August 31, 2014. Western Head, N.S. Well Water.

We ran the well dry this morning, showering and laundering sheets and towels. With 6 people living in the main house and 2 in the Guest House, we are using lots of water. Ken also added water to the pond, so when Irene attempted to get a glass of water for David, the taps were dry. We were in the midst of the changing of the guard with Dave and Irene leaving for Hamilton this afternoon. Sheldon and Ruth arrived yesterday afternoon so we were a family of 8, but only for a short time. We got lucky today. Don and Doreen and Sheldon and Ruth went to see White Point Resort this morning so knew nothing about the lack of water. Ken's first thought was to clean the filter which he did and immediately the water began flowing. By then, Dave and Irene had left for the airport so the water was in perfect order by the time the guests returned. Sheets and towels were clean and dry and the water was flowing. Life was good at Western Head. Our well is old and is a dug well. It is so dependable that we forget that we are using water from a very old dug well. I know better but today was a good warning to us. We must space out our laundry loads. And to clean the filter more often!!

August 30, 2014. Western Head, N.S. Don and Doreen.

We have been friends with Don and Doreen for over 60 years. As couples, I believe they are our oldest friends. The four of us were friends before we married and have been fast friends all through the years, even though we moved from Toronto in 1964. But we have always kept in touch. Now that we are all retired, we are able to get together more often. Amazingly, we still enjoy each other's company. One aspect of being with old friends is the shared memories and the shared people. When David was 2 and not yet a swimmer, we visited Don and Doreen at their Toronto home. They had a swimming pool in the back yard. We were all standing by the pool when Andrew and David ran to the pool and immediately jumped in the water. I told Don that David could not swim so we watched. David came to the top of the water, grabbed the side of the pool and said to us,"That is called swimming". We roared with laughter. David has been a swimmer ever since.

August 29, 2014 Gull Bay, Nova Scotia. Surfing.

For two days the surf was up. Surfers could be seen all day from our deck. It was Showtime, Nova Scotia style. The third hurricane of the season was in the mid Atlantic, passing by Bermuda this morning. Our weather was perfect except for the high waves, which all day yesterday and today were crashing onto our rocks. At any given time all day yesterday and today, black objects could be seen in Gull Bay. The water is so cold that all surfers wear wet suits so when you first look out to the Bay you think you might be seeing seals but on closer look, you see that the surfers are out. First thing in the morning, you see the surfers. By 9:00, the first group leaves for work, to be replaced by the students. All day, the surfers can be found in Gull Bay. It is exciting to watch. While watching from our deck, in addition to the surfers, we spotted seals cavorting in front of our house. A bit further out we saw Ganetts diving for their dinner. But the waves were the most impressive. They were noisy as well as big. In the middle of the night everyone closed their windows as the waves were so noisy. Our home was the perfect spot to watch the show both yesterday and today. We were fortunate.

August 28, 2014. Western Head, N.S. Westcote Bell Pottery.

Success is difficult to achieve when you move to a new country and begin your business in an area where you have no contacts. But the good folks at the Westcote Bell Pottery have made the grade. The husband and wife, Vaughan and Jacqueline moved to Nova Scotia in early 2012. She is an artist and he a potter. They are both excellent at their craft. And they have worked very hard. First the made presentable their studio overlooking the river. The early 19th century fish shack has been transformed. Now they both work while "listening to the waves breaking under the studio". This quote is from their brochure. They live in an old home across the street with thousands of flowers in their front yard. Today, we four were delighted to see improvements made to the studio. A new shed in now attached to the pottery studio and a new ramp built up to the side door. The pottery made by Vaughn is spectacular. This winter season he has sold several of his large pots, which sell for lots of money, but what I like the best is that he has many objects that are clever and affordable. This is his third summer at LaHave and they are both doing well. It is such a pleasure to see success in action.

August 27, 2014. Western Head, N.S. Another Celebration.

