Wonderful walks

Wally - Van Wagners beach 

The greater Hamilton area is full of great places to wander solo or with the whole family including our canine companions.  Here is a wee list of a few places we love most!  All of these have ample shade, places to picnic, and plenty of beautiful sights to enjoy.  It was really hard choosing favourites!  Hamilton doesn't lack gorgeous scenery that's for sure.

• Grand River Caledonia
• Mountain Brow 
• Battlefield House grounds 
• Van Wagners beach 
• Gage Park 
• Bayfront Park 
• Dundurn Castle grounds
• The arboretum (RBG)
• Cherry Hill Gate (RBG)
• Princess Point
• Dundas Valley

Gage Park

Unplug and surround yourself with nature while exploring the city and surrounding areas this summer.  Your body and mind will thank you!

Cannon Coffee Co.

 Ahhh the Cannon!  I really do love this place <3 .  Typically I pop in for a latte and a treat (the muffins and cookies are delicious) before a walk at Gage Park with the dog.  The vanilla and maple lattes are wonderfully warm, smooth and just sweet enough!  I am also a huge fan of the cold beverage options year round.  Sometimes a latte on ice is just what I need on a mild winter day.

Latte love

We headed to Cannon Coffee Co. this morning for a brunch treat at my daughters request to celebrate her sixth birthday.  After all, who am I to argue with a feisty kindergartener?!  So off we went mid morning in hopes we would find a table.  If ever you have been there you will know it is always hopping and finding a seat can be a challenge.  As luck would have it, there was indeed a spot for us, it was a birthday miracle ;) .

The California Sandwich

As always the food was delicious!  We had the California Sandwich, Black Forest Sandwich and the little humans shared a Classic Waffle with chocolate sauce.  The kids received theirs first which is always a bonus since they lack patience like most children their age do and ours came soon after.  Zero complaints, it was all fabulous.

There is such a pleasant vibe in the shop.  It's easy to feel through the friendly service, lovely music in the background and the hum of chatter from the other patrons.  And the smell of coffee and waffles - so good!  Another plus is quality ingredients - they truly care about using carefully sourced products so you can feel good about what you are eating or sipping on.

The Cannon Coffee Co. is a small business I am so happy to have found!  I very much look forward to seeing what the future holds for this darling little place and the wonderful women who own it!

Happy waffle eating! ;)

Check out the menu! 

Follow the Cannon Coffee Co.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/cannoncoffeeco/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/cannoncoffee/

Local Bounty Box - The Mustard Seed

Today I picked up a beautiful full bounty box from the Mustard Seed Co op.  I have purchased these in the past and have always been satisfied but this one I found to be especially wonderful and wanted to share it's contents!

The large box this week contained the following most of which is organic:

This weeks Local Bounty Box

-spinach
-collard greens
-swiss chard
-kale
-leaf lettuce
-cucumber
-3lbs apples
-2lbs potatoes
-2lbs lemons
-portabello mushroom caps
-beets
-grape tomatoes

All of this wonderful produce was $34.99!

I am a huge fan of produce boxes/bags but this one I especially love as you do not have to commit long term to buying them, you just pay as you go!  There are weekly or bi-weekly subscription options as well if you are really enjoying the program.  Wednesdays and Fridays are pick up days with Monday night at midnight being the online order cut off.  There is also a regular size box option at a lesser cost, the larger just suits us better at this point in life!

While picking up our bounty box I picked up some other staples - milk, cheese and cereal making it a one stop shop this week!  There are many things to find at the co op aside from the boxes.  They have everything from dairy, meats, breads, produce, confections, vegan and vegetarian items etc.

The Mustard Seed Co-op is committed to supporting local and organic as much as possible in it's offering.  Much of the store and behind the scenes is run by volunteers and it is supported in part by members (you can read more of this in the link I will share below) making The Mustard Seed a true community grocery store.  It is all inclusive and you do not need to be a member to shop in store or buy the bounty boxes so if you are not a member don't fret!

The local bounty box is definitely worth a try if you are looking for excellent quality produce for an affordable price.  While you are there you can check out all the other local awesomeness The Mustard Seed has to offer!

Happy shopping!

