March 30, 2012. Canyon Lake, Texas. The Forgotten Man.

It is a good time to take another look at the Great Depression.  This book by Amity Shlaes gives much food for thought.    But it is discouraging too because for two years President Hoover did lots of things to help.  Unfortunately, what was done made everything worse.   Next along came President Roosevelt, continuing the same policies plus a lot more, all of which made the economy  even worse.  For eight years, the President fought with the business world.  After two years of a recession, things were getting better, but with all the government intervention, we sunk into Depression, and we stayed there, due to government tinkering.

And it seems that we are doing it all again.   If you ask people about the Great Depression,  they will tell you that the war ended the recession.  And that was true,  because President Roosevelt suddenly needed the businesses of the US to be productive so stopped attacking them.  Amazing but true.

Much of what we live with now began in the early years of the President's tenure.  And we are trying to solve the problems today.   The Forgotten Man is a valuable book.  

March 29, 2012. Canyon Lake, Texas. Fish.

Ken built a small pond and  waterfall in the yard of our first home.  It was a lovely spot, with a hill made from the hole dug for the pond, with slate making a patio all around.  The lily pads and Japanese miniature maple made a spectacular sight.  The fish we added were a constant source of interest, especially to the boys, who were 3 and 4.

We have loved small ponds and fish ever since.  Yesterday, we bought six goldfish from a bait shop in Startzville.  Our optimism never ends.  Either the herons or the snakes or the heat eats the fish.  David and Suzanne have added fish many times too, but this time we have more lily pads so perhaps the fish can hide from the herons.  We hope so,  as we like to go and count the fish.   Something about being retire I guess.

Two years ago, we installed a stream and waterfall and pond at the lake.  It is lovely and sounds wonderful, especially on a hot day.  At the ranch, we put fish in the big tank, where the water spills into by the windmill.  By now, the fish are six inches long and we have seven. Five gold, one white and two spotted fish.  In Nova Scotia, we will be interested to see if the fish survived the winter as the water was frozen right through.  Like everything else, all is interesting when you know something about them.  We like these little fish.

March 28, 2012. Canyon Lake, Texas. The Trailers.

We may be foolish or full of faith.  Today we ordered 12 trailers delivered to the ranch in October, 2013, to be used by friends and relatives when they attend our 55th anniversary celebration.   For all I know, no one will come, except our children and their family, and of course our friends Robbie and Joyce who live across the road.  And my brother and sister in law always appear.  But I don't really know for sure, so I am going on faith, that friends and relatives will join us for the weekend of the festivities, and that they would prefer to stay at the ranch in a trailer rather than drive to a Motel in Fredericksburg.

Trying to determine the numbers of guests is always difficult, especially since seldom do people respond to an invitation.   I once heard a party planner who said that in DC, half the people who said yes actually appear, and in Los Angeles, double appear than said yes.  Once you know, you can plan for it.  I have always found in Bethesda that of those who probably will come, only 2/3 ever attend.  Even in Nova Scotia, where people were flying, several cancelled at the last moment, for no apparent reasons.  

We are just guessing, but at least we will be ready!!

March 27, 2012. Canyon Lake, Texas. Organizing.

It is eighteen months in the future, but I am busy organizing.  Several years ago, Ken and I decided to celebrate our 55th anniversary at the ranch in Texas.  It seemed easier for the family to hold the party in Texas.  Since then, we have been talking and thinking about the event.  We got suggestions from David and Suzanne, also Andrew and Christina so we knew   how to proceed.   Now it was time to get organized.

Since we have been in Texas, a period of two weeks,  we have ordered the tent,  tables and chairs.  The caterer is set, even to the choice of food.   Because we are at a remote location, we will serve both lunch and dinner every day.  The bunkhouse has been installed and the electrician is at work.  The portable toilets have been ordered.  Tomorrow, Ken and I will select the 12 trailers we will bring to the ranch so at least some guests and relatives can stay at the ranch.  And that is all that needs to be done at the moment.  For the moment, I can relax.

