In the dark ...

To say last Friday was a windy day just doesn't express it.  It was the kind of wind that if you parked your car sideways to the wind, you wouldn't be able to open your driver's door.

So of course I went for a drive.

The car would gently rock when a particularly strong gust came along. 

Driving down Cow Bay Road, not far from Caldwell, a movement to my left caught my eye.  An aged evergreen with shallow roots was slowly toppelling over on a front lawn.  Between the saturated earth, shallow roots and high winds, it just couldn't hang on.  Over it went.

I ended up at a little Church that backs right onto the ocean not far from Rainbow Haven.

I turned my car so the passenger side was facing the ocean.  Otherwise I would not have been able to get out and if I could have, I feared my door might be pulled off !

The waves were pounding the shore, creating an oxygen-filled froth.  That froth was then being hurled up the hill like great gooey globs of white merangue.  I braced myself, leaning into the wind, taking pictures and even took a video.  The ocean was ROARING.  I couldn't hear my own voice in the video.  I couldn't hold the camera steady  It was an amazing experience. (click the picture below to enlarge and see the gooey globs)

But these images just don't give you the full idea of the noise of the waves and the strength of the wind.
Check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQBDdXwmKg0 .  Notice the white globs flying up the beach.  The noise you'll hear is NOT static but the wind.  Turn your speakers down.  It's pretty loud.

I later learned that the wind gusts had been clocked at up to 136 km ph in the Halifax harbour.

That would explain why later in the day the lights went out.

Kaitlyn had friends over and I had hoped to spend the evening watching the Olympics.  Instead we rooted out the candles and I got to try out my emergency alcohol fueled stove.  With my nice hot bowl of soup I settled down to read by candle light while listening to my transistor radio.

By the way, "Death Ship of Halifax Harbour" is about a ship that arrived in 1866 bearing a shipload of Irish and German immigrants and a deadly cholera outbreak.  They were quarantined on McNabs Island which lies just off the shore of Eastern Passage.

Olympic Fever !

I'm finding myself far more engaged in these Olympic Games than past Games.  The obvious reason would be that I'm retired and home in the day.  But I'm not sure that's totally it. 

Whatever the reason, I'm enjoying watching skiing, curling, skating, luge and right now I've actually got hockey on.  Hockey !  Me watching hockey !  It's the women's gold medal game against the U.S.  How could I not watch it ?    Heck, even my cat, Roswell,  is watching it.

I'm not sure about the "Own the Podium" slogan.  An athlete being interviewed on the CBC said that it wasn't very Canadian of us and that "Aim for the Podium" might be a little less arrogant.  I'm inclined to agree.  What do you think ?

Anyway it's rather fun in the middle of winter to get all fired up watching adults play games and have fun in the ice and snow doing things they feel passionate about.   It's nice to tear up seeing someone belting out the Canadian anthem as they stand, overwhelmed with happiness, on the highest tier of the podium. 

Not everyone can win.  But it is wonderful to see them trying so hard,  not winning and still feeling good about themselves for just being in the Olympics and doing their best.  That's what it should really be about.  Not "Owning the Podium".

Wouldn't it be lovely it the Olympics embraced the oath of the Special Olympics:

  “Let me win, but if I can not win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

Go Canada !

Yearning for spring ...

Yearning for spring is a national passtime in Canada.*   In February our thoughts turn to warmer days, gardening and dreaming about going outside without wearing boots. **

But for most of us, spring is still two months away !  How is it that year after year we forget that teeny tiny fact ?

The nice people at the major grocery chains are tuned into our collective yearning, and stock potted spring bulbs starting in mid-February.  Crocii, daffodils, tulips and hyacinths fill the plant shelves.

I am already on my second pot.  The first is starting to look a little past it but still smelling wonderful.

I'm talking Hyacinths here.  Love 'em.  Love the smell.  I stick my nose up to the blooms and sniff DEEEEEPLY.   Aahhhhhhhhhhh,  THAT is the smell of spring.  I even love the smell of the wet soil when I water them.

When their blooming is done, I cut off the faded blooms and keep the greenery around for a while.  Then I let them dry out and when REAL spring comes plant them in the warm earth.

Maybe today I'll browse through my gardening magazines and start planning my garden.



* Those of you on the West Coast can just skip today's Blog.  I know, I know,  the damn daffodils are already blooming out there !!!

** Those of you in the Halifax area who manage to get through the winter without boots can ignore that sentence.

A visitor from Upper Canada ...

I was told when I moved to Nova Scotia last November that I'd have no shortage of visitors and I'm quite fine with that. 

A childhood friend is coming in June as is a niece.  Others have said they'll be coming in the summer and I will be so happy to welcome them here and show them around.

But ...

it is a special friend who comes to visit you in February !

You know when someone comes in February that they are coming to see you and you alone.

