Louisbourg Photos

While I was away, I took almost 500 pictures of the town, the Fortress and other such things. I have sorted them into the most interesting photos, and uploaded them onto FlickR, as well as organized them into sets. Originally made to send to the people in my group, I figured this would be the best way of showing my photos without a) inviting everyone to follow me on Facebook or b) uploading photos on Blogger. So, while I prepare to write about 7 days on the Eastern Coast, here are the photos from my trip.

Buildings of The Fortress of Louisbourg
Buildings around the reconstructed town.

Exhibits and Historical Interpreters of Louisbourg
All around the town there were costumed staff that were interpreters of the town. The Fortress is set in 1744. In some of the buildings there were exhibits, replicas and artifacts.

The Marine Museum of Louisbourg
A small, non profit museum that houses some marine artifacts.



Archaeological Sites and Other Areas Outside of Louisbourg
There were sites outside of the Fortified Town, and even historical sites that exist outside the Parks Canada site, like the lighthouse.

Scarf, Complete!

So I spend a couple hours watching tv to wind down in the evening, so I started a scarf to better my crochet. I used my crochetting book to help me figure out how to finish a project, read patterns and add decorations.

My first scarf was just a free handed pattern of double crochet, which I made very tightly. After I finished, I noticed it was wonky on the sides, which meant I was adding and subtracting stitches. Now that I know how to properly make turning chains and how to count stitches (and also cover up the wonkiness with a border), I decided to follow a simple scarf pattern in my book. When I finished, I decided to tear apart my original scarf and remake it.

I came into some free yarn, so I picked the biggest ball of yarn I had and began. I followed a pattern that was one row of trebles, one row of singles, one row of doubles, one row of singles, one row of half doubles and repeated until I got the desired length. The final measurements ended up being 56 inches approx in length, and 8 inches wide. I added four tassels to each end.

Crochetting

I'm going to another horse show this weekend, so I won't have time for some in depth posts. I want to write a little bit about my experience with Final Crisis and as a newbie in the comic world.

I am starting on my second scarf, using a real pattern this time! My goal is to make a finished scarf and if it looks decent, I'm going to make a few for the holiday season. Once I get scarf making down, I'll work on more difficult patterns.

New Comics!

I went to get my hair done, and stopped by my comic book store to pick up The Return of Bruce Wayne #4. I told one of the guys working there that I felt that I was missing part of the story when I first started reading #1. Why was Batman back in time? What was going on? What was this machine all about? He told me that Final Crisis was the series before RoBW. I decided for $20 I'd pick it up. So in the next few days, I think I'll review it.

To my surprise, they had The Last Unicorn #2 Cover A waiting there for me. Me being stupid, thought that the comic book store would have called me to notify I had comics in, but I remember the conversation we had awhile back that being on file meant they would save me a copy and I could come in at my leisure. However, while waiting for #1 of the series, I was told it was back ordered and I found out that #2 was sold out on IDW. When I talked to another guy who worked there, he said that there was a chance #2 was not ordered for me because I had not recieved the first issue. I asked today if I would get #3 and #4 and after causing much confusion to myself and frustration to him, it was determined that yes, they would be ordering #3 and #4 for me. Now, I've already placed my order for #3 and #4 from online, so I will have two copies of each. Maybe I will get a variant cover. Either way, I'm not too upset about it. Maybe I'll sell a copy if I get a double. If #3 and #4 comes to my local comic book shop just fine, I'll just get #5 and #6 from them instead of ordering online.

Also in my travels today I picked up more yarn (most of it free!), a free copy of X-Men Curse of the Mutants, Previews August 2010, an audio book of Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett for my up coming trip to Nova Scotia where I will be driving 5 hours so I thought I'd get something to listen to that wasn't just the radio, a do-it-yourself crochet book to help me with my techniques and recommended by my expert crochetter Sharyl, amd Michael Crichton's Congo. I want to hold off on Congo so I can read it on the plane but I doubt I will. I'd like to read more Crichton. I've read Jurassic Park, and I want to read Timeline (I had it from the library but took out way too many books and not enough time to read), Pirate Latitutes, and Next.

I am also borrowing a couple movies from my friend that I may or may not review depending on how I feel, haha.

Field School Update

I'm going to have to start brushing up on my archaeology real soon, as I just got confirmation today from Louisbourg about my field school.

