Saturday, May 27, 2006

And tomorrow we leave on a jet plane

Yesterday we went to Sydney. Yet another beautiful drive. We stopped several times for photos. Allison and I mailed some postcards at the Christmas Island post office. At the Mall Allison and I got matching T-shirts that say Cape Breton Liberation Army. Mom got herself a very nice summer outfit. While we shopped Dad had a coffee at Tim Horton's. After the mall we went to Canadian Tire. My parents got some plants for the planter down at the road and a Delphinium to replace the dead shrub Dad and I pulled up earlier in the week.

Today, I'm making a cheesecake to take to Uncle Duncan and Aunt Gloria's tonight. Mom is going to show me how to finish the baby blanket and put binding on a quilt. I think there may even be time for a drive to Orangedale.

Tomorrow we fly from Halifax back to Toronto. And return to work on Monday.

More later.

L

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Quilting and Whiskey

On Tuesday Allison, Mom and I went to Antigonish to visit the Harbour Quilt Company. It was a big store with a lot of fabric and notions. The store had a lot of Thimbleberries and Homespun style fabric. There was no Amy Butler, no bold prints, no Asian inspired prints. Not that I’m surprised. But it was a long drive to get there. Mom bought two books; Allison bought one book and thread. Allison and I both bought fat quarters of Mona’s Withering Heights. I bought us the 4.5-inch squares for Christmas (no idea what we are going to use it for).

We had a healthy lunch of lattes and Oreo cheesecake. We stopped by my cousin James’ on the way back to Blues Mills. I made his son Harrison cry when I tied his socks together. Any hope of getting extra cash babysitting while I’m here is now gone.

We got home to pick up Dad for our pilgrimage to the Red Barn in Baddeck. He told us that Aunt Kay called. So he stayed home (I think the cheesecake high we were on scared him) and we hit the road again. We visited with Aunt Kay and her dog Tilley (part terrier and part collie) at her new house. There is something about big windows letting in lots of light that I like. The kitchen was large with an island (I love islands).

Our final stop was the Red Barn. It is so different from what Allison and I remember. I bought some postcards. I don’t think Allison bought anything (see Len she can resist the temptation of shopping). Dad had dinner ready when we returned.

Yesterday, we went to the Glenora Distillery. The drive has a gorgeous view. We had a tour by the Master Distiller and a sample. He is the nephew of the woman my parents bought their house from. They also got a U-Haul stuck on the way up the driveway (their was empty, unlike my parents’ U-Haul that was full). I bought a bottle of 10-year-old single malt whiskey for Trish (lord knows she needs it for strength to help put up with me). Allison bought two single serving bottles (one for Len and one for Dad). I felt better about the cost of mine when I did the math and found out that it would cost $209 for the 50ml bottles to get the same amount that I bought. But is it worth the price.

Here is an interesting fact for you: only whiskey made in Scotland can be called Scotch. Everything else is whiskey. Glenora imports their barley from Scotland and yeast from South Africa. The only thing Canadian about it is the water used and the people who make it. I think we may need to make another trip there when I'm back in August.

After the Distillery we continued on our drive towards Cheticamp and the ocean. I took a lot of photos (to be posted later). In Cheticamp we stopped for lunch. This time no adventure for me, I had chicken fingers. Everyone else had fish and chips. I bought a pair of slippers (“just like grandma made” was written on the sign). I have the pattern to make this style, but I had a problem decoding the pattern, so they are in the yarn cabinet waiting.

Bird sightings from yesterday include an eagle and heron on our road trip. More Purplefinches and Goldfinches. There were several Juncos around and I think I saw more Hummingbirds.

Our only plans for today are to go to the Coop for graham cracker crumbs, so I can make dessert for dinner tonight. We are going to Kennena and Dougie's for dinner. Mom and I were discussing her garden. I told her that Dad needs a grow light, so he can start his tomatoes and herbs from seed. She said I sound like my Uncle Duncan who is telling my father to build a vegetable bed. Uncle Duncan is a smart man if he is saying the same thing I am. My father has tried to get fresh basil at almost every store on the Island with no luck. A grow light goes on the possible Christmas list, as it now seems that they are going to get their own chest freezer in the fall.

More later.

L

Monday, May 22, 2006

Urgh!

On April 30th I ordered two digital photo jigsaw puzzles from Loblaw's Photolab for my mom and dad from Allison and I. The order said it would take 10 business days. I thought I had enough time for delays. The system was easy to use and I got the idea to make calendars for Christmas gifts. I figure I would need at least six I started to pick out garden photos that I would use. But the whole thing was too easy.

