Local and loving it!

And so I was so busy shopping and helping with the lead-up to last weekend's dramatic reading of "A Christmas Carol" that I forgot to write more about great stuff that is available locally. Here are a few of my favourite places to shop for great gifts locally:
Visit Strathmore Orchard, near Monkland, this weekend. Owner Carmen Bender will welcome you to taste his terrific raspberry wines, blueberry wines, autumn harvest wines and much more. Jellies and vinegars are available, too and of course, the apple cranberry combo is also great! Here is some contact information:3977 Bender Road, Monkland. Call 613-932-1470. Gift baskets are available, too. But buy some for Christmas and new this year: delicious ice wines.
And then there is the St-Albert Cheese Factory store in St-Albert. Every kind of cheese you would want and of course, extra old and the fresh cheese taste that is so hard to find.
If you haven't visited Pridham Antiques (right next to Mary's Country Kitchen) in Vankleek Hill, you're in for a treat . . . a chocolate treat, that is. This newly-opened shop in Vankleek Hill has what some call the best chocolate in the world for sale. You might get a taste while you are there. Unusual antiques are also a treat for the eye!