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SOMETIMES YA GOTTA TAKE THE STAIRS

GOOD MORNING

This is what we awoke to today.

 

REMINISCING, PART 2: GREY DAYS

Driving back from London to Toronto we were engulfed in a massive thunder and lightening storm.  I miss those electrically charged days and the beauty that follows.

REMINISCING

I have always loved this picture.  The TinMan would play for hours (well, many minutes....) with my button collection.  I think this would make a perfect "We are moving" card. 

ADMIRING THE NIGHT

DIALOGUE

The TinMan was at a sleepover recently so we went to see Ishmael Beah speak.  He is the author of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier.  If you haven't read this book already, I suggest you do.  Ishmael was appearing with Kon Kelei, a young man from East Sudan who was recruited to fight with rebels at the age of five - the same age as our TinMan.  The talk was inspiring.  They said the best thing to do is to talk about what is happening in countries with child soldiers.  To keep a dialogue going.  I read half of A Long Way Gone a couple of years ago but couldn't finish it because of the saddness I felt.  After seeing Ishmael and Kon speak, I picked the book up and read it non-stop.  My contribution to the dialogue is to share this book with someone and have them read it and then they can pass it on to someone else.  I am asking that each person who reads it please sign it and then email me as to where the book is so I can follow its journey.  Once there is no more room for signing, the last person can mail it back to me so I can send it to CSI as a final place to be.  The first person to read Ishmael's story is my dear friend Lorraine in Toronto.  Talking and communication is important on so many levels.  Let's keep the dialogue going and growing.

 

WISH GRANTED

Thank you, my dear friend, for transporting me back to my childhood.  I was completely fascinated with the book Gnomes when I was a kid.  This book swallows you up into their little world.  Thank you, Jude.

 

UNPLUGGED IN CAPE BRETON

We have just returned from two amazing weeks in Port Hood, on Cape Breton Island.  No televison, no computer, no phone.  The first two days were the hardest - just trying to relax and slow down.  I felt panicked without a telephone but solved that by buying a calling card for emergencies (like birthday wishes!).  I want to live on Cape Breton Island, or at least I am in love with the idea of living on Cape Breton Island (Mabou to be more specific).  The skies are so big.  I became addicted to taking pictures of it. 

Here are a few:

Port Hood Island:

This island has no power (generators only) and is the most romantic sight from our deck.  We could have been staring at a small rural community in France.  I was envisioning a bakery, a cheese shop, and beautiful people (not trendy, urban 'beautiful' but rugged countryside beautiful) riding old school bicycles.   As the sun went down and the lights came on, the fantasy of life on Port Hood Island grew.  I wanted to visit and the local ad said "Ask the locals about a boat ride to the island" but it didn't happen.  I just daydreamed from across the channel.

Places I wouldn't mind living:

Why didn't I take a front shot of the cottage we stayed in?  Anyway, this is it from the side.  The beach and dunes run along the right front  Cottage isn't quite the right word.  Summer Home is more appropriate since it was bigger than our flat here in Halifax.

Roofs not bad and someone's been cutting the grass, but all I care about are the front doors!

This place was a complete fixer-upper (haha) but something about that little red school house look is appealing.

And last but not least... See the roof?  

Treasures:

Sand dollars, witch's purse (x2), a fin, starfish, fossils, etc.

Not sure what this bone is from.  Definitely gets the imagination going.

I was convinced this fin was carved of wood but the smell of it tells us otherwise.  My man says it is cartilege or something like that.  It is amazing to look at.  It measures 9" long and has a stink factor of 7.5 out of 10.

New Friends:

Bought these two friends at Bellemeade Farm.  They are made from recycled wool blankets and stuffed with wool fleece. 

This is Scratchy, the one-legged grasshopper.  Need I say more?

Stitching:

I passed some time by making some little scenes.  This one in actuality is only 1 1/2" x 1".  I can see where I could have done better with this close up shot (I forgot to outline a window!).

 I love the little bee on this one, with his sparkly flight path.  The green and brown (I call it grass and dirt and the TinMan calls it a marsh with cat tails) are pieces of wool felt I picked up at the local sewing store in Mabou. 

I read two books and am half way through the third.  I LOVE Joseph Boyden's writing.  Before we left I had finished Three Day Road - fantastic!!!  While away I read his Through Black Spruce -  another great one.  His storytelling is riviting and so descriptive.  I read Mr. Popper's Penguins, a gift from LaLa for the TinMan when he gets a little older.  I am currently reading The Good Mayor by Andrew Nicoll.  It's a quirly little story and kind of reminds me of a Baltic Amelie type story - if that makes any sense at all. 

Loved. loved, loved the trip and will think about it often when school starts back up in a few weeks (3 and counting).  Thank you Mum for making that all possible.

COUSINS

FASCINATION

We visited a wildlife park on a very rainy day.  We sought shelter from the torrential downpour inside the barn.  The peacock came up to me and a short courtship ensued.  I was as fascinated with him as he was with me.

The farm was associated with Upper Clemment's Park, an amusement park located on the Bay of Fundy.  It was a great weekend full of lots of fun.

I love the carousel.  We stayed on and just kept riding and riding and riding.  Transported back in time as we galloped along.