Fundy is renowned for its huge tidal surges, but that wasn’t the only ups and downs I experienced there.  After sending Russ on his way to the ferry across to Nova Scotia, I headed up the coast to Fundy National Park. I don’t know what it is about Apple Maps—I like it, but it is always WAY OFF in its time estimates. What it called a five hour trip took closer to eight. 

Of course, Apple Maps wasn’t entirely to blame for the difference.  On entering Fundy National Park, I decided to stop and stretch my legs, enjoy the view of Wolfe Lake, and let the dogs pee. I loaded them back on the passenger side, closed the door, walked around to the driver’s side, and just as my hand reached for the door handle, I heard it. “Click.” There was Moe’s grinning face looking out the window, his foot firmly on the door lock button. 

I won’t repeat what I said, but more than a few heads turned. The keys were inside, along with my phone, my purse—in short, everything. Fortunately (thank you, Canada, for adequately staffing your park visitor centers) there were park staff inside who were able to figure out who  to call in such a circumstance, and the Alma fire chief drove 20 kilometers at what was probably his supper time to get my car unlocked. Took him quite a while, the whole time assuring me “In 20 years, there’s never been been a car I couldn’t get into.” I think he was afraid of ruining his perfect record when the lock finally gave way and I was on my way again. 

My second ‘surprise’ of the Canadian trip: the cost of gas! (Sure, $120 Canadian is only $  American, but still!)

I only stayed two nights at Fundy: just time enough to take in the tides, some hikes, and a lobster roll before heading out early on Monday for Nova Scotia. It deserved more time, as the scenery was lovely (and the weather was finally sunny). 

I was a bit nervous facing my first border crossing. Yes, it was just Canada, but I’d never faced one before, and didn’t know quite what to expect. Forms to fill out, lists of questions to answer. Nothing like the conversation I actually had. 

“Do you have a passport?”

“Yes.” I handed it over. 

The mid-thirties gentleman in the toll-booth sized customs stop examined it. 

“Are you carrying any weapons?”

“No.”

“Are you carrying pepper spray, Mace, or bear spray?”

“No.” (In the interests of full disclosure, Russ informed me later that I DID have the bear spray.  I thought he had it. I’m probably a felon.)

A glance at Moe and Scooby. “Do your dogs have their vaccinations?”

“Yes.  Do you need to see their rabies certificates?”

“No. Just be sure you have them.”

“What is the purpose of your visit?”

I mulled over the simplest answer. “Tourism,” I said. 

“How long do you plan to stay?”

“About two months.”

This seemed to concern him. “Do you have a place here?”

“No.”

“Will you be staying in one place the whole time?”

“No.”

“So you’ll just be gallivanting about, then?”

I wasn’t quite sure how to answer that. Yes seemed flippant, but no was clearly not correct. “Yes,” I said. “We’re going to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, and maybe Labrador if we have time. My husband took the ferry from Bar Harbor and he is bicycling, but I’m driving over to Nova Scotia and will meet him there.”

In then middle of this, an alarm bell went off in the back of my mind. TOO MUCH INFORMATION! TOO MUCH INFORMATION!  I decided to shut up, as the gentleman had developed a slight frown.  

“Are you retired?”

“Yes,” I replied, with what I hoped was a reassuring smile. 

He sighed and returned my passport.  “Enjoy your visit to Canada,” he said without smiling. 

Moe barked at him as I pulled away. 

You would expect that after so much rain, there would be a plethora of mushrooms, and you would be right. Big and little, brightly colored or well hidden, they are everywhere!

Bright red and orange mushrooms are everywhere, standing out sharply against the green moss.

Still Acadia. People were leaving the campground in droves Sunday night, when it rained two inches overnight. Russ’s sister Debbie and her husband Lyn arrived Monday, just in time for the clouds to part briefly. It took until today (Wednesday) for the sun to actually appear.

Not all is doom and gloom. The new camper battery seems to be holding its own after charging off the idling car nearly all day. Water still isn’t running properly, but as we have plenty of containers and a tap nearby, that hasn’t been a big problem.

While Russ and the Bixbys are out riding bicycles, the dogs and I go hiking. Twice we’ve headed to the ocean, following trails that skirt the cliffs.

We got as far as Thunder Hole, a natural hollow in the cliffs that makes a satisfying BOOM when the waves hit it right:

And today (Wednesday) I climbed Eagle’s Crag, one of the minor summits, but a good two mile hike out and two miles back. I wasn’t sure Scooby would make it, so I brought the emergency dog carrying backpack, but he made it to the summit and was his usual scampery self on the return trip. He’s slowed down this past year (he IS fifteen, after all), but still a trooper. And he loves the wild blueberries which are starting to ripen.

