‘Tis the season

The winter light may be muted but the wishes are not.

To those who celebrate:  Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays.

And to all:  Happy New Year

See you in 2025!

About last week

At some point this month I had to do some Christmas shopping so I started this past week, though reluctantly. Time is running out however. I don’t enjoy shopping. My husband and I find it difficult to shop for the grandchildren these days as their taste and preferences are evolving as they grow. Our daughter accompanied me one day which was a huge help. It was nice to have that time with her too. Her father joined us for lunch which was lovely.

We didn’t get to the boardwalk as often this week as a result but the scene there certainly changed in that time. Early last week, a seaweed dam at the mouth of the salt marsh had resulted in flooding of the marsh which had then frozen.

On Sunday last week, as we walked away from the parking lot, ducks were flying overhead to the north. With no open water in the salt marsh, the ducks had headed out to look for some.

That day, I captured a photo of a Dark-Eyed Junco which was feeding along the boardwalk.

The Bluejays are always entertaining of course. A flock of the pretty avians will appear quickly along the bridge if one offers peanuts, one of their favourite snacks. 

The Chickadees require the shells removed from the nuts and wait patiently for them.

The vessel, Federal Ohio, came into port when Blacky left the previous week. 

From the photo of what looked like a Coast Guard boat further in the bay, you can see how much ice was in the harbour.

Gulls were a highlight another day. 

They played in the bay opposite the stream. 

We heard honking overhead and I found the Canada Geese quickly enough to take a photo.

The mild temperatures later in the week melted much of the snow and ice in the area. The dam of seaweed at the mouth of the marsh gave way and the ducks returned. 

When it turned cold again, they ice skated in the marsh to get to areas where the water was still flowing.

A Downy Woodpecker drilled into trees near the marsh 

and a Mourning Dove perched high above the scene watched everything with interest.

On a more serious note:

In conclusion this week, I have news of a scam which targeted seniors on Prince Edward Island. Two people visiting the island phoned various islanders, addressing those who answered the phone with “Hey, grandma,” or “Hey, grandpa.”

I answered the phone one day. It looked like a local number so I said, “Hello.” When a male voice said, “Hey, Grandma,” I hung up without saying anything further.

Apparently the caller scammed several islanders out of money, saying he was the person’s grandson and needed money for bail. One senior however, arranged a meeting to pass over money, called the police and the scammer was arrested at the appointed place.

There are so many similar and worse scams going on these days that one has to be alert and suspicious of everything, especially unsolicited phone calls, emails and the rest. 

Nature is an important reprieve from the worries of the world.

I wish you a scam-free week.

The return

We had over two weeks of rain before the sun broke through. My husband and I kept going to the boardwalk as often as weather would allow and we used the walking track at Credit Union Place in between. We were thrilled to see the sun again and every scene which featured light was special.

One of my favourite captures was of this Bluejay, in a spotlight, picking up seeds just off the boardwalk. 

We noticed the birds over several days eating seeds in that area. 

It is noticeable how, after weeks without bright light, the slightest sliver of sunlight through the trees stands out on this squirrel.

Long shadows cast by the angle of the sun this time of year are welcome as well. We’ve missed shadows too.

One day, off in the distance, the top of a cargo vessel was visible in the Northumberland Strait just above the horizon. It looked like a mirage. 

Then two days later, what we believe to be the same vessel, came into Bedeque Bay to dock in Summerside.

The Blacky passed the Indian Head Lighthouse to dock further in the bay. Some gulls were eager to greet her.

The lifeboat on the vessel, positioned as it is at the stern, ready to be dropped in an emergency, gives me pause for thought as I watch the vessel pass. I hope it never has to be deployed for an emergency.

Later from the head of the bay, we watched with the geese as the Blacky docked, preparing to unload the usual winter cargo for these parts, road salt, which is being used already this year.

And sure enough, the temperatures have dropped. Snow is common now, as fresh snow falls most days and is lingering. 

Bedeque Bay is on the verge of freezing, with temperatures day and night below zero. Early last week, there was slush in the water of one area along the boardwalk.

By the end of last week, slush and ice covered all but the deepest part of the bay.

