We began the day with no particular plans. Leaving the hotel we turned left toward Cavendish, the town on which Lucy Maud Montgomery based her Anne of Green Gables books. The morning turned into "Lucy slept here", as everywhere was a sign coaxing you in to see something about her. We saw her birthplace, the cellar where she was raised (although there was a house on it at the time) and the post office which was built to replicate L.'s home/post office, the church where she was married (after her grandmother died), and the cemetery where she's laid to rest.. Seems Lucy's mother died of TB when she was only 21 months old and she was then raised by her maternal grandparents (who ran the post office).
At the site of the grandparents' home we spoke with a grand nephew whose parents ( in their 80's)were working about the place tending the gardens and pruning the trees. They dug out the foundation by hand and have laid out crushed stone paths through the lovely wooded area surrounding it with quotations posted strategically. A 100 year apple tree is still there (and bearing fruit!) and the smell was wonderful. Took me back to my childhood when apples smelled like apples and not plastic bags.
Working at the post office came in handy for L. - she sent off her manuscripts and took back the rejections with no one the wiser. "Anne" was rejected 5 times.
Later in the morning (which was beautiful), we drove to New Glasgow and ate at the PEI Preserve Co., recommended to us by a fellow traveler (a souvenir salesman) at the hotel's breakfast. Anyway, the restaurant is situated in their store. It's shelves were lined with every flavor of jam, jelly and preserve you could imagination - and some you would not have thought of I am sure. Samples were available as well as several kinds if teas. We bought a few that we liked and then had lunch. Potato pie with a bacon crust for me and a ham and Gouda sandwich for him - then we shared a piece of raspberry cream pie . yummmmm
Driving the coastal road in the afternoon we just took in the scenery - it is very beautiful here - and the day was warm. People were telling us that this was what there July should have been.
Working our way toward Summerside on the more southerly end of the island we stopped at a fabric outlet. It takes a sharp eye to spot one you know. While hubby read/napped I "browsed" . While having fabric cut I had a lovely conversation with an elderly woman (she had 22 grandchildren) - she like my bag (from 31 - it has a button on shell) and at the end of it I had bought more paisley to make a new shell. I think she was a "plant" there just egg on innocent shoppers!
A visit to the Lesurgy-Wyatt House was a spur of the moment decision. We were close and saw they conducted tours until 4 o'clock - turns out the AAA book was wrong, but the folks very graciously gave us our own tour. The house belonged to a woman lived there all 102 years of her life and was a real museum.
The day was not over - we went to a dinner theater in Summerside and saw - Titanic! We didn't know what to expect, but we thoroughly enjoyed it. Only 8 actors on a raised stage with a grand piano and a velvet covered bench. They all sang well - not a weak link in the bunch - there was occasionally some background music but most was just the piano and two violins all played by characters within the show. It focused on the stories of those eight people and was very well done. We received tickets with the info of a passenger (who we would later find out - dead or alive) and were called aboard by name and greeted by Captain Smith (later appearing as Mr. Guggenheim). All the actors were the waiters too - busy night for them - thank goodness for buffets! Oh!-And Yours Truly was whisked to the front to waltz with the crewman (who turned out to be a stowaway using a stolen identity).
We got back to our room after ten and were too tired to blog (especially since we had to go to the breakfast room to get a signal). I think I caught a cold too. Rest is the best thing.
No comments:
Post a Comment