Scenery – Page 10 – Jennifer's Journal

To Sea by Virtue

Published on November 26, 2014November 26, 2014 by J. Kelland Perry25 Comments

One sunny afternoon last month, we accompanied friends aboard the Virtue, their Beneteau 400 sailing vessel.
We were only too happy to share in the enjoyment of the October sea and sky.

024 — *Rowing in the little boat to the big boat*

“Throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the wind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

“I never get tired of the blue sky.” – Vincent Van Gogh

“Roll on, deep and dark blue ocean, roll… Man marks the earth with ruin, but his control stops with the shore.” – Lord Byron

“Long may your big jib draw.” – legendary Newfoundland saying meaning good wishes for the future

“I wanted freedom, open air and adventure. I found it on the sea.” – Alaine Gerbault

“How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is quite clearly Ocean.”
– Arthur C. Clarke

“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.”
– William Arthur Ward

“When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky.” – Buddha

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” – Jacques Yves Cousteau

“I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and sky; and all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by.” – John Masefield

Have you ever gone sailing on a beautiful day such as this?

Historic Grand Bank

Published on October 30, 2014October 30, 2014 by J. Kelland Perry22 Comments

It seems the older I get, the more I treasure the chance to travel around this province. Even when I visit a Newfoundland community I’ve been in before, it’s as if I see it with new and more appreciative eyes.

Earlier this week, I accompanied Paul on one of his little road trips for work, this time on the Burin Peninsula Heritage Run. Our destination was the vibrant town of Grand Bank. I hadn’t been there in over a decade.

It was a rainy trip. But Good Fortune smiled down, the sun came out as soon as we got there, and so did my trusty camera.

The authentic old buildings and heritage architecture I found especially charming. I’ll let the pictures tell the story of what I loved about historic Grand Bank.

155 — **The Inn by the Sea Bed and Breakfast**

162 — **The Thorndyke – Registered Heritage B & B**

169 — **…and another Widow’s Walk, a popular feature of long ago fishing communities.**

And Old meets New:

186 — **The Provincial Seamen’s Museum**

192 — **Thank you for the lovely visit, Grand Bank.**

Where do you like to go for a road trip?

My “Backyard” – Part 1

Published on September 8, 2014September 14, 2014 by J. Kelland Perry31 Comments

“If one really loves nature, one can find beauty everywhere.”
~ Vincent van Gogh

There is something about this time of year, before the advent of autumn, that I love about life on Perry’s Point.

Unconventional to say the least, my backyard here in Newfoundland has no fences, save for one side shared with our neighbour.

One day last week I got out early with my camera, hoping to capture the soft morning light.

The grass is still glistening with dew. — **The grass still glistens with dew.**

It's shaping up to be a splendid September day. — **It’s shaping up to be another splendid September day.**

View from the back door. — **View of the islands from the back door**

Vivian is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. — **Vivian joins me, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.**

Maisie is looking for a belly rub. — **Maisie begs shamelessly for a belly rub.**

The outermost point of land on Perry's Point — **View from our deck of the outermost point of land on Perry’s Point**

**Walking toward the brink. Around here they call it a “beel”, which I believe to be a slang version of “bill”, or small peninsula.**

036 — **This morning the bay is calm and serene.**

The inukshuk my husband made this summer — **The Inukshuk my husband made this summer**

The "Rock Cove", where rainwater collects — **The “Rock Cove”, where rainwater collects**

An ideal source of drinking water for our feathered friends. We've seen a few indulge in birdbaths here too. — **It’s an ideal source of fresh drinking water for our feathered friends. We’ve seen a few indulge in bird baths here too.**

The patridgeberries are ripening, on schedule for picking next month. — **The partridgeberries are ripening, on schedule for picking next month.**

I don't know what kind these are. Do you? — **I don’t know what kind these are. Do you?**

Neighbour Ben's buoys and bobbers — **Neighbour Ben’s fishing buoys and bobbers**

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”
~ Albert Einstein

Join me next Monday for: My “Backyard”- Part 2: The Beach

Weekend Family Fun

Published on July 22, 2014July 22, 2014 by J. Kelland Perry16 Comments

Last Friday, we took a trip to Lead Cove, the little outport community where my children grew up.

Time spent with fun-loving family…

…on a warm summer weekend, is high on my list of favourite things to do.

Around the bay, the pace slows down where time together is savoured and enjoyed.
(Our boy fell and skinned his knee after I took this one, but let’s not talk about that.)

Nico explores with Poppy, making the most of his freedom from the leash.

Our little girl spends a pensive moment beside the sea.

Nico joins her.

Perhaps they are watching the fishing boat near the horizon.

When we return to the summer-house, our chef checks on the roast he is smoking with maple chips.

Nico finds a shady spot.

Pulled pork sandwiches with all the fixin’s. Yum!

Everyone loves it. ❤

Nico is savouring every minute.

So nice to see the kids playing and spending quality time with their mom.

Later, we light a fire and serve up spider wieners.

Happy girl.

What fire would be complete without s’mores? My first one in decades. 🙂

Spring!

Published on May 2, 2014January 17, 2016 by J. Kelland Perry9 Comments

Greetings, humans! Maisie here, covering for Jennifer this week while she is away. My sister Vivian was eager to take over again, but Shy Little Me thought I would venture a few steps out of my comfort zone and host the blog for a change.

My sister and I had grown oh-so-bored with staying inside.

After the long, cold and snowy winter we endured in Canada this year, we are welcoming any signs of Spring with gratitude and huge sighs, or in our case,
purrs of relief.

