Tuesday 22 September 2015

Summer Painting


It has been a good summer for painting. Inspired by a walk in Voyageur Provincial Park in June, I started this painting and worked on it when I could throughout the summer months. I still have changes to make, but have decided to let it sit for a while, think about it, and finish it later. It has been a lot of fun to work on. 


My studio is unheated so I can only work when it is warm enough. I started another painting quite recently to make use of the late summer days. I hope we have a sunny and pleasant autumn so I can continue to paint for another month or two. This painting is already starting to be fun to work on, too!

Tuesday 15 September 2015

The Annual Fall Festival in Dunvegan Ontario


Every year, I go to the Annual Fall Festival at the Glengarry Pioneer Museum in Dunvegan, Ontario. So last Sunday (September 13), I kept up the tradition and went even though it had been a very rainy day. Despite the soggy weather I had fun! Lots of good food, music, animals, activities and people wearing pioneer costumes. I was taking a picture of the town crier when he came over and handed me his bell. My friend Mac took a picture of the town crier and me, holding the bell (I didn't want to ring it because then people would think I had something to announce!). 


The music was appropriately down-home-y and old fashioned, like the music out of the movie "Oh Brother Where Art Thou". These guys were really good - playing banjo, mandolin and guitar. 


There were sheep. These guys were waiting their turn....


...because there was sheep-sheering exhibition, and they were next. This guy was a pro at sheering sheep. 


Nearby there was a man giving a demonstration on rope-making. He had a special machine to do this. It was fascinating to watch. 


There were a number of roosters in cages. I missed the rooster-crowing contest, but it was nice just to see the roosters in all their glory. 



There were also chickens. 


The blacksmith was hard at work at his forge. This was a very popular exhibition. 


And finally, there was more music. The fiddler was dynamite. Altogether, a fun day and worth slogging through a few puddles to enjoy.