September 30, 2016. Pleasantfiield, Nova Scotia. Phone Calls.

My habit has been to phone and say hello especially when I had a slow day.  Yesterday, Ken and I were home all day and no one had stopped in to say hello, so by mid afternoon, I was thinking of calling a friend.   Perhaps I had death on my mind but I realized that most of the folks I had chatted with on the phone over the years have died.  I had not actually realized it until yesterday.  I was startled.

Ever since I married in 1958,  Aunt Margaret would call me for a chat.  She was a pretend aunt but a good one.  Right until she died, we would talk on the phone about once a month.  My cousin Diane, who lived in Vancouver,  and I chatted several times each year.  But she died.  My Mother and I talked each week and along with our weekly letters, were able to keep current about family events.  My sister Carol talked to me each week too.   Both my Mother and Sister have died.  And my friend Beverley kept in touch via the telephone but her senility is such that she is unable to speak on the phone, so I can not speak to her.

All my telephone buddies are gone.  An older client of mine gave me advice.  He said that when you turn 80, you must make 2 new friends each year because your old friends will die.  I can see that he was right.

September 29, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Surfers.

The question is "Why do the surfers know when the waves are high enough to surf?"   At 2:00, Ken and I noticed that the waves were rolling in but neither of us thought the waves were high enough to surf.   But by 3:00, we saw the first surfer and even though the waves were not high, the lone surfer was getting some long rides.  By 4:00, there were three and by 5:00 I could see 6 surfers all decked out in black suits riding the waves into the shore.

Our surfers this summer have been deprived.  Only once have the waves been big enough to surf and that was on a very foggy day, which makes for dangerous surfing.  Today in normal seasons, the surfers would not bother to even get into the water, because the waves were not high, but this year is not normal so the surfers are getting  whatever they can get.  The 6 in the water today must be experienced.  They were getting lovely long rides.  I sat on the deck in the sunshine and warm air enjoying their activities.   Our shore is a cobble beach so if a surfer bails out close to shore they land on stones.  The experiences surfers bail out further from shore but I still worry with each trip.

Soon the air got cool and I went indoors.  When I looked outside a bit later, the waves had disappeared and so did the surfers.  For a time, they seemed to be having a great time having fun in the sun.  In the meantime, they hope for a storm.

September 28, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. More Passings.

Rita's father died yesterday at age 91.   Until a few days ago,  he lived in a retirement home enjoying a busy life.  Each day, he visited his wife of 71 years who was in a nearby nursing home.   Four months ago he was diagnosed with lung cancer and given two months to live but he seemed to be thriving so Rita and Ian came to Nova Scotia.  But a week ago, he got an infection and ended up in the hospital.  He recovered so told Rita to stay on vacation.  On Sunday Rita was called by her brother to say that father was failing so Rita and Ian immediately drove to first Ottawa and then Sudbury.  They were able to spend time with him before he died in his sleep on Tuesday morning.  He led a long and successful life and everyone is grateful he did not suffer.   The death of a father is always difficult and sad even when you celebrate his long and happy life.  RIP.

Ross Myers from Liverpool died on Tuesday too.  He was 73.  One year ago, he and I were in the same position.  We both had stage 4 cancer.  We were both white as ghosts and skinny.  The last time I saw him was at our party just before we left for Texas last year.   This summer, he spent much of his time in the hospital and died on Tuesday.  His wife Connie had died two years ago of breast cancer.  They retired to the South Shore in 2003 from New Brunswick and built a beautiful home overlooking the ocean just down the road from us.  He played the bag pipes while Connie played the fiddle and piano.  They will both be missed in Liverpool.  I feel sad that they lived here in retirement for such a short time.  We will miss Ross with his energy and zest for living.   RIP.

September 27, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Rains.

This conversations I hear in Texas but never in Nova Scotia...until now.  The need for rain is on every lips.  Everyone asks about your well.  And they ask when the rains will come.  There has been no substantial rain since mid June.   And before that during the Spring, there was very little rain.  This is a 99 year drought in 2016 on the South Shore of Nova Scotia.

Yesterday, George told us the rains were coming today.  He guaranteed it would happen because he was frantically trying to get a house under roof.   From Ken's forecast, the rain was to fall for 24 hours.  People were delighted.   Sure enough, the rain started at noon, a lovely light rain that appeared would last for the 24 hour forecast.

