My mother had a beach bar in the Virgin Islands, the British Virgins to be exact, from the mid 70s to the mid 80s. During that time she entertained many celebrities during her time running her little beach bar.
She was known for her lobster sandwiches, her pina coladas and of course her banana bread which were part of her foods at her little beach bar.
She had a motto that she must be notified well in advance for dinner reservations, which she basically decided the menus.
This, being in the days before cells etc, reservations from yachts were made by ship to shore calls. Ok, here is the Andy story.
A yacht known as "The Eagle" wasn't large, large, but for its time, it was THE way to travel for many celebrities. So, it arrives in Cane Garden Bay, (see photo above) and the captain comes ashore to ask my mother if there could be reservations for dinner that night. He explains that they had problems with their ship to shore phone....
My mother tells him that he hasn't reserved in time and no it cannot happen tonight. He tells my mother that Andy Williams is aboard with a small party. My mother tells the captain that she doesn't care if he comes ashore singing Moon River, dinner is not going to happen.
About 15 minutes or so later, the captain again comes ashore with Andy W and he enters the bar, walks up to my mother and begins singing Moon River. My mother, with a bar full of people goes all shy and says Ok, ok, you can come to dinner.
He had a party of eight including himself, brought his own music, stayed about two hours and tipped my mother, her staff of two $800.00. The biggest tip for dinner she ever received.
RIP Andy Williams, a true gentleman.
September begins with days such as this photo on the right, calm mornings with loons sending their song over the lake.
Our lake has amazing echos. It used to be called Hollow Lake by the natives who inhabited the surrounding areas. The name denoted the echos of the area.
On autumn nights, we can here
the wolves howling across the Highlands that surround us.
We get fierce storms from our southern neighbours, which sometimes result in beautiful
rainbows. We also often get double rainbows, but they cannot be seen by my camera.
On warm morning of September we sit on our deck and enjoy the simple sounds that surround us here. It is why we love being here.
Of course September means thinking of closing up too. So here is the sweetie, bringing the kid's boat to our winter storage, which is up on a small crib on the rocks at the shore. Keep in mind that this boat is about 10
feet by five feet, so not an easy task for my big guy to drive.
But, this morning, on my birthday no less, it is warm and balmy, just a light wind and coffee on the dock was the order of the day. The mid season warmth continues, which we hope will still be here in two weeks when we have our Thanksgiving dinner. There will be neighbours and friends, along with family for a pot luck supper of turkey and fixings.
That weekend will mean that most of our neighbours will have their closing of their cottages too. Lack of water for boat docking is what really is a problem for cottagers here as the damn at the end of the lake is opened to allow fish spawning.
It will certainly be quiet.
When we were in Maine, the houses were so colourful that I decided to make these little houses from a Moda pattern that I saw.
I changed it of course because the houses are smaller due to the wonky bias squares I could not get straight. Pinning, and more pinning on the next project will be my motto.
I have made three of these little baskets. I love them. I think that they would be
be great for fruit bowls or even fitting a bowl into them to keep the food warm.
I have had inquiries about their sale...what does one pay for these I wonder?
Sometimes the work doesn't pay in the least as we would be making about a dollar an hour for such items....oh well.
Complaint of me on blogger...the "don't be a robot" continues to defy my mind! I sometimes need to try at least three times to post. I get so aggravated that I move on to another post! Why do I have such a problem I ask myself each time I see that icon...."oh no!" is my usual first thought...."not again". So I send pms to the bloggers, but that doesn't show on the blog...is it me?
Made a new cookie recipe from Michael Smith. Here in Canada his cooking show is wonderful and he has easy but so yummy recipes, however, his chocolate cookie recipe doesn't come close to my "best chocolate cookie in the world" one. So another recipe bites the dust. Mine also makes a bigger batch and can be frozen in the dough stage.
We are alone once again on the island, our neighbours are gone as of early yesterday morning. I could here the boat at dawn as it started up...such a change from activities all summer long.
Today, Bob and Mary, our best of friends are coming back for a few days to help get the cottage ready for closing. Of course I am to be a birthday girl tomorrow, so that may be one reason!
The water levels continue to drop to the point where yesterday as I walked the dog, I had a lot of beach to walk on...it is a sign.
