Today.........

........I dabbled my fingers in Lake Huron, at Lion's Head on the Bruce Peninsula.  Can't help it, when there's a lake or a river I just have to try it out.  It was fairly cool but not cold, and certainly didn't freeze my fingers.  A cafe in Lion's Head sells delicious butter tarts and date squares, you will be pleased to know that should you ever visit.

All the Canadians we have met have been delightful and very helpful.  We have stayed in a couple of lovely B & Bs with very helpful hosts but tonight are slumming it, we're in a motel.

Have taken several photos but so far they haven't been uploaded to the computer.  The fall colours here have been spectacular and that's what most of my pics are!  Something to remember when we get back to Australia, because going into summer there won't be any autumn colours.......we will have to wait several months for them, and they won't have the rich colour that is found in Ontario.

Last Saturday I attended a quilt show and really enjoyed it, as seeing what others are doing is very inspirational.  Have also found a few quilt shops and bought some souvenir fabrics, isn't that a surprise?

Yesterday in Owen Sound we were entertained, if that is the right word, by two local male persons (one hesitates to use the word 'gentlemen') who were fighting in the main street.  Many naughty words were spoken, many punches and kicks were exchanged, and it all seemed to be caused by one man using the word 'plagiarist' to the other.  To look at them one would not have thought that either of them even knew the word, but perhaps one should not judge by first impressions.  Just as well there was no road traffic when they carried their fight to the middle of the street.

Tomorrow our journey continues.

Enjoy your days!

We're having a great time in Canada!

So far no pics, but they will be taken.....the trees in the streets near where we are staying are changing, the huge oak trees across the road are gorgeous.  Spending time with our son and his girlfriend has been wonderful, and once again we have been impressed by the friendliness and helpfulness of people we have met.

The Creativ Festival visit was fun, and yesterday's visit to the Textile Museum very short because of work being done to prepare a new exhibit, but as entry was subsequently free we didn't complain.  Perhaps another visit in a few weeks may be possible; it's such an interesting place with a fabulous collection and a wonderful shop, including the best selection of books on anything to do with fibres and textiles that you could imagine.

So far no bones have been broken, no one has taken a tumble - although sometimes it is difficult to keep one's balance in the subway carriage when the driver slams on the brakes, I swear some of the carriages must have square wheels - we both want to leave Canada as intact as when we arrived.  Kevin hurt his shoulder heaving a suitcase into the back of our car just before leaving home but after treatment by a local massage therapist it is feeling much better, and he now thinks it won't fall off after all. Which is probably a good thing, as there is more heaving of suitcases to come.

By gosh it's a long flight.......the 90-minute stopover in Vancouver wasn't enough for my ears to return to normal after the descent, so landing in Toronto was even more painful that normal.  We have seen an advertisement for a gadget which is supposed to help with the ear pain so shall check it out soon, and see if it is as wonderful as it claims to be.  Because landing can be so agonisingly painful I really dread flying, but the alternative was a long swim and a long overland hike.

The etiquette book has been left behind so I can't leave you with the usual words of gentle wisdom and courtesy, but that will be made up on our return.

Enjoy your days!

Finished.......just before we go away!

Yay for me - this year's challenge quilt is finished, several weeks early!  The final stitches were taken on the binding yesterday evening.  Here it is, "Plastered Pinwheels" in all its glory.

 There were three pinwheels left so, not being one to waste fabric (hah!) they were used on the back, which is a soft yellow check.

 A corner of the quilt so you can admire those pretty fabrics and the quilting.

 The back, so you can gasp at the skilful use of those leftovers.  As the backing had to be pieced, it was easier to make a feature of the join than to pretend it wasn't there.

The label, which tells how the quilt came to have this name.  A word of advice from one who has learned the hard way.....do not use white-on-white fabric for a label.  It is not easy to write on and doesn't look great when it's done.  But it is done, and that's the main thing.

Just to recap:  on our last visit to Canada in October 2009, while strolling along Kingston Road, Scarborough, looking for a coffee (unusually there wasn't a Tim's in sight) I rolled my ankle on the uneven surface and went down.  Broke my left arm - both bones at the wrist end - and sprained my right wrist.  Not fun, and rather painful.  Once we came home and the pain had receded it was just a matter of waiting for my wrists to heal and for the plaster to be removed.  Having a plastered arm is rather boring, you know.......couldn't knit or crochet (believe me, I tried), couldn't hand sew, I could read but couldn't hold a book so reading had to be done at a table.  But those little squares left from another project were in my sewing room, and although it was quite slow and painstaking they could be fed through the machine.  So 128 little pinwheel blocks were made, and some are more beautiful than others because the centres don't quite line up on every block - but it was about the achievement rather than the accuracy, and it was an achievement at the time.  Those little blocks (2-1/4in each when finished) have made a quilt measuring over 60in square, and it was designed on EQ7.

Only two more sleeps until we fly to Canada!  It's Thanksgiving weekend over there, so best wishes to my Canadian family and friends and we will see you on Tuesday arvo.  It will be so good to see our son and his lovely girlfriend again, we miss them.  We're glad he's happy, but a little sad that he had to go all the way to the far side of the known universe to find happiness.

So today is being given over to packing, and cuddles with Binky (The World's Friendliest Cat) and Bianca (The Beautiful but Slightly Brainless White Cat), and cooking something nice for dinner tonight to share with our house-sitters who will arrive sometime this afternoon.

Today's quote seems apt in view of events in the Australia media recently.  Aussies will know what I mean, and if you don't - just enjoy the quote.

"Dogmatic style of speaking.
Never speak dogmatically or with an assumption of knowledge or information beyond that of those with whom you are conversing.  Even if you are conscious of this superiority, a proper and becoming modesty will lead you to conceal it as far as possible, that you may not put to shame or humiliation those less fortunate than yourself.  If they discover your superiority of their own accord, they will have much more admiration for you than though you forced the recognition upon them.  If they do not discover it, you cannot force it upon their perceptions, and they will only hold you in contempt for trying to do so.  Besides, there is the possibility that you over-estimate yourself, and instead of being a wise man you are only a self-sufficient fool."

Have you ever met someone who is so 'special' that they are not on the same planet as the rest of us?  They don't have to wait to be served but can go straight to the head of the queue, and they don't need to join a line of traffic because they can push in further ahead.

For the next six weeks I may not have much of a chance to keep up with blog reading and updating, because we will be having a wonderful time with our family and friends in the land of the maple trees.

Enjoy your days!