July 31, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Ruth and Ruth.

Ruth R. and I had a good week together. We had fun. I had not known her when we were young but we had a good time when she and her husband Sheldon had come with Don and Doreen to visit us at the farm. And again they came to Nova Scotia, again with Don and Doreen. Ruth and I have have many similitaries. We are about the same age. We are widows. We both had long and happy marriages. And we both have financial security. We both have a secure base to build on whatever we will do for the rest of our life. We both agreed that we have an enviable situation. And we are grateful for that. Our differences are obvious. She is petite and thin. I am tall and heavy. We look like both ends of the before and after of the diet program. Our situation as widows was different too. Ken died at 82 after five years with Parkinson's disease. He was fragile and ill the last year of Ken's life while Sheldon appeared to be in the peak of health. Ruth R. was expecting to spend the next years traveling and enjoying the family. But Shelly died suddenly three years ago of a massive heart attack. For Ruth R. the death came totally unexpected. And she suffered. His vessels were almost totally blocked but no one ran the tests that would have known and for that she was bitter. The other difference between us that I had always worked so had a life other than Ken while Ruth R. did not work after her first child was born. Now RuthR. and Ruth D. are at about the same place. We are looking for things to do. Ruth is spunky and smart so I feel that she will have a successful 20 years. She is fit and able to do things. I have limits to my abilities. Now we will try to figure out what we could do together. Our discussions were valuable for both of us and I was delighted she came. So now here we go.

July 30, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Skating.

The hockey rink has a walking track. The ice is kept in all year which means the place is always chilly. For me the facility is excellent because the track is level, has a rubber floor and has a wall or a rail on either side. It is a safe and easy place to walk. But it is boring walking around the oval where the scenery never changes. Yesterday was an adult skate so I was able to watch them as I walked. I am easily amused after all. First I found the best skater on the ice. The first thing I noted was his hands in his pocket. You have to be a good skater if you can skate without your hands out to the side. The skater was older with white hair and he appeared to be from India. I wondered if he learned to skate when young and was brought up in Canada or if he learned as an adult. He skated patterns on the ice, first in one direction then reversed his path. I waited to see if he would repeat the patterns backwards. He finally did. Now it was obvious. He never played hockey when he was young. Even young hockey players can skate as fast going or coming. He could skate backwards but not well. He needed to concentrate. Two teenaged girls skated wearing hockey helmets. This two alternated their speed. Sometimes they zoomed around the ice and sometimes they just skated barely moving their skates. I tried to find a pattern but could not. Four young adults just skated the whole time around the outside edge of the rink. The young ladies wore tights and a skimpy top and I wondered if they had once were figure skaters. Of course, I did not find out any information about any of the skaters but it kept me b busy trying to figure it all out.

July 29, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. White Point Resort.

White Point is a wonderful place for lunch. Today we sat in the dining room looking out a big window while the waves crashed into the rocks. To keep us amused, two young children kept trying to get in the water, which is very cold. The parents were urging them in even though neither parent was wearing a bathing suit. Eventually the children went into the water. But they did not stay long. White Point Resort is busy. Lots of people were on the beach and the restaurants. We like them to keep busy because we want them to stay in business. The Resort is a major asset to the community. The restaurant is the best in the area. The food is good and the service dependable. The best place to eat is at the windows in the lounge but today all windows were full so we ate in the dining room. The new lodge was built after the fire. They have kept the feel of the old resort but is brighter and modern. The whole place is better. And they keep building new cottages too. I am happy that White Point Resort is here. We three enjoyed our late lunch. I feel sure I will have lunch many times at White Point Resort before the summer is over. It is a nifty place.

July 28, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Visiting Day.

Today we stayed home and visited friends. First thing in the morning, Gill walked over for a few minutes to chat with Ruth R. and to invite us over to her house so Ruth could see the Folly. As we were walking across the causeway to Gill's home we met Walt and Many with a full car to come and say hello to us so we turned around to return home to visit on the deck. Along with Mary & Walt was Walt's daughter Leslie and Walt's three granddaughters. I had not seen them for a couple of years so I was delighted to talk with them. We had a great visit with the girls who alternating chatting with us and racing down to the rocks.. Ruth and I were running out of time so we drove to Gills. We drank a soda and ate delicious shortbread while enjoying her beautiful home. Ruth enjoyed the Folly before we returned home. After lunch and a short nap for Ruth D., we walked to visit Wendy and Clausen and the dogs. Ruth had never seen their home or the baby bog or the dogs. Tojo came to visit with us too se we ended up visiting for well over an hour and enjoyed every minute. And we walked home. After supper, the 10 from the Ely's home came to make a fire in our fire pit down by the water. We could see the fire from our living room. The evening was chilly which made it perfect for a fire. We visited with everyone when they first came over but we did not join them by the fire. Too chilly. Ruth and I enjoyed our day at Western Head. The weather was perfect and we loved visiting with our friends at Western Head. Our day was not fancy but it was certainly pleasant.

July 27, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Hidden Gem.

