It seems I always have such a hard time telling about a trip. How can one tell everything that is in the heart? How can you put into words the life-changing things you have seen?
How can I explain how happy I was to go, yet how happy I am to be home again?
How can one be so happy and so sad at the same time?
It is hard to try to condense a description of our trip to Montreal, Canada. It is a very diverse city with a rich heritage. We saw some amazing things there last week.
The St. Lawrence River...
The Biosphere...
St. Joseph's Oratory...
A public chess board in the park...
A street fair...It really didn't seem this crowded.
We even saw a forest of hot pink trees.
My favorite part of Montreal, though, was Old Montreal. The architecture is wonderful.
We were in Old Montreal on a Saturday. There was an historical 18th Century market being held on the streets close to the docks. The streets were lined with vendors and costumed participants and music appropriate for the time. John learned from a friendly priest in the group that he could not have received communion in the 18th century until he shaved his beard.
We ate a lunch like we thought people from that era might have enjoyed. From the individual historical food vendors we bought fresh homemade bread, cheese, lamb sausage, apple pie and cider. We found a bench to sit on to enjoy our goodies and received envious looks from several people walking by.
We saw seven different wedding parties taking photographs in Old Montreal. We could certainly understand why; the day was beautiful and the setting was stunning.
I wish you could have been there.
xo
It doesn't take a lot to make me happy. Quiet time on a beautiful lake...
The sound of birds calling...
Feeding ducks...
A hot pink car...
A scoop of Blue Bell ice cream...
Being close to nature...
While we were away I tried so hard to suck up all that happiness...to hold it close, to savor every minute. Yet, it all ended too soon...and now, I am home again, with all that happiness tucked in my pocket, refreshed and ready for a familiar routine. I am a blessed woman.
I'm sorry I couldn't post last week; I was visiting the babies in Flagstaff, AZ. It was so beautiful there; cool and crisp and windy. A week's visit is just not long enough there.
The new Spring growth on the trees made such a dramatic contrast against the peaks. Dramatic contrast is a fitting description of Arizona. Only two hours drive south of the snow-capped peaks is the arid region of Phoenix.
Yes, it was hard to leave this.
My DH had to go to Savannah, Georgia on business this week, and I got to go with him. I have wanted to go to Savannah ever since I heard it has wonderful architecture. Whoever said that was not lying.
We stayed in a hotel on the river front. This was one view from the hotel window. The streets along the river front are cobblestone, built from stones which were used as ship ballast. As a ship took on new cargo, the stones were thrown out along shore to compensate for the weight. Since the streets were originally dirt, the residents were glad to have the cobblestones to use as paving.
On the other side of the buildings that run along the river there are more shops and businesses. This is called Factors Walk. The cotton trade was very active in Savannah.
We saw lots of musicians and learned there a music festival this week. We also enjoyed the street musicians along the river front.
Alas, we did not eat at the famous restaurant, Lady and Sons, owned by chef, Paula Dean. We learned that you had to make a reservation early in the morning to be able to eat there in the evening.
Savannah is built around a series of park squares that were spectacular with Spring growth. The Dogwood and Redbud trees were blooming and the Azaleas buds had just begun to burst into flower.
One of my very favorite areas was City Art Center where about 35 artists studios and galleries are located.
The studio/galleries are located in the historic buildings surrounding a shady plaza.
Artists lease the subdivided spaces for studios and also use them to show their work in their own small galleries. We were able to talk with several artists who had been in this location for many years.
I didn't get enough pictures. We have to go back. Besides, we have to eat at Lady and Sons. I am calling ahead for a reservation right now.
Since Sunday was my birthday and Dear Hubby said we could celebrate however I chose, we went to the Renaissance Festival in Tampa. The weather was perfect; sunny and 67 degrees, and the wooded setting was perfect also.
We loved the costumes worn by actors and visitors alike.
We were fascinated with the Contact Juggler.
We got to see a real joust.
Alas, our champion, Sir Orek, was defeated.
We saw dancing and several shows.
But the show I enjoyed the most was the one by the laundry wenches because they chose DH as their first onstage helper.
What a wonderful birthday.
I am sorry, dear Friends, for being silent here for awhile. I have been in Oklahoma visiting Mama. It was a hard, but wonderful trip. I just don't have words for it, so I will show you.
It was hard to leave. My beloved Oklahoma.
We are finally home again. My goodness there is so much laundry to do! Being in the country was like food for my soul. Here are some sights that are still in my heart.
John and I have been in the Ft. Myers, FL area for the last two days celebrating our wedding anniversary. We discovered the tiny town of Matlacha (pronounced mat-la-shay) and the many art galleries along the main road through town.
Unfortunately I couldn't take pictures inside the galleries, so you will just have to trust me when I say they were wonderful, stimulating, and totally inspiring.
We loved this place. But I think I am on color overload.
It is SOOO good to be back home again! On Tuesday morning, Mama and I woke to see this outside her window. The weatherman called it "sideways snow" which means it was BLOWING, baby!
But, isn't it beautiful?
The official two to three inches of snowfall we received collected into a two to three foot drift right behind my little rental car. So, on Wednesday, the day before I had to catch a flight back to Florida, I had to dig out that snowdrift with this:
It took four hours to make a clear path for the car.
On Tuesday, while it was snowing outside, I was busy sewing this quilt. It is made from vintage fabric samples that Mama found in her local thrift shop. I loved putting all those bright 1970's colors together. The backing is made from some fabric that my BFF, Pat, brought which had belonged to her mother.
Mama helped me "tie it out".
We laid the quilt out on the floor, then we took big stitches in it with yarn and tied the ends of the pieces of yarn with a square knot. This attaches it to the backing without having to quilt it. Mama always uses this technique for what she calls "everyday" quilts. I have always been fascinated with Mama's quilts, but have never thought of making one myself. Even a simple one like this is a big project. Since it was my first, I was quite proud of it when we finished it.
We had such a lovely visit. Mama stuffed me with not only home canned pears, but prune dumplin's, home made sweet cinnamon biscuits, and PERSIMMON BUTTER. Some friends had given her some venison which she roasted also. I only gained two pounds!
Seeing old friends, spending time with Mama and experiencing the snow...it has already been the best White Christmas ever.
