If, like me, you don’t have a warm winter getaway planned, then you might want to consider the gold ol’ ‘homecation’ option.

Homecation: “With the high cost of travel, people are opting to stay at home. In many cases, they are transforming their homes into a resort, which entertains their local family and friends in the comfort and security of their “personal resort”. (source: Urban Dictionary)

I’ve compiled a couple videos below that have helped me with my winter blahs, hopefully they might help you too.

It was great the other day. My room has a nice big window facing a park and the sun was out and super bright so I took off my shirt, grabbed a comfy seat, put my feet up and soaked in the rays while listening to the sounds of the ocean from these videos. Try it sometime

The first video is a ‘BEST FLORIDA BEACHES’ video from a dvd company “Relax Now”. I like this one because it reminds me of vacations past, and it holds the shot for a few minutes adding to the effect of actually feeling ‘there’. The first shot with the seagulls in this video isn’t the best one by any means, so wait it out, it’s worth it. If this video isn’t for you, they also have these same type of videos from beaches of Hawaii, Bahamas, Carribean and California and more….just youtube “Best Beaches” and you’ll find them…they’re awesome!

The second video has some beautiful pictures of the ocean, especially the sunset shots, and it also has a soundtrack, which the first video doesn’t.

Cheers to homecations!

At McMicheal Gallery's Cemetery - Lauren & Bess Harris' Headstone

A few weeks ago I went with a friend to the renowned McMichael Art Gallery in the village of Kleinburg just north of Toronto for the first time. It’s a gem of a place. I noticed a picture in the gallery near the cafe of Pierre Trudeau and his son from way back at the gallery having fun. I felt very Canadian at that point, but yet very international too, and proud of it. I was in the right place. And I was grateful to be there.

I went specifically this time to see an exhibit called Following in the Footsteps of the Group of 7. This unique exhibit “trace[d] the work of Jim and Sue Waddington who have a passion for locating the actual sketching sites for artworks by members of the Group of Seven… Juxtaposing the original artworks with photographs taken by the Waddingtons in the La Cloche Hills in Killarney where these Group members camped, canoed, portaged and sketched, the show allow[ed] visitors to examine iconic images of the northern Ontario landscape and discover the real inspiration behind them.”

It was a very insightful exhibit and to top it off Jim and Sue were there that day too, the last day of the exhibit. Jim and Sue were at the exhibit often I was told. And they kindly answered questions and shared their stories. They told us to check out www.groupofseven.ca more more info and an interactive website featuring their work etc. Do check it out, you’ll get a feel for the concept.

I’ve been a Lauren Harris fan for quite some time now and also have certainly grown to appreciate the rest of the Group of 7 as well, including Tom Thomson (especially this time at the gallery) and Emily Carr.

The visit at McMichael was inspiring in many ways, but after that visit I knew I wanted and needed to get into the great outdoors and explore like the Group of 7 did, in the place(s) they explored. I’ve done some outdoorsy stuff in the past, but it has been awhile and it’s about time to renew that part of my life. Algonquin Park came to mind and was an obvious first step as I have never been.

Many of the paintings at the gallery were in the fall (with their beautiful fall colours) and since it was the end of summer when I visited McMichael I figured it was nearing prime time to go…so why not this Fall!

I suggested the idea to a outdoorsy friend of mine, and almost miraculously, it turned out he was  thinking of the same thing – going to Algonquin Park! I’m pleased to say that I’m going this weekend just a few short weeks since visiting Algonquin, and three of us plan to hike one day and do a canoe portage one day. We won’t be staying on the camp grounds this time around, but at a nearby motel.

In preparation for this trip I went on YouTube for some insights and came across a couple songs that I really enjoyed.  I thought I would share them here. Enjoy!

Recap Video of My 10 Year High School Reunion
Part 2 of 2

overlooking 40 mile creek

It’s been on my ‘to do’ list for awhile now and I finally did it this past Saturday. Hawkwatching at Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in Grimbsy, Niagara.

I’d never heard of anything like it until I moved back to Niagara. Hawkwatching is not only an activity for locals to enjoy, it’s also a unique nature experience for tourists, or for people in surrounding areas to enjoy too. I went with my mom and we met a friendly (first-timers) couple along the trail from Burlington, which is just up the highway from Grimsby.

From early March until mid-May you can enjoy ‘Hawkwatching’ as hawks, eagles, falcons, and vultures migrate through the Niagara Peninsula on their way to nest further up North. They come along the Niagara escarpment because it allows for strong updrafts of wind, which the birds gladly glide on to conserve energy.