I'm a little sad though because I am flying out Sunday to Halifax and driving to Louisbourg and I just found out that we are all entitled to a free pass on Sunday to explore the site. The site closes at 5 p.m. and I won't get there until 4 p.m. so I won't have enough time. The letter does say that there will be other opportunities to explore to site during the week we are there.

Originally, our team was going to excavate in the De la Valliere yard but this year we are going to be helping out on a two month rescue excavation project. The sites are threatened by coastal erosion due to the rising sea levels. The sites have never been studied before, and are facing the Atlantic Ocean.

This is going to be one crazy adventure for me. I have travelled to parts of the US and a couple of times to Quebec, but I have never been too far out of my own province, and I have never been out East before. I'll be flying to Halifax on August Sunday 22nd and driving the rest of the way, approximately 4 hours to Cape Breton Island, where Louisbourg is. I'll be staying at a Bed and Breakfast called Cranberry Cove. I originally wanted to stay in The Captain's Den but I'm going to be in a suite called Isle Royal that faces the harbor. I plan on trying to get some time to swim in the Atlantic Ocean while I am there, and maybe catch a couple of events in the town. Hopefully I make some new friends while I'm there, though I can be quite shy, haha. On Friday, the team will have dinner together and I'll leave for Halifax that night, and sleep in the airport. I'll be back in Toronto early Saturday morning, where I'll try to figure out if I want to go to Fan Expo that day, or on Sunday.

For The Honour of Grayskull... the only costume I have ever made

My She-Ra costume started as a project in 2006 when I decided I would make a costume. I always wanted to make myself a costume but I lack the skills such as sewing, and over all creative thinking. I mean, I can draw but I have a hard time figuring out how to make something concrete. The hardest part of the costume was creating the head peice. This would have been easier if I was more crafty and maybe had a better grasp on materials that could be used instead.

I completed my costume around Hallowe'en which was my plan, but I sort of half assed the rest of it. At some point I would like to change some parts of the costume. I didn't wear it in 2006 because I never made it to any parties. I did end up wearing in 2009 at a party, and I recieved many compliments for it.

Here is what I did and how would change it in the future. I wish I took pictures of it as I made it, but oh well.

The first thing I did was buy a cheap white dress that somewhat was similar to She-Ra's costume. Her dress looks more like white bustier type top and a mini skirt. I found a white dress at Wal-Mart for $6.00. It had a halter like top with a cowl and an elastic band around the skirt.

I'm not much of a sewer but I was able to modify it. First I cut the skirt off and took out the elastic band. I sewed the skirt back onto the dress at a shorter length. I cut a slit at the top of the dress and sewed two bra cups in place to make it a more bustier like top. The bra cups were the kind you buy to stick on your boobs when you have a dress that you can't wear any bra type for. The helped shape the dress really well.

And while I am pretty bad at smiling, my breasts looked fanastic.

For the boots, I just spray painted an old pair of knee high boots gold.

I bought a square of gold fabric to construct the belt, the choker and the armlets. I used velcro on these items. The choker and armlets turned out okay, but I botched the belt, and used a gold coin belt my best friend bought for me at a yard sale. I think it worked out okay... a lot better than the belt I had crafted. If I wore this costume again, I would remake the belt and armlets, using real measurements. At the time, I half assed it. The belt wasn't thick enough, nor the right shape. It also wasn't very even.

I bought some flat foam and cut it out in the shape of the wings that are located on each side of the top of her dress. I spray painted them with cold paint and added the detail with a black felted marker.

The red cape needed to be either really long, or really short depending on the version of She-Ra you are using. I used She-Ra's cartoon version, and her cape is quite short. I used a red devil cape from a dog's halloween costume. I pinned it to the straps of the dress because the cape she wears does not tie up around the neck.

The sword was just a cheap plastic sword I bought in the Hallowe'en section, probably from Wal-Mart. I picked the most medieval looking sword.

I bought a couple of fake jewels, one red and one light blue, and some gold paint. I didn't do a very good job on the symbol. It's not as even as it should be. It kind of veers off a bit. I also think I made it slightly too big, or not big enough. I don't think it's too bad, but if I came across another cheap dress I could modify, I may re-do it.

