This week, I traveled to Ontario, visiting dealers & setting up for the Home Hardware Fall Market, located in St. Jacobs. I faced heavy rain fall, while I traveled from store to store in Ottawa. With each sprint from jeep to store I became a little wetter and less motivated.

Luckily, I visited Trail Head on the corner of Scott & McRae. An outdoor retailer located in a unique post and beam building that looks like it would be as comfortable on the shore of the Nahanni River, in Canada’s Northwest Territories. This same profile could be said of the person who assisted me with choosing an Arc’teryx Beta SL Rain Jacket with Storm Hood™. Super lightweight, packable, waterproof jacket designed for take-along emergency storm protection for hikers & salesman.

Thanks to Trail head, I finished my day dry & motivated to walk to Heart & Crown Pub, in the Historic ByWard Market, where good people meet for Irish Hospitality & Live entertainment plus Irish inspired healthy & hearty dishes that satisfied my hunger.

I continued travels west to set-up for the Home Hardware Market, at their headquarters in St. Jacobs, located in southwest Ontario. This is for the dealers to purchase products for spring delivery & I will base our production schedule for the next 4 months, starting in October. My focus at this show will be the Mark’s Choice Telescopic Ratchet Anvil & Bypass Loppers, Shears & Tree Pruners and of course our benchmark products the Mark’s Choice Xtend-A™ Garden Tools, Pruners & Saws.

I’d not be a Leafs fan if I fail to mention where I discovered & enjoyed a Wicked Thai Soup & an Unconventional Meatloaf at Wendel Clark’s Classic Grill & Sports Lounge. Wendel Clark is indisputably one of the most popular players to wear Maple Leafs blue.

Back in Nova Scotia, the team continues to work together to complete & ship all back orders from the 2012 season while completing the Reverse D-Handle Snow Shovels for the upcoming winter season. They need a fresh slate for the spring 2013 production schedule. I occasional get feed back when I’m traveling. I was pleased to hear Betty’s a grandmother again (Kyran Prince Millard, 7 lbs 14 ozs). For those of you who may not know Betty Millard is our shipping & receiving coordinator.

Back at Home, My youngest daughter is going through try-outs to become a member of her school’s volleyball team, this week half the girls were cut & the second half moved on to the next round of try-outs … I’m proud to say Victoria has moved on the second round.

All the Best, Shawn Levangie