What better way to reach out to new prospective followers than a What I Did Last Summer post? Here is my bid to have you give me a follow! I am still not done with summer even though it is officially autumn but surely had a blast the last couple months.
In Part 1, I promised cottaging, gardening, brewery tours, and music so here ya go!
If I were to retire on Hive earnings and start offering guided tours of my part of Canada to this network of bloggers, we would be hitting a cottage for sure. In the middle of a huge forest biome, beside a lake, fresh air, no schedule and fun. The quaint small towns closest by for grocery and ice cream runs. Swimming and camp fires and
I have come to terms with the fact that my many of my happy places are on decks looking out into the water. What a gift to be able to escape like this and just unplug in the wonder that is your home country.
The only thing better than that might be to share it with a bunch of friends. It literally doesn't get any better than this.
Gardening
Summers are all about gardening if you are not afraid of a little work and love to watch things grow. Creating a private oasis where you are that also spits out fresh fruits and veggies makes it even better! For the past few years on Hive, I have taken up the #hivegarden challenge and reclaimed parts of my useless lawn to learn and grow and share.
Flowers become much more than ornaments when you consider how important they are for pollinators and how much we depend upon them to keep us alive. Plus, my hydrangeas turned me into an old lady when they bloom and I am out there taking pictures of them!
I have a real #hivegarden post in the chamber so I won't spoil it here. I am all about the foreshadowing and the hot sauce we are about to ferment from these blazing red habaneros!
From humble beginnings after a long brutal winter...
...to rather lush despite a long and dry August. Story later on this week!
Breweries
As the blockchain #beerologist, you knew there was probably gonna be beer. Back when I was cutting my teeth on the blockchain during covid, I longed to get out and tour the many craft breweries in this region for #beersaturday. That madness has passed and I was thinking that I haven't really visited many lately. Then I look back in my camera roll and see all the ones I did visit this summer!
Nearby Broken Rail Brewery is just far enough to make it a special trip and close enough that we have been here a few times this summer.
Plenty of selections fresh on tap and always multiple IPAs for my tastes.
A quick stop at Jackass Breweryis always in order when picking up CO2 for the kegs or heading to the big city.
Once in the big city, a stop at Henderson Brewing is always nice because it usually means grabbing fuel for a big night on the town.
Speaking of the big city, probably my favourite brewery of them all is Great Lakes Brewing and a stop there for that promises to be a bevy of IPAs is the highlight of the season.
Back closer to home, a stop into Jobsite Brewing is in order to get a flat of camping beers for beside the fire.
Either that or a session at Black Swan Brewing for a little quick patio action where all the local beer buffs congregate.
Wouldn't be a proper Zeke beer tour without a stop at our own brewery. Perhaps a little less fancy than the rest being in the garage but we brew some damn fine beer, the like of which I prefer over many larger established breweries.
We brew all kinds of beer from light to malty, fruity to hoppy and all points in between. This one is my favourite New England IPA featuring our new, custom made mash paddle to break up the huge grain bill with the wheat and oats. Drinking this one right now actually and it is tropical and serious but light at only 5.9% abv. Summer Beer!
Music
When you imagine the dog days of summer, languishing and enjoying a little downtime in the warm weather, live music has a way of making it even more perfect.
We started out the season with a multicultural festival and some smooth island reggae and world beats to set the tone.
Then, there was some Canada Day celebrations with more live music from local bands like Upside of Maybe.
Then there was the record release party of local legends The Thundering Velvet Band.
Some of the best music of the summer was at our studio, playing birthday shows or rehearsing for the concerts we had on tap.
It is a bit of a drive to get to town with the guys but a beer and some fun jamming tunes makes it all more than worth it.
Getting up on the cottage stage to play songs for all who gather every year is a highlight of the summer. Afternoon sun shines on the stage before the big night.
At night, the musicians come from all over and improvise half learned songs and just make them work. Pure authentic fun that is good for the soul.
the musical highlight this summer may have been the epic 30-person campfire jam that took us into the early morning hours. How many times can I say "It doesn't get any better than this"?
Until Next Time...
The sun hasn't quite gone down on summer for me and I saw so many other fun pics from the summer. This post has become a little long so I will have to leave the random summer one-offs for the next Weekly Zekely Summer Adventure post.
Thanks for checking in & sharing my summer adventure!
