In the bay

The ice in the bay at Summerside broke up over the last few weeks and the wind takes it out of the bay one day and back in another depending on the wind direction. On days without wind, pans of ice, which Newfoundlanders call growlers, float around the harbour after an onshore wind.  A morning walk by the water on a calm day in spring is a treat for people of east coast Canadian islands.

On one calm, overcast morning, the lighthouse looked like the overseer of proceedings in the bay.

Close-ups of the growlers showed the shadows on the calm surface of the water.

Sometimes the gulls like to stop for a rest on one.

The next day, it was calm and overcast again as we headed to the boardwalk. However the sun found openings in the clouds and slowly the sky turned blue. The water reflected that blue and changed the scenes from the previous day. 

There were more birds on the growlers this second day, just enjoying the setting with friends. 

As we passed the Front Range Light, the blue of the scene highlighted the ice field in the distance.

 

Two days later, an off-shore wind took the ice into the Northumberland Strait again and we couldn’t see in on the horizon. Two more days and it was back. 

When we arrived at the end of the boardwalk that last day, a young eagle was perched on the ice off shore while two crows were courting in the air around it.

Land, sea, sky and creature provide much enjoyment in the bay by the boardwalk.

Notes from the island

A gift from my husband this Christmas was a huge hit. I am late to the enjoyment of weighted blankets but I love the weight and the fuzzy side of mine which feels so comfortable and cozy. I move the blanket to various locations and feel quite challenged with its heft. I am back at hand weights now to make the blanket movement easier. I am a weakling in my old age.

Since my second cataract surgery, I am able to read books again. Reading was lost to me for several years, a chore I undertook for book club but it was a huge challenge. Now I am thoroughly enjoying books I received for Christmas and time slips by in that old familiar way that a book in hand affords. I had protected myself from the immense sadness of the loss of reading. However, I will never again take for granted the comfort of a good book in hand, especially while covered in a weighted blanket.

The weather has been strange. The bay was slow to freeze, then melted back to the first range light which was strange indeed for this time of year. 

We had a week or more of pleasant weather, without much wind, so walking the boardwalk was feasible. You know it’s cold and windy again when you want to use a Covid mask as a windbreak whilst out walking. The stationary bike or the treadmill are preferable but I miss the time in nature. Our first major snow storm was this past Friday into Saturday. Our daughter sent a photo of the golden grand-dog, Georgie, after her visit outside after supper. She was not impressed!

We had a great few days with our family over New Year’s. On the Eve, we played games as we waited for midnight. Even the four year old stayed awake. The girls organized games which we played in teams, including a craft and ball toss game, among others. I organized a scavenger hunt at request of the kids but they did a great job too. Our game playing future is in good hands.

A scoff and a scuff followed. The food, a scoff, included a variety of appetizers and sparkling juices or champagne. The scuff is dancing, which for us includes Celtic and Newfoundland music. We were exhausted by the time the old year passed, in more ways than one after this past year.

Finally, my husband and I have appointments for our vaccine booster shots in the last week of January, the earliest appointments we could book. Until then, we will be hunkering down at home, other than for quick grocery trips every few weeks. There are two people in hospital on the island, one in intensive care. The number of cases, now over fifteen hundred is not indicative of how many cases of the Omicron version of Covid are here. Testing has not been able to keep up with the demand. However, so far, the 90%+ double vaccination rate has held us in good stead and most people have a mild version of Covid. The apprehension, as you well know, is not knowing if you’ll have a mild version or one to land you in intensive care or worse. These are scary times on the gentle island! We have never had such large numbers of Covid cases. Meanwhile, school is out at least until Jan.17th. As the pandemic drags on, everyone continues to make sacrifices. It is wearing on people everywhere!

                    School at home                                               

Wildflowers 2

The parade of wildflowers continues as the summer rolls along to its inevitable conclusion. There has been and continues to be a kaleidoscope of colour and variety along the trails, roads and highways. Starting with dandelions of spring, we have progressed to Queen Anne’s Lace, Goldenrod and numerous others, filling every gap and crevice, road banks and shorelines. 

I enjoy especially the scenes along the shoreline where the view to sea is through the natural blooms.

Joe Pye Weed is a new one this month and it takes a stand along a section of shoreline where Queen Anne has yet to spread her lace. 

A trail to a bench by the harbour is lined with that lace and the Front Range Light is a familiar backdrop. 

A spell on the bench and a view to the Indian Head Lighthouse in the distance is filtered through wildflowers.

During a recent visit to Bonshaw Park, we had a picnic and walked some trails. After lunch, on the way to the West River I passed wildflowers on the highway embankment. Queen Anne’s Lace and Goldenrod make a breathtaking wall of natural blooms. 

Humans cannot compete with this gardener. 

 

Foggy mornings

Ahhh...spring, when an islander’s thoughts turn to fog. That’s what I was thinking during our 9 a.m. walks on the boardwalk this past week. We don’t have a lot of fog on Prince Edward Island but we had some every day last week.

Fog is a genteel visitor, faintly covering the harbour on occasion, adding an element of beauty to the familiar Front Range Light. She adds a sense of mystery to the landscape on a beautiful sunny day, when she creeps onshore.

Other times, fog is ostentatious, blocking our view of familiar landmarks, as she asserts her presence. 

The same scene can look dramatically different if she changes her approach.

Either way, she is a curiosity of nature.

Her long finger stretches forth in this photo from Saturday. Fog sits at the surface of the harbour, slowly stretching over the land she encounters.

The Indian Head Lighthouse at the entrance of the harbour knows all about fog. 

It has endured all of her moves and moods for 140 years. Fog nor her sister ice are no match for this seasoned sentinel.

Fog adds another element of beauty to nature.