The Merrytimes

The south coast of Nova Scotia is the most “driven on” ocean-lined land of the Maritime Provinces, apparently, and it’s easy to see why. Quaint fishing villages, including Peggy’s Cove, beckon visitors to come explore artisan wares, lighthouses and the untamable North Atlantic. In one such village lives an art quilter named Laurie Swim. I don’t feel right about drawing attention to her unusual last name, appropriate since her family fished these waters at one time, and especially given that my surname invites wise cracks on a regular basis.

Back to Laurie. We stumbled upon her studio in Lunenburg not far from Peggy’s Cove. There are a number of quilters in the area but the magnetic draw to Laurie’s work is how she quilts and where. Her thread painting technique, by which the thread and stitches add texture, creates fabric landscapes from her sketches. A holograph image of her son infused within the belly of a fabric fish, reflections on the surface of the sea and leaves rustling in the salt air. We parted ways agreeing to pursue a means by which she might come to our Island and teach me and others something of her quilt art world. Check her out at www.laurieswim.com

Next we headed for Digby, which is known as the Scallop Capital of the World. We truly have had our fill of seafood and Digby’s sautéed scallops over a bed of spinach helped me put to rest my crustacean cravings.

The three hour ferry ride took us from Digby to New Brunswick’s shore side city of Saint John. The fog hung thick and we could hardly see one another or Saint John for that matter so we drove north to Fredericton, tried to visit the House of Legislature but it was closed to visitors. Our new friends, John and Anna, encouraged us to visit as many as we could and it’s been great fun comparing the provincial capitals. We managed a tour of the Christ Church Cathedral, with its glittering stained glass and BC Douglas Fir ceiling. Late afternoon we drove back south and enjoyed the cool of the sea air upon our approach to Saint John. Indian food for dinner, laundry, internet and to bed.