If you ever doubt the Power of One, just visit the Sculpture Garden behind Cosby's Garden Shop. One man made every one of the fifty sculptures and one made along with a helper or two landscaped the area so the paths wander through the woods to see the works of art. No sign announces the garden. A person must wander through the garden shop and the green houses and find the Sculpture Garden out back. At least there is a sign reminding children that this is not a playground. And there is a sculpture where donations can be placed to assist with the upkeep. The place is amazing. And the place is magical. Ivan made all the sculptures through the winters. It started about thirty years ago. The vision was in Ivan's brain. Every year he adds more sculptures to the Garden. Ivan teaches classes throughout the winter and he used his sculptures for teaching. One year he was watching ballet on TV so you can see the result. Another year he enjoyed the gymnastics during the Olympics and was entranced so you can find his gymnastic pieces. If you look carefully you will see the resemblance to Nick, who works in the garden shop and also was the model for the gymnasts. "You have no idea how long Ivan wanted me to stand on my hands with my feet directly over my head," said Nick. Ruth and I wandered around for ages. In the past, Ken and I were by ourselves as we enjoyed the place. But this time we saw at least 20 folks taking a look. Everyone was just as amazed as we were. Ruth suggested that the place should be the reason that folks come to Liverpool. Mostly the Sculpture is hidden from sight. But when you find it, the Sculpture is a gem.

July 26, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Two Ruths Go To Town.

Our day in downtown Liverpool was splendid. Our day in town started by parking the truck in the parking lot where we were sure to be able to leave without backing up. That truck is big. Our lunch at Memories was big but delicious. Then we walked the whole Main Street, entering every store, not to buy but just to see what they were selling. I bought a type of housecoat at the consignment store. We discovered several new shops. Why this little town needs two new coffee shops is beyond me, but we have them. The Plaid Cat has closed but another store opened in the middle of town selling the same type of stuff, which is good. Ruth R. bought two pair of shoes in the gift shop adjacent to the drug store. I might go back and buy a pair too. The Five Girls Bakery has wonderful pastries. We sat drinking tea and eating a sweet, a cinnamon bun for Ruth R. and a croissant for Ruth D. We sat outside on the sidewalk and watched the cars drive by. On the way to the car, my Tevas fell apart≥. Not good and not easy walking with half of the sole flapping in the breeze. We ate so much at lunch and our pastries that we could not eat the dinner delivered by Stewart. We will eat it for lunch tomorrow. Instead we ate left over salad from last evenings dinner. We had a splendid day in town. And we were home by 3:45. There are advantages to living in a small town.

July 25, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Ruth & the Truck.

Tomorrow will be interesting. Ruth R.will drive us into town using the old truck. Ruth is short. The truck has no running board. In order to get into the truck, she must use the blue stool. But when she gets in, she can not pick up the stool. Our plan is for me to stand beside her when she clambers into the truck, then pick up the stool and walk around to the passenger side and put the stool in the back seat. When we arrive at our destination I will reverse the drill. I will retrieve the stool from the back seat and carry it to the driver's side where Ruth will step down. Next I will put the stool back into the car, ready for our next journey. Ruth practiced driving the truck in our driveway and had no trouble. But getting in and out proved difficult. But we figured out the plan. We are all set for our excursion tomorrow. But we will certainly look odd!!.

July 24, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Temperature.

The temperature world has gone nuts. On Sunday, the temperature at the Western Head weather station was 91 degrees, which was the warmest temperature in Nova Scotia. That was the first time that had ever happened since the temperatures have been recorded. Outside on Sunday, the breeze was stiff. But it was hot. Normally the breeze is cool. But not on Sunday. That breeze was hot. When driving from Liverpool to Western Head, the temperature reading in the car starts to drop. Usually we are 10 degrees cooler than town. Sometimes it is 15 degrees cooler. But it is never warmer...until Sunday. Clausen drove from town to come home and his car registered 2 degrees warmer than town. He thought his car was broken. But no. In Nova Scotia for one whole hour the warmest place was at Western Head. It was amazing. Soon we got back to normal. By bedtime we were again cool while town was still hot. Today was chilly and damp but pleasant. On Sunday, Jackson, Mississippi had a 76 degree day while we registered 91 at Western Head. Crazy.

July 23, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Lights and Gratitude.

Getting upstairs at night is not easy. The location of the light switches are odd. We were not here when the lights were installed so the position of the switches are not intuitive. When I leave the TV room to go upstairs, I must switch several lights off in the kitchen. But before that I must turn on the lights in the living room. Before I go upstairs I must turn on the switch for the light over the stairs. AndI must turn off the living room lights. At the top of the stairs I must turn on the light in the small hall before turning off the light on the stairs. Next I go into the hall to turn on the hall to the bedroom. Then I must go back to turn off the light in the little hall. Finally I turn on the light just inside our bedroom. Finally I turn off the hall light. Then I close the door and smile. Until I came to our home here this June, I did not know the drill. When I came upstairs at the end of the evening all I did was to turn off the lights behind me. Ken usually came upstairs ahead of me and he left the lights. I did not know the drill. He came up early to the computer or to read and he want to be sure that I was not left in the dark. So every evening as I am coming up and switching on and off all those switches I am grateful for his attention. And I smile.

