A walk to the shore

It's Friday morning, 4 celcius, sunny sky and no wind. As we finish our second cup of coffee, we set out for a walk to take in some fresh air and a stress free way to start the day. This time, instead of walking the road, we take the path that leads to the shore. Usually, after getting a few days of rain, the path floods around the edges of the ponds and makes it impossible to get through to the shore. The past few days have been beautifully warm and dry, so getting to the shore was achievable.

At the end of the path we get to a brook that runs into the ocean. It's too nice of a day to turn around, so we make our way down the beach. The tide is low, which makes it easy walking.

We walk the beach for about 5-10 minutes then head back. Once in a while, beach glass can be found in the sand and rocks. In this particular area, the beach glass is scarce, but lucky me, I did find two small brown pieces.

As we get back to the path, we have another 10 minutes or so of walking until we get back to the house.

Cape Breton paintings

A couple of commissioned paintings I have done in the last couple of months. The top one is of Little Harbour and the other one is of a sou'wester in Margaree Harbour.

Sunday drive to Chéticamp

Sunday morning 6:49am. The sun was just coming up in the sky and looked like a perfect day for a Sunday drive. By 7:30am, we got in the car and headed out for Chéticamp, a nice little drive to the other side of Cape Breton Island. First we stopped in Port Hawkesbury for breakfast at The Country Kitchen Restaurant. Leaving satisfied on a full stomach, we headed for Highway 19, through Port Hood, where I got out for only a few minutes to take a couple of pictures then drove right through Mabou, Inverness and many small communities. In Dunvegan we took the shore road to Margaree Harbour, over the new bridge to Belle Cote and then Cheticamp. Once there, we stopped at Tim Horton's for a much needed hot cup of coffee. The weather wasn't too bad, a cool 15-17 celcius and a few scattered grey clouds. On the way back, we took the highway going through the Margarees, then onto the Trans-Canada and back to Port Hawkesbury where we picked up a few things at the Superstore before heading back home.

Margaree Harbour Painting

After 3 years, I can finally say this painting is finished. I've been working on it off and on, and sometimes months without even dabbing any paint on its canvas. It started when I found this old window frame in the shed, soon to be taken to the dump. Picking it up from behind more old junk, I thought it would make a great frame for a painting. So this was the beginning of a new life for this old window frame. Each panels is an individual 8x10 canvas board. With a little paint, it's surprising what can be done to an old piece of junk. The scene is of a view of a lighthouse in Margaree Harbour. Breathtaking sight!

The Bali duck

With a bit of research, I managed to find out that this is a Bali duck. It is a little odd to see this duck, with a fluffy crest on the back of his head, trying to fit in with the other ducks. I haven't seen him around today, he might have gone back home after a short visit with his cousins in Lester's pond.

Duck or goose?

The fluff ontop of its head caught our eye. Other than being white, he's also a little larger than the other ones he's been hanging around with, back and forth across the ponds.

Jake's Cape Breton birdhouse

For the first time after 3-4 years, the swallows decided to build their nest in Jake's (nephew) homemade birdhouse! As you can see, the babies are waiting eagerly for their frequent feeding. The birdhouse is safely set on the west side of our shed in the back yard.

On the Cape Breton Living website

This week we finally got to see some sun after a couple of weeks of miserable fog and rain. I wasn't really complaining, but when the day is bright, sunny and warm, people are out and about in a cheerful and uplifting kind of a way... The community comes to life!

Paving the bridge

A year ago, the old bridge on the shore road was finally torn down and replaced. The new little bridge turned out beautifully, but it was left unpaved with only gravel at each end. By the end of the winter, getting on and off the bridge was a challenge with the huge ruts left in the gravel. Soon anyone passing through would need a four-wheel drive to get across! Finally after a year, we can travel across as if we are floating ontop of the bridge. Now if we could get the rest of Chapel Cove Road repaired ...