Hawkwatching is not just a sight to see, it’s also a serious hobby for the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch (NPC), which has members stationed daily throughout the migration to identify and record migrating birds.There’s a special Hawkwatching lookout station (which the public can go up as well), and volunteers have binoculars to spot and track the birds.They even have an hourly tally board – like a score board at a golf tournament.

We met one of the trackers – who was a character – and he was happy to give us some insights into Hawkwatching. One thing he told us about Hawk Cliff on Lake Erie, another Hawkwatching hot spot, which is supposed to be even more spectacular than Beamer in the Fall during the winter migration – as Hawk Cliff is the ideal route for birds to travel south.

But Beamer Conservation Area is not just about Hawkwatching. It also has a ‘Lookout Trail’ which features three lookout points  that overlook the town of Grimsby and Lake Ontario, and you can even see Niagara Falls hotels off in the distance. Off of one side of the trail is the 40 mile creek, a nice little valley area which is where you’ll also find the Upper and Lower Beamer Falls.

It was really cool to see all the hawks overhead during our walk and we even saw one really close along the cliff just above us. The hawks wings were spectacular and for a few moments I felt the fear of being its prey, as you could imagine the hawk sweeping down and snapping you up – just like the ‘birds’ in Avatar.

So now I can officially say that Hawkwatching is a great weekend activity. It’s like any hobby or past time. If you make a little effort you can learn something new and see the world in a different way, and you can usually get deeper and deeper into it and gain even more appreciation – i.e. Hawk Cliff.

So not only do you get to go for a little walk or hike and enjoy some beautiful views, you also get to do some hawkwatching, and you can also get right up close to Beamer Falls. You could bring a picnic along and easily make an afternoon out of it.

Happy Hawkwatching!

More info:

Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch >>
Beamer Memorial Conservation Area >>

town of grimsby below with niagara falls off in the distance

]]> http://www.paxtonallewell.com/2010/04/14/hawkwatching-in-grimsby-niagara/feed/ 0 http://www.paxtonallewell.com/2010/04/07/adventures-in-haiti/ http://www.paxtonallewell.com/2010/04/07/adventures-in-haiti/#comments Wed, 07 Apr 2010 08:32:42 +0000 paxton http://paxtonallewell.com/?p=443 A First Hand Account of The Situation in Haiti

Snapshots from Kate's Adventure

My friend Kate Westrate was recently in Haiti to help out with disaster relief. Kate was there to offer her nursing care expertise, as well as her caring heart. It’s so neat to actually know someone who was able to go and help!

Kate’s been kind enough to answer a few questions for me below and share a few of her photos.

WHEN AND FOR HOW LONG DID YOU GO TO HAITI?

I was in Haiti from March 19-31. This was about 2 months after the earthquake. We flew into Port-au-Prince and then flew over to Jeremie, Haiti.

WHO DID YOU GO WITH, AND WHY DID YOU GO?

I went with an organization called Haiti Needs You (www.haitineedsyou.com)

I have always wanted to go and do some sort of disaster relief, and when the earthquake happened, I knew this was it. I checked in with a number of different agencies and the type of work they would be doing, and Haiti Needs You was a perfect fit for me. They had been established in Haiti (because in a disaster in-country contacts are so important) and would be focusing more on the people that were migrating out of Port-au-Prince to other parts of the country. The outlying cities are over run with displaced citizens and their access to health care has always been minimal. I’m not a surgical nurse, so felt much more qualified to be able to tackle post-trauma/primary care issues. God really just opened all the right doors and led me to this group.

HOW IS THE SITUATION IN HAITI NOW?

I wish I could have seen Haiti before the earthquake, but from what I hear it was struggling then. No amount of words or pictures will ever clearly describe the devastation seen in Port-au-Prince on this trip. A couple of the people I traveled with had been to Haiti immediately after the earthquake and they said that not a whole lot had been done since then. Two months after the earthquake the city is still completely filled with rubble. People are getting medical care, but their living conditions are unreal. They are trying to go about their lives but their city lies in ruins and they don’t have the means to rebuild it or even start cleaning it up.

Almost everyone I met in Port-au-Prince is living in tents. Even if their houses have been deemed structurally sound, they will not sleep inside, as they are too scared of being crushed as many of their family and friends were.

WHAT SURPRISED YOU THE MOST DURING YOUR TRIP?

