December twilight

 

Last week was a quiet though enjoyable week for us here in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. Early last week, I drove my friend to an appointment in Charlottetown, about 60 kilometres away. The difference in the weather in that distance was noteworthy as we drove through blizzard-like conditions with snow and drifting. There was lots of snow on the ground in Charlottetown. Meanwhile in Summerside, up to Christmas Day, we didn’t have snow.

However, the early part of last week, there was still a great deal of ice in the bay. One morning, we spotted the Canadian Coast Guard Icebreaker, *Ann Harvey in the bay. 

She is a light icebreaker and we usually see her in port this time of year prior to the arrival of a cargo ship. Sure enough, a cargo vessel, the Oslo Bulk 3 came into port that night and stayed over Christmas. The vessel blends in with the dock in the muted December light.

On cloudy days, twilight is a good description of the light we have when the sun doesn’t shine. It creates conditions perfect for crepuscular rays through breaks in the clouds which were visible as we walked the boardwalk on Christmas Eve. Seeing the rays always reminds me of the hymn Silent Night, particularly the line, “glories stream from heaven afar.” It was lovely to see the rays on Christmas Eve.

The Bald Eagle pair was enjoying the area last week too, one in its sub-let from the Osprey 

and another along the boardwalk near the marsh. 

These were two different birds, according to the eye markings present in the first one and absent in the second. Sadly, another of the trees the birds frequented has succumbed to the high wind in the last week.

While the snow returned Christmas Day, the wind was off-shore again, taking ice out of much of the bay. It will be back shortly if current conditions continue.

The Blue Jays along the boardwalk entertain walkers every day. They especially enjoy 

peanuts and always have a sentinel watching to alert others when peanuts are left for them.

We had a quiet Christmas and rested up for festivities this coming week. Our grandchildren will be staying overnight tomorrow and we will celebrate with the family on New Year’s Eve and Day.

Have a great week. Enjoy the celebrations, if you partake.

Peace!

*The ship’s namesake, Ann Harvey, was a young girl from Isle aux Morts, Newfoundland. Ann, with her father, brother and the family dog, rescued passengers and crew from two distressed vessels near their community in the early 1800s.