memories
’tis the season!
for Fall Fairs
community fairs take me back to my childhood
Thursday I drove 40 miles (62 k) north to the Cowichan Exhibition Grounds
to judge weaving and spinning
on the way I stopped at Mill Bay
where, 47 years ago my ex and I had owned and operated Shoreacres Trailer Park and Marina
it was a beautiful day – that’s Mount Baker in the distance
the trailer park is gone
our beautiful old house with its interesting history
the newspaper clipping states
“the 12 room house used to be a retreat for the lawyer of Chicago gangster Al Capone’
there was a room size walk in safe in the basement
sadly it has been replaced with condominiums
the fair was in the process of being set up
excited families arriving with crafts and produce and animals
inside the craft and produce building
the quilts had been judged and the veggies were arriving
I didn’t have time to look around
but this hand carved spindle whorl with a native salmon design caught my eye
one more fair to go!
www.onesmallstitch.Wordpress.com u 
now that’s a spindle! interesting house…..
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Velma – traditional spindle of the native people of this area, there is a large display one at Vancouver airport and the Victoria Conference Center.
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Yes, memory lane is a real trip, isn’t it? I used to live in Gig Harbor on the water before it was “discovered” by the masses. My ex still lives in the same house! I am seldom in the vicinity but when our grown up kids go there to visit, I always have a strange feeling in the pit of my being– even tho we have grown past our differences and made peace long ago.
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Judy – I hadn’t stopped there in years so was absolutely shocked to see the house was gone. Our second son was born while we were there and my Mom actually moved there to help us. Lots of memories
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the salmon whorl caught my eye too!
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Kjerstin – it was very nice, I’m sure a pleasure to spin with.
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Those trips down memory lane can be so bittersweet. I think I hate condominiums but I guess I really just don’t like change . . .
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Kerry – so true, I resist change all the time knowing it is inevitable. Maybe why I love the community fairs, they’re still as small town as ever.
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Oh my! That spindle whorl is very beautiful. I wouldn’t have a clue how to use it but would just want to look at it. I adore useful but beautiful things.
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Myra – the spindle is big, it would be used with the short end of the shaft resting on the floor to spin thick yarn. he design is very nice.
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