Dundas Meeting of the Dragon Society Tea Party - 3rd stop on our Whirlwind tour

Saturday was the big day for the meeting of the Dundas Chapter of the Dragon Tea Society. A good time was had by all. 

Here we see the Dragon Mistress beside the tea table with all her dragons right by her shoulder.

The Dragon Mistress's Mommy certainly prepared a lot of delicacies for the party.  We had mini quiches, fancy sandwiches, lemon tarts, scones with lemon curd and Devon cream, and English Rose tea.

The Dragon Mistress consented to join the old  Great-Aunties for a picture

And then Mommy joined us too.

Doesn't it all look delicious?  It was!

Brian was the hero of the day, as he chauffeured us from Ajax to Dundas through the heavy traffic on the 401 and the QEW.  Three cheers for Brian!

The Dragon Mistress got a new book on how to draw dragons from Great-Auntie Heather, and she was lost in it as soon as she opened it.

Great-Uncle Brian decided to stretch his back before starting the long drive home.  The Dragon Mistress's dog decided to add his own special touch of physical therapy.

Great-uncle John got a snuggle at the end of the day.   

So, the Dundas chapter of the Dragon Society Tea was a huge success.  Next year....a Dragon Ball at Riverwood.  Oh, that does sound like fun. See you there.

Whirlwind visit to Peterborough, Ajax, Dundas, Guelph - 2014 - 2nd stop - Ajax

We left Peterborough after lunch on Friday and made tracks for Ajax.  It was only 45 minute drive but it was rather harrowing once we got on Hwy 401.  The Friday afternoon traffic was heavy, and more than a tad overwhelming for these small town folks. We arrived at our destination rather frazzled, but in one piece and sort of sane....I think. 

We used to drive the 401 corridor all the time when we travelled back and forth from Sarnia to Ottawa, but we haven't done it for 10 years now, and boy oh boy, have things changed... both the highway conditions, and us!

After we were fought with the traffic and felt jostled to our cores, we pulled into the driveway in Ajax, and were more than happy to park the car for the rest of the weekend.  Brian and Heather kindly offered to chauffeur us around on the next outings, as Toronto traffic was old hat to them, and we gladly accepted their offer.

Brian greeted us at the door, and after hugs and hellos, fresh coffee was made and he ushered us to the back room where we settled into the comfy couches there.  With coffee in hand, and munchies close by we talked the rest of the afternoon away.  By the time Heather got home from work, my traffic ruffled nerves were back under control and we enjoyed a quiet evening together.

When I walked past the living room on the way to the sun room at the back of the house, this bright table in the living room caught my eye, and I had to stop for a picture.

My sister found this old table at the Goodwill store.  She painted the frame a bright red, then she took the glass out of the middle of it, and replaced it with a piece of wood she painted with chalkboard paint.   The message in the centre of the table changes to suit any occasion.   

Tomorrow...Dragon Tea Party in Dundas.....

Whirlwind visit to Peterborough, Ajax, Dundas, Guelph 2014 - 1st stop - Peterborough

Whew!  We are back home after our whirlwind trip to visit family in the Toronto area, and we are more than a tad road weary I must say.  We did want to get these visits in before the snow started to fly, so we made plans to make lots of stops along the way, and set off at the end of last week. 

I was not happy when the temperatures soared up into the 30's last week when I was trying to plan clothes and pack for our trip.   Sheesh, I was melting.  We had frost at the beginning of the week, so we had the furnace on, but by Thursday it was hot and humid.  Crazy, crazy, crazy weather.   I had to hunt around for summer tops to pack in with the sweaters and warm socks.  Glad I took plenty of clothes with me, as it turned darned cold while we were there and I needed warm snuggies for the trip home.

It was pouring rain on the morning of our departure, but it let up by the afternoon, so we were able to pack the car without getting drenched, and we enjoyed a storm free drive along the highway.  Lots of trees were still all decked out in their autumn colours, so it was a most enjoyable part of the journey.   

We arrived at our first destination late afternoon, and it was so nice to settle in on the comfy couch and relax with a glass of wine while we caught up on all the news of the Peterborough branch of the family. 

This was the view across the room from my spot on the couch in Peterborough.  Pretty huh? 

View the next morning from the window in the breakfast nook.  We enjoyed  it along with our blueberry pancakes, fresh maple syrup and steaming coffee.   Yum, yum, yum!

