Charlotte St. Sydney

 

Easter Sunday March 31, 2024

These rabbits come with a story with a happy ending, read their story, written June 24, 1997...

These rabbits lost their way a few years ago on April 1st, 1994.

It was Good Friday and also April Fool's Day, but it was not a joke.

It was Thursday night , on my way home I stopped at the gas station to fill up the car with gas. The trunk of the car was full of Easter goodies. Everything I got for the kids was hidden safely in the trunk, a place where they wouldn't find their presents. When I arrived home I pulled the car in our small business garage, where my husband was to change the four winter tires the next day, on his day off. Michelle (9 years old)  got up at dawn to get a glass of water, when she heard a crash outside. Half asleep, she never gave it a second thought about the sound she heard and went back to bed. When my husband woke up, he looked outside toward the garage and saw the bay door wide open. Afraid of what he might encounter, he walked down to the garage to see that the car was gone and the office door window was broken with a rock. Later we looked around to see what was missing. They took the car and a computer to analyze cars. We think someone must have scared them off, and that's why they didn't take more tools or supplies with them.

So we went through the routine of reporting a stolen car and the RCMP did their investigating. It was two days before Easter and found myself with no gifts or chocolates for the kids. In the trunk of the car was some chocolates and Easter eggs, clothes, and little figurines (rabbits) for their gifts. Now it was all gone. Some good neighbours put some chocolates and candies together and offered it to us to give the kids. I couldn't thank them enough for their act of generosity. We made it through Easter, feeling grateful for our friends and at the same time feeling sad as a part of us was robbed.

Three years went by, without any clues of the whereabouts of the car. Finally on April 12, 1997 divers found a car at the bottom of a canal which matched the description of our car. It was indeed ours. They pulled it out of the canal and towed it to the local wreck yard. After three years, we can now stop wondering where the car is, but we will never know who did it. The next day we stopped in to check out the car. It was full of kelp, seaweed and starfish. We had permission to look in the trunk. The kids were dying to see if the figurines that I talked so much about, were still in there. To our amazement they were all together, in one bag, which was tied tightly. We managed to put them in another bag and took them home to clean and disinfect them. They now sit on a shelf where we can look at them and feel like a little part of what we lost 3 years ago is now with us again. I guess we had given up on the idea of ever finding the car.

The Cape Breton Living webcams are no longer live updating. The webcam system that was going for 20+ years is down. For now, there will only be a new image uploaded at irregular intervals. We’ll see how that goes.

Fog

If you can’t get out of the fog, get into it.

That’s just what I did this morning as I set out for my daily walk. Living on the east side of Cape Breton Island, fog is something that we must just accept as it comes in from the cool Atlantic Ocean and usually hangs around for days or even weeks.  So as I head out, instead of snapping pictures of shimmering white seagulls in the blue sky or the awesome scenic view that we are blessed with, I’m out there looking around and appreciating the closer surroundings blending into a soft background.

As I’m writing this post, the sun is now trying to break through the dissipating fog…. Come on sun!

 

January's Photos



From the Cape Breton Living website

As some of you might already know, every Friday a new scenic photo of our beautiful island is posted on the site. If you’re wondering and would like to check this out, you can find them on the Photo of the Week page of the Cape Breton Living website. This January 2014, we ended up with an extra Friday, which means instead of 4 photos for the month, we ended up with a bonus one making it five scenic photos for January.

The first photo below is of the first sunrise taken on January 1^st, 2014. Thankfully we were blessed with a clear wintry sky and only a few fluffy white clouds. The next four week’s photos, we seem to have a theme consisting of snow covered roof tops…

 

January 3, 2014

L'Ardoise - First sunrise of 2014

Recent updates

From the Cape Breton Living website

Hello 2014… Cheers to a brand new year folks!  What better time to tell you about a couple recent changes done on the Cape Breton Living website. First, on the Photo of the Week page, the last 3 week’s photos were added and are conveniently posted below the current Photo of the Week. So if you missed the last week’s photo or just wish to see them again, they are right there just a click away. 
Another change to the website is the URL you type in the address bar. The correct address is www.capebretonliving.com , If you find yourself using other URLs like “vhost1…” or “stpeterscable…”, you might then be re-directed or end up on a page that doesn’t exist. Best thing to do is go to www.capebretonliving.com and once on the website, you may bookmark it for future reference.

One more thing, it’s not exactly new, but on the Webcam pages and the Photo of the Week page, there’s a comment box for you to share your thoughts with other viewers. The next time you visit the website and you have time to spare, we’d love to hear from you!

This Week's Photo

Pleasant Bay - Cabot Trail

 

Early Monday morning on Thanksgiving Day, before the sun was even showing any light in the starry sky, I packed our picnic basket with the lunch that I prepared the night before and  packed my charged cameras, cell phone and (just in case) all its cables and chargers. By the time we had everything gathered and ready to head out, the sun was just coming up over the hill giving us an amazing warm yellow sunrise.

