Oh, Canada!

I should preface this by saying that Jeff and I have had the incredible opportunity to take two amazing trips this summer. The first was to England to visit our dear friends, T & J, to see the Globe Theatre, and to take a "jolly" to Cambridge. (I know, I know--that blog post will be forthcoming!) The second was a road trip from New Jersey to New York to Connecticut and then all the way up to Canada. Along the way, we stayed with friends and family--and with friends who might as well be family. But Canada was something all on its own.

Me and Jenn, wearing the matching hat and cowl (beautifully knitted by her!)
 that were awaiting my arrival as a "Welcome to the Frosty North" present!

In this blog post from last November, I wrote about some of the incredible women who I've met through an online support group I'm part of. The women there are brave and strong, having faced incredible grief and pain in the face of struggles with infertility and miscarriages, and they've collectively taught me so much--not just the technical details of how to deal with a first round of injections and an IUI, but also the amount that there is to be gained from the losses of the babies who we all love so much. Each time I receive a card, an email, a text, or a package from one of them, I'm reminded of Blueberry and Beanster, of the overwhelming gifts they left me in these women I've grown to love so much.

The closest friend I have from that community is Jenn. She's from Canada, and she's grieved the losses of three sweet angels while also navigating life as a young wife who is constantly striving to be the most incredible, creative, supportive homemaker imaginable. From the moment Jenn and I started responding to each other's posts, I knew there was something special about her--and special about the bond between us. Despite the decade that separates our ages, she is one of the most mature, thoughtful, encouraging, supportive women that I've ever encountered. She was a rock for me through the dark days following the loss of our Beanster, and she never fails to know exactly when I need a text message to make me smile in the midst of a tough day. Starting late last fall, we joked about a potential visit to Canada, even planning out the routing on Google maps. And then came the Christmas card that invited Jeff and I to visit anytime. And then came the plans of a summer road trip. And then out went the email: "Could Jeff and I really come for a few nights in August?"

But I'd never met Jenn--heck, I'd never even talked to her on the phone! Was I crazy? Was there any chance that such a supportive, inspiring, giggly, joyful friendship would be the same in person as it was in the electronic universe?

When we arrived in Jenn and Dan's driveway last Monday afternoon, my nerves were at an all-time high--my tummy was sending out audible SOS signals, my palms were sweating, and Jeff was doing all he could to keep me from bouncing out of my seat. And then I heard Jenn's voice, and all the anxiety melted away--this was my friend--one of my best friends--and it felt like coming to a place we'd known our whole lives to spend time with the friends we'd known for years. We could rest in their presence, for they are that unique brand of friends who one simply calls "family."

To describe our trip in detail would take far more time than I have before dinner (and far more concentration than you likely have to read it), so I've decided to distill it down to three of my favorite "categories," presented as photo stories below. (And don't miss out on the Canadian version of the events from Jenn's blog here!)

Hatching a Plan

When Jeff saw the hen house on Monday afternoon, he immediately began to dream of fresh eggs the following morning, and Jenn and Dan's brood of 12 hens was only too happy to oblige!

First, an egg basket...

Then, a walk to the hen house.

A quick peek into the "egg doors" reveals...

Productive hens!

Jeff got a turn one morning...

While I patiently waited for the next.

And that, folks, is how you crack yourself the freshest egg sandwich we've ever tasted!

Canadian Must-Haves

We were prepared for several of the must-haves in the land where Dunkin' Donuts hardly exists at all, but others took us by surprise!

Ask Jenn, and you can only have poutine in Quebec.
But she planned a stop at the Hippy Chippy chip truck--which is the best Ontario has to offer.

Thank goodness pronouncing it isn't a pre-requisite--
but enjoying its grav-y, curd-y deliciousness is a must!

Canadians think Smarties are M&Ms. They're not.
They're small versions of out-of-season Cadbury mini eggs.

Smarties may not have it over M&Ms,
but Tim Horton's has got Dunkin' Donuts beat, hands down.

Milk in a bag. A BAG.
Jeff literally stared into the fridge for a full minute, befuddled.

Locking to the Lake

When Jenn and Dan suggested a day on the boat, we were thrilled--no one loves being out on the water like Jeff! But the huge surprise was the historic Peterborough lift lock. Think of it like being suspended in a giant bathtub, built over a hundred years ago, 65 feet up in the air. Reassured? It's okay--Dan helped restore it for the 100-year anniversary, so it's perfectly safe.

To get our sea legs, Jenn and Dan trained us on the smaller locks
leading up to the lift lock.

See Tory, all calm and adorable? No idea what lies ahead...

See Jeff, all brave and manly? No idea he'll need that bravado in a few minutes...

High atop the lift lock, Dan bravely peers over the edge.

High atop the lift lock, my laughter gives me an excuse to look away from the height!

In all seriousness, though, we adored our experience in the lift lock and our day on the boat altogether, complete with Jenn's delicious homemade picnic and Dan's excellent knowledge of the locks themselves. Can we do that trip again next time, eh?

And there you have it: our Canadian journey, in miniature highlights. Leaving our incredible new old friends was difficult, but our final "family photo" remains saved on our phones, ready for a viewing whenever they seem too far away. 