The next time we come to Texas, which will be in the Fall,  I will purchase the napkins,  paper plates and cutlery, and coffee.   This trip we will taste local wine and get it ordered, to be delivered in October, 2013.   David usually buys all the beer and ice, usually, right at the end.  So we are well on the way to organize our 55th anniversary celebration.  Thank heavens.

March 26, 2012. Canyon Lake, Texas. The Train Trip

David and Suzanne always plan a trip right after school has been let out for the season.  It has been an RV trip.  Everyone has loved it.  For one full week, the whole family was together, in an enclosed space, going places they have never visited before.  They visited Big Bend one year. Another time they drove to Galveston and on to Jackson.  Last year they went to see the Palo Duro Canyon.    But this year they have planned a journey that makes me green with envy.

They are taking the train from San Antonio to Chicago, spending four days right downtown, then taking the train back home.   No one has ever been to Chicago before.  They have tickets to a Cubs game.

The train accommodations will prove interesting.  They are a family of 6 so need multiple little rooms.  It all sounds wonderful but I know they will be crowded.  But they will be together, going to a place they have never been before.  And they leave right at the end of school.  It should be interesting to see if they ever take another train trip.

March 25, 2012. canyon Lake, Texas. Abigail, the Cook.

It is a new program in their home. Every Sunday afternoon, one of the girls selects the dinner from a recipe book, and then prepares the whole dinner, with a little help from Suzanne. Today, Abigal was the Cook. She selected steak and mashed potatoes and salad, with home made pie for dessert. The recipe was from Julia Childs cook book and the meal was delicious. Abigail was proud and surprised with her new found talent. Next week is Samantha's turn,and she is already reading through cook books to decide the menu. It is such a good idea. Suzanne enjoys working with just one child and the children are learning skills to last a life time. And I will enjoy eating those lovely meals everybSunday evening that we are in Texas.

March 24, 2012. Canyon Lake, Texas. The Talent Show.

Last evening, we were fortunate to attend the St. George's Episcopal School Lower School Talent Show.    This was our second event.  This year was better than the first.   The talent was better and the show moved along more quickly, ending in just over ninety minutes, perhaps because Suzanne was working backstage.  It is almost impossible to describe how excited the children were with this Talent Show.   The twins, Allison and Samantha sang a silly song with two friends in the show and it is was exciting as Christmas to them.  Eyes sparkled right out of their eyes when they spoke of the show.  The same is true of all the other children we saw.  The children work very hard to put on this show and it is scary.  First you must audition.

The school rents an auditorium from a high school that seats eight hundred.  The place was full.  Parents, grandparents, siblings and friends all came to see the children shine.   And shine they do.  The children are so pleased with themselves, to be on stage singing or playing the piano or dancing.  There was even a puppet show and a display of martial art.  For this small school, it is a major fund raiser.  You must pay to get in the door, $10. per person.  But for the children, it is a highlight of the year, a time to be in the spotlight, in a dark hall, full of family and friends, who will cheer and clap and whistle, all because they are trying very hard.   No need to be perfect, just be your best, is the message.  I was happy to be a part of that message.  Eventually, these kids will learn a different story, but last night, it was all about shining!!

March 22, 2012. Double D Ranch, Texas. Windows.

Now all the windows in the Top House sparkle.  It makes such a difference to have clean windows.  I wonder why it took so long to get them cleaned?  

Joyce and Robbie's Christmas gift to us this year was one cleaning of both houses along with a list of what else needed attention.  On the list for both houses was to clean the windows.  Last year, Ken and I bought the equipment to clean the windows for the Top House but somehow or other, they never got done.  Joyce gave me the phone numbers of the window cleaning company so I immediately phoned and made a date for the windows to be cleaned in both houses.  Today was the day.

The owner Toni and his two crew arrived at 1:30 and immediately started work on the ranch house.  The three worked efficiently and soon we went up the hill.  They did not stop to admire the view or the house.  They just started in to clean the windows and soon they were done.  I paid the bill, and arranged for them to come every six months.  I do like those windows to sparkle.

