On Saturday, we attended the Ontario Equestrian Federation's
Toronto Horse Day at the Exhibition site. It was a bit of a trek on public transportation, but it was the most wonderful experience for the girls to engage with the horses and watch the demonstrations. Being a city dweller who doesn't drive, I sort of jump at any opportunity where the country comes to the city and in the end it is usually worth it {There was also little celebrity siting as
Daniel Fathers of Camp Rock & Heartland fame was the m.c.}
The event was very fitting for the girls new summer hats. I made Lily's hat using
the pattern from the July Martha Stewart. I knew this hat would be perfect because Lily doesn't like a traditional tailored bucket hat, she prefers things a little more floppy. The hat is reversible. The novelty cowboy boot fabric is You Go Girl #3435 (Dawn Sun Valley Quilts for
Northcott). The reverse fabric is cream thin wale corduroy.
Evangeline Hope's, is the bucket hat pattern from
Oliver & S' Little Things to Sew.
The girls had a chance to get up close to a number of different breeds and try a horse simulator.
Below is Reese, he really liked Lily's hat. He actually pulled it off her head, but returned it (thankfully).
Another sidebar: I have a very soft space in my heart for service animals. I love stories about animals who do jobs. Here is a shot from the Toronto Mounted Police demonstration.
{As an aside, Lily has now decided she wants to be a mounted policewoman. She asked me to print off a mounted police
woman colouring page. If you know of one, can you please let me know. In the meantime she is adjusting her pages to add ponytails.}
We ended the day at the Summerhill Fair where we met up with good friends and enjoyed pony rides.
I will sign off with a little Canadiana trivia, I had not realized that Dennis Lee wrote a poem about the Summerhill Fair. I grew up learning Dennis Lee poems by memory (
Alligator Pie was first published when I was two (!) and when I had Lily, I rediscovered Dennis Lee all over again).
The Summerhill Fair
I found a balloon and it went up a tree
I learned how to ride on a pony for free
And I looked at a girl and she knew it was me
When I went to the Summerhill Fair.
The fishpond was fine, they had monsters and toads
And Dad got a plant and it broke in the road
And I think I remember which pony she rode
When I went to the Summerhill Fair.
Next year there's a fair at the very same place
I hope I run frontwards and win in the race
And I'll recognize her by the dirt on her face
When I go to the Summerhill Fair.
Dennis Lee
Have a lovely week,
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