We started Day 8 by going to one of those antigue photo places -- a mobbed one -- and having an old time photo taken as a cowboy and a saloon girl. Fun. And then we got ourselves back to Cavendish and into the village of Avonlea.



We each received an Anne Passport going in -- it's a wonder I didn't try to hand that to customs coming home --  and there was a Maritime music band there, three island gentlemen -- 2 Acadians by there own explanation, and a half Acadian -- and the music they made with spoons and one drum and a fiddle and an accordian was fun, astonishing and irresistible.



 One of them asked me if I was french because, he said, I had Acadian features and could be mistaken for an islander. I took that as a huge compliment, adding in, of course, his charming gift for gab.



We went to school:



and listened to Miss Stacy teach



and as we were heading toward the fishing shanty were the mini concert was



who comes racing merrily down the street but



Anne and Diana. Oh my.

When I asked if I could get a picture with them, they were cheerful and friendly and said something like We are bosom friends, and I said I know. I have a Diana of my own, and Anne said You have a bosom friend, too? And I said Yes, and this picture's for her.

And it is.



The mini concert was funny and wonderful, and we grabbed a Maritme music CD from these guys on the way out.



And then we wandered and enjoyed



went into Rachel's house



and the church nearby





and then caught sight of this



and followed the road back to the pastures



where the animals were friendly and offered themselves up for much petting





This horse liked Stew much better than he liked me, nuzzling him and all. I found myself a lovely little donkey to pet and scratch, and now I want one. That's nothing new. I want every animal I see.



As you can see, the salt air and wind does wonders for my hair. I don't care. I love it there.





I really like goats, too.



And this little finster was so cute I almost passed out. I mean, look at that FACE.



There were more animals, piglets and chickens and turkeys and we visited all of them. Avonlea is fabulous. 

The day wasn't over yet, so we headed out to the birthplace of Lucy Maud Montgomery which I would highly recommend because it is full of beautiful memoribilia and photographs.
 




This is the house she was born in, and here's a replica of her wedding dress:





This place is a wonderland and it pays beautiful tribute to her life.



You could spend a week here and still not see everything.

This is the room Lucy Maud Montgomery was born in.



It's an astonishing thing, standing there.

And a sadder thing, here.



And on the way back to the cabin, we encountered this beauty



Who was hot and tired and gracious enough to pause for photos



and then turned and trotted away from the road, thank goodness. Just beautiful.

Day 9 we go to the Dalvay-by-the-Sea, a lovely old hotel that was (somehow) used as The White Sands in Anne of Green Gables, and we're going to high tea. I've wanted to go to a high tea for ages, and it was better than I expected.

But that's for tomorrow.