Once in a Lifetime

A whale watching tour was one of the highlights of our holiday.  It was a lovely warm day but still quite cool and windy on the water.  The guidelines said to take warm clothing which we did.  Many others chose not to and spent most of the trip in the bar area.  We saw a fin whale which is one of the largest as well a group of beluga cows with their calves. Seals bobbed in the waves and a number of birds soared around looking for fish.  The birds were the first indication that there might be whales in an area.

My Sister and I

                                

We were on the largest boat so the ride was smooth. I only got a bit dizzy a couple of times and it was very mild. 

Hubby

There was a lot of these smaller boats buzzing around but everyone respected each other's space.  If there was an indication of a whale, all the engines were cut and the vessels just drifted as was required by the regulations.
The trip was expensive but well worth the money as we all felt it was a 'once in a lifetime' event.
Blessings,

Not Your Grandmother's Garden

June was Curvalicious month for the Island Batik Ambassadors.  I know we are almost at the end of July but I did almost have my project finished on time.  Our holiday, eye problems and life got in the way of completing it.  However, better late than not at all:

 

Not Your Grandmother's Garden started our being one thing and ended as another-much like my real gardens.  It was made with beautiful Dotilicious and blender Island Batik fabrics.

Blessings

More Trip Photos

I hope you aren't getting tired of these photos yet as I still have at least a couple more days worth.  The first two of these were taken in Quebec: the first overlooking the harbour and the other is one of the historic buildings 9I forget which one).  The last picture was taken at a lookout near where we went whale watching.  A beautiful spot.  During the trip, when the tide was out, we saw people walking along the exposed river bed looking for ( I am assuming) crabs, oysters etc.

Tomorrow-memories of Anne of Green Gables.

Blessings,

 

10,000 Steps of Discovery

The weather was lovely today.  I got my laundry out on the line and it dried quickly, did a bit of gardening searching for flowers amongst the weeds and a few other odds and ends.  Most of the rest of the day was spent tidying my quilt room and sewing.
I loaded a crib blanket onto my machine and have got about a quarter of that finished. I am out tomorrow and Thursday but expect to get it completed on the weekend.
Here are some photo from the old part of Quebec city.  The rather odd shaped elephant is a Salvador Dali sculpture.  He is one of my favourite artists so I was pleased to find this.

I am very fond of old Quebec and enjoyed walking around the streets and discovering lanes full of artists selling their products, remains of the forts, and street performers.  We clocked nearly 10,000 steps (each) by the end of the day.

Blessings,

 

July?!

I think I must have flipped the wrong month up on my calendar.  It says July but that can't be right because we started up the wood stove today.  It has been cool and damp all day.  Damp is rather a large understatement as it poured in the morning.  Tomorrow is supposed to be better so I am doing a couple loads of laundry so I can hang it out them.
I don't know why it is but whenever you go on holiday, you seem to have twice as much laundry to do when you return.  We did take extra towels with us in case we had a chance to go swimming-we didn't but I didn't want to just stick them back in the cupboard after they were in a hot van for ten days.

 

Our first day of sightseeing was in Quebec City.  This tall ship was in port and we spent quite a bit of time looking it at it and taking photos.  It was quite an impressive sight.

 

This statue was also at the port.  It was to honour all the seamen who died during the war while serving on the merchant ships.

Blessings,

On The Positive Side.

I apologize for the sporadic posts lately.  I know you will understand when I say that I am spending as much time as possible with my sister before she returns to England.  That happens tomorrow.
I am grateful both my sisters do come to Canada as frequently as they do but it is still very difficult when they leave. We have enjoyed our holiday together and she has been able to see a lot more of her birth  country.  Our mother returned to England in 1963 taking my younger brothers and sisters and, if we lived less than a 100 years ago, I might never have seen them again.  So, I do try to be grateful and think on the positive side.  I try, without always being totally successful.
This photo was taken from our room in Ottawa where we stayed on the first night of our trip.  More photos and some stories yet to come. 
Have a great weekend.
blessings,

Home Again

We arrived back from our holidays Saturday evening.  We had a great time and saw more of our great country, its scenery, wildlife and history.  I will be sharing some photos and stories with you later but I have a small announcement.  My pattern 'Falling Leaves' is being published in the Quilt Pattern Magazine and they have a special subscription price for you to celebrate the event.  The link is:  http://www.quiltpatternmagazine.com/program/S/?D=ARK or you can go to
http://www.quiltpatternmagazine.comhttp://www.quiltpatternmagazine.com. and enter the secret code word ARK to get your special price.

 

Blessings,