Neighbors in Marble Mountain

Welcome home!

What a nice welcome home surprise!  Some kind neighbor planted nasturtiums in our window boxes to greet us upon our arrival. Did they know nasturtiums are among my favorites?

Nasturtiums in our window box.

Another neighbor, Glenn,  had mowed the meadow allowing for a beautiful view of a field of goldenrod.

The mowed meadow. 

Goldenrod by the fence post.

The lake is as beautiful as ever even on an overcast and rainy day.

Our view of the lake.

The house was perfect with the beds all made, the kitchen all ready, and the hot water on, thanks to Mary Ann and Murdo.

The guest room was ready for Alice.

Alice settled right in and while she's here helping us she will also work on her memoir.

Alice working on her memoir.

We were showing Alice some of the common mammals of the area in our book Mammals of Canada. But my favorite nonhuman mammal here is Maggie.

My favorite nonhuman mammal having a nap on her favorite pillow.

What wonderful neighbors we have here in Marble Mountain!  We are happy to be back, and we are looking forward to seeing many of you soon.

Potluck at Wendy's

Wendy's gazebo by the Bras'd'Or Lake.

When I was in Marble Mountain recently, Wendy and I got together and planned a potluck supper for the "girls".  Wendy hosted it at her lovely home, and we had a good turnout--about twenty or so if I remember correctly.

Wendy's pretty and unusual bench.  Hanging basket of petunias.

View of the lake from Wendy's deck.

 And what a wonderful selection of dishes!!! Everything from appetizers to desserts.

Shauna's smoked salmon and endive appetizers.  So pretty and so yummy.

Dessert: Lingonberry ice cream* topped with lingonberry syrup. (Photo by Wendy MacDonald.)

The food was delicious, but the camaraderie with friends that I see only once a year was best. 

Fiona and Iris and in the background, Catherine.

Margie enjoying the deck.

Shirley and Shauna having a chat.

Vicky who likes grits and shrimp, but not together. (I had taken a shrimp and grits casserole to the potluck.)

Wendy and Janet.

Iris helping Maggie look for something!!!

Thank you Wendy for hosting this.

Wendy

Yes indeed a fun evening. 

Even one of Wendy's cats seemed to be enjoying herself. 

*Recipe for lingonberry ice cream will be the topic for my next blog.  Stay tuned.

The Relaunching of Alexander Graham Bell's yawl, the Elsie

An early photo of Elsie from privateline.com

As we were passing by West Bay on Friday morning we happened upon the relaunching of Elsie, after its recent restoration. Elsie is the yawl that Alexander Graham Bell gave to his daughter, Elsie, as a wedding gift in 1917 when she married Gilbert Grosvenor who was the editor of National Geographic Magazine which was started by Bell and his father-in-law.

An early photo of Elsie from Wooden Boat Forum.

Over the last two years the sailboat has been restored by boat builder, Jens Sauer, in MacKenzie Pointe and it was relaunched in West Bay this past Friday morning.

At first we thought there had been a bad accident when we happened upon a large crowd along the road in West Bay as we were on our way to town.

Large crowd gathered along road in West Bay.

When we learned they were relaunching a historic vessel, we stayed around to watch with a crowd that was gathering.

Dan chatting with Diane MacLean.

A group of little girls taking in the excitement.

First they moved the crane into position.

Crane being raised.

After securing the vessel to the crane it was hoisted.

Hoisting the Elsie.

The Elsie was moved around over the lake.

Almost in the water.

And finally into the water.

In the water once again.

I understand it will be moored over at MacKenzie Pointe until the masts and sails are installed and she is finished.  It was quite an experience to watch as the Elsie was once again launched into Bras d'Or Lake.

Orangedale, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

When we were in Nova Scotia in August, I ventured over to the little village of Orangedale every now and then.  It is one of my favorite villages in Cape Breton and not so very far from our place.  One day I took along my camera and captured some things I saw on a walk through the village.

The weathered shingles of an abandoned building.

The old railway station, now a museum.

The railroad that runs through the village.

Somebody is getting ready for winter.

A nice view of the lake from the village.

Orangedale United Church.

 

The "post office" at Smith's general store.


Smith's General Store deserves a post of its own, check in tomorrow for that.