'From The Archives'

Isn't it fun to look back at events or times in your life that are filled with happy memories.

This is one such time.

It was May 1983 at the grand-opening of 'Cuvelier's Exercise Studio'

which was located on a very busy street in Halifax.

I had taken an unpaid leave of absence from school to give this venture a try.

Ron and my sister, Mary, and I were the aerobics instructors at first.

Aerobics was in its infancy and we wholeheartedly jumped on the bandwagon.

Even though we were only in business for two years,

these were the most impressionable years of my life in so many ways.

We met and got to know hundreds of people who to this day

say how they enjoyed their time at the 'studio'.

From left to right in the above photo:

Mary Cuvelier (sister), Linda Cuvelier (sister-in-law), Ron Troke (husband),

Paula Lawlor (sister) and June Tasker (friend).

Almost Perfection

I have to say that September is the BEST month of the year 

here on the east coast of Canada.

It is not too hot and humid, evenings are cooler, and there is just a feeling

of 'getting on with things' before winter bears down on us all.

Sunday and yesterday were the epitome of 'days from the gods'.........

almost perfect.

This is a view I took from the shop on Sunday.

Contemplative Monday

Life can be 'funny'. Not in a humorous way.

After speaking to two of Ron's relatives-in-law today

concerning Ron's cousin and the upcoming very serious operation

he is having next week, makes one stop and have a good look around at things.

Hearing and seeing how seriously this has affected the family

made me pause and give them as much moral support as I could give.

Sometimes when you think all is rosy with the world.....

just isn't so for so many people. Makes one look at life a little differently.

Eclectic Tastes

A classic rock n roll tune from 1955.....
just try to keep still!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Saturday Morning Post

Puppets to pears this week.....and of course the ocean.

Hand puppets from from A to Z I discovered at the Open View Pre-School

office at MacDonald House where my shop is located.

Fall is 'crisp', 'crumble' season around here......add nutmeg and lots of fresh ginger.......

Last weekend was very foggy up on the hill.

What does one call a large group of Cormorants?

A 'gulp'.

Very busy week for surfers at the beach.

Actually Ron looks as if he is doing his praying in the dune grass......

but in fact he is playing 'hide and seek' with Sophie!!

Windy day down at the river.

Great weather for cycling along the coast.

Sophie will and has recruited anybody within reach to throw 'Mr. Orangie' in the water

or down the beach. These two were happy to oblige her.

Dusk on the hill. A beautiful sunset to end a wonderful week.

A Day From The Gods

Yesterday morning I was up early and on the road heading to the supermarket.

It was one of those wonderful September days that we usually get here in Nova Scotia....

cool, sunny, clear.

The whole day was just about prefect.....warming up to about 22C in the afternoon.

Just before dusk we headed to beach to watch dozens of surfers

manoeuvring the large waves.

My last shot of the day was this one below.

It pretty well captured a 'day from the gods'.

Lines and Rectangles

Walking through a parkade in downtown Halifax the other morning.......

looks like stacked dinky toys.

Ring/Halo Around The Sun

Had Sophie for a walk around Point Pleasant Park yesterday.

I had noticed that the light was a little subdued and different,

so I looked up and noticed this huge ring/halo around the sun,

almost like a circular rainbow.

I googled this phenomena and found this on www.weatherprediction.com

"The ring around the sun or moon is caused by ice crystals within thin cirrus clouds. The refraction causes light to shine into a ring. Cirrus clouds are generally the first layer of clouds that are seen as a storm system approaches."

So there you have it folks......the science behind it.

'If Everybody Had An Ocean.......'

It is amazing but not surprising how surfing has taken off here on the Eastern Shore

over the past 15 years or so.

It is an all-year activity sport......not just during the summer months.

Of course in the summertime surfers from all over the country 

and the eastern seaboard of the USA spend time here along our shore

to experience what it has to offer.

So last evening while walking the boardwalk at Lawrencetown Beach

we saw this car pull up next to ours.

Out came the cameras......

And here's a tune that may be familiar to a few of you:

Contemplative Monday

".....keep the sun of your awareness shining. Like the physical sun,

which lights every leaf and every blade of grass,

our awareness lights our every thought and feeling,

allowing us to recognize them, be aware of their birth,

duration, and dissolution, without judging or evaluating,

welcoming or banishing them."

.....from 'The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh'

published by Shambhala Pocket  Classics

Eclectic Tastes

Feist,  (click) a Canadian musician and singer, does a great job I feel
with the Constantines on this classic 'Dolly and Kenny' tune.
I heard this on CBC radio the other evening and it stayed in my head.

Give it a minute to get going and you may appreciate its simplicity.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone.

Saturday Morning Post

Finally having our 'summer' here in Nova Scotia......

Tea anyone?

Can't seem to keep these teapots on the shelves.....more people drink tea than I imagined.