March 21, 2012. Double D Ranch, Texas. Lunch.

You never know what you will find driving the country roads in search of bluebonnets.  The back roads in Texas always lead to something.   The dead end roads are always marked.  And we had good maps that did take us along the Llano River on #152, past Castell,  over to Doss and finally down to Harper and then home.  But the map did not tell me that Castell had only one store and that it served barbecue, good barbecue, cheap barbecue.

We drove around the corner into Castell and came upon people standing and sitting outside, right beside a very old building with a front porch which was also full of people.  They knew something that we did not know so we stopped and went into the building, past the people visiting and drinking beer.

On Sunday, they cook meat and they stay there until the meat is all gone.  It has become a destination for bicycle riders and bikers and drivers out for a Sunday drive.  You go outside to the barbecue pit and the young men wrap up your meat, sliced to your specification.  Next you go inside and after the meat is weighed you help yourself to the sides,  three different salads, baked potatoes and bread.  You sit and eat inside, and eventually you pay the bill, which turned out to be $7.00.  Total for the both of us.  Amazing what you find driving down the back roads of Texas.

March 20, 2012. Harper, Texas. The Storm.

It was a really big storm!!  First the e mails warned me that tornadoes were coming to Texas.  Then a call from Joyce, our neighbor friend,  to tell us to seek shelter and to watch the TV.  The Sheriff had called Robbie to tell the information:   A bad storm was coming to The Hill Country.

Ken and I decided to drive down the hill in the Mule to check on the ranch house.   We quickly returned because the sky was dark and the wind was high.  We thought about putting the Mule in the garage but when we started down the hill Ken noted that one wheel of the Escape was flat so we parked both vehicles beside the house and came in to watch TV, of course The Weather Channel.

We never did lose power but when the rains and lighting and thunder arrived, we unplugged the TV and Computer and read the rest of the night, listening to the wind and the rain and the thunder, which seemed to go on forever.  It was quite a storm but fortunately, no tornadoes.  This morning, the sky is blue and all is well.  What a difference a day makes.  Now we must deal with one flat tire.

Wildflowers

Bluebonnets

March 19, 2012. Harper, Texas. The Sunday Drive.

Springtime in Washington is worth a trip all by itself.  The only problem is that the blossoms may not arrive during your visit.  The same can be said for Texas wildflowers.  It is worth a trip to Texas just to see the wildflowers.  Of course, every year the blossoms are at their peak at a different time each year, so planning a trip is difficult.   And last year due to the drought, the wildflowers barely made an appearance at all.

This year, for the first time, Ken and I are in Texas at the exact time when the bluebonnets will be at their best.   And the rains have fallen so there are lots and lots of wildflowers.   Today we drove north from the ranch to Mason, then east to Llano, then back home along back roads all the way to the ranch.  We saw more bluebonnets today than we have seen our whole lives.  Had we continued further east to Burnett, we would have seen even more but enough is enough.   Every here you looked you saw these blossoms.

For the next several weeks we will enjoy the constantly changing colors and types of the Texas wildflowers.  They are truly worth the journey to the Hill Country of Texas, especially on a Sunday afternoon.

March 17, 2012. Harper, Texas. Lost.

It was a lovely evening so after dinner, Richard and Marilyn decided to walk down the hill to the ranch house, where they were staying.    Our Top House where we live has only one bedroom.   The stars were bright and I gave them a flashlight but I was a little anxious about them walking the half mile in the dark, by themselves.

When they started out,  the road was light colored so easy to follow, but right near the end very close to the ranch house, the road is dark, and there is a Y in the road.  It is unclear which way to go.  They took the wrong path so they retraced their steps, back to the bottom of the hill, and tried again.  But they ended up at the wrong place again.   They spotted lights in a house so yelled over  to ask for directions, and soon they were home.  I heard the story this morning.

I had left lights burning in the ranch house but no lights shine onto the rear or the house.  Several times after they left I wondered if I should take the Mule to be sure they had gotten home, but I had confidence in their ability to navigate.  But I know the ranch is an easy place to get lost, especially at night.  Next time I will drive them home.  Fortunately, no one was hurt but it was a good lesson to me.