A 56th Wedding Anniversary is worth noting. This evening we celebrated our 56th anniversary in style, although at our age, our style is quiet. We shared dinner with our friends in our own home. It was lovely to share with our long time friends. No better way to celebrate than having dinner quietly at home. Our guests included my brother and sister in law, Dave and Irene; Don and Doreen, who are our oldest friends; and of course our good Nova Scotia friends, Gill, Mary and Clif, and Mary and Walt. Ken and I are still not up to huge celebrations, so this evening's dinner at home surrounded by loved friends and family was the perfect event. Our dinner was easy but delicious. Smoked salmon for appetizer, provided by Dave and Irene, followed a salad of greens and beets. Seafood Chowder made by Betty was next, served with bread and rolls. For dessert we ate cantelope and blueberries, served with poppy seed loaf and banana loaf, baked by Doreen. Irene and Doreen were huge helpers in the kitchen. I may do all my entertaining when I have house guests. Right now, an hour after the guests have left, the kitchen is back to normal with all dishes in the cabinets. It is a wonderful thing to have willing workers. It is fitting that Don was here to celebrate with us in Nova Scotia because Don was Ken's best man. We are fortunate to be walking and talking and enjoying life and each other. Who would have dreamt!!

August 26, 2014. Western Head, N.S. Liverpool Pizza.

When does an event become a tradition? Irene suggested we go out for Pizza after the band concert last week, so we did, and it was a big hit. Ken and I and Dave and Irene ate salad and Pizza at the Liverpool Pizza Cafe, a restaurant we had driven past thousands of time. My always generous brother and sister in law paid the bill. We were all very happy. Tonight, Don and Doreen joined the four of us at the band concert, so Irene suggested that we continue our tradition of dining on Pizza after the concert. Everyone agreed that traditions are important, even though we had only done it once, so off we went to the same Liverpool Pizza Cafe for salad and pizza. As usual, the food was great and the service excellent. The 6 of us were the only folks in the restaurant. And Dave and Irene again paid the bill, which made the other four very happy indeed. Unfortunately, tonight was the last band concert of the summer season so our tradition must await a full year. We hope the tradition will continue in 2015.

August 25, 2014. Western Head, N.S. Seascape.

Once every visit we eat Fish and Chips. The idea is much better than actually eating it. I am not sure if it is merely patriotic or whether we enjoy eating the Fish and Chips but we always and only once eat a meal of Fish and Chips. Every restaurant serves it. The fish is always fresh. Nova Scotians will send the fish back to the kitchen if the fish is not fresh. In our opinion, the best place to eat Fish and Chips is at The Seascape Restaurant, right on Highway 103, close to Port Mouton. The Seascape Restaurant has been a family owned establishment for four generations, always serving food in their same location. The building is a small Cape Cod style home. The first family of Campbells to run the restaurant served food on one side of the home while they lived in the other. As the family grew, dormers were added to the second story and the family lived upstairs. And a small grocery store was opened on the former living quarters. Now the fourth generation does the cooking. The restaurant seats 20 diners while half of the building sells groceries and liquor. The restaurant is cute with Nova Scotia tartan table clothes. The Fish and Chips were delicious on Saturday when Dave and Irene treated us for lunch. Both Ken and I ate two pieces of fish and a half order of fried clams. It can't be good for you so maybe next time we will stop the practice. But I doubt it.

August 24, 2014. Western Head, N.S. Exercise.

Everyone knows about the benefits of exercise but some folks prefer to get their activity the natural way. My friend Mary, when she retired, started to clean her own house. The scrubbing and the sweeping and the dusting gives her plenty of exercise, she says. And she gardens too. She plants and weeds and mulches all with a good deal of vigor. The result is that her garden looks spectacular and her house is spotless, and of course, she stays fit and thin. Ken hates to exercise but he will work in the yard for hours. Being in Nova Scotia works well for him because there is always something needing attention around the property. He gets lots of exercise plus the yard looks better, so everyone is happy. We could live happily in our condo in Chevy Chase because we went to the farm every weekend, where Ken could putter to his hearts content. He feels best when he has real tasks to accomplish. I on the other hand do not like to work in the yard, nor do I enjoy house work. There are just different types of people in this world concerning exercise. Ken and Mary believe in the value of natural exercise while other folks prefer to use weights and walk. Some people would say I am lazy but not me. I just dance to another drummer!!