There is nothing better than taking a nap in the rain so I lay down on the living room couch listening to the rain and the waves.   Perfect for sleeping.   But I awoke an hour later to discover no rain coming down.  All I could hear was the sound of the waves.  Once again, the forecast was wrong.  But the sky is still overcast and a storm is coming up the coast so maybe we will have more rain tomorrow.

The county is giving two cases of water to everyone who has a well.  I will claim mine tomorrow.  The odd thing is that in Texas, they are having flash floods.  6 inches of rain fell at the lake yesterday. The world is going crazy I guess.

September 26, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Chilly Weather.

Last night the temperature dipped to 45 degrees.  Ken turned on our bedroom heat.  The time has come to organize to move south and follow the birds.  Today Gill helped me move tables in the garage to leave space for the truck.  And she and I brought the table from the deck into the garage to be stored.   She also brought in the lounge chairs.  I am grateful for Gill.

The rest of the day I puttered in the garage.  The chest freezer is now empty and unplugged.  The remaining food was moved into the freezer in the kitchen fridge or into the garage fridge to be eaten.  We have been eating on the food from the freezer in the garage ever since we arrived in July.  The other evening Ken and I ate South West Chicken Soup, made by Christina in early July and carefully labelled and stored in the freezer.  It was delicious.

But the days are feeling like autumn.   Even when the sun is shining all day, I need to wear a long sleeved shirt over my T-shirt.  Clearly, it is time to move to Texas.

September 25, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Birthday Celebration.

Today we celebrated the birthday of Walt.  He looked great.  We gathered at Mary and Walt's home for an early 4:00 dinner which was perfect for us oldsters.  Vinnie and Diane were there, also Jean and David who we had not met before today,  along with Ken and I and Walt and Mary.  All of us were delighted to share in this celebration because we all knew it was nip and tuck as to whether Walt would have another birthday.

But there we were, talking and laughing and enjoying ourselves.  Walt is doing well.  He has started to answer his own cell phone.  And recently, he has negotiated several real estate transactions.   Tonight for dinner, Mary served turkey with all the trimmings.  We all agreed that serving turkey was appropriate because we certainly were having a thanksgiving celebration.

September 24, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Blue Jays.

Until last summer, I paid no attention to the Blue Jays, but last summer our friend Don, who was visiting, watched every game they played so I watched some games too.  As is usually the case, as I got to know more about the team and the players, I began to get interested.  My timing was perfect.  I watched the first game last year with Don and asked if they were going to make the playoffs.   Don thought no.  But the general manager traded for some good players and the Blue Jays went on a tear.  Not only did they start winning and made the playoffs but they went deep into the tournament.  Finally their batters forgot to hit the ball and they lost but not until I had great fun watching them win all those games.

Now this is another year and the Blue Jays are again fighting for a spot in the playoffs, hoping to get in as a wild card.  They have just beaten the Yankees twice in a row which pleases everyone.  They have 8 more games in the season, and must win 4 in order to guarantee them a spot.  It would help if Boston would stop winning but it looks as if they will win the division.  And the pesky Orioles continue to win too.  The playoff season has begun and I continue to cheer for the Blue Jays especially when I am in Canada.  When we go to Texas I will have difficulty watching their games, at least until the playoffs begin so I might switch to a Texas team.  October baseball is the best.  I am ready to have fun.

September 23, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. An Excursion.

Our goal was to have a dish of ice cream at the Grocery Store and Cafe in Port Medway.  The day was glorious, a perfect September day.  We had not yet enjoyed their ice cream this season, so after lunch we all four agreed on a short excursion to Port Medway.  To get there we drove the shore road, which is longer but pretty.  The sea was calm with no wind.

The grocery store has been expanded to accommodate more lunch people.  Evidently, at lunch they are crowded.  We got there at 3:30 so ordered our ice cream and sat on their new screened porch at the back to eat our ice cream,.  George built the porch.  Rita treated us all.  Three folks had doubles and one a single scoop.  The bill was $8.00.   We came home one the highway.

When in Liverpool we stopped for fruit and vegetables at Valerie's outdoor market, down by the river.  A new man was selling bread so we now have excellent dark bread, all thanks to Rita in addition to fruit.

When we got home, we sat and drank a beer on the deck.  The evening was beautiful and warm.   Our excursion was delightful all thanks to Ian who drove.  Small excursions are the best.

September 22, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Party is Over.

There is no sense walking along the path to the Ely's house because they have left to return to Potomac.  And in three days the Mitchell's will be gone too.   Our summer party is over.

