My last post ended when we got back from our BC to BAJA and back. Once we got home it was time to catch up with friends, family and computer work! Come May we were on the road again and pretty much for the next few months we came home did laundry and left again for all sorts of wonderful adventures.
BANFF ALBERTA was our destination in May for Arnt's residency with his gallery www.mountaingalleries.com On the way we stopped in Jasper to meet up with Wendy who owns the four galleries and check out the Jasper Gallery. The drive from Jasper to Banff is unbelievable! The vistas of mountains incredible. Once at Banff Arnt works for a week in the art room next to the gallery and he chose to plane wood, work on hand cut dovetails and make maquettes from some of his drawings while encouraging conversations with the hotel visitors. The rest of the time we get to sample the wonderful restaurants, pools in the hotel and walk or bike around the town and area. I use that time to help Arnt a bit every day in the art room by talking to people and the rest of the time I set up somewhere in the hotel for a bit of art making. This residency is graciously sponsored by his gallery and the hotel. We cannot thank them enough.
the view from the Jasper Lodge where Mountain Galleries is
Wendy and Arnt at her studio in Jasper
beautiful drive Jasper to Banff
Arnt passing on his knowledge
hand cut dovetails
vistors from all over the world stop by
OSOYOOS, BC We drive one route to Banff and another route back home stopping at our friends in Osoyoos. Was still a bit cold for swimming but the boys got out on the water for some fishing and we gals built a fire and hung out by the lake. Always great food and wine tasting in the area and we go home stocked up with wine, cider and fruit. This couple are building and renovating a piece of property which has 500 feet of waterfront and very little disturbance to the land. The buildings from the 1950s are modest and the new house is also. This means they have lots of birds, bears, bobcats and deer wandering around the property. Flowers and fruit trees in the most unexpected places.
WALES, UK we have this amazing couple that we travel with and have been to London, Mexico, Palm Springs, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Prague, Berlin and now Wales. The first week was at an old estate outside of Cardiff. It belonged to a Lord lieutenant to the Queen and now his son runs the 100 acre estate and the quaint village Merthyr Mawr. The houses are mostly thatched and near the river Ogmore with stepping stones across the river to a great pub for lunch. Timing is everything as it is tidal water and stones are gone at high tide. Lots of sheep are raised for lamb meat. They also have draught horses (think pulling the beer wagons) which few were left but are being raised again in this area. The property also has a hidden chapel and a giant sink hole (scary)! many beautiful trees and flowers.
draught Horses and castle on the Ogmore River
This is the manor house on the estate in Merthyr Mawr. I always find this era of house a bit conservative considering how big they are and how much land they have but was of the era.
the old green house still in use
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| hidden chapel and ancient worshipping stone |
a few of the thatched houses in the village
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| our local pub with several types of ciders |
old church and graveyard dating back to the beginning of time
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| hand stitched cushions in the church |
we went to an asylum which is now a museum in a beautiful old building
We
drove around to other little towns and seasides with lighthouses and
walking paths stopping at pubs for really lovely lunches. Always a
treat as everyone just starts talking to you and you learn so much from
the locals. Some interesting characters as well.
when the tide goes out the boats just stay on the sand so scheduling is a must for fishing
When the ferry comes in they tractor out the dock.
We also went to that building in the
back which is actually on an island at high tide.
This is the inside of that building which is now a museum and event place. It was once an exotic zoo and a big rock and roll star was going to buy it but way too much money to fix up to his standards.
church on the pier
all the coloured houses
The old coast guard station is now a private home.
We saw a show about it last year.
love locks like Paris?
this is a two way road and not a bike path...locals drive them pretty fast
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| miles of stone fences |
1. a real Downton Abbey estate left to the National Trust on the condition they keep everything (all 30,000 items) on the estate and restore the house and gardens. These people never threw anything away so you have farm machinery which includes a steam powered table saw, bikes with a penny farthing, original kitchen with all the amazing china, pots and silver, musical instruments, fabulous library, artwork and some rare furniture pieces. Touring the garden we saw the heritage roses that smell heavenly, fish in the pond, greenhouses, orchards, flowers, vines and plants.
Arnt really wanted to go shopping in the tool sheds.
a steam powered table saw
the stables
collection of bikes through the years
the gardens were spectacular
gorgeous vintage green houses
got to keep the bees happy
back of house looking over the gardens
front of house where the long drive is
the downstairs where the kitchen is
the library....fire lit...curl up with hot tea and read read read
quirky collection of bones, feathers, stones and rocks...oh wait that could be my studio
2. a river trip where the horse walks on the path beside the river and pulls the long canal boat
house boats you can rent for the day or week
3. a trip on a steam train powered by coal
lovely views of the countryside along the way
apparently the fishing was good in the rivers
4. a small farm we stayed at where the stables and wash houses are now self contained guest houses but they still have pigs which you can pet, ponies (pint size horses) and chickens
the stable above and the wash house below
funny collection of animals
more stone fences
5. castles (there are 600 in Wales) where some have full on restored rooms and others with just the walled garden left. One we visited was on an island that you could walk to at low tide.