August 23, 2014. Western Head, N.S. Vodka.

The full title is "Vodka: How a colorless, odorless, flavorless spirit conquered America". It was written by Victorino Matus. In this book, I read everything I could have ever wanted to know about vodka, and more. The amazing thing is that the book is interesting. My interests in life do not include spirits and I know almost nothing about different brands of liquors, but this book some how makes it all seem important and engaging. The book about salt was fascinating, giving you the history of the importance of salt over time. I loved that book, so when I read a review about the book on vodka, I downloaded it into my iPad, thinking it would be similar. It is not the same. You get a brief history of vodka, then you read how vodka became the number one spirit in America, brand by brand. It is actually quite an astonishing fact and you can find it all in this book. I enjoyed it despite the fact that I have no interest in vodka. It must be a good book!!

August 22, 2014. Western Head, N.S. Gillian.

Today was the big day. Gillian has been rehearsing this day for many years and finally it has happened. Her first grand child is visiting her in Nova Scotia. Ever since she built her house she has been preparing for grandchildren. She has purchased multiple crib quilts along with at least 5 rocking horses. Her basement is full of toys. With her own hands, she has built two rocking horses. This all started well before her two boys were even married. Her comment to Mary was that she has been looking forward to this day since the day the boys were born. Gillian is a scientist who deals with genetics so she knows that the most important aspect of any ancestor was that they survived and that they had children. The rest of us in Gull Bay had grandchildren long ago while Gillian waited and hoped. And she prepared her home for her future grandchildren. We are all so pleased that Tim and Kate and baby Sierra are visiting Gill in Nova Scotia, but Gillian is thrilled to bits!!

August 21, 2014. Western Head, N.S. Mistakes.

Usually, mistakes cost money. Sometimes, other peoples mistakes end up putting money in your own pocket. In our instance, it was wine putting wine in our cellar. For many years, whenever they visit, Dave and Irene have sent us a case of wine from the Niagara Peninsula wine area, usually arriving the day after they arrive. The gift is lovely and we enjoy drinking the wine the whole rest of the summer. When Ken and I arrived, we noted that only three bottles were left from last summer's gift. True to form, on Monday morning the UPS man delivered a case of wine for us, given to us by Dave and Irene. We were grateful. The next day, the UPS man delivered another case of wine to us from the same winery. We could not imagine who else would send us wine, so I called the winery. It turned out to be an error. A new employee sent the order twice. The folks at the winery were gracious and assured me that the second case was our wine to drink, as it was their mistake. We are now the proud owners of two cases of wine from Ontario. We are delighted!!

August 20, 2014. Western Head, N.S. Birthday Celebrations.

Ken really prefers to ignore his birthdays. But we celebrate his birthday anyway. Tonight, Dave and Irene took our Gull Bay Group out to dinner at Lanes Privateer Inn, just to celebrate Ken's birthday. We nine were merry folks. The food was excellent as was the service. And we did not sing happy birthday, which pleased Ken. I have never understood not celebrating your own birthday. One year, many years ago, I did not remind anyone about my coming birthday, so of course no one paid any attention. No one noted my birthday, not my children, not my husband, not my friends. It was no fun, so from that day until now, I arrange to have a celebration for myself. Of course, I request no presents at my celebration but I want to note the date. After all, your birth was the most important day of your life. Yesterday Ken turned 78. It is a miracle of modern medicine for Ken to be still walking and talking at 78. It is certainly worth celebrating and tonight we celebrated in style, thanks to Dave and Irene. Ken enjoyed it too!!

August 19, 2014. Western Head. Our Band.

