Contemplative Monday

'Peace in oneself,

peace in the world.'

.....Thich Nhat Hanh

Eclectic Tastes

Times were different back when this film was made.....not necessarily better....
just different.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone.

Saturday Morning Post

The choice of photos this week was somewhat limited due to 

dropping my camera and breaking lens connection,

had to use a low powered telephoto lens till repair is done.

Also, I had a flu bug again.....slept for most of two whole days.

I am much better now.

At Birch Cove Park in Dartmouth yesterday......

Ron and Sophie playing near Lake Banook yesterday.....

Another glass shot!!

Thursday morning at the beach......

Sophie before her hair cut this week.....

Surfers......

Sophie relaxing.....

Getting rusty.....

Sophie showing me her new hair cut on Tuesday.

Glass

I like glass.

Always did.

I have a couple hundred vintage glasses in our kitchen windows

on glass shelving serving as 'curtains'.

So at the shop I have glassware from crystal, pyrex, 

old milk bottles, pop/soda bottles, drinking glasses,

depression glass, carnival glass, glass plates,

glass baking bowls, glass light fixtures, glass lamps,

I think you get the point!!

Most glass is made up of silica (sand),

an alkali like soda or potash, a stabilizer like lime,

and cullet (waste glass) to aid in the melting process.

There! More than you ever imagined you'd ever know, 

or want to know, about the composition of glass.

Glass is fun to photograph as well.

The light has a ball with it creating all sorts of possibilities. 

I really like this water pitcher set with its red flowers.

And note, which you really can't see all that well here,

in the upper background is the ocean

from whence this glass came.

From My Perch

What a very slow 'last couple of months' at the shop.

The winter season sure brings things to an almost halt!

Luckily we have a view to die for and I have a case of books to read.

Presently just finishing up 'Cannery Row' by John Steinbeck.

A good read filled with characters only Steinbeck could imagine.

Also, I am very fortunate to not have to depend

 on the money made at the shop to get by.

I feel for the people who experience this seasonal downturn

and still have to make a living.

Waiting for spring to come and stay.......and all the interesting

tourists from all over the world.

Looking west towards the city (35 km away) from MacDonald House.

Lines Water and Clouds

Monday morning I took this photo down at the beach.

It has been springlike around here for a few days

even though it is still February in Nova Scotia.

Who knows what Mother Nature has in store for us?

I think we are getting a little anxious for winter to leave.

How is Mother Nature been in your 'neck of the woods'?

She loves to play with us this time of year.

Eclectic Tastes

I feel I owe Paul Simon a great deal of gratitude.
Back in 1973 I bought his 'Kodachrome' LP.
It was the first piece/volume of music I actually had ever listened to.
I had just moved out of home and was on my own for the first time.
Paul Simon helped me settle into this new world.
I listened, related, and felt an ease in moving forward.
All this from his music and lyrics.
Thank you Paul Simon.

I hope you enjoy this piece, 'Duncan',
it is relatively unknown.
And it mentions 'the Maritimes'!! My home.....

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone.

Saturday Morning Post

Where did all the snow go?

Earlier in the week we had lots of snow

but after two days of steady rain, no more.

From my perch at work on Sunday....

Beets anyone?

Our birch trees yesterday morning....

For a few years now when we are at the park in Halifax,

we get Sophie to sit and stay at a certain spot.

We then proceed to walk away from her and expect her to remain there.

She does 99.9% of the time. It is a good practice for her and us

as it reinforces safety commands if ever needed.

At the boardwalk in 'black n white'.....

Valentine's flowers and the Buddha.

Always ready.....

Ron in the beach dunes a couple days ago......

Saw these seals off Point Pleasant Park yesterday.

They are either Gray Seals or Harbour Seals (which kind of makes sense

as they were in the harbour).

A holiday here on Monday and we went for a walk

with sister, Mary/Michael, niece/Colin, and the dogs.

See, all the snow is now gone except for a bit down this path.

Spring has arrived?

