{pretty, happy, funny, real} at Belfast Mini Mills

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Last Saturday we took a little road trip to Belfast (PEI, not Ireland!) to see the Mini Mills (a combination of farm, factory, store and tea shop). It was a delightful place. Arden had fun chasing the chickens and I had fun looking at all the beautiful things made of wool.

Now I must admit, I am not really a crafty person. I don't know how to knit. Once upon a time I knew how to crochet. I don't really know how to sew, though someone gave me a machine and I'd like to learn how to use it. And I certainly don't know how to weave. But I find it all so...

{pretty}

One of the working looms in the store

A work in progress

Hand woven scarves

I love the soft colours

Wool and thrum mittens

{happy}

We went to the tea shop and had some tea and sweets! My caramel toffee pie was so delicious, I ate it before I even thought of taking a picture of it!

Afternoon tea

{funny}

Amused? Curious? Annoyed?

{real}

Though all this handiwork seems beyond my realm of possibility, there is a real chance I could get involved in the world of wool. I met a women who lives nearby who is just starting to do her own spinning and weaving, and she has invited me to go with her to one of their monthly spinning parties! I must say this prospect quite excites me. This is the kind of spinner she uses.

The beginner's' spinner

It also has a real price tag of about $400. But I would like to see what spinning is like, and if I like it enough, maybe I'll save up and join the club!

Are there any other spinners or weavers out there?

[technical note - Sometimes when I centre pictures on blogger - ie. the hand woven scarves -  they don't come out centred! Does anyone know why this happens??]






~lg

{pretty, happy, funny, real} playtime edition!

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

I took these shots last week during one of our playtimes. Arden is interested and getting into all sorts of things these days (one day I turned around and she had the scissors in one hand and the cheese grater in the other!), and not always her actual toys, but here was a day we had fun playing together with her own little (and much safer!) things.

She is quite happy to play with her puzzle of motorized vehicles. She likes to walk around with the motorcycle in her mouth, which is by far her favourite. When it's not in her mouth, she likes to make engine noises! She's pretty good at replicating an old beat up Honda 650x.

And here she is reading her book to me, complete with sound effects and hand gestures! It's too cute and definitely makes me happy.

All those motor noises and stories can make a little girl real tuckered out.

But wait, who's that coming around the corner?

Can you sense the anticipation?? And the distinct possibility of more fun?

It's Daddy!! Let the real playtime begin!


Brought to you by the lovely ladies at Like Mother, Like Daughter, who are celebrating their four year blogiversary!




~lg

Just breathe

~ a little thought for moms ~

Take a deep breath.

When it’s the end of a long day and there are still so many things to do, when you are tired and feeling guilty about being tired, when you just don’t have the mental fortitude to finish what you’ve begun, just breathe.

Breathe.

And turn that breath into a prayer, exhaling all the depleted energy you cannot transform, offering the only thing you can at the moment, which is your weakness. Then inhale, invoking the sacred Name that can only be whispered by the poor in spirit, and feel your lungs expand with life that is not your own.

Breathe until you remember this life is your own, given for this moment and the ones to come. This is the Spirit-Breath of God, by which all things are once again possible.

Just breathe.


~lg

Dave's Visit

Thus begins a recap of some of our summer guests and adventures!

Our first visitor this summer was Dave, Arden's godfather, all the way from Australia! As part of his round-the-world trip, Dave made a stopover in PEI for a few days back in June. Although he made Arden cry on his first day here (that face was just more scary than funny I guess), she soon warmed up to him and by the end of the visit they were great friends. 

Dessert made complete with Tim Tams!!

Enjoying the view at Greenwich

Arden loves being up on Daddy's shoulders

Beachcombing at Greenwich on a windy evening

Trying out Uncle Dave's shoulders

She's starting to warm up to him I think!

Feeling beachy

Waiting for fish and chips at Naufrage

Along the north shore

Somebody is getting sleepy...

Dave trying out a wooden kayak

All part of a visit with the Hudsons

Visiting with friends of the Hudsons in their dome cottage

A very expressive storytime!

Tea time

The farewell front porch picture!

Good friends by now

Arden and her crazy Uncle Dave

Thanks Dave for an unforgettable visit!


~lg

{pretty, happy, funny, real} on September 3

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

{pretty}

Pretty are the sunflowers which grace my table, filling up the room with colour, inspiring late summer praise. 

{happy}

Happy is the homemade breakfast eaten together in the quiet of the morning, wholewheat pancakes and our own Manitoba Maple syrup in that bottle.

{funny}

Funny is the little girl who still likes to eat sand and laughs as she gains her beach legs to walk toward me.

{real}

Real is one little tree that didn't make it through the remnants of stormy Irene. Thankfully that was the only damage we had on our property.

I have so many more things to post from this summer! Perhaps once the routine of fall begins I can get caught up on the rest of our summer adventures :) Thanks to Like Mother, Like Daughter for inspiring me to post at least once a week!




~lg