Our band is not really a very good band but we like it anyway. Tonight we attended their open air band concert, held in Brooklyn right on the Mersey River. That is why they call it The Mersey Band. The setting tonight was perfect. The sky was clear and the air was a warm 75. While the gulls soared we listened to the band with pleasure and thanked God that we were living in Liverpool. Ken and I were both brought up listening and playing in good Salvation Army bands so we are critical and irritated by poor playing but we have noticed the improvement in our band. This past year has not been kind to the brass section. The lead trumpet player died. One trombone player can not play due to poor vision. A bass player moved away. But 11 new young people have joined the band. The woodwind department has greatly improved over the past few years. And bless his heart but the bandmaster is choosing music more suited to the abilities of the players. The concert itself was enjoyable. The music was interesting and had good variety. And it lasted one hour. My brother Dave suggested tonight that now that he has retired as a trombone player, he might be able to help the band next year. We will see.

August 18, 2014. Western Head, N.S. A Warm Welcome.

This morning, Gill stopped by to welcome Dave and Irene to Nova Scotia and to drink a second cup of coffee. One of the charms of living in Western Head is having friends pop in to say hello. Today was the perfect example. When you are over eighty, the day after a flight leaves you a bit groggy so today we four hung around the house. This morning, Dave did his exercises. After lunch, when I went to the post office and the grocery store, Dave and Irene took a walk to the church across the causeway. They had just arrived home when Mary and Clif stopped to say hello. They chatted while sitting in the shade by the pond. Dave and Irene have visited us every year since we moved here in 1999 so they are regulars with our group. Shortly after Mary and Clif left and while I had gone for a shower, Betty and Vinal drove over to check on the garden and to greet Dave and Irene. We all 6 sat around the table in the kitchen and talked until 7:00. By 6:00, Dave excused himself to take a short rest. It was a lovely first day in Nova Scotia, being greeted by old friends, especially when the sun was shining. It made the flight on Sunday all worthwhile. Now they have been truly welcomed.

August 17, 2014, Western Head, N.S. Mersey Swing Band.

Twelve musicians who were all good makes for an excellent concert, playing the tunes from the era of the big bands. The plan was to play outdoors on the beautiful grounds of The Morton House B.& B. but it rained so the concert was forced into the Community Center in Milton. Fortunately, the change of venue was on every advertisement so the audience did not stay at home. In fact, there were close to 200 people in attendance. It was a perfect concert of 90 minutes with a 15 minute lemonade break in the middle. Of the 12 people in the Swing Band, 5 were men and 7 were women. This is unusual. When I first looked at the trumpet player I was fearful. She looked shy and retiring which you can't do in a swing band when you are the lead trumpet player. But I was wrong. She could play all right and just blew my socks off. And she was young. Musicians in Nova Scotia can be found under every rock. The numbers are amazing. This weekend in Liverpool was the annual Hank Snow Celebration so there have been concerts all day and evening going on at the the Queens Place Center. The place has been packed for every concert. Gill has attended every one and loved every minute. Nova Scotians enjoy their music.

August 16, 2014. Western Head, N.S. Home At Last.

Coming home is always a pleasure, even though we have been gone only two weeks. And then we snuck home twice to use the Internet and laundry the first week. Today, when we arrived home the sea was wild with white caps as far out as you can see. It was a beautiful sight. Every time we arrive home the scenery catches us unawares. But it is chilly compared to the temperature at the cottage. And of course, the wind is blowing hard. The deck on the water side of the house we added when we renovated and put on an addition. Everyone told us it was a waste of money. "At Western Head you can not sit outside looking at the ocean. The wind is too strong and the temperature too low," they all said. The builder, the consultant at the lumber yard, the former owners and the Realtors all said the same thing. We ignored the advice and built the deck, which we use all the time. But on a day like today, you definitely could not sit on the deck. Global warming has been a good thing for us at Western Head.

August 15, 2014. Western Head, N.S. Joseph Epstein.