The summer has been remarkable for many reasons.  Almost no rain has fallen since mid June so we had day after day of sunny warm days.  I prepared our Mississippi friends for cold rainy weather when they visited in July and gave instructions for the location of the boots and jackets but they needed neither.   Twenty five years ago there was a drought but there has not been another since then. Local people are hoping for rain before the frost arrives but it does not look promising any time soon.  Just as a precaution, we have continued to shower at the Guest House, where there is a drilled deep well.

And all four of our friends have been here all summer which has been a great pleasure.  Gill pops in almost every day for a few minutes just to check that we are fine.  And Clausen and Wendy walk dog Tenor over to say hello.  Cliff is always willing to pick up groceries during his daily visits to the gym, so we have enjoyed the company of our friends.  It is like the olden days of the village where your best friends were within walking distance.  We have enjoyed the summer with our friends.

 Soon we will all be returning to other places and pick up our other lives.  Ken and I look forward to returning to Texas to see our family.  But we also hope to return in 2017 to Nova Scotia for another summer party with our friends.  The whole summer has been a treat.

September 21, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Spider Webs.

Every morning,  my friend Sandra goes out her front door to water her plants on the front stoop.  She has  flowers in hanging pots in addition to others on the stairs and landing.    Over night, spiders  make a web from one hanging pot to the other side of the door and every morning she must brush away the web in order to get out the door.   This has happened every day all summer.   The spiders have been hard working.

This week one night, the rains came.  A lovely gentle rain.  By morning, every spider web was covered with tiny droplets of water.  Normally, I could not see the spider webs but now I could see them everywhere.  Beside the pond close to the driveway sits two Alberta Spruce trees.  They sit three feet apart with flowers between them.  A huge web had been made that covered the whole area between the two trees, which are four feet tall.  Every part of the huge web was covered with the glistening drops of water.  It was an amazing sight.  

My main question is how the spider puts the line from the top of the tree to the other?  Actually, with close inspection, four lines went from one side to the other before the branches ran down to form the typical circular web.  It was a marvel of engineering.  When Rita and I left to pick up the truck, we spotted the beautiful web but when we returned from our errands, the droplets had gone and we could no longer see their beauty.  But for a short time, we were able to see all the hard work done by the spiders, thanks to the water droplets clinging to the webs.  

September 20, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Herring Fleet.

There is definitely not a city but right now,  when I look out at sea, all I see are city lights.   In the direction I am looking, all I could sail to would be Bermuda but right now I am either looking at a mirage or at city lights.   What I am seeing are the lights from boats fishing for herrings.  It is an astonishing sight.

While we were sitting in the living room at 6:45, I spotted 15 boats heading out to sea.  At first the boats looked small but when Ian looked with the binoculars, it was clear the boats were good sized fishing boats.  And they kept coming.  Now it appears to be a whole city block all lit up and shining bright.  We are told by our fisherman friend Mike that sometimes there would be 100 boats out fishing for herring.  When they have caught their limit, each boat comes into the dock and unloads the fish which are sold and shipped to places around the world.

The fish only come to our area for a short time.  When the herring are running, the fishermen work long hours.  They get to their boat at 4:00 to get the nets ready.  They like to get to the fishing ground by 7:00 pm.  If they have not met their quota, they quit at 7:00 am.   By the time they weigh and unload  the catch, then clean the boat, they get home by 10:00, just in time to sleep before heading back to the boat for the next day.   The task is exhausting but rewarding.  But for us landlubbers, the sight of the city in the middle of the sea is amazing.  I am just glad that I get to sleep all night in my warm cosy bed while the fishermen are working all night out at sea.   Being a fisherman is not my cup of tea.

September 19, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Frances Y.

Frances looks wonderful.  Two years ago, she met a severe blow.  Her husband of many years, Kelly,  died suddenly.  I wondered how she would weather the storm and sorrow of his passing.   Everything they did was done together from the ukulele strummers to the gardening so I was anxious for her future.  In addition, Kelly was lots of fun, enthusiastic and energetic, so being around him gave you a lift and I wondered how she would manage alone.

Frances misses Kelly every day of her life but she has carried on with her life cheerfully.  She plays in the Mersey Band and the Liverpool Swing Band.  She is still an active member of the Ukulele Strummers.  She is the Band librarian.  Her two little dogs keep her company.  Her garden is still magnificent but she now hires two ladies to help with the weeding and transplanting.  She entertains, but always at lunch.  At least once a week she goes sailing with Mary and Clif.  Her dear friends Ros and Jim have her for an early dinner every Sunday.  It seems that a Sunday by yourself can be lonely.

