Bring it on!

It's New Years Eve - actually, it's already 2009 in Australia - and we're getting ready to settle down for a relaxing evening with a nice fire, some sweet treats and something interesting on TV. We're more relaxed today than previous days because we are now fully equipped for the coming storm. Yes, there's a big storm coming on this of all nights - 25 cm of snow, apparently, beginning at 7 pm.

We're relaxed because we are now ready to plow in record time with our new snowblower. So go ahead. Snow all you want (within reason) and we'll be up and down the driveway in no time. Muhaaaahaah!

Merry Christmas!

The turkey is prepped and stuffed for its day in the heat of the oven. The wind is whistling away outside and the rain yesterday has melted a good portion of the white christmas that fell over the last week or so. The fire is going, and logan is snoozing at our feet.

Ah, peace on earth.

Xmas is on its way

Our neighbours have put up the lights and the street looks very festive. Of course, with only a handful of houses around you can travel a bit before seeing the colourful display - in fact, when I went out to take shots of a couple of the houses I thought they had turned them off for the night, until I got close enough.

And...coming soon...

"Oh the weather outside is frightful..."

The Great Lakes have a long reach when it comes to weather.

Weather you like it or not

Okay, so now the temperature has gone way up to a balmy 17C, with the forecast for Xmas day a mild 7C. No snow. Lots of wind and rain, but no snow. No snow until after the 30th, hopefully. And as of the 30th we won't care (as much) because we'll have a snowblower to help us dig out of the mess.

As for xmas plans, we're slowly getting things together and getting ready for the festive season. Lots of specials to watch between now, and since the season for new episodes is almost at an end until January we're got lots of new release movies to fill our screen time. So snow or no snow we'll be relaxing in the evenings throughout the holiday season.

The temperature is dropping again,but no more snow

...yet.

Spent the afternoon yesterday sorting wood - 5 cords is a bit of wood to pile and shift around to make sure there's always some ready to burn. It was a nice day to be out doing wood work, and Logan seemed to enjoy it - he was wearing his ear muffs to stay warm, obviously, because when I called him he couldn't seem to hear me. Took a while to get him in a couple of times, and once I realized that there was a porcupine out there I kept him close or indoors.

Did some sifting through unused photos and played around with some styles that would make them interesting. The image here is of the moon over the trees in the back on a fall day, turned all funky-like.

Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom

And now my assistant will wrestle this porcupine to the ground for the enjoyment of all of our viewers - NOT!

I tried to stay very quiet, and moved very slowly when I was approaching this little, or not so little, fellow who was dining on some green leafy bits in the field next to us. I don't even think he noticed me, but at any rate he didn't turn his back to me and fire off a barrage of quills - thank goodness!

The first snowfall of the season has arrived

It began yesterday in the middle of the afternoon. It came with minimal warning, reports of 1-3 cm being the word of the day. It turned into a road clogging, mind boggling drop of chilly white stuff more in the order of a foot. The trip from Halifax, which normally takes 40 minutes took over 6 hours. Yes, 6 hours. Cars, trucks - even the tow trucks sent to help clear the road - were getting stuck in ditches and on grades. A 2.5 hour wait for a section 5 minutes from home to be cleared added to the fun.

Logan, as usual, is loving every minute of play time jumping through the drifts. He is truly a snow dog.

We have lots of wood in the house - Jeannette spent the day yesterday shoveling and hauling supplies into the house from the garage once she realized that the snow flurries were actually more like snow balls.

hurray for winter

You will be missed

Over the last few weeks there have been 2 people who were remarkable in their own ways pass on from this world. Each woman was remarkable in their view of life and their desire to live it to the fullest.

Dianne, a person I've known since high school, was someone who lived her near 5 decades doing what she loved - teaching, scuba diving, and never afraid to take on a new challenge. Those who knew her well will miss her sense of humour and adventure. Though I was not close to Dianne, she was someone who was always a part of the lives of my close friends, and I saw the impact that she had on them, and she was always very warm and welcoming to me whenever I saw her. I know that she will be sadly missed by many.