This is the season of colds, flues, coughs etc. My sweetie is in full swing of the dreaded three. Granddaughter and her mother have it too....I am so far good. Am also taking cold fx to guard myself, so that may help.
Another short blog!
I tell you, my travels this summer when we went to Maine for a few days, brought back many memories of a great Aunt and my Grandmother who were very accomplished quilters.
My aunt who made the one on the right here, sold many quilts. None of them had her name on them as she just sold them to friends who gave them as gifts to their family members.
This one is machine pieced, hand quilted,
probably made around 1960s for my Aunt Ernestine, who passed away a few years ago and my uncle gave it to my Aunt Joane.
I recognized the pattern from another of my grandmother's patterns, long ago made into rags from so much use.
This little window is hand painted by a friend of my Aunt's who also made a winter scene window for their cabin. (aka cottage here in Ontario). To say it is lovely doesn't
describe it. From found windows too!
This log cabin is one of many many that my grandmother did. She never threw anything away, scrounged a tie factory which was not far from her home and they often just gave her all their scraps of left over ties The red in the centre is from them and I have a bit of it as I got some of
her fabrics a few years ago. Some
were just too dried out to use, but the red is in my treasure chest.
My grandmother loved blue, so most of her quilts have a blue base to make her blocks. It must have been a popular colour in the 60s. Also machine pieced but hand quilted. Around 1960 also. And it is very well preserved as it wasn't used much.
The patchwork photo has some of my hair ribbons from childhood which was done by my great Aunt that I lived with during the war. I was very young...I could see so many little plaid ribbons which I must have worn as pig tails were so popular amongst the young.
It is hand pieced and hand stitched around the patches...
Our days are getting shorter now, longer in Australia as they await their summer season and we, the winter days. It was dark early last night due to the dark skies of the rains passing through our little paradise.
We are alone on the island this week. Our neighbours (formerly new) didn't come last weekend, but Helen was here, and I got another lesson in hopefully will be some hand work for the winter.
Helen's mother who is in failing health has taken up Helen's days as she visits her mother often. 94 years old and still feisty old broad even when she is bed ridden. Serbian by birth, Helen's mother has taught her daughter well. An accomplished seamstress, Helen has found her mother's wedding dress hand made as you can imagine by this woman with exceptional hand skills. Helen said there is even the silk stockings in the box! Photos to follow when more time is available.
Today, we have the wood stove on in the day as it was fairly cool this morning. But when the sun shines, it is very cozy in the sun room.
Of course it only rains on weekends when guests are arriving....happens all the time I hear. We were no exception this weekend.
I made another of these little rag baskets today, it is perfect for crackers. Took a couple of hours to make while watching TV.
The company arrived to the beginning of a downpour, missed by the skin of their teeth! But it did rain so hard that we lost power for about three hours. Not that
we were cooking anything at that time, so we just relaxed for a bit, and then up came the power...thanks to the hard working hydro One guys.
Helen is away to visit her 94 year old mom who is quite ill. Helen is fearing the end is near, but I told her that her mom would wonder why she had returned for another visit so soon. It has happened as her very
lucid mother wonders about her daughter. Helen knows I think of her often.
These are two of Helen's latest tops, designated for quilting shortly as they are promised to some lucky persons this fall.
Lovely as usual, although she said the first one which looked simple was a bit pesky to do, um, pesky thing won't touch my machine for sure.
Do you get into funks? I wasn't happy with these little houses when I cut them
out. I don't know why I had trouble with the bias sewing....a few hints about that people! I had to cut from 5" to 4 1/2" to square them up. Why did the bias seam go wonky?
But, yesterday my "do not cross yellow line" quilt was put together. I wonder how many of you have a "go to" colour to pop a quilt...mine is yellow... surprise surprise! I now have a few shades of yellow in my stash, none in the limey yellows, most in soft buttery shades which are perfect for my tastes. Ha! you thought I'd say white!
I'm heading to the city today. Going to give the dentist more money! Honestly, you would think in this day and age somebody would have invented a way to grow new teeth! Get the DNA from rabbits or whatever! Anyway, it means a few days in the city for me and I shall be having dinner with my darling daughter who is by herself this year, what with her children off to school elsewhere.