I once read that a happily married couple have an easier time on the death of the spouse that are those folks who had an unhappy marriage.   Frances is a perfect example.  Kenny and Frances had a happy marriage and made major contributions to their communities.  Frances is carrying on with their tradition.  And she looks just great.

September 18, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Mornings.

One of the great joys of retirement is waking up in the morning any time I just wake up,  rather than waking up to the clock or the radio as we have done all our life.  Most of the time, I wake up around 8:30 but I have been known to sleep until 10:00.    And sometimes I stay in the bedroom all morning and skip breakfast entirely.  The best part is that I do not feel guilty at all.  I just feel pleased with myself.

This morning, we four were invited for Brunch at the home of Karen and Ron.  We were to be there at 11:30.  I slept in, read my e mails and puttered in the bedroom until time to leave for Brunch.  My morning was lovely.  No rushing or fussing.  Certainly, one of the blessings of being retired.

September 17, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Flat Tire.

The young man came do our door wheeling a bicycle that had a flat tire.  I was resting on the living room couch so Rita went to the door.  I could over hear their conversation which is in French, which is unusual in our county.  The young man wanted to know if we had a bicycle pump.  From my spot on the couch I gave directions to Ian for the pump and immediately fell asleep.

Rita and Ian had an adventure.  The young man was an exchange student from Belgium.  He had arrived September 1 and was living with his local family who lived in White Point Estates.  He had gone for a bicycle outing and had a flat tire in the middle of the causeway and came to our door for help.

The tire was split so Ian and Rite put the bike in their truck and drove him home.  The polite young man asked them to come in and meet his family so they did.  The couple knew our home but do not know us but they were grateful and gracious to Rita and Ian to bringing their young visitor home.  The couple had been housing exchange students for 20 years  and told Rita and Ian that the present exchange student was the best they had ever had.  "He is a gem", they said.   After chatting for fifteen minutes or more, they drove home, impressed with the young man, his host family and the whole program.  He attends school in Liverpool but his main purposes is to improve his English.  You just never know what you will learn when someone comes knocking at your door wheeling a bicycle with a flat tire.

September 16, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Walt and Mary.

A celebration was in order.  For the first time since Walt suffered a massive heart attack,  Walt and Mary came to our home for dinner.  We ate a perfectly ordinary dinner:  spaghetti with meat sauce and a salad, with Rita's home made butter tarts for dessert, but we were thrilled to be having dinner together, so we celebrated.

Mary brought us a dozen roses which now sit on the coffee table as a reminder of our milestone.   Progress has been made.  Walt now has dialysis in Liverpool at the hospital, rather than driving to Halifax three times each week.  The cardiologist tells Walt that he is healing well.   And most importantly, Walt is pleased with his progress.  So we celebrated even though no one was drinking any wine.  When Walt left for home, he fed the fish, something he has done at every visit in the past.  There were times when Walt thought that he might never feed those fish again.  We all smiled and cheered.

September 15, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Candy For The Eyes.

Everywhere you look you see beautiful objects.  Once upon a time, Sandra and Bob lived in a home full of antiques.   It was spacious and gracious on the water in West Berlin.   When the Ely's were selecting a dining table, their builder Brian suggested they look at the dining table of Bob and Sandra, which was made for them.  Unannounced and invited, I tagged along.  Immediately I spotted their chairs:  14 matching Sipley chairs.   They graciously toured us through their home.  We have been fast friends ever since.

Four years ago they moved to Liverpool, to a restored home that was built in the early 18th Century.  To say it is charming grossly understates the obvious.  Their home is small and perfect with beautiful objects everywhere you look.   Some of their antique furniture fits in the new home.   The larger pieces are at their daughters.  Unfortunately, Bob died suddenly two years ago.  We continue to enjoy his impact and good taste in their home, which is beautiful.

Seven ladies sat around the dining table drinking coffee,  eating chocolate croissants and strawberries.   Our morning was delightful.  The many years of collecting could be seen in every direction.  Sandra invited us and for the most part, Gill and I behaved.  Only once did we argue about global warming.  I said it had become a religion, not a fact.  Wendy quickly began to discuss a type of hosta she was cultivating, The Empress Wu which brought us all back to civilization.   It was a pleasure to visit Sandra in her home and once again see her beautiful things.   I enjoyed the ladies coffee.

