September 30, 20222. Western Head, Nova Scotia. On The Road Again.

The house will be put away as tight as a drum, awaiting my return in June.  Jackie and I are doing the last minute tasks this morning.  At 1:30, Mr. G. will drive me to the airport hotel where I will spend the night.  Tomorrow at 9:30 I fly on a direct flight to Vancouver.  Air Canada just instituted the direct flight from Halifax to Vancouver this Spring so I will be interested to see how many people will be on the flight.  Because of the time change, I arrive at 12:30 and check into the Fairmount Hotel.  This evening I will meet my friends who will be on the train.

We will be a happy group of five.  Butch, my friend of long standing from the world of real-estate is coming along with his brother Larry and wife Lynn and their daughter Margo.  So we have three able bodied folks to help me and Butch getting on and off the train cars.  And we will have a happy time, I feel sure.

Vancouver is a beautiful city, the city where I grew up.  On Sunday, I will have lunch with Kenny and Anne, along with their two children Elise and Eric, plus Anne's brother, who lives in Montreal.  He lives an independent life, even though he is blind.  I look forward to meeting him.  And on the 3rd, we board the Rocky mountain journey and then across the prairies.  So  here I go again, saying goodbye to this beautiful place for other beautiful places such as Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper.  I am once again, on the road.  

September 29, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Kind Deeds.

This morning, Walt and Mary stopped by to say goodbye and to have a little visit.  In addition, Mary brought me a container of seafood chowder.  Nothing speaks more of Nova Scotia than seafood chowder, so it was a wonderful send off for me.  And in the container were two meals so I ate a bowl for a late lunch and I saved the rest for lunch tomorrow, which I will eat just before I leave for the airport.   Mary made the chowder this morning just so she could bring some for me.

I could not even begin to count the number of kind deeds Mary and Walt have provided for me over the 23 years we have lived here.   They are always doing something kind for me from providing me information to preparing food.  This summer, it was well beyond the normal.  And I appreciated every kindness shown to me.  Today was just the peak.  To eat excellent chowder the last two days on leaving is to be almost in heaven.  And I am grateful for their friendship and their many kindnesses.  Some good.

September 28, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. By the Sea..

 Living by the Atlantic Ocean is wonderful.  But there are some negatives too.  The salty moist air makes everything rust so replacements are more frequent than if you live in town.   I replaced three outside doors last year because the bottoms rusted.  And we have replaced metal outdoor light fixtures twice.  My friend Mary coats all her outside metal with Vasaline, including the hinges and the bottoms of the doors.  No replacements for her.

 The breeze is always present, which is lovely during the summer.  But during the winter months the cold wind is chilly.  George, our builder, was going to sell his house in Brooklyn, the next town to Liverpool, in order to build himself and his wife on the water.  But he would not consider Western Head, because he said it was too cold.   So he bought a lot on the river and now is happy as a clam in his modern home where it is warm.  

Erosion is always a problem living by the shore.  I replaced the rock wall, installed in 1999 by Everett.  I am afraid to go and look at the latest storm to my new wall, installed in 2021.  Two things happen.  The heavy rains goes through the soil, taking part of the land when it gets to the water.  And then the water crashing into the shore removes rock and soil.  Eventually, erosion will win.  But not yet.

The positives far our weigh the negatives.  I do love living beside the ever changing bold Atlantic Ocean.  Ken and I always felt fortunate to live by the ocean.  But then we were not here in the winter.  But for me, I will be sorry to say goodbye to my home beside the sea.

September 27, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Winding Down.

 My friends Wendy and Clausen left this morning , after being here since mis June.  They drove, along with their two big dogs, to take the ferry,  the Cat, in Yarmouth.  They will end up in Bar Harbor.  They will drive to Potomac, in Maryland.  Just south of Portland, Maine, they will take a mini vacation at a lovely dog friendly Inn.  So they will enjoy the journey.  

Tomorrow, Mary and Clif will leave to drive home to Delaware.  But they will take the ferry from Digby to St.John, where they will stay overnight before driving home.  It is a two day drive.  This afternoon Cliffie came to say goodbye and tomorrow Mary is coming by too.  The ferry leaves Digby at 5:00 and it is a two hour drive.  They are all set to leave their home here for the winter.

