Fantasy in the Forest Art Show – Sept. 2nd

  Jamie Brick is the artisan and landowner who created the show. The whole event was well-organized, with many volunteers. They have a Facebook page. Parking and admission is free. This article estimated that they get 5000 people per day. I'd believe it.

We had to leave Grampa at home, as there wasn't room in the car. You'll have to forgive all the photos, but Grampa wanted to know what we did and who we saw! I made most of them smaller, so you could just flip through, clicking on ones that interest you. 

He sent us on our way. I took the iPhone, and didn't realize his cell flip phone was in the car. Good thing he didn't have an emergency! 

You walk through the gate into the forest, where there is a lovely arch. 

Elf ears were everywhere!

The sculpture is by Wilma van Wyngaarden.

 

This man explained that he built this shelter, and as long as he returns he gets to use it for the show. About Face, Tony Deluca.

There were musicians in the group. This is the stage.

This is Jamie Brick, who created the whole event, sitting on his Elf King Throne!

Lots of costumes, lots of dogs!

This little kid was fun. On tippy toes. She was fascinated when Isabelle went into the stocks.

Grampa gave the girls $20 each. Josephine bought a beautiful necklace from Mariah Hounsell (Lady Lilith Creations), with a real spider web in it, to add to her jewelry collection. The webs are sourced in a park, sprayed to set them, then stuck onto the foundation with hairspray.

  

Isabelle bought a necklace, it was refitted for her, and Momma chipped in some cash. 

Now, I wanted a photo of the two men chatting, in costume. I snapped a photo of us in the mirror.

There were so many wonderful volunteers. We waited for our bus back to the main parking area. 

Notice the dark skies! It could have rained, it just sprinkled a bit, though. I drove us home, they had some lunch, and back to the city they went. They've a few more things to do before school begins on Tuesday.

I must say, I have social anxiety, and everyone made me feel welcomed, appreciated and loved. Everyone was so upbeat, and fully engaged. It was a blessing to visit.

1860 Draper Lake Road in South Frontenac township

Fantasy in the Forest Art Show Preparations!

As mentioned, our Ottawa family came over Friday. The plan was to visit Fantasy in the Forest. We've been talking about it since we attended in July. I made some preparations. First I checked the weather on Thursday, then on Friday. The forecast kept warming up! It was chilly last week.

Next: costumes. I sent texts to the girls, and asked about this: spray on, wash out colour. I ended up with a pink and turquoise. 

The next idea was fairy elf ears! I texted the girls, and they thought that might be interesting. 

 

Thursday morning I overdid it. I washed floors: kitchen, and two bathrooms. With both girls in their teens, I figured I best get it done. I used to leave it until after they left, little kids being what they are, but now things have changed.

I coloured my hair, as the spray-on stuff wasn't too exciting. It washed out easily with shampoo. Manic Panic Amplified was the brand I picked up for this. There were zero directions on the bottle, and a video that was little help.  Disposable shower cap, disposable gloves, a paintbrush for my hairline, vaseline around my hairline, 30 minutes on, I was good! I practised my make-up, just for fun.

 

Friday, the kids arrived for dinner. Pork tenderloin (BBQ), and stuff from Millar's Bay farm: beans, strawberries, corn. They have a new species of strawberry that is a late fall one.

Saturday morning, we planned on leaving about 9 a.m., so as to avoid crowds and parking issues. 

👂The ears were tricky. I did some research, and you can affix the ears with spirit gum. We didn't have any, but Caitlin had eyelash glue. We tested it out and it was perfect.

We planned out our ears, and costumes. Although, Josephine and Isabelle were all set. Izzy wouldn't tell me what she was wearing!  JL borrowed JB's cap and suspenders. We got up in good time to prepare, coffee and breakfast, then makeup and hair. 

Grampa had to stay home as our car only holds 5, and their EV would run out of juice on the trip. It was an hour there and 72 km. Then, they would have to do the 80 km, 1-hour drive home. 

The parking woman was blowing bubbles. She peeked in the car, complimented us on our costumes and makeup. I parked, and we lined up for the shuttle bus. 

  

You can see Caitlin's hair colour in this photo, I sprayed the pink on her. The blue didn't show up with her wonderful hair colour.

We all wore masks on the mini school bus. 

JL shared a shawarma plate with Caitlin at the glass mosaic grand table. It is a beautiful table.

They chatted with this young family, and the kid on the right was named Isabelle, the other one is Gabrielle. We saw them chatting with this dude later. 

I'll leave you with that. More later!

Canadian International Air Show 2023

On Twitter, a reporter noted the air traffic! The noise would send me to distraction, methinks.

Shooting a traffic story downtown and the Blue Angels keep stopping by. #airshow pic.twitter.com/WdkWqzGOp6

— 𝚂𝚎á𝚗 𝙾’𝚂𝚑𝚎𝚊 Global News (@ConsumerSOS) August 31, 2023 

Beautiful 📷 of yesterday's show by @patcardphoto! Day 3 today in Toronto!
Make sure to drink plenty of water! It's going to be a hot one!@CIASToronto pic.twitter.com/u8GhUmN0sv

— CF Snowbirds (@CFSnowbirds) September 4, 2023

I was watching the radar Friday, and saw them! I think they were rehearsing.

Saturday afternoon...

Crumbly Acres Critters

 I like the change in seasons. The critters run around filling their faces and empty spaces. Things have hatched, matched and been dispatched, in our ecosystem. The circle of life continues, as well as the cycle of the seasons. Critters will bulk up their coats, birds will migrate, mammals will hibernate, estivate, or, like our faithful raccoons, will sleep in the deep cold, but otherwise attack bird feeders as best they know how.

I went down to trailcams and found a couple of deer and coyotes, more on those later. This red squirrel was quite belligerent. It was really giving me a lecture. I had to laugh at it. 

In May of this year, I caught Fred eating Emily's flowers. That was so funny! I haven't seen Fred since Aug. 21st. In 2022 (I tracked his appearances), Fred disappeared around Sept. 3rd. Maybe he's a tourist? I hope we see Fred again. 

An archived Fred ↓, or great-great-great-grandie Fred. They live 3 - 5 years, on average. I'm glad he doesn't winter under the deck. In spring melt, there is a pond under the deck.

We haven't seen the skunk since Aug. 23.

 

skunk from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

In the rain, triplets! They are frantically bulking up for winter, when food is scarce.

Triplet racoons in the rain from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Today, I expect our chrysalis to eclose. I am hoping to video it. Friday night, the kids are coming over and we are off to 2023 Fantasy in the Forest Saturday morning. JB and I visited in July. It was epic.