September 14, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Power Of One.

Liverpool now has a town chorus.  Last evening was registration.  This is the second year of the chorus.  Thirty years ago the leader of the Liverpool Chorus moved and the chorus ceased singing.  But now over 70 people have signed up and paid their dues and the rehearsals begin next Tuesday.  This is all happening because of the power of one.

In March of 2015, Chris and Henry were talking with Oscar, the gregarious owner of a shop in Liverpool.   They had retired to Liverpool in 2014 and were living on Shore Road, just down the road from us.   In a casual conversation, Chris asked if there was an adult local chorus.  Oscar picked up a clip board, wrote down Chris' name and handed it back, saying "There is now, and you are the new director."   Last season they had 45 singers and held 3 concerts.  This season will be bigger and better.

Every project begins with one persons idea and the success comes from the huge energy coming from that one person.  It all begins with one person driving the activities along.  There it was again, right before my eyes.  The Power of One.

September 13, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Birthday Party.

Everyone brought a dish and celebrated the birthday of Karen, held at Gill's home.  Everyone loved the idea.  The food was excellent with great variety.  All of Karen's friends were there so I was able to see folks I had not seen this summer which was fun.  Twenty of us sat down to dinner at one long table.    Many years ago, Gill had asked David Nickerson to build her a drop leaf table that would fit at the end of her dining table, which was also built by David.  Of course it was a perfect fit so tonight the dining room looked like a banquet table.   So good to plan ahead.

Karen was pleased with her party which is the most important part of a birthday party.  And everyone was happy to contribute to the festivities by bring a dish.  For Gill, it is still a lot of work but we stayed long enough to return chairs and tables to their rightful place so she will not have too much work tomorrow.  The dishwasher was loaded and ready to go.  People who don't give parties have no idea how much work occurs after the party is over but we left her home in good shape.  Tomorrow Gill goes to New York to celebrate her granddaughters birthday.  But tonight we all celebrated together the birthday with Karen.   The party was full of a festive feeling and a good time was had by all.  Well done Gill.

September 12, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Rita and Ian.

They arrived this afternoon.  We were delighted to see them.  Actually, do one was here to greet them.  When they drove into the yard, Ken was upstairs at the computer and I was on the way home from the grocery store.  Ken never did notice they had arrived until I phoned him when I called him down for lunch.  In true fashion, by the time I got home, Ian had walked the property and was sitting on the lower deck watching the sea, while Rita had already unloaded the dishwasher.  Rita is such a wonderful worker bee.  

This season, Rita is doing a different type of needle work, called Swedish Weaving.  She likes it because she can work and talk at the same time.  It looks to me like a type of embroidery done on a woven blanket.  Eventually, it will be a lap blanket.

We will enjoy their company and we will benefit from their efforts.  Ian will change a light bulb in our bedroom and he will put the window back into the storm door in the dining room.  It is too heavy for Ken and I to handle.  And of course, Rita will take over the kitchen although I am better than last summer, so we will work together with meals.  Our freezer is still full so I announced that we will buy no more food until the freezer is empty,  except of course for milk, fruit and salad stuff.  The same with beer.  We have light beer in the fridge, which Ian does not like but I told him no buying beer until the supply in the garage fridge has gone.   So we will have fun and we will eat up the food from the freezer and we will enjoy each others company.  What could be better than that.

September 11, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Simple Pleasures.

Every Wednesday I would go into the tiny store,  chat with the lady sitting behind the counter on her stool and buy a loaf of rye bread.  I paid the 19 cents for the bread and left.  Our apartment was across the street above the hardware store.  The bread was delicious and the severely handicapped lady always cheerful.  When the store closed and both the lady and the bread vanished, one of the small pleasures of my life vanished too.

Saturday night, I got into bed and another small pleasure arrived in my life in the form of new sheets. I like to use flannel sheets in Nova Scotia.  Several years ago my good sheets fell apart.  I bought flannel sheets in town.  They were not good sheets but I have been using them ever since, complaining in my mind ever since.  The fitted sheet was difficult to make, the top sheet too small.  and the flannel  not fine.  Finally,  Ken ordered new flannel sheets.  He ordered fine, deep pockets sheets.  The sheets were easy to make and soft to the skin.  Another simple pleasure arrived into my life.

