“Freedom means you are unobstructed in living your life as you choose.
Anything else is a form of slavery.” ~ Wayne Dyer
How do you picture freedom?
Tag: Newfoundland scenery
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.
“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?
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.
I love the clean, sparkling water
and the glistening rocks adorning the coastline
that beg to be traced
and trod upon by eager footsteps.
I love summer in Newfoundland
for its breathtaking views
of seascapes and landscapes
when I embark on a hike.
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…
…while in the gardens,
the planted perennials are brilliant with colour,
delighted at last
to spread their bright petals to the sun.
I love the hardy trees of Newfoundland
in summer…
…as they stretch
their ripe foliage to the sky.
Shot through with rays of sunlight,
a shimmering haze settles over the treetops
like a warm summer veil.
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.
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.
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. 🙂
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.
The breeze has abated entirely, leaving the surface of the harbour basin as smooth as a mirror.
Pretty houses dot the land while oddly shaped chunks of iceberg dot the still blue water.
The peacefulness of the setting is magical, meditative, hypnotizing.
I am drawn to its perfect calm…
…and I drink in its beauty as I quietly reflect.
Troubles melt away…
…and make room for inspiration.
We stop to admire this gem of a property. Everything about it is impeccable, from the patchwork quilt on the clothesline…
…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.
Once 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.
The walking trail winds through the rocky terrain, carrying us through the brush and bog.
The views of the coastline and of the Atlantic are spectacular.
It seems the locals thought of everything. 😉
Almost halfway…
There seems to be a little berg in every bay.
Another “sculpture”…
…and another.
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
Imaginative Reflection
“Happiness resides in imaginative reflection…”
“…when the picture of one’s life…as it truly has been or is, satisfies the will, and is gladly accepted.” ~ George Santayana
“Any artist’s or poet’s role, is to try and express what we all feel. Not to tell people how to feel…”
“…Not as a preacher, not as a leader, but as a reflection of us all.”
~ John Lennon *
What does Reflection mean to you?
*Quote taken from Lennon’s interview to KFRC RKO Radio on the same day of his death.
This post has been my contribution to the Photo Challenge: Reflections and Ailsa’s Pink Theme.
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
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
Ailsa’s photo challenge this week is the Sky.
Here are a few of my personal favourites taken by our home here in Newfoundland.
Husband must have stood on a small hill because he isn’t that much taller than the rest of us. 🙂
Beach Golf, Anyone?
Disclaimer: No wildlife was harmed during the creation of this photo shoot.
My son came for a visit here in Newtown this past week. On one of the days, I went along to take pics of him and my husband playing beach golf. This beautiful sandy beach is only a few hundred yards from our house. The weather was cool and windy, but I liked the way the photos turned out.
What do you like to do when you go to the beach?
Jennifer's Journal 