Saturday Morning Post

Shore to shop this week....

We had the remnants of hurricane Patrica (from the Pacific) hit us Thursday

with tons of rain and wind.

This was what we saw yesterday morning at the beach.....very rough seas.

Yet on Wednesday the ocean was very calm.

And these two guys took full advantage with their 'stand-up' paddle boards.

Yes, it is the end of October in the north Atlantic!!

On Tuesday we hooked up with friends at the border between N.S. and N.B.

This very vintage shop is in Sackville, New Brunswick.

More of those rough seas we saw yesterday at the beach.

Sophie is very content with Mr.Orangie on the boardwalk.

A few new items at the shop.....this calendar is in pristine condition from 1960.

This lithograph print I purchased at a fund-raiser the Shambhala Buddhist Centre

in Halifax had a few months ago.

This quilt is very old and completely hand done.

And lastly, this parrot stands watch over the shop day and night.

It's home is a 20 year old fig tree that is in the centre of the shop.

Under The Influence

From my 'perch' at the shop on Wednesday afternoon,

I noticed that Ron and Sophie had arrived to pick me up.

I was surprised at how quickly that day went by.

Not that it was busy, but because I am in the middle of a good book.....

'East Of Eden' by John Steinbeck.

There are a few crazy characters in this book, I tell ya!

As I took this photo I couldn't help but see how the sea affects

and influences our lives here.

It gives us comfort and calmness.

Tucking In

The garden has started to 'tuck itself in' for the winter ahead.

We don't rake any leaves this time of year,

we wait till spring.

We have a lot of deciduous trees and shrubs

and their leaves help insulate all the plants for the winter months.

Sophie and I took a stroll around the garden yesterday around 5 PM.

This is a seedpod on the Kousa Dogwood. It is covered in these.

Sophie standing under the Katsura tree which shed all its leaves two nights ago.

These are the tiny fruit/seeds on the ornamental Crab.

Looking through the Zebra grass at the garden shed.

Getting Outta Town

We got out of town yesterday.

A good feeling to hit the road.

Met up with a friend and her mother

in Amherst, N.S. and then we ate in Sackville, N.B.

These are border towns.

Our friend, Carolyn, we have known since since 1973.

I went to university with her.

She and her husband stood for Ron and I at our marriage ceremony.

Here is a photo that reflects the day we had.....

laughter, listening, learning,

eating, laughter and oh yes....

thrifting at a couple of shops

in both provinces.

Sophie thought the drive was WAY too long!!

On A Day Trip

Off to hook up with a friend at the border

 between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick

in the small town of Amherst.

It is about 2 plus hours from here.

Nothing is that far here in the Maritimes.

A little 'thrifting' will happen,

some dining and a lot of laughs and conversation.

Have a great day everyone.

Here are a few photos from our beach walk yesterday.

Contemplative Monday

Do you want to know what gets me through some days?

Well, knowing I may be just a very small part of this planet/universe

but I am so fortunate to be a part of it.

What gets you through those days when all seems way too heavy to bear?

Eclectic Tastes

I thought this classic was an appropriate piece  for today
as we have for the past 4 days been remembering
the time we spent with our friend, David, many years ago.
He died on Thursday.
Also, my visit with my father this morning
was one of memories as well.
He recalled many tales from his past with me
and commented: "You know Jimmie, isn't
it funny that when you get older, like me,
the past seems to be like it happened yesterday."

So, memories have been flooding through us and my Dad lately.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone.

Saturday Morning Post

From dressers to puppies this week!!

I bought this dresser 25 years ago

and it is looking for a new home.

We got a 'new to us' Scandinavian dresser and there is no room for both.

These are vintage 1950's prescription sunglasses which I am trying to sell for a friend.

This is Fisherman's Cove in Eastern Passage.

Fall colours....

Sophie enjoying her run at McCormack's Beach in Eastern Passage. yesterday.

Look up, look way up......

Concrete and steel make up this small building which was part of a fortress

from back in the early 1800's.

The city of Halifax in the background taken from Eastern Passage.

Fall rowing on Lake Banook in Dartmouth.

Sophie and Mr.Orangie taking a breather.

Amazing what can grow under the most difficult situation.

This plant is high up on a window sill in the old fortress at the park.

This is Winston. He was very intrigued with Sophie the other day at the park.

He is an 11 week old Newfoundland puppy

and almost as big as Sophie!!

A Farewell To A Friend

An old friend of ours died yesterday.

His name was David Fry.

He grew up in the same town as Ron

and I met him in 1973 when I met Ron.

They were childhood friends.

As happens in life, we went our separate ways

but always heard from each other at Christmas.

David was a gentle, intelligent, and compassionate human being.

He will be missed by many.

Rest in Peace, David.

A Walk In The Park

After we each had a much needed massage this afternoon by a massage therapist,

(having moved a ton of furniture this morning at home)

we headed down to park on the tip of peninsular Halifax.

We needed a walk.

Just before we left the car this container ship was heading into Halifax Harbour.

It was about 5 PM and the sun was low in the west casting magnificent shadows.

See! I am as tall as the trees!!

The moon was also making its appearance.

I liked the starkness of this photo.

And as we were approaching the parking lot, this other container ship was being loaded up.

We Could Be Dancing.....Yeah!

Got off work yesterday afternoon and headed up MacDonald Hill

 to catch up with Ron and Sophie.

On the way up I looked out into the Atlantic.......

and saw these two para-surfers in formation heading up and down the area 

where the river meets the ocean.

You don't usually see them getting very close to each other

due to potential collisions.

They could have been dancing........

I smiled and up the hill I went.

Election Day in Canada

Election day was yesterday in Canada. 

It was a big one!

Being the 'political junkie' that I am,

I feel it was time for things to change.

And since I wrote up this post last evening

before the election results were broadcast,

I did not know how things went.

Let's put it this way.......

if the present government remains in power

you will not be seeing us (Ron, Sophie and I) for a while

as we will be packing and moving to Sweden!!

I'll let you know.

Contemplative Monday

The bench.......wondering how many of us actually use them for which they are intended?

When was the last time you sat on a bench and where?

Eclectic Tastes

I have played this piece here before.
Heard it's haunting harmonic voices today on car radio.

This family, The Rankins, are from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone.

Saturday Morning Post

Great week for family, beach, harbour and canal.....

Had Thanksgiving dimmer at brother Dennis'....his son Jacob was home from university

for the weekend.

Got this shot of the last blossom of the season (Rugosa Rosa) on Thursday

 before the temps dropped.

Seagulls at Black Rock Beach in Halifax.

Surfer silhouetted against the setting sun.

Fall in the Maritimes.

Sunset last evening....very stormy and rainy.

Rock art.

'Phyllis Diller' feather?

Ron at work........