Totally satisfactory

My week was pretty well consumed with last-minute details to do with the Art at Agar's show on Saturday. That, and trying to stay cool, with summer fighting to maintain dominance over the advancing fall, giving us temperatures into the 30s C/mid to high 80s F yet again, accompanied by the usual brilliant sunshine and clear blue skies that we almost take for granted now. 

The art show day topped out at about 33 / 91degrees which made for a rather warm environment for artists and customers. Visitors started pouring through the door right at opening time, or possibly even a little before, and stayed steady for most of the day. The artists came through big-time with a wonderful display of original works in various media, and the atmosphere was busy and positive. The site owners tried valiantly to keep up with demand for the sit-down lunches they were providing in their heritage farmhouse, but it was a challenge for them. I never did get to leave my booth to try out the food offerings, but word filtering back to the art site was very positive. Next year I'll have to have a better game plan for that aspect of the show for me personally. All in all, I'm happy to report that the launch of the expanded version of the show in the new venue was a huge success from my perspective, and I hope the artists were equally satisfied with the day. I owe them all a big debt of gratitude for being willing to take the gamble (which all of these shows are, one way and another). Here's to another successful go-round this time next year!

Shot one was taken at the art show site on Friday evening as we were setting up. I just missed the best of the light when I got out of the building with the camera, but still am happy with the tranquil beauty of this shot, taken at the south edge of the farmyard. 

As I was contemplating the beauty of the sunset and taking a few minutes of quiet time enjoying the above view, there was a sudden quacking and this collection of ducks went scorching past, hustling against the dying light to get to their evening resting place. I had the shutter speed fairly low due to the poor light, so the wings are a bit blurred in this shot. Normally I prefer crisp "stop action" effects, but in this case I think the blurring of the wings adds to the feel of the shot.

Shot three shows the inside of the coverall building where the show was held, taken by my grandson Mark as the artists were setting up. The white translucent walls of this structure are wonderful for creating ambient light for viewing art. 

                                       

When I was out in the garden today (it says something about the state of the vegetable garden of late that I had to remove weeds with a spade as I couldn't pull them by hand) I noticed that the new fall-blooming aster had come into flower, and was swarming with butterflies and other insects, happy that there were still some fresh blossoms to be accessed. Our big established aster out front won't come into bloom for at least a couple of weeks, and is often to be seen flowering under a cover of fresh snow, but somehow this year I don't think that will be the case.

Shot five isn't notable as a decent photograph, but it shows the beaver activity we have right in the heart of the city. Jim and I went for a walk along the riverbank downtown this afternoon and spotted this large tree that had been felled by beavers. While I always regret the loss of a tree, I have to admire the ambition of the beavers, and appreciate the fact that our river, while not pristine, can still sustain a large number of species.