Train, as ususal, was comfortable, and the trip was uneventful, if longer than we would like (although shorter than if we had driven). Hugh was there to meet us. On the way back through Valleyfield, we stopped at a little Mexican restaurant for an outdoor meal of guacamole, fajitas, and so on, along with a couple of beers. Pleasant, slightly cooler weather made for a good time; and refreshed, we headed for the farm. Jeannie arrived from her practice an hour or so after us. And the dog, Gwen, was ever friendly and welcoming.
It is so nice to be on the farm, where there is not the noise we have on Sydenham Street, and the vistas are long and green.
Our tickets were for the Saturday matinee. Friday was a slow day for us, even though Hugh was going back to the “back forty” to dig rocks and work on a new pasture. Darlene went back with him for a bit, partly for the ride, and partly to see the sheep that were out in pasture along with their guard dog George. Jeannie and I went for a walk partway out to the fields, and back.
Jeannie had a performance that evening, got her makeup on and hair set, and left about five for her show. Hugh and Darlene and I settled in for a lovely meal of steak and wine, and lots of good conversation: topics regarding the state of the world, the state of farming, the trouble with sheep, and so on. Jeannie came home about 10:30, and said the performance had gone well, although the lights went out at one point, before the generator could come on. (The play is performed under a tent on a large field, so is “off the grid”).
Saturday, after breakfast, Hugh had a bit of work to do, and Jeannie had to leave about noon for the performance we were going to. Our friend Elizabeth Robinson, was going to come to the farm and go with us to the play. But she got caught in traffic, so we agreed to meet at the play, in Ste-Anicet. We got there about 1:30, for the opening at 2. We joined maybe sixty others and waited in expectation.
And the play began, with a cast of locals, but a big cast. Jeannie is fourth from the right in the back row. She made a great Marilla! And the play was wonderful - hokey at times, but well-done, and full of the kind of enthusiasm you would hope for. The kids, and there were a lot of them, were terrific. And the girl who played Anne was 14 (although she appeared 18), was very good as well. Plus a musical group of four or five: it was quite a production.
Hugh had suggested a picnic supper with Jeannie after the show, since Jeannie had to stay for an evening show as well. So we did that, camping out on the patio of a pub overlooking the St. Lawrence River. Lots of food, and again, wonderful weather. After supper, we took Elizabeth on a tour of the surrounding country (Jeannie had to go and ready herself for the show). We stopped at the abandoned settlement of LaGuerre, at an old derelict church. Surprisingly, there were about a dozen Harleys there, so it was busy. Rain came, and we left quickly (the Harley folks got quite wet, I guess). Dropped Elizabeth off at her car for her return to Montreal, and the headed home. We had some bubbly and guacamole for Jeannie when she got home from her hard day, again about 10:30.
And Sunday was a day for doing a few things at the farm (I went out and helped Hugh a bit pulling up some fencing in the new field), seeing Jeannie off and then heading to the train. A pleasant and uneventful ride home. And a very pleasant weekend.
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