I walked home hand-in-hand with my son last night led by the plastic neon sword he purchased at the Venetian Fête we'd just left. I smiled quietly on what had been the end to a perfect Summer day, and also the fact that my 9 year old walked home with me hand-in-hand - it was dark, no one could see him.
We had planned to go tobogganing with friends that day - yes tobogganing, no there wasn't snow, my kind of tobogganing because it was warm. We were the only people at this dry ski run so the kids had a great time and wore themselves out something silly.
We returned to our house and the children played happily for hours and hours while my friend Dianne and I talked, read magazines and chatted about nothing in particular for hours and hours.
The children had dinner, laughed a lot and found inspiration in a fork - it always shows up in the darnedest places. This is one of their "get me out of jail" photos. Notice Tristan's hardened criminal look.
When our friends had gone, Paul and I walked down the hill with the children to a local Venetian Fête, a biannual event that's been happening here since 1860. It's held on the Royal Military Canal, a canal that was first dug by the military to help fight the Napoleonic wars - but Napolean never came. Now it's just a lovely waterway to ride bikes along, walk around and row on.
The Venetian Fête is a perfect Summer event. Local clubs and businesses make floats on small boats or barges and parade them down the canal. At night they illuminate them and float down the canal again while fireworks explode overhead and bands play. It's amazing and great fun for everyone - except those frightened by fireworks like little Gracie who went home with daddy as night fell.
This is the local theater group...
the float by the church bell ringers...
and my favourite "Baked Alaska" the global warming themed float, now that is crafting on a large scale.
This was our first year of attending the Fête and it was fantastic. I know it will be one of the highlights of the Summer for my children. Hats off to all those who take part in their communities, like those who made this event happen this year and have done for the last 147 years!
As I tucked Tristan into bed at a very late hour last night and closed the door on he and his glowing neon sword I wondered, what did 9 year olds take home with them after the first Venetian Fête in 1860? Probably just happy memories.
A lovely summers day indeed!
Posted by: Dianne Leutner | August 19, 2007 at 02:17 PM