NEW CHAPTER – NEW IDENTITY
While we’re waiting for our RV – RED II – to be born and while we are working on developing our next chapter, I thought I’d send along an update of what’s happening in our little world by the sea. Basically…not a lot. Haha! Just bits and pieces but those bits and pieces make for busy lives.
Francois has been working hard at preparing the garden for the winter months, laying straw on our flower and garlic beds, and creating my awesome cold frame. He built it against the south-facing wall from where it receives maximum sun exposure and blasts of warm air from his basement grow tent. I mean, really! What plant babies wouldn’t thrive from cannabis fumes? May they grow ‘high’ and healthy. An experiment for us for sure but if this COVID thing has taught us anything, it’s to become as self-reliant as possible. A supply of winter greens, potatoes and carrots is the aim for now.
Winter Garden
Weeding out summer growth from Duck Pond is another annual event. When we moved here three years ago…yes, three years already as of October 26 (Moving In) …happy happy house-aversary to us!…three years ago we didn’t know we had a pond but when the growth was cleared away we welcomed our first couple Herald and Maude who blessed us with seven ducklings the following spring.
Harold & Maude
Our first couple has no doubt moved on but we feel that some of their offspring remain. With plentiful fall rain the pond has been replenished and has become a sanctuary for no less than a hundred of our feathered visitors. Social distancing, obviously not a concern for them. We don’t feed them but they still seem to find enough plant life to satisfy and keep them returning and it’s so entertaining watching their seasonal mating ballet.
The Dance
Francois’ battle of the squirrels continues. They have become a defiant bunch and nothing sets him off more than defiance…especially from a six inch rodent.
Squirrel Disciplining
We’ve had our share of other critters too. Several raccoons have now been relocated as well as two or three ground hogs.
Please Release Me
Since selling RED we no longer had use of her winter home so sold it to a local contractor who now uses it to house his numerous outdoor toys.
Winter Home
Speaking of ‘numerous’ and ‘outdoor toys’…we have acquired a fancy bike rack and two e-bikes…that’s electric bikes for the uninformed. And as with our boat tent, our two hybrid bikes and old car rack have gone to a very good home. We have a series of great hiking/bike trails here created from former rail tracks – called Rails to Trails, and our plan is to complete, in sections, the Rum Runners trail – a 123 km route that connects Halifax and Lunenburg – before hard winter sets in. So far we’re a little behind schedule but there’s nothing to say on a favourable winter day we can’t still cycle…Nova Scotia weather can be that mild…at times.
E-bikes – Lucy and Ethel
Hallowe’en this year was somewhat different as trick and treaters had to devise new plans. We have yet to have goblins knocking at our door but joining in with the wildlings’ modified event hosted by Spiderman and the Joker was just as fun.
Spidey and the Missus
…maybe more so…with an easy ride around in the back of my son-in-laws trailer all snuggly and warm.
My Pirate and the wee Goblins
I think Francois is feeling somewhat competitive and has vowed to upgrade his costume next year
Charlotte’s Creative Web
The next event in our calendar meant a lot of planning/meetings/coordinating for Francois – Remembrance Day – but as usual, in spite of yet another modified event, that small limited turnout of legion members and veterans, a piper, and virtual broadcast, it was a moving intimate ceremony like no other.
My Hero
So now that things are winding down…somewhat…for the season, we are beginning to make plans for the next chapter. As I mentioned above, there have been delays in delivery of our RED II, but we are fine with that. We can’t begin to enjoy her until next year anyway. In the meantime, I enlisted the help from my friend Shaune from Creative Solutions, who created our original R.E.D. logo way back in 2012 when we awaited the birth of our water baby. In her brilliance, she has come up with a logo that we feel depicts the next stage of our lives.
RED Redesigned
RED’s sail now points westward toward her new home in the Yukon. The symbolism of the Celtic Tree of Life (shown blowing us eastward) is ultimately about the forces of nature combining to create balance and harmony. The branches reach for the sky, the roots reach down into the ground (our new land-based existance). A representation of the link between mind and body and the never-ending cycle of life….and perhaps our ever changing life style.
So there you are folks…all caught up. We sincerely hope you are well. Stop back to visit us from time to time…virtually for now. Someday this craziness will be but a distant memory. For now we will remain in our little spot by the sea, hunkered down in our Atlantic Bubble doing our best to stay sane and in good health.