Today on the webcams

What is it that when it's a bright and sunny day in Cape Breton, it makes one want to write and tell the world about it! It's not quite the warmest day so far this spring and I'm sure there's warmer days to come, but since I haven't written anything in a while, today's sunny day gave me a reason to post a shot of the webcams. We are now the 16th of June and if you look closely, you'll see that the leaves are still not fully opened on the shrubs. But no worry, soon enough, the trees and shrubs will be full and green and the breeze will be soft and warm. So be sure to check the webcams often to see the changes for yourself.

Although today the wind was a bit cool, it was a great day for drying the clothes on the line. I don't mean to sound negative, but one thing I despise is when the wind blows in just that certain direction and crazy way and the clothes on the line end up twisted and curled around the clothesline. Today is one of those days. Well the clothes did dry in no time and they do have that nice fresh spring scent...

Springtime

What a beautiful bright and sunny day we had today! The forecast called for 16 celcius, but here along the coast we were still pleased to get 10 celcius. The ice in the ponds has all melted away and looking around I can't see any snow anywhere, not even under the trees in the shade. It's definitely springtime. Soon enough the grass will turn green and once again the webcam will show the colourful scenery, of this little piece of paradise coming to life.

Last week while picking up some of the winter remnants of things that somehow made its way on my lawn, I spotted this newly growth of Tiger Lilies sprouting through the dead grass. That's what I enjoy about this time of the year, nature coming back to life!

On the webcam this morning

At 6:30am this morning, I was blessed with the most beautiful sunrise, a bright red and orange sky. My first thoughts were that's great, maybe Cape Beton will be spared from the snow and ice pellets that has been forecasted for today. But only minutes later, the sky turned dull. Looks like the weather folks might be right. For the last few days around here on the southeastern shore of Cape Breton we've been getting beautiful spring weather with temperatures of 7-10 celcius. Right now it's 0 celcius, windy and cloudy. Here is a clip of the text forecast from Evironment Canada for this area:

Sydney Metro and Cape Breton CountyRichmond County Inverness County - south of Mabou Victoria County. Snowfall warning in effect. Today.. Cloudy. Snow mixed with ice pellets beginning late this morning. Risk of freezing rain this afternoon. Snow and ice pellet amount 5 cm. Fog patches dissipating this morning. Wind east 30 km/h gusting to 50. High plus 1. Tonight.. Snow. Snow mixed with ice pellets early this evening. Snow and ice pellet amount 10 to 15 cm. Local blowing snow. Wind northeast40 km/h gusting to 60. Low minus 1. Tuesday.. Snow ending in the morning then clearing. Amount 2 cm. Wind northeast 40 km/h becoming north 20 in the afternoon. High plus 2.

Photo of the Week

Today's Photo of the Week on Cape Beton Living is a scenic shot of Chapel Cove Rd in L'Ardoise. The day was a bright and mild one, feeling the spring is in the air! One more week from today spring will be upon us once again. While up on the hill, in the fields where we can see miles all around, something else caught my eye besides this picturesque coastal view. Way out in the distance, a loud rumble was getting louder until this large helicopter came flying right over my head. Two Maritime air squadrons are in Cape Breton this week conducting joint training exercises. This is one of six CH-149 Cormorant helicopters that was training in Cape Breton on Wednesday March 11th. It's usually quiet in L'Ardoise, with only the sounds of the wind, seagulls and the passings cars and trucks, so seeing this monster helicopter circling in our skies, was something see.

Photo of the Week

The Photo of the Week on Cape Breton Living for March 6, 2009 is a wintry shot of a deer just off Chapel Cove Road in L'Ardoise. This wonderful photo was taken by Jamie Boulet of L'Ardoise. Many mornings I walked this road, have been for the last few years and only once have I seen a deer along the shore on this part of Chapel Cove Road. Another time, I did see a doe and her young from my front room window, walking down the path heading towards the shore. Deer tracks are visible in the sand on the beach and along the paths, so I know there are deer making their way along the shore and heading inland into the forest. I just never get the timing right as to getting a glimse of the beautiful animals when they happen to be passing through. Thank you Jamie for capturing this photo, it's a good thing you had your camera handy with you at the time!

