There is only now.
An open window
a fresh breeze
to welcome
this bright and beautiful
April day.
– J. Kelland Perry
There is only now …
Tag: ocean
Sunday Snaps: April Evening on Perry’s Point
As I have mentioned on my blog before, spring takes its own sweet time to show its face on the island of Newfoundland. The arrival is gradual, just as it is on most northern coastlines, with cold temperatures accompanied by the odd snowfall or sleet storm.
I love the anticipation of warmer days ahead. And there are still some lovely moments, particularly when the wind is light, the water is calm, and the sun begins to set. These photos were taken on the peaceful evening of April 2nd, and since then most of the snow and ice has disappeared.
Another reason I love spring here on Perry’s Point: the pleasure to witness the renewal of nature by observing our seabirds. Two weeks ago, it started—the sudden appearance of seagulls and other salt water birds pairing off to mate. Everyday, we now see them huddled—and even cuddled!—together on rocks and small islets off the point, or gliding through the water side by side: herring gulls, saddlebacks, black ducks, and pintails.
Seagulls squeal a spring duet
swim in pairs around ice and rock
glide as swans in graceful tandem
hush broken by caw and squawk *
*excerpt from Seagull Spring by J. Kelland Perry, April 2015
“April is the gateway to the joys of summer.” ― Fennel Hudson
“Oh, the lovely fickleness of an April day!” – W. H. Gibson
Calmer Girls: 10th Anniversary of my Debut Novel
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.
Newfoundland, Canada
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
My Shrinking Island: Could This Actually Happen?
While I was writing my novel The Women of Wild Cove, I visualized what my beloved island of Newfoundland would look like in the year 2203. Following the science of sea level rise—due to melting glaciers, ice sheets, and the thermal expansion of water—I imagined it would appear something like this.
My husband Paul drew the map for me. I wanted it to show the renaming of some communities, and where my fictional Wild Cove is located (there are two other actual Wild Coves in the province). But more importantly, I wanted to show how this large island had shrunk from over 40,000 square miles to nearly half that, with peninsulas reduced to archipelagos, tiny islands and shoals. (By the way, Red Indian Lake had a name change after this map was made. It was changed to Beothuk Lake.)
A friend wondered to me why sea level is rising while many lakes are now showing lower levels. So I asked Google: “Yes, you can have sea level rise and low water levels in lakes simultaneously, because they are different phenomena influenced by different, though sometimes connected, factors. Sea levels are rising globally due to climate change, while individual lake levels fluctuate based on local factors like precipitation, evaporation, snowmelt, and water usage, and can also be impacted indirectly by rising sea levels.”
And of course, science tells us sea level rise is due to human activity.
Have you noticed changes in water levels in your neck of the woods? Do you think there is any possibility of a reversal at this point?
February “Blues”
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!
A Look Back on the “Dog Days of Summer”
Dog Days of Summer, according to Websters Dictionary: “the hot and humid period of summer between early July and early September.”
Dog Days of Summer, according to me: having my canine friends come to visit!
First up, SOPHIE RAE!
In July, Sophie came to Newtown for the first time with my son and his fiancée. She is a white golden retriever, is the youngest of our doggies, and just so happens to be turning two today. Happy Birthday, pretty girl!
She had lots of fun exploring Perry’s Point, and even went to Bennett Island with us via the sandbar.
🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
Our next visitors were my daughter and her family in August, and of course they brought ARCHIE!
Archie is six years old, and has visited us before. He beat himself out every day running around the Point, and also went on the sandbar to Bennett Island with us.
He was particularly obsessed with this “ball” while he was here:
Archie always loves to come see us.
🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
My sister and her husband were our third visitors. They spent Labour Day weekend with us, with Abbey and Jaxon in tow!
Jaxon is twelve:
…and dear little Abbey is sixteen!
These dogs are more laid back, as you may guess.
But they did go on an adventure to Windmill Bight Park in Lumsden with us, to enjoy some fun in the sun and sand.
🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
Even though everyone knows I’m a cat person first and foremost, I do love and enjoy being around any animal. Thanks so much for making the trip, my loved ones and your pooches! 💕🐾❤️
Clouds
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”
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”.
We still miss her terribly, yes.
But I like to think we have our own little guardian angel
watching over us. 💙
“What we have once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” – Helen Keller
Photo Challenge: Dramatic*
When I think of dramatic photos I have taken, vivid skies and sunsets come to mind. And what better place to find them than on Perry’s Point?
Sunsets are proof that endings can often be beautiful too.
—Beau Taplin
The sky broke like an egg into full sunset, and the water caught fire.
— Pamela Hansford Johnson
Here’s a favourite of mine from Newtown branch:
Long before evening sets on the Point, the sun is often brilliant, dancing on the surface of the waves:
Lots of beauty elsewhere, of course. I captured this curtain of a cloud on a tropical holiday:
Another favourite. This time from Bonavista NL, with the sea and sky together:
Stay tuned! Part 2 of Dramatic Photo Challenge coming soon. ☺️
*Photo Challenge: LAPC #282: Dramatic
Vivian’s View from Here: Sunday Snaps (and an Anniversary!)
Hello, Peeps and Pets! Vivian K. Perry here, fondly looking back on a memory from Summer 2022. Oh, how I miss the warm days on Perry’s Point! The brilliant sunshine, the butterflies and buttercups, the soft sea breezes and birds aplenty—yes, I know they will all come again, but I can’t wait.
The Photo Challenge prompt over at Xingfu Mama is Pull up a Seat.*
Well, a picnic table certainly counts, doesn’t it? Of course it does.
I don’t like going outside for very long when it’s cold. So in the meantime, I will endure the long winter by taking lots of naps, with pleasant dreams of long summery days. The good news? The days are getting longer! Do you look forward to summer as much as I do?
Oh! Before I forget, let me share Jennifer’s blogging anniversary. This blog, Jennifer’s Journal, has now entered its twelfth year! Meow and Wow!
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Jennifer's Journal 