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A Look Back on 2023*

Published on December 31, 2023December 31, 2023 by J. Kelland Perry40 Comments

I honestly can’t believe how fast this year flew by. 2023 was quite eventful, what with signing a new publishing contract—YAY!—as well as reaching a couple of personal milestones. More on those in a bit.

Not everything was rosy, however.

As many of you know, we had to say goodbye to our Vivian in November. Eight weeks later, the grief is still so raw, so fresh. I think the only way to ease the loss is to rescue another cat, or two, come spring.

Now for the milestones.
In 2023, our house here on Perry’s Point turned one hundred years old!

We’ve lived here since we left the city in 2010, with very few regrets. Paul and I love it here next to the ocean and away from the hustle and bustle of urban life.

If you haven’t already, check out my post from 2020, Ten Years in This Old House, to see how we spruced it up before we moved in.

Milestone Number 2: On August 15th, Paul and I celebrated our silver wedding anniversary.

25 years married to my best friend. Of course Paul always reminds me we were together four years before our wedding day. 💕

I am deeply thankful on this New Year’s Eve for many things, and one of them is having you, my blogger friends, in my life. Each of you have made blogging much more meaningful than I ever thought possible when I started this journey.
Which just so happened to be on New Year’s Eve, 2011.

Wishing you good health and happiness in 2024!

How was your 2023?

*RDP Prompt: Looking Back

Invincible Summer

Published on March 1, 2023March 1, 2023 by J. Kelland Perry20 Comments

RDP Wednesday – SUNSET

A new addition to our family…

Published on November 5, 2022November 5, 2022 by J. Kelland Perry56 Comments

Introducing Sophie Rae, my son’s new dog. She is a white golden retriever.

Isn’t she a darling? Welcome to our world, little girl! 💕

“Happiness is a warm puppy.” — Charles M. Shulz

Vivian’s View From Here: A Fresh Look

Published on February 28, 2022February 28, 2022 by J. Kelland Perry39 Comments

Hello everyone! Vivian K. Perry here, eager to bring you a fresh look of me enjoying Perry’s Point this morning.

It’s been an odd sort of winter here in Newfoundland and Labrador, with less snow than usual, particularly here on the Bonavista North coastline where a strong gale often whisks the flakes away before they can even think about settling. But overnight last night the light wind allowed a pretty layer of snow to fall, and the sun came out, so I couldn’t wait to go outside and explore.

This was my second trip outside this morning.
Time to make more tracks!

I’ve made plenty of paw prints but I look for the dry spots too.

I think I’ve had enough for now. Time to go inside for a cuddle.

“You know, sometimes the world seems like a pretty mean place.
That’s why animals are so soft and huggy.” – Bill Watterson

Check out my very short YouTube video below
to see how I try to retrace my snow-prints! ~ love, Vivian

Photo Challenge: Sunday Stills – Another Fresh Look At…

A Thankful Heart

Published on October 10, 2021 by J. Kelland Perry33 Comments

Hi, everyone! It’s a wild and windy Thanksgiving weekend with storm surges in my corner of the world, so I thought I’d share a few photos that show weather that is more, shall we say, temperate.

“The unthankful heart
discovers no mercies;
but the thankful heart
will find, in every hour,
some heavenly blessings.”
– Henry Ward Beecher

“I’m grateful for always
this moment, the now,
no matter what form it takes.”
– Eckhart Tolle

Happy Sunday, all,
and Happy Thanksgiving
to my Canadian friends and followers!
♥♥♥

“Venice of Newfoundland”: a Bird’s Eye View

Published on September 26, 2021 by J. Kelland Perry40 Comments

Thanks to two local photographers, you can see why Newtown has been nicknamed “the Venice of Newfoundland.” The community is like an archipelago, connected by a series of causeways and bridges.

**Newtown: Tom Cochrane Photo, August 11, Facebook**

**Barbour Heritage Village, Newtown:**
**Chelsey Lawrence Photography, Sept. 22, Facebook**

I think it’s pretty cool that our house can be seen in both photos. 🙂

Viv in the Moment: Look Who Has a Birthday!

Published on August 16, 2021August 16, 2021 by J. Kelland Perry32 Comments

Hello, my peeps and pets!

Vivian K. Perry here, happy to report that I’m turning fourteen today!

Where have the years gone? Time seems to be flying by ever since we moved out of the city, back when I was only three. And I’m hoping for many more years yet on this side of the sod. My staff is doing everything they can to keep me happy and healthy, I can certainly vouch for that.

**Taking a break from playing fetch** **with my favourite ball**

Anyway, I’m off to celebrate my special day by going outside to explore Perry’s Point for the millionth time.

Thanks for visiting and have a purr-fect week!
Head bumps and sandpaper kisses,
♥ Vivian ♥

Sunday Snap: Open

Published on April 25, 2021 by J. Kelland Perry29 Comments

“Spring: the music of open windows.” ~ Terri Guillemets

Photo Challenge: Open

January Blue*

Published on January 28, 2021 by J. Kelland Perry44 Comments

It’s a blue winter day on Perry’s Point.

It isn’t a sad and lonely day, but one painted with the hues of a brilliant blue sky and a blanket of sunshine, the kind of day where the sun and snow merge to design graceful shadows in the hollows of the landscape.

Sun on the newly fallen and drifted snow creates a tapestry of shadowy forms,
from the palest baby blue to the deepest of indigo.

The slanting afternoon rays of sunlight hold little heat,
but warm the heart of this nature-lover nonetheless.

The surface of the snow waves and crests,
while most of the bay lies still under a layer of slush and ice.

Dunes of scalloped white surround me…

…and the only hint of sound is the faint exhale of a frigid breeze.

Certain feathered creatures have already been here.

At the end of the Point I reach the icy blue coastline…

…where the water is still full of movement in spite of the sub-zero air.

Cold, but fluid…

…clear and beautiful.

Other shadows dapple a weather-worn barn…

…and sun-bleached fences.

Hidden in shade, a bird house waits for spring, and a new tenant…

…while our neighbour’s fishing boat awaits a new summer.

Ben Perry’s shed is called a “store” around these parts.

Still more shadows hide in furrows of snow and last summer’s grasses. I wade in.

My toes are like ice cubes inside my boots at this point. I hop over the fence to home.

Time to put the kettle on…

…and thaw myself out with a cup of tea.

And my world changes from blue to green.

How is your January going?
What is the colour of your winter?

*ThrowbackThursday – This is a reblog from January 2015.

Sunday Snaps: Ten Years in This Old House

Published on December 13, 2020 by J. Kelland Perry38 Comments

Last week on December 7th, Paul and I celebrated our tenth anniversary of living here on Perry’s Point in Newtown. We had left the city behind in 2010 for the rural life and a new adventure.

Our house, which was newly built for Paul’s grandfather Perry in 1923, was in dire need of restoration and renovation before we could move in. The work that went into these first stages is clearly illustrated in these photos.