Thanks for all the views!

Wow, the 'ole blog just passed 10,000 hits!

Thanks so much for all those who keep checking it out. I really appreciate the feedback/comments, and just knowing that 'someone' out there is actually reading my humble offering to the blogosphere.

I wish a happy new year to one and all,and again, thanks for all the views!

How to stay sane in the winter...

...be insane?

Sorry for dropping off the face of the 'sphere without so much as a see yah.

Here's a pic of how I've been spending my holidaze:


Dec. 28, 2009
Photo by Caroline
Water temp: ~5 C
Air temp: ~8 C sunny and glorious

Donks burning rubber

Not much for pics this week, so here's another video...this time, of a donk burnin' rubbah:

Burning rubber...on a bicycle?

Respect! He actually makes little puffs of smoke come off his tire ^_^

Oh gawd, not another barn shot!

Sorry folks, sad, but true...

'nother barn shot

More flotsam and jetsam from the 'ole barn.

Some of the boards on the walls are over 18" wide and 20' long!

Another barn shot...

I'm afraid of this light switch, maybe it's like on Lost, if I turn it off, will the world end? I'm not gonna risk it...

Meet the new barn, same as the old barn...

Couple attempts at a shot from inside the barn at my new place...

Thought I'd post two versions, I like the way you can see the beam in the first one, but the highlights are all blown out...I think I like the second one better...

I think all I did in the second version was bump up the contrast a bit and the saturation a bit..

Watcha think?

Trinity United Christmas Luncheon

I love these luncheon meals, can you tell?!?

We place our orders at work,earlier in the week, and then the kind ladies from Trinity United in Rose Bay deliver our lunches later in the week!

This one had quite a few people at work taking advantage of the service. And why not? Do you get a thank you note from Subway when you get your lunch? Huh? Didn't think so...



Now the reveal:



Let's see if I can remember, sammiches going left to right:

• Ham and cheese...slice, with some miracle whip dressing.
• No idea what was in this one, but it was delicious and orange.
• Cherry and cream cheese sandwich, b'yatch! Delectable, by all accounts, a crowd favourite!
• Egg salad
• Tuna fish?
• Home made chicken (or was it turkey?) salad, incredible. Ain't nothin' like the real thing...
  
• Rolled up asparagus and....I don't know what it was rolled up with.

And then sweets!

Various lemon loaf/glazed cakes
Cookies
Fudge brownie
Toffee bar?

All topped off with a couple slices of orange cheese! giggity.

I would get this once a week if they offered 'em more frequently. For now, I'll just have to be all whistful while I wait for the next one...Valentine's Day, perhaps?

Thanks for the great eats, ladies!

What's on This Weekend?

Breakfast with Santa, oh joy!

Breakfasts

Sunday, December 13,
Breakfast with Santa.
8-11 a.m.
Forties Community Centre.
Eggs, bacon, pancakes, hash browns, toast, juice, tea & coffee.
Adults $6, under 12 $3.50, under 5 free.
Santa will be here to meet with the children!

Moonlight sonata

Couple shots of a gorgeous moonrise over Rose Bay, Dec. 2nd.

Still working out the settings I should use for these low light shots. Next time, use a tripod....

Thanks to everyone who gave me tips on how to improve these shots.

They don't make 'em like they used to...

Not the best composition...my apologies.

I spotted this old timer, did a quick u-turn and got a couple shots off with the telephoto.

Love the doe skin jacket!

Oh, and sweeping the leaves on his lawn is just...sweet.

Words to live by?

I do all three of those things!

I liked everything about this billboard (spotted in the Crappy Tire parking lot)....especially it's ransom note aesthetic! ^_^

Aaaand, done.

Here's the last pic from the Stonehurst patch, hope ya'll enjoyed 'em:

What's on This Weekend?

A bunch of neat stuff on offer this weekend. The Christmas Luncheon and Sale on Saturday is always a treat.

Looks like the New Ross Christmas Festival is on, meaning back to back turkey dinners on Saturday AND Sunday, yum!

I might have to check out the chowder supper in Riverport, since it's now in my 'hood.

