Learning...

Small town fairs are special... The whole community gets involved.

The town where my grandchildren attend school has a fair with a number of events that the school children are encouraged to participate in.

I'm not sure of the details, but my grandson, in first grade, told me that he and his classmates had colored pictures that would be on display.

My granddaughter, in grade 4, decided to make a castle. She worked very hard on it. 

I happened to see it on the dining room table - a few days before she was to take it to school.

That evening, while I was still there, she discovered that it was a little bigger than what was allowed. The castle itself fell under the 12 inch limit for width, length and height - but the base, with its little duck pond and garden of pumpkins, made the scene too big. It would be disqualified...

What now?!

Wails of shock and disappointment followed. She was ready to toss it into the garbage... But her parents stopped her.

You have two choices, her father said: You can be proud of your beautiful castle - and enjoy it here at home - and not submit it to be judged. Nothing wrong with that. It's a beautiful work of art.

Or you could think about how you could change it to make it smaller.

At this point, I had to leave... It was time to head home.

All the way home, I wondered what she would do. 

Later, her mother told me that she had made it fit the required dimensions by putting the pumpkin patch inside the castle courtyard, and by moving the duck pond.

I didn't see the final project that she took to school.

But I did see the instagram post her mother shared.

I'm happy she won... But I'm even happier that, when faced with disappointment, she didn't give up. What an important lesson to learn!

What Now?

This is the time of the year when I have to do SOMETHING to my two amaryllis bulbs that have been growing outdoors all summer - but what?!

I definitely can't let them freeze. That's what happened to two of my four bulbs last year - and they turned to mush!

Even though some gardening websites say not to cut off green leaves, I've done that in previous years. Then I've removed the bulbs from the pots - trimmed the roots hanging from them - and stored them in brown paper bags in the basement until December, when I repotted them...

I think I'll do that again this year (for the third or fourth time) and hope they'll bloom again in spring.

I'm confused by gardening advice like this that says to bring the whole potted plant indoors... In some ways, it would be the easiest thing to do. But I'm reluctant in case I bring in insects as well.

I'll stick to my "tried and true" way - and hope it works again!

Community Garden

At one end of the park we visited recently...

There's a community garden.

What I love about it is the mix of edible plants - like tomatoes...

... and the flowers - planted mostly to deter insects, I think.

I wonder if it works!

Such a peaceful place in the middle of a quiet neighborhood!

Ball Hockey - Our Way

Ball hockey is a popular Canadian game...

Terry and I were recently playing with our grandson... 

I even scored one into the net!

There are no rules, the way we play. So there are no winners or losers... 

As long as everyone is having a good time!

Our Autumn Equinox

In our constantly changing - lengthening or shortening - hours of sunlight and darkness, we in the Northern Hemisphere are taught that June 21 and September 21 are the annually recurrent days of "equinox," equal day and night... all over the world...

But it's not that simple...!!

Here in Ottawa, Canada, our autumn equinox occurred sometime between yesterday and today. Yesterday (September 25) had 12 hours and 2 minutes of daylight - and today (September 26) will have just under 12 hours - 11 hours and 59 minutes, to be exact! 

Neither of those days is September 21!!

Urban Wildlife

Is that a dog or a fox? Terry asked, noticing an animal next to an overturned recycle bin...

Hard to tell from this angle...

We edged closer and the animal turned...

Yup! A fox! 

We see them occasionally in the neighborhood - but I always assumed they lived off mice and other small animals... But, like raccoons, I  guess they soon discover the joys of finding ready-made food in the garbage!

Fun in the Park

Terry and I recently went to a children's park with our grandkids ...

It brought back memories of childhood evenings, when we played outdoors until dark...

It might have been the nearby trails - surrounded by bush - perfect for playing "hide and seek"...

The metal climbing apparatus...

The swings...

We didn't have climbing structures like these...

They look like fun!

I would have loved to give it a try...

In thd end, we were all sad to leave... but with lengthenng shadows, the sun would soon be setting.

Wakefield's Covered Bridge

After eating lunch at Le Hibou Cafe in Wakefield last week, Terry and I drove over to see the covered bridge.

Initially, we planned to walk the few blocks to the bridge, but the day was hotter than we had anticipated!

In horse and buggy days, covered bridges were built so that horses wouldn't know they were crossing over water, something they feared doing.

The river is quite wide at Wakefield. The original wooden bridge burned down, but a replica was later rebuilt...

The bridge was an important part of the history of the village - and remains a symbol of this charming Quebec town.

Street Art

It's still warm enough to sit outdoors...

And color in a new coloring book... 

(One that has pictures of Christmas elves, of course - 'cuz elves are your passion!)

Leaves Changing Color

A few days ago, Terry and I took a day trip to Wakefield, Quebec.

En route, we noticed that the leaves were beginning to change color.

It would be interesting to drive this road once a week in September and October ...

... to see the full effect of the dramatic scenic changes!

Little By Little...

A little over a year ago, I started a virtual trek that I wondered if I could accomplish... walking the length of Route 66 - over 3000 kilometers - in less than 2 years.

But I'm 70% of the way now!

It feels surreal. And motivating! Now that fall is here, I have great outdoor walking weather, to add to the mall walking I do five or six days a week.

Like with any big challenge -  I've found that the best way to do it is in small steps - short but regular walks most days of the year!

It all adds up!

Burying Amber?!

I don't recall my parents being superstitious. But, in her older age, my mother often wore an amber necklace "for good health." 

She did live to be 97... in spite of having had cancer three times! (So maybe it worked!)

My cousin, the daughter of my mother's older sister, recently wrote me more about the use of amber stones in my mother's family - namely that they had to be "buried" from time to time to restore their healing properties. Here is what she wrote:

First, let me comment on ambers. Our grandparents definitely believed in their value, and there was a necklace in the family home when the children were young. Evidently, once they were used, presumably for an infection, they were buried for a while to refresh them for lack of a better term. My mother as a child took note of this. One day she came across the amber necklace and took it on herself to bury them. Unfortunately, she could never remember just where she buried them and the necklace was lost.

I actually gave her an amber necklace much later on in life. We have it now, of course. 

So interesting to discover a bit more about what life was like when my mother was a child!

I thought I'd also look amber up online. I wanted you to verify that it's really a tree sap or resin. I see that occasionally insects got trapped in the amber sap before it fossilized. Interesting!

FREE Pattern

I have SOOOO many unfinished knitting and crochet projects.

But that doesn't stop me from downloading more patterns... especially if they're FREE!

I really hope I get to this one. I think they could be handy to wear on a coolish morning... (Or in bed on a cold night!)