Today I sat by the pond enjoying the three blooming lilies.  And three more buds are waiting to bloom.   Even in mid September, the pond is beautiful.   The lilies are another simple pleasure in my life, not dramatic, not earth shaking but make me feel good.  I early learned that the quiet smiles bring great joy.

September 10, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Bob and Janice.

Bob was the real estate agent who listed and sold our Pennsylvania farms.   He and his partner were referred to me by friend Gary.  Three years before we were ready to sell, we had many questions about selling country property and Bob and his partner gave us all the answers.  For instance, we were wondering if we should subdivide the rental property and sell it all by itself as a single unit.  Their answer was wise and we did nothing.  Bob went out of his way to be helpful even though he knew we were not selling soon.  But time goes by.

First we listed and sold the old farm, which we had purchased in 1973.  Then two years later we sold our beautiful farm to a buyer perfect for that farm.  Throughout all the negotiations, Bob remained positive and helpful and efficient.  He was an excellent agent.   When we settled, I e mailed him and invited him and his wife Janice to stay in the Guest House in Nova Scotia.  Much to our pleasure and after consultation with Janice, they made a date to drive to Nova Scotia in September, 2016 to explore the area while staying in the Guest House.

This afternoon late, they drove into our yard.  We were delighted to see them.   We invite lots of people to stay in the Guest House but most people do not take us up on the invitation.  Or they accept, but never make a date to come which always leaves me confused with the calendar.  I have learned to put nothing in the calendar until people give me a firm date.   But now Bob and Janice are sound asleep in the Guest House.  We will enjoy their company and they will enjoy the view from the deck of the Guest House.

September 9, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. A Special Day.

Today, the four ladies took Bernard, our artist friend, out for lunch.  Mary, Wendy, Gill and I try to take him out once each summer.  He likes to be taken out by the ladies and we enjoying taking him.   When you stop by his home for a visit, he often is so keen to talk that it is difficult to get away in a reasonable time but when we take him for lunch, we have a fixed schedule.  We have done this for several years and it works for the ladies as well as Bernie.  Today we took him to White Point.  He had not seen the newly built lodge so he was pleased to see it and we like to dine there too.  We sat in the bar area,  at a big window overlooking the ocean, with Bernie sitting at the head of the table looking out to sea with the ladies on each side of the table with an equally excellent view.  Our conversation was lively and the food was excellent.  Mary organized the event which was enjoyed by all.  And we were driving home by 2:00.

Then this evening, the Dwems's had dinner at the Mitchell's home.  Soon we will move on to other abodes.   But tonight we pooled our resources.  The Ely's brought main course, Wu the salad and bread and Mitchell's dessert.  The Dickies brought only wine.  This whole summer has been busy so we have not seen much of each other.  This was only the second time we have dined together in summer 2016, so our dinner together was a treat.  Again, good conversation and excellent food.

I drove  home.  On our own truck, when you put on the turn signal, a light goes on showing the direction you are driving but this rental truck has no bells and whistles.  When I turned into our driveway I could not see a thing so almost missed it.  I had forgotten to turn on the light by the road so it was very dark.   Ken suggested that perhaps we should stop driving at night.  He might be right.

The day was spent with good friends, which makes for a special day even if I did almost go into the ditch.

September 8, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Swiss Chalet.

Ken and I have a soft spot for The Swiss Chalet.   Before we married,  we went to eat at the Eglinton and Yonge branch of The Swiss Chalet, because we could afford it.   Now, once every summer,  we have lunch at The Swiss Chalet in Bridgewater, just to remind us of our youth.  Nostalgia personified.   I always order exactly what I used to eat all those years ago:  half a chicken and fries with double portion of sauce.  

Coming home from the cottage on Tuesday, we needed to switch our rental truck in Bridgewater so we drove the back roads to highway 10 and then to the the rental place.  When we had completed our switch, Ken and I drove directly to The Swiss Chalet for our annual lunch.  The menu had changed.  They are now serving beef.  Ken ordered a beef Rueben sandwich while I stuck with my chicken.  The most interesting part of eating at The Swiss Chalet is the anticipation.   I am excited to dine there.  The problem is that the food is a bit boring.  Ken's sandwich tasted fine, just not like any Rueben he had tasted before and my chicken was dry.  I guess that is why we only go there once in a season.   But for the first fifteen minutes, I love being there.  And I still like their sauce.  We will continue to return to The Swiss Chalet every year, I feel sure,  even though the food is not wonderful.  We must be in a rut.

