Overlapping Hobbies

September is always busy due to the overlap between summer hobbies and winter hobbies. Sailing continues and we race 2 nights a week in September. Gardening chores increase as the vegetables need to be harvested and then pulled out, dead flowers removed and shrubs trimmed. Bird feeding kicks up a notch as they stock up for the migration south. J.J. Ruggers start meeting monthly after the summer off and I have signed up for a watercolour course, photography course and introductory Spanish course.

Due to the J.J.s meeting I missed the first day of the Maythem Regatta but it turned out there was no wind so it was cancelled. I was out there for the second day.

 

Still pretty light but we did manage to creep around the course for 3 races.

Races held in the evenings have 3 fleets, starts are 5 minutes apart, but regattas have fewer boats participating so we just have one start. That means these bigger boats come barreling into the start line, faster than us and taking the wind. Spellbound had a rough couple of starts.

We ate a quick lunch between races and Scott, on Messenger, played the guitar and sang.

Gord at the stern, in light winds it is important where we position ourselves in the boat. We came in 2nd in our fleet.

Its often too hot (or too buggy) to kayak in the summer but the fall is perfect. This time I launched at the docks by the museum (top right of the photo). I usually launch at a boat launch further up the river but have been finding it increasingly difficult to get out at the end of my trip (my hips, knees and arm strength aren't what they used to be). This launch point was easier but meant I had to carry the kayak further.

It is closer to the lighthouse and pier, but further from the more natural section of the creek.

I grew carrots in 2 different raised beds and in a large container, to see where they did best. Looks like the container (where they surrounded a tomato plant) is the winner. I also recently learned that you can put carrot tops in a smoothy so now nothing goes to waste.

Of course the new shed meant new flower beds, on either side of the ramp. Some new plants but mostly filled with plants that I needed to divide and some grown from seed in the raised beds, between the veggies.

https://unhurriedsailing.wordpress.com/

One of the racers has quit his job, sold his stuff and is sailing down to the Caribbean. This is his boat at the dock nearly ready to go. He is going via the Erie Barge Canal so his mast has to be down or he couldn't get under the bridges. I believe he will get it put back up when he is in the Hudson River, or maybe New York. It you want to follow his progress he has a blog and a youtube channel.  The sailboats name is Unhurried.

The first class of the Watercolour class at the Port Dover Seniors Centre had us playing with consistency (less water, deeper colour)

and techniques 

before working on a painting (masking taped trees, then put down a wash,

then pull off the tape and finish the trees using the edge of a credit card)

Bird banding is in full swing in Long Point but we went on a very windy day and there were not many in the nets.

Just one Swainsons Thrush to be examined, talked about, banded and then passed to a Western University student who is studying their resistance to antibiotics, before letting him go.

They have made some improvements with a bigger deck and a TV so everyone can see whats happening when there are a lot of spectators.

We walked around the nets a couple of times and then

went for a walk

on the beach.

Stopped in briefly to say hi to the new owners. I had met Travis before but this was the first time meeting Nora.

We saw 2 Bald Eagles while walking the beach and a flock of swans on the bay.

Photo by Rick.

Paris Fair continued

When I walked over to the livestock area there were very few animals. Just a few cows being milked. On looking at the schedule, most of the cattle show events were in the morning, all that was left was the milking and I was the only one there to witness it. The midway and food was waaaay more popular.

 

I was also the only one watching the goat milking demonstration.

She wasn't impressed by the lack of audience.

My car was parked down by the horse show so I walked down having no idea what was scheduled. I sat on the bleachers to watch female barrel racing. It was a good chance to see how my camera is at capturing a rapidly moving target. I switched it to sports mode.

For anyone who has not seen barrel racing - they come galloping into the ring and have to get around (full 360 degrees) the three barrels, placed in a triangle, and then race out. Its a timed event. Look at the focus on her face.

Some of the horses have done it a hundred times and many of them don't even need the riders to direct them.

Can't take it too tight or you run the risk of hitting the barrel but if you take it too wide you are losing time.

Nearly came off.

After that first one I was hooked.

Guessing at how good they would be as they burst into the ring.

