Jo-Anne Smith- Oakville, Burlington and Mississauga Region Real Estate, Ont

In the early afternoon this past Sunday, I was busily working away at my computer when I received a call from my brother, Clayton. He was planning to take his children on a hike to Hilton Falls Conservation Area in Campbellville and wondered if we would like to come along. Hilton Falls Conservation Area is on the list of World Biosphere Reserves as part of the Niagara Escarpment.

As I gazed out the window at the rather dreary day and wet windowpane, I wondered if it was such a great day for a hike, however after a short discussion with Louis, we decided to take Clayton up on his offer.

Hilton Falls Conservation Area is a short drive from Oakville and Burlington. It took us about 20 minutes to get there and as we drove down beautiful country roads and up over the Niagara Escarpment, I couldn't help but marvel at what an intriguing area the Golden Horseshoe is.

The Niagara Escarpment lends so much diversity and natural beauty to the region that one never has to go far to view stunning vistas or gaze in awe at the magnificent rock formations.

Hilton Falls Conservation Area is a 645 hectare park that runs along the Niagara Escarpment.
As a Provincial Area of Natural and Scientific Interest and also a World Biosphere Reserve, it is a place of refuge for a diverse array of plant and animal life.

The trails are extremely well groomed and easy to walk.
Hilton Falls welcomes hikers, mountain bikers and cross-country skiers and the 33 km of trails are sure to leave the visitor looking forward to coming again.

We enjoyed a refreshing hike to the falls and the historic mill site and I took particular delight in observing the forest floor where a variety of spring wildflowers were putting on a show.

It seems that not everyone gets as excited as I do over a pair of Wakerobins in bloom, however I don't mind that at all.

I believe I must have been an herbalist or medicine woman in a past life and those who hike along with me seem to enjoy my chatter about the native uses of our indigenous plants. At least they appear to be interested!

As we hiked along, the sun broke through and the wind died down. My nephews and niece ran ahead in excitement as they made discoveries of giant fallen branches with the rushing sounds of the falls in the distance calling to them.

Near the falls there is firepit stocked with firewood where a weary traveller or group could rest while dinner cooked or get warm on a wintry day.

Dogs are allowed, as long as they are kept on a leash no longer than 2 metres.

Here are more pictures from this rejuvenating piece of paradise:

Bloodroot in bloom. The natives used the orange sap from Bloodroot as an antiseptic and dye.









































Wild Columbines just about to bloom.






































Three little hikers, my nephews and niece, lead the way down the well groomed trails at Hilton Falls Conservation Area.































A sinkhole at Hilton Falls. Sinkholes were formed when the pressure exerted by glaciers on rocks swirling in water, wore deep round impressions in the limestone.



















The pioneers made use of the water pressure formed by falling water and built mills. Here are the remnants of an old mill at the Hilton Falls site.






















Trout Lily leaves carpet the forest floor. Trout Lillies are so named because of the mottled appearance of their leaves. Soon dainty yellow flowers will bloom above the beautifully patterned leaves.























Strange and mysterious, the Mayapples draw the eye with their striking appearance as they near their blooming period.

The plants grow in groups and the flower must be searched for under the leaf canopy.

The Mayapple fruit is edible when completely ripe, however all other parts of the plant are extremely toxic.

Indigenous people used a tincture of the plant as an insecticide.


































Rivulets of fresh, clean water, from Sixteen Mile Creek, cascade downwards as they make their way to the rushing stream below.



































My nephews lay claim to the title 'Kings of the Forest'.

This astounding area is unique in all of North America as four species of salamanders can be found in it's wet pools and under damp rocks.
Nature lovers will enjoy viewing over 100 varieties of plants and numerous unusual mammals such as the Northern Flying Squirrel and the American Water Shrew.




If you live in Oakville, Burlington, Mississauga, Guelph or Hamilton, Hilton Falls is just a short drive away.

Enjoy a peaceful day hiking and wrap up your visit with a barbecue (barbecues and picnic tables are provided) as you relish in the natural beauty that surrounds you.

Visitors to our region should make sure to take time out for a daytrip to this UNESCO site where wilderness that once could be found throughout the Golden Horseshoe area, may still be found.

©2009JoSmith

On an early, autumn day last year, Louis and I
were driving along Lakeshore Road as it meandered through the cities of Burlington and Oakville, admiring the many grand waterfront homes and the majestic trees that towered overhead.




















Exploring the many side streets that lead to the water's edge, we happened to turn down a small road that led to a quiet, lakeside neighbourhood where a peaceful cemetary lay in the middle.



















Gazing at the old gravestones that lay scattered under 200 year old oaks and pines, I felt myself entranced at how such a halcyon place had survived all of these years while the city had grown up around it.
































The blueness of Lake Ontario caught my eye, where the road ended, and I noticed the cemetary lay along the shore with some headstones very close to the eroded embankment.

