Market and Art

This weekend, despite our busy work schedules, Jon and I found time to take the kids to the Moss Street Market and the Moss Street Paint In. The market is a weekly farmers market but the Paint-in is an annual event hosted by the local art gallery. Artists from all over the island come to display the paintings and other works. It's so amazing to see the talent here in the city.

It was a sweltering hot day so we didn't make it the entire way down the street. We started at the market. One of my favorite local bands, The O'Brien Family, was playing. There were tomatoes, berries, amazing breads, cheese, garlic, ice cream and so so many more goodies. We stopped by the children's art tent with A where she decorated some fairy rocks for her fairy home.

Then it was on to the Paint In. I was really surprised to see some very young artists at the paint in this year. Most artists that attend have been working at their craft for many years. It was nice to see new faces. The kids loved the opportunity to do their own crafts. There was another craft station where A made a wind sock and F did some coloring.

Such a lovely way to spend a morning with my little family before heading to work. These local gatherings throughout the summer months help me to feel that sense of connection to my community and this town.

July Garden

July has already been so dry and hot I wasn't sure my garden would survive. We are facing drought conditions and are on water restrictions. Still, in many ways the garden seems to be benefiting from the heat. The raspberries have ripened and been eaten, the blueberries as well and we are already seeing blackberries on the bushes. Blackberries!! We don't see those until August. We've been steadily harvesting kale and zucchini. Then all of a sudden all the english peas were ready. I can hardly stand to be out in the heat picking them all. Good thing A is such a pea fan because I can always count on her for help.

The chickens and cat however, are not doing well in the heat. Zooey is desperate to find a cool place to rest. It seems almost impossible to find for cat or human. The chickens too. It's been so long since we've had rain. The earth is so dry and where the chickens once rolled in the cool earth, they now huddle in any small patch of shade they can find. Their water needs to be filled over and over every day. The long days mean lots of eggs though.

These drought conditions have led to many forest fires throughout the province. Fire crews are stretched as it is. It's to the point now that they can only tackle the most severe fires, not all the fires. Since Sunday the city has been blanketed in smoke. It's eerie, the colors are off. There is a film of ash on my car and I haven't seen the moon in several nights. It's been making my eyes burn and making me cough at night. So, the garden has been left behind. We have been spending our days indoors until the wind carries the smoke offshore. My thoughts are with all the firefighters and those whose homes lie in fires path. Mother Earth, we could use some (or a lot) of rain right now.