Trying to get good action shots.

Sand, manes, tails and hair flying.

Riders shouting encouragement at their horses as well as kicking wildly and smacking them on their rumps or necks.

If it hadn't been so hot on the bleachers I would have stayed there longer. 

I walked around to the gate where they entered and watched the horses "on deck" dancing and excited to do their round. Riders checking their tack and that their hats were on securely.

On the other side of the ring I stood in the shade of a trailer to watch some more

 

After every 3 riders the barrels would be lifted and two huge tractors would re-rake the sand smooth.

Too hot to watch anymore I walked back up to the car park and spent a good 20minutes searching for my car. I had turned and looked at it as I walked away, trying to lock the position into my mind, but I was returning from the opposite direction!

Well that added to my step count for the day. I was going to Brantford and contemplated taking the long way, via Glen Morris, to avoid downtown Paris, which was already a traffic nightmare with the main street closed. However the fair traffic was being directed away from downtown and it wasn't bad getting through and going to Brantford for supper with Cyndy and Jim.

Skies and Paris Fair

 

Sitting on "the edge" you can't help but notice the sky but sometimes, from inside, it is so pretty or impressive that it draws me outside with my camera. The book on digital photography, that I am reading, has suggestions about composition but also makes the point that photographers differ on some of the "rules" and that the photographer has to pick a composition that appeals to them.

This one, taken the same night as the one above, appeals to me. It was that contrast of the sun shining on the building cloud against the dark grey that first pulled me out of the house.

Another evening, I could see the sky glowing orange through the trees, from the couch in the living room and was greeted by this when I took my camera to the edge:

I took a number of shots as it gradually changed,

 

from zoomed in close

to further out

but with just a little cropping, this is the one that appeals to me the most. It's difficult choosing as each has redeeming qualities.

This year J.J. Ruggers sponsored a rug hooking section at the Paris Fair. Something that we had done in the past but that had fallen by the wayside since Covid. We were encouraged to enter and help show the public the diversity of the craft. I entered 3 pieces and Heather kindly took them in and picked them up for me. It was enough to make me want to go to the fair again, something we used to do every year when we lived there, the whole family entering stuff (even George who would occasionally enter some of his mothers antique pieces).

I stopped in at Heather's to pick up my ticket (You get one free when you enter something) and then parked at the fairgrounds (free) and took the shuttle, pictured above, up to the entrance. We had always walked from home so it hadn't occurred to me how far away I could be parked. 

 

I had given myself permission to eat "fair food" but was hungry and didn't want to start with junk so had a veggie burger from the St George Lions Club stand. Downhill from there.....apple fritters for dessert and later; strawberries covered with milk chocolate sauce.

Tempted by this but the fritters had filled me up.

There were some new offerings and

some old favorites.

I found the rug hooking in the Crafts and Hobbies building.

Sherry Just didn't only win the rug hooking section but also a couple of Paris Fair awards too.

I got a second for my Mandela Colour Wheel

I spent some time in the photography section, noticing a splattering of names from when I lived in Paris. One change was the sections for manipulated photos.

Fruits and vegetables,

flowers,

art and

writing.

 Coming out of that building I was haled by Heather and Don who were eating their fair food with Lucas, visiting from Toronto. We chatted and shared the space reluctantly with the wasps before I moved on.

Down past the midway

 

which was surprisingly uncrowded, perhaps everyone was eating.

I had to take a picture of the spinning teacup ride. I remember Mike and Riannon going on it and Mike promptly throwing up in the nearest garbage can. The fair isn't always fond memories.

So many sweet temptations.

Past the stage set up for the nights entertainment and on to 

the Curling Club building that holds the junior and handicrafts sections. I think these must have been "A lion made from marshmallows".

Lots of baking and garden produce.

I can remember Chris entering photos and art work and Mike entering photos and Lego.

The last building was called something like "Agricultural appreciation" and had baby animals and displays regarding various farm products. This reminded me that I hadn't seen any animal competitions yet so I went looking for the cattle, sheep, chickens, horses etc

 

But this post is long enough so I will save those photos for the next blog post.