Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Playing with feathers

I collected feathers from our yard this summer, and finally took some photos of them on the weekend. I was "in the zone" when taking these photographs, and didn't even realize my husband was standing behind me for several minutes at one point. I played with the photos on the computer a bit, and here are the results.
A Fine Mess

Blue Jay Allsorts

Breaking Free

Delicate

Different

Five

Light as a Feather

Skeleton

Monday, October 24, 2016

Heading South

Published in the Chronicle Herald (The Nova Scotian) - October 24, 2016
Many people of a certain age start thinking about heading south at this time of year. My husband and I decided to jump on the band wagon, but instead of going south to Florida or Arizona or some such place we decided to head south towards Yarmouth.

We had been planning a trip to south western Nova Scotia for quite some time. Our original plan was to take the fast route down highway 103 to Yarmouth, and then head back towards home along the Lighthouse Route on the coast. 

Its always good to add a bit of change to your routine, so we changed our route at the last minute and decided to drive a counter clockwise loop around the south western part of the province.

First we headed cross country on Highway 8, a great time of year to admire the changing colours in the trees. We turned off Highway 8 and headed a short distance along Highway 101 until we reached Weymouth, where we slowed down and took the scenic route along Highway 1. There are many interesting things to see along the way, but we decided our first stop would involve letting our dogs get a good run. We rarely daytrip without our dogs as our traveling companions, and that influences our activities.
Low tide at Mavillette Beach exposes the sand flats of the 1.5 kilometre beach and makes a great walk. Sand dunes with waving grasses and distant bluffs add to the picturesque setting.
We had visited Cape St. Marys before but had never walked the shores of Mavillette Beach Provincial Park, so decided on that as our destination. Luck is usually with us when we travel, and we arrived at low tide which exposed the sand flats of the 1.5 kilometre long sandy beach. A boardwalk took us over the dunes and into our version of heaven. When we arrived there was only one other person at the other end of the beach and we let our dogs loose to run and blow off some steam. Only dog lovers will appreciate this, but I love watching the joy on their faces when they get to run free. We marveled at the ripples in the sand which held patches of water left from the receding tide. High tide would make a much smaller beach, but time was on our side and it was a beautiful day for a beach walk.
only dog lovers can relate - but I love the joy I see on our dogs' faces when they get to run free
It was already two oclock and we hadnt yet stopped for lunch so we headed back to the car and back on the road. Our next planned destination was Cape Forchu but we stopped in Yarmouth for a bite to eat first. I wonder what it says about us that being adventurous meant we ordered lobster macaroni and cheese? The generous portion made me want to stay and relax, sit and gaze out the window at the boats on the waterfront. But it was getting late in the day, and we still had places to go and sight seeing to do.
Traveling with dogs is a bit more challenging, but there are many benches to rest on and informative signs along the Leif Erikson Trail at Cape Forchu.
We headed to visit the lighthouse on Cape Fourchu and walk the Leif Erikson Trail. Informative signs are a resource for tourists as well as Nova Scotians like us who have not grown up in a fishing environment. Walking along the well groomed paths, you can look out from the Southwestern shore of Nova Scotia to the waters where fishing boats have passed for over two hundred years. Information and photos about geological formations, tidal pools, nearby islands, and more is readily available on signage along the trail.
The unique lighthouse at Cape Forchu is called the “apple core light” because its shape is thought to resemble an apple core. Built in 1962, it replaced the original timber building from 1839.
A lighthouse has been at Cape Forchu since 1840, but the current "apple core" structure was built in 1962. The museum and gift shop are only open during tourist season, so we didnt get a chance to see inside the structure at the Lightstation. The good thing about traveling in off season is that there are fewer people around. The bad thing about off season is that a lot of restaurants and facilities are closed. But that doesnt hamper enjoyment for daytrippers like us.

