July 31, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Stories About Storytellers.

Stories About Storytellers by Douglas Gibson is a smashing book.   As Gill said, "This book is a keeper".    It reminds me of lifting the curtain just a bit to look into the lives of the people living inside the house.  Douglas was a publisher for almost forty years in Canada and worked with many authors who became famous.   This book tells some of those stories.

I am so grateful for the Port Medway Readers Festival for putting this book and this author on the list.  On August the 24th, Mr. Gibson will read from the book, plus answer questions.  I am jealous because Ken and I will have left Nova Scotia so I will not be able to attend.   Reading about Robertson Davies and Alistair MacLeod has been worth the price of the book.   Douglas Gibson calls Alistair MacLeod the Stone Carver because every word he wrote is as if carved from stone.   As Mr. MacLeod writes one story a year, this term is apt.  The whole process of creating a book is a mystery to me, but reading this book has made it understandable.  I still have no clue where the creative part comes from.

Finding good books is not easy.   I read reviews and ask friends and relatives but I never expected to find a book of this quality at the Readers Festival in Port Medway.  I am enjoying it thoroughly.

July 30, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Downton Abbey.

Now we are up to date.   Ken and I have watched the whole series three of Downton Abbey.   Irene and Dave brought us the third series, but it took us awhile to sit down and stay still.    We watched the first episode in Mississippi with the girls but they were not so entranced this time around.   Perhaps the series one and two was better, or perhaps at the farm when we watched every evening after dinner, the distractions were limited for Kate and Mary Frances.   But here in Nova Scotia, the peace and quiet allows time to focus, so we watched every episode.

This third season of the series seems not as interesting.  Or perhaps the flaws of the principles became  irritating.   It will be interesting to see how the next few seasons works out with the ratings, which have declined each year.   Ken and I enjoyed series three.   It was just not as much fun as the first and second year, probably because we were not watching year three with the girls.   Having young, enthusiastic young ladies by our side makes everything seem like more fun!!

I read the story of the real castle and I must say, that the truth was more interesting than the fiction of Downton Abbey.  Certainly worth reading.

July 29, 2013. Western Head, N.S. A Tea Party.

We sat around the dining table and drank a cup of tea,  just like in the good old days.   The cups were fancy porcelain cups and saucers along with pretty small plates.   I poured the tea at the table.   And we ate small squares of cheese cake.   It was very elegant, with the five of us sipping from our fancy cups.  

Shirley and Ted live in Toronto.    Several years ago they rented the house owned by Gill,  right next to her own house.  For some reason, I invited them to a party in our home and they became one of our group.   Ever since that time, they have spent a month in Nova Scotia, and we always get together.   Now they rent a house at the end of Summerville Beach.    Originally they came to visit their former neighbors from Toronto, who moved to open the Morton House, a lovely B&B.   Of course, we are good friends with Martin and Myles too so perhaps that is why we have all become friends.

Ted is a real estate agent in Toronto and he likes to talk business with me, but I change the subject.   I am a "has been".   He told a story today that I had a difficult time keeping quiet.  One day I will tell him how he should have handled the situation, maybe.

I have decided that I will use the fancy cups more often.   The table looked lovely.

July 28, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Jeanette Arsenault

She is Acadian and she is a performer, born and raised in Prince Edwards Island.   Last evening,  the Kiwanis Club of Liverpool held a fundraiser, with Jeanette singing and playing her Tribute to Acadia.   I am always astonished at the expertise of the Maritime musicians.    And I am also fearful for their future.   Being a musician is difficult, with no job security.   Their life is the opposite of a tenured professor in academia.   For instance, Jeanette lives in Belleville, Ontario although she tours the Maritimes each yearT

Her voice is beautiful and her 90 minute program was a delight.   She sings in both French and English, telling the Acadia story, along with her family history.   The only fact I would have liked to learn would to know how her ancestors ended up in Price Edwards Island after the expulsion in 1755 from Nova Scotia.   It is a story that needs to be retold,  as it was an unbelievable event.    Jeanette gives a tribute to the Arcadian, who not only survived but thrived  as they wended their way back home, although without their original land and homes.  Their spirit never died, nor their talent for singing and playing.