Yesterday morning at the river......we were getting just a little too close for comfort

for these gulls.

Speaking of gulls....

Looking towards MacDonald Hill from Stoney Beach.

Thursday around noon at the canal in Gaspereau Valley....

this branch caught my attention. 

As did these dried out plant stems....

On Thursday we went cross country from Fundy Shore to the South Shore/Western Shore.

Last evening at Lake Banook in Dartmouth.....

This would be me throwing Mr.Orangie for the gazillionth time into the lake for Sophie.

Bends In The Road

Yesterday we three amigos hit the road early.

Our goal was to have breakfast in Grand Pre

which is about 100 kms from home.

We made it there in no time flat....

had an Eastcoast Breakfast which consisted of

two fishcakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, baked beans,

multigrain toast and orange slices.

Just what we needed!!

By this time Sophie was pleading with us to get to the canal....

one of her favourite places to swim (and I believe the 

second place she learned to swim when she was a puppy).

So off we went. 

This photo below is the road/path along the canal.

It is always very peaceful and full of life,

not from other humans, but from dragon flies and butterflies.

They were everywhere.

From the canal we decided to drive across the 'spine' of Nova Scotia

to the South Shore which was about an hour and a half drive.

We took highway # 12 .

As are most highways/roads in Nova Scotia, it was full of bends

and turns with only a few straight stretches.

And, as are most off-roads in Nova Scotia, there wasn't

 much traffic either way.

Map image from NS Online

Left of center you can see the town of Windsor, and just left of this is hwy 12. Since we are looking at the map....if you see Chester at the end of hwy 12 and then below that Peggy's Cove,

now look right in a straight line and you see Halifax, Dartmouth and below Dartmouth

Lawrencetown....where we live (that black dot!!).

I can see that we took the long route to get to the South Shore yesterday!!

C'est la vie.

From My Perch

A glorious yesterday on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia.

I was at the shop and, as always, had a fantastic view in all directions

from my perch there.

Thought I recognized these two!

Must be time to close up...where did that day go?!

And one final look out one of the shop's windows.

Doin It For Ourselves

When we enter this world we are dependent on our parent(s) for a short time.

Then we are pretty much on our own.

The choices and decisions we make are ours

and we live our lives accordingly.

Or at least we try our best to do so.

So I am thinking that pretty well all living things on this planet

are on their own......in their search for security,

and in the case of the photo below, for food.

Contemplative Monday

"Living in the present moment, we are able to be in touch

with life's wonderful, refreshing, and health-giving phenomena,

which allow us to heal the wounds in ourselves."

.....Thich Nhat Hanh from 'The Pocket Thich Nhat Hanh'

Eclectic Tastes

The Canadian Country Music Awards   (click) are in Halifax this weekend.
The city is jammed to the rafters with musicians and fans.

So what better 'pick' for this week than Canada's most famous
country artist....Shania Twain!

Have a wonderful Sunday y'all!!

Saturday Morning Post

A mixed bag this week.....

McNab's Island lighthouse as seen from Black Rock Beach at Point Pleasant Park.

A 'drive-by' photo of the '3 stacks' at Nova Scotia Power's generating station.

One of the few photos of Ron without Sophie nearby.

She was at the groomers.

Gull at sunrise.

Catching the light at dusk.

Who could resist this path?

Sunset where the river meets the ocean.

With all the talk/news about immigrants/refugees

this is where thousands arrived in Canada

at Pier 21 in Halifax. We all come from immigrants

with the exception of course of native aboriginals.

Halifax Harbour with George's Island in middle background

as seen from the MacDonald Bridge.

Halifax skyline as seen from Dartmouth across the harbour.

River Walk

I was walking Sophie along the river this morning

 and noticed this Cormorant drying out its wings on the sand bar.

It was so quiet there and I wondered what it might be like being that Cormorant

........ not being bombarded by all the world events recently.

Just doing what Cormorants have been doing for millennia . 

Around The World

Would you ever consider, if you could, sail around the world?

Thought of this yesterday as I watched this boat leave the Northwest arm

and head out towards the Atlantic Ocean.

Part of me says I would consider such a trip,

the other part of me reminds me that I get sea-sick.

Morning Has Broken

The start of a new day.

Enjoy it everyone.

Split Second

Driving downtown, Ron at the wheel, and I looked up

catching a moment in time.

Contemplative Monday

A 'walking meditation' along a beach...........

Eclectic Tastes

Today's artist is Jenn Grant .......click on her name to find out more.

As we ease our way into fall here in Nova Scotia,
this helps us do just that.... as it has an easy-going feel to it.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone.

In A Blink of An Eye

At the river again today and didn't realize we were being followed!

By a storm, that is.

Managed to get back to the car just as the rain started to pelt down on us.

Great dark skies affording a few good shots.