I drive with Mr. G. to the ALT hotel at the Halifax airport where I will spend the night.  My flight to Vancouver on Saturday is at 9:30 am.  My traveling buddies will also be arriving to Vancouver on Saturday so we will have our first dinner of the journey that evening.  On Sunday I plan to have lunch with Kenny and Anne, their two grown children Eric and Elise and Anne's brother who is visiting them from Montreal.  Our train journey begins Oct.3.

Gill will fly to Toronto on Saturday afternoon.  She has two weeks of doctor appointments  when she arrives.  Then she will visit her son David in Seattle, spending two weeks there.  Then she will return to Toronto for a few days before flying to New York to visit her son Tim and his wife Kate and their two daughters.   She expects to stay a month in New York.

So our little group is winding down, and returning to other lives.  But this summer has been grand and we all look forward to seeing each other next summer.  By Sunday, all our homes here will be closed for the winter.  So here we go.

September 26, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Storm Food.

I do not remember this happening in past storms but this year, prior to the storm, friends brought me meals.  David N. brought a container of his home made split pea soup.  Sue and Steve brought me a full meal along with Steve's luncheon salad.  Wendy and Clausen brought me two deli sandwiches plus a full dinner of roast ham  And Mary Mac. brought me dinner every evening last week.  My fridge was full of good food for me to eat throughout the storm.

And of course, when they bring me food, they also stop for a visit and to make sure that I had everything I need to weather the storm.  They made sure that I was well supplied with water and flashlights along with a charger for my devices.  It was all very reassuring.  And they all admonished me to contact them if I had any trouble.  Fortunately, we were let off lightly.  Those further up the shore were not so fortunate.  But between my efforts plus my friends, I was ready.  And I ate very well throughout the storm.

September 25, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Airline Tickets.

There is something about ordering airline tickets that pleases me and I have no idea why.  Perhaps it is the anticipation of another journey sometime in the future.  Or perhaps it is merely another check on my to do list.  I have always kept lists of tasks needing to be done so I am used to checking off the items on my list. I still use lists now even though my accomplishments are few.  I keep lists of tasks for Anna when she comes.  But I think the pleasure that comes with arranging airline tickets has more to do with the anticipation than merely an item to be checked off.

This week, I ordered my tickets for Mexico.  I arranged the accommodation last January but now the trip seems more a reality than an idea.  I was pleased when I was finished.  Ken always booked our flights, using the internet.  But my vision makes it difficult for me to use ordering on line so I use the travel department of American Express Platinum card.  And they do a good job.  But it is time consuming.  The interesting thing is that the agents live all over the place.  I often speak to a lady who lives in New Brunswick.  And one man loves in Chicago.  Evidently there is no central office.  

And Wendy has booked her tickets to Mexico too.  Now I am smiling in anticipation.  The accommodation is booked and the airplane tickets have been ordered.  So here we go.

September 24, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. After the Storm.

 Today at Gull Bay, the waves were gorgeous.  They were big and crashed onto the shore with a mighty roar.  But we had a wind from the northwest so as the waves broke, a large rooster tail sailed off the top of the wave.  It was beautiful.  And they just kept coming and coming.  Watching from the comfort of my living room was a special treat.

Our storm is over.  We on the south shore did well but further up the coast still has no power.  The most destruction occurred in Cape Breton and Newfoundland, where whole houses floated out to sea.  Our power went out in the middle of the night but all day we had power, which both surprised and pleased me. It rained all last night and we had high winds.  Today was overcast but no rain.  The tidal surges came right up to the top of the rocks beside me but the water never went over the top of the causeway wall.  Today the wind was too high for the surfers to venture out but I bet they will try their luck tomorrow.  I can still hear the waves crashing into the shore so I suspect the surf will be up tomorrow too.

Tomorrow I must return the flashlights to their proper place and let the water out of the tub.  Our storm Fiona is officially over.

September 23, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Anticipation.

