Crossing the Border

 Marty needed to get some parts from across the border for the tractor so off we went for a short trip to the US.

                                                           Sea gulls hanging about.

             With the parts retrieved, we set out to take in the local Remington Art Museum

                        You are greeted by this stunning fireplace when you enter the building.
                               "Good Friends/ Good Cheer/Good Fire" carved on the front.

                                                     Inside, when you begin.

                        In the meeting room, with the curtains pulled aside. Beautiful windows.

                                                                     Stunning buffalo.

                                                            Inside the main gallery.  You can check out my previous blog post from years ago for more pics of the museum, HERE

All Over The Place For Thanksgiving Weekend

 It was the Perth Autumn Studio Tour over Thanksgiving weekend and we had rented the cottage for two nights in the area so we could take it in again. It had been five years since our lest visit. Too long.

 We had really pleasant weather on Saturday. Above is a detail shot of one of  "Kirk's Canoes"

 We took a short walk to check out the walk-in camera obscura while visiting Frank van Oort's studio.

             A sample of traditional fence builder, Scott Dobson's work at another studio.

                                                          Still life on a window sill.

 Saturday morning found the lake smooth as glass.  Not a whole lot of colour at this time in the area. There we little punches of it here and there.

 On our way out we picked up ribs at Northern Soul to fill out the menu for the weekend. Marty couldn't pass up their "Thanksgiving Poutine"  Pretty darned good!  This was the closest we got to a turkey.

 Joshua and Emma came along for the weekend too. They got in a little kayaking before we began the artist tour.

                                                               Beach still life.

                                                                     As found.

                                            We found a couple of baby turtles on the beach.

                                                      "Red sky at night, sailor's delight."

                                    Well, we woke to some serious wind the next morning.

                Marty and I checked out the "Fantasy in the Forest" art show on the way home. I loved this display by Douglas MacDonald.  His web site is here, Rue Royale Stone.

 We are used to seeing him at the Kiwi Garden's Art in the Garden show on Father's Day weekend so it was a nice surprise to find him here as well. We always buy something from him.

                                                             His work is wonderful!!!

It was a BIG Duck

 Last week was a busy one, well, they are all busy. Thursday morning I dropped Aaron off at Blockhouse Island in Brockville as he was to help set up the BIG rubber Duck that was to be displayed for the weekend.  It was already warm when we got there but the place was hopping with activity. I watched the swimmer above do the breast stroke right along behind a number of ducks swimming in the water.

 At this point the ducks went off on their own while this fellow followed along his chosen path.

            The crane had already arrived. Did I mention it was very bright and sunny out?

 Aaron and Guy, with my Mini Mui-Chan figure.  Guy was already in the spirit of things with the little rubber ducky on his helmet.

                       When we came back at the end of the day they were still working.

                                          Lots had happened, but still no giant duck.

                                                      Setting up the fence.

            They were tying it down when we arrived. You wouldn't want it to blow away.

 We went back to see it the next day, being blown up. Another hot day. It was almost full sized when we arrived.  By this point, Marty was getting in on the action and posed with Mini Mui-Chan.

                                                             Jacob took this picture.

                                                             Yup, a big duck.  (Jacob's pic.)

 We went back again on Sunday afternoon to find great crowds of folks wandering about.

 We took a cool stroll through Canada's first train tunnel. It runs under the City Hall and goes quite a ways north. It was begun in 1854.

                                           Looks shorter than it is when you get started.

                                    There were folks of all ages enjoying the cool air.

Youngsters enjoyed the lights along the sides and the calcium build up along some of the wall.
The funny lighting is due to the string of LED lights that runs along each side of the walkway. They are rather harsh and irritating if you want my personal opinion.

Besides Rib Fest to the West of Blockhouse Island, there was the Carnivale Lune Bleue just a block east. We wandered about. It looked interesting.

After all that walking about we head north for some ribs at Northern Soul. There was a nice breeze up on the hill so we ate outside.

                           It was a BIG day full of BIG adventures in small town Brockville.

                                                     Guy again. Nice shirt, Guy!

Blueberry Picking @ Rubicon Farm

                          It was our annual trip to Rubicon Farm to pick organic blueberries.

 I spotted this neat looking fungus growing on a stump. Can you see the tiny tree frog in the lower part of the picture?

 It was a warm day. Very sunny. Marty and Joshua filling baskets with great big juicy blueberries.

                                                          Aaron working away.

                                                       Emma gathering berries too.

                                       It was a good haul. Thirty-two quarts of blueberries.

I picked 8 quarts of red currants. Removing the tiny stems takes a lot of time however they make the loveliest jelly! I had help from Jacob this year and that made quick work of it.  Rubicon Farm is currently for sale so if you would love to run an organic blueberry farm check it out HERE.
It is a beautiful spot.