Perhaps it's time for a travelogue?

First there was the trip from Fredericton to Quizpamsis, New Brunswick, to meet my new friend Dale Cook, the artist responsible for the art show that was raising money and awareness for our organization...

Then there was the trip to Upham, New Brunswick to spend some time with Mariam, one of our board members who's an Anglican priest in a delightful rural parish...

While there, I found time for a lovely, solitary afternoon jaunt in the woods on a bright and snowy day...

When I returned from my jaunt, I discovered that a friendly cat had himself at home in my luggage...

The next day was a grey but still lovely trip to New Minas, Nova Scotia (in the Annapolis Valley)...

 In New Minas I'm staying with more delightful hosts (I've been very lucky on this trip!), Randy and Brenda (Randy volunteers for our organization.)

And as I've learned in the past, hanging out with Randy always means adventure, great conversation, and meeting some of the fascinating people he surrounds himself with. A morning with the wonderful artist Regina Coupar on the South Shore certainly didn't disappoint. We were gifted with an impromptu lesson in preparing tiles for the kind of mosaic art she's been working on lately... (I will probably write more about that visit in a future post - it was a truly inspiring few hours in the studio of an amazing artist and deep thinker.)

Then there was lunch in Chester with Randy, Regina, John, and our special guest, Flat Madeline...

That evening, there was a visit to the new bakery that will (when it's open) be selling a special loaf of bread as a fundraiser for our organization.

Today I've been gifted with a free day, since the journey to PEI did not materialize (due to bad weather). In the morning, we visited a magical local bookstore (for some local flair for my children's Christmas gifts) and a couple of other shops, and then had a leisurely lunch. Tonight my gracious hosts are treating me to an evening of live theatre.

Tomorrow I head back to New Brunswick for the final stop on my tour. I'll be spending some time with a new provincial volunteer, and then I'll be on my way home.

What a grand adventure it has been!  Who says you can't have fun on a business trip?