The storm is coming.  Yesterday we had high winds.  Today the surf was high.  25 surfers could be seen in the waters of Gull Bay, anticipating that the waves would be high.  But they were higher than yesterday but were not huge.  Unfortunately, by tomorrow, the winds will be too strong to allow the surfers into the water.  And we are supposed to get torrential rains.  In anticipation of the storm, everyone has gotten prepared.

All deck furniture has been removed and everything outside tied down.  Trash cans are in the garage.  My bathtub is half full of water.  I have bottles of drinking water in the garage.  Friends are bringing me food, enough to last through the storm.   David N. brought me split pea soup.  Mary Mac. brought dinner.  Wendy brought me two sandwiches and one dinner from Sobeys.  They were shopping for themselves so just brought me goodies too.  So I am set for food.  

 Everyone anticipates that the electricity will be cut off, which means no water.  Our well water requires a pump which needs electricity.  The  toilets require water thus the need for more water in the tub  We are been warned to expect three days without power.    I have two flashlights on each floor.  Now I anticipate a big storm, at least the weather tells us so.  Even though the storm will hit the other side of Halifax, PEI, Cape Breton and Newfoundland, we on the south shore are in for a big storm with heavy rain, high winds and storm surges  pounding the shore.  I am anticipating high waves which will be beautiful. I am as ready as I can possibly be.  So bring it on.

September 22, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Anticipation & Cancellations.

 Tomorrow, I was supposed to go out to lunch with Wendy and Clausen.  But we cancelled.  Instead, they will bring sandwiches over to my house so we can watch the fierce waves.   The Ferries have been cancelled all weekend, both from Yarmouth and Digby.  It is too dangerous being out at sea.  Between the wind and the rain, being out and about would be dangerous.  So once again, we stay home and try to stay safe and sound.

The storm has started.  Already the wind is fierce.  I have the feeling that the power might go out at any time.  Flashlights in the bedroom are at the ready.  The rains have started and will continue to increase throughout the night, although we are not supposed to get the worst of the storm until Saturday.  At the moment, the eye of the storm will hit land on the other side of Halifax, although that could change.  PEI, Cape Breton and Newfoundland will get the worst of the storm.  But the South Shore, where I live will have a big storm.  Everyone has gotten ready.  And most events have been cancelled.  Now we wait and try to get a good nights sleep.  The storm is definitely coming.

September 21, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Fiona, a Storm.

Fiona at the moment is a hurricane but by the time she hits Atlantic Canada she might be a tropical storm but no matter what she is called, she will still pack quite a punch.  I am told to expect high winds, heavy rain and big waves.  Along with the occasional tidal surges we might be in for a big storm.  At the moment, the path of the storm seems to be coming on land further north but we on the south shore will still feel the results of Fiona.  So we must get ready.

When the electricity goes out, we have no water so tomorrow I will fill the bathtub.  And I will check out the flashlights.  Friends are busily taking in outside furniture too.  Fortunately, my deck is empty, thanks to Anna.  So if we have an electrical outage, which always happens in a storm, I will be set.  I live in an old house, well set up from the water.  This old house has withstood many storms so I am not nervous.  And the trees are well away from the house.  During the storm I sit looking out the window and watch the waves beating in to the shore.  Now that is quite a sight.

My friend Wendy was hoping to see big waves before they must return to Maryland.  It appears that her wish will be granted.  Beginning Thursday night we are supposed to get high winds followed by rain.  By Friday, the waves should be high enough to be interesting.  So here we go.  Yet another storm is coming to Atlantic Canada.

September 20, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Funeral of Queen Elizabeth.

 Some how or another, I felt as though Queen Elizabeth would live forever so I was surprised when she died.  This makes no sense  because she was 96, but her mother lived to be over 100 and up until two days before she died she seemed to be doing well, even meeting the new prime minister.  But she died.  And then the show began.  And what a show it was.

I do not approve of inherited positions so am against the royalty.  But Queen Elizabeth has done a masterful job of being Queen.  She was the Queen for so long no wonder I thought she would continue her role for evener.  But when she died, the pomp and circumstance took over and the whole thing was beautifully done.

I did not get up early to watch the funeral but I did watch last evening.  And I must say, it was beautifully done.  Not a step out of place.  The whole thing was impressive.  Evidently, the Queen had written the whole service herself, many years ago.   It was definitely a funeral for the ages.  

