Closing Cloth of Time

Handy Hubb and Nick (from the Craft Council) and I

took down the show on Monday.

I just wanted to take some time to thank all of you who came to see 

Judy's and my work and

even signed our visitors book.

I have only just started reading through the many pages

of visitors

It is going to take me some time!

To Sandra Brownlee

who wrote

A really nice coming together of two devoted and highly

sensitive artists & makers.

Thank you so much Sandra for dropping by.

I hope our paths cross again.

I learnt a lot from you!

To Judy who wrote

Reminiscent of the Bayeux Tapestry

Yup

Daily Scratchings was heavily

influenced by that!

To Linda who wrote

Thank you for slowing my tourist brain down

to the speed of wisdom!

Thank you

wish I had been around when you visited.

To Cathrin who wrote

All I want to do now is make things now!

I hope you do!

To Louise Pentz who wrote

.... documenting thoughtfully time, place and life.

Thank you

I have long been an admirer of your work honouring

the courage and dignity of women

who do not have the basic freedom

of choosing the direction of their own lives.

To Laura from Newmarket, Ontario

...My old stomping ground!

who wrote a lot including

....a way to truly notice and be present

Thank you

To Shelley from Richmond, Texas

who wrote

There is a quiet beauty in every stitch

Thank you

To Steve from North Bay

who wrote

Dedication to art is love

Thank you

and finally a shout out to Mo Cleating

who wrote

I went to Bournemouth Uni!

(University for those of you from outside the UK!)

Yay!

I miss those early years on Derby Court Road

I try to remain connected by cheering for

Bournemouth FC whenever they are on TV!

Some words that appeared often

Truly delicious

Calming

Reflective

Meaningful

Interesting

Patience

Inspiring

And of course I would like to thank

the Mary E Black Gallery

and it's Director, Susan Charles

who was so supportive of our work.

I have to say that I do not expect anybody to actually read all of this!

I don't usually have so much text in my posts

but

I wanted to keep some of the words written for myself.

It might help improve my own writing

about my own work!

Friendship and Fine Dining and A Place to Lay Your Heads!

Friends flew in from Ontario for the last weekend of

Cloth of Time

and touched our hearts

for taking the trouble to do that.

Of course we had to eat

and

my goodness me

we found the very best restaurant

to celebrate our friendship

and catch up.

So...

If when you find yourself in Halifax, Nova Scotia

do go and eat at this new restaurant

"aFrite"

on the corner of Lower Water Street and Bishop.

Owned by

Andrew Al-Khouri

a finalist on 'Masterchef Canada'.

aFrite was his childhood nickname which

if I remember correctly

means winged devil!

Born in Cape Breton,

Andrew is welcoming and gregarious.

He talks about his Syrian influenced menu with passion

and boy oh boy that food is great!

I already know what I want to try next tie we are in Halifax.

And....

if you like old buildings and antiques

you might want to stay at the Waverley Inn

on Barrington Street.

Each room is different and beautifully furnished.

If It's August....

....I must be dyeing!

It must be August if the Rusty Pups and I are up and about

before

morning mists still lazing over the Annapolis Basin.

It must be August if the Beaver has risen by the time we arrive

....and he hangs around for quite a chat until he gets bored

then slaps his tail and disappears.

....and I had to stop RP Kayla from jumping in with him!

 ....and we discover how our clever friend Steve has cleared

a new path in the woods.

It must be August if the tree experts came

and helped Handy Hubby

manage our woods.

They gave me a present of a Robin's nest that

was right under our noses

and we had never noticed!

It must be August because the tree doctor

left a surprise for us in the woods!

Wishing you a few lovely surprises on this mid-August day.

Works In Progress

"The trees, the wind, the birds, the mountains,

Everything inside us and around us

Wants to reflect itself in us.

We don't have to go anywhere to obtain the truth.

 We only need to be still,

 and things will reveal themselves in the still water of our heart."

These are the words of

 Thich Nhat Han

from the poem 'Everything'

in his book 'Your True Home'.

I'm spending as much time as possible outside

in the sunshine

beneath the trees.

Summertime here has been glorious this year.

Family Summertime at the Lake

Fishing from Kayaks and paddle boards

Relaxation on an air-filled yellow ducky

Three girls cooking in the kitchen

with Owen the puppy keeping an eye on all.

Grand baby Ashley couldn't wait to use her

new fishing rod

and paddle off with her dad in the canoe.

And so they disappeared down the lake

hoping to contribute to supper.

 Fishing off the dock turned out to be more successful!

Mommy and Stevie Ray relaxed in the shade.

Mommy and Ashley floated with noodles galore.

The youngsters.....even baby Stevie...scampered

up and down the stairs.

Gramps and I tried to keep going up to a minimum!

Ashley learnt all about paddle boarding.

A joy filled time.

Thank you my loves.

(Not a speck of stitching got done!)