All by herself, Jeanette is a tribute to the Acadians, with her talent and sparkling personality.    Unfortunately, the Astor Theater was not full but those who attended were enthusiastic.   Mary, Walt and I enjoyed the show enormously.

July 27, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Our Friends.

First we purchased our home in Nova Scotia.   Wendy thought we had lost our mind, until they came to visit and saw how lovely a spot it really was.   Next Gill visited and decided to buy a lot across the bay.   She was the one who called Wendy and Clausen and convinced them to buy the lot adjacent to us.  The Mitchell's soon followed by buying the lot next to them.  Soon, our home was being refurbished at the same time as the three new homes were being built.    Christmas 2001 we all celebrated together in Nova Scotia, all in our new homes.

Mary commented that we would watch each other get old and die,  summer after summer,  just as her parents had done at Carmel, California,  and we agreed.   But what we have also been doing is to enjoy each other's children and grandchildren, year after year.  After all, we all lived in Bethesda when the children were young.  Now we get to see the children of the children,  which gives us great pleasure.

Thursday,  Tojo and Connie and their two boys arrived from Baltimore and tonight Tucker and his three children will arrive.   Soon, Mitch and Vickie and their three children will visit too.  It will be a great celebration when we all get together.    Ken and I are grateful that we live part of the year right next to our good friends.   And we are are especially delighted to be able to see the children grown up and with their own children.   It is one of the great pleasures of life.

July 26, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Pat and Mal.

Tonight we ate dinner at Gill's, welcoming Pat and Mal to Nova Scotia.   Gill cooked a delicious meal. Mary and Walt were there, also Karen and Ron.  Ken was ill but I was there.   Pat and Mal were to arrive this afternoon but when Gill e mailed,  inviting them to dinner,  Pat realized that their schedule was wrong and they are really arriving next Thursday, August 1st.    As Gill had already done the shopping and invited the other friends, she decided to just go ahead and welcome Pat and Mal in abstencia.

Schedules are difficult.   It really does not matter to us as no one else will be visiting us the rest of the summer.   The only issue is the rental of the Guest House.   I had told the property manager the place would be empty on August 10th, so now I must ask Pat and Mal if they wish to spend part of their visit in the Guest House and then move over to our house for the rest of their visit or just stay with us.   I must alert them before they arrive.    I am often in error with schedules but in this instance, Pat and Mal had to change plans, as Pat's sister decided to visit from Vernon.  They just forgot to let me know.   The only problem is they missed a lovely dinner, but we welcomed them anyway!!

July 25, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Quartet.

Both Ken and I loved it.  It is funny and touching, but moves along quickly so it is never boring.   Dave and Irene gave us the DVD for Christmas, or when they just visited us,  but it took us until now to take the time to watch the movie without distractions.   Dustin Hoffman was the Director.   The movie is entertaining but in addition, there are many aspects of the aging process that are hilarious.

I was reminded of  Updike's book "The Poorhouse Fair", but not as serious,  but under the surface, all the old folks are doing the best they can as they get through their  "golden years".   The other part of the movie that I thought interesting is that the musicians/residents were all playing themselves, except the leads.

It seems most everyone has seen Quartet, except us,  until now.   We seem to live in a different world, but now, thanks to Irene, we have enjoyed this wonderful life affirming movie.   Everyone who has any interest in the aging process would enjoy Quartet.

July 24, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Porcupines.

He was hiding under a tarp on the deck, right beside the hot tub, sound asleep.   Immediately when Ken pulled away the tarp,  the animal's  back, like a flash,  turned toward Ken and the bristles stuck straight up.    Ken came to me to see the porcupine, whose head by now was pressed into the wall of the fencing with no escape route.    He quietly stayed still while we inspected him from afar.

We have been noticing scat on the deck and suspected a porcupine but we did not expect to find it living under our tarp.  At one time, the tarp covered the hot tub for the winter, and it is only lethargy that left it there.   The hot tub is not working so we are irritated.  Fortunately, Ken did not step on or touch the porcupine, but we were pleased to see it, up close and personal.