I had been anticipating Sandy's visit for a couple of months.  She came last Wednesday afternoon and left on Saturday afternoon.  A pretty brief visit.  But oh, did we cram a lot into two and a half days !

Thursday we drove to Peggy's Cove.  A pleasant 45 minute scenic drive from Halifax.  We stopped often to snap pictures and once there had a lovely lunch at a table that looked out on the lighthouse.

Friday we made our way to Martinique Beach about 40 minutes in the opposite direction down the Eastern Shore.  At 5 km, Martinuqe is the longest beach in Nova Scotia. The road behind the beach was snow covered and we drove in the tracks of other vehicles but stopped when the tracks petered out and the car started bottoming on the snow.  We declared that to be a good spot to park and went to explore the beach which was misty and heavy with the smell of sea salt.  A trio of surfers were just leaving the beach. 

We strolled up the beach searching for shells and sea glass.  Distracted we turned from the sea and had our boots filled by a rogue wave that was much deeper and faster than those before it.  Ice water poured into our boots and we ran screaming and laughing up the beach.  Eventually the water warmed in our boots and we continued our stroll, sloshing our way along the beach.  Clearly we're slow learners as it happened twice more !  After the third soaking we went back to the car to warm our feet.

On the way back we stopped briefly at Lawrencetown Beach to see the surfers there.  There were nine of them (in wet suits) braving the winds and the frigid water at the point there.  It was a real treat to watch them as they bobbed in the surf, waiting for the perfect wave.

Saturday we went to the Martime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax and spent most of our time watching a film and looking at artifacts about the devestating Halifax Explosion of 1917.  It's a good museum and well worth a visit.

We did other things too.  Dined at Warf Wraps at Fisherman's Cove and enjoyed drinks in the lounge of Boondocks (also in the Cove).  Explored the boardwalk at McCormick's Beach next to the Cove and visted Rainbow Haven Beach (with the dogs) twice.

Like I said, we did a lot.

And it was wonderful to spend some time with an old friend.   Okay, okay, Sandy -- not THAT old. 

Sooki joins the pack

Up until this week, walks to the beach haven't included Sooki.  It's been too cold and she was too little. I'd leave her home in her crate.  In her HUGE crate. In her HUGE comfy blanket-filled crate with chewies and treats.

Still, I felt pretty rotten leaving her behind every day. 

So three days ago I velcroed her (is that a verb ?) into a warm coat and piled her into the car with Wendy, Trey and Chander.

Before we'd even driven a mile Sooki got car sick and has been on each subequent trip (it's only at 10 minute drive to Rainbow Haven).  I'm hoping, that like Wendy and Trey before her, Sooki will get used to driving in the car.  In the mean time, I'm doing extra loads of laundry, washing the car blankets.

Once we get to the beach, it's all worth while.  Sooki loves going for walks with her big "brothers and sister".  Wendy and Trey chase the ball.  Chandler explores the area above the beach looking for mouse holes and disgusting things like bird wings or goose feet.  Sooki delights in greeting every person and dog on the beach, her tail wagging furiously, a happy grin on her puppy face.  I'm relieved that the people she greets, greet her right back.  Her puppy joy is hard to resist.

Not all strange dogs are as delighted to see her. 

Yesterday, when Sooki romped up to a big lab, the dog growled ominously and knocked her over onto her back .  Quite suddenly, Trey dropped his ball and stepped over Sooki baring his teeth at the other dog.  "You don't hurt my baby sister" he seemed to be saying.   "Okaaaay, okaaaay. Don't lose your cool" said the lab and backed off.

Much of the time Sooki's nose is glued to the ground.  She sniffs around making wuffling in and out snorty sounds with her busy nose. 

Occassionally she steals the ball from Wendy and Trey and trots off mischieviously with her prize.

She likes to keep her whole pack in sight.  Unfortunately the pack is rarely together.  She stops and peers to see where Chadler is.  Clearly upset that a family member is missing.

Walking with dogs is so much fun.  A part of me is running with them, snuffling about in the grass and enjoying the freedom of tearing down the beach on four legs, my floppy ears flying in the wind.

Woof.

Why fly the darn flag eh ?

I like the Canadian flag.  On July 1st I get out my little flags to adorn the front of the house in an effort to be appropriately patriotic.  But I don't have a flag pole and don't fly the flag.

But if I did, I sure wouldn't fly it until it became ragged and tattered.  Like this one on someone's lawn near Cow Bay and Dyke Road   ...

 or this tatty one tangled in a tree not far down the road.

 

I see both these flags on my daily drive to Rainbow Haven Beach and quite frankly they make me sad.  That's just not the way our flag should be treated. 

So I started looking at Canadian flags in the area to see what condition they were in and was really disappointed.

Like this one is at the  Canadian Legion (left) ...

or this one down at Fisherman's Cove (right) ...

If you're not going to care for it, please don't fly the Canadian flag.

Rant over. 

Phew. 

I feel better.

