The End of the Rainbow

Yes, I must be channeling the Wizard of Oz. After I thought about Dorothy yesterday, a rainbow appeared in the back garden in the evening. I do feel that I am living somewhere over the rainbow these days. In the thrall of jewellery making as I explore the new possibilities of hammering silver and copper. Finally tackled the sea glass.  Wire wrapping is harder than I thought but perseverance and patience brings results. The stones look  good too. Memories of Livingston Beach in Nova Scotia where I collected them. 

Culture Close to Home

There's no place like home said Dorothy! I continue to have new adventures in my own town and neighbourhood. Last week  I saw the 1930's musical, "Anything Goes" which was as good as anything that  I saw on the London Stage on my travels earlier in the year.  Really upbeat and of course the tap dancing was marvellous. Then a lovely Sunday afternoon at the "Guild Alive with Culture" festival on the grounds of the historic Guild Inn overlooking Lake Ontario. Artists, sculptors, painters, authors and musical performances scattered among the architectural relics of old Toronto buildings. I really hope that all the levels of government and various community groups are successful in their efforts to preserve and revitalize this Scarborough gem. 

Cooler Weather

Even the bunnies like the cooler temperatures. A mother and a baby pop out of the flower garden from time to time to eat clover. No more forays into the vegetable garden. I am enjoying practicing some of my new jewellery making skills and am gathering tools like an anvil a drill press and balpeen hammers. A whole new world of tools! Started building my stock of jewellery for the annual United Way sale at work which provides a market for my creations and a way to participate in philanthropy. 

Mastery

Finally completed the silver ring at the jewellery course and can hardly believe that I made such a professional piece!I even  conquered my fear of the propane torch. . have a real appreciation  for the work that  goes into the creation of good jewellery pieces. And the patience and persistence that is required. Like many things in life. 

Finished off the week with great fun at another day long course  on Mixed media jewellery. Much more in my comfort zone and I was able to use my newly acquired skills from the other course to add interesting surfaces to some metal pieces. Can't wait to get my own hammer and anvil and saw. 

Another Frontier

The Hastings Highlands is a wonderful spot to spend these hot summer days. Not cool but but the proximity of Baptiste Lake makes it bearable. A trip to a jewel of an antique store filled with china and a big Kawartha dairy ice cream cone made for a great Sunday. The jewellery course is a real challenge for a basic crafts person like me and so far I have learned to cut metal with a saw and am in the midst of the painstaking process of making a ring out of sterling silver. The Haliburton School of the Arts is  hopping place full of folks making movies, learning the harp and printing etc. etc. Lots of middle aged ladies like me! Kids too. I start every morning with  a dip in the lake before driving through the countryside to the studio. I feel a bit out of my depth and find the propane torch intimidating. 

Good old summertime

A week of enjoying the garden and harvesting produce. A meal with friends with fresh beans and kale salad with cranberries. So fresh. The summer flowers  are in full  concert now....cleome, Asiatic lilies, more exotic allium and of course, daisies, daisies, daisies.  Getting ready for a week at the cabin taking the jewellery  making course. Very excited! 

Fun in Ontario

First venture this summer up to the cabin on the lake. Heavenly and lots to do. The swimming raft launched for the season and trips to Bancroft for the old car show and the flying club breakfast. A happening place! Wonderful to experience the vibrancy of small  town Ontario out and about for the summer. 

Rainy Friday

All this rain is good for the garden and the mosquitoes! The crops have recovered  from the rabbits with lush leaves abounding. We have been feasting on cilantro, beet greens, kale, fresh garlic and a couple of small zucchini have appeared. How long will they stay small? Pea pods are filling up and the potato plants are reaching for the sky. I spend lots of time searching for good recipes and washing the sand out of the lettuce. Our own lupins are almost in full bloom. A nice reminder of Nova Scotia. 

Halifax and Home

The rain did not interfere too much with sightseeing in Halifax. A tour of the Citadel then good performances at the Tattoo. 

Very fitting to look at our military history on Canada Day weekend. And we did win the war of 1812!