It is hot here by the shore. This is the first time we have not felt a cooling breeze, here in Western Head. Today was hot. Ken and I ate dinner outside by the pond, in the shade, the only place comfortable enough to sit. The house was warm and the deck by the sea was in full sun, so we retreated to sitting in the shade beside the pond and enjoyed the warm breeze. It was 89 degrees F. here by the shore. It certainly was a first for us.
Risser's Beach is a beautiful long beach along with a boardwalk right beside the tidal waters. It makes a circle loop for walking. It is also a camp ground and picnic area. Today was probably not a good day to walk for an hour in the middle of the day, but we wore hats and took water so we did fine. Not much wild-life moving at mid-day. It is five or six years since we last walked at Risser's Beach. Lots of people on vacation. The camp grounds were full to over-flowing with the RVs cheek by jowl to each other. It makes us appreciate our privacy and space here by the shore.
For lunch we ate ice cream at Port Medway. Great lunch!!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
August 30, 2010. Western Head, N.S. Escape.
Saturday night, Tim held a surprise party for his wife Diane. They live along the shore from us. It was a large and very successful party, especially interesting for me because I had not met several of the people who attended. Tim and Diane are from up-state New York and built a home here on the shore to use for the summer, but they loved the community and have managed to emigrate to Canada and now live here full time, now that they are retired. Diane looked so happy to be living here in Nova Scotia, celebrating with all her new friends. I wonder what they will say after their first winter?
The evening was lovely, so Ken and I left early, and escaped to the cottage for the night. It was a wonderful escape. We saw no one and came back home late Sunday afternoon. We spent all day sitting on the deck, me reading and swimming and Ken fishing. Perfect cottage weather.
Sunday evening we had dinner at the home of Connie and Ross. Their home is beautiful and the weather was beautiful. We ate dinner on their large deck, overlooking the shore. Another gorgeous room with a view. I was talking with Connie, around the side of the house on the other large deck and heard a sound like a woodpecker, when I turned to see a Downy Woodpecker, working away at a bird feeder filled with unshelled peanuts. The bird was three feet away from me. Great food and good company at dinner, nine folks in all with one new person, Carol who is a small animal vet in town, Loretta and Butch live here full time and Bill and Camilla spend half of the year here and the rest of the year in Vancouver. Along with Ken and I and Connie and Ross we were a merry group.
An osprey put on display for us when he fished for his dinner, an added bonus to a beautiful setting. Our mini escape set us up for the evening festivities.
The evening was lovely, so Ken and I left early, and escaped to the cottage for the night. It was a wonderful escape. We saw no one and came back home late Sunday afternoon. We spent all day sitting on the deck, me reading and swimming and Ken fishing. Perfect cottage weather.
Sunday evening we had dinner at the home of Connie and Ross. Their home is beautiful and the weather was beautiful. We ate dinner on their large deck, overlooking the shore. Another gorgeous room with a view. I was talking with Connie, around the side of the house on the other large deck and heard a sound like a woodpecker, when I turned to see a Downy Woodpecker, working away at a bird feeder filled with unshelled peanuts. The bird was three feet away from me. Great food and good company at dinner, nine folks in all with one new person, Carol who is a small animal vet in town, Loretta and Butch live here full time and Bill and Camilla spend half of the year here and the rest of the year in Vancouver. Along with Ken and I and Connie and Ross we were a merry group.
An osprey put on display for us when he fished for his dinner, an added bonus to a beautiful setting. Our mini escape set us up for the evening festivities.
August 29, 2010. Western Head, N.S. "Galore"
This is a wonderful book. Michael Crummey is the author. Buy it and read it with pleasure. Newfoundland is the place, and within one small volume you find all about Newfoundland, the past and the problems, all tied together with one family encompassing about one hundred years, ending in 1919. The characters are interesting and outrageous, the myths and stories true and unbelievable, but always interesting. The book is ridiculous and riveting.
Michael Crummey was born and raised and lives in St. John's, NFL. By his picture he looks sixteen, but he actually is a young man with a wife and children. "Galore" is his fifth book. In early August he visited the Port Medway Literary Group, to talk about the book and read some of his works. I would love to have been there and hear how he learned about all these stories. One author who was present asked him what he was writing now, and Michael responded that he was having trouble getting away from "Galore", which is understandable. "After writing a book such "Galore', you may never write another such dramatic book", said the author from the audience. Evidently, everyone laughed, including Michael, but I thought it a terrible comment. Creative people always have the anxiety that the last piece may be the end of their ideas.
For me, I will now read his other works, and hope that he gets over "Galore', and gets on with his next project.
Michael Crummey was born and raised and lives in St. John's, NFL. By his picture he looks sixteen, but he actually is a young man with a wife and children. "Galore" is his fifth book. In early August he visited the Port Medway Literary Group, to talk about the book and read some of his works. I would love to have been there and hear how he learned about all these stories. One author who was present asked him what he was writing now, and Michael responded that he was having trouble getting away from "Galore", which is understandable. "After writing a book such "Galore', you may never write another such dramatic book", said the author from the audience. Evidently, everyone laughed, including Michael, but I thought it a terrible comment. Creative people always have the anxiety that the last piece may be the end of their ideas.
For me, I will now read his other works, and hope that he gets over "Galore', and gets on with his next project.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
August 27, 2010. Western Head, N.S. Anniversaries.
One year on our anniversary we answered phones for the PBS fundraiser in Washington. It was fun, raising money on the T.V. for the local station. Many times in the early years of our marriage we were travelling, so the dates of the month were not noticed. Many years we would return home to Toronto, only to discover that we missed both Ken's birthday and our anniversary. Our habit was to not make a fuss, until our 50TH, when we held a two week party in Nova Scotia.
Yesterday was more normal for the day of our anniversary. From one to four we volunteered at Sea Fest at the Canteen. Ken helped the cook, chopping onions and potatoes and slicing tomatoes, while I took orders and money and served hot dogs and drinks. Nancy L. was helping too. I chose that time slot because I thought the crowds would be sparse and I was right, but it was steady. The rest of the time we talked. We had fun.
In the evening, Mary and Walt took us to Charlotte Lane for dinner to complete our celebration. Walt drove down and Mary, as our designated driver, drove home. We ate and drank and celebrated especially because Mary was using a gift certificate. We came within 7 Dollars of the amount of the gift. It was a lovely evening with wonderful food and good conversation with friends, in other words, an evening to remember.
Yesterday was more normal for the day of our anniversary. From one to four we volunteered at Sea Fest at the Canteen. Ken helped the cook, chopping onions and potatoes and slicing tomatoes, while I took orders and money and served hot dogs and drinks. Nancy L. was helping too. I chose that time slot because I thought the crowds would be sparse and I was right, but it was steady. The rest of the time we talked. We had fun.
In the evening, Mary and Walt took us to Charlotte Lane for dinner to complete our celebration. Walt drove down and Mary, as our designated driver, drove home. We ate and drank and celebrated especially because Mary was using a gift certificate. We came within 7 Dollars of the amount of the gift. It was a lovely evening with wonderful food and good conversation with friends, in other words, an evening to remember.
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