My great aunt once described how she had white water rafted when she was in her late 70s. She then pulled a photo from a box of pictures showing her in the bow of a raft riding down a surging river. This was just one of the many adventures that she has taken during her long and exciting life. She was a truly remarkable woman who has been a wonderful part of the lives of all of the members of my family. The memory of her stories and her smile will bring warmth to my heart always, and I will sadly miss tea with her on my future visits to the UK.

Duck season. Rabbit season. Duck season.

Lake Uniacke has a group of about 10 ducks living on its shores and paddling about its waters. They are not entirely used to company, which means that they don't come rushing over expecting chunks of day old bread - a nice change from the Canada Geese in Toronto.

These ducks put on a great display of wing work in the late afternoon sun.

Winter is coming

As the temperature begins to sink as quick as the setting sun we are preparing for another winter. Lots of wood, insulation, and warm blankets are the order of the day, as is lining up those hobbies that will tide us over. Bringing photography indoors is going to keep me busy while Jeannette solves Sudoku problems to the sound of a crackling fire.

You might remember me

A long time ago we told you about a field far far away (from most of you) where some horses and a donkey live. The donkey's name is Zoe, and she hangs out with the, much larger, horses. We were of the understanding that Zoe was there to keep the horses company - so the story went. Recently, however, we have been told that donkeys are more like body guards, able to ward off attacks from various predators (cougars, lynx, bears?). Not sure which is true, if either, but Zoe looks like quite a bruiser, doesn't she?

The majesty of horses in the early morning

Okay, I was heading to work and couldn't resist stopping and taking the opportunity to spend some time with the horses at Boulderwood Stables. The sun was just right, and when they started to run (not sure why, but suddenly they all took off to the other side of the field) it was an awesome sight.

Our own white cliffs of Dover

In an area full of green grass, tall trees, and rich earth we have an area of white rock that rises from the earth as though something forced it up from the ground below. It stands out from the surrounding countryside and makes for a nice contrast to the darker vegetation that frames it.

Like a bridge over...a road...with no road

We have a few of these bridges running beside the 101 between exit 4 and Windsor. It's interesting to see finished bridges with no road attached at either end. The work has begun on linking them up, so stay tuned for construction developments.

He does love visitors

When Martha dropped by for a visit yesterday it got Logan jumping for joy. Of course, anyone who visits knows that Logan is a wee bit excitable when it comes to visitors. He does love to get attention, and if you spend some time giving him a belly rub he'll be yours forever.

We do love our big softy of a dog.

Just 10 minutes away - heaven

There's a 4 foot wide path that leads from Murphy Lake to Uniacke Lake/Lake Martha that has all of the peace and quiet you could want. Walking along the Drumlin Field Trail you'd never know you were only a short walk from Highway 1 passing through Mount Uniacke. Once you get to Lake Uniacke you forget all about highways and gas stations. The water is clear, the ducks paddle about, and the trees and vegetation smell fresh and crisp. The trail leads to more trails, like the Wetlands Trail - just 2.5 km from the where the trail loops back. Or the Old Windsor-Halifax Road, called the Post Road Trail.

Nice place to visit, and hey, we live here!

Almost mist it

Traveling into Halifax this morning there was a misty moment on the 101 that I haven't seen for a while - not since the weather turned cold last year, actually. With the lake on both sides of the highway it made for a perfect opportunity to have a shroud of fog/mist passing through the low-lying area. Clear before and clear after, but in the dip, "where'd everybody go?"

Shortly after I stopped to take these pics the mist broke up and the road returned to normal again. 5 minutes later and I'd have had to talk about the near frost and 4C lows at night. Luckily, I don't have to do that.

