At the Ribfest... in Brockville (Again!)

One of the highlights of the summer - for Terry - is the Brockville Ribfest. This year he was able to go not one, but three times! It's a popular community event, a fundraiser for the local Boys' and Girls' Club.

There were lots of ribs and other goodies to choose from...

The blooming onion was a hit...!











 

After eating, we took time to wander around the park that overlooks the St. Lawrence River.

The weather was perfect. (Already looking forward to next year!)

Weekend Wedding Near Kingston, Ontario

We recently attended the wedding of a young lady we have known since she was born...

The weather was perfect!

(It's amazing how quickly she has grown up!)

The venue - a "crystal palace" from another era - was lovely!

(We reminded the bride's parents that we had attended their wedding!)

After all these years, another milestone shared!

A perfect day!

Wedding Cards

Planning to attend a wedding, I hunted for a card to appropriately express our best wishes...

It wasn't easy! Among the dozens and dozens of birthday cards, get well wishes, and retirement cards, I could find only two wedding cards!

Which leads me to wonder: Do people simply not get married anymore?!

(Hmmm... Also wondering: Will all 150 guests who attend come with one of those two cards?!)

Reversible Quilt #2 Done!

About five years ago, I made a reversible quilt-as-you-go quilt - after seeing one my cousin Maria had made. I finished it in February 2011.

I've just finished another using the same method - and lots of scraps I had lying around! (The pattern can be found on the Quilting Works website here - though this time, I made the squares larger.)

Putting it together, I was trying to make it look like "flying geese," a pattern I like. But a non-quilter in the family suggested it looked more like two rows of tents... (Did it evoke memories of boy scout days?!)

The other side, made with lots of remnants from a shirt factory - fabric given to me by a neighbor - has a light summer feel.

I'm happy with the way the quilt turned out. I'm especially glad I was able to finish it so quickly!

One of my goals in quilting these days is to finish what I start! Another is to use up fabric that I have! With this quilt, I succeeded in both counts!

Paddling Down the Canal...

One of the fun things we did at this year's Merrickville Canal Fest was go on a longboat canoe ride down the canal into the Rideau River bird sanctuary between Merrickville and Smiths Falls.

The boat rides are free!














Given by volunteers to inform people about this natural habitat that gives migrating birds a place of refuge during their long flights, they provide a close-up view of the river.











We paddled through lily pads, blowing in the breeze...

And viewed an osprey nest on the shore.

Even with the paddling, our half hour on the river was one of the most relaxing events of the day.

We should go canoeing more often!

Canal Fest 2015 in Merrickville

I always enjoy spending the day in Merrickville.

This pretty historic town, built around one of the locks in the Rideau Canal, is less than an hour's drive from Ottawa.









 

Every year, they celebrate a "Canal Fest" - and we like to attend.

This year, we watched boats go through the lock...

Summer students act as lock-masters, opening and closing the big water gates.










 

(Made of wood, the gates have to be replaced every 25 years or so.)

It's not an easy job...

We enjoyed a barbecue lunch while listening to the big band sounds of local musicians...

Admired alpacas from a local farm...













Shopped at the Canal Fest craft market...

And ended our day with supper at a local outdoor cafe before heading home.

It was a lovely, fun day.

I'm beginning to appreciate day-trip vacations more and more! It's nice when you don't have to go far to see and experience new things.

Appreciating the Rain

Our summer has been lovely.

Days and days of warm, sunny weather...

But as a gardener, I also welcome occasional days of rain!