On this road trip, we decided to head for Sydney and do the Cabot Trail counterclockwise. Somewhere on the 105 near Bras d’Or we stopped for a coffee at Tim’s and then down the road to top up the car with gas. Instead of taking the ferry in Englishtown, we drove to St Ann’s and enjoyed the spectacular view of St Ann’s Harbour and its winding roads. The fall foliage was not quite at its peak, but another week or two would have done it, changing what is still green into yellows oranges and reds.  But then waiting too long, we risk having heavy rain and strong wind, leaving us with only bare trees with shades of browns and greys.

Where my Father Was Standing

Photo of the Week September 27, 2013

The Cape Breton Living Photo of the Week for September 27, 2013 is of where my father might have been standing when he was in Cape Breton back in 1942-43 during WW2. All I know is that he came over from Mulgrave on the ferry to Port Hawkesbury for a visit and that the photo was taken nearby where the ferry came in with the automobiles. As the years went by and with the opening of the Canso Causeway, the area has changed, like the background and along the railroad tracks. Looking at the photo (Photo of the Week photo), I’m thinking that the old photo might have been taken further south along the train tracks with maybe Point Tupper in the background? The next photo is where I think might be the right place.

Another photo from the same visit is of him posing in front of a large sign saying “PORT HAWKESBURY WELCOMES YOU TO CAPE BRETON ISLAND”.  This sign was set in front of the Baptist Church on Granville Street for the tourists arriving on the island by the automobile ferries until the opening of the Canso Causeway on May 20th, 1955.  

Soon after this day visit, my father returned home to Aylmer Quebec to later get married and raise a family in Ottawa. Looking back, I know my father never knew that decades later he would come back to this lovely island to visit a daughter of his who met and married a Cape Bretoner and later made this island her home…

Road Trip - Cabot Trail

Every summer, usually sometime in August, there is one thing that’s on my to-do list and that is to go on a road trip around the Cabot Trail. The past 4-5 years we would rent a van so that the whole family could make the trek together, all of us in one vehicle. This year however, we had less people tagging along, so our trusting Nissan Sentra was able to take the four of us around the Trail. Before heading out, we checked the weather updates, got ourselves ready, packed a lunch and with our cameras fully charged we managed to leave the house by 8:00am. First stop was The Country Kitchen Restaurant in Port Hastings for a hearty breakfast to keep us going until lunch.  Leaving the restaurant, we got on the Trans-Canada Highway 105 and stopped in at The Red Barn Gift Shop then onto the Cabot Trail through the Margarees. Along the way we stopped every so often to stretch our legs and admire the beauty that was surrounding us. The wind was crazy that day and the waves were crashing on the shores with a loud roar sounding like thunder. It felt very refreshing (without actually having to go in)! I couldn’t pass through Chéticamp without stopping at Le Petit Chady Convenience store to say hello and meet in person a fellow Instagrammer.  It was such a pleasure to meet her, I could have spent all morning chatting.  Carl, Julie and Maeghan were back at the car ready to continue on, so Denise’s daughter took a quick snapshot of the two of us before I ran off back to the car. Soon after leaving Chéticamp, we enter the Cape Breton Highlands National Park and drove along the coastline to the MacIntosh Brook Park for lunch. We spent a little over half an hour in the picnic area where we found and set up a picnic table to eat our lunch and then spent a few minutes down by the brook before getting back in the car to head for the Beulach Ban Falls then Meat Cove and Bay St Lawrence.  By the time we arrived at the Englishtown Ferry it was 7pm. There we only had a couple of minutes wait time before getting on the ferry and it takes a couple of minutes to cross St Anns Bay. Coming off the ferry we headed for Sydney where we had a bite to eat then onto the old Highway 4 to home. So here we are at the end of another great day spent with wonderful people and being so thankful for living in such a beautiful place… 

Left Behind at the Yard Sale

It was three weeks ago we visited several local yard sales, and in my last blog post I wrote how we did find a couple of interesting items. The only regret of the day was that Julie left one of her findings behind at one of the yard sales. She is now back in Ottawa and is kicking her butt for leaving these little novelties behind. This was a set of two syrup (or molasses) pitchers. It’s not that they are some valuable antiques, but just something that reminded us of when we were kids.    I believe they’re from the 1970s. Since this yard sale is in the nearby community of River bourgeois, I went back and found that the two pitchers were still there and set aside in case one of us would eventually go back to collect them. It was almost like finding a little treasure for a second time…

 

A Day of Yard Sales

Sunday morning, after a hearty breakfast and a few cups of coffee, I suggested to everyone that we all go visit some of the local yard sales. I didn’t expect much of a  reaction, since everyone was still in a laid-back and relaxed mode in their lounging clothes and sipping on their second or third cup of coffee. So to my amazement, they all thought it was a great idea and in no time, we were out the door with a list of yard sales from St Peter’s to River Bourgeois to Arichat.  It was a perfect day for doing just that, the weather forecast called for sun and cloud with temperatures of around 20 Celsius. By the end of the day (or late afternoon), we did find a couple of interesting things, like some old records, a glass vase, a book, a couple of photo frames, cereal bowls , a 1970’s syrup pitcher and free magazines.  We managed to see most of the yard sales on our list except for one, which either didn’t set-up for the day or we were just too late. By that time, we were ready to head back home anyway.  On the way back we stopped at the Cottage Bakery and picked up some fresh rolls then for an ice cream at Jiggs Take-out  in St Peter’s. A delightful way to end the day!  