When Vivian and I lived in the city four years ago, we had to content ourselves with the sighting of a robin or two in our backyard to let us know Spring had finally arrived.

Where we live now, there are many, many more signs to watch for and welcome. Not only fat robins with their red breasts, but birds of all kinds grace us with their presence, usually in pairs as they get ready for mating season. And we eagerly await the arrival of the gannets in May, and arctic terns in June. There is something deeply comforting in seeing wildlife return, especially when you spy them huddled in twos, preening or foraging for food together here on Perry’s Point. The seagulls are here as always, dropping and breaking crabs and sea urchins open on the rocks. But now they are joined by a few saddleback gulls. Vivian even spotted a saucy mink the other day!

During the last few days, my sister and I have enthusiastically returned to the great outdoors.
So much to see, to smell, to hear and to taste.

Vivian and I will stay outside almost all day when the summer gets here…

…just like last summer, and the summer before.

Life is good. 🙂

Weekly Photo Challenge: Spring!
What does Spring mean to you?

Scenes from Montreal

Published on March 14, 2014June 11, 2017 by J. Kelland Perry22 Comments

With few signs of spring here in Newfoundland, and our vacation more than two weeks away, I’m getting a little restless for a change of climate and scenery. This morning found me looking back on photos from a different spring, of our May trip to Montreal five years ago. Won’t you come along and take in some sightseeing with me, in one of my favourite cities?

Montreal 2009 026 — **view from our hotel room**

Montreal 2009 014 (2) — **inside the Centre for Architecture**

Montreal 2009 028 — **Montreal Museum of Fine Arts**

Montreal 2009 029 — **Let’s go inside.**

Montreal 2009 030 — **Exhibition by Yoko Ono**

John Lennon's Piano — **John Lennon’s Piano**

Montreal 2009 052 — **playing in the park 😉**

Montreal 2009 055 — **Ah…Spring in full bloom**

Montreal 2009 082 — **admiring the architecture**

**View from the top of Olympic Stadium**

montreal-2009-136-e1497041129932 — Enjoying sangria on Crescent Street

Hoping to visit again someday.

Have you ever been to Montreal? Lived there? What is your favourite city to visit?

Photo Challenge: Threes

Published on February 23, 2014April 23, 2014 by J. Kelland Perry35 Comments

The Daily Post challenge for photographers this week is to show three similar images. I came up with two versions from winter and summer here on Perry’s Point.

Ice Storm Aftermath

ice-close-up — **Glitter-Coated Branches**

ice-on-grass-3 — **Crunchy Tufts of Grass**

Seashells on Rocks

Now that March is marching toward us, this photographer is growing a smidge weary of the snow and ice. Thoughts swing to the anticipation of warm weather and the new life that Spring unfurls. I remember this colony of mollusks, better known as seashells, from last summer.

Shelled mollusks are not the only things living on these rocks. Colonies of tiny, white rock barnacles are everywhere. Barnacles are arthropods, related to crab and lobster.

I’m ready to trade the ice for seashells. Are you?

The Sky’s the Limit

Published on December 4, 2013March 24, 2014 by J. Kelland Perry21 Comments

Ailsa’s photo challenge this week is the Sky.

Here are a few of my personal favourites taken by our home here in Newfoundland.

golden sunset — **golden Autumn sunset**

January 2013 002 — **x 2 – notice the ice in the bay**

Hot summer night sky came out looking like Armageddon! — **Summer sunset sky came out looking like Armageddon!**

Husband must have stood on a small hill because he isn’t that much taller than the rest of us. 🙂

A Step Back in Time: Scenes from Bonavista

Published on October 10, 2013March 27, 2021 by J. Kelland Perry31 Comments

A couple of weekends ago, my husband and I visited friends who had relocated to the town of Bonavista last year. It was a three and a half hour drive away, the weather was lovely and it was our first time seeing the beautiful and historic town, so of course I had my camera ready. It was extremely difficult to narrow down the photos to only these!

008 — **The stocks and whipping post for criminals back in the day – yikes!**

077 — **United Memorial Church – the largest wooden structure in Eastern Canada**

Our friend's pooch hamming it up for the camera — **Our friend’s pooch hamming it up for the camera**

We enjoyed a run out to Cape Bonavista to see "John" — **We enjoyed a run out to Cape Bonavista to see “John”**

...then back to town to finish up at the Ryan Premises — **…then back to town to finish up at the Ryan Premises**

173 — **What a great way to end our summer!**

Sunshine, Surf and Sand

Published on August 24, 2013March 24, 2014 by J. Kelland Perry26 Comments

Is there anything that captures the carefree magic of summer more than spending warm days playing at the beach? When the kids came to visit this week, they happily took advantage of the many delights the seaside has to offer.

Our little girl made a new friend :) — Our little girl makes a new friend 🙂

Building sand castles, catching hermit crabs in their little shells – and releasing them again – jumping over frothy waves and off of sand dunes, letting their dog run free, all this and more made for a memorable summer holiday.

Nico loved his newfound freedom — Nico loves his newfound freedom

Nico probably had the best vacation a dog ever had. The freedom to explore the coastline, running after beach birds that couldn’t be caught, he was a joy to watch as he galloped across the sand in wide circles around us.

Our little girl played with her new friend from Ontario every chance she got, as if they had always known each other. When the time came to say goodbye, she cried, but they exchanged addresses and made plans to become pen pals until they could see each other again. 🙂