On the road again, we headed back through Yarmouth. Our original plan for our daytrip was to explore the town but it was already five oclock, too late for many of the downtown stores, so we plan on doing that another day. Instead we took a little drive down to Pinkneys Point, a fishing community of approximately 300 people that we hadnt been to before. It is almost an island, but is connected by a road and breakwater that travels through the salt marshes. By this time the sun was very low in the sky. 
Pinkneys Point is almost an island, but is connected by a 2 kilometre stretch of road winding through large salt water marshes. The setting sun reflects beautifully off the patches of open water.
The hobby of photography is satisfying no matter what subject matter appeals to you, and no two photographers see things the same way. My husband is not a photographer, but that doesnt stop him from having opinions on what would make a good picture. He was surprised when I wanted to hop out of the car to capture an image of a wharf in disrepair, and astonished when I wasnt interested in waiting to take a photo of the marshes when the sun set. 

It was getting dark, and time to head back home from our trip south. There are many more places to see, roads to explore, and things to photograph. But that will be a focus for another day.

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Watch where you walk

published in the South Shore Breaker - October 19, 2016
We all know by now that walking is good for us, but where we walk matters too. According to an online article I read recently, students who strolled through an arboretum improved their performance on a memory test more than students who walked along city streets. 


So how does walking in nature affect aging brains? Do our memories improve as well? I certainly hope so! 


Thanks to two of my friends, I seem to have added hiking on trails to my walking excursions. Nothing strenuous, mind you. I consider my hiking the same as walking, but in a beautiful environment. I'd like to tell you about two of my recent trail adventures, both quite different in location and accessibility, but each beautiful in their own way.

In mid September, my husband and I took a  drive to Kejimkujik National Park on Highway 8 in central Nova Scotia. On our way to the Park, we stopped in Caledonia at the Hollow Log CafĂ© for a late lunch. Perhaps eating a bowl full of chili and more than my share of a piece of peanut butter pie wasn't the wisest move before attempting a long hike, but it sure tasted good. 


A short drive from the restaurant, and we arrived at our destination. Admission cost the two of us less than twelve dollars, and the trail we were after was just a few kilometres into the Park. Most of the drive was on a well paved road but the last couple of kilometres was on a very narrow gravel road, just wide enough for one vehicle. The roads are not maintained after the Park closes in mid October, so your walk could be a lot longer during the winter months if you are without four wheel drive.
The Hemlocks and Hardwoods trail is made up of a well groomed trail and a long boardwalk. Visitors are asked to keep on the boardwalk to protect the fragile roots of the hemlock trees.
Hemlocks and Hardwoods is a very well maintained trail, and easy walking. The trail is five kilometres long, but after a heavy lunch it seemed a lot longer. Hiking time is listed as one hour, but if you're like me and carry a camera that one hour walk can easily turn into double the time. Much of the trail is on boardwalk to keep people from damaging the forest floor and sensitive roots of the hemlock trees and makes walking easy peasy for people who are not hardy hikers. Informative signs along the way explain the different stages of the forest, which I'm sure are especially appreciated by city and town folks like me.
This eastern hemlock is estimated to be 400 years old, with nearby trees at least 275 years old.  Trees like this are becoming increasingly rare in Nova Scotia, but are protected in Kejimkujik National Park.
According to one of those signs, an eastern hemlock in the old growth forest is the largest tree in the stand and is estimated to be 400 years old. Six nearby hemlocks are at least 275 years old. We sat on the nearby bench for a while just listening to the silence in wonderment at the specimens. It makes my heart ache to think how scarce old growth forests have become.
This hemlock started growing in a thin cover of moss on top of the boulder. Its roots reached over the edge and into the ground.  The tree clings to life because people have damaged the roots by climbing on the rock.
We left the Park wondering why it had taken us eight years to visit. It is truly a gem that more people should experience.

My latest hiking adventure was just as magical, but much different. Two friends and I headed to Micou's Island, a 22 acre tidal island located on Indian Point, just a short distance from our famous Peggy's Cove. 