March 16. 2012. Double D Ranch, Texas. Richard and Marilyn.

The four of us talk non stop, just catching up on everything since we saw them the last time, which  was last June in Galveston.  They drove all the way from Houston just to say hello.    In many ways our backgrounds were similar, in that we were all poor and we have all achieved.   Tonight we talked about how Richard, Marilyn and Ken got to be doctors and the difference it has made in their lives.  And we talked about getting old and cutting back on some of the travel.

The main topic of the evening over dinner was money.  The question is whether or not we four will live longer than our investment funds.  It is a good question.  It seems to me that as we age, our need for money decreases.  We don't need to buy new clothes or jewelry, and at some point we won't travel much so perhaps I am missing some point.

It is always wonderful to get together with old friends especially when we are talking about being old.  We are all interested with the outcome and we hope to observe it for many years!!.

March 15, 2012. Double D Ranch, Texas. Luck.

You just can't beat good luck.  Yesterday, we just got lucky.   Our flight out of Halifax was delayed due to high winds and freezing rain.    The plane arrived one hour late into Halifax and after boarding we sat on the plane waiting for clearance before lining up to de-ice the plane.   Our schedule had left us a two hour layover in Newark, but with the late start of two hours,  we felt sure we would miss our flight to San Antonio.

But we got lucky.  Our arrival gate was right across from our departure gate so we were able to walk right across the hall and walk onto the next plane, which had already announced the door was closing.  We sat down, the door closed and we took off for Texas.  Almost everyone on our flight from Halifax was connecting onto another destination.  One group heading to Washington, DC. had 21 people on the plane, but they missed their flight.  But,  with no thanks to us, we were the lucky ones and we arrived in San Antonio twenty minutes early.  I have always considered myself a lucky person and yesterday just proved my case.

March 13, 2012. Western Head, N.S. Marsh.

Marsh is always on the go.  He comes to dinner at his cousin Walt's house and leaves five minutes after dinner has finished.  He is not at all rude.   He is just ready to go.

Marsh is a retired attorney who lives in Halifax.   His area of expertise,  when he worked,  was title problems.   He worked for the province sorting out issues that arose when  properties were passed down for hundreds of years without ever coming for sale.   Over the years  we would see him at Mary and Walt's home for dinner or other celebrations.   He knows a lot about who owns what and where along the coast and the rivers, so I am always picking his brain.

He is one of the nicest people in the world and also one of the most energetic.  Since his retirement, he takes several trips a year,  often with friends but often alone.  He has never married but often travels with one woman or another.   His Mother died when he was very young and he was raised by his father, who married again unsuccessfully after Marsh was at University.    So Marsh is single.   He is active in his church and active in the Icelandic Society of Nova Scotia.   He was kind to an old lady at his church and often picked her up for church or took this old lady out for dinner, because he thought she was poor.  He helped her with chores around the house, just because he was single and could have the time to be helpful.  The amazing part  is that the poor lady was not poor and when she died she left Marsh quite a lot of money, which astonished him.  He denoted half to the church and now that he is retired, he travels here and he travels there.

It is a nice story and he is a nice man.  He is one of those people that you would like to get to know better.  But he is always on the go.

March 12, 2012. Western Head, N.S. The Weather.

Today was a wonderful day.  The sun was shining and there was no wind at Western Head.  And the sky was bright blue.    Living on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean today was a fine place to be.   A couple actually had a picnic sitting on the ground at Fort Point Lighthouse Park.  Everyone was loving the weather.

When we moved here, we were told that if we did not like the weather right then, we should just wait, because the weather would change.    It is true too.  It can be stormy one moment and soon the sun comes up and the sky clears and you can enjoy the good weather for about thirty minutes, when it will change again.

But today the weather was perfect all day which is most unusual.  Everyone in town commented to me about the wonderful day because they know that soon the winds will blow.  Nova Scotia has had large snow storms as late as April so bad weather may arrive at any minute.  But for the moment, we all enjoyed the beautiful day.

