The Music's Always There With you

Helen Tilston's Painting "The Afterglow"

*Ave Verum*

More treasures found on the beach.    I have returned today to Southampton Beach.  It is a blissful sunny day 24 celcius.  The seagulls are singing and a killdeer is trying to lure me away with his broken wing trick.  I must be close to his/her nest so I shall move a little.  There is room for everyone.

Killdeer nesting on beach

I have been playing the music from my concert of last week and "Ave Verum" is my default song.

A couple and their boat have taken rest on the shore

Two young girls "Pearl and Michelle" have stopped and chatted and  Michelle has asked numerous questions:  who am I, where am I from, how much money is a painting, where did I learn to speak English.  Michelle suggests that if I like I can put them in the painting but just to make sure that I show she is wearing a turquoise tee shirt and Pearl is wearning a pink shirt.  They inform me they are on their way to the shore to collect driftwood for their bonfire tonight. Marshmallows will be roasted.   Michelle is 7-3/4 years and Pearl is 4-1/2 yrs old.  Michelle is the boss.  
I become engrossed in my painting and I can hear Michelle's shrill voice "Pearl make sure the wood is dry- Pearl collect  some more-Pearl only 5 more minutes".  They ascend the dunes "Pearl keep going, just a little bit more"  They have collected two shopping bags of kindle and one huge limb from a tree.
As they pass Michelle says "Helen keep painting, you better finish this today as it is going to rain tomorrow".  I  ponder ...  Are leaders born?  Is leadership learned?

It is past lunchtime and I return to the village quite hungry. Mike and I head to the local cafe. We see the French Canadian specialty Poutine is on the menu. We share an order.

Poutine is made with french fries, cheese curds and gravy

Have you tried Poutine?

Candle On The Water

View to Chantry Island

A Candle looses nothing by lighting another candle
.
We are guests at a cottage at Southampton, Ontario. The owners are absent.

Miles and Miles of sandy beach

Southampton  has a wide sandy beach and one can walk for about four miles along the shore, of Lake Huron accompanied by ducks and loons.  The picturesque town has beautiful homes and cottages and gardens which rival English gardens for flowers and colour.  It is early in the season and many of the cottage owners have yet to return.  (these being second homes for many) I found myself alone on the beach each day.

My favourite cottage - many sport historical signs

  A ten minute boat ride will take you to Chantry Island, which has a famous Lighthouse and caretaker's cottage.  Now an automated Lighthouse,  the only inhabitants on the Island are cormorants, ducks, Canada geese and seagulls.

Helen Tilston's easel set up and painting blissfully until !!!!

 "Candle on the Water, sung by Helen Reddy"

I set up my easel and there is not a human being in sight. I am happily painting when suddenly I hear  a trained male voice singing "Candle On The Water"

 It was as though an angel were singing.  Suddenly two very handsome men appear and I exclaim  "Oh my God, two professional singers", to which they replied "Oh my God a real artist"  We chatted.  James and Chris, founding members of Edwin James Festival Choir  from Littlehampton, England were visiting and the following day were performing with the Chantry Singers in Owen Sound.    I quickly got on the phone and secured two seats for the concert titled:  "The Music's Always There With You"   This we found out was an experience not to be missed. Several songs sung individually and collectively by both choirs  had a water theme"  "Ocean World, Creatures of the Coral, The Ship that Sails, Wood River and Bridge Over Troubled Water.

James is on Right gesturing and Chris is the 3rd. male from right, second row

The evening went all too quickly with the grand finale of "Hallelujah"

The Edwin Jame Festival Chorus and the Chantry Singers combined

Following the concert we chatted with our new best friends James and Chris and exchanged cards and phone numbers.  We look forward to seeing them in England when next we visit.

I have titled my painting "The Music's Always There With You"

Two days later I returned to the beach and completed my painting. The weather was infinitely warmer. I slipped off my shoes and the warm sand was heavenly and I hummed "Candle On The Water"

What treasures have you found on a beach lately?