My brother having a heart-to-heart with his dogs.  I think it might have been time for their walk.

On the afternoon of our second day in Peterborough, the guys went on a photo shoot, while the girls went shopping.  I think we had more fun than the guys, but that isn't the way they would tell the story. 

Larry climbed over the fence to get a good shot of the water.

I love this shot John got of driftwood in the water. 

So, our first stop was very relaxing.  We set off mid afternoon on Friday for our next stop....Ajax.  Stay tuned....

Danica at Riverwood

Before I close the Riverwood picture folder for this year,I thought I would post these pictures of Danica at the farm. 

Here she is spending a few quiet moments with Buppa on the front porch first thing in the morning.

Later that day she sat on the porch and worked on her art journal.  Auntie Heather had us all enthused.

One afternoon the girls spent some time in the Playner Mill, and Danica was dancing to the song "I wear my sunglasses at night"  She really played the part.

Walking through life with enthusiasm, that's Danica.

She took my camera for a walk around the grounds one day, and came back with this picture of the rock cairn marking Zeus's grave.

Later she posed with the another rock memorial by his grave.  He was a much loved dog. 

You can read more about Zeus here.   Zeus - King of the Dogs

My most amazing sister - Part II

When my sister visited last winter I was very impressed with her journal, and I shared a few pictures here.
This past weekend I picked up her journal again, and continued to be amazed.  Al I can say is I want a copy of my own.  It is the most amazing artistic book I have ever seen.  It is full of quotes, lists, lessons, encouragements and spirit lifting thoughts.  It is a book you could pick up every day, many times every day, and never see the same thing twice. I think she could get it published, and it would be a best seller as the most unique art book and inspirational journal ever put on the store shelves.

Here are just a few samples of some of her pages.  She is nearing the end of the year, so she has almost 52 of these masterpieces.  Enjoy.

She completes a two page work-of-art  in one week.  The pictures, quotes and other entries pertain to what is happening in her life that week.

With each turn of the page there is another treasure for the eyes.

 

The tiny printing is as amazing as the artwork.

I think this is a page from the week we went to Celtfest, and we danced on the grass in the park.  Dance, dance, dance!

My sister gave me a blank journal  and some coloured markers when she was here in February, but I picked it up tentatively as I needed to get her masterpiece out of my head before I attempted to create one of my own.  I might share a few pages at some future time, but it is still a work in progress, and I am struggling to discover how to put my own personal touches in it.  I am still at the starting gate, and she is an old pro. I want a copy of  her journal to inspire and entertain me every morning.  If you are a publisher out there...this is your million dollar opportunity!!!!!

Autumn colours at Riverwood

One of the best parts of an autumn holiday at the farm is the colours all along the route.  We traveled a bit earlier than normal this year, and the trees were just starting to put on their Autumn finery. 

On our first trip to Apsley to pick up some groceries we stopped at Mill Creek to take some pics, and as you can see,  colour was scarce.

It was still a pretty spot to stop and take some pics though.

The deeper we got into the woods the more colour we found.

This was a typical sight for me from the car window.  AC traipsing back to the car with his hat all askew, whilst carrying his camera and tripod.   I would also leave the car to take a pic or two, but gave up long before he did, and would sit patiently waiting for him in the car. 

As the week progressed the colour got better and better.  I'll let the next few pictures speak for themselves.

This and that and a nice surprise at Riverwood

When we visit the farm, we are usually given the bedroom on the main floor, as the old narrow staircase leading up to the bedrooms on the second floor is hard for AC to navigate with his sore ankle.  Upstairs we have The Angel Room, and The Princess Room.  Each decorated accordingly and beautifully.

The bedroom on the main floor was decorated in earth tones and given a western/cowboy theme as it was designated as Ben's bedroom when he was younger.   Imagine my surprise when we walked into the bedroom for this visit and found it all redecorated in blue and white.  What a transformation.  The room seemed twice as big, and so light and airy. 

This delightful collection was on a shelf above the bed. 

The beds were loaded with lots of fluffy pillows and blankets

I loved the list of Riverwood Rules posted on this unique chalkboard on the dresser.  Notice the piece of chalk beside it to add more of your own rules.