March 11, 2012. Western Head, N.S. Brunch.

Sunday brunch must be the most pleasant meal of the week.   The food is varied and plentiful and the time period is never rushed.  Certainly, in my experience,  having brunch is always special.  This morning, Gill took us to Lanes for brunch, and as expected,  it was lovely.

I ate Haddock Cakes while Ken and Gill chose griddle cakes, Ken with bacon and Gill with bacon.  Then they swapped off.   We sat in the Library, so we had the room all to ourselves, until our friend Ann Fownes came in to meet her daughter for lunch.   We had lost track of her.  After her divorce,  she moved to Victoria to complete her degree in political science, then went on to The London School of Economics to complete here Masters.  She is now back working for Queens County and the Provincial government,  in the field of immigration.  We were delighted to be re-united with her.

The only negative aspect of eating brunch is that you eat too much food.  Ken and I skipped breakfast but ended up eating a bountiful meal at brunch.   But I think it was worth every calorie.   Sunday brunch, in my opinion, is the nicest meal of the week, especially when your good friend invites you to a lovely restaurant.

March 10, 2012. Western Head, Nova Scotia. David and Marion.

They are true Nova Scotians.   Marion was born and raised in the big old house right next to their present home while David lived across two train tracks on the south of town.  Five cousins live within one mile.  They are one of the most industrious couple I have ever met.  But the best aspect of these folks is that they do not complain about their situation.   It is fascinating to spend an evening with them in their home.   Ken and I and Gill are polar opposites from Marion and David.

They still camp.   Next year they will take the ferry to Newfoundland and camp for several weeks, something they have done every five years their whole married life.   But this trip will be special, as they will celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary, so they are younger than us, but not much younger.   And they both still run races.   This year they move into the next level of competition, into the over 70 year old, so they expect to win a few races.

Tonight, we were invited to dinner in their home, along with Gill.   We talked a lot about old relatives, and senility, and traveling.   They had three sons and always camped with the boys and now they have eight grandchildren.   Their traveling included the Maritime provinces and Newfoundland and even though they were never wealthy, they always did whatever they wanted to do and never complained a minute.  It is such a pleasure to meet such good people, and to call them friends.

March 9, 2012. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Shopping.

Gill and I must be the most efficient shoppers in the world.   First stop was to purchase the lighting fixtures, which is not an easy job.   Gill asked all the hard questions and soon we had ordered all the lights we needed for a total of 18.  They will all be delivered in about three weeks.   The young man we dealt with was very polite and pleasant but really knew very little about lighting, but with the catalogue and our eyes, we chose all the light fixtures for the Guest  house.  It took us one hour.

Next up was Zellers  for towels and sheets.  I shop quickly.   I want it done.   Gill stopped me buying the wrong sheets just because I could find the size.  At one point I put black sheets in my basket.  She took them out.  We were the odd couple.   Also Gill spotted a big sale for towels.  Excellent quality and two for the price of one.    I was able to purchase all the towels and sheets and  bath mats and pillows and it took us another hour.

In the very back corner of the store is a Diner, where we ate.  It was worth the price of admission.  It was decorated as a fifties diner.  Food and service were great as was the price.  It was a pleasant surprise to find this fancy diner in Bridgewater, in the back corner of Zellers.   And we drove home the shore route, with no need to rush.  My list is almost complete.

March 8, 2012. Western Head, Nova Scotia. A Drive.

The day was perfect .  The sun was shining and the water  sparkled.  And it was warm.  It is a route we have taken many times in the past, but today was the first of the season so it seemed especially beautiful.  We drove along the shore from Liverpool to Bridgewater.   At Lehave, the ferry was running but we decided to leave it for another time when we are not so pressed for time.   The scenery is charming.  It was our first drive of the year, thus very special.

Driving home along the highway was not beautiful.  The sun was still shining but the wind was blowing very hard.  we were glad to be home.

March 7, 2012. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Lobster.