Read more about The Mustard Seed and local bounty boxes here:
https://mustardseed.coop

Spring projects

Crocuses and bees

The past few months I have been busy getting back to creative things I love!  Especially sewing which I had all but quit when my now 3yr old son was born since I had zero time with 2 little humans under 3!  This past fall I felt the urge to pull out the machine and decided I would get back to it in the new year.

After years of moming - that is not a word but I feel like it should be - I decided to invest in myself by buying a basic serger for my sewing endeavours, a laptop specifically for my writing goals, and I even picked up an open box deal on a Canon camera to help capture the happenings in my world.  I have also started to restock my artistic cupboards with acrylics, canvas board and other random artsy must haves.  Next I hope to make some space for working because our dining room table is pretty cramped these days but one thing at a time ;) .

After a rough 2016, I decided that 2017 was going to be the year I would move forward creatively in all realms that I am drawn to.  The result is one moment I am painter and the next a knitter who is sewing curtains all while singing off key to my spotify playlist.  I love the entire artistic spectrum and really like combining my skills when ever possible.

Some of my favourite recent projects have been for Krista at Harrington Lane Farms Village Shop!  Pop up tea party items, mini easter baskets and a toaster cozy have all headed her to her shop the past two weeks!

Pop up Tea Party set

One thing I have failed to do this spring is start seedlings for our vegetable garden.  I have been far too caught up in making things so I sent my seeds onward to others who will put them to good use!  I plan to purchase our plants from those who actually took the time to follow through with their seed planting instead.

The upside to not planting seedlings is I have space on that dining room table for my other work because yes, that is also where the seed trays typically reside!  Tight quarters over here ;)

Typically I fill all our gardens with as many vegetable plants as I can but this year I am dedicating one of them to wildflowers.  I love looking at wildflowers and cutting bouquets of them to put on that same overcrowded dining room table ;) .

I really hope that the flowers I plant will encourage the bees to get busy.  It saddens me to know they are struggling so greatly, we need them and I hope more people realize just how important they are to all life.  PSA: Plant some flowers this year or vegetables what ever you fancy.  The bees and other beneficial insects will thank you <3 .

The next couple of weeks will find me planning our garden spaces while working on various projects I have been asked to do.  I hope that spring is also treating you kindly!


Happy spring!

40 mini Easter Baskets

National CSA sign up day

Stam Farms market share treasures

 Today is the PERFECT day to sign up for a season of local bounty at a local farm!

What is a CSA?  Community supported agriculture, which is a partnership between you the consumer and the farmer as the grower.  A typical CSA share is paid for in advance, and in return throughout the growing season you will receive a basket of gorgeous produce weekly, bi weekly etc. 

Will I get to choose what is in my CSA share?  Each farm runs their program differently.  Some do offer flexibility and choice with items in the share allowing you to select your preferred greens, roots etc according to what is available.  Other farms put together the same shares for everyone. 

How much produce is in each share?  This varies farm to farm!  Most have at least 2 size options to suit each person or family’s needs.

Why do we have to pay up front?  Paying for the CSA ahead of time allows the grower to cover up front costs of purchasing seed, growing seedlings and planting while securing the farmers income for season regardless of environmental or natural factors.  Drought last year saw many farmers abandoning lesser than crops in order to save others.  Not all farms require up front payment, some may take a payment plan or accept monthly installments.  None the less the CSAs were full of what fared well for each farmer, I know ours certainly were! 

Gorgeous Matchbox Garden share

Farming grueling work – think of how hot it was last summer here in Southern Ontario and imagine working the fields harvesting in that heat!  Seriously, thank a farmer today if you can and better yet support them with a CSA commitment this year! 

Cheers!

Here are some of the beautiful farms I follow that offer CSAs in and around the greater Hamilton area.  If I have missed you let me know and I will happily add your farm to the list. 

Honest Field Farms – Hamilton

http://www.honestfieldfarms.ca

Manorun Organic Farm – Lynden

http://www.manorun.com/shares

Matchbox Garden - Caledonia

http://www.matchboxgarden.ca/services

 Plan B Organics - Branchton

http://planborganicfarms.ca

Stam Farms – Hagersville – CSA (Market share) is now FULL for 2017 but will have farm gate produce and other goodies for sale

https://www.facebook.com/stamfarms/

Tree and Twig – Wellandport – CSA is now FULL for 2017 but produce may be available, call and ask.  http://treeandtwig.ca

Mela Bath

Coco Coffee Scrub - one of the first products

There are so many wonderful businesses in the greater Hamilton area that do not have brick and mortar locations, one of my favourite is Mela Bath!  Mela Bath offers a variety of natural handmade bath and body products – things like shea butter soaps, lip balm, make up remover, bath truffles and bath salts! 