September 7, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Pots.

When we bought our condo in Mississippi, we purchased the condo plus the contents.  The young man had married and moved into his wife's fully furnished house so had no need for his belongings.  Our life was easy using his stuff and gradually we got rid of it.   One thing we took with us into our new home was his pots and pans.  I do not cook so never paid any attention to the pots and pans.

Then we hired our Cuban cook.   She gave me a lecture, in her fractured English, about all the reasons why we needed better pots and she put the old ones directly in the garage.   I got the message.  Ken and I immediately shopped at Target for pots and pans.  

When we got to Nova Scotia this July,  I began looking at my old pots and pans, which were mostly purchased at auctions.   They were inferior, with my newly educated eyes, so one by one, I threw them out so now I have very few pots.  Today I went shopping at Home Hardware and I purchased four good pots.   They were on sale too.  The helpful sales clerk gave advice.   I finally admitted to her that I did not cook but I told her that my cousin was coming to visit who is a good cook and I needed pots because I had thrown my old inferior pots away.   She laughed and told me that when her children were young and she cooked all the time, her pots were terrible.  Now that her grandchildren are almost grown,  she has finally replaced her old pots.  But now she does not cook either even though she has new fancy pots, just like mine.  We both laughed at our foolishness.

The next time you are here, look in the lower drawers beside the stove and admire the best pots known to man.  Now we will soon find out if those pots can cook up a mess of good food.

September 6, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Fog and Waves.

The waves are crashing on the shore.  I can hear them from my bedroom but the fog is so thick I would not be able to see them, even if I walked down to the rocks.   When we arrived home from the cottage and made the last turn in the road, the one where we can see the ocean, all we could see was fog.    We could not see the wall or the trees or the water.  Just thick fog.  

The surfers were out in the water.  Their cars were parked on either end of the causeway.   From our deck we could hear them call to each other but we could not see a thing.   This morning, Clausen took Tenor for a walk, specifically to see the big waves and the surfers.  But all he saw was fog and all he heard was the squealing of the surfers and the crashing of the waves.   The surfing went on all afternoon but we could not see a thing.  The whole scene was a bit spooky.   I am sure surfing in dense fog is not safe.

Wendy loves the fog.  Today she was out working in her yard, happy as a clam.   Their home is called The Fog and Bog so today was perfect.  But even Wendy thought that the fog might be too thick and dense for comfort.  I could not even see the trees on our own property.   The sound of the fog horn has never stopped since we arrived.  Wonderful sound.   Very reassuring.   Makes me pleased to be home.

September 5, 2016. Pleasant field, Nova Scotia. Sheldon Rankin.

Our friend Shelly Rankin died suddenly on Thursday morning.  He was well.  Then he died.  His wife Ruth told Doreen that he awoke with a chest pain at 4:00am.  The ambulance was called and took him to the hospital but he died at the hospital when the medical staff was working to keep him alive.
What a shock.  He was full of energy and enthusiasm.  Now he has gone.

Shelly was one of the group in Toronto that hung around together in the early 50's.  He played in the Earlscourt Salvation Army band while I attended The Danforth Corps but we attended music camp together along with Youth Fellowship camp.  And of course he played in the Salvation Army hockey league so we saw him often although we were never good friends.  In true Salvation Army fashion, we always kept up with what everyone was doing, even if we did see each other.

A few years ago, we invited Don and Doreen to visit us at the farm and to bring Shelly and Ruth.  We had a wonderful time.  Then a couple of years later they all 4 came to Nova Scotia and again we enjoyed their company.  They almost came to Mississippi with Don and Doreen last year but something conflicted with our schedule.  Next year they were coming again to Nova Scotia.

Shelly was interested in everything around him as well as being interesting in his own right.  Over the years, his voice never changed.  And he always kept the twinkle in his eye.   The number of people who knew my parents and who knew me when I was a girl is quickly decreasing.  I feel so sorry for the Rankin Family and especially Ruth.  He will be sorely missed.  RIP.

September 4, 2016. Pleasant field, Nova Scotia. Sunday Brunch.

Nothing is better than waking to the smell of cooking bacon.   This morning,  Ken cooked our traditional Sunday Brunch.  For years, it was the routine in our family but recently he has stopped cooking us the big breakfast.  In Mississippi we always go out with the family for brunch on Sunday and Ken got out of the habit.  Also, standing is difficult so I thought them a thing of our past.  But when I packed the food for the cottage, I put in bacon and left over small potatoes from the caterer.  He was up earlier than me today and much to my surprise I smelled the bacon.

