The look of late summer

It was cooler this past week, without much humidity and its layer of discomfort. We have walked the boardwalk, picked berries and been with the kids on several adventures we always do before school starts every year.

There have been a few windy days, wind enough to turn Bedeque Bay into what resembles chocolate milk. The rough seas from high wind stir up the red sand in the bay and voila, chocolate milk!

On a calm day, we spotted a Great Blue Heron among the bulrushes in the salt marsh. I am fascinated by these birds and I suspect it is the same one which frequents this area as it often visits the same spot.

The bird was far enough away for it to feel safe. At one point it looked to be trying to mimic the bulrushes. 

Then it looked my way.

It stretched its neck as if to get a better look. 

I smile every time I see these last two photos.

We also saw some of the migrant birds last week including, a Black-bellied Plover, 

Semipalmated Plovers 

and a Solitary Sandpiper.

My husband and I always enjoy berry picking, a common activity of childhood in Newfoundland. This past week, we made several attempts to pick high bush blueberries with our daughter and the three children. Finally, after a few days of rain cancellations and ripening delays, we headed out. 

The last of the berries were available and I enjoyed the time with the other four, one of whom, ate more than she added to the containers. My husband entertained the golden grand-dog, Daisy, while we picked.

Time at Cavendish Grove this time of year involves a picnic and squishing apples which are past eating. 

Then we played fetch with Daisy until we were spent though she still was eager to fetch.

Also every year, the grandchildren have their photos taken hanging from a specific tree branch in the grove. With the traditional activities checked for this year, they are ready for school.

While summer has been lovely, we look forward to this month which heralds autumn and all its beauty. 

A busy week in August

It was a busy week. Besides our walks along the boardwalk, time with family and friends this past week has kept us busy. It included time on one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, at Thunder Cove on the north shore. It ended with a sleepover for the grandchildren, always fun, though exhausting.

There are certain expectations with a walk along the boardwalk, depending on the time of year. The Great Blue Herons which summer on Prince Edward Island are often visible in Bedeque Bay. 

The bands of colour and texture at low tide on a sunny day in the bay make us stop to take in the scene as one of the large birds feeds in the tidal pools.

By late August, shorebird migration has begun and some of the birds stop in the bay on their way south. Yellowlegs are common visitors and this one was alerting the animals to the predator sitting on the bank of the stream.

I managed a photo of the Red Fox running into the bulrushes. It was a few minutes before the bird stopped its alert!

Another day, sailboats were out on the bay as they often are but sails were furled. The wind was high that day.

At Thunder Cove, fun at the beach was the order of the day. The expanse of shoreline is a great place for sand castles, lying in the sun, a walk

or a frisbee. 

The local colony of gulls was watchful for morsels of food and were entertaining, as usual, as they explored areas vacated by beachgoers.

At sunset, the beach took on a glow in the diminished light. 

As the sun settled lower, the approaching night has a look of its own.

We headed back over the dune path, looked back at the peaceful scene and were thankful for our good fortune to live in this time and place.

Beauties of an August week

The last month of summer is shaping up to be a bit cooler and less humid than the previous month. We have stayed close to home, walking on the boardwalk and the Confederation Trail. We did one 40 km round trip on our bikes to the neighbouring community of Wellington however, where we had a picnic.

The highlight of this past week was the wildflowers. I cannot pass a flower-lined trail to the beach without following it to the water.  

There, just off-shore in Bedeque Bay, Bonaparte’s Gulls looked at home. They are common visitors this time of year. 

A Great Blue Heron visited the area near the salt marsh as well.

Down another such trail, someone took the time to make and install the Boardwalk Inn for squirrels and birds alike. The Inn is in a prime location.

Along the boardwalk, the wildflowers are so tall they tower over our heads. 

This Joe Pye weed approaches three metres high at least!

This ball of fluff was at the end of a lead held by a woman walking a fast pace.

It was everything the little dog could do to keep up with the owner. As the dog passed, she looked over at my husband and me, panting as she went. The little dog was giving it her all! Adorable!

A horse was in a farmyard along the Confederation Trail. This one had a visitor.

At Wellington, during our bike ride, we had lunch at the park by the Grand River.

The area was quiet with a few children at the playground and workers doing some repairs on one of the buildings. Sitting there having lunch in the sun, it was peaceful, far from the worries of the world.

Finally today, my husband’s cousin visited this past week. He is a bike enthusiast and came by on his Harley. 

