Blocking

I posted about this knitting project some time ago, but never managed to finish this post and it sat in my draft posts for ages.  The knitting is done and the final process in completing my shawl involved blocking, a process of washing the wool, then pinning it out to the right size and allowing it to dry.

I had the idea of taking a photo of my shawl down on the boardwalk, but the day that we took these photos was extremely windy.  Instead of an ‘on location’ photo shoot, it turned into a battle to hang onto the shawl and to keep my hair out of my eyes.  So much for knitting model glamour!

Chocolate Meringue Pie

Last week was Hallowe’en.  We don’t really celebrate it, but we do participate to the extent that we buy some sweet treats for callers.  Thankfully, there weren’t that many of them (around 20) and it was all over by 7.30.  

In fact, it started with the doorbell ringing, followed by loud hammering until I opened it, to find two ‘trick or treaters’ who just stood there holding their bags out - this before it was even dark - it was 5.20.  I suppose that they wanted to beat the rush and get the best pickings.  What concerned me the most is that these young boys (who looked about 8 or 9) appeared to be unaccompanied and were visiting the houses of complete strangers.  What were the parents thinking?  Did they even know that their offspring were walking the streets?

Anyway, it seemed only fitting that they shouldn’t be the only ones enjoying some chocolate at Hallowe’en, so I saved the good chocolate for us and baked a chocolate meringue pie with Green and Black’s 70% dark chocolate.  It was absolutely delicious.

Thought For The Day - Part One

‘Perhaps, the beginning is to say that nice things are going to happen

Until you make them happen.’

Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Garden

Friendship Park

A chance remark about a park in town led us to discover this little gem.

We were there just before the strong winds and rain brought down many of the leaves and berries.

The last colours of autumn were still visible on the trees,  The path offered shelter from some fairly strong winds.

We found a bird table and saw evidence of seed left to feed them.

The canopy looked glorious in the sunshine.

We saw less wildlife than on our usual walks along the boardwalk.

I was glad of the protection from the trees, as it was far too blustery to be on the more exposed path along the shore.  We will likely be back on those windier days, although Mr Candytuft prefers the other route!

Home Sweet Home

 

This a little project for birthday gifts. 

 

Although the knitting didn't take long, the finishing took most of the afternoon.

By which time, I had three little house key rings.

St Eleanor's

St John’s Anglican Church has stood on this site since 1842, in what used to be the village of St Eleanor’s.  This wooden framed structure is in the Gothic Revival style.  We had driven past it on a number of occasions and I was curious for a closer look, so we stopped and walked round the graveyard.

I’m always fascinated by headstones as I think that they tell us a lot about the people who lived in a place and their history.  Little Sophia died aged 7 months in July 1872.  There are a lot of children’s graves in this cemetery, many of whom died in infancy.

We discovered that many of the graves belonged to families who were United Empire Loyalists, who moved to what were then known as the Colonies (and loyal to the Crown) during the American Revolution.

The lych gate in front of the church is a later addition (built in 1967).

Another child’s headstone.  Many of them date from around the same time and I wondered if there had been some illness which had caused their lives to be cut short, but there was no indication of this on the inscription.

In researching the history of this church,  I discovered that there has been a church on this site since 1825.  The original church was destroyed by fire in 1835.   To this day, many of the rural churches are of wood construction, as their congregations did not have the money for more elaborate buildings. 

The grave of William Henry Pope lies at the eastern side of the cemetery.  A path leads to this plaque, which was laid by the Canadian government, to mark his grave.  William Henry Pope was one of the Fathers of Confederation: he campaigned for Prince Edward Island become part of the Canadian Union, which was accomplished in July 1873.  Other former colonies and territories joined the Union on 1st July, 1867 to form the Dominion of Canada.

This is his headstone.

He is buried with other family members.

This plaque is in the lych gate and marks the Centennial of Confederation, which was in 1967.  This year is the sesquicentennial, which has been widely celebrated across Canada.

The church was not accessible, so we haven't seen inside, however, there are some interior views here.

NaBloPoMo 2017

It’s that time of year again, when the darker nights draw in early and the leaves fall off the trees.  My thoughts should have turned to blogging - they did a couple of weeks ago - but then I lost track of the dates.  November is my personal NaBloPoMo challenge.  So how did I forget?  I had some posts in mind and even had some in draft - well, photos at least.  Still, better late than never.

Here’s to posting every day for what remains of November.