September 19, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Sleeping.

 Most of my life, when I went to bed, I went to sleep, immediately.  Ken was always jealous because his sleep patterns were not mine.  I went to sleep and stayed there.  ken was up and down all night, reading, listening to tapes.   Even if I did not sleep through the night, I stayed still and stayed in bed.

When my back was hurting in Nova Scotia, I struggled to get out of bed because I had a sharp pain in my back trying to get out of bed.  That was when I learned the beauty of Ken's recliner.  So when David and Suzanne were here and I fell, they bought me another recliner for my bedroom so my back troubles bit by bit decreased.  I still used Tylenol but I slept on my new recliner every night and stayed out of the bed.  That recliner was a godsend because I got a good nights sleep.

My back is much better so two weeks ago I started sleeping parts of each night in my bed.  And my back did not hurt.  Last night I started off in bed and slept for four hours.  After going to the bathroom I went to the recliner for two hours and finally returned to the bed for two more hours before getting up.  Soon I will not have the recliner on the train so I need to be able to sleep well on a bed all night.  I am getting there.

If you had asked me ten years ago if I would have trouble sleeping  when I was 84 I would have said no.  Not sleeping was never an issue for me.  But it is now ! !

September 18, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Coming to a Close.

Anna has helped me for four years so she knows the routine .  And as Anna was going to be leaving two weeks ahead of me, we got organized early.  The garage has been put back into storage, with both the fridge and freezer unplugged and cleaned.    And the truck is in the garage where it will stay all winter.  Anna left a path for me to leave the garage when Mr.G. comes to get me on on the 30th.  So the garage is all set for the winter.

Anna and I packet my case too, the one that will be checked on the plane.  This case was the same one I used on the cruise but Anna and I organized  the clothes differently.  I actually have too many clothes for the 13 day train trip but I do not wish to leave this stuff in Nova Scotia so it seemed easy to just leave the clothes in the case.  I did think about shipping things to Mississippi but decided that it was just as easy to put everything in the case.  Everything fit into the case for the cruise so there was no problem packing.

My small roller case i take as a carry on along with my backpack.  That small case was full of medications as I needed to have five months of meds to bring with me.  But that has almost all been consumed so I have space.  I should not be needing the bigger case when I am in Vancouver.  But that small case  is almost ready too.  I just need to put my reading glasses into the little case along with the computer and i pad which go into my backpack.  So I am almost ready to depart.  My summer in Nova Scotia is coming to a close.  

September 17, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Propane Stove.

 The night got chilly in Western Head, Nova Scotia so this morning when I went down, I found a living room that was cold and uninviting.  But the propane stove did the job.  With a push of the thermostat, the stove burst into flame and immediately I felt better.  Soon the room was comfortable.  Our hot water heat is steady but is slow so I did not even turn it on.  The propane stove was my friend this morning.

Ken and I fell in love with gas fired fireplaces in Lake Tahoe.  Our time share was on the top of the mountain and after a day skiing, we returned to our apartment with cold cheeks.  But with a flip of the switch, the fireplace sprang to life.  It was magic.  We have installed gas fired stoves and fireplaces in every home we owned since we first discovered them, including Nova Scotia.

The only problem with them is they require both propane and a pilot light.  So often, when we had been away, the stove would not work.  Either the propane tank was empty of the pilot light had burnt out.  But I have gotten smarter.  Before I arrive in Nova Scotia I have the serviceman come and check the system before I arrive.  Sometimes, there is a broken part in need of replacement.  Nothing worse than turning on the propane stove only to find no response.  Now, all summer, my stove has worked like a charm.  It certainly made me comfortable this morning.

September 16, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Anna & Abe.

 Anna has been my helper for 4 seasons and Abe is her husband.  Today was a red letter day for them because they crossed over the border in order to activated their green card, thus giving them the right to live and work in the United States.  It has taken four years to get the approval but now it has finally happened.  First they will visit their daughter and her husband and children in Mass. where they expect to spend two or three weeks.  Then they will drive to Pennsylvania where they have another daughter with her husband and children.  This family have been the ones urging Anna and Abe to get their green card and where they will stay.  The daughter lives near Hershey.