I have known Melanie since grade school and she has always been a strong and ambitious individual so it didn’t surprise me when she launched her first creation, a body scrub, via Facebook!  She was looking for a natural product she could make to both use and gift to friends and family for Christmas.  With 3 scents she shared her new found love and in three weeks sold 800 jars of her homemade body scrubs!

After the boom of the scrubs Melanie found herself looking for a natural solution to help her sons cradle cap.  The typical go to’s with their unpronounceable ingredients just weren’t going to cut it so she went to work.  With a combination of coconut oil and other natural goodies she created her froth!  This hydrating product was tried out by several friends and family with positive results so Melanie launched it and it took off too!

As time went on bath bombs became another signature product, the scents are abundant and ALL wonderful.  My children love the little “ice cream scoops” for their bath, in fact it’s the only way my son will get in to the tub without a fight.  The sangria scented bath bomb is a favourite of Melanie’s and I too am a huge fan! 

A Bath Bomb "Scoop" in bubble gum scent

Melanie is always coming up with new things and now has a wide variety of products available with more to be added in the near future.  My absolute favourite product is the vanilla whipped body butter, it is AH-MAZING along with the coconut coffee body scrub!  I love the clay face masks as well which are one of the newer additions to her collection.

The Mela Bath website is user friendly and all products have in depth descriptions.  As an added bonus there is delivery with a minimum purchase which is fantastic for those who are too busy or can’t get out and about!

I love that all of the products can be used on every family member safely and as a double bonus all of the prices are incredibly reasonable.  The bath bomb scoops are only $1.50!  

If you ask Melanie what truly inspires her, she will tell you her son and growing family.  She began this journey on mat leave hoping to create safer products for her new bundle of joy and other loved ones and discovered a passion she now shares with hundreds of customers.  I think that’s pretty awesome right there.

Happy Friday!

Check out the Mela Bath Website:

http://melabath.com

Follow along on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/melabath/

Little Brown Cow

Lucky <3

I have followed this lovely little farm on Facebook for ages, watching all the farm updates and dreaming of the day I would venture out to the shop in Brantford.  This past week I decided to send a message to the farm requesting 2kg of cheese curds – the bulk price is fantastic AND they are freezable!  I packed the littles and the dog up when I received the message they were ready and off we went to pick them up!

Lovely noticeable signage

The farm is super easy to find, you can’t miss the big sign!  Jenny, the co-owner, greeted us inside.  She was so friendly, easy to talk to and very informative.  Before we left, Jenny put our things in our car and took us over to see a new calf named Lucky!  My kiddos were thrilled and talked about it the rest of the day. 

Jersey is the breed they raise and after some research I can see why!  Though they are small in comparison to other dairy breeds they have a high butterfat milk content and are a calm, docile but curious breed.  There are many other reasons why one might choose Jersey cattle, these are just the ones that stood out to me – a curious consumer.

Our goodies 

Though Little Brown cow is well known for their amazing cheese curds that are available fresh every Friday afternoon, they offer so much more.  Artisan cheese varieties, cream cheese and both white and chocolate milk (in this house we really love chocolate milk ;) ) all of which are processed entirely on site.  Quiche and cheesecake varieties and other meals are also made in the shop.  Frozen beef is always available and often fresh on Fridays!  There are many other offerings at Little Brown Cow, these are just some of the ones that stood out to me.

One of the things I always love about the small business owners I meet is how passionate they are about their work.  It just radiates off of them and leaves you feeling inspired.  That is definitely how I felt after I left Little Brown Cow.  

Overall our experience was a wonderful one and we will definitely be adding Little Brown Cow to our permanent list of farms we love.  I look forward to seeing what the future holds for this wonderful farm and the checking out the new location when it opens this spring!


Thanks for reading!

Follow Little Brown Cow on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/littlebrowncows/