Treatment is going well. My friend has cancer and has had surgery, chemotherapy and now immunotherapy. Stage 4 cancer doesn’t leave you much hope but compared to a year ago, she has more energy and is embracing life. After her latest treatment, we headed to a nearby park for a picnic and time on the beach.
The Belmont Day Use Park is on the north shore of Prince Edward Island. A tiny triangle of grass covered red earth on a sandstone ledge overlooking the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the park has the essentials, plus trees to provide shade and a beach, perfect for a few hours in nature.
It was hot and humid but the island breeze made it bearable, as usual. We sat facing the empty beach and talked of the last year, about life and death and embracing the moments when all feels right.
After lunch we walked the beach and noticed how erosion, the ever present force of nature and threat, has felled great trees and threatened others.
Further along, the sandstone ledge dominates the landscape and the sand gives way to rock and seaweed. We sat and talked as tiny fish, Silversides, leapt from the water and swam past in schools, as we watched from a sandstone bench.
We ventured further around the point and noticed a bird busy along the shoreline.
We thought it was catching Silversides. It looked like a Willet but on the two occasions I had seen Willets previously, they were in salt marshes. That wasn’t the case here.
We sat on some sandstone and watched the bird, later confirmed a Willet, mere metres away. I thought it would fly off as we settled there. However it must have found the eating too good and ignored us. We discovered as we watched, it was crabbing,
not fishing.
I took many photos as the bird posed but ignored us as it stealthily approached its prey. We watched for an hour and chatted, soaking up the atmosphere along the Gulf, sat atop the red sandstone with the bird below us along the shoreline, busy eating its fill.
The sun and the breeze were perfect. The bird was quiet but I heard another Willet in the area, knowing their sounds from previous encounters.
Cares and worries fell away as we sat there engrossed in this bird crabbing and enjoying its lunch as we had enjoyed ours. You can’t beat lunch with friends.
29 comments:
What wonderful pictures of the bird dining on crab. I wish your friend the best, and I'm so glad to hear she's feeling better. Life is always better with friends.
Incredible Photos!! Well Done !! Heat Humidity And Stage 4, What A Bummer - Sending Positive Vibes
Big Hugs
Delightful day out, in lovely surroundings... And also wonderful, that she is doing well...
Hello,
I am glad your friend is doing better. Nature seems to heal, is just very soothing. The first scene and view is gorgeous. Love the cute Willet images. Great capture of the Willet with the crab. Take care, have a happy weekend!
Beautiful scenes to enjoy and most importantly you were making wonderful memories.
A halcyon summer day.
It looks and sounds like a wonderful day - for you both.
Nice walking day....sorry to hear about your friend. Loving the bird fishing....cute.
A bird can put things in perspective.
Glad you and your friend had time together.
Coffee is on and stay safe
I'm sure your friend needed and appreciated an afternoon out with a friend who listened.
A good day, all around. With warm regards to your friend....
That time sounds like great medicine for you and your friend. Peaceful, beautiful, nature going along as it does, lovely.
It is always the case that the tranquility of nature assuages pain, and I am glad that it helped your friend. As for the Willet, great coverage, Marie. To the best of my recollection, while having seen many Willets! i have never seen one in Canada. Something to look forward to!
Beautiful post
Prayers for health
Beautifully written. Treasured moments shared and memories made.
Yes, that immunotherapy does work. I actually think I will be able to finish the big quilt soon. Hugs to your friend.
I'm so glad you could have such a precious time with your friend.
There is nothing like chatting with friends and enjoying creation while you are at it.
Memory makers...So happy your friend is doing well after all the things she has been through.
Love the Willet and his crab buffet.
Sue
Thank you so much for sharing your day with your friend. It really puts things in perspective and the Willet crabbing is a delight.
Great photos of the Willet catching crabs and I am delighted that it was good therapy as well. Wishing you friend well. Diane
Great photos of the Willet catching crabs and I am delighted that it was good therapy as well. Wishing you friend well. Diane
Hi Marie, Glad to hear the treatment is going well for your friend. You sure found a perfect spot for a picnic. Thanks for taking us along to Belmont Day Use Park. It sounded so cool the way you described enjoying your lunch while watching the Willet enjoy lunch too. :-) The water looks so clean and clear! Thank you for your recent comments on my blog and a special thank you for answering my questions about the Confederation Bridge. I appreciated your mention that a bridge would be nice for Newfoundland as well. Just for fun I opened up Google Maps and looked for a place between Newfoundland and the mainland that might be close enough for a bridge. The closest thing I can see is a spot near L'Anse-au-Loup to somewhere north of Pidgeon Cove-St Barbe. But that would be about 19.3km (12 miles). Appx 1/3 longer than Confederation. Do you think it might ever happen? Thanks, Marie, for sharing your blog and for your comments on mine. Wishing you a fine week ahead. John
I can't think of a better way to enjoy the day with a friend that has been through such awful medical procedures than a day spent watching the water, listening to the wind through the trees, and laughing at the antics of the birds. I'll bet she felt so relaxed after that day.
It seems you had a good time together.
this was indeed the best place to enjoy time with a friend for lunch and to watch the willet enjoy his lunch!!
i think the seashore is so soothing, i am sure she enjoyed this time away from her worries!!
Nothing better than connecting with people we care about. Wishing her the very best.
this is grace of lord that despite of critical situation your friend has already started to feel better dear Marie ,i hope and pray she will recover soon !
i can imagine having lunch with old friend and at such a serene gorgeous place can be so calming and healing ,nature has astonishing healing power and when we get close to her she comforts us with her motherly warmth always!
i bet memories of this preciosu day are going to sat with you for lifetime :)
So true Marie, time spent with friends is the best. I relate to your words here, the friend in similar circumstances is my sister 💜
Wonderful post and photographs. Great that your friend is doing better. Thanks for the time on the water.
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