Icy waters

The latter part of last week was snowy, windy and cold. On such December days when the harbour begins to ice over,

the damp cold feels like it reaches one’s bones. 

The week didn’t start that way. It had been cold and windy but the snow was minimal and nothing stayed on the ground. Ice in the bay wasn’t a possibility until Wednesday when temperatures plummeted  and changed everything. Schools were closed, roads were treacherous, the wind howled, snow fell and drifted while ice formed in the bay.

The boardwalk, though plowed and salted, required one’s attention, watching for icy spots as we ventured forward.

We had Daisy, the golden grand-dog visiting for a few days and we walked with her one day, in spite of the cold. 

That day, we saw the boardwalk’s resident male Bald Eagle, 

sat in the Osprey nest it is subletting for the fall and winter. 

Further in the bay, a cargo vessel which has been in port this past week, looks as if it may require the work of an ice breaker if it stays in port much longer. 

The December sun, hidden behind the cloud cover, gives the impression of twilight to the late morning scene.

Meanwhile, at home, a Red Fox which resides in our area, was busy one morning, hunting in the snow for a morning snack. 

We usually see it on our security camera as it hunts at night. A day-time sighting is a real treat.

I hope to do my Christmas shopping locally this week and get parcels in the mail. I hope you have a great week too.

November light

We had a sprinkle of snow overnight late last week which made me curious about previous years. I found this photo from November 24, 2018, showing snow on the ground and ice in the harbour. We have a cold, snowy week in the forecast so I expect we will see more of scenes like this…

                                                                      November 24, 2018

The November light was the highlight this past week, as cloud cover, which sometimes teased us with sun trying to break through, made for interesting skies. From Bedeque Bay looking out into the Northumberland Strait, sea and sky made a painting which was a testament to the skill of the artist. From the sparkle of the water to the texture of the cloud cover amid the shades of blue, the beauty of the setting caused one to pause to take it in.

Meanwhile, in the salt marsh by the bay, an American Black Duck puffed its feathers against the cold air.

Another day, my husband and I visited the National Park at Cavendish where we parked in Cavendish Grove and walked to the beach and back.

It was another cold day and overcast but without wind. The November light resembled twilight but in the late morning.   

The Lake of Shining Waters, as described so beautifully by author, L. M. Montgomery over a hundred years ago, sits behind the dunes in the soft light, framed by the conifers, grasses and rose hips.

On the way home that day, we passed several flocks of birds resting in the plowed autumn fields. Gulls in two fields and Canada Geese in two others, were in no rush to do anything that day.

We walked in the Rotary Friendship Park last week where it was interesting to see green deciduous leaves framing the entrance to one of the woodland trails. These are the only such leaves we’ve seen in our area recently.

Along the boardwalk later last week, the resident Bald Eagle landed in the area it often frequents. It was a wet windy day and I didn’t bring my camera though R took two good photos on his cell phone. 

I really like the detail visible on the wing feathers in this photo.

In the salt marsh yesterday, two Mallard pairs made interesting patterns on the surface of the water.

Finally this week, yesterday, a male Woodpecker found its way into our daughter’s house through a briefly opened door. She and the children worked to capture the bird safely and release it successfully. It was an exciting time for everyone involved.

Happy December, everyone!