The head piece was the hardest part, and the first thing I would re-do. I bought some wire and shaped it around my head. Then I shaped the wire into wings. I then attached rolled up newspaper around it to shape it. I used paper machie to cover the newspaper and then spray painted the whole thing using a can of gold spray paint, the same one I used for the boots. I gave it about two coats. I glued the red jewel on the helm and it was done. The problem though... the two wings didn't look exactly alike. And one bent more forward, and the other bent a little too far back. It's not perfect. But for my first try, I give myself some credit. I would probably re-make it with some lighter and less bulky material.

In the cartoon she appears to be wearing pink and purple eyeshadow, so I did my eye make up the same. I wore a bright red lipstick, and I straightened my hair.

Over all, it was a pretty cool experience. I felt accomplished that I made something, and now I know how I would approach it again. I know what needs to be improved, and even then, it was still a hit.

Up Coming Projects

Whether or not you believe in Astrology and Horoscopes, every once and awhile something from them will ring true. Some aspects of my personality are strongly aligned with the typical description for Aries.

For as long as I remember, I have problems finishing or sticking with things. I get an idea in my head of what I want to do, and I get some excited about it, that I have to get started as soon as possible. This has meant anything from running out and buying books and supplies as soon as I can (when these ideas come late at night, this becomes a damper), buying something online, or going through a closet, or down to the barn at a late night, searching for an item that is related to my new project idea. This has been a trait that I have read over and over and over and over again: Aries are great for starting projects, but fail to see them through.

I get started with the project, diving head first. But then one of two things happens; I either become bored or lose my drive, or I get another idea in my head which causes me to abandon my current project. It's a very hard habit to break.

I have a few projects going that I am going to try my best to stick with.

PROJECT
Crocheting and Knitting

My best friend is a very talented and crafty person. Not only can she crochet and knit, but she loves cooking, and crafting in general. Crafts, to me, were something that my brother and I would do after my mom dragged us to White Rose for whatever reason and we begged her to buy us hot glue guns and sticks, pompom sets, paints, ceramic figures to paint, whatever. We would rush home with the items, begin our session and exhaust out supplies. I have never really done anything with crafts since I was 12.

I finally decided to have her teach me how to crochet. I was convinced a year ago that I was going to learn to knit. This prompted me to buy a knitting book. I ended up reading a bit of it, but not being able to figure out how to knit. I finally broke down and had her teach me to crochet. In one week I made a scarf. It isn't exactly finished yet, but once I am done, I will atempt another scarf, and possibly a blanket. Once I've master that, maybe I will move on to other projects, or even knitting.





Here is my first scarf... It needs some finishing touches. It's also pretty wonky but not bad for a first try!




PROJECT
Learning French

As a Canadian, I have some understanding of French. I was taught French in public school for 10 years, except all the way to Grade 8, the teachers taught my class like we were 7. We learned nouns. We learned basic grammar. We had projects like decorating cut out frogs like a specific career. We sang songs about getting four hugs a day. French class was one of the most hated class amongst my fellow students. This is probably why I never had any drive to learn French well enough to speak and write it fluently. Now that I am older, I wish my parents had signed me up for French classes or French Immersions, as a lot of great jobs are out there for bilinguals. My challenge is to be able to speak and understand basic French in two months. I already have a lot of the ground work, but now I need to refresh myself. In stead of paying $300 for the first level of Rosetta Stone's French program, or a class at the community college, I opted to spend $70 to get a basic audio set for French basics, a French to English dictionary, and a work book, since I learn better with written exercises. If I can master that in two months, then I will move onto either level two or three in Rosetta.




PROJECT
Training Roxie

Roxie is my two year old Welsh Pony filly. She is a brat. It is my goal to getting some basic training on her before the winter. I do not expect to have her going under saddle well by then, but I am hoping that it will give me some ground work with ehr when she goes into full training next year at the age of three. I have already begun lounging her, and I have already saddled her. Unfortunately her training has gone on halt for now for two reasons. Her hooves are rather. The farrier won't be out until another week, and I don't want her to get hurt or trip. She was at a different stable for the spring, and her trimming schedule has been thrown off from ours. She didn't need her hooves done the last time he came out, but now they really need a trim and shaping. The other reason is that I am working on getting another pony, Emma, back into shape for an upcoming show on August 1st. Once the farrier comesout, I can start back up with my ground work with Roxie, and maybe get on her by the end of August.


Roxie in her gear.