Not, perhaps,the weather we were hoping for. Arrived on Thursday and we may see sun by this coming Wednesday. I did hike out to the ocean the afternoon we arrived, and then took the boys for an extended hike the next day, while the weather was overcast but reasonable. Did I bring my phone and take pictures of this spectacularly picturesque coastline? Of course not!

Saturday I took the free shuttle bus into Bar Harbor to get supplies (you always forget something) and to sneak in some lobster, which Russ dislikes. I found a lobster grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup (actually more like a spicy tomato bisque) combo with which I was extremely happy. Spent some time nosing around the Bar Harbor shopping district before heading back. The shuttles are very convenient—the Blackwoods Campground bus runs every hour between the campground, the Acadia Nature Center, and town. You can request the driver to let you off at other points like trailheads, too. There are several different routes that stop at points all around Mount Desert Island and Acadia.

Beyond the weather, there are other problems: our expensive new lithium ion battery seems to be draining awfully fast, and we can’t get the water lines cleared of air. After two days we woke to find ourselves without electricity. The (also new) solar panels are of little help in the rain. I’m more than a bit peeved that, after spending a great deal of money for equipment, we are in worse shape than before. Extensive testing is going on to discover the cause of our problem.

Meanwhile, I downloaded the Merlin app and am happily identifying the many birds who are chirping, twittering, whistling and cackling around our campsite. Russ is happily complaining about the many trash trucks who constantly pass our campsite. A note: site 32 in A Loop of Blackwoods Campground is excellent for privacy, but not so great for noise, as it sits near the entrance to the entire A Loop (hence the trash truck traffic).

Our first stop of the trip was at ‘base camp Bix’, the home of Russ’s sister Debra and her husband Lyn Bixby. The farmhouse dates to 1790, there is an old sugar house, now converted to a guesthouse, a spacious horse barn, a pond, and some 90+ acres of woods and meadows.

We’ve been warmly received by Lyn and Debby, and I’ve even been treated to a tour of St. Johnsbury, complete with a visit to the beautiful St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, home to an impressive collection of art, including a massive Bierstadt painting of the Domes of the Yosemite, recently restored to its original glory.

Tomorrow will be a trek across the White Mountains to Maine, and our campsite at Blackwoods Campground in Acadia National Park. Last time I was in Acadia was when my family and the Saylors took a two-week camping trip through New England. I was 12. Need I say I’m excited to see Acadia again?

I do love my irises!

The bright blue ones might even have been the color inspiration for this new top, made from a rayon shawl with fringes:

So cool and comfy for summer!

Forgive the messy studio: I have several projects underway, including a wedding quilt and the dress I plan to wear to that same wedding, not to mention repair/alteration projects for my clients.

Making dresses for two friends after I showed off the one I made for me. So comfy and flowy!

I really like the ruffly little collar, made from an irregular strip of the fabric’s selvedge.

These two are for one friend. The white dress has shorter sleeves, but is longer, so it can be layered. Both have inseam pockets, at the wearer’s request. The coral dress has a three-layered ruffle, which I managed to sew to the wrong side on my first try!

Ignore the mess on my layout table. The green and yellow fabric with dragonflies is an old tablecloth I cut into strips to make a bathroom rug (still in progress).

Good activities for the very snowy weather we’re having. (Not my house.)

A time to just appreciate where I live here in western Massachusetts.

/ˌserənˈdipədē/

noun: the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way. “a fortunate stroke of serendipity”

Russ always asks why I need so many fabrics. Here’s why—two fabrics (the Ikat and the embroidered handkerchief) found the same day at my favorite shop, Swanson’s Fabrics in downtown Turners Falls, MA. (How can you not love $5/yd for ALL fabrics, plus thread, notions, and sewing/embroidery supplies super cheap? Check it out: swansonsfabrics.com)

Plus a couple of yards of a fabric found months ago (I love the texture).
Boom! Serendipity! The color matching cannot be denied.

Haven’t yet decided what I’ll make of this, but I could envision a jacket or tunic with color blocking and the handkerchief placed at a focal point; maybe on the back.

Then, a friend and I visited the open studios event at the Arts and Industry Building (aka The Brushworks) in Florence, MA. This place is HUGE, with all kinds of artists and craftsmen, from painters and printers to potters, weavers and fiber artists of all kinds. We spent a few happy hours exploring and talking to lots of other artists. I spotted these fimo clay buttons that an artist was selling very inexpensively, because she wasn’t pursuing that line of creativity anymore. I grabbed these, and my friend bought everything else she had!

Again, not sure where these will be used, but I’m sure going to be glad I have them when just the right combination of fabrics comes along!

I’m still organizing my workspace and catching up on projects with some very patient customers who waited for me to come back from our long trip across the United States, but keep an eye on this blog for new creations soon.