Just three weeks

My intention was to photograph Millman Road over a period of weeks in October to have a photographic documentary of the change in the leaves this autumn. Unforeseen circumstances intervened and it was over three weeks before we returned to the Millman Road again for a short walk. In that time, the autumnal change along the road was massive.

In the early days of October, the canopy was green. In a few areas shots of red were a highlight. 

The road had much the same look as it does mid summer.

Just over three weeks later, a golden tunnel stretched over the red road which was leaf covered in places. 

It is easy to find a scientific explanation involving naturally occurring chemicals as to why leaves change colour.

However, the dreamer in me imagines nature’s awareness of the decreasing light and heat and in a desire to protect herself, she eliminates surface area to huddle against the cold. First though, she gives us a final present, one we will remember until the light and heat return next year and she stirs again.

So we walked amid the leaves, shuffling our feet for the maximum enjoyment of nature’s gift of this season. The old road, cut deep into the rich red soil has experienced many generations do the same, as passersby enjoyed the scenes around them. My husband and I walked in silence with only the rustle of the leaves beneath our feet and cameras clicking.

Words were unnecessary.

Moody sky day at the beach

There is something to be said for a moody sky day at the beach. And it was such a day recently when my husband and I headed to Cousin’s Shore for a walk. Overcast with sunny breaks, the wind made it cold enough for gloves for the first time this autumn. The moody sky created some drama as thunder clouds were interspersed with patches of blue, nature unsure of how she felt that fall day.

Cousin’s Pond lies behind the dunes along the north central coast of Prince Edward Island mere metres from the sea. 

A stream from the pond wends its way through the sand into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 

I walked along the meandering stream to the beach and listened for several minutes to the power of the moving water, the constancy of the stream and the rhythm of the sea. The sounds of the water filled the senses. You can see a short video here.

The grey blue cloud over the reflected grey of the sea looked ominous at times. 

However, periodically breaks in the clouds gave a blue sky reflection on the wet red sand. 

We walked the beach which is lined with cottages and summer homes behind the dunes. One, partially hidden by the dunes, resembles a lighthouse.

A dune restoration project of the cottagers and the Island Nature Trust is underway in the area. Several strategies are in use, one involving dead conifers placed horizontally in exposed areas. 

Some driftwood along the beach has characters within depending on which way you look at it. From one angle, a gull appears in the wood. 

From a few feet west, a rodent’s head rests on top..

On the way back to the car, the plants on top of the sand dunes are reminders of warmer days when Goldenrod bloomed against a late summer sky. However, winter is on the horizon!

Soup days

It is getting colder as daylight hours shorten and November days settle in for another year. We’ll have our first snowfall any day now. This is the time of year when the Smith family’s thoughts turn to comfort food and hot soup rises to the top of the menu again. 

Salads have been our menu staple for months but as the temperature cools, our taste for salad wanes. The cooling effect of a fresh salad just doesn’t sit right when coziness is on your mind.

Many mornings now are busy chopping the many vegetables for the soups. Carrot, butternut squash, cream of potato and mushroom are some of the soups we have enjoyed the last few weeks. It is great to be able to buy vegetable stock rather than have to make it. However I make chicken stock often and use it as well.

On Saturday past, with a temperature of 12 Celsius and sunny, my husband and I took a thermos of mushroom soup to Cavendish Grove and enjoyed the late October sun in one of our favourite places. With barely a breeze, we sat in the Grove and watched squirrels scurry around in the fallen leaves. 

The air was just cold enough to make the mug of hot soup satisfying. With tea and a sandwich, it was a gourmet lunch in a glorious place.

Sitting there, chatting with my husband as the leaves fell around us, the pain of the last several weeks became insignificant as the setting filled the senses. Nature makes it easy to live in the moment.

The mushroom hunt

A beautiful autumn day in early October, before my accident, my friend and I headed to the Rotary Friendship Trail. It was the day she had immunotherapy treatment for cancer and between appointments at the hospital, we decided to walk the trail.

This therapy has helped my friend a great deal. She has her energy back and is involved in life again, with a spring in her step and renewed enthusiasm for life. We enjoy the treatment day excursions and the Rotary Trial didn’t disappoint us.

My friend has developed a recent interest in mushrooms and despite some colour in the canopy, 

we looked down as we walked the trail. The forest floor on either side of the path had much to see 

and we walked carefully through the undergrowth to photograph the fungi. 

Neither of us could identify the mushrooms 

nor say which were edible. 

We didn’t want to eat them anyway, just admire and photograph them and there were lots to see. 

Many were spread out in the detritus 

though most of this years leaves had yet to fall by early October. 

Some were attached to fallen trees decomposing on the forest floor.

These small plants with black berries were spread around the forest floor as well. 

They stood out with the red centres around the black berries.

Before long we headed back to the hospital for the therapy and later I drove my friend home. 

We look forward to another excursion tomorrow.

Notes from the island

Life is slowly beginning to return to something like normal for us. Three weeks after the bicycle accident, my mobility has improved, though not without pain. It is bearable to move a bit every day. My husband and I have missed the best of the autumn colour but we have been out for a few short walks, less than a kilometre, a few times. It feels so good to be outdoors after so much time in the house. Soon the bitter cold will set in and nature will be shrouded in white for the next number of months. Our outings will return to winter dress mode.

