August 31, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Privateer Inn.

Ken and I ate our first meal in Liverpool at The Privateer Inn.     Before we even ordered, we asked our young waitress  about a Privateer.  She just laughed and told us that she knew nothing about being a privateer.  But she did direct us to a lighthouse, where we could read all about being a privateer.  So we did and now I will bore you with lots of information about the days of the Privateer in Liverpool.

The food was good all those years ago and is still good today, which is sometimes not the same.  Susan Lane had just taken over the Inn when her father retired.  She was young to be running that large place but she has done a good job.  When we first dined there, the dining room was at the front of the building, which overlooked the street and a parking lot.  Ken and I wondered why they were not using the back of the Inn for dining, because they overlook the Mersey River.

It took awhile but now the dining room is at the back, and there is an extensive patio area so you can dine outside overlooking the lawn and the river.  But two years ago Susan sold the Inn.  We were fearful that the new owner would change everything.  But he has left it alone and  is doing well.  Today for lunch I enjoyed my meal of haddock cakes.  My friend Heather ate a delicious haddock burger.  We were both pleased to see the new owners doing well.  We do like The Privateer Inn to be alive and well.

August 30, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. One Joy of Getting Old.

Lots of joys come my way by being old.  But one of the greatest joys is watching the children grow up.  And it all happens in a flash, at least in retrospect.    Not only your own children and grandchildren but also the children and grandchildren of your friends and relatives grow up, get educated, form families and then have their own children.  And these little kids we knew so well playing with my own children have become responsible adults.  And they are still lots of fun.

The twins, Allison and Samantha just turned 21.  Now they are in their third year of University.  Tori, one of the Mitchell's granddaughter just moved into the dorm at the University of Maryland.And two of the Ely's grandchildren ate now at University.  I have enjoyed watching the children grow up, get educated themselves and now have children of their own attending University.  Such joy for me as it all unfolds.

One of the special pleasure of living in Nova Scotia is that our good friends are here.  And our friends children come to visit them along with the grandchildren so I get to visit with them too.  Two sets of Ely children came to visit this summer so I got to see and visit with them all.  Then today Gill's son Tim came to say hello along with his two beautiful children.  It was a great pleasure spending time with Tim and his family.  And I know that I would never see these folks if we were not spending summers in Nova Scotia.  Who knew when we bought this place in 1999 that the place would provide me with many unexpected pleasures.  But it is true.

August 29, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. A Double Life.

I have always been intrigued with the question of leading a double life.  Not to long ago, a well known journalist died.  When his will was made public, it turned out that he had a whole second family living in Montana.  He had a second wife and family, unknown to his wife and family in Washington, DC.  What a surprise that must have been.

Then my friend down the street  who is a writer discovered last year that his grandfather who he dearly loved, had left a wife and family behind in the north and west when he moved to Mississippi.  The wife he left behind was never discussed when he married and had several children..  My friend only discovered this secret life when he was researching records for another book.  Lo and behold, the same person appears in a censes who was married and who had children.  Now my friend has just published a book about that ancestor.

Closer to home, my friend Pat and I recently had a conversation about a man who was a good friend for many years.  He and his wife were also good friends with my family and other friends.  He was a fine friend.  Funny, interesting, able with no hint of scandal.  On the other hand, ,y friend Bev told me once that the same gentleman had been a serial kleptomaniac, who had lost several jobs due to his bad habits.  The true story will never be told because the gentleman has died and his wife has loss of memory.  But I for one would love to find out the whole story.  People are endlessly interesting for sure.  

August 28, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Steve & Sue.

 They are like the energizer bunny.  I am always astonished at their productivity.  Today just around noon, they stopped over for visit.  They had been tending to my foot but I am only soaking it three times a week, so their services are not needed.  Both them and I missed our visits, not the least of it that they brought me food.  They know I do not cook.  

