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Post by Alice on Mar 18, 2006 19:54:45 GMT -5
Some of you had asked that I keep you posted when we go sight seeing and take pictures. Instead of PMing you, I'm going to just update this page with the new album's web address (just easier that way). Today we went to the Maple Sugar Shack in St. Jerome, Quebec. It has a train ride, sleigh rides, All you can eat lunch or supper, a mini farm, and pulling taffy. Was a somewhat enjoyable day (Was FREEEEEEZING out today). Here's the link to the new photo album www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=9459707&uid=4438531 |
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Post by Cher on Mar 18, 2006 20:01:03 GMT -5
Hard to believe the sap would be running already. My mother made maple syrup for years, tons of work doing that, especially doing it alone. She had a big cooker outside and my kids would sleep out there with her on the wood pile while she tended the stove and kept the sap cooking down. 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. Looks like it was a fun day though.
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Post by joe on Mar 18, 2006 23:57:09 GMT -5
Too cool Alice! How do you find these places? It all looked great except for that "food". Umm, you really fed that stuff to your children??  Just givin' ya a hard time! |
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Post by driftwood on Mar 19, 2006 1:54:11 GMT -5
Pork Jowels ? I don't blme him, wouldn't eat that either . Sounds sort of like scrapple, That stuff is gross ! Looks like a interesting place to go for a sugar high.
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Post by Alice on Mar 19, 2006 10:48:09 GMT -5
LOL We're not big on French Canadian food either. Unfortunately you have no menu choices when you go to these types of places. They just bring the entire menu to you, and you're supposed to pig out on the stuff. The only thing my oldest son would eat on the table were the pork jowels (I think it's deep fried bacon) My youngest liked the wieners in syrup (I didn't try them, so I couldn't tell you if they were good) And the only thing edible to me was the Pea soup (I didn't get a picture of that, so I took a shot of the baked beans instead) Joe these are all local places. We don't travel more then an hour away from home. Lets see... the Biodome, Science center, Botanical gardens, and the insectarium are about 30 - 45 minutes away. St. Raphael's ruins is about 20 - 30 minutes away and the sugar shack we went to is about 45 - 55 minutes away (there are some which are closer, but they don't all offer the same things... like train rides  ) We really don't travel very far. |
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Post by joe on Mar 19, 2006 12:14:52 GMT -5
I think you owe those kids a trip to a good Italian restaurant! With all that incredible stuff so close to home there has to be at least one Italian place. You're very lucky to have so many cool places nearby and you're right to get out and see them. The kids will always remember that. |
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Post by Alice on Mar 25, 2006 19:08:58 GMT -5
We were supposed to go somewhere else on Friday, but things didn't work out (School canceled the kids day off) So today we headed over to the Ecomuseum (About 10 minutes away from home) I've uploaded some pictures on this page. www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=9537489&uid=4438531We saw many more things that I didn't get a picture of. There's tons more to see! A lot of the animals are still hibernating, so we didn't get to see some of the animals (Bears, Mink, and a few others) Was an enjoyable day. |
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Post by driftwood on Mar 26, 2006 3:08:51 GMT -5
Looks like a fun & interesting place Alice, I love that Platypus skeleton.
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Post by Alice on Mar 26, 2006 13:04:42 GMT -5
Thanks Tony.
That's not a platypus though.
It's a baby beluga
Sometimes whales swim up the St. Laurence river into fresh water. Then they unfortunately wash up on shore if they can't make it back to salt water.
Everything at the Ecomuseum is local animals only. No exotics.
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Post by Tweetiepy on Mar 27, 2006 13:17:45 GMT -5
Alice the pork thingys look like what we call "des oreilles de Christ" Christ ears (don,t know where that translation came from -
We're going to the sugar bush with my parents & family from Montreal it's $18 per person - and I know that none of us are gonna eat enough to justify spending that much specially the kids... even Hubby won't eat that much...
BTW my mom tapped one of the trees in front of our home about 15 years ago - it wasn't even a maple tree she found out later - but she got 2 gallons of sap & boiled 1 gallon of sap down to 1/4 cup of maple syrup and used the other to make wine (the best wine I've tasted & I HATE wine - it was more like a schnapps type of alcohol - very nice...)
