A Pumpkin Story!

This year we decided to let our pumpkin patch to take over the backyard. It didn't take much encouragement!

The flowers were gorgeous...

...and huge!

Eventually the pumpkins came along

as the vine kept creeping across the backyard.

It made its way across the patio where more pumpkins grew.

It wasn't long before the vine headed out the back gate!

We were glad to see some of the pumpkins ripen. Jeff gave some away to neighbours and family

and we kept a few for the verandah.

Happy Halloween!

Judy Ann

Building!

We always enjoy being crafty at the Glanworth library, but we recently acquired a set of large blocks so that kids can enjoy another type of creativity. I love seeing this kind of challenging fun too, the building of as tall a tower as possible!

While there is building going on inside, we hope to be building on the outside soon too! It is looking very good that we will build an addition to our little library so that we are accessible to all and have the added bonus of a washroom. Fundraising is going very well! 

I'm not sure who is going to fill in our funds-to-date on this neat, booky sign, but we are getting close to reaching our goal. Yay!!

Enjoy your day,

Judy Ann

Crafty Glanworth kids!

It's so much fun to set out a bunch of colourful materials at the little Glanworth library and see what the kids create.

I'm not sure who is cuter, our crafty girl or...

 ...her flower fairy!

This fairy is showing off some of our picture books.

 Getting lost in creativity is just the best thing.

Presenting the finished craft is fun too!

Sometimes I get a wonderful surprise and have the pleasure of seeing a project made at home. One of our crafty kids made this unicorn with the help of her grandma and brought it in to show me. How cool is that? What a terrific job!

Happy crafting all,

Judy Ann

Morning glory

It's been strange up and down weather, very hot and humid a few days ago, then dramatic storms and dipping to almost freezing a couple of nights later. Throughout the summer, our Morning Glory vines have been gorgeous! No matter what the weather, they bloom with enthusiasm every morning along the front verandah...

 ...and the back deck too!

Difficult to believe, but we didn't plant any of them this year. They are all "volunteers" from last summer's bounty!

All the best,

Judy Ann

Adorable

As you likely know, I really enjoy knitting little hats, stitching baby quilts, and, recently, making little dresses. It's one thing to plan, sew, fuss over and finish making a dress, then enjoy looking at it, but entirely another thing to see it on an adorable baby!

And speaking of adorable, after a busy two months of London Public Library's Summer Reading Club, we are back to Saturday morning crafts at the Glanworth branch. I love seeing little kids absorbed in creativity! 

All the best,

Judy Ann

Dad

Just over five weeks ago my father passed away.

F.A.W. Bertens
 September 20th, 1929 - July 26th, 2013

Dad was a good man, well-loved and respected by everyone who knew him. He had lots of joy in his life, but he endured a great deal of sadness too. He mostly lived his life with quiet grace. We miss him.

It's been a difficult time for our family, but also a time of great love and kindness from extended family, friends and neighbours. We have felt their love, care and concern, much of which they made visible with home baking and cooking, flowers, notes, cards, calls and kind words. We feel so blessed. It's a strange time too, when you lose someone this close, the days of grief, and trying to gather together your thoughts and memories for the eulogy, making all the visitation and funeral arrangements, hugging and being hugged, going through all the intensity of the rituals of death. Then, a week, maybe ten days later, ready or not, life starts up again. You try to move forward, jump right in, still feeling enveloped with love and sympathy, until another small kindness undoes you, and the reality of the loss washes over you again. And again. I guess that is to be expected. Really, how could it be otherwise? Love, loss, joy and grief are all part of life. And so is gratitude, which we feel deeply for Dad's life and Mom's strength and so many wonderful people around us. 

Enjoy this day,

Judy Ann

One little dress

I love sewing. I especially love sewing gifts. About six weeks ago I cut out seven little dresses in various sizes from a sweet pattern, the Geranium dress, created by Made By Rae . As usual, I was determined to get them made lickety-split, but also as usual, and as you can see, I still have a long way to go!

I'm very happy to say that I managed to get the littlest one stitched, wrapped up and sent off, yay!

I will work away on the others over the next couple of weeks. My goal will now be to get them made before the snow flies, or the little girls grow up!

Enjoy your day,

Judy Ann