Happy May Day, and look what I found on my 2017 Canadian Bird Calendar..
Our roses continue to bloom their little hearts out, bless them.
They are as happy as we are with the cooler Autumn temps..
Little Aussie and his Dad came for the Long Weekend.
Aussie had a plan, a big plan, to Make a Monster Movie..
See how quickly I rustled up some props.
He had already named his four monsters, and sat down and drew up costume and makeup ideas for Rock Monster, Grass Monster, Lava Man and Water Monster.
Next he dictated the script to me, and I typed it in Word.
This took all of 30 minutes. It was going to be a long Long Weekend...
Rock Man has red eyes, quickly cut from an old Christmas card..
Aussie insisted he must be grey, and happily put on a grey linen shift dress of mine...
Filming went at a cracking pace, with scenes filmed on his father's iPhone as we created each costume.
This is Lava Man rising from his volcano..
Mr C growled and roared as Grass Monster, popping out from behind trees in our jungle garden..
As filming progressed, Aussie introduced another character, Professor Longbottom, who observed the Lava Man.
My offer to be the Water Monster wearing a long blue floating caftan with a silk scarf printed in Monet waterlilies tied around my head was rejected...
ha ha, I wonder why...
The little scamp put on a blue shirt and a bit of blue tinsel around his head, and did his water scene so quickly I did not even get a picture.
Later his father edited all the scenes and made them into a narrative. I thought we were finished, but apparently next time the monsters are going to meet each other. That will be interesting...
He really is growing up, but there is always time for Lego.
Grandchildren are such lovely fun, and we were totally exhausted!
Meantime, over the past few weeks I made this silk shirt dress from two metres of silk found at a factory outlet at $4 per metre. I tested it with a flame to be sure it was silk, and it is. Love my $8 dress, even if Summer is just about over.
It has a concealed placket down the front with buttons and buttonholes hidden within. Tricky, but I was quite proud of that, and the horizontal pattern matching.
We went to a church book sale today, and found three interesting bargains:
'My Love Must Wait', an old historical novel by Ernestine Hill (pub.1941), which tells the story of explorer Captain Matthew Flinders (1774-1814), the first person to circumnavigate Australia.
'The Peggy Guggenheim Collection' which we all know is one of the best things in Venice. Good colour pictures and information about every art piece.
'The Small Treasures of a Lifetime' is a memoir by one of Australia's greatest artists, Lloyd Rees (1895-1988). Always good to keep up the research.
Winter shoes are appearing in the shoppes. My boots need replacing and I bought these solid looking ones to wear in Canada at Christmas.
DD thinks any boots bought here will not stand up to the snow and slush.
Thoughts?
Have a wonderful week, and don't forget to smell the roses.
XXXXX
Happy May day to you too. I did spend it labouring for about 8 hours under my house clearing! I'm so pleased you are putting your sewing up - your dress looks amazing. I love your boots.. I think they'll stand up to it but I think you need something with a much thicker sole as the cold comes up. I've been in -20 degrees in China and -10 in Canada and the cold goes right through you very quickly when your stuff isn't right. I think you should shop up when you get there. You know it's such a balance when you come from Brisbane and unless you get to very cold climes often, it hardly seems worth it but it is for comfort's sake.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a worker you are! Good thinking about the boots. DD thinks we should go to Walmart on arrival and get something cheap but suitable. I'll take the cute boots as well. Sometimes the snow comes later. Last time we did -20 in Quebec and were totally miserable, especially when my Aussie boots leaked!!!
DeleteI am pleased you had such an exciting May Day with Little Aussie - do you think that he might be an actor one day?
ReplyDeleteLove your yellow shoes - the boots look fine to me, but I have never experienced a Canadian winter.
I'd never thought it before, but the boy certainly acted up a storm at the weekend. He declared that he is going to be an artist - suddenly has taken quite an interest in drawing and is rather good. But then, he also is very musical and sang and played his ukulele for us. Perhaps an artistic all-rounder?
