were all there for the departure, shaking hands, handing out snack bags and John clutching his Customs Pre Clearance papers.  With everyone buckled in, the Country Classic Cupolas began their journey to their new Alabama home.  Our guests are always enriching our lives.  We will never forget Big John and his family coming to Colborne, Ontario from Alabama to purchase their cupolas.  It was great thrill for us!  Congratulations “Country Classic Cupolas” and thanks for your referral.

Looking forward to seeing you!

When we were planning our Loughbreeze Bay B&B and Hostel opening, I tried to imagine the people who would visit our paradise. I thought that most would be tourists, travelling through, wanting to see some of our spectacular attractions. Determined to please and help them plan their stay, we secured a myriad of local maps, accompanied by a host of pamphlets about on-going events and popular sites. We scouted the area for unique attractions from the Corn Maze, Riding Stables, Wineries to Provincial Parks and Conservation Areas.
Surprise! Surprise! What we have noticed is that many of our guests are quite familiar with our area. They have relatives and friends close by. They stay with us to extend their family visits, for weddings, anniversaries and regular family reunions. We are their home away from home. It’s a niche that has proven to be a great source of local stories past and present. We welcome you to come and share with us.
Looking forward to seeing you!

As September moves on, Mother Nature begins to paint us wondrous pictures. We started with Spring’s vibrant green sprouts and moved on to Summer’s brilliant colours.   Now, she mischievously shows fields of green cornstalks topped with golden silk tassels, purple and blue wildflowers lining the country roads and autumn leaves turning a delightful red and gold for all to admire.
Nestled here in the Northumberland Hills, we enjoy our evergreens year round but in autumn, they provide just the right contrast on our eye pleasing hillsides.  Fall has begun. Everywhere there are convoys of tourists searching out that special beauty, travelling in motor homes,  busses and cars, stopping at roadside farmers markets as well as visiting the mirad of Fall Fairs. Cycling groups pedal the Waterfront Trail, follow the Apple Route, www.appleroute.com, or head north into the hills.  Check out these websites www.bikeontours.on.ca www.hedney.com/freewheelers, and www.cobourgcyclingclub.com. Don’t forget about our hostel accommodations for eight!
Here along the North Shore we will soon witness the gathering of the Monarch Butterflies, www.monarch-butterfly.com, waiting for just the right wind conditions to take off, across the lake, toward Mexico.  As you might expect,  thousands of migratory birds will also be stopping off. For more information contact, www.northumberlandtourism.com, and www.friendsofpresquile.on.ca, or  www.parks.on.ca. You will find a wealth of pleasures visiting with us.  Looking forward to seeing you!

Last week, I was reminded that I had not mentioned one of my favourite things about living here at Loughbreeze Bay.  My epiphany came when I received an email from a friend.  As you can imagine, it is one of those simple pleasures we take for granted but here at Loughbreeze, simple pleasures become a highlight.   All summer long, there has been a plethora of news telling us to look up and check out the night sky.  Sometimes, it looks like a blanket of dark velvet with the stars and planets seeming to pop right out at you. Our night sky has no light pollution. Currently, we have been watching the orbiting Space Station and Space Shuttle.  What an awesome sight to watch these man made creations swiftly pass overhead.  Check out these web sites and see the recent pictures from the newly refurbished Hubble telescope at http://hubblesite.org and www.space.com/nightsky.    All summer, we have been gathering in our lawn chairs at the lake front to witness the nightly spectacles.  Lately, we marvelled at the close configuration of the moon and Mars as they passed above us in a once in a lifetime formation. For information on local star and planet sightings in your area, go to www.astroleague.org and www.rasc.ca. For us, the show begins as evening arrives and ends as the sun pushes its way across the horizon.  Recently, we were blessed with a golden full moon reflecting off the water.  Soon it will be a golden Harvest Moon. Don’t miss it!   Come to Loughbreeze for the perfect show.   Looking forward to seeing you!

As I pass the local farms from the middle of August right up to Thanksgiving, I am always amazed by the area’s great harvest. Stopping at any roadside stand or a Farmer’s Market, will impress you with the variety and freshness of local foods like maple syrup, natural beef as well as a full range of organic items. The home baked treats, jams and jellies will please every palate. The smell and feel of farm fresh produce is really appetizing. Buying fresh honey, when you can see the beehives is a treat not everyone has experienced.  Then, there are the very special farmers celebrations, those incomparable celebrations of a good harvest, The Fall Fair. Please consider these events; Warkworth Fall Fair www.warkworthfair.com, the Port Hope Fair www.porthopefair.com, Brighton Applefest, www.applefest.reach.net and for more information www.northumberlandtourism.com. Our countryside provides a wonderful harvest for everyone. Come join us and celebrate”Fall’s Bountiful Harvest”. Looking forward to seeing you!

We were savouring our early morning coffee, on the waterside deck, when we were startled by some loud, deep squawks.  Looking up, following the sound, we glimpsed three herons flying, along the shoreline through the tall trees.  My husband grabbed his camera but the moment was gone, unrecorded.

Seconds later, we were delighted to see one of our resident herons circle back, awkwardly landing in on one of the uppermost branches of our Black Locust trees. Once it was balanced, it was remarkably camouflaged, for such a large bird.  The occasional squawk to it’s fellow herons in neighbouring trees, helped us locate where it perched.  Without warning, it took off.  Many photos were snapped but only one captured its flight.  I  feel so lucky to be living here.  Sharing nature’s surprises with our B&B guests is one of our favourite activities.

This summer, I am always remarking on how high the water level is in Lake Ontario.  The St. Lawrence Seaway Commission, www.greatlakes-seaway.com controls the Great Lakes water level through their series of dams and spillways.  Normally, we see a drop in the water level beginning in early summer and then tapering down to the appropriate winter level in order to accommodate winter snow and spring rains.   Our summer started out a bit cool but in August we hit the real heat of summer, coupled with very high humidity. We had to turn on our air conditioner for the first time ever.  Wow, that was the relief we needed!
Don’t forget the “Shelter Valley Folk Festival” better known as Family Weekend of Music, Juried Art, Wellness, Sustainable Living and Fine Food in the heart of Northumberland County September 4-6. www.sheltervalley.com

Last year, thanks to The Northumberland Tourism director,www.northumberlandtourism.com we learned of the Via Rail plan to operate a Bike Train,www.biketrain.ca,  to the Port Hope, Cobourg and  Kingston locations.  We immediately began planning a CYCLIST HOSTEL and this month we opened.  Now, we can accommodate up to 8 overnight cyclists in our fully furnished, three season, “Bunkie”, complete with coffee maker, microwave, small fridge and an outside BBQ on a private deck looking over the lake.  There’s a refreshing lake swim available to top off your cycling day.  Already we have had an enthusiastic reception from the Cycling Community. Be sure to pick up a copy of the Northumberland Tourism outdoor adventure map  as you plan your trip. Northumberland Tourism offers a wealth of great information for every visitor to our county including a most interesting Lilac tour.  We also recommend the following web sites in our  area www.waterfronttrust.com, www.appleroute.com, www.ontarioparks.com.

Fall is one of our most exciting seasons.  You will be welcomed at a host of roadside farmers’ markets, apples of every variety, apple cider, plus pies, apple, blueberry, blackberry and of course strawberry rhubarb, as well as traditional fresh fall farm delicacies.  Our roads, trails and forest are an awesome rainbow of magnificent colours.  Bring your camera and preserve those memories.

Looking forward to seeing YOU!