July 22, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Gulls.

Last evening at about 6:30 I sat on the deck all by myself. The air was warm but the breeze was cool so a perfect time to sit on the deck. As I was enjoying watching the sea I spotted a raft of birds just bobbing up and down as the waves came to the shore. There were at least 40 or more birds. At first I thought they were Eider ducks because I could see white. I finally decided they were Gulls, probably Lesser Black Backed Gulls. But I needed Alice Anne to identify them. I was happy to see theI like gulls. We live on the shore of Gull Bay. When we moved here in 1999 there were thousands of gulls on the cobble beach. Every evening, we got to see the fly by. 20 or more at a time of gulls would fly along the shore. After a few minutes another group would fly by. I liked watching them. After a few years we began to see the arrival of Cormorant who were much more aggressing than gulls. 20% of birds were cormorants and the rest different types of gulls. After a few years it was 50/50. Soon it was 20% gulls. Several years ago, we began to spot a pair of bald eagles, which were beautiful. This was the first time in many years that a bald eagle had been spotted at Western Head. The eagles nested at the end of Lake Victoria. Bald Eafles are huge. The gulls or cormorants were no match. The eagles ate the eggs and the chicks. One day Mary spotted a bald eagle carrying a full grown gull. Gill reported that another pair of bald eagles had nested and raised young in the top of a big tree next to her home. Just this evening an eagle flew along the shore in front of my house. It was a beautiful sight. Most gulls and cormorants have gone. While driving into town we see many gulls at Scotts Bay. But we see few at Gull Bay. The bald eagles have driven them away. I suspect the gulls I saw last evening were getting together to begin the journey south. I hope they leave soon.

July 21, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Canoe.

Several years ago, Ken and I drove with Walt and Mary to see a man about business, and to go out for lunch in Shelburne. The man made canoes. Ken and I looked at his work and promptly commissioned him to build us a canoe. Two years later the canoe was delivered to the cottage. It was beautiful. Unfortunately, Ken had developed Parkinson's disease so getting in and out of a canoe was impossible so the beautiful boat stayed in the boat house. Last Spring we sold the cottage along with the contents, except for the beautiful canoe. It sat in the workshop. I gave Gill the canoe. She was pleased. Then reality raised its head. She can not manage the canoe by herself and she does not have enough space in her basement to keep the canoe inside. "The canoe is too beautiful to keep it outside," said Gill. She was keeping the kayaks outside. She and I discussed donating the canoe to the canoe club to be used as a fund raiser. I had asked Bryan about it and Gill had left a message with the president of the club. But no matter what, the canoe needed to come back to the workshop. George was to transport it. In conversation with Gill, George mentioned that he and Sheila would love to have a canoe now that they live on the river. The canoe now belongs to George. Ken would be pleased. We both loved George. He did our renovations and addition of the main house and built the Guest House, twice. He looks after the house now when anything needs to be done. It was a stroke of genius for Gill to give the canoe to George. George and Sheila will use it and love it. And they will keep it safe. Nothing better than a canoe to be used. Now I must go and see them in action on the Mersey River.

July 20, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Open.

I have enjoyed watching the Open golf tournament. It used to be called The British Open but now they just call it The Open. This year it is being played in Northern Ireland, which is a hot bed of golfing. But because of the troubles, the Open has not been played in Northern Ireland for 59 years, so the Irish are delighted to be hosting the tournament once again. And their local star, Rory McElroy was in the tournament so he had hoped to do well. Unfortunately he did not make the cut along with Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. The scenery from the course is delightful, which makes watching a pleasure. It makes me wish I could travel to Ireland again. Since Rory bombed out, a golfer named Lowry has taken the place for the Irish. Lowry is from the south but everyone is cheering for him. He is in first place by 4 points so it will be interesting to see if he can keep his nerves under check. He is obviously a good golfer but he had never won a major. The only time he was leading after three days at the US Open he shot a 78 on the last day and lost the tournament. All of Ireland is hoping he wins. But excellent golfers are nipping at his heels. The day will be interesting, not only for the golfers but also for me. I will watch the tournament while eating breakfast and lunch. The rest of the time I will come and go. I will enjoy the day all by myself watching to see how the Open will turn out. These golfers are wonderful players and the scenery is spectacular. I will be interested to see who steps up to the plate and wins the claret jog, which by itself is beautiful. I am glad I am not putting for a million dollarBut I will enjoy the last day of The Open.

July 19, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Fog.

