Thank You

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Once again, we have been rather belligerent in updating our blog. The month of August set new records in Tea Room attendance and for us this means a record summer season is now over. With kids running back to school we expect things to calm down this Fall until our closing for the season on December 21st.

As such, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our patrons. We want to express our gratitude to all of our patrons that keep returning and those that continue to bring their special guests to the Tea Room. We would also like to thank all of those that have chosen the Tea Room to celebrate their special family events. This past month, we have hosted everything from baby to wedding showers and anniversaries.

The Tea Room all "decked out" for an August wedding shower

We even closed the month of August  with a very special private function: a 25th wedding anniversary hosting close to 100 guests. Since this was well beyond our capacity, the event actually needed  a special tent.

Ready to host close to 100 guests.

In fact, for their kind consideration, we also need to thank all those patrons who could not access the Tea Room last month. Sadly, we have had to turn away quite a few folks as our Tea Room seating and kitchen capacity often reached their limitations.

Sadly, this is something we cannot easily overcome. We have a few plans in mind, but our limitation is primarily dictated by the fact that the farm sits on the "green belt" and Niagara Region has strict limitations on grey water effluent from septic tanks. We are far from reaching this amount in reality, but public administrations use simplified math to calculate these things and assume that the square footage of our Victorian home must be used as a means to establish these limitations.

So for the time being, we now strongly recommend reservations.

Meanwhile on the farm, our tomatoes are beginning to ripen. The real surprise turns out to be the "black" Chinese tomatoes. They are now very ripe... but certainly not black. They are a mixture of red and dark green. They are relatively small but by far the sweetest tomatoes we've ever eaten. These are perfect for the Tea Room tossed salad.

The sweetest tomatoes we've ever tried.

Our Apples are also progressing rather well. Not only have we been able to start our own "hard" cider production for the Fall, but it will soon be time to transition from making Peach pies to the traditional Autumn Apple pie.

Since arriving here, the Apple trees have never looked so productive.

This also means that canning season is upon us. Our first project was to pickle beets this year. Bushels can be had for very reasonable prices at local markets. Although it takes a bit of work, pickling beets in a sweet brine is a worthwhile endeavour (you wont regret it during the Winter months). For that special taste, we tend to spice our brine with cinnamon.

PS. Use Kosher salt when pickling (it will prevent the pickling solution from turning "cloudy").

It's canning season. Check your local farmers' market for small beets and pickling cucumbers.

Finally, we are now preparing for our Downton Abbey High Tea event this coming weekend. The Tea Room is slowly being transformed into a "time capsule". On display are now a replica period dress as well as an amazing local map from 1907. Mounted in a "shadow box", this map depicts Welland and Lincoln counties. It is an original which apparently sold for the grand old price of $5 at the time!

Getting ready for "Downton Abbey"

A small historical treasure: a 1907 local map printed on cloth.