I love the horizon I captured in this photo for two reasons: its misty summer haze and the slight curvature that it exhibits.
This picturesque little fishing village is my mother’s hometown. My father’s maternal roots are here as well, so many of my relatives are from Grates Cove. Some live there, while others have summer homes.
A National Historic site recognized for its acres of rock walls, it has also been reported that Grates Cove has the highest number (per capita) of mainlanders buying houses to live, in all of Newfoundland.
To learn more and see photos of the rock walls, visit my blog post from 2013: Grates Cove To see more photos from around the province, visit my dedicated page:Newfoundland and Labrador
With all the snowstorms, cold snaps and bleak weather many are experiencing lately in North America, I changed my mind about the January scene I was going to share.
Instead, I thought a hit of warm and vibrant colour was in order. These tiger lilies in my daughter’s summer-house garden may be the perfect antidote to give you hope for gentler days ahead.
I can almost smell the clover and green grass, feel the summer’s heat on my shoulders, and hear the bumblebees buzzin’ around. A-h-h-h!
“What good is the warmth of summer,
without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?” — John Steinbeck
Spring takes its own sweet time
to show its face here
on the northeast shore of North America.
Life lies dormant, still deep in hibernation
beneath a fresh blanket of snow and a glittering sheen of ice.
We wait for the arrival of warmer, softer days later in the season,
when the sun shines bright
and full of promise,
giving a welcome glimpse of what is to come.
As we do every year around this time,
we look forward to our coastal world’s transformation and rebirth.
***
A special remembrance today:
Here is our neighbour, Ben
(in the boat above)
from a popular commercial for Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism.
It has played all over the world many times.
This scene in the video is from Barbour’s Tickle here in Newtown.
This post is dedicated to the memory of our beloved neighbour, cousin and friend, Benjamin Perry.
(August 4, 1936 – March 24, 2016)
Winter came early to our corner of the world, and so far it has packed a heavy punch in most areas. These photos were taken a week ago, after our first significant snowfall. We’ve had more since then.
Inspiration can come to the artist in us in many ways. I hope to expand my own horizons in the coming new year, and I wish the same for you.
Here are a few new horizons from Perry’s Point to inspire creativity through the frosty months ahead.
We live on Snowy Beach Avenue now! 🙂
I must give credit where credit is due: Paul “helped” with these next three. They were taken in the last couple of hours before sunset.
“The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.” ~ Christopher McCandless
Our house yawns astonishingly quiet and empty. The beaches here on Sandy-Feet Avenue and Perry’s Point look abandoned, lonely and forlorn; bereft of the three little beach bums that ran across them countless times a day.
A myriad of reminders surround me: empty sand pails, tiny mementos in the form of sea glass and shells from the beach, our grandson’s toy army tank left behind, a day pass from Windmill Bight Park, a box of our granddaughter’s favourite crackers in the cupboard, a candy wrapper under the bed. There is even a folder of GoPro videos they made saved on my PC desktop.
And I’m amazed at how much longer it takes for the dishwasher and the washing machine to fill up in their absence.
We miss our two grandchildren – plus one little friend – but we had an incredible time together filled with sweet summer memories and photos to look back on.
And there is always next year, God willing!
Here are a few captures from last week.
Searching for starfish, hermit crabs and other treasures“Wanna go clam-digging again?”
The weather was beautiful nearly every day!
Our girl having fun at the nearby playgroundZip-lining!
Waiting to dine on ‘Surf ‘n Turf’ at the local restaurant*
During one of these lazy afternoons, our girl decided she wanted to write a story. So while her friend and our boy continued playing on the beach, she sat down nearby with a pad of lined paper and a pencil. When I asked her what her story was about, she said with a shy grin, “Cats.”
I guess the (grand)apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Spring is a long, drawn-out affair here on the island of Newfoundland.
No matter what the calendar says, we still have to endure the odd snowstorm and it seems to take forever to warm up.
Sleet storms are common. But the next day I take in the results with my camera…
…because when the sun comes out, everything shimmers and glows with a crust of rime.
Tufts of grass lay frozen and still.
harp seal on ice
Silence reigns today because the spring ice is in and the air is calm.
Our “flippery” friend lolls about, basking in the peace and quiet.
(And I do believe I made up a word. 😉 )
Turn that frown upside down!
You are free, little seal. Nothing to hurt you here.
Designing abstract images from nature photography can be creative fun. When you play around with your photos to highlight shape, colour, texture, etc., you can come up with some interesting captures.
In this post, I share images from the four seasons.
All but one were taken here in Newfoundland.
Winter in Newtown
Cold Atlantic Ocean off Perry’s PointSleet on Grass with Ice Fog Funnel Cloud
Spring
Iceberg in Greenspond, NLTuscan Vineyard and Olive Grove, ItalySpring Thaw in Newtown
Summer
Groundcover in Woods, Kilmory, NLLead Cove Bank, NLThunderclouds over NewtownEvergreen Branches in Garden Cove, NL
Autumn in Newtown
Granite and Lichen on Perry’s PointPartridgeberries Wet SandMackerel Sky in Newtown
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” ~ Albert Einstein