While we watched, he finally waddled away across the deck, paying us no mind at all.   Porcupines have poor vision so  perhaps could not even see us watching him.   He was a pretty little guy.  Now I hope he lives somewhere else.

July 23, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Complications.

Our life is complicated.    We are always going from one place to another.  Just keeping track of our schedule is difficult, but Ken and I seem to thrive on action.  We like projects.   When our life is calm and the houses in order, we actually look for what to do next.   Here in Nova Scotia, we are set with our life.   The main house is lovely, as is the Guest House, and the Cottage is everything we need in a cottage.  Ken and I have decided to open our properties to the public to rent, when we are not in residence.

It is a bigger deal than we thought.  So far, we have selected a property manager, Miguel and Monique, a very nice couple who have relocated here from Holland.  We like them so what started out as a rental of the Guest House has become renting all three of the properties.   Right now, a couple is staying for a week at the cottage, and there are two different bookings at the Guest House in August.

But Ken and I have work to do.  Today we purchased two single mattresses for the cottage and we must buy more sheets.  I do not have two sets of sheets for every bed.  Unfortunately, you can not buy sheets in Liverpool so I must drive to Bridgewater.  And we must use different terms.  Miguel and Monique call the Guest House the Cottage, and they call the Cottage The Cabin.  Fortunately, they call our home The Gull Bay Home.   Already, our complicated life just got worse, but we like it.

July 22, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Loretta and Buck.

Loretta and Buck moved to Liverpool in 1978, from their home in Newfoundland.  When they were transferred here by the Bank,  they had three young boys, who now have children of their own, but still live in Liverpool.   In fact, two of the boys and their families live just across the street.   It is certainly a different world to the rest of us.   During the time we were there, one son stopped by with two children for a quick swim while another son stopped to borrow butter.   It is very convenient for all.

Because they are from Newfoundland, many phrases pop up that are new to us.  Very often I can not catch the meaning.   Buck likes to fish and hunt.   In fact he has four beatifically trained hunting dogs, two setters, one pointer and one beagle.   He just returned from two weeks fishing in Newfoundland so he is full of stories of Newfoundland.

Last evening, Loretta and Buck invited us to dinner.  We very often get invited all together.  Gill,  Mary and Clif and Ken and I enjoyed our dinner together with Loretta and Buck.   We ate seafood casserole with rice along with a big salad.   But what a treat we had for dessert:  home made crepes stuffed with cheese, and covered with blueberry sauce.  Delicious.

The only bad part was that we five had a major argument, right in front of these lovely gentle people.  Next time, we must be better behaved!!

July 21, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Reader's Festival.

It was held at The Old Meeting House of Port Medway.  Last evening was my first event.   Normally,  by the time I hear about the event, all tickets have been sold but last summer Gill got smart and put herself on the e mail list for the announcement,  so this year we bought tickets early.   Actually, Gill bought the tickets and I paid her after the fact.   Last evening was the first of the three author's readings.

Port Medway is a small community but every year they invite three authors to Port Medway to read from their work and discuss their books, at three different times through the summer..    The building is circa 1832, but due to the efforts of The Reader's Festival, the old building has been restored.   The event began as the fun raiser for the Old Meeting House so this small committee decided on The Reader's Festival, which has turned out to be very successful.   Last year Margaret Atwood was one of the three authors, and the year before was Alistair Macleod,  so the authors are not insignificant.   This small group of very literate people put on an amazing event.  I am not sure how they do it,  year after year, but I am glad they do.

The author last evening was Ami McKay, reading from her new novel, The Virgin Cure.   Her first book was The Birth House, which was the #1 best seller in Canada in 2007.   The talk and discussion took an hour, followed by a reception and book signing in the firehouse.  Gill and I enjoyed the event and were glad we attended.   The 1832 Meeting House is charming and the reading and discussion enlightening.  The book is worth reading too, especially if you are a woman doctor.   Gill and I both feel fortunate to be born in the first half of the 20th Century and to be spending summers in Nova Scotia..

July 20, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Home Again.

