Jul 30, 2021 | Flotsam
So here we are on our third ‘camping’ outing of the season, but this time we left the home on wheels turtle life behind for a family weekend in a rustic cabin in the Annapolis Valley.
We have become accustomed to having everything we need close at hand in RED II, and it felt very inconvenient having to pack personal needs and food for meals in the car. To date we have lived in our camper since mid-May so we felt slightly out of our element deciding what to take and leaving her behind parked sadly in our yard.
The Athabaska
Once arriving and settling in though it had the makings of a most wonderful memorable long weekend with nothing to do but relax and enjoy the fabulous weather.
#18
And because of that fabulous weather we spent the entire time outdoors…..
Canoeing
Exploring
SUP’ing
Hockey-ing
Evening activities were centred around shared meals and catching up on family news…
Conversing
Camp fires were lit (wet wood meant toilet paper starters)…
Camp Firing
Marshmallows were toasted…
Roasting
….and eaten in great quanties…
Marshmallow Eating
Once the weekend was over my family from away came home for one more day of visiting. Papa gave a guided tour of his prized garden while providing details of our local feathered friends.
Exploring
We don’t have a lot of visitors in our little camper so it was especially nice having an enthusiastic guest.
Camper Visiting
Our next camping reservation was supposed to have been next week but for now will be staying close to home….VERY close to home. F was out on a cycling expedition with friends the other day and had a wee accident…broken clavicle, cracked ribs is all…and maybe a bruised ego. For now we are on a self-imposed holiday. Camping and so many other things will have to take a back seat while ‘we’ heal.
My French Patient
We have reservations for activities next month but that will depend on if’s, when’s and what’s. As you can see, ‘adventures’ don’t end for us just because we are no longer on the water. Back soon for an update…
…peace and love…
Feb 2, 2021 | Flotsam
“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”~ Albert Camus
I got to thinking that I should post pictures of snow for you, at the same time bring you all up to date. We brag to friends and family from away, especially those who are now up to more than their ankles in snow and frigid temperatures, that the heavy part of winter usually passes us by. But in truth we do get the occasional snow fall. That eight to nine inches that descended the other day wasn’t a lot in the grand scheme of things but we treasure these days knowing that they won’t last. They feel cozy and insulating. I pulled out my book du jour, lit a fire, donned my woollen socks and sweater and cocooned for a few hours. That container of veggie chilli and whole wheat rolls that I made last month and stashed away in the basement freezer made the perfect supper.
Duck Pond is frozen over now and in the morning the ever-growing flock arrives to grab whatever seeds fall from the bird feeders or what morsels of plant life remain poking through the blanket of white.
Duck Sanctuary
We have noticed some pairing off lately and now have our favourite couple-of- the-year. A male and female we call André and Béatrice, both mallards of pure looking lines. He is never far from her side, makes a point of discouraging suiters and quite often we see him guarding her while she forages for food. As they aren’t a part of our ‘regulars’ they are more cautious, so it’s been difficult to capture a decent picture of just them but we have hopes that in spring they will bless us with a new crop of ducklings.
Béatrice et André
Every so often I venture outside to our cold frame garden to harvest some greens. It wasn’t the huge success I was hoping for but we’ll make modifications another year experimenting with different crops and the structure gives us additional space when spring comes to get seedlings going.
Cold Frame Greens
Francois has had a lot of success with the lettuce seeds I planted indoors. With super grow lights and heating mats in the basement for his ‘special’ plants, my greens have flourished. Until my cold-framing improves I’ll have to be thankful for clippings of those and from my kitchen jar sprouting.
Kitchen Sprouts
We left our Christmas tree up on our outside deck because it acts as a shelter for the small birds, most welcome I’m sure during the last storm with high winds and horizontal snow fall.
Bird Sanctuary
Our little RED by the Sea has become picture perfect with this new layer of white stuff. We know if won’t last because rain and warmer temperatures are forecast for tomorrow but from time to time we can enjoy these little gifts without it dragging us down, aching for spring thaw.
Our Sanctuary
To celebrate my son-in-law’s birthday, my daughter booked us into a local hotel, a kind of staycation for us, a treat for the wildlings and an overnight reprieve for the sleep deprived parents. During the pandemic the hotel even made accommodation for pool usage. Water time booked for an hour with limited numbers, a warm shower, then by the time we were back to the room, dinner was dispatched and left touch-less at our room door thanks to the Skip the Dishes delivery service. It was all very magical until Wildling #1 decided to call 911 unbeknownst to us. I’m not sure whether the ensuing police visit and lecture from the uniformed officer was a reward or deterrent but it did add a touch of spice to the day.
Pizza Picnic
A mighty ‘noreaster’ blew through the other day but we were ready for her. Several months ago we had our little home by the sea wired to accommodate a permanent generator. It was all a part of F’s ‘emergency preparedness’ plan….because that’s what he does so well. Prepares for the worst. Hopes for the best. So since then we’ve been ‘hoping’ for the ‘best’ possible storm. We’re like that. (loving our storms by the sea). And Momma Nature didn’t disappoint. By dawn one morning we found ourselves in the dark and a little chilly…but this time, with a flick of a panel switch…voilà!…we had coffee and warmth. And a big plus…and probably right up there with the warmth and coffee or at least a very close third place – we can flush the toilet, guilt free. Tee hee!! It’s the simple things you know. No beer or storm chips in the pantry but a nice bottle of wine will do when cocktail hour rolls around.
Rockin’ the Storm in Atlantic Canada
All caught up now, we leave you to enjoy Ground Hog Day. That special anniversary we have been celebrating happily for twenty five years now. Wow! A quarter of a century! It has been that kind of life together that we haven’t minded repeating over and over again.
Bed Picnic Deluxe