I was really hoping to get to more yard sales and flea markets over the summer months. Time passed by so quickly, I must say that I’m glad we all decided to get up and go on such short notice!  Summer is not quite over yet and I think fall is still a good time for flea markets, so there might still be a chance for a bit of  treasure hunting. 

 

From Kazabazua to Nova Scotia

 

Picking blueberries has always been something we did in the summer. My first memories are from when I was a young girl and spending summer vacations at my aunt's cottage in Kazabazua, Quebec.

 

Left photo: Me (bottom row left), my sister (second from the right) with brothers and cousins.

Top right photo: Me with my Dad / Bottom right photo: Me with my brother Guy

 

 

I can't really say that I particularly liked picking blueberries when I was a kid, but looking back now, the memories that I have of those days are some of the most cherished ones. So now, years later and 1,500 kilometers away I  go and pick blueberries in the fields around my home on Cape Breton Island. Every summer, my younger sister Julie (with her awesome kids) spends her vacation here with me where we pick blueberries and we remember when life was simple. Maybe that's why these days, I don't mind the time spent in a field of blueberries... 

 

The Cabot Trail Road Trip

Photo of the Week: Pleasant Bay on the Cabot Trail

 

This week's photo for March 8, 2013 was taken while we set out for a day road trip around our lovely island of Cape Breton. We started off the trip by making our way to Port Hastings where we had a hearty breakfast then on to Route 19 to drive the Cabot Trail in a clockwise direction. Not much snow in the fields until we reached the Cape Breton Highlands National Park all the way through St Ann's, Sydney and Big Pond on highway 4. It looks like the north part of the island kept most of its snow while in the south half of the island, most of the snow has melted away and showing signs of spring instead. That's ok too. It was a good day for our trip, the roads were bare and the scenery up in the mountains looked spectacular with snow covered trees,  just like we drove into another world. 

Today on the Cams

 

 

 

 

After a week-end of snow, freezing rain, rain, high wind and fluctuating temperatures it is nice to see the sun trying to warm up and brighten our day.  Today's forecast from Environment Canada for L'Ardoise calls for a mix of sun and cloud with 60 percent chance of flurries this morning. Becoming clear late this afternoon. Wind west 40 km/h gusting to 70. Temperature steady near minus 9.

 

If you're ever wondering about the weather on Cape Breton Island, check out the Cape Breton Living website where you can view other webcams across  the island. Keep warm and those that need to travel the roads, please practice safe driving!


Shortbread cookies

Yesterday was a day that the wind was cold and the sun was just a dim glow in a dark sky. After a short walk down the road to the ballfield and back, it felt like a good day to do a bit of holiday baking before the kids come home for Christmas. There's still so much to do, but it just wouldn't feel like Christmas without

Look who wants (to come) out of the closet!

Look who wants out of the closet... yes the time has come again, when about half of what fills my upstairs closet comes out and comes back to life in every room of the house. On Sunday December 2, 2012 with the  Christmas Daddies Telethon playing on CTV in the background, will be a good time to start the decorating. So until then (only a couple of weeks away), the magic of the Holiday Season will remain undisturbed in the closet...

Come and visit Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island

Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia – Official Travel Guide

East view camera is back up!

Here it is once again, the east view webcam is back up on the Cape Breton Living website. It's been a few months since the east view camera was last seen on the website, but the west view camera has been faithfully keeping updated  shots 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Remember that if you would like to see the webcams in a slightly larger image, click on the link to streaming camera or on the image itself and it will bring you to a page where the image is larger and refreshes automatically every 5 seconds.  So enjoy the views and hope you come back often to check out what the weather might bring in this part of the world, on the south east shore of Cape Breton Island!  

Dear Photograph

Dear Photograph,

Back in the days when the lawn didn’t get mowed and time was moving slowly, we would just sit in the tall grass, full of clover enjoying the Nova Scotia breeze. Fifty years later, that same young lad is now mowing the same lawn that once brought him and I so much pleasure, just from sitting there, relaxed and carefree, among all the clover.

My "picture of a picture of the past in the present" was selected on July 8, 2012. You can check it out, among all the other archived pictures on the Dear Photograph website: http://dearphotograph.com/
Love this idea!

There is also Dear Photograph the Book, a visual treat of 256-pages, that would sit nicely on  any coffee table. It's been available since May 2012.

Cape Breton - 33 Highway Photos

I have gathered some of my photos, the ones that were taken from the highways across Cape Breton during summer months where the grass is green and the weather is warm. If you are somewhat familiar with the island, you'll most likely know the location of each photo. If you're not familiar with the island, this is a quick trip around, enough to get a feel of Cape Breton Island while driving through on some of the main highways. Of course it doesn't cover all of the spectacular drives and sights, but another post of Autumn Highway Pics might be in the making. For now I hope you enjoy this drive across Cape Breton Island via The Canso Causeway, Route 19, The