I received an email on Wednesday May 17th stating that I could pick up my order in 10 days. It had already been 13 days. The puzzles were not ready to be picked up before I left Toronto on Saturday. I will have to pick them up when I return and mail them to my parents. At which point I will email Loblaws and express my great disappointment and frustration. I will also tell them that I had planned on using them for my calendars but I will now use another company to order my gifts.

I am still thinking about what photos to use. For my next online digital photo order I will do more research about the quality and reliability of the company I use.

Today I saw an American Goldfinch and Purple Finches (at least one male and several females) at the feeders. There was a hummingbird at the quince shrub. I really need to get a tele-photo lens for my digital camera for my garden and bird photos.

Tomorrow Mom, Allison and I are going to a quilt store Harbour Quilt Store, in Antigonish. While we are gone Dad is going to cut the grass (if it doesn't rain). What is a "gonish"? and why are people there so anti-gonish? Sorry bad joke.

More later (there will be more anti-Loblaw Photolab rants).

L

Sunday, May 21, 2006

We survived the trip

Allison and I left Toronto yesterday at 11:30 and arrived in Truro at 3:00 pm today on Via Rail. What happens on the train stays on the train. Except that Allison started her wrap and I started my sweater. We had dinner in the dining car. We both tried the halibut (neither of us are fans of seafood).

This morning we had an early breakfast. Then we spent almost two hours today in the observation car without any moose sightings.

Our parents meet us in Truro and drove us to their new house in Blue Mills. It is a little small for two people (please note the sarcasm). It is huge. Each room is at least twice the size of their old house.

We had dinner at Alice's in Whycomough. Plans are still being made for the week. But a tour at the Glenora Distillery has been added to the list of activities. Allison already had a visit to the Red Barn on her list. I think we should be able to add a trip to the local quilt and knitting stores.

I'll add photo from the trip soon.

More later.

L

Friday, May 05, 2006

Patchwork Porch and More Time Spend in the Garden

Allison and I took our first and only official quilting lesson at the Patchwork Porch. It was suppose to be a class to make a simple Christmas stocking. There was nothing "simple" about this stocking for us beginners. In the description there was no mention of applique. We struggled through the class. Deb and Lynda were bald at the end because of us. Our stockings turned out great. I appliqued Trotsky on the back of mine. I'll make the rest of us (Trish, Calle and myself) one each for this Christmas if I get around to buying a sewing table any time soon.

We are still on probation at the store and to get into the store we have to bring them treats.

I have been taking lots of photos of the garden. The great thing about digital photography is that you can delete the ones that don't look right before printing them. I will invest in a telephoto lens at some point soon. This is one of my favourite photos.

I bought a tube bird feeder today. I had a feeder out back, but stopped using it when Doug started to spend so much time in the yard. Doug was an outdoor cat that used our backyard as his base of operations. He brought us a few dead birds, rats and even squirrels as rental payment. We started to feed him in hopes that he would stop hunting in the yard. Trish and I named him Doug after Doug "Killer" Gilmour. The nickname part definitelsuiteded him. It has been about two (maybe even three) years since our last visit from Doug. I decided his humans moved away. There have not been as many cats through the yard lately. So I'm back to trying to feed the birds.

We need to figure out how much top soil and manure we'll need for this year. I may go and get that clematis on Sunday. I'll probably get two.

I'm off to spend time with the cats (Trotsky and Calle). More later.

L

Thursday, May 04, 2006

The Super Cities Walk for MS went well. It was cold, but the rain held off until we were safely on our way home. Our team raised $1230. Allison, Len and Charlotte made it home safely to Oakville.

I'm currently knitting a pair of socks. I started them at Easter while visiting Trish's family. This will be the third pair I've made. When I started the first pair I temporarily thought about making people socks for Christmas. That idea went in the recycle bin quickly.

I may need another project for the train Maybe a spring sweater, or a baby sweater (all I need is someone with a baby). I could start my Christmas knitting. Or I could find a project that will use up my stash. Now there is a radical idea. Decrease the stash instead of adding to it. It could work.
Trish and I took our first garden centre trip of the year on Sunday afternoon. For the first time ever, we didn't buy anything, but we did some some things we liked. We found a clematis that would help hide the wire fence on the south side of the yard. There were several plants that we noticed but we decided to figure out what we want to do in the back of the yard, now that we have room after a few trees were cut down.


I'm going to Niagara Falls with Allison and Len on Saturday. The Patchwork Porch is having a fat quarter sale. We have to pick up some for our mom.

More later.

L