The fall exhibition season has begun

The folks in Windsor are whooping it up this weekend and will be again next weekend. There are horse events, go karts, games where you try to win stuffed animals, and amusement rides that try to cause your stomach to release its hold on the cotton candy that you just wolfed down in line.

The summer is truly over. Fall is the best season of the year, though, so there's lots to look forward to.

Taking advantage of a nice night

Today was beautiful, with the night being warm, with just the right number of clouds to make the sky interesting. With the impending visit by Hanna this weekend (Sunday is supposed to be the worst) we're enjoying it while we can.

Bay of Fundy, as promised

I neglected to post a photo of the Basin/Bay of Fundy the other day, so here are a couple of shots from my travels around Hantsport. It's beautiful countryside with colours that need to be seen to be truly appreciated.

We've been here long enough for updates

So...it's been a year now (almost a year for me, but a year for Jeannette, Logan, and Gizmo). In that year lots has happened - you can review the blog to get the general idea, and with respect to winter just remember the word SNOW and you'll fill in the gap of entries there.

One of the things that caught our eye was the old textile mill condo project in Windsor. It's been going on for a while now, and most people are still curious about its progress. Here is a shot taken just yesterday - not sure what it means in terms of progress, but here it is.

Waiting for a brand new season

With the easing of the rain and cloudy weather we've had some nice sunsets the last few days. Having had the opportunity to get down to the shore of the Bay of Fundy at Hantsport, and to wander around Windsor I've seen some pretty incredible scenery and architecture (as well as some ducks paddling about in a pond in Windsor).

The fall was beautiful last year, and we're looking forward to a another feast of treats and colours.

Things are heating up...again

The sun's out and the living is easy again. Temperatures are back up into the mid 20s and the bees are feverishly buzzing. Actually, the bees are quite feverish in their pursuits now, compared to earlier this summer when they would lazily wander from flower to flower. I wonder if they know something that we don't? Probably.

The temperature is now the issue of the day

While we've been getting some rain - well, lots of rain actually - it all started when summer was still in full bloom and the temperature was quite nice. Now, after weeks of grey skies and abundant moisture we're getting daytime highs of 17C and lows that make it possible to see a hint of your breath as the sun sets.

Thinking back on last year at this time it was very similar then, and as September came the temperature went back up and the fall was awesome.

Then...the winter came. Brrrr.

What's that orange thing in the sky?

Well, the sun finally made an appearance this afternoon, and with it came an artistic inspiration. After too may days to count of rain we hope to begin the slow process of drying out this weekend. The grass needs cutting, the bbq needs some serious grilling attention, and we need some vitamin D.

We hear, and read, that to the west of us they have been having the wettest summer on record. It seems kind of strange to think that we moved to what is supposed to be a wet province, only to wait until nearly August to have a rainy spell that would make us think that there was never going to any sun again. In the meantime, in our old city of habitation they were searching for manhole covers that had gotten swept away in the heavy rain. Makes you go hmmm, don't it. Well, it does for us.

Hmmm.

BTW - since we're not on the subject of the Olympics, isn't it interesting that Team Canada is emphasizing that they keep breaking Canadian records, yet nary a medal to be worn. Now personally I think anyone who can make it to the Olympics is worthy of a good pat on the back and a hearty "well done", but doesn't it say that perhaps the Canadian standard is not quite an international winner? If I beat everyone in my neighbourhood at something, and then go on to compete against your neighbourhood and you beat me everytime, doesn't that mean that my neighbourhood is a little less competitive than yours?

Since the Olympics are supposed to be so important to the national sports psyche shouldn't we be focused on how we're doing there, rather than how we compare to how we've done against our own? They are doing well, not winning medals, but definitely showing well against the rest of the world - 4th and 5th in the world is pretty damn good - but wouldn't it be better to focus on that rather how what they're focusing on?

Taking holidays in August?

You might think twice about it next year. The weather has been beautiful all summer long, except for the last week or so, and it seems that the trend is likely to continue. Cooler weather, and a fair bit of rain have made it feel more like fall than summer.