Don't know if my sister made this or purchased it, but I loved it.  I think it is an old hinged corner shelf.  It is now hung flat on the wall and has old hooks, hinges and decorative doorknobs placed all over it.  It was the perfect spot to hang my hat, sweater or nightgown. 

Hijinks and cousin fun at Riverwood

We just got back from our fall holiday at Riverwood, and we enjoyed a special treat this year.  Shauna came up for the weekend with the kids, and Heather and Brian brought Jyn along for the weekend too.  The cousins got along famously and made lots of special memories of time spent at the farm.

JJ and Jyn, went on lots of nature walks and collected bugs in the little container JJ is holding; gathered wood, sticks and rocks and made a fort of sorts; had many a battle with the "bad guys" and spread milkweed pods everywhere.  .  We told them they could wander anywhere they wanted to as long as they stayed away from the river, and could see the house.  They soon went out the door, and we didn't see them for hours.  We could hear them laughing and giggling so knew they weren't far away.

Some time was spent indoors too, with transformers.  Jyn is blurry in this pic because neither child kept still for very long.

They stopped now an again for food, but were soon on the go again.  Poor JJ got the little chair at this meal.  Next time he would get a higher one. 

Cute picture of the gang, but where do you think they are?

On top of the old van parked by the shed.  They thought it was great fun to play inside it with all the doors open, climb on the roof, or dance on the hood.

Up, down, up, down, bounce, bounce, bounce.  Total fun before the old van is carted off to the scrap dealer.

We had sunshine and blue skies for the whole visit to Riverwood, and record breaking high temps.  I had far too many sweaters with me, and not enough shorts and T's.  It was so cold before we left that we had to turn the furnace on, but summer returned once we reached the farm.  Next time I take summer clothes with me!

Grandma's Purse - 2014

We had a reading of  a special book at our house yesterday, but before I share pictures of that event, I must fill in some background details about the origins of this book.

I posted this blog back in 2005, and it gives you some of the information, so go read that first, and then come back here for the rest of the story.   Angels and Shining Stars

No peeking....go read the other blog and then come back.

************
OK, now that you have grabbed a tissue or two, and your eyes are clear of tears, let's continue...

After Elisabeth died, my sister spiraled down into a deep depression, and art was one thing she could run away into to find some relief from the pain of loss. She picked up a pen and a paint brush and wrote and illustrated a children's story about Elisabeth and Mom.   All the pictures are original  8x10 watercolours, and the story is written in verse.

My mother will always be remember for her purse.  We laughed about it as kids, and continue to do so to this day.  When I or my sister are rummaging around in our purses for something now,  we look at each other and laugh... OMG we are turning into mom!

Mom didn't go anywhere without her purse, and it was full of wondrous things.   If you needed something, she more than likely had that item tucked away in there.  When she came to visit, she carried clean underwear in her purse, just in case her other luggage got lost.  So you will see in the book, that most of items listed there were actually in her purse at one time or another.  Even the pork chop!  That story is for another blog though.

After a few years, my sister took the book to a few publishers, but the publishing business is very hard to break into, so the original watercolour pictures and written verse sat in a file folder in a drawer for years.  I decided that the family and a few close friends had to have a copy of the book, so John scanned the pictures into the computer, made up a few titles pages, and printed off a few copies for me.  I made construction paper covers in the shape of a purse, stapled pages and covers together, and gave them to family members.

This is the first one I made, and I improved the design with each additional book, but I gave all the others away, so this is the only one I have left to take a picture of.   At least it gives you the idea and sort of looks like a purse.

Title page - original size 81/2 x 11

Dedication page

These little characters are hidden on every page of the book.

Sample of one of the watercolour pictures.   Can you find the angel and the mouse?

Another sample of  one of the  19 fabulous illustrations in the book.  Look for the angel and mouse here too.

 Yesterday I gave Danica my copy of the book to read, and she and JJ were enthralled with it.  She took it to school today to show her teacher, and ask if she could read it to the class, and tell them the story of her Great-Grandma Pearl, and her cousin  Elisabeth.

Danica reading to JJ

Each page ends with a question, so here the kids are trying to figure out the next item  Grandma finds in her purse.

Searching for the mouse and angel on each page.

I continue to hope that a publisher accepts the book one day, and we can share this fabulous work of art far and wide.  Above is a short video clip of Dani reading to JJ.