This morning at the lake it is cool, the mist is getting thicker on the water as the air is cooler than the lake, hence the foggy look. I think we have about 5-6 weeks left, tops! The weather will deteriorate and it will rain, (hurricane residue) then it will get too cold to stay. The weather will vote us off the Island...
I am going to learn to knit those baby hats tonight, otherwise my dear Mary will not feed me....
My friend Mary has been making Beanie Hats. She says they have taken on a life of their own, they are addicting for her.
She has no grand kids at the moment,none in the future, but she got a pattern from my friend Helen who took pity on Mary who was going crazy making socks or mitts.
I, on the other hand got sick of sewing messes and cut up an old sheet, about one inch wide, and decided to crochet a basket.
Um, the man of this house thinks I should go back to the sewing thing as he saw me attacking the
crochet hook with such a vengeance that he noted that he
thought crocheting was like knitting, you know a kinder gentler craft. It was tough, but I made it in an afternoon.
I may make more...
This was a house we passed on our trip through Maine. The gardens were filled with inpatients and even though the weather had been very dry, these flowers were spectacular as we passed the house resplendent with a beautiful veranda dripping with hanging baskets of beautiful flowers.
Finally, what with the water being so low every where this year, we visited what had been my great grandfathers farm. There used to be a cabin on this little lake, but that had been torn down since our last visit to the land. But we spent an hour wandering through the property looking for signs of the past. Sad for us so I don't think we will ever visit the place again.
We have had rain. Much needed rain, but not enough to actually lower the fire warnings around the area. A glorious day once more on our little piece of paradise, but the days are winding down. It is now dark by 8:30, very dark indeed.
I cannot start this day without wishing the red dog here a Happy Birthday. He is the luckiest dog in the world....even though he stresses over modelling baby hats....as he belongs to my dog Wilson. So Happy Birthday Quincy.
When we were in Maine, this stove had been donated to the museum. It is still in full working condition. The various post and pans ....which is which...are sometimes used when cooking pioneer recipes events in Limestone.
The part on the right was the water heater. the oven had a
thermostat which must have been quite the thing.
I saw all these "intimate" items hanging on the line. I don't know what the item on the left is, and I didn't ask what it was. It looks like a slip of some kind.
So interesting to visit and be able to touch all the pots which were
quite heavy, so the women must
have been hardy.
When I saw this washing machine, I could not help but think that wash day must have been something. Did you ever use a wringer type washing machine? I did.
One year my niece saw mine and said to her mom that Aunt Nanci had the newest of washers as hers let you touch the clothes while they were washing....yeah those were the days my friends. How many times my fingers almost went through that wringer, I cannot say.
First here is a photo of my mighty dog posing with my friend Mary's little hat.
The dog actually sat still! Mary and I were laughing so hard, but the mighty Westie just sat there.
The hats are for selling when we go to Florida this winter. There is to be a flea market table at the senior centre, so she is making these adorable hats.
I have finished the top of the 1930s prints quilt. Thank you Shay (of Quilting in my Pyjamas fame) for your generosity.
I used every piece she sent except one darker green which I didn't think went well with the rest of the colours.
Because I used fusible web, it is stiff in the flower design. I also have now bought Steam a Seam which is so much lighter. Lessons learned always.
I sent a few email pm to a few bloggers asking if I should wash the top before sending it to a quilter and the replies were NO. Let the long arm quilter decide. Thank you Bev for really getting the research done on what to do.
The quilt is 90 X 110, so there is no way I can do this on my home machine.
Of course, if I get my king size bed next spring, the mattress is 15" deep and the quilt won't fit. I may display it on the side ways so that I can use it. Why do they make the mattresses so deep and why did we buy it?
The beginning of a new school year always brings the lake to very quiet and tranquil days. Our neighbours will leave today, Mary is off to school, her sister Erin is at Notre Dame, so for the first time in years, an only child will be in their home. The dad is missing his Erin I know.
Our Olympic hopefuls are also gone from their nest. Our girl is at Ottawa University and the darling grandson is living with a family (of saints I assure you) in Oakville so that he can train so much more. Messy is his middle name.
Happy Labour Day.
When we were in Maine for a few days, we were invited to a BBQ lunch at the heritage center in Limestone.
