Mill Village, Nova Scotia

Today we decided to have a closer look at Mill Village, rather than just driving past it on the highway. Mill Village developed as a logging and lumber community because of the River Medway.

We left the car at the Post Office and walked over this bridge which crossed the Medway.

Right on the other side of the bridge, by the river, is this interesting old village store.

The store sells most grocery items as well as Martock beef, chicken, veil and bison and Foxhill cheese. There is a gift shop and a very nice Cafe. We didn’t know about the cafe and had our picnic with us, but we still managed to try out their coffee and blueberry scones! Next time we’ll stop for lunch.

The walk through the community is surrounded by ancient hard wood trees and pine trees.

I  loved the way this tree and rock made a natural scupture.

There weren’t many locals about, apart from this little girl, tied to the tree. Perhaps this is a local form of punishment?

Next to Mill Village is Charleston, not Charlestown as in Fife.

The residents of this house seemed very pleased to see us.

As we walked back to the car, we had a last look at the River Medway.

We will bring our bikes here in the fall and cycle up the Medway to Bang Falls. I think the colours will be amazing!

The Knitting Bug

Apart from a couple of pairs of socks, I haven’t knitted anything for 30 years. I thought I might struggle, especially after breaking a wrist when we first arrived here in Canada, but I think knitting must be a bit like riding a bicycle – once you learn it, you don’t forget.

I started off with a couple of blankets, because I thought they would be the simplest, with no shaping.

Then, another couple of blankets.

Then, yet another blanket, which I presented to Louise at her baby shower.

I found a free Paton’s pattern for a sock monkey, but think it looks pretty weird! I prefer the rabbit.

After knitting this stripey cardigan, I still had enough wool for the wee matching helmet.

I liked this pattern, so made 3 of these.

The bright pink was bought for this waistcoat, but I used some for the hood of the little jacket.

This pattern was for newborn, but I think it might fit a dolly.

This little yellow hoody feels really cosy. I think I’ll knit another one of these.

I bought this mint green wool in Zeller’s closing down sale, but was not happy about the quality of it. I think it will stretch quickly. If you’re taking the trouble to knit something, then it’s probably wise to buy a good wool for the job.

At the moment I’m stitching together a toy moose, have started a much better monkey than the blue one above and am knitting another cardigan.  I have the knitting bug again!

Nova Scotia Folk Art – Folk Art Maritime – Lunenburg

Folk Art was a new form of art for me until I moved here to Nova Scotia and I have come to enjoy the bright colours and humour in it.

At Folk Art Maritime in Lunenburg, right across from the Library, there is a fine selection of pieces by artists from all corners of Nova Scotia.

There are figures, animals, birds, fish and paintings.

I love this  smoking sailor by Bradford Naugler. The carving is 36″ high and is very colourful.

This fisherman is all set to head out to sea. The artist is Reed Timmons of Cape Breton, who worked as a lobster fisherman, so lots of his pieces are inspired by that.

Frank Corkum is a local artist. He was a carpenter and built some of the church steeples around Lunenburg. He carved this tall Sailor. The Puffin is by Mae Workman, the Loon by Sam Amiro, and the Maroon Clown Fish, by Bill Roach.

I think this is my favourite piece in the Gallery at the moment, again by Reed Tmmons. This is what folk art is all about – something to make you smile and enjoy it.

Fishwing the Heron is a nicely finished piece by Terrance Fortune. It is very appropriate to this area, as we see herons in every bay, every day, stalking their breakfast.

The tail feathers on the  Red Tailed Rooster make it look very striking.

Cats and dogs are always popular subjects and I’m sure it won’t be long until Calimanco the Cat, finds a new home.

Likewise, the Brown and White Dog, which looks a bit like a beagle.The Wasp Queen with Tulip, shows what folk artists do best; take a theme and make a whole story around it. This wasp could be a character from a child’s story book.

I chose a few of my favourite pieces from the gallery, but now realise that this is mainly a Reed Timmons blog! I guess he must be the artist I rate highest – at the moment.

If you want to see the other pieces in the Gallery, look at

http://www.folkartmaritime.com/index.htm

or come by the Gallery and see them for yourself. Maybe you need a special gift for a wedding, or are travelling to visit someone in another province or country. You couln’t find anything more unique to Nova Scotia!

New Folk Art Gallery in Lunenburg

The major event of this summer in Lunenburg, is the opening of a new Folk Art Gallery in Pelham Street, right opposite the Library.                                                                                                                                Over the past few weeks our friends, Gareth and Bill Miller, have been busy planning and researching for this building, intent on making the space match its purpose. I had never heard of ‘Folk Art’ until I came to Nova Scotia. This work is done usually by people who have not been trained as artists, their themes being unsophisticated, but highly original. There is usually a humourous and often eccentric slant to it.

So this building had to reflect its purpose and instead of the boring grey building  – it was transformed to this bright happy red.

The inside had an even more dramatic change, with the removal of a wall and the addition of this vibrant turquoise paint.

It wasn’t until the art work was added that it really looked like a Gallery.

In the window, you can see Moe the Dog, by Bill Roach, the Blue Cow, by Reed Timmons, and Blue Rooster by Barry Colpitts.

The fisherman is called ‘Lunenburg Bump with Sou’wester’ by Vivian Bell Zinck, making a play on the architectural window feature of Lunenburg.

The rooster, is a recurring theme, as well as cows, cats and dogs.

This hanging lady is a Ladybird house!

‘Smoked Cod’ is the title of the fish with a pipe!

So, if you are visiting Lunenburg this summer, you must make your way to Folk Art Maritime, where you are sure to find something unique for yourself, or as a special gift.