Friesland: Time to Say Good-Bye

It has been an interesting experience for me to blog about our trip but it also gave me the opportunity to digest all that I took in.
I wanted to share this experience with my family in the Netherlands, my family here, my friends, and with you, my readers.
Thank you for taking this journey with me to the land of windmills and wooden shoes, dikes and canals, flower and cheese markets, sheep and cattle, of famous artists such as Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Avercamp, Breughel, and Vermeer and of musicians such as
Andre Rieu.
I will have fond memories of all the many adventures we experienced.
I have learned more of the language, the history, as well as the customs and cultures of the people in the Netherlands,
and of my people in Friesland.
Thank you to our family in Friesland for all your hospitality
shown to us.
We really appreciated everything you did for us.
I am so thankful that we had this privilege and opportunity,
but I am also thankful to be home again as my friend K so wonderfully stated:
"You really are the quintessential armchair traveler!"

I will remember the towns and villages, the cycling and the boating, the farms and the beautiful landscape:
The ancient churches:






The sleepy villages:


The sea dikes and the sheep:





And the final steam train of the season coming through Ilyst:

Sleepy Little Villages: Giethoorn

One of the prettiest and most adorable villages we visited was Giethoorn, known as the "Venice of the North" or "Venice of the Netherlands" with 7.5 km of canals running through the village,

and over 50 wooden bridges spanning the canals.

Access to the homes is strictly by walking, cycling or boating as there are no roads. The only boating allowed here is quiet boats, most of them being "punters."
Giethoorn was at one time an old farming village with thatched-roof houses built on little islands connected by waterways and bridges. Its canals were dug in the 16th century as a means to transport peat.
The village was made famous in the 60's with the movie 'Fanfare' shot on location by film maker Bert Haanstra.
Many residents have a summer house here or have come here for retirement.
This charming village has become a well-known tourist place in the Netherlands.









Does this village not look like the makings of a magical fairytale?

If you take a few minutes to watch this video, you will feel as though you are there.
Be sure to click on the four arrows to the right of the video for full screen. Enjoy!

Fall Fairs~ When in Paris....

Last weekend when I read my blogging friend Nan's blog post, it brought back memories of the many times as a young girl, my family would attend the Fall Fair in our rural community. My Dad loved going to the Fair to meet with local farmers and to show his cattle. He took great pride in the ribbons and trophies that were received for the prized cows and calves he and my brothers showed in the ring.

We enjoyed going along for the amusement rides as well as for the food. Some of my favourite children's books describe the Fall Fair, and the events are a reminder that the Fall season has arrived and that the days of summer have past. There are so many Fall Fairs to attend in Ontario, but when I saw this one advertised, I knew it was something to consider, and my girls agreed.

The day started out cloudy and overcast, but that didn't hinder us as we navigated the scenic country roads over to Paris...Paris, Ontario that is! We arrived to find the crowds had come out despite the weather. We were thankful for the maps and signs as this fair is considered one of the largest in Ontario. I took plenty of photos because I thought it might be interesting for those who attend
State Fairs or Rural Farm Fairs in their own communities.

" The highschool marching band was playing a merry tune when the children arrived at the fairgrounds. Brightly coloured tents with signs that said EXHIBITS, FOOD, DRINKS,GAMES, BAKED GOODS CONTEST, CRAFT CONTEST, and ART CONTEST lined the walkway. Crowds of adults and children moved from tent to tent. Screams and laughter from the roller coaster and Ferris wheel could be heard. The smell of roasted peanuts, popcorn, and hot dogs filled the air.

"I love the county fair," Henry said. "This is one of my favourite times of the year."
~The Mystery at the Fair by Gertrude Chandler Warner

"When they pulled into the Fair Grounds, they could hear music and see the Ferris Wheel turning in the sky. They could smell the dust of the race track where the sprinkling cart had moistened it; and they could smell hamburgers frying and see balloons aloft."
~Charlotte's Web by E.B. White











Carousel


Musicians


Candy Apples

Cotton Candy

Elephant's Ear

Funnel Cake with strawberries and whipped cream

"They went into the barnlike building and looked at everything. There were hundreds of jars of jelly and pickles on the shelves, there were cut flowers in vases and growing plants in pots. In one of the glass cases there were dozens of different kinds of cake; golden cake, and marble, and fruit cake and orange; angel food and devil food and sponge! Each had a little card beside it with the name of the lady who'd made it...

...They went on to the needlework section. Here they saw hook rugs, and baby clothes, and children's clothes, and crocheted afghans, and quilts, and soft cushions embroidered with flowers and big dogs heads and other beautiful things."

~Thimble Summer by Elizabeth Enright

Art, Photography and Crafts

Baking, Canning and Produce
(Tasha Tudor would have been proud)

Animal exhibits
(Wilbur has had too much attention and activity during the fair, and has fallen asleep)

(Wilbur's friends, the geese supported him and cheered him on at the fair)

Fine Belgian Horses
(so beautiful!)

Prize-winning photograph of the Amish in our area

Beautiful Wheat Creation

Paris Fall Fair has a long history, which you can read here

Attending the Fall Fair was the perfect way for us to conclude the summer vacation and to welcome the Fall Season.
We all agreed that it was a wonderful day!
Thank you again Nan, for your blogging inspiration.
You can read more about Nan's Fair Day here.