The difference was remarkable.  All of a sudden, the breeze was cool.  We drove home along the shore road, which was unusual.  Our pattern is to drive along the shore road when driving into town but to come home overland so, with the last curve, you come upon the open ocean from the top of the hill.   But today, with Ken at the wheel, we drove home along the coast road.

We knew immediately when we felt the cool breeze.   The air conditioning in the old truck was not working so the windows were open.   The drive home from the cottage was hot and both Milton and Liverpool was stifling but once we caught the breeze from the ocean, all was well.   It was cool at Western Head and we knew we were home.

July 18, 2013. Western Head, N.S. The Cottage.

The cottage season is short in Nova Scotia.    When the black flies disappear it is time to be comfortable  at the cottage, usually in mid July.  Tonight we will spent the night at the cottage, hoping the black flies have disappeared.   The mosquitoes are generally not a problem due to the breeze, but sometimes in the evening when the wind has died down, sitting outside is difficult.   This is really the first time this year that we felt comfortable staying at the cottage, and we are past mid July.

August and September are the best season of the year at the cottage.   By then, the lake is warm and the bugs are gone but this year we must leave the last week of August so we will avail ourselves of the cottage while we are here.

We enjoy the cottage.  It is remote and quiet and simple.   One problem with the cottage is the lack of Internet which means no e mails and no blog.   And our cell phones work best down by the dock.   Ken putters while I read and look for loons.   If we are lucky tonight, we will hear their song, that wonderful sound of the wild.   It will be worth the visit.

July 17, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Coming and Going.

People are always coming or going.  It is our habit here in Western Head to celebrate both.    Our four families now spend most of the summer here, along with other Bethesda friends who have been here five years and we all have guests,  so we celebrate when guests arrive and we celebrate when they  leave.  

Last evening, Gill hosted a cocktail party to say farewell to Dave and Irene, who must leave for Ontario tomorrow.  In addition, Clausen must return to Washington for one week of work.   Eleven of us gathered on Gill's deck to enjoy the weather and each other, drink beer and wine and eat her goodies.    It was pleasant indeed.   Perfect evening.

Tonight at our home we ate our last supper with Dave and Irene and Betty and Vinal.    Betty cooked duck, the same ducks shot by Vinal.   I prepared the mashed potatoes while Betty did the other vegetables along with gravy and stuffing.   Evidently, you always serve stuffing with wild duck, along with cranberry sauce.  The dinner was delicious.   It was the first time for duck for Irene.  I was responsible for desert;  Peak Frean biscuits and fresh fruit.  No home made pie for me!!

Normally people say that they will see each other next year, but this year, as our 55th will be in Texas, they are saying "I will see you in Texas in October."   We will be ready for more comings and goings!!

July 16, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Charlotte Lane.

Roland and Kathleen had an idea.   They wanted to own their own restaurant and they wanted to own a high quality restaurant.   Kathleen was born and raised in Nova Scotia while Roland was from Switzerland and raised in a family that owned and ran an excellent restaurant.   Roland and Kathleen met at the Banff School of Fine Arts.   Opening a fine restaurant is expensive so options were limited.

They chose Shelburne, Nova Scotia and bought a small house, on Charlotte Lane.   The second floor they made into their living quarters and turned the first floor into their restaurant.   The front room became a small gift store, with the back room the eight tables.  Roland is the chef.   The food and service are excellent so their restaurant has become a destination.   Charlotte Land has been named the best restaurant in Nova Scotia and Roland cooks at a festival in June of The Taste of Nova Scotia in Toronto.   Roland is an excellent cook while Kathleen runs everything else, which includes hiring and training their excellent staff.  There is nothing slipshod about Charlotte Lane.

I am not sure what I like best when dining at Charlotte Lane;   the food or the idea.  I love the concept that these two people have done exactly what they set out to do.   They run a high quality small restaurant for seven months of the year.   The rest of the year they either travel or visit Roland's family in Switzerland.   And the food is divine.  The drive from Liverpool is well worth the journey.

July 15, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Parking.