Dark-eyed Juncos have been feeding along the boardwalk though I have yet to take a good photo of one. White-throated Sparrows are around too. They are not quite as shy as the Juncos.

The Mourning Doves congregate in groups in the trees when they aren’t feeding. They puff up their feathers against the cold and look at least twice their usual size.

Both Bluejays and Chickadees will feed out of hand or from a toque as happened here with my husband.

Finally, you never know what you’ll see along the boardwalk. Santa’s helpers ran or walked a 5k race to raise money for Make A Wish Foundation. The group fulfills wishes for children with critical illnesses. Despite the wind and cold, each helper looked to be enjoying the event. They were an unusual sight!

If

My husband and I had an overnight with our grandchildren and then Sunday dinner with the family. We did crafts with the kids and made cookies, watched The Grinch, played games and told stories. The time was special and we made great memories. It made me think of a blog I posted years ago which I thought I’d share again.

If you had the opportunity to speak with a loved one who has passed, what would you say? Considering this question, I realized some truths that I had not considered. 

 

Questions come to mind immediately. I would ask my mother about those last moments of her life. Was she aware her granddaughter and I held her during that time?

Was Dad aware his family did not arrive at the hospital in time before he died;  a family friend held his hand in the end.

My grandfather O'Brien I would question about his Irish immigrant father and Nan about her desire to be a teacher. Pop Pretty would speak of his parents, Dad's mother about her family. The list goes on...

Then I realized, all I wanted was to be in their presence. Words would be unnecessary though they would come, words of love.

Nothing was left unsaid before, nothing would need to be said then. No regrets...but longing...for physical presence which is the real loss. Now each person is carried in my heart and mind, everywhere, every day, walking through life with me, a part of who I have become. They are a part of me which enjoyed that family time, the me I brought to the experience.

This relationship without their physical presence is hard sometimes but an important one, giving me part of my sense of purpose and identity; the desire to write comes from it too.

Five little words would be necessary after all, "Thank you for my life."

Great weather for ducks

This photo was taken on the brightest day we’ve had in two weeks. 

While the sun didn’t break through that day, the sky brightened compared to how it looks in fog, wind and rain.

The salt marsh has changed dramatically. The high winds and sea washed away the seaweed dam at the mouth of the stream and the marsh is draining again. 

Seaweed covers the area now but the ducks continue to enjoy the area though some have moved up stream.

The amount of seaweed was enough for a gull to drop by the marsh. It is the first time we have seen them land there.

On a day without strong wind, though it was wet, the animals were out and about. A Hairy Woodpecker was busy, willing to steal peanuts left among the trees by a squirrel who was glad to take some from us.

A unusual sight was a Red Squirrel without a tail. It gathered peanuts left on the boardwalk and took them away for winter storage. 

This is the first squirrel without a tail we’ve seen but it is quite common. Its name is Bobbie.

Meanwhile, around town a Cybertruck is causing a stir. One day, the vehicle was parked at the hospital and our daughter took our grandson to see it. Of course she took photos. Two days later, as we parked by Credit Union Place, CUP, for a walk on the track, we spotted the vehicle nearby. A photo was necessary then too. I guess when you own a Cybertruck you expect to attract attention.

We walked at CUP this past weekend too and the place was busy. The facility has two ice surfaces, a pool, gym, convention center and meeting rooms. On the weekend, girls’ hockey teams were playing games on the main ice surface both mornings. 

On the second surface, Saturday, figure skating lessons were on-going while Sunday, young boys hockey teams played there. 

Dozens of parents quietly watched the pool from a viewing area as their kids took lessons. However, never underestimate how loud parents can be when cheering for their kids at a hockey game. 

Meanwhile, we have the grandkids next weekend and have plans to do some Christmas baking and crafts with them. We had some items to buy in preparation and did the shopping two mornings last week. The stores were busy and I experienced several typical Canadian moments.

Canadians say, “Sorry,” for everything. As I came up one aisle and turned into another, another shopper coming down stopped so as to avoid a collision. Of course she said, “Sorry,” as did I. I noticed the word four other times those days. 

We almost need a sorry about this weather, though sorry isn’t enough. Sunlight is past due though not in the forecast for the third week.

Sorry.

Hope the weather is better where you are.