Canal Boating

 We spent a lovely week travelling on a canal boat in England with our friends Linda and Mick.  We did a loop south of Birmingham starting in Alvechurch.   I left the excitement of steering the 66' boat to the others and enjoyed sitting on the bow watching the world go by.  I did do my share of locks and found muscles I didn't know I had!

 We went through a number of tunnels and it was always fun to see the end with a lovely picture framed by the walls and reflection.  Sometimes we went over things - as this roadway leading into Birmingham, below.

 It was quite a contrast to go from the tree lined canals right into the heart of a bustling city.  Birmingham has done a great job of making the area attractive and accessible.  It was fun to moor up and go for a walk-about.

 Our first lock.  One of many that we did.  On 2 days we had over 30 to open and close.  Since the boat barely moves, we basically spent the day walking. 

 And the rest of the time enjoyed vistas like this.  Very calming and peaceful, even though we knew that roads and towns were just on the other side of the greenery. 

Mick put together a little utube clip of our trip if you'd like a sense of what it was like.  Just click on the link below.

http://youtu.be/eI9GcaIRixA

Comments are always appreciated!  Thanks for reading.

Stratford-Upon-Avon

At the end of July we arrived in Stratford-upon-Avon to see some plays, visit with friends that we knew in South Africa and just generally be tourists.  An added bonus was that Sarah, our daughter was able to join us for the weekend. 

 

 We walked all over town, along the river and down some interesting side streets.  Great restaurants, all catering to the early show time. 

The plays were superb productions.  All's Well That Ends Well, Titus Adronicus (a little too graphic for me but gripping nonetheless) and It's a Mad World.  We stayed at the Arden hotel across the street which served us well as it was pouring one night as we left the play. 

 

The Swan theatre

 Some of the costumes displayed inside.  This one was made with old kid gloves and beautifully stitched as a bodice.  Fitting as Shakespeare's father was a glove maker.

 A sample of some of the old houses.  The one on the right with the flag pole is owned by Harvard University and was at one time John Harvard's mother's house. 

Part of an existing school on the left and what were once alms houses.  Most of these timbered houses date back to Shakespeare's time in the 15th century.

 The Holy Trinity Church as seen across the river Avon.  Parts of it date back to the 10th century and it houses Shakespeare's grave which is up near the altar. 

 The gardens where Shakespeare's house once stood. 

 A room in the house that he grew up in.  The coloured walls were a sign of wealth, and the string on the trundle bed is what gives us the saying "sleep tight".

What we did at the retreat

Before the retreat we prepared collography plates.  Our version of them.  Mostly we glued bits and pieces on cardboard, knowing that we wouldn't have a press to run them through.  These were then painted over with house paint to anchor things more firmly and to provide a waterproof surface.  

In the picture below the "plate" is the bottom left item and the 3 pieces of fabric show the results.  We tried putting the fabric below the plate then using a brayer to rub.  Tried putting the plate down then the fabric on top and using a brayer.  Eventually I just patted the fabric on top with my hands.   I used ProChem fabric paints. 

This plate produced a rather Picasso-ish effect that was unexpected.  

 The plates themselves are almost works of art!

 The two pictures below show the effects of starburst salt and Setacolour.

Text'art Retreat 2013

Once again we had a lovely 3 days at the cottage playing with collography and sand resist.  The weather co-operated and we were able to be as messy as we pleased outdoors.  A long swim in the lake went over well after standing in the sun!  Food was delicious as always, and of course the company and conversation keep us going until well into the night.  

Our days started with a 20 minute yoga DVD, then homemade granola, yogurt and fruit.  How healthy can you get!!

 Helena and Colleen

 Michel

 Colleen and me

 Heather with some of her oeuvres.

 Colleen's

and mine.

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!