Anyone watching me would think I was nuts.   This morning at the grocery store, it took ages for me to find a parking spot that suited me.   I was driving the old truck.  It has issues.   It is a truck so is long and wide and it is old,  so has no beeper when backing  into a solid object, so I like to park right beside an end of the line of parking spaces.  I need to be able to load the groceries.  And of course,  I want to drive forward.  No backing up for me.   This morning, it must have taken me ten minutes to find the perfect parking place.

Normally, when parking, I drive directly to the spot and park,  usually as far away as possible from the entrance of the store, in order to have a longer walk.   When Ken is parking, he searches for the closest place, but not me.   I immediately park, except when I am at the grocery store.    Today, I got the giggles, as it took me several trips around the lot to find the perfect spot.   Finally I hit the jackpot and I was happy.

When returning to the truck with all my groceries, I had plenty of space to load up, as I had parked in the last spot in the row,  and I drove right ahead to leave the lot.   Anyone watching me would know I was very old, or very crazy, or maybe both.  But I knew what I wanted and it just took awhile to reach perfection.   Parking a truck in the parking lot of the grocery store is not easy!!

July 14, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Brunch.

Every Sunday morning, Ken cooks bacon.   It is our habit to eat Sunday breakfast late, so we really eat a Brunch.   It is a very pleasant custom, something we have done for forty years.    For so many years, Sunday morning was rushed.  Getting to Sunday School and Church, including Songsters and Band was hectic,  so our leisurely Sunday mornings now is a special joy.

Today we were to eat Quiche,  sausage rolls, and fruit.   I had a large box of small sausage rolls in the freezer, left over from last season and they needed to be eaten.   Dave and Irene were happy to oblige.   The only problem this morning was that there was no Quiche in the freezer so our brunch consisted of fruit, lots of sausage rolls, and fruit,  and of course, coffee.   Even without the quiche, it tasted great.

The day was glorious.   Blue sky, 70 degrees, not a cloud in the sky.   By 2:00, we four were hungry  so Irene suggested we dine at the Quarterdeck.    Sitting on the porch is a perfect place to dine when the weather is good because you sit right on the beach, so we knew it would be a good choice.   When we arrived at the restaurant, we discovered that their Brunch goes on until 4:00, so we went ahead and ate another Brunch.    I think we really ate Luppers, the meal between lunch and supper, but they told us at the Quarterdeck that we ate Brunch.   They did not know we had already eaten Brunch.  We enjoyed it anyway.  Good food, lovely setting, bill paid by Dave.   It does not get any better!!

July 13, 2013. Western Head, N.S. A Cocktail Party.

This evening, Dave and Irene hosted a cocktail party in their Nova Scotia  home,  our new Guest House.   Friends here are gracious to invite our house guests into their homes for dinner and cocktails.     Dave and Irene help when we entertain but they wanted to invite friends to our new Guest House all by themselves.   It was a very nice gesture and it turned out to be a big success.   Fortunately, the weather was perfect so we used the deck as well.    The Guest House is really one room, 24 by 32,  but is not big enough for many people.

Smoked salmon, crab dip, and Canadian cheese is what we ate along with crackers and nuts, and we drank wine. It was all delicious, all organized by Irene.   Everyone enjoyed the party.  By 7:45,  everyone went home and Ken and I along with Dave and Irene ate ice cream for dinner back in the main house.   It was a perfect ending of a lovely event.

July 12, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Margarita and Miguel.

Gill and I met them at Privateer Days.   They were standing behind a table talking to people about seasonal rentals.   Gill owns a house right beside her main home here in Nova Scotia that she calls Peace and Plenty.  She rents it out for short periods of time during the summer season normally one week at a time.  The company managing it is in Shelburne which is not ideal so Gill is unhappy with her rental company.   Because of that, she and I stopped to chat with the nice couple who have moved here from Holland and who now handle seasonal rentals, along with their own Blueberry Inn B&B.

One thing led to another.   When Gill's current contract expires, Gill will use the new people.   And I agreed to have them come and look at the Guest House to see about renting it out when we are not here.   Both Ken and I met with them both and liked them, resulting in us allowing them to rent the Guest House when it is empty and the main house when we are not here.   Neither of us know if this is a good idea or not but we will find out.    This season, we must leave early to get to Texas for our 55th, so for the best part of the season, both houses will be empty,  which seemed a shame.  This is such a lovely spot that it seemed selfish to leave it closed up so we are allowing it to be rented out.   The Guest House will be fine as it is new but the main house is full of personal belongings and family photographs.   I refuse to move them.   As with every new venture, we must find out how things work out.

