“We are torn between nostalgia for the familiar and an urge for the foreign and strange”.
Carson McCullers
The desire to break the monotony of a notoriously dim November motivated us to plan a weekend away in Port Elgin, where we visited a friend who took us to some amazing hiking trails in Bruce Peninsula and Owen Sound.
We soaked in the charm of the region by witnessing how November shows up in the forest, and we were reminded of how necessary it is to pause from modernity once in a while.
Bed & Breakfast in a Victorian home
When the front door opened at 521 Bricker, we were greeted by a warm smile, a twinkling Christmas tree and a spiral staircase wrapped in a burst of colourful wallpaper.
Every detail in this home was curated to honour the era of the historic house while still offering modern comfort to its guests. Antique porcelain met a Keurig machine, a clawfoot tub rested on heated floors, and old paintings hung above electric fireplaces.
Downstairs, a cozy solarium with a brass telescope caught my eye. The refurbished door still carries faint remnants of the faded Lakeview Hall lettering, a small echo of Port Elgin’s coastal history.
Our delicious breakfast, paired with embroidered linens and ornate silverware, awaited us in a colourful spread of homemade jam, scones, fruit, spinach & goat cheese omelette, bacon and french toast.
Although our days in Port Elgin were intended to be spent outdoors, I mentally reserved my evenings for the window nook.
Traveling back in time
Dotted along the route between Toronto and Port Elgin were a dozen antique shops, and we chose to explore Past Glories of Toad Hollow in Orangeville.
My day one readers know how much I love antiques, and how refurbishing old furniture was the origin story that birthed this blog.
There is nothing I enjoy more than wandering through an antique shop and letting my mind and imagination wander along with its contents.
Reading old postcards. Touching old luggages. Turning the knobs of silent radios.
Wondering who these belonged to, where have they traveled to, and what type of future did they envision. Did we astonish them? Or disappoint them?
Tinkering with manual kitchen appliances, I wondered how many cakes were prepared with the metal hand mixer, or what stories were shared when coffee poured from the enamel pitchers.
And then came the books.
I could have spent another hour touching the gold embossing on the spines, gently turning the worn pages and catching a whiff of old paper scent. Noticing that ink remained unfaded even after a century – perhaps their words still have purpose for another generation.
When compared to the daily mundanity of holding a screen, holding a book that has existed for over one hundred years creates such a paradox in my mind: how can holding something so old feel so new in my hands?
Although we were unsuccessful in finding the accent cabinet we’ve been keeping an eye out for, I did end up picking up a few small treasures in the shape of:
- Winter reading – a 1903 edition of The Kinship of Nature by Bliss Carman and a 1946 edition of These Were The Days by Clarence Day.
- Bookmarks – postcard greetings between sisters from 1911.
- Mood lighting – cut out stars on silver candle holders that will light up this Winter’s dinner table.
- DIY project – a ballerina print that I will put in a golden frame and hang on the wall.
A stormy window nook
The library at the B&B became our hangout spot in the evenings.
As the wind howled outside, chamomile tea was brewed and a pink floral porcelain teacup was handpicked from the cabinet in the guest hallway.
Downstairs, my husband chose the armchair by the fireplace. I nestled in my window nook.
As the winds whistled around the bay window, I got pulled into a story taking place on a train headed to Paris during the Belle Époque era. Eventually, sleep came and drifted me away.
As the sunlight shortens and the evenings stretch longer, it becomes imperative to hold on to the little joys of life – to keep feeling wonder, to keep moving, to keep reflecting, and to make space for gratitude.
To me, in Port Elgin, that looked like planting my feet and my hands in a forest, and visiting a different time period.
Reflections for my readers
What is your favourite way to soften November?
What antique items are you the most fascinated by, and why?
Do you also get bored by your phone, and feel excitement for old objects?
Wishing you a season of wonder, exploration, rest and reflection ✨
My Turquoise Bag 
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