There were a few quilts there from 1930s. The hexagon quilt was particularly sweet and in very good shape. Donated by one of the local ladies in remem-
brance of her grandmother.
The quilt wasn't very heavy as there was no lining. It was a summer quilt so I was told. The lack of lining was also in the second scrappy quilt from the 1940 era as the tag said.
I didn't realize so much coloured
fabrics was available then. But it was.
There were many items in the little museum, all donated by local people which isn't much as Limestone is quite small, and only about 30 miles from Caribou, and an area that is know for farming potatoes.
This little dress, which looks like a size 0 was actually worn by someone! I tell you it is really tiny and was handmade too. The lace collar was bought and could be removed to fit another dress. I do not know the fabric of the dress, but it is in great shape.
I am not one to do a lot of browsing but this place was amazing with all the antiques which were so well preserved.
This is actually made of quite small yo yos. They were made using the tops off milk bottles.
The quilt in the photo fits on a queen size bed.
It was made around 1930 by my aunt's mother in law. All hand pieced, and sewn together.
The yo yos are not sewn to another back, but just float on whatever background you wish to use.
Quite an amazing piece of work!
In the cabin was this old stove which apparently still works quite well and on cold winter days the cabin is heated using this stove and the fireplace which is made of the huge stones from the lake.
Of course one doesn't remove stone nowadays, but in the mid 20s and 30s, it was the thing to do.
The cabin is made using so much recycled materials that it was all quit overwhelming to see so much "old" stuff.
I have seen a few old yo yo quilts, but this one was quite a work of art.
There are many more quilts to show when I post in the future. We have had so much company that it will be nice to just relax for the next few days and start -or finish- work here at the cottage.
We have been on holiday to the maritime provinces.
We went to the Canadian Canoe Championships in Dartmouth Nova Scotia.
Stopping over in Maine for a few days of visiting with relatives
resulted in my taking many photos of quilts from the 20s and 30s.
This first was done in the 1930, all hand done by the mother in law of my aunt.
It is a large double with the bright yellow sashing giving the quilt the proper "pops" it deserves.
The little butterfly quilt on the right must weigh 30 lbs...really really heavy as there is a wool finish on the back side. It has been tied, so it will be easy to take apart I think. I am wondering how to make this into a lighter quilt, and how to wash the little blocks. My aunt would love to restore this quilt to use. There are two of them!
Do you think some of these old quilts are worth the trouble to restore? I hope so as I really want to make a quilt of the usable blocks from these quilts. I do think the woman who made these two (three really) quilts liked yellow as much as me. Both are done with yellow sashings!
I have many more photos to post, but am just saying that I am back to hopefully, a more normal life of sewing and getting on with quilting as the fall season will be upon us so soon.
I missed my blogging!
August has been crazy! We have had company since the first..
A big pot luck party with over a hundred people this year! A great success. The food was fabulous as usual and with a quilt going to the best dish, the competition was fierce!
My friend Helen whose family is much smaller than yours truly has had time to work on projects for children in her realm who make life happy for their parents.
The little house quilt is going to a sweet girl that her daughter loves dearly...the quilt is to be called "Nila's Village" which says it all about this quilt.
Also finished is the quilt top for another friend who will be pleased to receive the Ohio wonky star. I love what white and blue do together.
Since my family has left the cottage, first there was eleven for four days, then four for four days, and the heavens opened for four days, we had family weekend with sweetie's siblings cancel and we said the bad news was we didn't have company, and the good news was we didn't have company!
We spent days watching the amazing Olympics and loved the views of London. If the photos of that beautiful city didn't inspire one to travel there nothing will!
So they ended and I was back to the computer to came across the photo of a whale that a friend of my daughter took off the coast of British Columbia. It is a grand photo, one to be enlarged and framed to be sure.
We are off, before I can even start sewing, to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to the Canadian Canoe/Kayak Championships. I am going to have an opportunity to get my picture taken with at least one of our Olympians. Wahoo.
I tell you September can't come to soon to start to settle down and sew. I have all the blocks done from the fabric sent by Shay (of Aussie fame), and also an Ohio Star to be put together. Time has moved too quickly for me this summer. Do you find that for you too?
See you in a couple of weeks.
She had a motto that she must be notified well in advance for dinner reservations, which she basically decided the menus.