Now I remember late August being somewhat suspect when it came to weather in years gone by. Back when a last summer camping trip was planned, for instance. Tents, coolers, frisbees, and late August scream out for rain, don't they? But late July/Early August? Hurricane season isn't supposed to start until September.

Logan has been kind of bummed by the weather too. While he does get a bit hot in the full-on June/July sun, he still loves to be outside. When it rains he stands on the porch with a 'but...but...but' look on his face.

Here's hoping that some nice weather comes soon for those who have waited all this time for a bit of fun to ring out the hot weather.

Oh, and there is some blue sky up there still. I saw it this afternoon.

Congratulations to Christa and Brian

On Friday Christa, Jeannette's niece, and Brian tied the knot surrounded by family and friends. Later, more well wishers joined them on Lake Loon for a reception at the RCL #160.

Congratulations, and all the best in your new life together.

Remember me?

Logan tends to get the lion's share of the attention here on the blog. This is partly due to the fact that he's outside doing things that are photo-worthy, at least in my opinion - you are free to disagree, of course.

From time to time though we do see Gizmo, and occasionally I even have the camera out. So here he is in all of his glory. He did try to rub the front of the lens, which could have been messy, but he was quite willing to settle down and pose for a few snapshots.

He now splits his time between his upstairs pad and hanging with us watching TV in the living room, sitting in the sunroom, or lying on the lounger in the den.

He and Logan get along very well. When Logan licks his head he leans into it, appreciating every slobbery moment. We fully expect to come one day and find them curled up together on the couch.

Somewhere over the rainbow

Our rainy season continues, with a good thunder storm that had Logan following me everywhere yesterday. He isn't quite as fascinated by the whole storm experience as I am.

It was good fortune that the storm stayed away while Cheryl, Dany, Genevieve, and Zoe were here on Monday night. We did have some rain in the morning, but by the time they arrived for the overnight stay it had cleared up and we were able to sit on the porch and enjoy the evening.

The weather today is pretty variable, with the sun coming out for a short spells. We're heading into Dartmouth this afternoon for some shopping and to catch a movie. It's a big day for us, what with a trip to the city and a movie theatre as well.

And so it begins

Hurricane season has started, and with it the first Tropical Storm/Depression/Heavy Rain Maker named Cristobal has been and gone. Cristobal dumped quite a bit of the moist stuff on the southern part of the province, with a little of the edge ending up in our yard.

This is just the beginning, as Dolly makes her way through Texas, followed by Ephrem, Felicity, Greco, Happytoberainingonyourparade. Where do they come up with these names?

Cloudy today - it's supposed to be iffy weather wise all week - but mild. Let's hope for nice weather next week, because we're off and want to enjoy it with Cheryl and Danis, and then Christa, Brian, et al.

Birthday pics - thanks to Sarah and Sharon

Since I was the man without the camera on Friday, camera duties were undertaken by Sarah and Sharon. Thanks to them both for the above highlights from the evening.

Travelling to the tourist hotspots

Peter is here for one more day, so we decided to do the touristy thing and go to Peggy's Cove. The weather was cloudy, but the rain stayed away following an early morning shower that made us feel that maybe the trip wasn't such a good idea after all. It turned out that it was.

We visited the SwissAir Flight 111 memorial, and then moved on Peggy's Cove proper. You can actually see one from the other. This being the 10th anniversary of the crash I'm sure there will plenty of people visiting the site this summer to pay their respects.

Peggy's Cove is a small village with a few houses and businesses on the ocean. The lighthouse is definitely the landmark that most people gravitate towards, but the rocks that form the coast itself are really the reason to visit. It is a beautiful piece of the coastline, and well worth throwing on a pair of comfortable running shoes/hiking shoes and wandering the various slopes to get a new vantage point.

BTW - for those of you waiting for pictures of Jeannette's 40th - tune in later this week.