Being a history buff, the site remained in my mind and I vowed to one day find the cemetary again. The next time I would take pictures and learn of it's history, I quietly thought to myself.





On an early spring day, not too long ago, I set out once more to find the old cemetary that held secrets of the area's early beginnings; tales of schooners sinking in gales and small children dying of the numerous diseases of the day.

Traveling up and down various roads that led to the water's edge, I came home unsuccessful and even more determined to locate this beautiful, heritage area.
Googling Oakville pioneer cemetary, I at last found what I hoped was my cemetary. Once again I set out with my Garmin close by in search of West Street along the shores of Oakville.

Traveling down the tree-lined street, I sighed with satisfaction as I spotted that , yes indeed, I had found the pioneer cemetary that had so marked my soul last autumn.

Parking my car and gathering my camera, I began to meander amongst the almost 200 year old gravestones and marvel at their beautiful carvings and simple inscriptions.

My heart felt a deep sense of sadness as I noticed that many of the graves were those of children and very young men and women. I could only imagine how hard times must have been back then.
















Bronte Pioneer Cemetary came to be in 1830 when Phillip Sovereign, a farmer in the area, designated the peaceful eastern corner of his property as a cemetary. Many local people had already been laid to rest there.


He wished for it to be a burial ground for people of all 'orders, sects, nations and parties' and officially deeded it as such. Many of the earliest people's who had escaped slavery via the Underground Railway came to be buried here.

Childhood mortality was very high in the 1800s and the cemetary has an even more sadder feel with 1/3 of the graves being those of children.

Schooner and shipwrecks were common on the Great Lakes in the early days of settlement and many mariners who's boats were lost in storms off the cemetary's coast, were laid to rest here.
One of them, Jimmy Baker, a young man who was the 1st mate of the schooner Magellan, was the only body found when the Magellan collided with the U.L. Hurd in 1877.

Two brothers, the Dorlands, were young fishermen whose boat capsized in a great storm in December 1886. Both perished and were laid to rest in Bronte Pioneer Cemetary, leaving behind two young families.









The fierce storms of Lake Ontario have wreaked their havoc on the cemetary over the years and 70 feet of cemetary have been swallowed by the crashing waves, taking along some graves of the early pioneers.


























Today it is a peaceful place with towering old Oak trees where Gray Squirrels scamper about looking for acorns and building nests.














































It seems very fitting that Mourning Doves are commonly seen now, walking serenely amongst the old stones.


















Some of the stones have suffered vandalism through the years, and the sands of time have eroded many inscriptions away, however the feeling of reverance and sorrow for those whose lives were lost, still remains.





















In 2003, the Bronte Pioneer Cemetary was registered under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act as a Heritage Site.

The cemetary is a peaceful place to visit for those who are interested in historical sites and in the early history of the Village of Bronte and the City of Oakville. There are benches where a traveler can sit and gaze in awe at the beauty of Lake Ontario while the silence of the heritage site washes
over a harried soul.

©2009JoSmith

One of the most picturesque and relaxing
places to visit in Oakville is Bronte Outer Harbour Marina.

Resting serenely on the shores of Lake Ontario, Bronte Outer Harbour Marina has a myriad of services to offer local boaters and visitors as well as beautiful areas to walk or spend some time contemplating the sounds and sights of nature.

Bronte is now re-awakening from a long winter's nap and anxious boaters are counting down the days to when their boats will leave dry land and once again float gently in their water homes.




















Canada Geese have returned and the gulls are once more gliding gracefully on the upland drafts and breezes coming off the lake.

The boat slips are thawing and a myriad of migrating waterfowl stop over daily to rest in the sheltered waters of the marina.

Local residents once
again can be seen walking along the peer and fishermen can again be seen casting their lines in hopes of landing a prize catch.

A lonely  harbour lays in wait.
























Bronte Outer Harbour re-awakening after a long winter.


































Patient slips await their boats.

Overlooking Bronte Outer Harbour ~ A beautiful place to call home.

©2009JoSmith

Rising from a cosy bed piled high with wool blankets, a thick quilt and flannelette sheets, I notice the light in the room is different.
As I peek through the slatted blind covering the window nearest the bed, my heart softens to see a white and beautiful world where everything has a muffled tone and peace abounds.
Slowly, slowly a feeling starts to envelop me once more.




It's a familiar feeling and a very welcome, comforting one. The Christmas spirit has found me once more.

I suppose it began the day before when, bundled up in a furry hood and cashmere scarf, I walked to the end of my street to watch the annual Burlington Santa Clause Parade go by.
It had been an unusually cold and brisk day and my fingers had froze in my leather gloves each time I took them out of my pocket to take another picture of a passing float.

Children sat bundled in small chairs with barely a small red nose visible beneath the scratchy scarves that were wrapped around their chubby faces. Parents waved from the sidelines at all the parade participants as they found themselves unable to resist the convivial spirit of the parade and the welcoming in of the Christmas season once more.

