Nantucket architecture

With very few exceptions most of the buildings seem to be grey cedar shingles with white trim.  Below is Saint Paul's church with beautiful Tiffany windows. 

 The lighthouse bedecked with daffodils for the weekend festivities.

 An old house nearby.  This is just the side, from the ferry it becomes apparent how huge it is!

 Even the new construction has to conform.  This is the little unit we stayed in which is part of the White Elephant hotel.  Beautiful inside with a little kitchen, gas fireplace, two enormous bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.  Couldn't ask for better!

Nantucket and the daffodils

 Every year Nantucket celebrates daffodil season.  It started as a fund raiser and continues as such but now includes a vintage car parade as well as  children's and pet parades.  The cars tour through the main street and they and people are bedecked with daffs, real or otherwise.  Then the cars drive to Siasconset, which is about 8 miles out and they park along the side of the road and produce the most amazing picnics.  Prizes are given for the best car, best costume, best picnic, dog, child etc.

 The road out to Siasconset is lined with daffodils and there is a great bike path on the side.  16 miles that day! 

 There were even Morris dancers.

one of the picnics.  Check out the lion on top of the van.

The Montreal Women's Art Society was formed in the late 1890's and their annual show has been held at Ogilvy's department store for many years.  There is a baronial hall on the top floor of the store that is just wonderful for exhibiting artwork.  I submitted 2 pieces which were juried into the show.  And here they are.

I am delighted to report that both sold.  And what an incentive to get to work for next year!

 

 

Snow Dyeing Feb 2013

I had a fun afternoon doing some snow dyeing recently.  It's always exciting to see what it looks like when it comes out of the dryer!

a forest canopy?

This is what happens to fabric left in the bottom of the container.

St Lawrence River challenge

Our guild issued a challenge to use the blue fabric and create a 13" square piece depicting a part of the St Lawrence River.  My view is from Le Massif near Baie St Paul.  The view is stunning, especially on a sunny day and from the top you have the feeling that you will ski straight into the river.  

Quebec City 2013

A visit to Quebec city in early January.  It was bitterly cold.  And the smiles show who were dressed for it!

overlooking the river from the Terrace

Check out the icicles on the building.  One of the reasons not to walk on the sidewalk in the winter time.  The other is the deluge of snow when it all slides off the steep roof as shown in the facing building.

 Inside the Morrin Centre also known as the Literary and Historical Society made famous in Louise Penny's book Bury your Dead.

A sample of a helmet which is part of a private Japanese collection that was exhibited at the Museum of Civilization 

wildlife

During a recent visit to the cottage in bitterly cold weather we were surprised to see a few wild things.

 There is an island facing us that is privately owned and each October members/ hunters gather to shoot pheasant.  I gather that this year they missed a few.  When the lake froze over about 1000 of them walked across and have invaded the area.  We missed the best sightings but found this group under the trees near the town hall dump.  

Halfway up the larger trunk is a raccoon.  I think the dog flushed it out.  But at -20ºC it's a rare sight.  I hope you can see it when you open the picture.

Our wild thing.  Kirby the snow bunny.