One great blessing of visiting  Nova Scotia in the winter is eating lobster.  The season opens December 1 and closes May 31, so if the weather is fine, the lobster we eat tonight will have been  caught this morning.   The lobster men must harvest well out to sea but as long as the ocean is calm, they will work, and they will bring in the lobsters.   They don't seem to mind the cold but the snow and freezing rain along with the strong winds keep them on shore, the men that is.  The lobsters just stay on the bottom and migrate out  and out and out.

Vinal helps his cousin with lobstering, so we are able to buy the lobsters directly from the boat and at wholesale price.  It helps to have friends.  Tonight we will dine like kings.   And we don't even need to freeze ourselves while cooking the lobsters outside.  Vinal has already cooked the lobsters and Betty has baked biscuits.  My task is to set the table and set out a tray of fresh vegetables to nibble as appetizers.   Before we eat our lobsters, Ken and Vinal will inspect their garden and decide what need changing for summer 2012.   Last years garden was a huge success but they must make changes.  But some things never change.  We love eating lobster in Nova Scotia!!

March 6. 2012. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Shopping.

Every day I go shopping, purchasing the belongings for the Guest House.   Today I shopped at the hardware  store in the morning and at the grocery store in the afternoon.   Then when the shopping has completed,  the cost must be entered into the list of belongings for the insurance company reimbursement.   On each receipt must be written the page and line on the list.  It is tedious.   Graham, our insurance adjuster, tells me that many people don't even bother with turning in the receipts, but rather take the 65% of the value given by the company.   I am too cheap, so I take the exercise seriously, but I don't really enjoy the process.

Firstly, shopping is difficult for me.  I don't like shopping and I don't know why.  Most normal people love to shop.  Secondly, I hate dealing with details.  Sitting still is also something I don't enjoy, unless I am reading.   I make a list and proceed with the shopping, then after the evening is done, I make a new list for tomorrow.  It seems to never end.

Gill will be here this weekend so we will go to Canadian Tire  and Zellers in Bridgewater to purchase shelves and towels and sheets.  Today I bought a washer and dryer from Sears.  For a while, we wondered if our old one would work.  It looks perfect but after closer inspection, the interior has rusted.  Evidently, the water used to put out the fire was from Victoria Lake, just across the road, and the water is brackish.  Thence the rust.  

Normally, I can make a good game  to  complete a difficult task, but this shopping job is tiresome.  It will soon be ending!!  And I am certainly grateful the Carriage House was small.  A whole house fire would be really terrible so I should stop complaining.   And I will.

March 5, 2012. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Shelburne.

We are in Nova Scotia to complete the task of purchasing the furniture and accouterments for the Guest House.  Today we drove to Shelburne to pay for objects we bought over the phone.  In addition, we were hoping to find a few other pieces of furniture that we are still missing.  Lastly, I wanted to talk them into storing the furniture for a few more weeks.  I bought a few things last September from the same store and they were kind to allow me to be kept in their storage.  But I told them that definitely, March 1st would be the day to deliver the furniture and unfortunately, the Guest House is not far enough along to allow the delivery to take place, so I need a little slack.

I could have them deliver the stuff to the main house but that means we must move them trice so I prefer not to do that.   They are very nice but they really do need their storage space, with the summer furniture arriving and my stuff taking up space.

This furniture is an usual store.  It has been in business for a long time.   Shelburne is a small town but the store is big.  They handle all kinds of furniture plus appliances and gas stoves.  And the sales staff has been with them for ages.    I bought several other items such as lamps and benches and , bless their hearts, they will deliver in a few weeks.   I love dealing with small local companies!!

March 4, 2012. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Dinner.

Every evening we eat dinner, at least most of the time.   It is a pleasant time, the dinner hour, with the glass of wine and the pleasant food and conversation making for a lovely end of the day.  But some dinners are especially pleasant.

Tonight, Betty and Vinal brought over dinner.  They brought the whole dinner, including wine, salad, main course and dessert.   Betty loves to cook and they both love our little home by the shore, so every so often, Betty cooks at her home, and we dine here at our home.  My only task is to set the table.

