Clover Crowns

I thought every little girl learned how to braid clover crowns when they were growing up.  Not so, but girls of ALL ages are still fascinated by this ancient art.  Braiding as fast as I could, these little girls kept me supplied with the all the clover flowers I needed until everyone had a crown.  Molly even tried her hand at it, and with some practice, she can join the guild some day.

Busy Hands. . .

     Busy hands are happy hands, as the saying goes.  If your hands would like something busy and happy to do, I could put you in touch with Sr. Patricia who spoke to our last Catholic Woman's League meeting about knitting bandages for the lepers in Nigeria.  At first it seemed like a time warp, something out of a WW I documentary.  But she was serious and had brought a supply of soft cotton yarn from Holland and small guage knitting needles for anyone that wanted to sign up for this labour of love.  Our CWL group has been donating money to Sr. Pat for her yarn for a number of years, but until she came and showed us the project and told us more about it, none of us really felt a connection.  I thought it was like polio or small pox, pretty much over and done with.  Not so.
     I googled and read and was amazed, as well as saddened. But, I also learned the hand knit cotton bandages are greatly appreciated. They breathe better and can be washed and reused for over a year. I've enjoyed working with the soft yarn and the fine stitch. I think about the person that will be using it and I pray for their comfort and healing. And I pray they will know God loves them through the bandages that are stitched in love for them by friends far away. I'm almost finished with my first bandage and will soon take it over to Sr. Pat and pick up another skein of yarn. It's a portable project that can be done on a trip, at home, or while visiting friends.

Inside, Outside

While in Petrolia, "Canada's Victorian Oil Heritage City", we stopped by the public library.  Martin & Peetra enjoyed going to the library while growing up in this town.  The library is housed in the old train station, which gives it an extra bit of charm.  Peetra is pictured outside the turreted corner of the building as well as in the small reading room created inside it's curving walls.

A Special Birthday

Every birthday is special, but it seems extra special for this father and daughter that lived far apart for many years to be able to enjoy a special lunch and spend an afternoon together, not just on her birthday, but throughout the year.  Martin is very proud of Kathryn's independence and diligence in her life and work.  Her job in Heidi's Bakery is going well, and she recently got her union card.  Her godmother Peetra joined us for the birthday celebration in Petrolia as well.

Human Easel

Gooch retrospective, continued. . .  After propping up Linda's lovely "Wisteria Cottage, Lompoc" in various locations around my still dew fresh garden this morning, I finally found the prop I needed.  His name is Martin.  Thanks, love!  I'll remember that next time.
      This beautiful giclee print is a reminder to me of all the delightful friends and places we experienced during our ten years in this special town.  Thank you, Linda, for capturing this incredible garden by the side of the tracks.  The occupant, Barbara Freer, was a regular at our tearoom as well as a friend from La Purisima Conception Church.  My mother and step-dad Johney gave me the frame for my 60th birthday during our sojourn in Oklahoma.

Two Views

Two views of our garden.  One from July, 2011 and one from July, 2012.  One from the church parking lot, one from the patio.  We enjoyed it then and we enjoy it now.  But now we've done a little digging and planting.  That's what gardens are for.

Beach Day

It's been very hot lately, so we decided to put on our swimsuits, pack a picnic lunch, our folding chairs, and drive over to Lake Huron.  We took the scenic route along the St. Clair River and enjoyed looking at the pretty beach cottages, boats, and docks.  We found a nice spot to settle in for a couple of hours in Canatera Park in Sarnia.  We enjoyed watching the young families, older people with dogs, and the many sailboats off shore.  We had to do the "subway fold" while reading our newspapers because of the brisk breeze.  Young Poplar trees are migrating onto the beach from the nearby woods and provide a bit of a wind break and some shade.  Last time we were at Huron, it was a calm day.  The waves and currents were too strong for us to navigate on this day, but the big kids and young adults seemed okay with it.