DeleteYellow shoes are fun, and I am wearing them every day.
Hello Patricia!!
ReplyDelete!. You must be thrilled with your calendar
2. Your grandson is amazing!! That is how my very creative artistic son started...making horror movies with his sisters and friends
3. Your dress and shoes look smashing...you are an excellent seamstress
4. We have not had snow at Christmas for a very long time...we don't live in snow and slush all the time here! hahaha!!
5. YES Grandchildren are THE best...and...YES...exhausted after they visit!
Have a great week Patricia...
Cheers!
Linda :o)
I am really enjoying the calendar Linda (and depending on you when I can't recognise one of the birds, as they are unnamed)!
DeleteInteresting you son started with horror movies - funny how little boys think. He likes to horrify me with all sorts of revolting stories.
It seems Ontario, like Queensland, has different climate patterns depending on where you live. DD rarely has a green Christmas, and it usually begins to snow end of November. I am hoping of course that there is a bit of the white stuff on Christmas day :)
So exhaustion after the visit is normal? OK then...
Cheers!
Dear Patricia
ReplyDeleteWhat fun you had with Little Aussie at the weekend!
Love your $8 dress - gorgeous fabric and perfect with your shoes!
The shift dress will never go out of style - so relaxed.
Three interesting books - amazing the treasures one can find at Church fairs!
I would have bought those boots too - black with a touch of red - perfect!
Shane x
Yes Shane, lots of fun and wore me quite out! Showing my age... The dress is so much fun, and being cheap I don't fuss over it. It will be so useful next Summer.
DeleteGreat fun looking over the donated books; Mr C also found a little pile, as he is having knee replacement surgery in a few weeks. Need to stock up on reading material! Can't wait to wear my boots. Hope you are well and not too cold yet. x
What a nice post, Patricia. It looks like you had a good week. Your time with Little Aussie sounds like a lot of fun. You're a great grandma to him. I love your dress and your boots, both very nice. Happy May Day to you!
ReplyDeleteIt is so much fun being a Grannie - and he is the only grandchild we have in Australia. He knows I will do just about anything for him, and I think he brings his grand schemes over here because of that :)
DeleteHappy May Day Jennifer!
Hello Patricia,
ReplyDeleteWhat fun to have Aussie and his imagination to entertain you.
Your boots are beautiful and I hope they keep you warm and safe when in Canada.
Have a great week
Helen xx
Hello Helen, it really is wonderful to see this artistic little boy emerge month by month. His creativity is fascinating. He was late to take up a pencil and now has caught up quickly and is drawing all sorts of things. Very right brain dominant, like me! Enjoy the Springtime,
DeletePatricia xx
How fun it must have been for Aussie to make a monster movie with costumes and all. And the whole family participated to make it special for him. Children and their imagination make the world what it is. He looks so cute as Professor Longbottom. And that really DOES look like a grass monster. Your dress that you made is cute, Patricia, and looks sweet with your yellow shoes.
ReplyDeleteThat red cardinal on your calendar was meant just for you. And yes, I always take time to smell the roses. : ) Happy May, Patricia!
love, ~Sheri
It was quite the surprise to discover we were making a movie, Sheri. But we all got into the spirit and I loved Aussie's way of organising it all. He seems to have the makings of a Producer. He used to want to do concerts all the time, but now has moved on, it seems. I thought the cutest was Professor Longbottom too :) Enjoy your springtime roses.
DeleteThe little Aussie has a great imagination...it looks like a busy but fun filled weekend.
ReplyDeleteYour yellow shoes and new silk dress look lovely....I so admire clever people who sew garments that they can wear. I have no talent in that area at all!
I wonder what the next challenge from our little producer will be? Perhaps he will go into the Arts when he is older.
DeleteLove my new dress, and yellow shoes say Hi. You have many talents I admire too!
There's always time for Legos! What great imagination from the grands! Wonderful fun!
