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Monday 23 November 2020

Notes from the isle

The weather has been unusual these last few weeks. Just when we thought the colder than normal freezing temperatures were here to stay...surprise! It warmed up to double digits. My husband and I have been on our bikes again, though not as often. We’ve enjoyed the bonus days of cycling though it looks like our days of riding the trails are over now as the temperatures approach zero again.


Atlantic Canada has had a bubble over the four eastern Canadian provinces for the last number of months with restricted travel from the rest of Canada, requiring two weeks isolation on entry. Now, Covid cases are on the rise in the other three provinces in this bubble, while Prince Edward Island continues to be free of community spread. With the shopping season in full swing, Christmas on the horizon and university and college students headed home soon, that bubble around us is looking fragile. 


We continue to practise Covid protocols and hope that other islanders continue the measures which have kept us safe for the previous months. We trust our Chief Public Health Officer to keep us informed and our government to impose further restrictions if necessary. We live in dangerous and scary times.


One day recently, as my husband and I walked the boardwalk, we noticed something unusual in the Summerside Harbour. Fishing season is over in our waters for this year but we occasionally see a fishing vessel off-shore.


This fishing boat was in the Northumberland Strait cruising around as we thought. Then the vessel cruised into our area, opposite the Indian Head Lighthouse. It looked like people were fishing. I zoomed in with my camera and though blurred, could see what looked like crab pots being handled on the boat.


As we walked on, we noticed a small Coast Guard craft headed out from shore further in the harbour. When we looked back at the other boat, it was headed out into the Northumberland Strait again. At this point the Coast Guard boat returned to port.


Crab season is long over on the island. Someone must have reported the illegal activity which was visible from shore. This was the first time we have seen such a scene play out.


Soup season is upon us now and we are enjoying bowls of hot homemade soup with crusty bread or biscuits when we return from our walks and rides. Often the soup is vegetarian, such a squash, mushroom, tomato or potato. Prior to leaving the house, I cut up the vegetables, add them to the stock and let the pot come to a rolling boil. Then I turn off the burner but leave the pot in position on the stove. When we come home, the vegetables are cooked in the residual heat and still hot.


I made turkey soup over two days, the stock on the first, then cooked the vegetables the same way the second day. I added the cooked turkey the last minute. 


It is so good to have hot soup ready within minutes of arriving home! It keeps us from eating crackers and other junk while we wait for lunch. Leftovers are consumed the next day or except for potato soup, frozen. By the end of winter, we will be tired of soups but for now, they are a delicious way of life.


And finally, I follow several journalists from the island on Twitter. One posted recently about a bull which had broken out of a farmer’s field and may have been on the roads in the eastern county. We smiled when we heard this news. Compared to some of the news in this world, we’ll take a bull on the loose any day. Such is life on the island!


24 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Thanks to our right-wing provincial government that won't make masks mandatory or impose a temporary lockdown, Alberta now leads the country in daily covid cases. WE'RE NUMBER ONE! WE'RE NUMBER ONE!

Anvilcloud said...

I see pics and clips of people getting together Down East, and it looks so strange as the rest of us isolate. I hope the wave doesn’t disrupt things too much.

The Padre said...

Running With The Bulls, Island Style - Pleased You All Are Fancying Up Soups Already - Extra Days On The Bike Are A Real Bonus - Good On You Kids - Stay Strong

Cheers

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

The Covid cases are on the rise here too, I hope you all stay safe and take care. We have to worry about all the travelers during our Thanksgiving holiday this week. The weather has been nice here, some cold windy days too. I love most kinds of soup, it is a good idea to start the preparations before heading out for your bike ride. Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great new week!

DJan said...

We are definitely into soup season here, too. Congratulations on having such a Covid free area on your island. I hope it stays that way. We are in more restrictions and I'm glad about it because the virus is taking over, it seems. Thank you for your uplifting post, complete with a loose bull!

Martha said...

Covid is so out of control right now, meanwhile the news here said over two million traveled by plane this past weekend. I have a feeling things are about to get much worse.

I agree with you on the soup for this time of year. I could live on nothing but soup and breads!