I remember the date.  June 26, 1964 was the day we crossed the border, heading for Texas.  It has been tattooed into my brain.  And so will Anna and Abe.  They will live in a small holiday trailer that they will keep on the daughter's .   property.  It has already been towed to Mass. where they will live until then tow it to Pennsylvania for their permanent home.  So they are all set.

They were anxious  with crossing the border.  Although all their papers were in order, when crossing the border you never know what might happen, especially with Covid still alive and well.  But the crossing was smooth and easy and quick.  The official even gave them a "God bless you in the United States", which pleased Anna.  They are both excited with their next adventure.  And I wish them well.

September 15, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Cocktails at Gill's.

 Our summer here in Nova Scotia is coming to a close so Gill took the occasion to invite our group for a cocktail party at her house.  The early evening was glorious so we sat on her deck enjoying the sun and the breeze and enjoying the sea and clouds.  Gill is a generous hostess so e ate our fill of wonderful goodies, such as shrimp, smoked salmon, olives, cheese and oodles of raw vegetables.  We have summered here together for over twenty years so being together was worth celebrating.

Then we moved inside and I was remembering again what a great job did with her home.  She designed her own home and it is beautiful.  Her main room is perfect for a party.  She has just one room, with the kitchen, dining room and living room all open, with windows across the front looking at the sea.  She sets high enough off the water that when you sit in a chair, you can see the waves crashing into her rocks.  Her view is magnificent, the best of all our houses.  So we talked and we talked and we enjoyed each others company, which of course was the purpose for the party. 

 Hats off to Gill for building such a wonderful house and for going to all the work to prepare our goodies.  I enjoyed every minute from the time Wendy and Clausen picked me up at 4:30 until they brought me home at 8:00.  Our venture in Nova Scotia has been a great success and tonight we celebrated in style.

September 14, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Another Oops.

When Carol and I were very young girls, my Mother would say that when Carol asked  to go to the bathroom, Mother could take time to find the bathroom.  But when I said I needed to go to the bathroom, Mother knew that she needed to find a bathroom quickly.  There was no holding on as was the case with Carol.    Some things in my life have never changed.

In Anna's family, the toilet seat lid is always kept down.  The same with Jacky, my cleaning lady.  But not in my family.  I like the lid of the toilet kept up.  I have tried to have Anna follow my pattern but I have not even tried with Jacky.  

Today, Jacky cleaned my house.  I went into my MBR bathroom, wearing a dress and using the walker, which means I am backing into the toilet.  And I sat down on the commode.  Unfortunately, the lid was down, which I had not noticed.  So once again this week, I was kept humble with another oops.  

September 13, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Beeping in the Kitchen.

The beeping began at 2:00 just as I was preparing lunch.  I searched everywhere and could not find the source.  Even Wendy and Clausen, when they stopped over, could not find the irritating beeps.  So I ignored it.  But finally I called George and he came right over, even though it was Sunday afternoon at 5:00.

It took him three minutes to turn off the beeping.  I could have opened the drawer to find the probe myself but I did not.  He told me that his hearing aids helped him because they pin point the source of the beeps.  He would accept no money.  "I was helping a friend", said George, who is our builder.  But I did feel badly because he and Shiela had been sitting by the river enjoying the evening cool.

So on Monday, Anna and I stopped by his house to give him a birthday card with some cash.  He could not refuse a birthday gift.  Today I received an e mail telling me that the best part of the note was the kind words.  Now that is why we like George!!

September 12, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Unsubscribe.

Without doing anything, I was receiving 150 e mails every day.  This was time consuming for me, especially if i had been too busy to attend to them for several days in a row.  A few weeks ago, I have over a thousand e mails to deal with.  While I was in Mexico, Ken B. told me that by law, the organizations sending me e mails must allow me to unsubscribe.  My problem was the size of the unsubscribe button.  I struggle to find it. So my e mail woes continued.

A few weeks ago, I asked Anna for help.  Every morning we reviewed my e mails, she on my i Pad and me on my phone.  And I told her what e mails should be unsubscribed.  We were successful.  Finally, I receive about 15 a day.  When a new e mail arrives from some new organization we immediately unsubscribe.  I still receive the ones with information.  But I get few political requests.  It has taken a while but now I can  manage my e mails.  Finally.