My friend Wendy loves the fog. She calls their home, which is next to us, The Fog and Bog. She likes the mystery of it all. Fog comes and goes for no apparent reason. For instance, when I look out the window right now I can barely see the ocean. A short time ago the afternoon was clear and sunny. Magic. We have fog. At 4:30 today, Anna made us a cup of herbal tea. When she was making the tea I looked outside to discover the fog coming in. When Anna came back to the living room I pointed out the fog to her. Close to shore it was still clear but out to sea you could see the fog coming in. And it did. I had her look out to Gill's house which she could see and I had her look at the trees on the other side of the Guest House. "Just Watch," I said. "Soon we will not be able to see either Gill's house or the trees. Anna is from Alberta and does not live by the shore so she had never seen fog coming in like we were seeing. She was impressed. Bt the time Anna left for home at 5:00 we could not see even a shadow of the trees behind the Guest House. And we could not see a shore in front of Gill's place, let alone the homes. Often when we are fog bound, the town is clear so Anna had no trouble getting home. She was afraid she would be forced to drive home in fog but as soon as she left the shore, the fog disappeared. Also the fog horn is not running which means there is no fog out at sea. Fog horns are automatic and the sensors are out at sea. Right now, I am living in the midst of fog. Just as Wendy says: Magical and mystical. And great fun watching the fog pour in and then dissipate. Wendy is happy tonight. She loves the fog.

July 18, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Lunch with Cathy and Bryan.

I am following the same pattern as I had in Jackson. And it has been successful. I invite a friend out for lunch. My rule is, that I pay and they drive. In Jackson I use Lyft to get me to the restaurant. Then the friend takes me home. Here because of logistics, the friend picks me up at home and we drive to the restaurant together. I enjoy the outing with a friend and they do not seem to mind picking me up. The system works well and I will continue the pattern. Today at noon I had a wonderful time with Cathy and Bryan. I like them both and have known them for the past 21 years. We had a great time, at least I did. We had a full year of catching up for both of us so we had a lot of material to cover. Bryan built the Ely's home and is a wonderful builder. But he has retired. He does small tasks for past clients but he is doing no major building. But he is biking all year. He is thin and fit and looks great. Cathy used to work at the Royal Bank and retired as the assistant manager. She hooks rugs which are beautiful but unless you go into her home you can never see them because she does not show them anywhere, let alone sell them. They both looked great. I have always enjoyed their company so I was delighted they were willing to allow me to take them out for lunch. Clearly, they are enjoying their retirement. My friends are more important to me since Ken died so lunch today was extra special. And they got to see Fisherman Ken up close and persona. So hats off to Bryan and Cathy for picking me up to drive me to White Point for lunch. Good food and good company can not be beat.

July 17, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Rhubarb.

For breakfast this morning I ate a bowl of stewed rhubarb, prepared by Isabel Sutherland when they visited the first week in July. Anna helped supervise but Isabel did it all by herself, from harvesting, to washing, to cutting it up and finally cooking with a little bit of water. Then she added sugar but not much which is good. Every morning I dole out a small bowl with my breakfast. It is delicious with just the right amount of tartness. Here in Nova Scotia we have only a small patch of rhubarb. Our stewed rhubarb comes and goes quickly. In Parry Sound, Ken's Mother kept a large batch of rhubarb. Her fridge always had stewed rhubarb ready to eat. In addition she baked rhubarb pies and tarts along with rhubarb jams and jellies. During strawberry season she baked strawberry/rhubarb pie, which is still my favorite. Where ever we lived in Canada, my mother made sure she grew rhubarb, perhaps because she knew I loved it. Ken tried to grow rhubarb in the DC area but it was not very successful. Once a year we could eat rhubarb. Ken was known to eat the stalks raw but not me. It is too sour for me. Once upon a time when I was 17, I was late getting home. Everyone else was asleep so I was trying to be quiet. Going up the stairs I was carrying my shoes. In my other hand I was carrying a book with a bowl of stewed rhubarb perched on top of the book. In my bedroom, I tried to flip the switch to turn on the light with the book, , which worked but it also tipped the bowl of rhubarb on top on the chair. What a mess. I quickly changed and went to bed and left the rhubarb which had landed on my clothes for the next morning. Every time I eat a bowl of stewed rhubarb I recall the instant that stupid bowl tipped onto the chair, which held my clothes I had just taken off before leaving for the evening. After that, I always ate my late night bowl of rhubarb in the kitchen. Lesson learned. But I still love to eat stewed rhubarb.

July 16, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Charlotte Lane.

Several years ago, Charlotte Land, a restaurant in Shelburne, was named the best restaurant in the Maritimes. It is still a destination. People drive from Halifax just to dine at Charlotte Lane. For the past few years we were unable to make the drive just for lunch but we have missed the enjoyment of eating Roland the owner chef's food. I wanted to be sure not to miss a meal there this summer. Walt and Mary were pleased to go too and agreed to drive. Today was the day. The day was beautiful, warm and sunny. We started out just after 11:00. They do not take reservations at lunch so there was no need to call. On the way down, just before Shelburne, the road was closed on one side of the highway. It looked like an accident. After we were home, Walt found out that a tractor trailer had gone into the ditch, spewing out the contents of the trailer which was full of 55,000 sea cucumbers. Also the fuel spilled out leaving an environmental mess. Today we could see the remains of the truck being removed from the deep ditch along with the removal of the polluted soil. What are sea cucumbers I wonder. When we arrived and went into the restaurant, Mary and I noted that no one seemed to be in the restaurant, which is unusual. This small restaurant is almost always full. Then Mary noted a box on the floor just at the entrance to the kitchen. And she guessed it. The restaurant was not open for lunch today. A receptionist was taking a dinner reservation and finally told us that Charlotte Lane is no longer serving lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday. We were stuck. And very disappointed. All that drive and no good food. So we drove back to White Point and enjoyed a lovely lunch sitting by the window watching the sea. In the future I will always call ahead to confirm that the restaurant is indeed open for lunch. I learned my lesson.