Essays written by the same person are best read over time. Joseph Epstein just published a book of his essays called something about Liberal Arts Education. The essays were written over time and just gathered together in one place. The book is organized by topics, not chronological so it makes for easier reading. There is a section on education and another on people, ten sections in total and all informative. I enjoyed reading the essays when I only read one or two at a time. This new book was on my iPad and I read the book bit by bit at the cottage. Essays appeal to me. The writer must look up lots and lots of information in order to pull together the idea he is discussing. And you learn a lot about the author too. He puts his own opinions into the essay. Joseph Epstein has been a writer for 50 years, living in Chicago except for 6 years living in other places, so he is a Chicago writer. Fortunately, he is a good Chicago writer and I enjoyed his latest collection of essays.

August 14, 2014. Caledonia, N.S. Oatcakes.

Oatcakes were introduced to us in Scotland. Ken and I were being served tea in the Library of the Inn. We had checked in, and as soon as we were settled, were invited for tea. The library was magnificent. Of course, the tea was served on fancy cups and saucers and was properly elegant. We both admired the whole scene while we sipped tea sitting by the fire. Then they served us oatcakes, which they told us were a specialty in Scotland. We decided that they were at the opposite end of shortcake, which is also Scottish. We were not impressed as the oatcakes had no flavor and no sugar and were difficult to swallow. We were forced to ask for a drink of water. On Sunday, we visited the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, other words for New Scotland. In one of the markets, I spotted Oatcakes and bought them, just to check my memory. Oatcakes are big, round cookies, about 4 inches in diameter and one half inch thick. And they are heavy. The ingredients are few, beginning with rolled oats and ending with love. The second last item is brown sugar. In other words, there is little sugar in these oatcakes. Much to our surprise, we enjoyed them, in fact have eaten all eight. Ken commented that eating oatcakes is similar to eating his morning cereal. One thing for sure is that the Nova Scotia oatcakes are better than the Scottish variety. We drank wine rather than water with these oatcakes.

August 13, 2014. Caledonia, N.S. Henry Clay.

Sweetness and Light was never part of the political world in the first half of the 19th century. The concept that everyone was nicer and kinder in The Good Old Days in the world of Washington is simply a myth. Recently, I read a comment saying that Henry Clay was the best president we never had, which I thought an interesting comment, but I knew only a few things about Henry Clay. I recalled that he had never been president and that he had worked hard to forge a set of compromises to prevent a civil war. But I did’t know much except what I had learned in history class in high school in Toronto. Now I know lots and lots about Henry Clay. I read it in the book written by David S. Heidler. The title of the book is “Henry Clay: The Essential American. “ He was an interesting character and I am enjoying the story. I was correct in that he worked hard to preserve the Union. And although he tried hard, he never was able to be the president. The book includes many tales of life lived in the early 1800’s and I especially enjoyed that part of the book. We complain that our cell service is not good, but the Clay family had three daughters die, one as a child from whooping cough, and two from unexplained infections, one daughter at 12 and the other at 19. Life was not easy back in The Good Old Days. The book is easy to read and very interesting. And I love reading history books, because you know what will happen next!!

August 10, 2014. Caledonia, N.S. Annapolis Valley.

Today we drove to Wolfville for lunch. Ridiculous but true. We actually rode the two hours in the car of Walt and Mary, our friends from Liverpool. The topography is totally different to the South Shore where we live and we enjoyed seeing that part of the province once again. Our route was on the big highways to Wolfville, then meander back to Annapolis Royal on the old road, Highway 1. Wolfville is at the end of the Annapolis Valley and is the home of Acadia University. The town is busy and very pretty, overlooking the Minas Basin. It is a University town so has many restaurants. We ate at a lovely restaurant that used to be The Acton Grill, which has a new owner but still is a good restaurant. The valley is wide and fertile. Farms and orchards can be seen in all directions. We stopped at three different produce stands. We must have seen thirty. We four have enough fruit and vegetables to last a month. The homes along highway one are beautiful. Ken commented that there must be more well maintained Victorian homes in Nova Scotia than any place in the world. We saw hundreds today. It was a lovely time with our friends today. Our day was not dramatic or fancy but it was thoroughly delightful, topped off by a dish of ice cream at the Avery Produce stand, provided by Mary. We are fortunate to have such friends.

