The Sailing School

Meaford is one of those communities that has a sailing school, known as 'Sail Georgian Bay'.  It's a popular place for kids to learn the basics, signing up for a week long camp at a time.  It's fun to sit on the harbour wall and watch them.

It's a very practical school; the kids are in boats on the first or second day and sailing out into Georgian Bay - either excited or terrified, who knows which!

It's a bit of a madhouse at first as they all set out from the dock (out of sight to the right), and head for the bay, out of sight on the far left).  A couple of these boats look a little too close together!

There was a bit of a breeze, and some clearly had trouble controlling their boats.  These two weren't supposed to be heading for the cement wall on the left!

But they got turned around and headed back with the rest.  You'll notice two or three small motorboats carrying instructors, ready to help.

These two were headed up the river until they got turned around.  I thought they might need rescuing.

And these two did need a rescue!

But by the time I left and headed home, at least two boats were out in the bay and the rest were being shepherded along behind them.  

Achy Back Farm

 You may have noticed 'Achy Back Aceres' showing up among my comments, so I thought I'd introduce you to this remarkable place.  We've been stopping there for seven years, since I became paralyzed; it's a great source for fresh local veggies in season, just down the road.

The only advertising they do is this sandwich board where their driveway hits the highway, half-way between here and Owen Sound.

I usually just stay in the car, as it's a bit of trouble to unload and load me, but this time I got out to get some pictures and say hello.  Onions were the first thing I saw on the table.

Beside them were some little zucchini, just the size I like them.  I eat them raw, like a cucumber.

Beside them were some green and yellow beans, and some Patty Pan squash.

Their garlic harvest is well underway; this wagonload had just come in from the fields.

An earlier load was spread out in the shade to dry.

They do grow a few flowers, and everything is planted in long rows like these Sunflowers.

So if you're ever passing by, stop in and pick up some fresh veggies, or a bit of the best garlic around here (It's also the best price).

Speak to the proprietors, Brian and Freda.  I know they will engage you in conversation.

They're the ones with the achy backs!

More Garden Flowers

We have lots of other flowers besides Daylilies in the garden, since Mrs. F.G. is an inveterate plant collector.  They range from daisies to Lavender, in every colour from white to deep purple.  Some spread through the garden, others stay put.  Here are a few interesting ones.

Gloriosa Daisies hit me with their blinding colour as soon as I get on the patio.  One of the nicest flowers in the garden.

Close by is one of our Lavender plants.  It extends out over the patio far enough that I feel guilty riding past it, crushing a stem or two.

The tall white Michaelmas Daisies come next.

We have a lot of purple Coneflowers, or Echinacea.  These are the ones that spread relentlessly, since they are not a hybrid.

This is Butterfly Weed, though I've never seen a butterfly on it.

We have both red and deep pink Coneflowers, though as hybrids these do not spread.

Cosmos spread readily.

And there's one Red Hot Poker, deep among the foliage of other plants.  When I see it, I always remember the first place we saw it, at Sissinghurst in England, outside the South Cottage where Harold Nicholson worked.

Daylilies

Late July is Daylily season in our garden, and we have a lot of different varieties, all very colourful!  I'm not going to comment on them individually, but watch for different colours, different widths of petals, frilliness of the edges, and so on.  At one point we knew all the varietal names, but those are now lost in the mists of time!  Doesn't change how pretty they are.

This is the one variety I do remember, and I can easily picture the nursery we bought it from.  It's called Saugeen Sunrise, which seems very appropriate given that we live in the Saugeen region of Ontario.

In case you've forgotten, this is our back yard, centred by a large patio I can ride down to off the deck and immerse myself in these flowers.  The Daylilies are the bright red, yellow and orange in the back right.

Creekbank Sewing Centre

Just up the road a couple of miles from Conn is the spectacular new Creekbank Sewing Centre.  Having known this operation when it was a few quilts displayed in their farmhouse living room, though its expansion into two portable class rooms, still on the farm, this blew us away.  

First of all, it's huge, like warehouse size!  I've been in a lot of quilt and fabric stores around this part of Ontario, and they are all small stores squeezing in as much display space as possible.  This is just the opposite.

When you walk in, the store is huge, open and spacious, with both sewing machines and fabrics (and everything else) on display.  Note the second level balcony for quilt hangings.

The store specializes in Bernina sewing machines, a top of the line brand.  There would be $200k worth of sewing machines on this table.

An entire wall of thread, especially for those who do machine embroidery.

I had to search for it, but there are some bright coloured fabrics.  Most are more muted, in keeping with the Mennonite tradition.

Stacks and stacks of wool patches, for piecing.

Among the several large quilts on display, this design struck me as interesting.

This is a computerized long arm quilting machine.  Mrs. F.G. had one of these (before they were computerized), and loved it.  Once you set up the pattern and the borders, the machine will sew the entire quilt while you stand back and watch!

And did you know you could get a Bernina chair - guaranteed to leave you comfortable after hours at your sewing machine.

I rolled out the front door and had to remember we were out in the middle of nowhere, in farm country.  That farm across the road raises cattle and tomatoes, the latter in a greenhouse that's out of sight behind the barn.  It's a remarkable store to find in the middle of farm country!

Misty Meadows

We always enjoy a visit to Misty Meadows Market.  It's such a unique place, and it's always busy and bustling.  We usually find something (or several things) we want to pick up, and we just enjoy looking around.  This is the place where you can buy everything from 50 lb. bags of flour to straw hats and butter tarts; this time we bought sandwiches and sat outside for lunch.

Misty Meadows was constructed and opened while I was in the hospital, so I've never been there except in my wheelchair, and it's totally wheelchair accessible.  The overhang provides picnic tables on the left for those who visit and pick up lunch, and on the right, shelter for displays of veggies.  It is busy inside though, so I try to avoid pictures that might have other people in them.

What intrigues me is the growth we've seen.  We first met the owner when he was selling a few veggies from a horse and buggy at the side of the road about 20 years ago.  Then they bought a house and turned the downstairs into a store.  We stopped there for years.  Stage three involved the construction of this big beautiful store.  They've come a long way.

Their selection of veggies was a little limited this time; when the fall harvest is in they have a lot more, since they do emphasize local.  But these were the biggest radishes I've ever seen!

Inside the main area is two stories high, and quilts hang against eh upper walls.

I always like the choice of straw hats, displayed in a small backroom.

But I like the baking better.  We brought home both some Chelsea buns and some cinnamon rolls.  They disappeared fast!  We sat outside to have our sandwich and then headed up the road to the spectacular new Creekbank Sewing Centre.