July 15, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Readers' Festival.

Port Medway is a tiny town yet every summer they host a Readers' Festival. For the authors, it evidently had become trendy so they are willing and eager to come for the event. I am always astonished at the quality of the authors who come and participate. The routine never varies. Three authors each summer are invited, one at a time. The event is held in The Old Meeting House, built in 1832, which itself is charming. The author speaks about their work, then reads from their latest book, followed by 20 minutes of questions. Finally we troop down to the fire hall, where the ladies of the volunteer fire brigade provide a lunch. The author will sign the book after purchase. I am still astonished that for a ticket costing $20, we get to listen to a Giller award winning author in addition to eating a delicious meal. Saturday night, Elizabeth Hay was speaking at the Port Medway Readers' Festival. She was charming and funny and I enjoyed the evening. Her latest book and the one she spoke about was "All Things Consoled". Peter drove the Gull Bay contingent. Clever Mary brought a pillow as the benches are hard. Gill and I brought up the back seat. Our routine is for Peter to drop us off at the Meeting Hall, then park the car at the Firehall. After the event, we walk the quarter mile for the reception. On August 10, we will do it all again but with a new author, Esi Edugyan. Pretty nifty from this tiny town in Nova Scotia.

July 14, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Surf's Up.

The weather yesterday could not have been more different than it was all week. In the middle of the night I could hear waves crashing to the shore. All week our Atlantic Ocean looked like a big pond. There must have been a storm at sea because when I went downstairs the waves were high with rooster tails sending off spray. And there were 6 surfers in the water trying their luck. These were the local good surfers, not the classes coming from White Point. These surfers knew what to do with a wave. All day the surf was high and all day these surfers rode the waves. They got long rides, right into the shore. As the day turned to late afternoon, the surf dies down but still the surfers rode those small waves a long way. They were able to take long rides. The surfers have been starved for good surf. Finally they got a good day. Fortunately it was Saturday so they could surf all day without worrying about work. When you first look out to the bay and you see dark shapes, you think at first you are looking at seals. But soon the shapes are up on their board and you realize that the surfers are out. The high surf only lasted one day. Today is windy and I can hear the waves crashing into the shore but the waves were not high. The surfers must wait until another storm. Yesterday was a surprise. And everyone was grateful both for the surfers and for the spectators. It was a good day.

July 13, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Visiting Bernie.

Bernard Bowles is an artist who lives at Hunt's Point. In addition to his paintings, he also makes clever crafts made of all kinds of recycled material. He is creative and is always creating something or other. Last summer Ken and I visited him one late morning for a cup of tea. Bernie serves you tea using a beautiful china tea pot with matching mugs. It was elegant and pleasant. While we were there discussing Ken's health, he mentioned that he hoped that all his body parts would quit at the same time. We all laughed. This Tuesday Anna took me to visit Bernie at the Rehabilitation Wing of The Fisherman's Memorial hospital in Lunenburg. He did not get his wish. This Spring, Bernie suffered a series of small strokes. He was living by himself but his e mails began to be garbled. In early May he had a large and serious stroke so was admitted to the Liverpool Hospital. His left side is impacted so he struggles to walk and his left arm is useless. Unfortunately he is left handed. He is used to be a busy person. Now he can neither paint nor make crafts. Nor can he work in his yard and garden. He is stuck. Gill has been visiting Bernie every week on her way from volunteering at thew Horse Farm. Bernie has appreciated her visit. And Tuesday he was delighted to see me and to meet Anna. The real question is where will he go next? Queens County Manor on Liverpool has a long waiting list. He can only afford seven months at a private nursing home in Yarmouth. He has a few hundred paintings that could be sold along with his crafts. And his house could be sold. But houses do not sell quickly in small towns in Nova Scotia. He has no children. Fortunately, Randy, a friend from Yarmouth is helping. We had a good visit with him. But twice he wept over his situation. We tried to cheer him up, and he certainly appreciated our visit. He does not have a good situation. But I was glad to see him and he was pleased to see me.

July 12, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Mystery Clothes.

Yesterday when I was putting the clean sheets in the upstairs bedrooms I discovered clothes in the drawers of both bedrooms. There are several pair of pants along with some shirts and blouses. They are all ladies. And they do not fit me. The question is whose clothes are they? Were they left on purpose to be used the next time? Or were they left accidentally last summer. I have no idea. But I hope to find out. I asked Christina but they are not hers. When she was here last week she did not use the dresser drawers because they had clothes in them. Now I will e mail both Pat and Rita to see if they belong to them. I know they do not belong to Irene because she stays in the Guest House. No question. I have a mystery on my hands.