August 12, 2014. Caledonia, N.S. Care Package.

You can’t beat a Care Package. I have always loved them. This evening after dinner, my friend Mary called to say they were on the way to bring ice cream for dessert, which we thought was very nice. They had stopped at the grocery store and thought we could all enjoy dessert together, which we did. They took longer to arrive then I expected. It turned out that they missed the corner and ended up in Caledonia. When Walt and Mary walked in the door, they brought a Care Package for Ken, consisting of 6 short sleeved shirts and two jackets, all clothes that Walt does not wear. On Sunday at lunch, Ken mentioned that he was being careful not to spill on his shirt because he only had one short sleeved shirt at the cottage. When Ken got chilly and Walt brought both of them their jackets from the car, Walt commented that Ken was wearing a heavy jacket. Ken laughed and told him that it was his only jacket at the cottage. We all laughed at poor Ken. Mary remembered the conversation. Now Ken has enough short sleeved shirts to last the week and two jackets, both lighter than the one he owns. The ice cream was really only the excuse to bring Ken a Care Package of clothes. He is grateful.

August 11, 2014. Caledonia, N.S. Readers' Festival.

Terry Fallis was a new author to me, so I was pleased to hear him at the Readers’ Festival Saturday evening. As usual, the event was well attended. In fact The Old Meeting House was packed to the gills. I had not read Terry Fallis because he writes homour. His first book, published in 2008, The Best Laid Plans, won the Leacock Medal for Humour. It is interesting to note that his first book was self published. He put the book, chapter by chapter, on You Tube for free. It was a hit and McClelland and Stewart have been publishing him ever since. His fourth book was published in May, 2014, No Relation. For a writer, his background is unusual. His degree from McMaster is in engineering, although he admitted he has not worked a day as an engineer. But he admitted that he has an engineering mind, which he says shows in his writing. He discussed his works and read from his latest book, which was funny indeed. I purchased all his four books but have yet to read them, because I want to read them in order. Ken is reading the first and although he did not laugh out loud, he said the book is funny. Ken must have enjoyed it because if not, he would have returned the book to me. This was the last event for the 2014 Readers’ Festival. It is an astonishing event in this tiny town on the coast of Nova Scotia. My hats are off to the committee and I wish them well in 2015.

August 9, 2014. Caledonia, N.S. Yard Sales.

It was advertised as 30 Kilometers of Yard Sale. It lived up to it’s promise. All along Highway 8 you could see Yard Sales all the way to Caledonia.. The most interesting aspect of the day was that every yard had 10 or more cars who had stopped to inspect the wares. And everywhere in downtown Caledonia was full of sales and cars. The place was hopping. A week ago, Ken and I went into Caledonia. The place was very quiet with few cars and even fewer people, The next day on Saturday, the place was full of cars, trucks and people. You could bardly find a parking space. What a change. The whole town was taken up with Yard Sales. Ken and I have tried to figure out where all these folks came from? The country? Liverpool? Annapolis Royal? And more importantly, why are all these people pouring over the items for sale? My friend Mary suggested that we should have stopped at the yard sales, just to see what folks are selling. She pointed out that the items for sale are different that what you would find in a Bethesda sale. We did note that we could see newly made furniture for sale so I suppose we made a mistake by driving right by. As we have just sold all our stuff at the farm we are not in the mode of acquiring anything more. But next time we find a 30 K. Yard Sale sign, we better stop. You just never know what we could find.

August 8, 2014. Caledonia, N.S. Mortification.

