Newfoundland scenery – Jennifer's Journal

Calmer Girls: 10th Anniversary of my Debut Novel

Published on March 24, 2026 by J. Kelland Perry15 Comments

Ten years ago today, my first novel Calmer Girls was published. I’m sharing a post from one year later, Calmer Girls Setting in Pictures, to give you an idea of how my birthplace of St. John’s, NL made for such a wonderful setting.

CALMER GIRLS SETTING IN PICTURES

Although Calmer Girls is a fictional tale, its Canadian setting certainly isn’t.

It was fun writing a pair of novels set in my birthplace of St. John’s, Newfoundland, and perhaps the following pictorial will better explain why it had inspired me. After all, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words!

All of these locations are featured in scenes throughout the first novel. Calmer Cove is not included as it is semi-fictional.

Samantha and her sister took their first ride in Ben Swift’s T-bird to Signal Hill and along the harbourfront. Later, Samantha took pictures of a cruise ship in the Narrows.

**Cabot Tower on Signal Hill – National Historic site**

**Where Ben Swift lives: Gower Street, in all its vibrant colours**

**Where Samantha, Veronica and their mother live: Military Road**

**Cape Spear. Sam, Ben and Kalen visit here. This is the oldest original lighthouse structure in the province.**

**x 2: Aerial view of Cape Spear – the most easterly point in all of North America**

**x 3: Cape Spear National Historic Site – new lighthouse**
Newfoundland, Canada

**House similar to rich girl Crystal’s. She has a party one night where Ben loses his temper. (Canada House on Circular Road, Heritage Property)**

**St. John’s Regatta at Quidi Vidi Lake, where Samantha and Ben share their first kiss.**

**Bannerman Park, where Samantha and Ben get busted while kissing. Also where Ben loses it – again! – and punches his buddy Kalen in the face.**

**The War Memorial, where Ben finally confesses his depression to Samantha.**

**Planned Parenthood – NL Sexual Health Centre, where Veronica visits!**

Thanks for visiting my hometown, which is, in my opinion,
one of the most vibrant and colourful places on earth.

Photo sources: NL Tourism, Government sites, Wikipedia, Google (public domain)

Come back next time for Part 2: Calmer Secrets Setting

Sunday Snaps: Nature’s Silhouettes

Published on March 15, 2026 by J. Kelland Perry21 Comments

There is something so beautiful about sunsets. Perhaps it’s the natural silhouettes they create.

Newtown Branch Sunset

Summer Sunset on Perry’s Point

Winter Dusk on Perry’s Point

Summer Crescent Moon on Perry’s Point

This is the only one not from Newtown, but it is in Newfoundland: Garden Cove Trail just south of Swift Current.

All photos are my own.

Ragtag Daily Prompt: Silhouette

February “Blues”

Published on February 10, 2025 by J. Kelland Perry18 Comments

Every February seems to try my patience. In spite of the beautiful blues these photos depict, the shortest month always feels like the longest to me.

Speaking of patience, I’ve always loved this poet’s pen name, as well as her positive sentiment here:

While it is February, one can taste the full joys of anticipation. Spring stands at the gate with her finger on the latch. ~ Patience Strong (Winifred Emma May)

To my friends and followers in the northern climes—do you find this month as long and bleak as I do? And we’re only ten days in. Brrrr!

Evergreen Post: Evening Sky in Autumn*

Published on November 24, 2024November 24, 2024 by J. Kelland Perry28 Comments

Autumn sky

With all of the rain, drizzle and fog November has given us here in Newfoundland, our beautiful sunsets have been practically nonexistent.

I so miss the vibrant colours! Does dreary weather affect your mood?

“There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky.”
– Percy Bysshe Shelley

*Originally posted here in November 2018

Evergreen Post: A Thankful Heart

Published on October 13, 2024 by J. Kelland Perry28 Comments

“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!
♥♥♥

Evergreen Post: Historic Grand Bank

Published on September 23, 2024 by J. Kelland Perry22 Comments

Happy Fall, friends and followers. 🍁

Last week, Paul and I took a work trip to Grand Bank and Marystown on our province’s Burin Peninsula. As coincidence would have it, we had taken a trip there ten years ago in October! With that photo shoot from 2014 at the ready, I thought I’d share it with you today. . .

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.

The Inn by the Sea Bed and Breakfast:

The Thorndyke – Registered Heritage B & B. Notice the Widow’s Walk, a popular feature of long ago fishing communities:

Lots of quaint and interesting architecture:

Harris House Museum:

And Old meets New–The Provincial Seamen’s Museum:

Where do you like to go for a road trip?

The Open Door

Published on August 29, 2024August 29, 2024 by J. Kelland Perry24 Comments

🎶🎶“Doot, doot, do, lookin’ out my ~~back~~ front door” 🎶🎶

💕💕💕

“All my life has been a series of doors in my face
And then suddenly I bumped into you…
With you, I found my place
With you, I see your face
And it’s nothing like l’ve ever known before
Love is an open door.”*

💕💕💕

*from the movie: Frozen

🎶with my apologies to CCR ☺️

My contribution to Thursday Doors by Dan Antion

Throwback Thursday: My Buttercup Runneth Over

Published on July 11, 2024July 11, 2024 by J. Kelland Perry14 Comments

Buttercups, bright eyed and bold, hold their chalices of gold to catch the sunshine and the dew. — Julia Caroline Dorr

Photo originally posted here.

Clouds

Published on June 20, 2024 by J. Kelland Perry22 Comments

Happy first day of summer, friends!
We are experiencing an early heat wave here in Newfoundland, so our longed-for season received an early start.

Last week, while the weather was cooler and we were having our morning coffee out on the deck, we saw a cloud that was nothing short of spectacular. It started with a low bank of fog stretching across the entire horizon, but soon morphed into a tall white marvel.

And just before it dispersed, it grew even bigger:

“A cloudless plain blue sky is like a flowerless garden.” – Terri Guillemets

On the eve of our heat wave, the sky and clouds were an artist’s tableau:

“I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now. From up and down, and still somehow, it’s cloud illusions I recall. I really don’t know clouds at all.” – Joni Mitchell

“All That We Love Deeply”

Published on March 4, 2024 by J. Kelland Perry38 Comments

Last month, our daughter Denise surprised us with this lovely sun-catcher she found online. Does it remind you of anyone?

Is it a coincidence that she found a cat replica that looks like our Vivian, who passed away in November? I think not. Now we have a visual reminder that she is still peering out over Perry’s Point, which she knew like the back of her paw. 🐾

It’s also the perfectly fitting remembrance of her many guest posts on this blog—“Vivian’s View From Here”.