To Sea by Virtue

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.

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Rowing in the little boat to the big boat

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Our hosts
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Loving it – let’s go!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  “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

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.

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The Inn by the Sea Bed and Breakfast
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The Thorndyke – Registered Heritage B & B

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Harris House
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…and another Widow’s Walk, a popular feature of long ago fishing communities.

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And Old meets New:

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The Provincial Seamen’s Museum

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Thank you for the lovely visit, Grand Bank.

 

 Where do you like to go for a road trip?

 

 

My “Backyard” – Pt. 2: The Beach

As the last tranquil days of summer disappear, I am drawn to the warmth of the sandy beaches that encircle Perry’s Point.

For a few moments, I can almost forget colder days are approaching…

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This stretch of sand is begging for bare feet.

“To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wild flower,
         hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour.”
~ William Blake

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It’s good to see that the beach birds are still around.
The sandpipers and plovers seem to be in no hurry to wing their way south for the winter.

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Among the strands and clumps of kelp, there must be lots of yummy tidbits for them to eat.
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Notice how some like to stand on one leg.
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The different species get along fairly well, sharing nature’s bounty.
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Flight!
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Due to global warming, many species of birds in North America are dwindling in numbers, and the numbers on protected and endangered lists are increasing.
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I hope you never face extinction, my precious feathered friends.
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This one appears to have something to say about it all.
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I love their plump little bodies…
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…and their long beaks!

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Vivian doesn’t go down to the beach unless she has company…
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…Good thing for the beach birds!

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“The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.” ~ Charles Darwin

Thank you for stopping by to enjoy the beach with me, and Summer’s last hurrah. 🙂

Has Fall arrived where you live?

Summer Lovin’

Summer in my province of Newfoundland and Labrador, compared to most of North America, is short but ever so sweet. What makes it so cherished, to my mind?

The following photos were all taken in Lead Cove, the little community where I raised my children.

I love my home for its natural beauty,
its refreshing, rugged and
unspoiled charm,
for its clear and wide blue skies
without a whisper of smog.

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I love the clean, sparkling water
and the glistening rocks adorning the coastline
that beg to be traced
and trod upon by eager footsteps.

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I love summer in Newfoundland
for its breathtaking views
of seascapes and landscapes
when I embark on a hike.

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Whether I traverse
its beaches of sand or
climb its rocky windswept hills,
I know my camera will find its aim.

I embrace it because
the bushes and shrubs,
green and lush,
are heavy with fragrance
and of wild roses in bloom…

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…while in the gardens,
the planted perennials are brilliant with colour,
delighted at last
to spread their bright petals to the sun.

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I love the hardy trees of Newfoundland
in summer…

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…as they stretch
their ripe foliage to the sky.
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Shot through with rays of sunlight,
a shimmering haze settles over the treetops
like a warm summer veil.

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After a long winter and dismal spring
of cold, naked branches,
they, as I do,
breathe a sigh of gratitude
at the return of this warm and golden season.

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Are you filled with Summer Lovin’ where you live?

Weekend Family Fun

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

193Time spent with fun-loving family…

10550980_10152529410910395_7292094118337443846_n…on a warm summer weekend, is high on my list of favourite things to do.

197 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.)

206Nico explores with Poppy, making the most of his freedom from the leash.

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Our little girl spends a pensive moment beside the sea.

214Nico joins her.

238Perhaps they are watching the fishing boat near the horizon.

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

 

 

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

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Everyone loves it. ❤
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Nico is savouring every minute.

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So nice to see the kids playing and spending quality time with their mom.
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 Later, we light a fire and serve up spider wieners.

342 Happy girl.

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

Friday Bouquet #2

Diana Schwenk is, without question, one of the nicest bloggers I’ve met since I started here at WordPress. She is friendly and fun, loyal and positive, and puts a smile on my face every time we interact (I hope I get to meet her in person someday!).

