Packing Up

Another autumn-like day and I admit I am enjoying them. The cool weather suits me much better than those heat waves. 

My cottage time is coming up next week and that means I am living in a bit of chaos as I make preparations to leave. I am hoping to be able to stay for the full two weeks this time - with no medial appointments popping up to throw a monkey wrench into everything! It is my last time-slot for the season and I really want to enjoy every moment of it!  

So..the planning and packing have begun. Lots of list-making - and much indecision about what to take. Clothing is a big question mark as the weather seems to be in flux....hot? cold? rain?...a bit of everything? oh and then there is a family funeral thrown in and cottage gear won't be appropriate! So, first task, pack the clothes. It's a challenge and is still in progress.

Then - two weeks, alone on an island? One needs a lot of entertainment. So, books? No problem- got lots of those. Knitting? Ok, one project. Some crosswords? Then of course there are my sketching and painting supplies which I always take but never use! 

This time I am determined to actually paint, or at least sketch. I spent a lot of time today going through old sketch books..I tend to start a new one for every trip and then don't fill it, but still start another new one for the next trip; hence, I have a lot of partially filled-sketchbooks. I have decided not to take a new one, but a couple of older ones and fill up some of those leftover pages...but which ones? Geez, is nothing simple?

 Mind you, it was fun looking through those old books remembering some of the really neat places recorded within...which then led me to the actual travel journals for those same trips...and down the rabbit hole I went...reliving trips. In the end I packed two sketchbooks. Couldn't decide between the two of them! :)) 

Inserted into this trip down memory lane was a guided tour of the Grand Manan Art Gallery's new exhibit. Today was my friend Mary's day to host the exhibit, and in a time when visitors were scarce, she took her iPad and on FaceTime, gave me the tour with commentary!  I do miss Grand Manan and I always loved to see the different exhibits...so this was her way of giving me a little bit of Grand Manan when I can't be there. 

Tomorrow, fingers crossed, Noreen and I will be able to visit our friend Donna in hospital.