And next summer will be here before we know it!

Our family of five--including the beloved Mia (who stole Jeff's heart!)

Adventure: Annapolis!

With a four-day weekend to enjoy but no plans to really go away, Jeff and I decided it was the perfect time to select a destination and do some splunkin' and splorin' in places we didn't know well. While the delicious quest for the perfect bagel got us out the door on Friday morning, it was a suggestion from this awesome book from our best friend, K, that kept us moving.

The 36 Hours series is a really neat concept from The New York Times. It's exactly what it sounds like: weekend trips that can be done in 36 hours all around the country. Yesterday morning, it was the Annapolis page that caught my eye, and, while we didn't have 36 hours, the suggestions for each city are so malleable that I knew we could fit in at least a few sights while adding in appealing ones of our own.

Main Street, Annapolis

After locating a parking garage on West Street, our visit to Annapolis began with a leisurely (which was a necessity in the 90+ degree heat!) stroll down the Main Street, heading to the water. As you know by now, Jeff's love of being on the water brought us right to one of 36 Hours' first suggestions: the bright red umbrella of Watermark boat cruises. After purchasing our tickets for a 40-minute harbor cruise, we found ourselves with a few minutes to hang our legs over the side of the dock and take in the beautiful day that so many sailors were enjoying.

One of the many sailing schools having a lesson in the harbor

Though the Harbor Queen herself was a bit of a tacky rendition of a traditional southern riverboat, the trip itself was incredibly informative as the guide narrated information about the Naval Academy, the Severn River, and Annapolis itself. In spite of the smattering of clouds, we eventually found ourselves coming below decks from our original location topside in hopes of avoiding too much sun.

Back on dry land, it was time for a fishy lunch--in the best possible way! McGarvey's answered our cravings with delicious crab balls (like mini crab cakes) and a blackened mahi sandwich. We couldn't eat too much, though, knowing that Annapolis boasts some pretty phenomenal homemade ice cream that was calling our names.

A short meander through brightly painted houses took us to the main gate of the United States Naval Academy, which we knew was a necessary stop during our day in Annapolis (and not just because 36 Hours told us so!). Jeff had never set foot on the campus before, and I hadn't been there in over a decade (since one of my cousins graduated in 1997). Since my family has a great deal of US Naval history, I'm always humbled by the sight of the Naval Academy, from the austere buildings to the plebes jogging to and fro to the wide harbor that outlines the campus.

A proud photo with my namesake inside the entrance to Halsey Field House

We spent nearly an hour wandering around the fields and buildings of the Naval Academy, chatting as we walked about the incredible commitment of the men and women who train and study there in order to defend our country. Still, when we happened upon the statue of Billy the Goat, the USNA's mascot, Jeff couldn't resist a playful moment!

Feeling like we'd successfully gotten in our exercise and might just melt in the heat if we stayed out in it any longer, we headed for our final destination of the day: the Annapolis Ice Cream Company.

Now, we're not big ice cream eaters, but this place still had a lot of hype to live up to. And it did. Oh boy, did it--though I suppose that's not so hard when your delicious decadence is made with 17% butterfat!

Jeff indulged in their most popular flavor, Peanut Butter Oreo, which didn't disappoint (according to him, as I don't do the peanut butter thing). I was a huge fan of my Blackberry Cobbler, the perfect combination of fruit and crunchy bits of pastry.

Tummies full, minds expanded, legs stretched, we headed back to the car. If 36 Hours could make a mere 8 hours this much fun, imagine what it will have in store when we choose a destination for an entire weekend!

In Search of a Bagel...

When we first moved to the DC Metro area from New Jersey three summers ago, one of our greatest disappointments was the loss of our favorite bagel shops in Hoboken and Montclair. We kept our minds open and began taste-testing the local Virginia options, but nothing was up to that chewy yet crispy quality of the boiled New York bagel we'd grown to love. Perhaps even more horrifying was the fact that we couldn't find a single bagel shop in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia area) that cooked with an actual grill and a real egg. Seriously, everything was imitation microwaved.

Finally, we settled for the best local option: the Bagel Cafe in Herndon. It serves its purpose, but it's never been just right, and all our Northern friends know it (which is why they bring us dozens of bagels from NYC and NJ whenever they come visit). But this summer, we decided enough was enough: it was time to go on a quest for a real NYC bagel.

Enter Yelp. After reading piles of reviews, many by self-proclaimed "New York Jewish Bagel Aficionados," we were down to Bethesda Bagel and Goldberg's New York Bagels (with branches in Potomac, MD; Silver Spring, MD; and Rockville, MD--among others). The latter's name (and many outstanding reviews) sold us, so we set off on our Friday morning trek to Rockville.

And it was worth the trip. The orders were scratched down on a plain white piece of paper (no silly computer systems); the eggs were grilled with extras like sauteed onions and plenty of cheese; and the bagels! Chewy inside and crispy outside, the bagels had brought us home.

I'd be dragging Jeff back today if it weren't for the fact that this shop is so authentic that it keeps Kosher--none of the branches are open on Saturdays. But you better believe I'll be finding excuses to drive to Maryland again soon...