July 11, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Ely's.

Wendy and Claussen arrived this afternoon. Now we are all in our places. They drove from Potomac, Maryland with their two dogs. They make the journey a pleasure by stopping along the way at nice places. The past two nights they stayed at St. Andrew's by the Sea, in New Brunswick. They arrived well rested in mid afternoon. They are pleased to be here once again and we are happy too. Our group is complete. Last year when Gill's son Tim was here he asked me how we were able to manage to have our good friends build within walking distance from us. Tim and Kate had just purchased a home in the country in New Jersey, and he wanted his friends to buy a property close to them. Tim and Kate live in Manhattan and they wanted their two daughters to be able to have some space to run. I just laughed and said that I had nothing to do with it. The whole thing happened bit by bit. Gill actually started the ball rolling. In September, the Mitchells and Elys came to visit us, not because they wanted to come to Nova Scotia but to humor Ken and me. We walked to the lighthouse along the shore , an old path that had been there for hundreds of years. Two months later, Gill came to visit. Her friend Charlie had died a few weeks before her visit to us. Casually at dinner with Mary and Walt, our Realtor friends, Gill asked if there were any lots for sale. On Friday that same week, Ken, Gill and I looked ate every lot for sale between Shelburne and Bridgewater. Overnight, Gill decided to buy a lot close to us and was deciding between the lot across the bay or the lot adjacent to us. After talking to her two boys, she decided to buy the lot across the bay. She had purchased the lot before she left for home on Sunday. Gill called Wendy and told her that they should buy the lot adjacent to us. And they did, sight unseen. A few months later, Mary and Cliff decided to buy the lot on the other side of the Ely's lot. Mary commented that what will happen to us is that we will watch each other die. This was 20 years ago when we were healthy,. But we all laughed and said that what would be better than spending our dealing years with our good friends. Our situation here is perfect. We now spend all summer here, helping each other and having a good time. We are delighted to be all be in our places. And we have sun shining faces too.

July 10, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Leftover Food.

Today at lunch I ate the last of the lasagna, left over from last Thursday when we had 14 at the table for dinner. Every day I dutifully ate another piece because I am not prone to throwing perfectly good food away. And I have been eating sliced meat every day. So far I have gone through the ham and the turkey. Now I must start on the beef. Other things were put in the freezer but not labeled so I will have trouble with that. But in the fridge I have a bag of cooked potatoes, plus lots of baby spinach. Also in the fridge are four rolls of pork. They were dry the first time around so I must figure out how to make them less dry. As I will be by myself all next week I will probably go through all the food. My system is just to eat the food cold. And I always watch TV while I eat because the little TV room is just off the kitchen and it makes life easy. I drink water and eat cold food. Seems odd but I like it. My diet is peculiar but I eat fruit at breakfast and eat all the blueberries in a bowl for dessert. Today at lunch I ate the last of the cream that the coffee drinkers enjoy with their coffee. The cream was a day away from being sour but I persevered. I am determined to clean up the fridge before my next company arrives on July 24. I like leftovers which is a good thing. I froze all the leftover cookies and pies. And two containers of ice cream are still in the kitchen fridge. I am surprised I have not finished it. Maybe it will keep. I must check. My leftover food has been keeping me happy.

July 9, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Mersey Band.

Tonight, Gill, Cliff and I attended the first concert of the season of the Mersey Band. The concert was held at a new venue on the grounds of the Hank Snow Museum. In our absence over the winter, a new gazebo was built which houses the band nicely. In addition to having a new location for the concerts, the band members were wearing new dark blue shirts and baseball hats. They looked spiffy. A third of the band members are under 25, which is a good sign. I enjoyed the concert. It lasted an hour. The selection of the pieces were excellent. They were all short and snappy. The introduction to each piece was brief. The band is busy. They march in at least 5 parades over the summer. They play a concert in Lunenberg and Lockport. They play at the Farmer's Market every other week on Saturday morning. They play at the Milton Day event next Sunday. Certainly the Mersey Band is not the best band in the world but they play music enthusiastically. The players enjoy playing and the audience enjoys listening. Ken had two brass instruments he played here in his workshop. I am giving his instruments to the band. Rod the bandmaster was thrilled. Ken would be pleased. The Mersey Band is our own band and we like them.

July 8, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia, The Weather.

If a person was to visit Western Head this week they would think this place has the most marvelous weather in the world. Every day is another perfect day. The ocean has been calm although there is a light breeze blowing all the time. The sun has been shining all day with beautiful clouds flying across the sky. The temperature during the day has hovered around 70. At night it dips to 55. The weather is perfect. We have had no fog all week. Nor have we had any rain. People told me we had a light rain in the middle of the night but I did not hear the rain. So far this summer we have had no storms. This sustained days of beautiful perfect weather is most unusual at Western Head. Many years ago David and Suzanne and Ken and I went to Scotland in March. We expected fierce weather so Ken ordered us all a calf length Gortex raincoat, complete with a hood, Velcro on the wrists and a tie at the waist. And we all took a fleece jacket. Most to our surprise, the weather was not terrible, except for one day, when the wind and rain were so strong I was afraid to go to look at an old castle for fear of been blown away. Everywhere we went the locals commented on how fortunate we had been with the weather. One day after talking with a potter, who again told us how good the weather had been, Susanne commented to us when we had left his shop, that she had figured it out. She said, "I think these Scots do not know what good weather really is." We laughed and we agreed. If those good Scottish for;ks thought their weather was good they should come to Western Head in July 2019 to discover what good weather really is like. Since I have been here the weather has not been too hot or too cold. But I know it will not last. But for now, I am enjoying the perfect weather.