The Rankin Family in Sydney

The Rankin Family is touring our vast country, starting in Penticton, British Columbia and working their way east. Jimmy Rankin, currently on tour with his sisters in support of their new album, These Are the Moments says “It’s nice to be out with my sisters again and the old band. We’re singing a bunch of new material and the show is sounding great and it’s fun.”

Last night, February 27th, they played at the Centre 200, to what I would say was a full house. The crowd was all fired up to welcome them back home to Cape Breton Island and the show, as always, was an energetic and lively time for everyone who had the good fortune of being there! I picked up their new CD "These Are the Moments". The CD has thirteen tracks, with nine new songs and four of their classic songs. Since I can never get enough of the Rankins, I listened to the CD on the way home from the concert in Sydney and enjoyed their presence as we travelled along the old Highway 4 all the way home.

Auto Glass

I received this picture in an email yesterday and just had to share it on Cape Breton Living! This interesting shot is of what looks like a custom job on a van window, parked at a Wal-Mart in Sydney, Cape Breton. The question that comes to mind is "What's the story?" Maybe it is temporary, until the owner can get the work done at an auto glass shop, hey it's better than plastic flapping in the wind or maybe the owner is trying to make a point ... whatever the story, it might be a little rough around the edges, but it seems to do the trick!!

Art prints - Grand Etang

Grand Etang

This reproduction is from an original acrylic painting done by myself, Cecile Samson. This print is 5x7" and is set into an 8x10" mat. Grand Etang is located on the picturesque Cabot Trail, just a few kms south of Cheticamp. The print depicts the simple beauty and colourful landscape by the sea. Please visit the Cape Breton Living Art Gallery at http://www.capebretonliving.com/galleryhome.htm where you can find more information and more artwork.

Snow for Cape Breton

A couple of days ago, most of Cape Breton was lucky to miss the mess that the rest of Nova Scotia received as snow, ice pellets and freezing rain. Well, today, Cape Breton is getting it in the form of snow. It's not really all that bad, 5-10 cm ... enough to add a nice clean white blanket over the dirty grey snow. The last few storms, we've been getting more rain than snow, which is great as there's not much shovelling or plowing to do!

In the morning sun

The sun was bright and warm this morning. There's something about the first hour of sunrise, especially when it's sunny. Today's sunrise time for St Peter's is 7:25am, sunset is 5:08pm. So I hear the groundhog did see his shadow? No matter, the days are getting longer and hopefully we'll be getting many more mornings like today's...

Robin in winter

This robin decided to stay the winter in Cape Breton. Didn't see him during the cold snap, but today I found him out and about while the temperatures reached 1 Celsius.

Cold cold morning

Woke up this morning, the temperature outside was a cool -20.4 Celsius. The ice is in the bay and the little island off Isle Madame seem to be floating above the frigid ocean. On the positive side, we are almost halfway through the winter!!

Beautiful slideshow

Beautiful music and imagery of Cape Breton

Photo of the Week

Canadian Idols Theo Tams, Drew Wright & Mitch Macdonald at the Membertou Trade & Convention Centre in Sydney. Today's Photo of the Week is from Jamie Boulet

Sunset

Tonight's beautiful sunset on the southeast coast of Cape Breton.

Skating on the pond

The kids are enjoying some skating on the pond in L'Ardoise. The wind is minimal and the temperature is fluctuating between -1 and -5 Celcius. If only winter could stay like that until the spring!

The pictures are taken from the Cape Breton Living webcam.

Photo of the Week

Photo of the Week January 16, 2009. Walking on a cold January day I snapped this shot on Chapel Cove Rd in L'Ardoise. The temperature wasn't actually all that bad, a mild minus 4-5 Celsius. The cold snap hit us a couple of days later.

Introduction

Welcome !

Cape Breton Living was created back in 1997, when the Internet was something very new to me. It started with a dial-up account with Sympatico. With this account, free webspace was available, so the first thing I created was a page about my family (Samson & Samson), then it evolved into everything Cape Breton. Over the years, I've added and updated the whole site to what it is today - Cape Breton Living! Keeping this Blog is a way to keep the Cape Breton Living website active and the visitors informed with what's going on across the whole website.