Summer Summary

Let's skip the lengthy narrative and rely on images (okay, with brief captions) to summarize the rest of the summer in Nova Scotia.  Oh, summer ain't over yet, but we're back in Ontario (at least momentarily) and onto another chapter.

Things we did -

On a boat tour at Peggy's Cove.

The ladyfriend and I visit Caldera, a whiskey distillery in River John, with friends

Things we found or had made for us:

Local woodworker made this table for us.  An amazing addition to our kitchen.

New cottage; new couch (thanks, EQ3) with pillows woven using local wool (Lismore Sheep Farm) and natural dyes.

Jelly cabinet (more kitchen storage!) made locally in Stellarton

Sideboard/hutch found at a secondhand place.

Needlepoint from a yard sale.  The ladyfriend thinks it looks like David Suzuki, and I say, "Dressed as an Tyrolean."

And, of course, food -

Local oysters; no one had a name for them.  I called them "delicious."

And a shload of canning!  Ended up making three types of strawberry jam, raspberry jam, blueberry preserves, sour cherry preserves, lobster stock, and chicken stock.

Wondering about the crafting?  Yes, there was that, too (plus swimming, reading, biking, etc.).  Images of the two FOs plus my new swift (!) to follow.

Hope your wind-down from summer is good and prepares you well for the fall ahead.  Carry on.

A Packing Primer - Get the Steamer Trunk!

Want to know how much you can pack into your daily life without losing the whole suitcase, as it were?  Here's a peek into what I recently packed in -

Last time I blogged, I was in DC visiting family -

The boy wearing an Alabama Chanin t-shirt I made for him.

The thimble tattoo he gave me.

My father and I drove back to Hamilton together so he could help me do my roof, which took about a week.  It's two thirds done; he's coming back this month to help me finish it,  but at least we took care of the leak.  We were doing such a good job (seriously) that our neighbor asked if we might help them do theirs.  I am not going into the roofing business, but I appreciate the compliment.

Tarping the roof for the evening with my dad and friend.

The day after my father headed back to DC, we had our birthday dinner at our friends' house.  We both agree it is one of the best meals we've ever had.

 And two days later, we drove to Nova Scotia to close on our cottage.  Crazy!  Keep in mind, this is all during MeMadeMay!  It kind of helped since it focused my travel wardrobe around handmades. (Full post just on MeMadeMay and what I learned coming soon.)

Two essential elements of Nova Scotia:

Sheep at Lismore Farm -

And lobster (here in its ultimate expression - the lobster roll made by the ladyfriend) -

I also had an FO - the Fair Isle Skirt by Mary Jane Mucklestone.  It was part of a KAL (knit-along for you nonknitters) for Squam.  I really wanted to take this little sheepy home.

And then, we drove down to Portland, ME en route to Squam.  There was just enough time to have an amazing dinner at Eventide Oyster Co., buy some fabric at Z Fabrics, then pick up some Quince & Co. yarn at KnitWit, and find some local craft beer.  The server who brought out our food at Eventide said that we'd ordered really well and that she was excited for our dinner.  She was right!

And then the ladyfriend dropped me off at Squam for the Squam Spring Retreat...

Full post on Squam coming soon.