September 11, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Three Days of Surfing.

 Something new was added to the surfing here at Gull Bay.  Yesterday afternoon, I spotted something new.  It looked just like a bird skimming along the water.  But it was no duck.   It actually took a few minutes to figure out what I was seeing in the water.  Some one was standing upright on a board and using a paddle to come into shore, all the while riding the waves.  So they move very quickly.  When they finished the ride, instead of jumping off to lie on their board to get back out, the standing people just stayed upright and using their paddle, went back our for another ride.

I have watched people using a paddle board but I have never sen them riding the waves.  My first thought was that they must have very strong legs because they are standing and balancing all the way out and in.  They did seem to be birds skittering along on top of the water.  The waves were highest yesterday but still not high enough to break a persons back, as could happen in Hawaii.

The causeway was covered by cars, many from Quebec.  This also was unusual as most surfing done here is done by our own surfers.  Wendy says that Gull Bay has been discovered.  I saw 20 surfers at a time out in the water, with 5 at a time using the paddle.  Finally, the surfers this year are happy.

September 10, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Local Food.

 Smoked salmon purchased in Nova Scotia tastes about the best in the world.  They use a light smoke so the salmon is not strong.  But it is delicious.  Today for lunch I ate the left over smoked salmon from when Beth and Ben were here.  And I was reminded once again just how good the Nova Scotian smoked salmon is.  I loved it.

Then there is the fish and chips.  They use a light batter and the fish is always fresh.  Every restaurant serves fish and chips and it is always good.  I always eat fish and chips at least once a season just to pay tribute to this Nova Scotia dish.  I know that other places in the world serve fish and chips.  But perhaps the Nova Scotia fish and chips is better.

And of course, the seafood chowder is good too but I have already written about it.  

Rappie pie is terrible so do not order it in a restaurant.  It is a gelatinous potato dish served with a bit of fish or meal.  It is an Acadian dish but I dod not like it.  You can also buy it in the grocery store but leave it on the shelves.

The best is the smoked salmon.  You can't beat it.

September 9, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Bold Atlantic.

Finally, the Atlantic Ocean is bold.  This morning, the surfers were out in force in Gull Bay, right in front of the house.  The waves were not high but there was enough surf to get a good ride.  They left mid afternoon but the waves got bigger later in the day so more surfers appeared.  They are quite a sight.

But tonight the ocean is downright noisy.  The waves are crashing into the shore.  Unfortunately surfing at night is dangerous so I hope no one is out in the water right now.  But the waves sound high so if it continues over night, at break of day I will be able to see all the little shapes out in the water.  At first I think the black shapes are seals but on closer inspection I can see that the black shapes are people on surfboards.  

All summer, the ocean has been calm.  Only one day could we see any waves.  Even then, there were surfers on that day trying their best.  Today they were getting long rides.  I bet they are hoping the waves  will be high  tomorrow morning.  Certainly, my bedroom is still noisy right now.  I will listen during the night whenever I am awake.  Great sound in my bedroom.  Just like a lullaby .

September 8, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Beth and Ben.

I enjoyed my self thoroughly.  And I was delighted that Beth and Ben took the time to come to visit .  They had been camping in Nova Scotia and PEI, using a small trailer.  On Wednesday, their plan was to take a sail on the Blusnose, then come to say hello to me.  I suggested they stay for dinner and stay the night here before beginning their drive home to Ontario and work which would begin on Monday.

I decided not to use the caterer.  We ate smoked salmon, cream cheese, capers and crackers while sitting at the kitchen, camping style.  Anna had cook a lasagna so for dinner, Beth heated it in the oven and made a salad.  We ate sitting in the living room.  And for dessert, we ate a fudgesicle from the freezer.  And they loaded and started the dishwasher.  So dinner was fun and easy, with their help.

My sister Carol had two sons, Ben and Peter.  I have always felt part of there lives but after Carol died, I realized that what linked me with Ben and Peter and their families was Carol so I have felt disconnected from the boys.  I was pleased that Ben and Beth decided to visit me.  And we all agreed to do a better job of keeping in touch.   Our visit was short but good.  And our future will be more connected.  We have promised!!

