Granny & Grumpa's Antiques...

Granny and Grumpa have a bonanza of antiques housed on their farm...and until now it seems to have been a well kept secret.

Yesterday our Rendezvous group went for an outing......on a beautiful sunny October Sunday. We were blown away by the huge collection of vintage items that the Schweigerts have amassed in their retirement. Every barn and out building now houses antiques...and visitors are welcome most anytime...any day! And if they know you are coming...they are quite willing to put on the coffee pot...even bake a pie for you. You will receive a true old-fashioned welcome...and a guided tour.

For the past twenty years they have been collecting 'junk' (their words)...and having a ball doing it. What could be more fun than travelling to prairie auctions and estate sales? They are known to have the biggest collection of antiques in the valley...and probably in the province.

From china, lanterns, and dolls from every decade...

...to radio flyer wagons and pedal cars, cameras, vintage tins, buttons, suitcases....and the list never ends.

An old D8 Cat...the largest piece of equipment used in the construction of the Alaska Highway...was parked outside. They had vintage cars, tractors and equipment...if there is anything old you are looking for, they are sure to have it.

And here's the thing...it's all for sale if you really want it! There are no prices marked on any items, but Grumpa is willing to part with most things at a very reasonable price. We found all kinds of wonderful treasures...

...from a tiny book purchased by one friend...an antique sewing machine by another...

...to some wonderful treasures that will grace my walls as soon as I find the perfect spot! They are about 17-inch brass plaques...part of the Trafford Series featuring Old Masters paintings.

What a fun place to take a trip down memory lane! Thanks to Granny & Grumpa for hosting our tour.

Take me Out to the Ballgame...

Nat Bailey Stadium...also known as "the prettiest little ballpark in the world"...is home to the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League. It was built in 1951, and has been the centre of baseball in Vancouver ever since. It is named after renowned baseball promoter and the founder of the legendary B.C. restaurant chain, known as the White Spot....and is affectionately called 'the Nat'. It sits immediately next to Queen Elizabeth Park...a beautiful backdrop for an outdoor stadium.

On Saturday the temperatures climbed to the high 30's (Celsius)...and it was the perfect day to head to the city for an evening ballgame. We...as a Rendzvous group...took three vans of avid fans (and one-night fans) out to the Nat for the evening...and we definitely got our money's worth!

The game began at seven...and at eleven o'clock it was still happening. Our peanuts were long gone...as were the drinks...but the game went on. The visiting team was three runs ahead at the bottom of the ninth inning, so the game was all but over...until a wonderful young player came up to bat with bases loaded, and did what most can only dream about. He hit a beautiful grand slam home run...

...and brought the crowds in the stands were to their feet.

Since the home run ball scaled the wall immediately next to one of the A & W targets, every fan received a voucher for a free A & W teen burger and root beer. Jeremy Barfield was one popular young player on Saturday night...he is the nineteen year-old son of former Toronto Blue Jay's star Jesse Barfield.

So with a tied game...we went into the tenth inning. New pitchers came in and warmed up, and it was beginning to look like the game may just go on forever. But the hometown boys just couldn't quite pull it off, despite a wonderful effort.

When the game was over, one would think we would be in quite a hurry to get back on that freeway for the long commute home. But we couldn't just leave, since we had chosen to visit Nat Bailey Stadium on a night that featured fireworks after the game. The fireworks were wonderful...

...and although I discovered I have a fireworks setting on my camera, you had to be there to appreciate them!

 It was a fun evening...at the prettiest little ballpark in the world.

tulips of the valley...

Yesterday's Rendezvous event was a 'dazzle your senses' tour of the farming area of Agassiz...done in large vans with a group close to 50 people joining in the fun!

First stop...Tulips of the Valley, 35-acre tulip farm. We were free to stroll the fields...open to the public for two-weeks for self-guided tours.

After we've had a chance to check out all the tulip varieties...buy tulips or order bulbs...and take a few photos...it was off to The Back Porch.

Here we checked out the circa 1919 coffee roaster...soaked up the wonderful aroma or sampled their coffees...and visited the pottery studio.

The barn houses an interesting collection of antiques, collectibles and garden decor items.

Next stop...The Farm House Natural Cheeses...where one can watch the cheese making process through a viewing window (but not on Sunday), or sample a wide range of handmade artisan cheeses...or gelati ice-cream!

I haven't tried their ice-cream but the jalapeno Gouda is wonderful!

And a little further down the road, we stopped off at Limbert Mountain Farm...specializing in potted herbs and organic specialties.

We visited their tea shoppe...which is also home to cooking classes by famed instructor, Chez Dez. We were free to sample all kinds of strange and wonderful goodies...including lavender chocolate!

The tour is never over until we've had a serious bite to eat...so our last stop was the Wildcat Grill for dinner. Not only did we enjoy a fabulous meal...but we topped it off with birthday treats compliments of Gord (he really knows how to plan a birthday party!)

And that, folks, was our event for April...and who knows where we'll go next?