The people– always the people!! They’re amazing and beautiful! Everywhere we went we were greeted with smiles and loving hearts. They understand they need help and are so grateful for any help that is offered.

The Haitians are very proud people. I don’t mean this in a negative way at all. Everywhere I went, I saw people making the best of situations they were in and they were always well-dressed and clean. Most were living in make-shift shelters or tents, but they would come to our clinic or work (as we used local interpreters) in nice clothes–cleaned and pressed. They have so little but they use what are given in the best way possible.

One other thing that amazed me is, in Jeremie where were working, over 200,000 had migrated to this small city. The mission we stayed at had expected to have to open up the school to be used for lodging. However, the local families opened up their small homes/huts and every last person was taken in! There were sometimes 20+ people living in some homes, and some were complete strangers! Their hospitality and eagerness to help astounded me!

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM YOUR TRIP?

I was so humbled and would often feel so guilty for my discontent in life after meeting the Haitian people. Here in North America we live in a materialistic society and take SO much for granted. Just something simple as complaining that I am “SO HUNGRY” if we get to dinner a little late, puts me to shame. Most of the people I encountered would often only be able to provide 1 meal/day for their families. I felt a little sick to my stomach on my first trip to the grocery store when I got back to the States. How is it that we SO much?

I think the biggest thing I will walk away from this trip learning is to pray to be more content in any situation that I am, but also that I don’t NEED some of the things I think I need in life.

WHAT’S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE REALLY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HAITI?

The media coverage has died down tremendously, but Haiti is still in desperate need for help. They don’t need us to come down there and fix it all for them, what they need is for experienced builders, engineers, economists, etc to go down there and either hire or teach the Haitians how to rebuild their own city. There are so many looking and eager to work, they just don’t have the means/skill sets to do so.

I also met many very educated Haitians, many who were educated in the States, but cannot find jobs. They often work on a volunteer basis in the hospitals and clinics, but have no way of supporting their families that way. One Haitian doctor described it to me as, “We have very over-educated people for the type of economy we have.” They have the people– they just don’t have the jobs, and so they wallow in poverty.

WILL YOU GO AGAIN?

ABSOLUTELY! I left a little bit of my heart in Haiti, I think. There’s talk of another trip later this fall, but for me it will depend on my work schedule. It’s hard to find that balance of being involved and carrying on your life here at home.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE?

Please consider helping down in Haiti in some way or another. If you can’t personally make a trip, consider helping fund an reputable organization that is working in Haiti. The government in Haiti is so corrupt and lost, but the people are wonderful to the core! They are asking for help and I hope the world continues to answer their cries.

Kate and I met during University when we were both volunteering as youth leaders for an organization called Young Life. She lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but loves making a trip up north every once in awhile to visit friends in Canada when she can.

A photo video made by Kate:

Feel free to leave a comment here >>

Now I know your first impression of “Buffalo” is probably somewhat negative, but hold that thought. I think I might change your point of view.

Now like some of you, I’ve been to a couple Buffalo Sabres games, but I’ve never actually been able to play the tourist role in Buffalo. I was always impressed with some of the architecture that I saw coming into the city, but I really knew nothing about Buffalo.

Working in tourism here in Niagara, just across the border from NY state, I was curious one day awhile back and I checked out Buffalo’s website www.visitbuffaloniagara.com. The site profiled, and really singled out one neighbourhood in particular called Elmwood Village. It sounded like a vibrant, creative neighbourhood with some cool things going on, so I figured it would be a great area to check out first to get introduced to Buffalo. And I finally got to this past Sunday.

Note: This is a longer blog post than usual, but if you keep reading and hang in there, I want to tell you about a couple of the cool places I visited, and also tell you a funny story about how I was confronted twice by a security guard during my visit to an art gallery.

Still here? Ok, so after dropping my Dad off I made my way (quite easily driving wise) to Elmwood avenue and decided to drive up and down it to get a feel for the street. I passed some cool restaurants and shops and a Starbucks. I figured worse come to worse I could just hang out at old faithful. The only place I had really penciled in to visit was the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, which was also on Elmwood Avenue, and seemed established, but otherwise I was open to inspiration!

After driving back up the street towards my main destination, I finally decided to stop and head into a coffee shop called Spot Coffee. I went in and was totally surprised. The cafe was way bigger, and way more vibrant than I ever would have suspected. It was like a big, high ceiling’d sports bar, but cafe style with vintage chairs, couches and tables and it was packed. I grabbed a bagel (which was really tasty) and a coffee (which was also really tasty) and had myself a seat. I felt like I was right where I was supposed to be.