Recently, my friend and I had a conversation concerning bankruptcy. Several years ago, she and her husband were forced to go through that experience and she said that she had felt mortified the whole time. On a personal basis, she only spoke to three people to give them the information, two friends and one aunt And she cried to me on the phone when she was telling me their plans. The topic was raised in response to our conversation about Andrew. She knew Andrew and his energy and enthusiasm. She suggested that the failure of his business would have been difficult for him to swallow. He was accustomed to success. After my discussion with my friend, I came upon a term written in an essay by Joseph Epstein, ‘profound mortification’. I think it described Andrew. I suspect that Andrew was not prepared to disclose to his loved ones the reality of his business. Instead, he decided to leave it all behind and trust in his family, his friends and his insurance policy. My friend Susan Fitz correctly pointed out to me when Andrew died that “Andrew has no more worries”. But we must carry on.

August 7, 2014. Western Head, N.S. Swimming.

Much to my surprise, the water was pleasant. Getting in the water to swim did not take my breath away. The weather at the cottage yesterday was perfect so after lunch and a nap, I put on my bathing suit and headed down to the water to read. So far this season, I have not gotten into the lake. I was waiting for August where the water is warmer. Ken reminded me at breakfast that August had arrived. But I did not rush. I read for an hour and I drank four glasses of water. Then I waited for Ken to come down. He knows that swimming alone is foolish so he wants to be on the deck if I am swimming. Of course, he was quick to realize that he does not swim well, nor did we have a canoe or kayak by the water so a rescue would be impossible. Instead he brought a life jacket to throw to me in any emergency. We did laugh. After spending a couple of hours on the deck by the water, I had two choices: either go up to the bathroom in the cottage or get in the water to swim and pee. Sad but true, I decided on the water. It is a river after all and the water runs down stream at all times. The water was lovely. I did my exercises out by the raft and was not chilly a bit after getting out. Swimming season has arrived.

August 6, 2014. Western Head, N.S. Churchill and Company.

I am immersed in the world of Winston Churchill. The name of the book is “Churchill And Company: Allies and Rivals in War and Peace” and was written by David Dilks. I am thoroughly enjoying it. It could be tedious as much of the book is made up of quotes. But the book is neither tedious nor boring. It is fascinating. The style of the writing is a bit like reading gossip. Even when the material is difficult, the book is easy to read. Fortunately, I was familiar with the history as there are no explanations as to events and people. The author assumes an informed reader. Unfortunately, with no references books here at the cottage or the Internet, I must depend on my own knowledge, which sometimes is flawed. I have learned from reading this book. It is clear I have not read enough about the Second World War. The chapter on Churchill and Poland is chilling but true, most of which was news to me. Reading about Churchill is always interesting and this book is another in a long line of books about Churchill that I have read. This book has been a pleasure to read.

August 5, 2014. Western Head, N.S. Neighbors.

We met Gary and Joyce ten years ago when we bought the cottage. As we are separated by trees, we can not see when they are in residence. Once, we went to see their cottage when they are adding a small room but normally we both keep to ourselves, although when we speak, they are always pleasant. Gary is the treasurer of our organization so have had dealings with him. At the Lot Owners Meeting, Joyce asked us to come over to see the wedding pictures and to see the completed renovation. I agreed to come over the next day at 4:00, and bring a bottle of wine. It turns out that their daughter was married at the cottage in May and with the firm deadline in mind, they scurried around and completed all their tasks. Now their cottage looks like a real home complete with hard wood floors and two new large decks. And they did most of the work themselves!! These neighbors are salt of the earth people. Both have always been teachers. They have three children, two of which are adopted. Both have elderly parents who live in their own homes, so Gary and Joyce visit both each week, which means their days at the cottage are limited. They live just outside Halifax while one set of parents live in the Annapolis Valley while the other lives in the heart of Halifax. They are 12 years our juniors and have been retired three years but they have not been able to spend as much time at the cottage as they anticipated. Of course, we usually only stay a day at the cottage, so this extended stay worked well to spend time with them. Gary and Joyce are kind, lovely people, living right next door to us at the cottage. Getting to know Gary and Joyce has been a definite asset for us to have stayed at the cottage.

August 3, 2014. Pleasantfield, N.S. The Meeting.