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Post by Alice on Mar 27, 2006 15:24:07 GMT -5
Which Sugar Shack are you going to?
For us it came out to a little under $25 for me and the 2 kids (for lunch and taffy). The train ride was $2 (each) extra, and the "farm" was free.
I'm not sure why the French call it "des oreilles de Christ" because they're not ears at all. It's the pigs Jowels / Rinds.
That wine sounds interesting. What sort of tree was it?
Have fun Sugaring off Tweetie!
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Post by Tweetiepy on Mar 27, 2006 16:25:20 GMT -5
Alice we're going to "Au pied de l'Érable" in Mirabel I've been told it's expensive... Actually those pig things look like the pigs ears they give dogs to gnaw on! Can,t remember what kind it was - maybe a silver maple - not the real maple - or maybe it was an oak! Who knows, my mom is cheap & crafty... |
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Post by joe on Mar 27, 2006 21:53:36 GMT -5
Just how close can you get to those critters? Are you shooting through a glass partition? Don't you know those were killer frogs? They almost got ya! That goose looked suspicious too. I wouldn't have turned my back on that one.
Nice trip, great pics. Thanx Alice.
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Post by Alice on Mar 27, 2006 22:48:52 GMT -5
Killer frogs huh? LOL
There's no killer frogs, or poisonous animals over here, but they do keep the amphibian's behind glass so people don't "handle" them.
The other animals are pretty much kept behind fences. They have look-out points set up for people to see the animals in their habitats from up over the fence (like the wolf).
Some animals aren't very dangerous, so you're able to walk right up to the fence and shoot through fence holes. Some animals come up close (like the caribou, when they feel like it), but some prefer to stay at a distance, so you have to zoom in.
That goose was a riot!
It wouldn't leave me alone! Just wanted to stand there and gnaw at my fingers all day. Wasn't interested in anybody else's fingers but mine. LOL
The story about that particular goose... Someone found an egg, hatched it and raised it inside their house (like a dog). This goose loves people! When the owner died, it was brought to the Ecomuseum. They said that this particular goose fairly new, is very smart, and knows how to get out of the water fowl enclosure. Doesn't take to the other geese or ducks, and prefers to greet people at the pond entrance by frisking them or by nibbling at their fingers.
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Post by joe on Mar 28, 2006 11:10:15 GMT -5
Of course they like your fingers. After all those pork thingies last week you must taste good to a goose. That sounds like a fun place to visit. I still think those frogs are killers!! |
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Post by Alice on Jun 18, 2006 1:27:47 GMT -5
This was the first Saturday in a LONG time where it hasn't rained (it did threaten though), so we drove off about an hour away from home and went to Prehistoric world today. The kids had a lot of fun. Well I guess I really shouldn't say that. My oldest and I had a lot of fun, but my youngest was terrified when he saw teeth. Poor guy. I had to carry him past all the exhibits with teeth while his face was pushed up against me. If anyone is interested in seeing about 30 pics of life sized dinosaurs (and maybe read a little about them), click www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=10903118&uid=4438531 |
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Post by joe on Jun 18, 2006 21:30:23 GMT -5
What a cool place. I like all the dinos. Glad you had a good time but sorry about the little one!
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Post by Alice on Jun 23, 2006 19:37:22 GMT -5
Well, school is officially over! We'll more then likely go and join in on the festivities later tonight and again tomorrow for St. Jean Baptist Day, but won't take any pictures (Digitals and fireworks really don't mix. not mine anyway). We did go to Pointe du Moulin this afternoon (about 15 minutes away from home). If anyone is interested in looking at pictures, click www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=11046268&uid=4438531 (there's 25 pictures) |
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Post by joe on Jun 23, 2006 23:47:00 GMT -5
Ok, nothing with teeth there. I guess the little guy was happier! Nice trip.
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Post by Alice on Jun 24, 2006 7:14:52 GMT -5
LOL, you're right, there were no visible teeth there. But the little guy's imagination was going wild. There were a few times when he'd crouch down to look at a bug or something and I'd walk ahead a little. Then all of a sudden I'd hear a scream, and he'd zoom right passed me screaming "Dinosaur is coming, RUN!!!!"
LOL. Kids, you gotta love 'em
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Just givin' ya a hard time!
)