It is a beauty, though a bit too big for my husband who couldn’t hold it up. If he ever gets a motorcycle, which is his dream, it will have to be a three wheeler. 

I wish you peace this week! 

August’s bounty

The golden grand-dog, Daisy, adapted to life with seniors as we became her caretakers for the past ten days. Less than a year old, the pup has so much energy whereas we don’t. However she adapted and so did we.

The Confederation Trail was our go-to site instead of the beach some days and Daisy’s delight in the trail was obvious when we let her run free. 

We always put her back on lead if walkers or bikers happened by. The dog’s freedom on that trail was a glory to behold. She jumped and moved as if she was dancing.

We frequented a section on the trail I have come to call The Orchard since it is lined with apple trees on both sides. 

It is not unusual to see apple trees along the Confederation Trail, but the number of such trees along both sides of that section of trail in neighbouring Miscouche, is exceptional.

Not to be outdone by the apple trees, Mountain Ash trees are common there as well. The berries, which Newfoundlanders like ourselves call dogberries, are ripening now and are abundant. 

Old wives tales have it that abundant dogberries mean a harsh winter. Oh well, it gives us more reason to enjoy this month.

There is a barn in the area and occasionally we saw a horse there. The horse preferred the shade most days.

Along the roadways and the trails now, Queen Anne’s Lace or Wild Carrot is in its prime and the gardener who planted these wild blooms did a great job with this bed near the parking area by the trail.

Thistles have gone to seed and fluff is blowing around in the summer breeze. Goldenrod is in its prime too.

Sometimes the smallest things stand out in a large open space. We’ve noticed individual filaments hanging from the trees in some areas. Once a row of caterpillars hung on one such filament. They floated in the breeze as they clung to the filament. It was a surprise to see them hanging over the trail.

Meanwhile we are eating produce from our garden. Green beans, tomatoes, kale, cucumbers, green peppers, basil and garlic all grew well and we’re enjoying nature’s bounty. The vegetables go from the garden to the plate in a matter of minutes and are so tasty. 

August is sharing her bounty with us in so many ways.

Along the way in August

It feels like it’s been hot and humid forever…weeks anyway. We may have some relief from the humidity later this week. We live in hope!

The golden grand-dog, Daisy, has returned for an extended visit this time and we are challenged to help her use some of her surplus energy every day, despite the heat. One solution has been the beach at Mont Carmel, in the Acadian region of Prince Edward Island, or as the French say, Île-du-Prince-Édouard, IPE.

The Acadian colours are red, white and blue, like the French flag but with the addition of the gold star on the blue.

Along the shoreline, cottages and an area for travel trailers mean there may be a few people on the beach. At various times we saw a kayaker, a paddle boarder, a few swimmers, people fishing for bass and a man in a sailing dinghy.

The sun appeared to highlight the dinghy as it headed out from the shore. 

Before long, it was sailing parallel to the shore. Then it went over. We watched with apprehension for 30 seconds or so,

but then the sailor appeared, stood in the water beside the dinghy, preparing to set it upright and board it. Before long he was sailing again.

I tried to photograph a gull near the dinghy then turned to photograph the dinghy again. The photo below is the result, an accidental capture I assure you. The bird is close to the mast but not on it. I couldn’t have staged it better.

Meanwhile, while we were watching the dinghy, my husband has Daisy chasing a ball from a Chuck-it stick. It makes the ball go farther and is easier on our old arms. She never tires of chasing that ball.

Nearby, gulls hang out along the stretch of beach and move around to various spots as the beach goers happen by. 

At the eastern point on the beach, one can see the Confederation Bridge in the far distance, over 80 kilometres away by road.

Near one cottage, a bird house behind the Marram grass catches the eye 

as do the colourful whirligigs at the base of some flag poles near another.

A stream empties into the Northumberland Strait and the bridge along the road near the beach is looking its age.

By the parking lot, someone reminded everyone to “Smile.” However, we never need such a reminder along this beach.

Finally this week, Cabbage White butterflies are everywhere now and numerous. On our way to the beach, they were noticeable along both sides of the road, flitting about as we drove by. They love the Marram Grass along the beach too.

Yesterday morning, we took Daisy for a walk along the Confederation Trail, when there was a breeze and it was overcast. We parked beside a potato field which had a muddy entrance which attracted the Cabbage Whites. While we see these butterflies everywhere, we have never seen them congregated as they were yesterday. The photo shows one group of several and dozens were flying around too.

Nature always shares something interesting.