ReplyDeleteThose three books, I am green with envy, I want them all.
If I could make a dress like that, I would be over the moon, it's very pretty!
So pleased we kept the old Lego from the 1980s. It is the best value toy ever invented, I think.
DeleteI can't wait to enjoy my bargain books, flicking through them at night. Glad you like my dress. Pattern matching was quite the challenge, but I am pleased with the results.
Little Aussie has an incredible imagination! And wonderful grandparents to help him along with his ideas. Your dress is very lovely. What a bargain you got on that silk fabric. Knitters do the same test to see is yarn is wool or acrylic. :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Kristie, thank you for your kind comment. We do try to give a positive experience to Aussie when he visits, and it seems to be paying off. He is full of excitement when he comes here. It was the first time I tried that trick with the silk and was amazed at how the silk crumbled and entirely disappeared!
DeleteLooks and sounds like an entertaining movie to me. Interesting and creative characters.
ReplyDeleteLove your $8 silk dress (and yellow shoes)!
Cute winter boots. You may, indeed, need a waterproof pair if you are much out in the ice and show, Trish, but I think you can wait to buy a pair in Canada, should you need them. For years I wore a pair I loved that were made by a Canadian company named "Cougar." Now I wear an LL Bean pair, which I'm sure could be ordered and delivered in Canada, if you don't find a pair out shopping.
Enjoy your flowers!!
I wonder how the movie story ends? He has promised more next time. You are probably right about the boots, and I will try to remember the brand Cougar. DD is planning to take us to Walmart, which with all due respect I am thinking might not have something to suit my fastidious feet!
DeleteWell, first I have to say I love the silk dress. You won't be scared of wearing that, given the price of the fabric - won't it be lovely next summer? And an imaginative one in the family - he will keep you on your toes. My father always said my creativity was sometimes a bit much for my mother! The burgundy rose is sumptious, I can almost stroke it from here. And boots, yes, I think something made for the climate - you may get them from a snow shop here, not sure, just an idea, but certainly the locals in Canada should have what you need - unless they are like our shops that never have what you want when you want it.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good idea re the snow shop, and I will keep that in mind, thank you. Glad you liked the silk dress which is fast becoming a favourite. I love the feel of wearing it. The creative one certainly keeps me on the move, as the ideas tumble out of his mouth faster than we can keep up with it all! He knows he has a captive audience and participant here :)
DeleteMy goodness, you have such patience, Patricia! What with the great mivie making stint and the complex design of your lovely dress, I think I need to learn a few things from you. My patience has been running shorter and shorter! Your roses are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI can be patient about some things, and sewing is my relaxation. However must admit I sure can lose patience in some situations :) I will sew a few quick and easy things before I tackle another challenging project. The roses thank you!
DeleteHi Val, it is a McCalls pattern, M7387. I liked the double pleat at the back but would not do it in a heavier fabric. I doubt we will do much serious walking, however trudging through snow at sub-zero temps is heavy going for us! A few people have mentioned Ecco, so I am going to check them out, and we may well wait until we get there. Norway boots sound brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI still love LEGO. Happy days to your family.
ReplyDeleteLego is the best toy. Welcome to my blog!
DeleteHow fabulous is the dress you made darling! Well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you dear Tamera x
DeleteYour grandson sounds wonderfully creative. I love the description of his film, so full of imagination!
ReplyDeleteI would have thought your DD might be right about things bought in Australia not standing up to the Canadian winter, except that you've been to Canada in the winter, so don't need telling what the winter cold is like, methinks, and if you think your boots will cope then they probably will! You're so clever at needlework - what a fab frock!
Little Aussie is a great source of fun and enjoyment for us, and he does like the Arts! I wonder what his next visit will bring. Yes we did Canada in the Winter snow but my Australian boots actually leaked, yet never do here. That snow is powerful stuff! Will probably take the boots and see how it goes.
DeleteGlad you like the frock - might try it over a polo neck and tights for Winter.