A Crumb of Remembrance - Week Twenty-Seven

This is week 27...I think!

It is getting more and more difficult to keep track

now that I can no longer use my ten nimble fingers 

and ten tiny toes.

This week I intended to keep it simple....

....and in memory of the July first 100th anniversary

of the beginning of the Battle of the Somme.

Too many young lives lost on just the first day

Devastating

I learnt this week that the blue Cornflower

is the flower of remembrance in France.

The Flora of Brier Island

At the Westport Cove lighthouse

much to our delight we found a rusty gate.

It had shed much rust

which we gathered in paper bags.

The sea had left behind

a long tree of stitching inspiration.

As usual the rock forms drew my eye.

Beach pea was everywhere.

and the sun shone on huge areas

of cinnamon fern.

We couldn't identify these little waxy red leaves

but don't they show great promise for

natural dyeing!

We didn't pick anything

Most of Brier Island belongs to the Nature Conservancy.

Wild lily of the valley

The amazing pitcher plant.

Wish I had better pictures of it's underside

and the pitcher leaves.

Such a glorious day finding wild plants in bloom

all over the cliffs

and of course the pitcher plant

was in the bog inland from the cliffs.

Exploring Brier Island

Diane and I decided to take a trip down to Brier Island
As it happens we picked the very first warm
windless day. 
We drove down the Digby Neck
and caught the Petit Passage ferry to Long Island.

We drove the length of Long Island 
and caught a second ferry to Westport
the small village on Brier Island.

First we went to Peter Island Whitehouse

The water was mirror-like
except where it turned the corner on this little headland.
The currents in these narrow passages between the islands can be
treacherous but we watched cormorants
ride them with gay abandon.

Seagulls were everywhere

on rocks and seaweed

on cliffs

and even on stunted trees.

If the rocks weren't covered in seagulls
they were alive with cormorants.

Basalt rocks
always so geometric
jutted through seaweed.

 Seaweed also clung to the rocky edges
beneath the water's surface.

Ida ducklings were escorted
around the rocks by caring adults.

And the rocks
oh, so much inspiration

for future stitchings.

Week Twenty-Six Crumb From the Cutting Room Floor

One more week

Lying on the backs of previous weeks.

Stitching Kantha brings so much pleasure.

Fingers wrapped around needle

Thread held by the eye of the needle.

Thimble on middle finger.

Feeling the layers coming together in gentle ripples.

Bright, bright colours of Summer

it has finally arrived.

Little row of shimmering pink cross forms.

 The side we hide

Supposedly the side full of secrets!

....And On To Week Twenty Five

there are cross forms even in nature.

My playmate Diane and I

spent the most glorious sunny day on Brier Island

this tiny island mostly owned by the Nature Conservancy.

This week's crumb is of course inspired by that rocky find.

A memory of a wonderful day.

Perhaps these Crumbs from the Cutting Room Floor

are turning into more of a journal after all.

Meanwhile in the garden the peonies

are starting to open and look glorious

in sunshine....

....and shade.

Week Twenty Four - In Honour of a Budding Artist

Hanging around with Rhodo

Trying, not so successfully,

to replicate....

....the carefree marks of a twenty month old.

Ashley's were the marks of an artist

Starting heavy and moving into light and delicate.

My needle and thread attempt is a poor imitation of the real thing.

Water play With the Munchkin

The love of

Filling things up

and

emptying them out

oh, such fun.

The love of being in Dada's arms on the beach

and learning how to throw pebbles into Georgian Bay.

and then chasing those pesky seagulls.

Who doesn't love being pushed by their Dada on the swings?

This little munchkin certainly loves it.

And what could be better than standing in a mighty big pipe

and making echoes resound around you.

So much fun....

Until the next time little one.