September 7, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Lunch at my house.

Larry and Jan brought me lunch today.  They always bring me lunch which is grossly unfair.  I can not drive and they prefer their own cooking to eating at a restaurant so I can not even take them out for lunch or dinner.  So they bring me lunch and we sit in the living room and sip wine.  Then we eat their delicious lunch.

Gill was visiting me when they arrived at 1:00 so we all invited her to stay for lunch which she did.  Larry brought a Greek salad full of wonderful things.  In addition we ate baguettes and butter.  We sat in the living room eating our delicious salad and bread.  And we talked.

For the first time since 2020, Larry and Jan are going to England to visit family and friends.  So we had a lot to talk about because Gill is also going to Toronto in October and taking a 4 month cruise in January.  And I am taking the train across Canada in October.  So travel was on our mind.  Finally we ate strawberry shortcake for dessert.  Whew.  We had a wonderful lunch sitting in my living room eating the food prepared by Larry.    I wish them every success on their journey to England and Paris.  They leave Sept. 15 so I will not see them until I return in June of 2023.   Our lunch today was a great success.  Good food and great company.  Once again, I feel fortunate.  

September 6, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Oh. What a Day.

Sunday started with a bad note, with my rear window shattered in Mississippi.  But it was quickly set up for the repair.  And the rest of the day was a pure delight.

At 11:00, friend Frances picked me up for brunch at Lanes.  We had a splendid time.  Fran is leaving for Italy in a week so we discussed her plan which sounded just fine.  Then she reported that her sister in law and her husband were buying her house.  They will use it as a summer home at first and then move to Liverpool full time.  Now all she needs to figure our is where she wants to live.  We had fun discussing all her many options, all of which seemed intriguing.  Our visit was just fine.

After I put my feet up, David N. stopped over with his new dog.  I had been busy and he was working hard so I had not seen him recently, but on Sunday we caught up with each others lives.  During the cruise, David took thousands of pictures so he has been enjoying looking at them all, but slowly.  He made a comment that during the cruise, time seemed to move quickly.  Now as he reviewed the picture, he is reliving the cruise, but in slow motion.  And he is enjoying the journey all over again.  His dog Maggie was well behaved and very sweet.

Then at 4:00, Anna and Abe picked me up for our early dinner at the Quarterdeck.  The weather was glorious so our very pleasant dinner was a splendid end of my wonderful day.  Days don't get much better than today.

September 5, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Last Supper.

 By now, we have a tradition.  At the end of the summer season, just before I head south, I take Anna, my helper, along with her husband and son, out to dinner.  Our custom is to select the last Sunday before I depart.  And we eat at Pauls in Liverpool.  This year we broke with tradition because Anna and Abe are actually leaving for the US two weeks before me and next Sunday they are having a barbecue for Isaac on her 21st birthday.  And as Abe had never eaten at the Quarterdeck, we selected that restaurant for dinner.

Last year, Isaac and I made a deal.  If he took his test to get his high school equivalent diploma, he was welcome to once again join us for dinner.  But if he did not get his certificate, he was not invited for our end of season dinner.  So this year we broke all traditions.  New restaurant, new time, and no Isaac.

But we had a great time anyway.  We dined early, at 4:30 so they could get home to Bridgewater during the day light.  The weather was glorious so sitting overlooking the ocean was a delight.  The food was great.  And we had a happy time.

Anna and Abe have been approved for their Green card.  They have family in the US so now they will be able to visit them and even work in the US if they wish.  But no matter what, on September 16 they will enter the US and activate their Green Card.  We celebrated on Sunday at dinner.

September 4, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Shattered Glass.

 Christina drives my car at least once every week.  She often uses my car when she is checking my house which she does every weeks.  She collects and opens the mail and checks the house for leaks.  Today, when she closed the door of the car, the glass at the back of the car cracked and then shattered.   She was not going to drive that car today.  But she texted me with her sad tale.

I called my insurance company, Amica, even though it was Sunday morning.    It took them a bit to find the policy because they were still using the address at the ranch, a place we sold five years ago.  But we finally got it all sorted out and discovered that I had insurance for the broken back windshield but with a $200. deduction.