It is a perfect example of one thing leading to another and heading us onto the unknown!!

July 11, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Seascape Restaurant.

It is a perfectly ordinary restaurant, right on the main highway of 103, just past Hunt's Point, but  their fish and chips are delicious.   We four are not in love with fish and chips.    Too much grease for us.  Always, at least once on every visit to Nova Scotia, we eat fish and chips at The Seascape Restaurant and we pretend to be natives.    The fish is always fresh and the batter is light so the fish is tender and tasty.

People in Nova Scotia know and like their fish.   They only eat haddock, not cod, and the fish must be fresh and hot.   The other night at Lane's,  the folks at the adjacent table sent the fish back because the fish was not hot enough.   Most people will tell you that the best fish and chips are cooked at The Seascape Restaurant which of course is why we started dining there.

The restaurant has been run by the same family since 1928.   The small house was built in 1796 by the same Campbell family, which has owned the place ever since.   The present couple, who are in their fifties, took over from his parents when they got too old to run the restaurant.   It old times, the family lived in half of the house while running the restaurant in the other half.  Now that half is a convenience and liquor store.    The restaurant is small but is well worth a visit.   Ken ordered berry and rhubarb pie for dessert, made in their own kitchen.   That alone was worth the drive.


Now I have completed my task of pretending to be a Nova Scotian and eaten fish and chips.   It is enough, even though the Seascape Restaurant serves the best fish and chips in town!!

July 10, 2013. Western Head, N.S. The Garden.

It did not start out looking like it did today.   Frances and Kelly bought a perfectly ordinary home on four acres of land set up high over the shore.   Their property is not actually on the shore but as the land falls off quickly to the ocean, their view from their home and their yard is of the sea and is magnificent. The yard was only trees and bushes.   Bit by bit, the reclaimed their land.   Now it is a showplace.

Every time we see their garden, Kelly tells us that they are not exposing any more of the yard.   "No more rocks and flowers," says he.  "We will just maintain what we have done already."   But the next time we visit,  another area has been added with more flowers and more rocks and stones.   The whole place seems as if you are in a large public garden.   There are flowers in every direction, all planted around large rocks.  

Both Kelly and Frances tell us that there was no grand plan.  They started in one area and just kept going, one area after another.   Now it is gorgeous.   My brother suggested today that they should charge admission.   It has been amazing to watch the development year after year.   It is interesting to see what happens with hard work and keen imagination.

July 9, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Storms.

Living at the shore has many charms, not the least is watching storms come across the water.    A bank of dark fog appears a long way out at sea.   In addition you can hear the thunder and see the lightning but a long way away.  Bit by bit, the rain comes,  followed by the thunder and lightning surrounding the house.  It is a beautiful sight to watch the storm appear in the distance and then get closer while I am snug as a bug in the comfort of my own home.

The storms usually last a short time and do not raise anxiety.   They just move onto the land and disappear.

Yesterday at lunch, Irene thought a truck had come into the yard but it was really a storm out at sea.    We watched it as it moved onshore.  Soon the lightning was all around us.   It is much more dramatic out at sea where you can watch the lightning go from the clouds to the water.   What a spectacle.   Soon the storm  was over and we four returned to our meal, sitting at the dining table.    It is another of the charms of living by the shore in Nova Scotia.

July 8, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Dinner at Friends.

Last year, at the beginning of the summer season,  our four friends decided to stop dinners in each others homes.  Instead, we had cocktails together.    Our system worked.  No one was over worked but we got to visit our friends throughout the summer season.    Last week both Gill and the Mitchell's were out of town so Wendy and Clausen invited us for dinner at their home which is against the routine for the group.  We have decided to keep out dinner a secret and never tell Gill or Mary and Clif.   It will be our own small joke.