Here's the flag that flies in front of the Buffalo Lodge on Dyke Road.

Beauty eh  !

Devil's Island

Not far off the Eastern Passage shore lies Devil's Island.  I parked on the shore and took this picture of it today.  From the shore you can see the lighthouse (left) and the only remaining (abandoned) house which once was occupied by the lighthouse keeper.

The lighthouse at the left side of the picture is a working lighthouse.  There was a lighthouse at the other end of the island but all that remains of it is the foundation.

 Devil's Island, situated at the mouth of Halifax Harbour, is approximately 27 acres in size. The island was originally owned by Capt. John Rous and called Rous' Island. It eventually became known as Wood Island because of its heavy growth of forest, but a later fire destroyed the trees and hence the name change. The original Horns of Eastern Passage used to pasture sheep on the island before selling it to Andrew Phillip Henneberry about 1830. For over 110 years, Henneberrys lived on the island until the mid 1940s when most people were moved ashore during World War II.

Wikipedia gives a bit of a different history of the island:

"The name originated from an early French merchant and was first spelled Deville's Island. The first permanent settlement on this 12 hectare island was established in 1830, and by 1850 there were three houses and a school. By 1901 the settlement had grown to 18 houses. A number of Devil's Island residents, notably Ben Henneberry, provided valuable folklore to pioneering Canadian folklorist Helen Creighton. Most of the residents were moved to the mainland during World War II. The last permanent resident, a Norwegian artist, moved off in 2000. The island is currently owned by Halifax entrepreneur Bill Mont. A lighthouse built in 1877, replacing an earlier tower built in 1852, is still in operation today. The island was also the base for a rescue lifeboat until the 1950s which saved the crews of many vessels stranded on the shoals approaching Halifax Harbour." 

The abandoned lighthouse keeper's house, taken after Hurricane Juan.

According to some, Devils Island is the location of one of metro's most famous legends.


... many years ago one of the residents [of Devils Island], old Casper Henneberry, invited some friends for a party on the island. During the festivities, Henneberry went outside for a few moments then came back looking white and shaken. He told his friends that his time was up; he'd seen the Devil "in the form of a halibut." The next day he was rowing back to the island from Halifax. He was found drowned, his head and shoulders hanging over the side of the boat. Another version of his strange death has it that there were signs of a fight or scuffle on the beach, and that one of the people involved had "cloven hooves," judging by the prints in the sand.

A second story about Devils Island concerns another of her residents.

... Charles MacDonald , the lightkeeper from 1956 to 1967, awoke one night in his house on the island to find the ghost of his late grandmother standing by his bed. The spectre reached out and seized him by his arms and started pulling. MacDonald, who had a wooden leg, said he put out his good leg to brace himself against this apparition, but his limb went right through her.
 
 
Wouldn't it be wonderful to spend a sunny summer day exploring this island ?
 
Note:

Historical information and historical pictures are from a web page about Devil's Island at http://www.devilsisland.ca/

The ghost story comes from: http://www.mcnabsisland.ca/history/hist-s13.html

The world in black and white

I took some snowy trees pictures the other day and realized that the contrast of the deep green trees and the white snow looked almost like a black and white photo.

So I cheated a bit and removed the colour and turned them into real black and white shots.

I like the dramatic effect.

Eagles on the Salt Marsh

Last Saturday at Rainbow Haven I was having a lovely walk on the beach when another walker asked me "Did you see the Eagles on the marsh ?".

Eagles on the marsh ?!!!

I had just walked down a boardwalk from the parking lot and hadn't even glanced out on the marsh.  I promptly hustled back to the boardwalk.

There, out on the frozen marsh were TWO magnificent bald eagles.  One of them was sitting on the carcass of an obviously freshly-killed Canada Goose.  The second one was sitting nearby wishing he'd caught that goose.  Clearly eagles do not share.

The eagle with the goose tried to take off but couldn't get more than a foot off the ground and the gooses' head bumped along the icey surface. 

So there I was, staring open-mouthed at this amazing sight and I'd left my camera at home !  

I decided to risk driving home, to get the camera and come back.  The round trip was just under 20 minutes.

By the time I got back the second eagle had left but the first was still enjoying the carcass and was only a  hundred feet away.  I zoomed my modest digital camera to its limit and then once I got home zoomed and cropped the picture still more on my computer. 

The result is the slightly fuzzy shot below. 

I thought it amusing that the week before I'd driven across Nova Scotia to go eagle watching and found the best views were in my own "back yard".

The next day I thought I saw the eagle again but upon getting my binoculars from my car I realized it wasn't.  It was a vulture now feasting on what was left of the carcass.  Vultures don't kill prey.  They feed on carrion (already dead prey). 

It was too far away for a picture.

I have since learned that vultures are pretty darn rare in Nova Scotia but the sighting was confirmed by a birder in the area so that was two special bird sightings two days in a row.

You can be assured that I always have my camera with me now.