Trying Something New.....To Us

Oh, nothing earth-shattering mind you......

 Before......

A friend on FB put up this recipe for cabbage 'steaks',

and like my mother who always tried/experimented with different foods,

I jumped on board to give this a try.

After....

Easy to prepare: preheat oven to 400F.

Wash and trim cabbage.

Cut into 1 to 1 1/2 inch slices.

Place on cooking sheet.

Brush with a good olive oil (I used a garlic one) both sides.

Salt and pepper.

Bake for 30-40 minutes.

Eat.

Enjoy.

We had it as a 'side dish' with beef stew.

It was very tasty.

Thursday

It always seems to be Thursday!

Not that there is anything wrong with Thursdays, mind you.

But, it seems that every time I think about what day it is,

you see when you are retired, it never seems to matter what each day is,

it is always Thursday.

Maybe my internal clock runs on a seven day cycle.

Who knows?

Does this happen to you?

Do you have a special time during the day or week or month

that works best for you?

Whatever day it is, I look forward to other springlike days like yesterday.

Meltdown......

Oh, not THAT kind of meltdown!

A climatic meltdown is happening here in Nova Scotia.

It was +9C today and heavy rain is expected for the next 24 hours.

Since the ground has been frozen for a couple of months,

where is all this water going to go?

That is the question.

Last year this time we were in the middle of a two month ice freeze.

Will this happen again this year?

We will have to sit tight and wait.

It was so nice to not have to bundle up yesterday

 when we were down at the beach.

Just another 'first world problem' I am contemplating.

This is water on top of an icy Lawrencetown Lake across from the beach.

Contemplative Monday

'This moment is full of wonders.'

.....Thich Nhat Hanh

Eclectic Tastes

Hockey is HUGE in Canada!
Everybody plays some form of hockey here.
I am serious....everybody!!

Here's a fun piece to lighten up your day.
Have a wonderful Valentine's Day.

Saturday Morning Post

Staying warm this week........bundling up.....

A 'new' vintage quilt at the shop.......

Cracked ice at Lake Banook.....

Ron and Sophie heading down 'leash on' trail at the park.

SOOC (straight out of camera) photo of snow on shore and ice on lake.

He shoots, he scores!!

The MacDonald House from the back......my shop is on second floor/left corner.

A seldom used 'boat launch' at the park in Halifax.

A brief thaw last week.....

Yesterday we met up with our niece, Brynn, (my sister Mim's daughter)

and her 'new' puppy, Tucker, little brother to her other dog, Ace.

It is not unusual to see a seal basking on this rock in the sun at low tide.

A Blanket of Quiet

Yesterday we had the park all to ourselves, almost......

with the exception of a few dogs and their humans.

Everything is covered in snow which gives a quietness to the park.

Except for a splash of colour here and there,

we get to see the skeletons of the trees in all their grandeur. 

Winter.....Can Take It, Or Leave It?

If you had a choice, would you live in a country that didn't have winter,

I mean a 'real' winter?

My response would be no.

I can't imagine a year go by without one......just makes sense to me.

Before The Storm

Monday morning at the beach before the storm.

It's February here in Nova Scotia.

As far back as I can remember,

 February is usually the stormiest month in winter.

On the boardwalk at the beach Monday morning.

Presently, being 8 PM Monday evening as I write this,

we are getting a wild Nor'easter with lots of snow.

We were warned two days ago that this was the one to watch.

And I believe they were correct.

Already shoveled/pushed 6 inches off the side and back decks and the car.

Will do it again at 10 PM.

That way not as much in morning to deal with.

Good thing that the snow is very light due to low temperature,

makes it very easy to move.

Will post a few photos in the morning here:

After the storm......

Posted 11:40 AM today:

There was over a foot of snow last night.

The 'plow guy' was here at 7 AM.

Road heading to the beaches....

.......the other way heading towards town.

Sophie lending her supervisory expertise.....she approved!!

Very wintery around here.....

Dispersing good thoughts over the neighbourhood.