July 7, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. A Birthday Celebration.

Today we celebrated Mary's birthday. The South Shore Ukulele Group held a fund raised for the caleigh which will be held in October. It was billed as an afternoon of gospel songs. All talent was local. Two men played guitars and sang gospel songs, the ukulele sang and played and a lady from Milton sang with her husband on a guitar and with her on the keyboard. The concert was interesting. The audience sang along with the ukulele group so I was in high heaven. But the concert went on too long. And I forgot that the Baptist church sang two pieces. I was ready for it to be over at 3:30 but it lasted until 4:20. On the way home Gill commented that there were too many religious songs. We all laughed and reminded her that it was advertised as a gospel song concert. She had forgotten. But the best part was yet to come. Mary called Sobey's to cook the lobsters. We picked them up after the concert along with cole slaw and we retreated to Mary and Cliff's home to eat our lobster, which was delicious. For dessert we ate the last of the carrot cake and called it a birthday cake. And we sang Happy Birthday. The only thing we lacked was the candles. We drank camomile tea in the living room. Mary was happy with her birthday. I was happy with her birthday too.

July 6, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Heading Home.

Last evening we ate our last supper. The Sutherlands booked an early flight from Halifax this morning, so stayed overnight at the airport hotel, the ALT. To be sure they would be driving during the daylight, we ate at 6:45. And they left for the hotel at 7:45. Twilight lasts a long time in the north so they would be in good shape. Our house seemed strangely quiet after they left. Christina drove the girls over to Gill's home to gather their belongings and come back home to stay the night. Mary Frances slept in a bunk bed while Kate slept in Gabriellas room. The were ready when Mr. Gaskell picked them up at 8:30. The day was cloudy and windy, which should make for good traveling, both by car and plane. After they all left, the house was really quiet. I spent the day puttering in the house. I did laundry, lots of them. And I organized the fridge so I know where to find things. We had a bit of left over food, but I did not know where the food had been placed. With multiple people putting things in the fridge food was just placed into any available spot. With everyone here, I turned the kitchen over to Christina and Eleanor, who did a great job. Next I put things away in the garage. Molly left two puzzles on the floor which I have yet to pick up. And the boys removed one of Ken's large fishing poles from the wall which I will have to ask Mary to put back. I do not wish to stand on a stool.. While I was doing the chores, I watched Wimbleton which provided me lots of entertainment. My drill was to watch a bit, then fold sheets our towels in the kitchen during the commercials. It was a good day on the courts. I watched Nadel, Serena and Federer, who all won. On a day when I could have felt gloomy, I enjoyed puttering and watching. Again and again. Everyone enjoyed the week together. Having a full house gives great pleasure. The children young and old are a delight. I will miss them but I am grateful they were able to come. I will be by myself until Ruth R. arrives on July 24. I will be fine. Tomorrow I am going with Mary, Cliff and Gill to hear a gospel song afternoon with the Ukulele Strummers from Liverpool. When the concert is over, we will go to Sobeys to buy lobster. The store cooks them. Then we will eat the lobsters at the home of Mary and Cliff. My friends here keep me from being lonely. Getting from Halifax to Jackson is difficult. Three flight. I hope to hear when they are all safely home. We all agreed that the week went by quickly. Now everyone is heading home.

July 5, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. A Shopping Spree.

In our little town is a lovely woman's clothing store, owned and run by Sandra. Her job before she and her husband retired to Liverpool was helping rich and/or famous people buy clothes. These folks needed to look good every day so she helped them shop. Her husband, who is an artist, was ready to leave the fast track of Toronto so they moved here and Sandra opened a small shop. When she first opened I said that she would not survive here. But I was wrong. This is her fifth year and she is doing well. For Christmas I gave Christina a shopping spree at Sandra's shop, Lilith. I was twisting Christina's arm so she would come to Nova Scotia and visit with me. So they came and on Tuesday we went shopping at Lilith. We had a great time. Kate, Mary Frances and Molly came to help. The girls go through the shop and find objects for Christina to try on. Sandra did too. Christina tried on a lot of clothes. Her drill was to put on a piece of clothing, then come out so we could all pass judgement. Much to our surprise, she was able to find several pieces that looked good. Next she selected the ones she really wanted. She left with 2 pair of pants, two jackets and four tops. Christina seldom induces herself so I was pleased for her. And of course, she will look great. The girls were so helpful that I suggested as a souvenir they select one object to take home. They were thrilled. Kate selected a soft fitted jacket that Sandra suggested. Mary Frances chose a pair of pants with funky pockets, which look great on her. Molly was having trouble finding anything for her. It is a ladies shop and she is 11. But Sandra found a sweet white top, that looked terrific on her. We left the store with smiles all around. My Christmas gift was a hit.

