WHAT'S NEW AT BALA MUSEUM THIS YEAR?

Each year, we try to make Bala’s Museum even more of a fun get-away for families, as well as an internationally known resource for scholars and fans of Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Hitting Gilbert With a Slate Ever since we put old school desks on our verandah, young girls have been re-enacting Anne hitting Gilbert over the head with a slate (left). It helps if they bring along a cooperative younger brother. At the right, another boy is whispering “Carrots” to his little sister.

A Tea Party with Raspberry Cordial These sisters were only two out of many young girls who enjoyed pretending last summer that they were Anne and Diana at the famous tea party where Diana mistakenly drank red currant wine. The tea party scene is tucked into a corner of our verandah.

Waiting for Matthew at the Station (left) Our most popular photo op seems to be waiting for Matthew at the railway station, wearing a hat with red braids and holding Anne’s carpet bag. Last summer, families from Sri Lanka, mainland China, Korea, Iceland, Israel and Palestine were among those who carried home digital camera memories. Matthew’s Buggy (right) Both boys and girls enjoy posing in the buggy at the front of Bala’s Museum, pretending that they are riding with Matthew Cuthbert to see Green Gables for the first time. Their first challenge is deciding how to step up into the buggy, using a century-old metal buggy step.

Fun in a 1920's Kitchen Linda gives youngsters a lesson in making the custard that Anne forgot to cover with a cheese cloth. Whole families, especially grandmothers, often join in. The kitchen is the same one where Fanny Pike prepared meals for L.M. Montgomery and her family in 1922, restored back to that era.

Anne of Green Gables Tea Party

One of the most popular photo opportunities offers visitors of all ages a chance to pretend that they are Anne and Diana at the famous "Anne of Green Gables" tea party where Diana mistakenly drinks red currant wine instead of raspberry cordial.

In June 2009, Fiona Rowat, at the right, and her younger sister, Moriah, had great fun playing the two roles. Before the summer ended, scores of other young girls did the same thing, including some who were visiting from far-off countries like Italy, mainland China, Japan, Sri Lanka and Italy. (If Fiona Rowat looks familiar, that is because she returned to Bala in October and won the Cran-Anne Look-Alike contest. She and sister Moriah are the two girls seated in the buggy on our first page).

The Avonlea Schoolhouse Scene

Linda spent more than two years planning and putting together an outdoor miniature re-creation of the Avonlea schoolhouse where Anne Shirley slammed her slate over Gilbert’s head and where her teacher forced to stand at a blackboard writing the sentence: Anne Shirley has a bad temper.

Children love searching out the schoolhouse behind the museum, and opening its door to see what is inside. The new exhibit sits on a special stone base in the shade of a big oak tree.

All of the doll-size elements inside the schoolhouse are authentic. There is even a tiny portrait of Queen Victoria staring down from above the blackboard.

The Lady of Shalott Scene

Linda has also created a miniature scene of Anne Shirley desperately hanging onto a bridge while her rowboat is sinking. As every Anne fan knows, Gilbert is about to come to the rescue. Children will love seeing this.

Raspberry Cordial Fudge

This wonderful addition to our gift shop is exclusive to Bala's Museum. Take home a wee taste of Anne's tea party with Diana. Yummy.