Stay safe and have a great week :)

Beside a babbling brook... said...

You have been so lucky. But I fear, all of us will be bombarded with China/Covid-19 local news, after any Holidays.

Here, we have our (way-too-late) Thanksgiving, this week. With college students coming home. And silly people, traveling. We intend to be even more careful, after this Thanksgiving Holiday, since the cases are sure to escalate.

Hooray for someone reporting the illegal fishing! And for the Coast Guard, for doing their work!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How wonderful to hear something positive, now and then.

✨💛✨

Elephant's Child said...

A bull on the loose sounds much, much better than the bull in the china shop news which frequently dominates our news. We see too much of what the bull leaves behind as well.
As we move (fast) into summer your soups sound delicious but not tempting. If that makes sense.
Enjoy your rides, and your weeks.

Ruth Hiebert said...

I hope you can remain safe from that virus. Manitoba is in almost a complete lockdown. we are only to go out for essentials , and socialize with only those in our home. It is a little restrictive , but I understand the reasons.

Bill said...

It's important to follow the covid protocol. Some people just don't care. We have people coming in from Northern Ireland and they're not supposed to cross the broader but no one is stopping them. We are just still playing it safe. I hope that you can to.

Rhodesia said...

We have had frosty mornings but blue skies and sun during the day around 12C. We are still in full lockdown and it certainly will not change until early next month. Keep safe, Diane

Susan Zarzycki said...

I like your cooking soup methods! Since arriving on the Island I had to grocery shop but am in for the foreseeable future. I bought a car load of food and staples. I was able to find everything I needed for once! Interesting stories about the illegal crab fishing and the run away bull!💖

Joanne Noragon said...

Illegal crabbing and loose bulls. That is great excitement.

Red said...

Carrot soup! Great stuff. I had lots of carrots this year so have made up carrot soup.

Rose said...

Bull on the loose! What a headline...like you, I think that is a good one compared to a lot.

At Home In New Zealand said...

It seems covid is breaking through all barriers. Our country still remains isolated but I know it must arrive here at some stage and I am dreading that.
Knowing life continues on as normal (with illegal crabsters and runaway bulls!) helps with the mental attitude.
Stay safe :) xx

Tanza Erlambang said...

bad news everywhere now days... covid 19 infection rise all over the world.
Yes, we need to hear something else like about bull....

Have a wonderful day.....

David M. Gascoigne, said...

It is indeed soup time of the year. Yesterday for lunch we had an asian ramen noodle soup with coconut milk. It is ready in no time and absolutely delicious. I hope the Coast Guard caught the people illegally crabbing out of season and confiscated their boat. These are the very people who will blame wildlife, especially cormorants when stocks are depleted.

Boud said...

I like your approach to making soup ready for your arrival home. I love having soup around, such a handy meal. Stay well! I know you're being careful.

Debbie said...

i am so happy you are still able to enjoy your bikes. we got out on our saturday and had a wonderful ride and i did not fall!!!!! it was 65 degrees here, how lucky are we!!

soup is a favorite of ours as well, especially when the weather gets really cold. i always have some is the freezer...when i make it, i make a big batch so i have plenty to freeze. soup freezes so well!!!

John's Island said...

The paragraph that starts, "Soup season is upon us now ..." You know the old saying, learn something new every day. My lesson today is from you and thank you! :-) Today I will try soup for lunch and use your cooking method. I think it will be mushroom. Thanks again and have a great day!

William Kendall said...

I wonder if you'll be getting the snow we got the other night.

Susie of Arabia said...

There's nothing like good hot soup in the colder months. Our virus numbers are way down here in Saudi Arabia, but my husband and I continue to isolate and aren't taking any chances. I'm hoping to travel to the US by spring, but with the numbers so high there, I'm not comfortable with that idea at this point.

baili said...

your last words made me smile :)
i wish the same for the land my dear Marie

your way of keeping soup sounds amazing ,reminded me soups made by mom that would wait for us on the coals so we can have them hot :)

how nice you got few warm days to ride :)

ugly things happen in the every part of the world ,illegal wood cutting from the mountain forests is big problem here in northern areas