In times past, the meetings of the Lot Owners in Moose Horn Estates has been contentious, but yesterday it was pleasant and enjoyable. Once a year on the Saturday or Sunday of the first weekend in August, the owners gather for a meeting.. When we first bought the cottage ten years ago, I never attended the meeting but one year Ken got himself elected President so now I always attend. The annual dues are $75.which pays for the upkeep of the road, so there is always a discussion of the condition of the road. Often there are complaints, but yesterday at the meeting, the road is in such good condition that no one uttered a peep. I thought for sure that someone should congratulate the man who is in charge of the road, but no one said a word. How long have I been a wall flower? Two years ago, I thought things could get ugly when the family living right beside the public boat ramp complained loud and long about late evening launching, complete with cursing. Another family admitted to the violation but refused to apologize. After this outburst, I decided to boycott the meeting next year, and I did. But this year, all was well, perhaps because the dates were confused. The notice was sent out for the meeting to be held on Sunday, August 2, at 2:00. Of course, Saturday is August 2. It turns out that the two families who were nasty to each other thought the meeting was on Sunday, so missed the Saturday meeting. Sometimes when things are messed up, situations improve. Funny how that happens?

August 4, 2014. Pleasantfield, N.S. Quiet.

It is very quiet at the cottage. Astonishingly quiet. For three days there has been no breeze so the wind does not whistle through the trees. We see about three boats a day and they are on the opposite side of the lake so you can hear the sound of the motor for three minutes. The only sound we have heard all day was softly falling rain this morning. The rest of the day we heard only silence. No people, no dogs, no cars, no machines. Peace and quiet all day long. We are living in the 50’s. I had forgotten the feel of warm soapy water when washing dishes. Our life is without television, radio or Internet. But we do have a cozy house, complete with running water both hot and cold. The refrigerator, including the freezer is full of good food. And the furniture is comfortable. We have nothing to complain about. I have read two books since we arrived on Thursday. As the days have been overcast, I have only been to the water’s edge once. The rest of the time I was reading or eating., all in the quiet of the cottage. Today, I stayed all day long in my nightshirt. I must be getting old.

August 1, 2014. Pleasantfield, N.S.

We are living in Pleasantfield, Nova Scotia. It took until early in the 19th Century before hearty folks ventured out to the interior of Nova Scotia to settle the land. In the 17th and 18th Centuries, transportation was by boat so the center of the province was not settled. But the trees became sparse close to the shore, so people were encouraged to move inland. I suspect the area was called Pleasantfield to attract settlers. Our cottage is on Ponhook Lake, a wide, flat area of The Medway River. We live ten minutes drive from the main Highway 8 on a dirt road and a 20 minute drive to Caledonia, which is a small town, on the way to Annapolis Royal. At the cottage we have everything we need to function. The well water is plentiful and sweet. Our showers work well with plenty of pressure. Once I organized the kitchen cabinets all was well. We even slept well last evening in our tiny bedroom.. And when I was sitting on the deck at the edge of the lake I was visited by 6 ducklings and their mother. They seemed to kind of mew to each other and they had a wonderful time diving under the water finding food. I did not know that young ducks dive under water, at least not Black Ducks. Of course, where else would a duck dive come from? We will enjoy our stay at the cottage

August 2, 2014. Pleasantfield, N.S. Caledonia.

Caledonia is a nice little town. We have visited Caledonia many times but yesterday we investigated for the function of Caledonia. Our list was short but required many stops. We visited the hardware and the pharmacy. Since last summer, the two hardware stores have joined forces into one Home Hardware, while the Pharmacy has taken over the former small hardware. In the former location of the pharmacy is now a new restaurant, The Log Cabin., so now Caledonia has two decent restaurants, plus two food trucks, one a Pizza place and the other selling barbecue. Our last stop was the grocery store. It is a largish small grocery store, run by a husband and wife. It has everything we will need, says Ken. The best part of our visit was the knowledge that both the pharmacy and the new restaurant have free WiFi. We now have everything we need to function.