Unfortunately,  the day was hot,  the hottest day of the year in Liverpool, so sitting outdoors  on the Ely's deck was impossible.   But we all decided that we had all been hotter in our life so we could handle the heat.   After all, they were born and raised in Alabama and we lived in Texas for six years.  Our dinner was lovely.  Wendy is a good cook and Clausen makes good salads and of course they are always gracious.   Dave and Irene enjoyed the dogs too although the dogs do not like the heat.

We are fortunate to have our good friends just a walk away for the summer season.   This year the four families will be here all summer.   And we will enjoy each other's company, just not at dinner.

July 7, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Another Outing.

The day was hot.   90 degrees even at the shore.  We four decided on ice cream at Port Medway.   The small general store is our favorite ice cream place in Nova Scotia.   The ice cream is good,  the portions are big,  and the price is low.   Our routine never changes.  We get ice cream at the store,  drive down to lighthouse park by the shore, and finally eat our ice cream sitting in the shade of the gazebo.   It is very pleasant, especially when Dave buys the ice cream.

We drove home along the shore, stopping at Cosby Nursery to see Ivan's Sculpture Garden.   It was a hot day to walk into the woods to view the sculpture but it was worth it.   Every winter, Ivan makes more large pieces for his back garden.  They are spectacular.    He places his pieces on rocks in the woods, all well separated from each other.  There must be twenty five sculptures.   The most interesting aspect of Ivan's work is that the pieces are displayed behind the Nursery he owns and runs but the Sculpture Garden is not advertised so almost no one sees it.   I love the place but we will return another day when it is not so hot.   Ivan is a talented artist but no one seems to know in Liverpool.

The afternoon was delightful but it was a good thing we had air conditioning in the truck.  It was a hot day.

July 6, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Sitting and Looking.

It was a beautiful morning today.   After a late breakfast, I took my second cup of coffee out by the pond, just sitting and looking at the fish and the beautiful flowers.   The area was all done by us.   When we bought our home, there were square concrete squares just behind a rather ugly trellis, so we fixed it.   We had natural stone installed for a patio plus a fish pond and of course, we removed the trellis.   Ken planted the flowers and shrubs.   Now it is lovely.   Our five fish now come immediately when I put in their food.  Clever fish.   In addition to the flowers around the pond, we have five lillies blooming in the pond.    Ken was working in the yard but he came and sat with me for thirty minutes,  the two of us just sitting and talking and looking at the beauty of the area.

This evening from six to seven, Ken and I sat on the deck,  sitting in the shade and looking out at sea.   The gulls gave us an aerial show.   We have several types of gulls here at Gull Bay but they are all wonderful fliers.   There were about a dozen just a bit off shore.   They sit in the water, then take off straight up to look for more fish.   They put on a wonderful display.   We have Great Black Backed Gulls and Herring Gulls.   I finally got my binoculars.

In addition, a bird was singing his heart out, sitting on the picnic table.   I have yet to identify the type of sparrow but I will soon look in the Sibley book, which is my bible.   That bird was also sitting and looking out at sea.  I did wonder if that little bird was also watching the wonders going on with the gulls?   But I will never know.

July 5, 2013. Western Head, N.S. A Productive Day.

Some days you accomplish a lot.   Today was one of those special days.

At 8:00, Doug the excavator arrived to complete the repair of the driveway.   Now our road is better than it has ever been so we are pleased.   After an especially hard rain during the night, our driveway eroded, right beside the gate, giving us no way to get in or out easily, so Doug came first thing on Monday morning for a quick repair.   Today our road is perfect, thanks to Doug, the excavator.

At 9:00, Dan the exterminator came to spray for bugs.   At first, we did not think it necessary to use an exterminator in Nova Scotia, but we were wrong.   This Spring we had a battle with mice, so thanks to Walt and Dan, the critters are gone.  Now Dan is our best friend.   After spraying, we must leave the house for four hours so Dave and Irene went back to the Guest House while Ken and I went to the cottage.

At the cottage, I cleaned the bathrooms and the cottage while Ken vacuumed the change house and set up the chairs on the deck.  The day was hot so working outside was not easy so we left several tasks for another day but now the cottage is clean and ready to be used.   Sitting on the deck was pleasant with cool breezes coming across the water.    It is a charming spot.  