Food is always an important consideration for me, and the three of us met at the White Sails Bakery and Deli to stock up with goodies to take with us to the trails. It was a little surprising to me that the bakery staff hadn't heard of where we were headed, literally just minutes down the road. Just an example of how our province needs to work better at promoting our natural resources. 
Micou's Island is on Indian Point, just a short distance from our famous Peggy's Cove. It is a tidal island, which requires planning to arrive within a couple hours before low tide to ensure your feet don't get wet while crossing.
The Micou family purchased the island in the 1930's, hence the name. In 2007, the property was bought after a community fundraising campaign and is managed jointly by the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and the St. Margaret's Bay Stewardship Association. There is a restored cottage on the island, as well as a beach and two trails that are not actively maintained. It's important to watch your feet for rocks and roots along the ground as well as your head for fallen trees that are across the narrow paths. The trails aren't well marked and we found ourselves wandering a couple of times, so turned back to walk along the island's coast.
The Sandy Beach Trail on Micou's Island meanders around the coast and through the edge of the woods of the 22 acre island.
We found some large rocks by the shore, and ate our bakery sandwiches and carrot cake by the water listening to the shore birds and waves. Could life get better than this? 


The hike around the 22 acre island was beautiful. Along the shore, through the trees, there was lots to look at and enjoy. We started our venture about 2 hours before low tide to ensure we could walk across to the island without getting our feet wet, and we had lots of time to explore as well as sit and relax and just take in the views. 


Did you know you can be trendy just by taking a walk in the woods? A Japanese practice called Shinrin-yoku has become popular world wide. By "forest bathing" you can become more healthy, both physically and mentally. And that's something good to focus on.


Monday, October 10, 2016

Fabulous Fall

published in the Chronicle Herald - October 10, 2016
Theres something about the smell of the air in the fall that sets it apart from the other seasons. There is an underlying coolness, a crispness in the evenings that is a welcome respite after the summer heat. 

This summer was especially difficult for our gardens and for people living with wells. I know quite a few people who are still struggling with a lack of water, and it makes me thankful yet again for our decision to move from our country property into town.

But one thing our town property doesnt have is apple trees. Our former property was blessed with lots of trees. According to our neighbours, some of the trees were well over 100 years old. Over the years we lived there, we discovered that some of the apples were better than others. The deer and the porcupines weren't choosy, though, and cleaned up all of the drop apples for us.
four of the apple varieties from the trees on our former property
The trees werent like the orchard trees that are planted now. They reached quite a height, and I would have needed a very tall ladder to reach the apples at the top of the trees. I was content with picking what I could reach, and leaving the rest for the deer and other wildlife.
the apple peeler from Lee Valley Tools made peeling a bucket of apples a lot easier
We purchased a hand crank apple peeler with adjustable blades from Lee Valley Tools, a handy gadget that made peeling hundreds of apples a much easier task. I froze many bags of apples to use for apple crisps over the winter months. Mmmm...the scent of apples and cinnamon and nutmeg baking are some of the scents I associate with the colder months. I never did learn to make pie crusts. My moms home made pies are one of the things I really miss from my childhood. She died when I was quite young, taking her baking secrets with her.

One year, I decided to try making batches of apple sauce. A novice, I added too much water and the sauce ended up being somewhere between a thick cider or a very thin sauce. Not my best homesteading experiment. I shared a jar with our neighbours, which Im sure gave them a few chuckles about the city folk next door.
my first batch of apple sauce from our own apples - a little bit runny!
My dreams about bountiful vegetable gardens and a full root cellar never came to fruition. I was thankful for farmers markets and food stands at the fall craft markets to obtain wonderful jams, pickles and relishes. Home made goodness captured in jars.

We always had a supply of squash. Never planted, but grown from seeds in our compost pile. Im happy to say that tradition has followed us to our home in town. Spreading our compost on our gardens this spring resulted in several acorn squash vines growing, and as I write this we have at least seven squash waiting to be picked. A meager result by some standards, but enough to keep this gardeners heart happy. Split in half and roasted with a dab of butter and maple syrup, squash is one of my favourite vegetables.

Another thing Ill miss this fall about our home in the country is the wood burning stove. I do enjoy our new propane fireplace, but turning on a switch to light the fire isnt quite the same. The smell of the burning wood, and the crackling of the fire gives me such a feeling of comfort. It brings me back to my childhood home, reading in front of the fireplace on the weekends. My husband always grumbled about hauling the wood and cleaning the ashes but I felt it was a small price to pay, especially since he was the one doing it. I learned to be an expert at building and lighting the fires, which was a far cry from the first fires we built. Our first fire ended up in opened windows and the smell of smoke that we couldn't get rid of for days. Our next attempts had the fire burning so hot it was an understatement to call them roaring. But we learned over time and enjoyed many years of a softly glowing fire, a welcoming sight and smell.