I was sent on the phone to the glass department and made an appointment for Thursday, to be done at Christina's house.  Perfect as Christina does not teach on Thursday.  Within 30 minutes, the problem ws solved, at least it will be if the come on Thursday.  Pretty efficient.  I was pleased.  And so is Christina.  

September 3, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Seafood Chowder.

 Every restaurant in Nova Scotia serves seafood chowder.  And every cook in Nova Scotia cooks seafood chowder.  But even though the ingredients are similar, every bowl of seafood chowder you eat in Nova Scotia tastes just a little bit different.  But I will tell you that friend Mary Mac makes the best seafood chowder in the world.

In the middle of the afternoon, Mary walked in with a big container of seafood chowder that she cooked for lunch. and brought the leftovers for me.  This is the first time I have eaten her chowder this summer.  It was worth the wait.  It was full of everything good: muscles, scallops, fish, lobster, shrimp along with potatoes and a bit of onions.  I ate it for supper tonight and it was delicious.  And I have enough left over for another day.

Both Lanes and the Quarterdeck serve really good chowder but I always wait to eat friend Mary's seafood chowder.  It was worth the wait.  For lunch today, I ate with the Ely's and Gill. at Lanes.  Gill said that her cup of chowder was excellent.  I must admit that even though Gill was at my house when Mary delivered the chowder I did not invite Gill to come back for supper.  I felt sure that eating chowder twice in one day would not please her fancy.   Perhaps I will ask her tomorrow if she would enjoy my leftover.  Or maybe not.  It certainly was good.  

September 2, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. A Story of Success.

 Every time I have my hair cut at April's Salon it makes me feel good.  Because I have watched the steps that have led to her success.  April is the daughter of our builder George.  After she graduated at Dalhousie University with a degree in the world of graphic art, she was offered jobs in Halifax but she did not wish to live in Halifax.  Instead she learned how to be a beautician and open her own salon.

But she had no money so she worked at a lumber yard while she saved her money.  She bought  a 19th Century Georgian style house that was a wreck.  But it cost $30,000.  So with the help of her parents and her hard work, she restored the living room to open as a beauty salon with herself as the only worker.  As her clients grow, she reduced her hours at the lumber yard until eventually she was totally on her own.  Next she hired more workers as the client list grew.  Bit by bit, the house was totally restored and is beautiful.

Then she married Rob, a carpenter who worked for her father, George.  Space was limited so she built a separate salon at the back of the property.  And they bought the house next door to provide parking.  And just before Covid, they bought a little house across the road along the river that April runs as an airB&B, which is fully booked.  Even during Covid, the place was busy as Nova Scotians just wanted to get out of town.

So now I visit with April and see this wonderful picture with everything in perfect order and looking lovely.  But I know that it took blood, sweat and tears to get it together.  Their children are now in the 6th and 2nd grades and the salon is a busy happy place.  The whole scene brings me great pleasure as to what April has done with her life.  Pretty Nifty.

September 1, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Jackson, Mississippi.

Christina reports that the national press has exaggerated the water situation in Jackson.  And furthermore, the water pressure issues had nothing to do with the flooding.  During August, more rail fell that in reordered history.  The Pearl River spilled it's banks and water poured in the filltrtration plant, thus mixing river water with filtered water.  So for several weeks, Jackson people have been boiling their water. But that had nothing to do with the lack of water pressure, even though the Mayor said it was so.

The lack of adequate water pressure is due to deferred  maintenance, pure and simple.  In 2016, a new study stated that for 30 years, the system was neglected and that soon it will crash.  But despite these dire warnings, absolutely nothing has been done to the system.  Not even when the funding was available.  The problems have been the leaking pipes, old motors and untrained staff.  So Jackson has turned itself into a third world city where the restaurants were forced to close this week in Jackson.

Christina reports that the water has always been running even though the pressure has often been low.  They shower when the flow is higher.  Some parts of the city are worse than others, especially the older sections where the pipes are as old as the city.  The city Council has been trying to encourage people to return to live in Jackson.  This water pressure will not help!!