Dave and Irene and Ken and I ate dinner out on the deck at the ocean house being careful to move the table to the shade.  Last week it was too cool to sit outside.  Today it was too hot to sit outside in the sun.   The day was productive and pleasant so I am a happy camper..

July 4, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Happy Independence Day.

Today, Ken and I actually forgot the July 4th Celebration.  After all, it is not a holiday in Canada.  At 5:15, while sitting on the deck enjoying a glass of wine, we finally remembered, so called our friends Wendy and Clausen and Walt and Mary, to come and join us for a glass.  It seemed unpatriotic to drink alone.  Dave and Irene are here but they are Canadians.   It was nice, chatting with friends and watching the ocean.  We served no food so it was simple.

After they left,  Ken suggested that we celebrate the 4th by eating a big bowl of ice cream for our first course at supper.  It was a great idea and tasted great.   We had eaten our dinner at noon, which is the custom in Nova Scotia, so we four were not really hungry.  Then Dave set out cheese and crackers which we ate while watching the sunset.  It was a perfect July 4th celebration.

July 3, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Together Again.

Now we are all here in our homes in Nova Scotia.  Yesterday, the Ely's arrived so the  group is in place for the rest of the summer.   For hundreds of years, people grew up and lived near their friends so walking from home to home was easy and you could regularly walk over to see your good friends.  But  the modern life is different.  

One of the joys of our life in Nova Scotia is walking over to your good friend for tea.  This morning at 10:30 I walked next door to the Ely's house to give them a welcoming hug and to drink a cup of tea.  And tonight we all dined at Lane's  where there was good conversation but where no one needed to cook. It was a great pleasure.   Now we look forward to the rest of the summer together.  We are all smiling.   And the sun shone this afternoon too.  Whew.

July 2, 2013. Western Head, N.S. A Drive.

It was merely spitting rain this morning after breakfast, so we four decided to drive along the shore to Bridgewater.    You drive right along the ocean until the LaHave River, when you drive right along the shore to Bridgewater.  Half way up we take the little ferry to the other side.   Today would be the first drive along this familiar road and we wanted to check on all our favorite places.

After a half an hours drive, the rains came again but we ignored it and persevered.  We first stopped in at the studio of Hugh Crosby.   I bought two small pieces of pottery.  The Cafe at Broad Cove was open for lunch but too early for us.  A bit further along The Joy of Antiques was open for business in it's new location.   It is always nice to see our old friends each year.  The new Potter had survived his second winter  and seemed cheerful; and the LaHave Bakery had too many people to bother to stay for lunch.   All our favorite places were still open for business which pleased us all.

We could not get out of the truck on the ferry because of the heavy rain.  Lunch at The Two Chef's Restaurant was excellent.  On the way home we stopped at the Village Nursery.   I have never seen so many blossoms in their greenhouses.   The constant rain has been causing the nursery folks fits with the mould, where it is getting at the blossoms.  I am so glad I do not run a Nursery.

The drive is nicer when the sun shines but it was a lovely drive even today.

July 1, 2013. Western Head, N.S. Rain and Fog.

It should not really matter.   Since last Wednesday when we went to the cottage,  the weather out our front window has been only rain and fog.   Often it rained so hard you could not go outside even wearing a rain coat.  And you could not see the Ocean at all.  This is the longest sustained bad weather since we moved here in 1999.  Yesterday, both Gill and Mary gardened in the spitting rain.

The ground is soaked and without the sun our garden vegetables are not growing.   They are probably rotting in the ground.  It is very unusual weather indeed.   However, our routine is to ignore the weather and just proceed with our lives.   When we hear of the temperatures in the southwest, we remind ourselves that we live here because it is not 100 degrees F. in Liverpool, so we are content.

But although it does not really matter that the fog and rain appears to never end, we want the sun shining across the water so we can see Gill's house.   We haven't seen her house from our deck for days.   Ken reports that the sun will NOT come out tomorrow.   But we continue to hope, even though it does not really matter!!