The main reason for their visit was that they brought me a tray, made by Steve, of a great blue heron in flight.  It is beautiful.  Steve also made me a luncheon salad and Sue made me a pineapple upside down cake, just the right size for me.  They are remarkable with their generosity.  Also Steve brought me a small bowl of cabbage rolls he had made.

While they were here visiting, I asked Steve to take the objects he made to the Farmer's Market, held every Saturday.  I also encouraged Sue to sell her jams, jellies and pickles at the market.  Steve was not inclined.  He is certainly a worker bee and he makes these objects during the long winters, where he can not work in his garden.  His reason for not selling them is that he enjoys giving his pieces away.  And they both enjoy giving away the jams, jellies, pickles and relishes that they make in abundance.  They would much prefer to give away the stuff than sell them.

One on the best thing about Steve & Sue is that they love their life.  They are not rich but they tell me that they have enough money to live on so they do not need more money.  And they are grateful to be living by the ocean, growing their vegetables and preserving the produce.  And giving things away. They are happy campers.  And I appreciate their generosity along with their spirit.  It is such a delight to talk to people who are so grateful for their life.  

August 27, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Our Anniversary.

Today would have been the day to celebrate.  It would have been our 64th wedding anniversary.   The day is still worth celebrating but this year I celebrated alone.  And I was the only one who remembered.  But I had a good day.  Friend Wendy stopped over to pick up a book and I enjoyed her visit.  And friend Mary brought me corned beef and cabbage for dinner, which was special and delicious.

For several years after we were married, Ken and I were traveling in August so we often forgot the dates so we often discovered that when September rolled along, we had forgotten to celebrate both Ken's birthday and our anniversary.  When the boys were old enough to go to fancy restaurants we always celebrated with the boys on our anniversary.  Then in Nova Scotia, we always had a party to celebrate with family and friends.

Ken never really wanted us to celebrate his birthday, which was on August 19.  But we celebrated anyway.  Birthdays are worth celebrating so we had a party even though Ken objected.  But in his mind, our wedding anniversary was always worth a celebration.  And today I celebrated the start of our great adventure.  

August 26, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. A Splendid Dinner.

Just as I was wondering what I might eat for dinner, my friend Mary walked into my kitchen.  It was 6:45 and they had just finished their dinner.  They brought me the leftover food which I was delighted to see.  She brought me three containers because she said that the dinner would not fit well into one large container.  We chatted a bit while Walt enjoyed sitting outside looking out to sea.  And then she was gone. So far I did not know what a scrumptious dinner was in store for me.

But soon I learned.  For dinner tonight I ate a breaded pork chop, which was tender and juicy.  Along with the chop was a dish of creamed corn, that Mary had made herself.  The third container was scalloped potatoes.  All together, the dinner was delicious.  I always love surprises but this evening seemed especially appealing to have dinner walk through my kitchen.  Once again, I got lucky when Walt asked for breaded pork chops, creamed corn and scalloped potatoes.  And I ate every bit of what is in those three containers.  I had a splendid dinner tonight.

August 25, 2022. Western Head, Nova Scotia. Liverpool Abuzzing.

Most weekends, my town is sleeping.  But not this past weekend.  Two major events were held the same time, both successfully.  I am told that the town was full of people and Recreational  vehicles.

The Hank Snow Festival took place at the arena.  I is always a big event but this year was bigger and better, with groups playing all day and evening for the three days of the festival. People come in theirr RV's and park in the big field in front of the Hank Snow museum.  I am told that the parking lot of the arena was also full.  It is always a big deal but this years event seemed more exciting, I am told.

Then a car show was held at Privateer's Park, right  along the river.  It had not been held the last few years due to Covid but this year the antique cars were out in force.  The place was jammed with cars and people, I am told.  But my sleepy little town was abuzz for the whole weekend.  I of course, could not attend.  Too many people for me.  But I loved the idea of all these people enjoying my little town.  great fun.