It was a quick trip home with so much squeezed in. I’m left feeling very full (of food, especially pie) and longing for deeper, longer conversations with everyone.

We had to alter our travel plans for this trip. Rather than fly out of Dawson City, our local boarding kennel has been full of available puppies looking for new homes, so we needed to board Hank in Whitehorse again. That meant taking an extra day off so we could drive down to Whitehorse and drop him off, and then we had to pick him up again and drive all the way back home after an already long day of flying from Toronto to Whitehorse.

Rather than tell a million tales, I mostly share photos.

Whitehorse -> Yellowknife

Toronto

I spent so much time weighing all the car rental prices, companies, and vehicles when making a reservation. And then they upgraded us to a premium car, a Volvo, for no extra charge. Go figure!

Sunflowers, goats and baby pigs!

Dad, Jeff & I, and Julie and her two kids went to a sunflower field / petting farm together one afternoon. The price of admission was a boquet of sunflowers that you needed to go cut yourself from the field. They gave you a bucket and a pair of snips to go make your selection. Dad’s got a great write up about it on his blog, with way better photos: https://johnverkley.com/2024/08/17/455/

Here’s a gallery of some of my pictures:

There was a corn maze too, and the corn was tall!

Food

Dad joined us at the St. Jacob’s Farmers Market on Saturday morning as we loaded up to host a family supper at my Mom’s that night – with smoked pork chops, corn on the cob, and fresh peach pies from the Shakespeare Pies bakery, and smoked pork chops from the Pork Shoppe.

We also stopped by Camp-Out RV near Stratford to see the Northern Lite truck camper they had in stock. SO NICE!! Now if we could find a way to get something just as new and shiny for half the price?

Oh and here is a pickle crown that my neice Selinah made for me. You know you want one.

Of course there was a Pokemon Go walk, and why does it always rain when we hunt Pokemon?

Verkley Picnic

On Sunday there was a Verkley picnic at my Aunt Maria’s. It was a mixed-weather day with downpours and sunshine, off and on. We were in the garage and out on the back deck.

There was also some colouring after the party!

There was also Yoga the next day! Selinah makes me get on the floor and follow her lead. Oh my.

On Monday we went to Jeff’s parents place and had an amazing lunch with roast beef and corn on the cob and we had lemon meringue pie! Then we had a girls vs guys battle of cards. And the girls won! YAY! We play this card board game… what is it called, Jacks? Or maybe One-Eyed Jack? It was a nice visit. They have a beautiful backyard and garden. It’s always nice to see what’s growing and blooming.

And then we were back in the Yukon! My third Ontario visit this year! It was so fast, quick, and I ate way too much, and slept too little, and walked.. well not at all, and didn’t get to see everyone I had dreamed of visiting or surprising. Once again, I say, next time!