I was so happy that my first stop was such a cool place. At Spot Coffee I read a little bit of the Sunday Buffalo newspaper, and go figure, the paper actually had an article about Elmwood Village. The article spoke of the thriving and changing strip, and I could feel it, and was glad to be there. I also read another article about a new exhibit at the Burchfield Penney Art Center which, go figure, is also on Elmwood avenue, right across from the other gallery I had planned to check out. I had noticed it on my way in but didn’t have a clue about what it was.

The story talked about a featured exhibit at the Burchfield Penney Art Centre called “Heat waves in a Swamp: The paintings of Charles Burchfield – March 7 – May 23, 2010.” It sounded intriguing because the article talked about Charles Burchfield (who the art centre is actually named after) and how Charles really hasn’t got the recognition that he’d supposedly deserved, but that essentially he’s right up there in America’s founding art world with the likes of Frank Lloyd Wright (architect) and Frederick Law Olmstead (designer). Burchfield was predominantly a watercolour painter, but I learned later that day, not the light kind of watercolour, the opaque (thick) kind. And he was famous in the States back earlier in the 20th century.

So after my coffee, and education from the paper, I went for a little walk to get a feel for the street. It was a nice, brisk and sunny day. I then hopped in my car and drove up the street to the art gallery, which I had passed on my way in.

Originally I had planned to visit the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, which is right across from Burchfield Penney, but what sold me on Burchfield was that they had a special exhibit going on and that there was a special panel discussion (to my luck) planned for Sunday featuring the curator of the exhibit Robert Gober, as well as two other curators Cynthia Burlingham and Nancy Weekly. So that was that.

The exhibit was only $9 admission and it was worth every penny – pardon the pun.

Burchfield’s artwork was really great. The panel discussion provided some good insight and added value. I also had a delicious lunch at the gallery’s cafe – grilled vege sandwich with a side of Terra chips (amazing chips!) and a Perrier.

The gallery’s architecture was good, although I wish they had a more stylish exterior entrance to the gallery. The back of it (seen in the picture above) is cool, but the front is very plain. I also felt that it was a more traditional gallery, lots of white – I missed the warmth of the AGO.

I felt very comfortable visiting Elmwood Village, although I did have one major annoying thing happen on my adventure.  I was interrupted twice by the “security” guy at the gallery. Once for leaning on a plastic casing. Fine, I probably deserved that, I guess, but the second time really got to me.

I was making a quick note of the name of a wallpaper design that Burchfield designed (part of the exhibit) and the same dude came over to me and said sorry you can’t use a pen in here. I looked at him in complete disbelief. I said “are you serious?” I thought he was joking. He said “no I’m not, sorry, no pens are allowed in the gallery. I can get you a graphite pen if you want.” I said, forget it, I won’t write anything then. I was really shocked at getting nagged at twice. I got over it, but if the first comment didn’t do it, the second made me uncomfortable pretty much the whole time looking around the gallery. Was he going to say something again to me I thought? Would he call back up? Would he kick me out? haha. I felt like a little kid with every move I made being watched. I tried to change my energy to a more confident one and it may have worked a little bit because fortunately I wasn’t bothered again after that.

Potential y=tip for the gallery. Please don’t have a pencil rule! Please let people use a pen. I was so far away from the piece. I mean if someone is suspicious and is really close to a piece of artwork sure, but if it’s just someone obviously making a little note, let it go.  Also, think about having fewer security guys walking around you – it was bordering on prison atmosphere. Lastly, if you’re adamant about your rules and enforcement, try not to have the same security guy confront visitors more than once. It can be creepy and rude, and turn people, like me, off.

That said, overall I was very impressed with Elmwood Village and I definitely plan to go again. I’m sure that the spring and summer will only get more vibrant and fun too. I also want to expand and check out more of the city. There’s an open air architecture bus tour that I’d like to do.

Have you been to Buffalo’s Elmwood Village? Sabres game? Let me know and share a comment here>>

Notables:

• Buffalo’s Proximity to Niagara – Only about 45 minutes away, almost half the trip to Toronto – for me anyway.
• Buffalo Airport has much cheaper flights
• Hockey fan? Think Sabres
• A nice change in culture from Canada
• Parking is in many cases free,  or super cheap

More info:

www.elmwoodvillage.org

www.facebook.com/elmwoodvillage

Elmwood Villagege video >>

www.ExperienceHeatWaves.com – Exhibit Site