Thinking of the blog I wanted to write for my Active Rain real estate website, my attendance at the parade was more utilitarian than something I had really looked forward to doing; however standing near those people who were already well imbibed with Christmas spirit, I found my homesick heart lifting and the odd time I noticed my own arm raising as it waved at the happy souls who manned the floats.

Feeling my heart beginning to swell, I found myself reciting, in my mind, the old familiar Grinch Who Stole Christmas' thoughts about how, perhaps, Christmas does indeed mean more than all the glitter and materialism that bombards us this time of the year.
I imagined he must have felt the same feeling overcome himself that I was now beginning to feel.
It probed at my soft inner core for points of entry, points that hadn't been bolted and locked to keep the outside world safely out.

The parade had ended with Santa himself waving his usual jolly, red-sleeved wave at one and all, and I found myself softly smile in the realization that Christmas goes on, no matter what.

As I walked swiftly home in the stark winter air, I found myself humming the song the Whos had sung on that Christmas morning in Whoville when they had awoken to nothing after having had all of their Christmas preparations taken away by a grizzled old Grinch.

The song was an uplifting one declaring to all that Christmas Day will always go on, just as long as we all have one another. Yes, I quietly thought to myself, it's true.

The Christmas spirit will descend and Christmas will come, just as it has always done, no matter what our life circumstances or the difficult times we are going through.
All we have to do is acknowledge and accept.

Acknowledge and accept that no matter how bad life may appear, or how much stress we are undergoing, things will always turn around and a brighter day will find itself in our midst, gently surrounding us in light and warmth.
Just as long as we have 'we', things will be fine.

We have friends, family and even strangers who seek to know us better. Underneath all of the faces that we find ourselves coming across during this peaceful season, we are all the same.

We each seek love, acceptance and gentleness.
We seek it for ourselves and we long to give it to others, if they will only open up and accept it from us.

This is what the Christmas spirit is all about, it's what it has always been about, and, as long as we have 'we', will always be about.

Wishing you and your loved ones and those who surround you a peaceful holiday season filled with genuine smiles, warm hugs, open hearts and acceptance for one and all.

~Jo

I recently came across a very interesting book called '1000 Places to See Before You Die' by Patricia Schultz and although I'm not sure whether or not Toronto Island made her list, it certainly should be there.

In early August a friend and I decided to sail over to Toronto Island and spend a few days exploring. Although I've lived in Ontario for most of my life and have visited Toronto many times, I had never been to Toronto Island before and now, after our recent visit there, I see that I've been missing out on one of our provinces most intriguing places.

While moored at Toronto Island, we were in awe of the fact that downtown Toronto was so close, and yet we felt as though we were on a distant island paradise of forests, beaches and trails.





















Toronto Island has an intriguing history extending back to the days when aboriginal people called it home. They saw it as a place of great spiritual mystery and magic and often took vacations there from the mainland.

























Over the years Toronto Island became the playground of the wealthy and eventually the City of Toronto began to develop it into a place that preserved the natural beauty while still providing features that appealed to all ages and income levels.



































Today thousands of people from all over the world take a ferry over to the island and spend the day exploring the many trails, attractions and beaches.





























It's one of the few places in Ontario where an official 'clothing optional' beach can be found and even though the day we visited was windy and cool, some visitors there were oblivious to the weather as they bared their all to the elements.
































During our stay there we took the Hanlan Point ferry over to the mainland and did some exploring of Queen's Quay in downtown Toronto.
The South-east Asia festival was on and we were treated to a show by colourful and talented Tibetan dancers.
























Taking cover from a storm, we came across a cosy auditorium where East Indian food was being prepared by a master chef and as curry and rice scents drifted through the air, I couldn't help but be enamoured at the wide variety of visitors from so many different cultures and backgrounds.



























I truly love it in that area of Toronto. The energy level is amazing and everyone is friendly.

Again, there is so much to see and explore, you would need to spend many days there to see it all.

As soon as there was a break in the weather, we headed for the ferry that would take us back home to the island.








It was a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend the day and we arrived back at the boat just in time to miss a major downpour.






















The evening saw a clearing in the skies and a great peace took over the Toronto harbour and the island inlet where we were moored.

I can't even begin to describe the magical feeling I felt as I gazed across the water to the lights of the beautiful Toronto skyline.















Tourboats run day and evening from the Toronto harbour and in and around the many inlets of the island, offering tourists a comfortable and exciting way to see the island for themselves.

We were only moored at the island for two nights and did not have enough time to explore all the places that I wanted to see and the weather was touch and go with many thunderstorms and downpours during our stay.










I've made a vow to myself to visit again, soon, and this time explore more completely since the little that I saw was very beautiful and intriguing.
As you can see from the following slide show, an abundance of new experiences awaits you when you come to the Toronto waterfront.

I know it would take many visits there to see everything and I've put this on my list of the thousand places I want to see 'again', before I leave this fragile blue planet we call home.

©2008JoSmith