And she happens to be a fellow Canadian from one of our biggest cities, Calgary.

In her own words:

I believe in collaboration. I believe in building community. I believe in tearing down the walls that separate us. I believe in conquering fear through love and understanding and building tolerance. I believe we all have a mission and we are equipped with the exact right talents, education, experience and passion to accomplish it…

Diana
Diana

I have put the spotlight on her post below from Canada Day because it is delightful and speaks to my love of our mutual homeland. I invite you to pay a visit to talktodiana, her wonderful blog, and don’t forget to tell her Jennifer sent you.

So…Yesterday, I Went To A Birthday Party…

Comments are closed in hopes you will comment on this blogger’s page.

Greenspond – Part II

After completing the hiking trail on Saturday, my husband and I took a drive through scenic Greenspond.

It is an especially nice time to visit because of the pleasant weather. The little outport town sparkles like a jewel in the afternoon sun, the plaintive cries of seagulls the only sounds that break the silence.

198The breeze has abated entirely, leaving the surface of the harbour basin as smooth as a mirror.

212Pretty houses dot the land while oddly shaped chunks of iceberg dot the still blue water.

208The peacefulness of the setting is magical, meditative, hypnotizing.
215I am drawn to its perfect calm…
209…and I drink in its beauty as I quietly reflect.

210Troubles melt away…
216…and make room for inspiration.
218We stop to admire this gem of a property. Everything about it is impeccable, from the patchwork quilt on the clothesline…

219…to the softly scalloped valances in each window.
To me, it is a work of art.

Have you ever visited a place that seemed the perfect setting for a story?
Where do you go to think and dream?

A Walking Trail, Bergy-Bits, and Other Pretty Things

Saturday was such a gorgeous day in our corner of the world, one had to get out and enjoy it. We decided to drive to Greenspond, a community comprised of several islands not far from where we live. Connected to the mainland of Newfoundland by a causeway, Greenspond boasts a wonderful walking trail around most of the perimeter of its largest island. It was perfect weather with light winds, so I took my camera.

This is the view from Perry’s Point before we left. The icebergs dotting the horizon were too far away to get good shots.

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171Once we got on the trail, it didn’t take long for us to discover our first “bergy bit” floating like an ice sculpture in a peaceful cove.
201The walking trail winds through the rocky terrain, carrying us through the brush and bog.
197The views of the coastline and of the Atlantic are spectacular.

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We can’t help but admire the work that went into the boardwalks.
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Some were quite steep, making for a great workout.


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It seems the locals thought of everything. 😉
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202There seems to be a little berg in every bay.
188Another “sculpture”…
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200…and another.
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Time for refreshments.

The Greenspond Walking Trail is a collaboration between Man and Nature, resulting in what I consider a living work of art.
Come back and join me in a couple of days for Part Two of my Greenspond photo shoot. 🙂

To my Fellow Canadians: What did you do outdoors on this long Victoria Day weekend?

Keep Reading: Greenspond: Capital of the North

 Iceberg Viewing in Newfoundland and Labrador

 

Scenes from Montreal

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?

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view from our hotel room

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inside the Centre for Architecture
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Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
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Let’s go inside.
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Exhibition by Yoko Ono

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John Lennon's Piano
John Lennon’s Piano

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Mount Royal Park
Mount Royal Park

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playing in the park 😉

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Ah…Spring in full bloom

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view from hotel # 2
view from hotel # 2
Loving Old Montreal!
Loving Old Montreal!

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pretty windows
pretty windows
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admiring the architecture

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Shopping!
Shopping!
View from the top of Olympic Stadium
View from the top of Olympic Stadium

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I wanted to bring these home.
I wanted to bring these home.
Sunday Fun Downtown
Sunday Fun Downtown

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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

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

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“Glass” on Grass 
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Glitter-Coated Branches 
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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.

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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.

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Shells and Barnacles
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Yellow Algae Grows Here Too

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