THESE TINY STORIES

It’s Thanksgiving, today! That means turkey, pumpkin pie and a nice family to share it with. In light of the occassion, I think there is nothing better than to say grace to the tune of Johnny Appleseed. “Oh, the Lord is good to me. And so I thank the Lord for giving me the things I need; the sun, and the rain, and the apple seed. The Lord is good to me.” Happy turkey day, everyone! From my family to yours.

The Markham Fair has just kicked off and I popped by for the first day, this afternoon. It was a bit quiet; however, the fair doesn’t get into full swing until Friday. But I can tell you, it’s an event for the family! A variety of rides, livestock and a few vendors to pick up locally grown produce, makes it a great way to support our community.

Now, if you don’t want to drop $15 bucks on ticket, click here for a $2 off coupon. It isn’t that much, but if you have a whole group of people going, you can really save a lot of money.

I did want to make a quick mention about the photo below. I asked to be snapped with a few paintings by Trisha Romance. They are selling her prints, along with a slew of others, in the “Commercial” building. Romance has become one of my favourite artists. And if you chance to stop by the “Homemade Crafts” building, you’ll see a lot of local artists – everything from children’s drawings to seasoned painters.

Perhaps one of my family’s favourite nurseries in Durham Region is Vandermeer Nursery, located in Ajax at Lakeridge and Bayly. Vandermeer’s has thousands of gardening products, all at affordable prices. A few days ago, my mom and I stopped by to check out their festive selections. To be honest, I was quite surprised with their vast array of autumn and Hallowe’en decorations. With scarecrows and pumpkins galore, you’ll have no problem getting into the holiday spirit at Vandermeer Nursery.

Now, you don’t need a green thumb to love this store. They have a couple of cool activities to keep the kids busy – a colouring station and they also provide supplies if you decide to decorate your pumpkin there. NOTE: If you pop by Vandermeer’s before October 9th, you’ll be able to pick up some fall and Thanksgiving items for 25 per cent off. Their Hallowe’en merchandise is still full price, but I’d suggest checking closer to October 31st to see if anything has been marked down. Click here to check out their weekly deals.

Reesor Farm Market is located on Ninth Line in Markham, Ontario. It’s just outside of Toronto and is surrounded by beautiful country land. The market features a vast array of fruits, veggies, jams, and pumpkins – perfect for the season! It was by accident that I found this shop. I stumbled upon it after driving home from another local farmer’s market, and decided to stop in with my mom – who helped me take some pretty cute photos. We spent about 30 minutes checking out their selection, which also includes locally produced meats like organic, hormone-free beef.

Sweet tooth, anyone? Well, they’ve got you covered too. With a bakery in-house, they also have fruit pies, Molasses Crinkles Cookies (a favourite I’ve heard), and muffins. And what’s a farm market without Canadian Maple Syrup? They have plenty for the taking, along with other preservatives! If you’re ever passing through the Stouffville area, check them out. It’s one-stop grocery shopping with local farm products. Their staff was also really friendly, which really makes a world of difference when you’re out shopping.