Lavender and Lucy the Lamb

This morning started with another wonderful breakfast from Zach, but it will be the last on this trip. I think he has burned out a bit and Nick will be taking over with a savory bread pudding, so we’re in for a double treat: yummy food + relaxation! 

The families all split up this morning so the four of us found ourselves at a nearby lavender farm in the late morning. We parked the car and were immediately greeted by four wagging, wiggling sheep dogs that soaked up our attention and led us to all the other animals on the farm. We met a miniature palomino pony, ducks from India, sheep, geese, peacocks, Flemish giant rabbits (although they were only 6 months old so not very giant), and the piece de resistance, a 10 day old orphaned lamb that Melina fed with a baby bottle. We were all in heaven. The owner of the farm, Alan, led us around and answered all of our questions on his menagerie and we bought some wonderful lavender products to help us remember this special place. 

Just outside the farm we found the mother load of blackberry bushes so filled every container in the car. We have had one driver honk at us while picking berries on the side of the road so I hope it’s not illegal or something, but it’s too late to worry now since the cobbler has already been made and consumed.

We stopped into the town of Sydney by the Sea and had some gyros for lunch (Melina reluctantly tried then devoured her spanikopita) and perused some book shops before heading back to the house for nap time, dinner prep, and lots of pool time. Melina is finally swimming again after “forgetting” how since her lessons ended in June. I think I may have oversold her swimming ability and made her worried that she couldn’t live up to my expectations. So I’m now trying not to make a big deal of it, and that seems to help. She did a LOT of swimming on her own today and was loving it and kept challenging herself to do more difficult things. Very cool!

Zach worked really hard to prepare a beautiful setting in the garden for a dinner of burgers in the hopes we could all sit together but it ended up being too difficult to coordinate everyone after splitting up for the day, so it was an easy going, come-and-go meal, topped off with the aforementioned cobbler. 

The night ended with stories from Marc (always the highlight of a family gathering for Zach and me!) And some time in the way-too-hot hot tub. So now we’re scalded and looking forward to more adventures on the island tomorrow!