Free Refills for Your Water Bottle - the BlueW Program

I like the idea behind this BlueW.org program. It encourages folks to refill their water bottles with free municipal water at locations displaying the logo below.

I see that the program is active with a presence in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Bravo to the folks in Niagara Falls for this. Now if we could get this going throughout the Niagara Region on "both sides of the River".

Refill your water bottle here! BlueW.org

The BlueW.org Program:

• Encourages hydration - a very good thing
• Encourages the use of municipal water - another very good thing
• Educates the public on the issue of municipal water quality - e.g. tap water is as good or better for you than bottled water
• Saves folks money - duh - a very good thing

Cedric's Barber Shop

I needed to be shorn this past week.  So I chose a local professional barber, Cedric.

Cedric is the owner of "The Head Shop", which is located at Welland St., which is near the intersection of Welland St., and the QEW in St. Catharines.

I phoned Cedric at 905-988-9772 and made an appointment for 1 p.m..  As Cedric's shop is less that 1 km from my home, I had planned on walking or bicycling over but I had some other errands to run beforehand and I was pressed for time so I took the car and arrived 5 minutes early as there was plenty of available street parking.

Cedric's shop is clean and tidy with a few barber chairs and a bench for those waiting their turn in the chair. As I had made an appointment, I was in Cedric's chair at 1:00 and my shearing and our conversation began.

We had an interesting conversation about shaving and razors and related paraphernalia as well as the importance to all of us in the region and on both sides of "the river" to buy and use local goods and services whenever possible.

Cedric's 1950's Marvy Barber Pole Sign

While in the chair a family entered with their son. They waited on the bench until I was finished and then the very well behaved young fellow took his turn in the chair.

I was delighted with both the conversation and the professional haircut. Clearly Cedric knows what he is doing and I encourage my readers to give him a try. I think that you'll be pleased - I was.

The Head Shop has relocated to:
20 Hartzel Rd.

Unit 10
St. Catharines, ON
L2P 1M3, Canada
+1 905-988-9772

 theheadshop.blogspot.com

Open House at Linda Crago's Tree and Twig - 4 December 2011

It started out cloudy and raining when I left St. Catharines to visit Linda's Open House at her Tree and Twig Farm. I entered the hoop house where the people were gathered and where the temperature was warmer than outdoors.

Then the sky cleared and the sun shone. Outside the temperature quickly rose to 13C (55F) and the hoop house became a summer like 23+C.

There were home made jams, pies and art pieces made by Linda, friends and neighbours. I put a dent in the inventory and I have to tell you, the blueberry pie is fabulous.

Linda took visitors on a tour of part of her farm and explained winter growing in her hoop houses. Joey the pig was in good humour but it is obvious that he doesn't like dieting - at all.

All in all, a good time was had by all. I encourage every one of our readers to get to know the people who grow your food and support them.

Community is not just a word, it is a lifestyle. If you live in the Niagara Region, participate in the community, your life will be much richer for it.

Linda, thanks for the inviting us, see you in February for the seed sale.

Late Fall at the St. Catharines Farmers Market - 3 December 2011

It is a beautiful fall day here in the Niagara Peninsula. So this morning I decided to head out to the Farmers Market and just walk across the street the St. Catharines Library main branch.

There were Carollers

The market was very busy and people other than food stuffs, the shoppers were gathering Christmas season related items.

 The colours of the plants were very festive

 

People should get out to their Farmers Markets and take in the ambience. Reality sure beats "Reality TV".