Pioneer Spirit

Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Without innovation, it is a corpse.

Winston Churchill, British author and politician (1874-1965)

Sunglasses? Check. Sunscreen? Check. Wallets? Check. Road trip! On what turned out to be the hottest day of the summer, Mom and I headed for Black Creek Pioneer Village and the annual "Quilts at the Creek" art exhibition -- making a detour along the way to check out a recommended quilt shop in the countryside of Halton Hills. Navigational challenges licked, we enjoyed a great outing.

I haven't been to the village since I was a child and so I was seeing it with new, old eyes. Pinned throughout the village, the quilts honoured tradition while bringing out their own pioneering spirit.

The 1858 town hall, traditionally used for the circuit judge proceedings, town council meetings, concerts and other community gatherings made a perfect setting for 'trunk shows' in which a quilter presents their quilting journey illustrated with their numerous creations pulled out like magic from suitcases. Lots of oohs and aahs and inspiration shared. Robert Gutcher's use of machine embroidery amazed all.

This exhibitions has been marked in my calendar since the cold, snowy days of February or March when I spotted an advance announcement. The sun and warmth of July and the show were things to look forward to and I wasn't disappointed. Over 200 colourful and unique quilts lined the streets and yards of the historic buildings. We came away with some ideas as well as some fabric to add to the stash. ;-) I'm already looking forward to next year!

Working from Home

In every job that must be done there is an element of fun.

Mary Poppins, lead character in children's books written by P. L. Travers (1899-1996)

An appointment meant that I worked from home today. There was a lot of work to be done and some intense activity but Supervisor Cat kept me grounded and added more than a teaspoon of sugar to the day.

Summer Road Trip

And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.

F. Scott Fitzgerald, American author (1896-1940)

Warm temperatures and sunny days shone through the windshield as Mom and I made a couple of road trips this weekend. Swaths of yellow flowers lined the country roads. I figured they were dandelions but when we stopped for a closer look they turned out to be delicate, buttercup-like flowers. Ah, there is a lesson to be learned there! Our journeys over the two days took us East, and South and Southwest,  across country to quilt shops promoting themselves with a July shop hop. The one set beside a river, where a young family and grandparents fished, was so quiet that I could hear the fly buzz and and Canada Geese splashing as they took their bath. That peaceful view capped the weekend of views across green farmlands, white shaded porches, and the odd magnificent hawk flying overhead.

The road home passed by the old diary bar -- it's not quite as old as me, but it's close, so perhaps I should call it 'vintage'. Never one to miss what might be the last opportunity to enjoy vintage treats from my childhood days, we indulged in some wonderful real ice cream. Life is good! :-)

A Geometrically Perfect Afternoon

Nature is impersonal, awe-inspiring, elegant, eternal. It's geometrically perfect. It's tiny and gigantic. You can travel far to be in a beautiful natural setting, or you can observe it in your backyard - or, in my case, in the trees lining New York City sidewalks, or in the clouds above skyscrapers.

Gretchen Rubin, American author of The Happiness Project

What a peaceful, meditative sight, looking up through the trellis into a blue expanse. In the background was the quiet conversation  of family around the table for a bar-be-qued meal in honour of Dad and Father's Day. There's something quite special about a low-key Sunday afternoon in summertime spent with family in the backyard.

A Grand Kickoff!

At commencement you wear your square-shaped mortarboards. My hope is that from time to time you will let your minds be bold, and wear sombreros.  

Paul A. Freund, American jurist and law professor (1908-1992)

For my friends across the pond, in North American English the word "commencement" has denoted a graduation ceremony since at least 1850. Perhaps the good people back then realized that graduation does not so much signify the conclusion of years of study, but rather marks the dawn of a new adventure.

Contained in the word "commencement" is the sense of anticipation and of exciting new adventure. And while there may be some trepidation of what the future holds and concern about choosing what to do next, one needs to hold fast to the belief that the knowledge, skills and experience gained during those long hard years of study provide solid stepping stones for whatever path is chosen now and in the future. The achievements marked by commencement should stoke the courage to open wings and leap into the future.

And so I congratulate Justin and Jeanette, who both celebrated their commencements today, on their success and wish them the courage to believe in their accomplishments and themselves, and to go confidently in the direction of their dreams, wherever they may lead.

Lessons from the Animals

You cannot look at a sleeping cat and feel tense.

Jane Pauley, American television anchor and journalist

It has been a busy couple of weeks and I have been remiss with my posts. Let me catch up by beginning with the end of the week when I looked to Cat's wise example and spent much of the day supine. She reassured me that busy-ness can be overrated. 

There had been much ado around the office. During a rare quiet moment I caught a glimpse of an arabesque reflection.

Under the big top on Saturday, a friend and I watched the amazing performance of magnificent horses, their riders, and acrobats all set before stunning images of a global odyssey. While the human feats had me holding my breath, the powerful, gentle, playful beasts are without a doubt the stars of the show. The 'acrobats' in the photo were battening down the hatches before the thunderstorms brought torrential rains. When it hit, the rain pounded on the tent, yet the horses, as true professionals, remained calm and focused on their performance: a good lesson to take into the next week.

Forging Forth with Friends

Be a lamp, a lifeboat, a ladder.
Help someone's soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd.

Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, Persian poet and Sufi mystic (1207-1273)

Good friends came to visit and since they had never seen Niagara Falls, I pretty much insisted that we make it a priority on their final day. As we gazed down, miniature (in the face of the Falls) boats regularly challenged the cascading torrent and treacherous currents. I got to thinking about facing challenges and having friends who shine a smiling light into the mists so that you know that you are not alone. Sincere thanks to each and every one of you out there!