Fall brings comfort foods back on our menus. Home made stews, soups and chili, hearty pastas, fresh baked bread and biscuits. As winter wears on I'll be longing for our days of summer barbecues, but for now I am looking forward to the change in menu as well as the change in season. A new season always brings something good to focus on.

Monday, October 3, 2016

A Personal Story About Cancer

published in the Chronicle Herald - Oct 3, 2016 and South Shore Breaker - Oct 5, 2016

Imagine your worst personal nightmare. Now imagine it came true. How would you react and what would you do? The answers may surprise you.
 
When I was a young and naive eighteen year old, I attended a one week training assignment with a bank in Toronto. While I was away from home, I received a phone call from my dad telling me that my mom had been diagnosed with breast cancer and would be undergoing surgery the next day. The following day I was feeling quite ill while I was on my training course, and was sent to a doctor. It turned out that I had chicken pox and was sent home on a two hour taxi ride because I was contagious and couldnt travel on public transit.
 
Because of my chicken pox, I wasnt able to visit my mom in the hospital and had to stay away from her for a short time after she returned home. Looking back, I think we were forced to stay away from each other at a time when we probably needed each other the most. Treatments werent as good thirty five years ago, and my mom died just three years later, when I was 21.
 
Losing my mother at a young age impacted me in ways I never gave myself time to deal with. She was a fantastic cook and baker, but I didnt get a chance to spend time in the kitchen with her and learn how to make her specialties. It has been almost 40 years since I tasted pie as good as she used to make.
 
I never got a chance to talk with her about life, woman to woman. She wasnt there to give me advice when my son was born, or when my marriage fell apart. She wasnt there to celebrate with me when I found my true partner and got married quietly at home. I wasnt able to talk with her about the challenges of aging. There is a huge hole in my heart that never got filled.

Then my biggest nightmare came true. When I was 49, a spot was found on my mammogram. Surgery was required, and I found myself sitting in the surgeons office a couple of weeks later hearing the results. I had breast cancer. Numbly, I asked the doctor if we could call my husband into the room. We heard the details together and, not knowing what else to do once we left the doctors office, kept our plans to go grocery shopping and walked around the store in a daze.
After diagnosis, everyone's personal journey is different. My experience was not a fight or a battle, but a quiet acceptance and determination to do everything I could to help myself.
Being diagnosed with cancer is a scary thing and everyones personal journey is different. Emotional stages can include denial or shock, anger, stress or depression, fear, acceptance, and fight and hope. Friends and family may surprise you. Some people who you expect to be solid support are no help at all. And some people who you barely know might turn out to be the best support system you have.

Since my mother died of breast cancer when I was young, and my maternal grandmother also died of breast cancer years before I was born, the doctors were dedicated in screening me from an early age. We thought we may have to face my worst nightmare and we prepared ourselves. For this reason, someone close to me told me that I had brought the cancer on myself by thinking about it. What a devastating comment to make. I will never forget that conversation, and I try to choose my words very carefully when someone tells me about an illness they are facing.

Conversely, someone I had only met briefly contacted me and offered to meet with me. She invited me into her home and told me her personal story. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer and passed along her experiences and advice to me, something she had no obligation to do. Her kindness and information helped me prepare for the unknown. We all have different experiences, but talking to someone who has gone through something similar is very helpful.

Lots of people don
t visit the doctor when something changes or seems wrong. Many women dont have mammograms because they think it will hurt, or they dont have time, or for a variety of other reasons. My advice is to suck it up and be brave. A few moments of discomfort just might save your life.
After I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I felt it was important to stay positive. I used my photography and writing skills to put together inspirational images.
I faced my worst fear and the world didnt end. I couldnt control the disease, but I could control my reaction to it. My experience wasnt a fight or a battle, it was an acceptance and determination to do everything I could to help myself. I had the support of family and friends. I faced surgery, radiation treatments, and went through five years of drug therapy.  I try to believe in the positive and treasure each day. That is truly something good to focus on.