Camp Shaunawana

After a week of doing many jobs and dance moves (for Julia, not me -- dance camp and another flash mob dance), we headed to Niagara-on-the-Lake to enjoy some R&R with Shauna and Maclean. It had been almost two years since we had here -- far too long indeed.

Our first morning started with wonderful breakfast sandwiches -- a recipe that we will be using over and over again -- and smoothies.

And a coffee treat and a half for me -- "a perfectly brewed cup everytime" Shauna says, all thanks to her Keurig. Anyone who knows Shauna knows that such an apparatus comes with accessories, in this case wonderful flavours -- cinnamon roll, chocolate donut, French vanilla, butter toffee -- oh yeah, and breakfast blend. And Shauna is right; it is a perfect cup everytime.

Part of the charm of Camp Shaunawana is the idyllic location, a little cottage nestled in the woods. Shauna is one of the few people I know who is lucky enough to have an old school clothes line -- it takes me back to helping my mom with the laundry when I was a child. Here, Shauna and Julia recreate a memory for me.

While Shauna and I enjoyed our perfectly brewed cups in this front garden retreat, Julia and Mac did the NOTL thing -- went for a bike ride. Shauna's street loops around to the main drag of the historic Old Town, so we've seen many a tourist on rented bikes cruise by in her neighbourhood.

The heat and humidity of the day were building and it was only 10 am -- time to cool off with a smoothie popsicle.

For a lunch treat we visited the corner bakery -- Willow Cakes and Patries -- a NOTL version of the Cake Boss. Here were our treats -- all individual cheesecakes -- Julia's chocolate delight, Mac's NYC style, and for Shauna and me, Key Lime -- a new taste sensation and a decadent treat.

All this great eating was the fuel we needed for our big adventure of the day -- Whirlpool Jet Boats on the Niagara River. Here we are suited up for the big adventure in our dock portrait.

And here we are in the Level 5 rapids. We are in the last full row at the back of the boat (top of photo - Shauna, Mac, AMD and Julia) all drenched from head to toe, but loving every minute of it. Jullia wanted to do it again -- and believe it or not, you could for 50% off. We passed on that offer.

After this wet 'n wild adventure, Shauna and I took to the quaint streets of the town with lattes in hand. In all the time I've known Shauna, this was the first time we had every "done the town" -- but this year, thanks to now certified babysitter MacLean who stayed with Julia, we were able to enjoy poking into the lovely shoppes (I like using this spelling of "shop" to describe these little quaint stores). Tasty purchases were made at Kurtz, a shoppe filled with lots of culinary delights with samples galore.

We had a lovely BBQ dinner and visit with Shauna's parents - a pork tenderloin to die for - a deal of a purchase from Topps Friendly Market over the river.

And the holiday continues today with more opportunities to amuse our bouches as we head to Anna Olsen's restaurant, the Ravine Vineyard. We're going to see if we can give our California girls a run for their money.

As I finish this, the girls have gone off with Shauna to create Orange Dream Cheesecake -- do you notice a theme here -- got to grab my camera. I love it here at Camp Shaunawana.