Fun in Erin, Ontario!

Fun in Erin, Ontario!

Our first house-sit this year took us just 7 hours from home into semi-familiar territory. We used to live in Meadowvale, Mississauga (back in 1996-1997) and used to escape to the countryside by heading north on Mississauga Road towards Belfountain and the Forks of the Credit. Little did we know then, that we would be staying at a splendid old farmhouse, just two roads to the west. 

The farmhouse has been beautifully renovated, with some add-ons which have preserved the character of the home, while making it super-comfortable. We feel we are living in the lap of luxury! 

On top of that, we get to look after two awesome canines, one lovable feline, two delightful budgies, and a small cold-water fish! They are all very easy to look after, though the fish doesn't seem to want to sit on our laps, or be brushed! 

Our lives really revolve around the cat and the two dogs, all who have become the light of our lives over the last few days. Kitty tends to stay upstairs most of the time, but will come down in the evenings. As soon as she hears one of us climbing the stairs, she bounds down from her bed and rushes for some fussin', and we are rewarded with some of the loudest purrs we've ever heard!! Her food and water are kept in a bathtub so that little Lexie doesn't gobble it up before she has the chance to tuck in. 

Lexie (a Yorkshire terrier), and Max (a German Shepherd, are delightful and revel in the willing attention we give them.

Whether we are reading, catching up on our browsing, or just watching TV, every now and then, we'll feel a nudge to remind us that it's time for petting! We are thoroughly enjoying taking them on their walks on the amazing 15-acre property, with its many trails. Max just loves to wrestle with a stick in his mouth. In fact, if it's made of wood, he'll grab it - even it it's half of a large bush!! He is so much fun and never seems to get tired. Lexie has an adorable way of running so that her ears flop up and down - a picture that will forever be in our minds!! 

The grounds surrounding the house are a mixture of trees, bush, and open spaces, with a pond and a more-than-comfortable guest house not far from the main building. The trails weave in and out of the treed areas and, in the snow, we've seen the footprints of deer, rabbits, and other small animals on our walks. 

The Guest House

Not far from the guest house, there are some interesting old stone-walls that are part of a ruined building. So far, we don't know what the building was, but the remains are quite enchanting, and add to the ambiance of the surroundings. 

We'd love to know the story behind these wine bottles!

On Monday, we took a trip into the local small town of Erin. 

Although it was overcast, and most of the stores were closed, we could see (and feel) the charm of this community, and the main street boasted some one-of-a-kind stores amongst the more familiar ones. On the advice of our home-owners, we stopped in at Tintagel's Tea Room for a latte, before heading home. 

The tea room also sells a variety of gifts and is a really quaint place to spend an hour or two. 

Today, we indulged in our first hot-tub, which was absolutely marvellous. With snow all around us, the sun shining in a clear blue sky, and the jets soothing our backs - what more could we want? 

On a winter's day, there's nothing quite like sitting comfortably with a good book in front of a fire. However, sometimes, little Lexie has other ideas! 

We sent a text to our home-owners this morning saying that, 'after walking the trails, spending time with the doggies and other furry, scaly, and feathered friends, lazing around in front of the fire, and relaxing in the hot tub, we've decided that we really don't like being here... we friggin' LOVE IT!' We have also wished them many more happy vacations!  



Please visit these websited for info about house-sitting: 

Trusted HouseSitters 

HFF HouseSitters

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A note about our home-owners. 

Patrick and Martina Skuce are owners of their family business, Caledon Building & Design. Patrick is the president and the construction manager, while Martina is an interior designer. They are accompanied by their two sons, Charlton (project manager), and Roland (timberframer and site supervisor). Here is a link to their website:  Caledon Building & Design.

On a personal note, they are people with big hearts and generous spirits. We are thrilled to have gotten to know them, and honoured that they chose us to look after their home and pets while they enjoy their well-earned vacation. 

(All pictures shown here - as well as on social media - are reproduced with permission from the home-owners).