This castle only has the walled garden left.
This castle is in pretty good condition with towers
and rooms with the wood floors still intact.
6. Some samples of architecture
I don't even understand how they can make these large panes of curved glass!
8. Visited a historic village with samples of houses and barns from all over Wales.
They also had animals and an active bakery and village shops.
who does not love blue china
can't resist a laundry shot
love the old shops
outdoor oven
This is how you move a house....mark every
single brick, take apart and re-build!!
9. Near the end of the trip we went to the old farm where Arnt's grandfather was raised for part of his childhood. We talked to the farmer and the new owners of the place and was just great to look back in time and see his Welsh side of the family.
This is the front door and his grandfather is the
baby below and the child on the lap above.
This is Arnt at the front door. The awning is away for repair.
I think they added wings as the family
grew or owners became more affluent.
10. other sites along the road
11. left Wales and spent a couple days in England and visited Oxford
Arnt and I watch British mysteries and they take place in Oxford a lot.
Was great to finally see the place. Also a dear friend is from there.
Being a student there must be wonderful. So much history,
grand buildings, amazing libraries and beautiful grounds.
this is the porter to one of the buidings....in the mysteries they wear bowler hats
students must take time to play as well
he might be thinking of what piece of furniture he could turn this into
We were staying a few hours train ride north of Oxford in some incredible country side.
Once back home we loaded up ODIN our sailboat and headed north with Arnt's brother and his wife on their sailboat ERN for 4 days with them and then on through the Skookumchuck Narrows and into the Sechelt Inlet to visit friends in Storm Bay. There were 5 of our friends grandchildren and their parents and we just had the best time fishing, crabbing, clamming, sailing, canoeing, making art and eating great meals. A few other families were there as well that we have known over the years.
CAMP at the MET was full of the craziest fashions!
this room probably had 50 vignettes in the little stages
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| fabrics, flowers and fanciful ideas ... its all there |
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| tv dinner anyone? |
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| meat and cake |
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| merry go round |
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| birds |
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| ballerina very clever |
the crowd came dressed for the show
Scout and I had to go to the roof for pop-tails
(boozy popsicle in a glass of champagne)
there was also a guitar show with all the original instruments
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| Gibson Guitar painted by Jimi Hendrix (my guy when I was a teen) |
The artist Diana Weymar has a project called
artists from all over hand stitch one of Trump's real tweets...
when you see them all together it really is unbelievable!!!!
There are now over 2020 of them and still going strong.
She is having shows all over the states.
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| This is the one I added on my grandmothers hand stitched handkerchief. |
highlight of the art trip was going to Robert Kelly's studio
with champagne, snacks, tour of house and studio (used to be a rave space)
lots of talk about art, process, marketing and future plans!
His work is in lots of museums and private collections in US and Europe
the Whitney Biennial was fabulous with
lots of variety and art for thought
photos don't show the scale but they are over 7' tall
huge beautiful ceramic pieces
right! back to the sail boat race....3 days non-stop around Long Island
2 uncles and 2 nephews as crew
A win win...oh yeah out of 60 boats and 6 in their class they came in second!!
A win win...oh yeah out of 60 boats and 6 in their class they came in second!!
We will be heading there in 2020 to defend that title for sure.
Polaris
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| the fire boat sending everyone off from the Statue of Liberty |
this was our view as they all crossed the starting line
then we had to go and have a frozen cocktail
and a fab Italian dinner on the river
and a fab Italian dinner on the river
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| Polaris underway |
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their Dad Lloyd used to make them when they were kids
Other summer time fun.
The annual surf contest in Tofino on Long Beach
We had 30 surfers this year and almost half children and teens
so that means parents take on extra jobs like being a sherpa.
The annual surf contest in Tofino on Long Beach
so that means parents take on extra jobs like being a sherpa.
This is called the Long Table dinner.
We close off a block and have a pot luck on the street with our neighbours.
They had food and drink stations and we got to explore the gardens.
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| This is Anja! |
already had her in the Vancouver Maritime Museum Heritage Classic
yep that is ODIN in the background giving chase
This also means we need to sell ODIN so if you know anyone
interested let us know and we can send all the information.
and our Panefico preview party with 5 artists November 9 3-9pm.
The year has not ended yet but both Arnt and I feel so lucky to have been on all these adventures.
What a Year!!!
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