We ate bacon, fried potatoes mixed with fried apples, fresh ripe peaches and biscuits, also left over from the caterers.  And coffee made by me, my only contribution.  The day was glorious with the sky as blue as the Carolinas.  We enjoyed our brunch, in fact it became our main meal, something we always tell the Mississippi girls.  Now I must decide whether or not I should buy more bacon.  Waking up to the smell of cooking bacon is the perfect way to begin the day.  Hats off to Ken.

September 3, 2016. Pleasant field, Nova Scotia. Cottage Weekend.

We have come to the cottage for Labor Day weekend.  Everyone everywhere is at their cottage, the last weekend of the summer.  My Wonderful Wendy is at her cottage along with Dave and Irene and Norm and Diane, but they are in Ontario on Lake Joseph, one of the prettiest of the Muskoka Lakes.  When we were driving here, we discussed the number of people we will see on the lake.  So far we have seen three boats.  Those at Lake Jo will find more boats and more people but we will all have a good time although ours will be a quiet one.  Not many people around this lake.

Our neighbors just behind came over to say hello.  They too are here for the weekend.  They told us that further down the lake there are lots of boats.  In fact, two boats collided.   I sat by the water late this afternoon.  The only excitement was when 11 ducks flew by me all together flying very fast.  They were light colored and were small.  I have no clue what they were except they were ducks.  Where is Alice Anne when I need her?

Life is simple at the cottage.  Maybe that is why we come.  The dishes must be washed by hand.  But the Internet and the computer works like a charm.  We read and talk and eat.   Last year, to get down to the dock I needed a walker.  Today I had no problem just walking by myself.  And Ken says that the cottage is so small he just holds on to the furniture or the walls to get around.  In fact, there is no place to put the walker so we leave it in the truck.

We will enjoy our holiday weekend at the cottage.  The sun is supposed to shine so all will be well.  The storm coming up the coast will not arrive until mid week.  We must be sure to be by the shore to see all the wave action.  But for now, we stay in our little cottage by the lake.

September 2, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Larry and Jan.

Larry and Jan invited us for lunch.  I knew our lunch would be special because they both spend much thought and energy when entertaining.  In other words, they fuss and it shows.   You know you are an honored guest.   I was treated like a Queen, with food to match.  I loved our lunch together.

Walt and Mary were also invited.  This was the first time this summer that they have come for a social event, so that was special.  We all 6 agreed that 2 months ago we could not have eaten lunch together because Walt was still in the hospital.  And one year ago we could not have eaten lunch together because of my immune system.  I was not going out in society.  This lunch together was especially sweet.

But I got even luckier.  Walt and Mary had to leave for an appointment in Bridgewater.  And just before 2, Ken realized that he had forgotten his medications and he was fading.    We were still at the table and I was not ready to leave so good natured Larry took Ken home while I stayed and sat in the living room with Jan.  When Larry returned, he joined us and we talked and we talked.  By the time I turned around, it was after 4:00.    We solved all the local issues and many others as well.    I feel fortunate to have been invited for lunch today by Larry and Jan and especially to be able to talk with just the 3 of us for over 2 hours.  They are good friends and interesting people and I enjoyed their company.   Once again, I got lucky.

September 1, 2016. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Customs.

Perhaps is was because the city was small, or perhaps it was in Texas, but when we lived in Galveston, it was the custom to entertain the friends and relatives who visited Galveston.   When my Mother came to visit us, our friends held a special coffee party for her each year.  And we were invited for lunches and parties.  Ken and I did the same when our friends had house guests.   In other words, we shared each others company.

Not so when we moved to Maryland, just outside Washington, DC.  Everyone was too busy with their own social life and had no time to deal with the friends and relatives who visited.   Distances were too great as well.  We had oodles of company in Maryland but no one paid any attention to them but us.

In Liverpool, in this small town, our friends who visit us are again entertained by our friends here.  The custom is to share our company with each other.   Tuesday evening, Mary and Cliff's cousins came for dinner.  We already were enjoying our house guests, Gloria and Gary so the eight of us spent a delightful evening getting to know each other.  In a smaller place, time constraints are not so severe as in a big city.  Here we have time to enjoy each other, and the relatives and friends who visit, which is another reason to live in this little place.   It is another of the charms and customs of life in Liverpool.