Betty especially enjoys cooking foods for us that we have never eaten before,  so tonight she prepared rabbit and hashed carrots.  Vinal snares the rabbits.  It was an interesting meal.   Betty simmers the rabbits, removes the meat from the bones, then pan fries and seasons the meat.  It was very tasty.   She always serves  hashed carrots with the rabbit.   It is cooked carrots and cooked potatoes, then mashed and seasoned.  It looks like a pale orange mashed potatoes, but it does not taste like either potatoes or carrots.   It was good.  And the tossed salad was tasty too, made with spinach.

One of the best part of the evening was the kitchen.  It was clean.   Betty and Vinal carried the food into the kitchen, put it into the oven, and it was done.  No pots to clean.   All we had to do was talk and eat.  It was a lovely dinner and a pleasant evening, all done by Betty and Vinal.

March 3, 2012. Western Head, N.S. The View.

It happens every time, driving from town to home.   You turn at the last curve and then you see it.  Every day,  different and beautiful.   You come around that last corner, and right in front,  driving down the hill,  you  see the bold Atlantic Ocean.  It is a glorious sight, even in the rain.  

My habit is to turn right out of the driveway at home and drive into town right along the shore, passing Scotts Bay and Moose Harbor.   It is a lovely drive past the crashing waves.   But coming home, I always turn right at the fork of the road,  toward Western Head, which takes me cross country through a farm and several modest homes.  It is not an attractive drive, until that last curve, when you get to see the Ocean.

The brain is better than any camera, and I have  pictures of many scenes that bring me pleasure, but the pictures in my brain are never as good as seeing the pictures in real life.   Today, on the way home from town, I remembered when I always take that route.  It was worth the trip here to Nova Scotia, even when raining.

March 2, 2012. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Staying Warm.

Any good Canadian knows how to stay warm.   They know how to stay warm both outside and inside.   The first time Suzanne, my daughter-in-law, visited us in Nova Scotia,  she was cold all the time.  After a few days it became apparent that she was cold, even though it was in the middle of summer, so I asked her what she was wearing.  After all, she was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and summer for her did not involve keeping warm.

I taught her a system for keeping warm, which included wearing thin wool socks at all times.  Tucking her shirt into her pants was step number two. And finally, wearing an overshirt or light jacket to protect from the wind would make her warmth complete.  She also took to wearing my rubber boots and felt insoles.  Finally, she was warm.  We called it her uniform.

It has taken me two days to remind myself of my system, but now I am warm and cosy at last.  Wool sweater, on top of a long sleeved shirt, over top of a tight fitting T shirt.  Heavy pants.  Thin wool socks first, and finally a heavy pair of hand knit woolen socks complete the outfit.  It looks very cold outside, but inside I am warm and cosy.  It took me two days to put on the wool sweater.  Bingo.  I was warm at last.

March 1, 2012. Western Hear, Nova Scotia. The Storm.

This is the first real winter they have had this year, here in Nova Scotia.   From inside the warmth of our cosy home, it looks lovely.  The snow comes down parallel to the ground, while the rooster tails on the waves blow high into the air, making for a spectacular sight.   But venturing out is another thing entirely.    The wind is blowing hard so in order to walk,  you are forced to bend right over into the wind  in order to make any progress at all.   Ken says he hates cold weather but he has been outside in the weather for the last two hours, puttering around the yard and the guest house.   Fortunately, he has a warm jacket, with a hood that protects his ears.

The snow is supposed to continue all night, so we might end up with a foot of snow on the ground.    So far this winter we have not had the driveway plowed at all, but Ken thinks we should move the truck into the garage, so the snow plow can clear out the drive.  "Surely not", said I.

It is really a treat to see the Atlantic Ocean in the winter.   The water is dark and the waves are big, even though the water temperature is warmer than the air, which is why the surfers come out at this time of year.  It is quite a sight watching the surfers from the comfort of our living room.  They have not appeared yet, but soon when the strong wind stops, out they will come.  Amazing to watch.