Things that struck me about this small rural community of 700 was there was only one flashing traffic light, no big-deal restaurants, chain stores or Timmies, just one Mac's Milk. Its Main Street whispers of yesterday. After parking (no meters here), I began to explore. It didn't take me long to realize this was an unashamedly old-fashioned village where proprietors still swept sidewalks in front of their shops and said hello to you before you even speak. This street consisted of historic buildings with new leases on life. It's filled with artists who have a variety of skills. To name a few, there is stained glass, pewter jewelry, hand-crafted guitars, quilts, fibre art, sculptured dolls, forged iron, woodwork and antique shops. There are cozy cafes, a hand-crafted ice cream place and I could get fresh pastries and decadent chocolates. Tucked away on side streets much of the same awaited me. In total there are about 70 artists you can visit. This village is filled with creativity just about everywhere you turn.
Celine Papizewska and Rick Gorus are a couple who relocated from the Toronto area 10 years ago (most of the business owners are laid-back, easygoing transplants) to open Diva Adornments.
"When we visited friends who had a cottage here we immediately fell in love with the beauty of the area and we even love it more today," Celine told me.
This is a place to spend time and indulge your inner diva. Ladies, check out the selection of lovely hats.
"Four ladies from Ottawa recently visited us to pick out the perfect hat to meet the Queen when she visited Ontario a few months ago," Rick Gorus says.
Across the street is the Bloomfield United Church. When I arrived at noon on a Sunday, church was just letting out. It was a Norman Rockwell moment. The mostly older crowd was dressed in their Sunday best and they took time to pass the day with each other. In addition to being a vibrant arts community, I learned many of the parishioners were part of a flourishing farm community. When you want an old-time meal, attend one of their community dinners. Farmers pick the vegetables and fruit that day and serve it the same evening.
Beside the church I enjoyed a coffee and piece of homemade Apple pie at Saylor House B and B and Cafй. It has a pretty patio set in a beautiful garden.
Take the time to rent, until the end of October, a cool bike ($35 for the day) from the Bloomfield Bicycle Company (www.bloomfieldbicycle.ca) on Main St. and ride the outskirts of the village. You'll see graceful homes, some made of lumber milled long ago in the village and large leafy maples that cast shadows across well tended gardens that reflect a pride of place.
If you arrive on Thursday Sept. 23, locals and professional entertainers perform in the evening at the Bloomfield Village Hall. Admission is by donation.
This lovely hamlet has plenty of B and B's that you can check out at www.pecchamberofcommerce.com or 1-800-640-4717.
The village is surrounded by a burgeoning grape and wine industry that will remind Niagarans of home, and the beautiful sandy beach of Sandbanks Provincial Park is located just to the south.
After spending a few lazy hours in this friendly village with people who gave it soul, I continued towards Kingston.
On the outskirts of the village stop at Hagermans' Farm Market, which is celebrating 105 years as a family-operated dairy and produce farm. The food was so fresh there was still soil on the root vegetables. Grab a selection of fresh fruit for the road.
Contact George Bailey at wonderful.life@sympatico.ca
How to get there
It's a four hour drive from Niagara. Take Highway 401 east to exit 522 (Wooler Rd.), Highway 33 to Bloomfield. GPS users can punch in 271 Main St., Bloomfield.
More Information
www.ontariotravel.net and punch in Bloomfield.
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