July 4, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Our Daily Routine.

We begin to gather in the living room around 10:00. Ian and Rodney appear from their bedroom which used to be Ken's workshop while Jim and Eleanor wander over from the Guest House. The youngest girls are already watching TV and have come down from the bunk house. Christina has already left to pick up Mary Frances and Kate who are sleeping in the second floor bedrooms at Gills room. Christina and Gabriella live in adjacent bedrooms in the main house with me. Usually by 11:00 everyone has had breakfast and coffee and are ready for the excursion of the day. Every day must include a visit to Tim Hortons. Today was a beautiful day so they decided to go to Summerville Beach, where the little girls swam and everyone played in the water and walked the beach. Sometime around 3:00 they return home. Everyone showers. I stay at home and putter. The kids use the bikes or kayaks or just talk to me. Christina and Eleanor deal with the food the caterer has sent us. Bit by bit we gather in the living room for dinner and we eat around 7:30 at the dining table. Tonight for dinner The Mitchells and Gill joined us so we were a family of 14. For the past two nights Jim and the boys have made a fire before dinner. Then they all go down to the fire for S'Mores. They love them. Christina drives the girls back to Gill's home while the rest of us head for bed. Tired but happy. Our days have been fun but not fancy. We have all enjoyed their visit. Our daily routine has developed it's own pattern. Nothing rushed. Everything pleasant. Pretty nice.

JULY 3, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Arrowroot Biscuits.

Last summer, when Dave and Irene were here, I discovered the pleasure of eating Arrowroot biscuits. Dave likes to eat them because they are very low in salt and sugar, thus low in calories. At a time when he was trying to get rid of excess fat, munching on Arrowroots get rid of the hunger pains. Lots of chewing but few calories. I must eat something before I take my Letrozole so one day I borrowed a package and discovered that they were perfect for me. Next time they went to town they bought a big box, with 12 packages in the box. They lasted until we left. ButI forgot about them...until now. Last week at the grocery store I bought a big box. I brought one sleeve upstairs with me and have been working on them ever since. Tonight I looked in the big box because it had tipped over. There was only 2 sleeves of cookies left in the box. Someone along with me must like Arrowroot biscuits. Living and eating in our home are 11 people. When everyone arrived, I told them that our home was a help yourself home. I told them to feel free to go into the fridge or pantry and help themselves. One of those young people are enjoying the Arrowroots. I just laughed. On the same shelf were several other packages of cookies, but someone selected the Arrowroots. I am happy they have enjoyed the Arrowroots. I was just surprised.

July 2, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Optician.

Just before I left Mississippi, my eye doctor gave me the go ahead to put new lens in my right eye. The pressures were high enough to get my eyes refracted. It was too late in Mississippi so I made an appointment with the office in Liverpool. My appointment was for June 24. I was pleased with their work. The place was spotlessly clean and high tech. The Optician actually did my refraction using the computer. I was impressed. And he checked my reading prescription for both eyes. My plan was to replace the lens in my reading glasses with my proper prescription. But first I wanted my distance glasses back so I could see better. Today I picked up my glasses. What a relief. Now I see 20/20 in both eyes. Or at least most of the time. Sometimes I see 20/25, which is a whole lot better than 20/80 in my right eye. I left my second pair of glasses to install the right lens. So I soon will have two pair of glasses where I have good vision. When I asked them to put my prescription in my reading glasses they were unable to do the job because the cheap readers I was using have no screws to remove the lens. So I bought one pair of frames. They will then install the lens which will be correct for my prescriptions for reading. If they work well, I may order another pair. The readers I use do not work well but at least I can read with them. I was pleased that in the little town of Liverpool; was an optical business that was at the cutting edge of technology. And I was surprised. Now my vision at distance has improved and soon my reading will have improved too. To say that I am pleased is an understatement. Hats off to the optical company in Liverpool.

July 1, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Fish and Chips.

To celebrate being together in Nova Scotia we all went to their favorite place to eat fish and chips. It is advertised as "Worlds Best Clams", but we know it as the best place for eating fish and chips. The place is in Hunt's Point and is a perfectly ordinary restaurant, but to Christina and the girls, it is the only place to go for a celebration. Fortunately we arrived late when people were just leaving so we pulled three tables together and ate like one big family. The food was good and we all enjoyed our fish and chips. When we got home, everyone went to Gills to see the seals. Christina and all the girls went to swim at Sand Beach. Both Molly and Isabel actually went into the cold water. But did not stay in long. Tonight was the first night with the food from Stewart, our new caterer. We voted him a winner. We ate salmon, rice and mixed vegetables, which was delicious. We have a winner. But even though our dinner was excellent, it did not beat our meal at the favorite spot for fish and chips in Hunt's Point. And they serve delicious soft ice cream, another winner. Our day was full and happy, all 11 of us in Nova Scotia together.