What a wonder it is to have such clear vision in my right eye after the cataract surgery! Mere minutes in the surgical suite, inside what appeared to be a bubble, listening to the doctor and nurse discuss recent family vacations, I knew and could see through a haze that work was being done on my eye, but I felt nothing. Now, the left eye, which was the better of the two, has blurred vision compared to the right but is scheduled for repair in a few weeks. In the end, I may need reading glasses but I am so thankful for this surgery.

We are using Vax passes to enter non essential businesses without any problems and masking is essential. There are currently two active cases of Covid on the island, both due to travel. There have been 317 cases of Covid since the outbreak of the pandemic and two short hospitalizations. We have had great guidance from our Public Health officials which the politicians supported. They have provided great guidance and people have followed it. With a double vaccination rate of almost 90%, Prince Edward Island has been fortunate thus far in the pandemic.

Yesterday, we had breakfast with our daughter and grandson at a local breakfast spot. It is always great to spend time with them and we had a tasty, leisurely breakfast. There were a few other people in the restaurant as well. When it came time to pay the bill, a gentleman from a nearby table approached and offered to pay our bill. What a wonderful gesture from two men visiting from London, Ontario, looking to invest on the island! They are enjoying the island, especially the friendly people and the relaxed atmosphere. We accepted their offer and will pass on the good deed in the near future.

These men and the couple from Montreal who stopped to help us after my bike accident, are evidence of the kind people there are in this world.

Update

At this point, eleven days post bicycle accident, I have made some progress. Now I can slither my way out of bed without assistance which is great considering all the help I have needed this past ten days.

For the first four days post accident, all I did was sleep, though not well. I did little other than doze round the clock, from erect positions with head supported as much as possible.

I also lost my appetite. The soreness and pain masked my appetite and I had no desire to eat anything my husband offered or suggested. A mouthful was all I could manage. It is not much better today though improving a bit.

Meanwhile, fifth day post accident, I had cataract surgery. That surgery went well. The young doctor looked like he needed a permission slip from his parents to be away from school for the day. However all medical professionals look young to me these days.

There is a surgical unit specific to eye surgery on Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown and the facility is well used and maintained. We are fortunate to have such a facility and staff to operate it. While there is a wait time to have such surgery here, every citizen is eligible for treatment and it is free. One does not require insurance to access the service or have to come up with the money for such a procedure. Waiting time is a small price to pay for this treatment, in my opinion. 

The day I arrived at Emergency following the bike accident, I was seen quickly and efficiently. Had I needed further treatment, it would have been provided at no cost to me. Though it is not perfect, we are fortunate to have such a medical system in this country.

So the healing continues. Bruises are turning yellow, abdominal muscles are not quite as painful and eye drops are the order of the day. While I read blogs I am not commenting yet. However, keeping up to date with you my fellow bloggers. makes one aspect of life feel normal. I’ll be reading you soon.

Notes from the island

The Delta variant of the Covid 19 virus caused a fourth wave in Atlantic Canada. All four provinces have seen an increase in infections with New Brunswick the hardest hit. Here on Prince Edward Island, we have a 94% first vaccination rate and 87% fully vaccinated. Our province has a Vax Pass as well, issued when one is fully vaccinated, which allows entry to non-essential businesses and services.

Shortly after school began, an outbreak in several schools east of us, caused a few anxious weeks but Public Health managed the situation and quickly contained the outbreak. Cases now are related to travel. Masks are in use again though I continued to use them at the stores. Children in school above Grade 3 must use a mask all day now. A children’s vaccine, ages 5-11, will be welcome here.

In September, we met our first Blogger friends, David and Miriam Gascoigne. I follow David’s blog, https://travelswithbirds.blogspot.com/ and enjoy his expertise on feathered friends and Miriam’s photography. It was wonderful to spend some time with them. 

If you follow my blog regularly, you know my husband and I have picnics as we walk and ride the beaches and trails on the island. Of course we had a picnic with David and Miriam and enjoyed every minute with them on a lovely September day. Blogging expands your world via computer and meeting fellow bloggers is an added bonus. 

I had another accident on my bike. This time I fell off my bike on a trail through the National Park at Brackley. I am not sure what happened but I went down hard and went to Emergency at the local hospital to be checked out. After some tests and X-rays, I was diagnosed with a cracked rib. Bruising on my right side is bad and I am sore. It is the worst injury I have ever had. I didn’t realize how much I rely on my abdominal muscles until they became sore.

We were helped at the accident scene by a wonderful couple from Montreal who was vacationing on the island. Several other people stopped and offered assistance. People are kind.

In other medical news, I am having cataract surgery tomorrow. I had an appointment with the ophthalmologist in late September and he evaluated my need for surgery as urgent. There is a huge difference between the vision loss in my right and left eyes which affects my sight tremendously. The doctor told me it could be a wait of two to three months but there was a cancellation and they are fitting me in tomorrow. I look forward to this surgery and who knows, maybe it will reduce my bike accidents too.

See you all in a month or so. Take care.