As mayor Quimby would say: "say it frenchie.....say, chowdah!

Breakfasts

December 5,
Country Breakfast.
7:30-10:30 a.m.,
Chester Basin Fire Hall.
Various menu selections.

Saturday, December 5,
Candlelight Breakfast,
Pinehurst Hall,
7 to 11 a.m.
Proceeds for the hall

Teas/Luncheons

Saturday, December 5,
Christmas Luncheon and Sale,
10:30 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Wesley United Church Hall, Petite Riviere.
Silent auction, crafts, bake table.
Menu: Sandwiches, deviled eggs, desserts, beverages.
Admission $7.
Sponsored by St. Andrew's United, Crousetown

Saturday, December 5,
Ham and Bean Luncheon, and bake sale
11 a.m.-2 p.m.,
Saint James Anglican Church Hall, Parish Street, Mahone Bay.
Adults $9, children 5-12 years $5, under 5 free.
Proceeds to support First Steps Early Intervention a home based program for pre-school children with developmental challenges.

Suppers

Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6,
Turkey Dinner and Supper,
Forties Community Centre,
11:30-1:30, 3-4:30.
Turkey dinner, with all the trimmings.
Adults $10; 12 and under $4.50; under 5 free.
Proudly part of the New Ross Christmas Festival.

December 6,
All You Can Eat Seafood and Corn Chowder Supper.
4- 6 p.m.
Riverport Fire Hall.
Adults $10, children $5, under 5 free.
Cakes for dessert.

Don't worry, almost done...

Take a deep breath, almost through the Stonehurst burnout pics...

Srsly? How many burnouts are on this road?

Answer: all of them.

The hilllllll!

Probably dating myself with the 4 on the floor/The Frantics reference...oh well, the beat goes on...


This is one of the small hills on the Stonehurst road that is littered with brake burns, lotsa 'blobs' to be found!

More rubber on the road...

There's no debating what left this mark on the Stonehurst road, a tiyah!

What's on This Weekend?

Breakfast at the Masonic Hall in B'water is a new one to me, might be worth investigating..as is the Sunday brunch at the Mahone Bay legion. The Maitland Christmas tea is a no brainer, always satisfying!

Breakfasts

Saturday, November 28,
Firemen's Breakfast,
United Communities Fire Hall, Cherry Hill,
8-11 a.m.
Adults $6; 5-12 years $3.25; under 5 free.

Saturday, November 28.
Masonic Centre, 216 North Street, Bridgewater,
7- 11 a.m.
Juice, bacon, eggs, beans, etc.
Adults $6, ages 512 3, under 5 free

November 28,
Breakfast at Royal Canadian Legion #23, Lunenburg,
7:30-11:30 a.m.
Adults $6; ages 5-12, $3.
Takeout available for pick-up $6.50. 634-4215

Sunday, November 29
Brunch at Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #49, Mahone Bay
10 - 1 p.m.
Adults $6, children $3, age 5 and under no charge.

Teas/Luncheons

Saturday, November 28,
Christmas Luncheon and Sale.
Middlewood United Church Hall (just past Exit 16, Hwy 103),
11 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Chili, various soups, clam chowder, rolls, biscuits, pies.
Adults $7, children $4

Sunday, November 29,
Annual Christmas Tea, Maitland Community Hall,
11:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
Chicken or ham salad plate, sweets, tea, coffee.
Tables with mystery gifts, baked goods, crafts, books, etc.
Tickets on a grocery box.
Adults $7, children $4. Everyone welcome. For info call 624-9416

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the 'hurst...

Return of the blob!

Blobtacular

Let's melt the road with our tires, YEAH!

Classic sand seal 'blob':

More Stonehurst brake burns...

Couple closeup shots from the Stonehurst patch from last week, more to follow:

Burning Rubber gets nod on Globe & Mail's site

Hey, sweet....the Globe & Mail published a nice précis/review of Burning Rubber today!

It airs on Bravo! Canada tonight at 7 pm EST / 8 pm AST, check 'er out!

What's on This Weekend?

Teas galore this weekend, take your pick!

Breakfasts

Saturday, November 21,
Fireman's breakfast.
Petite Riviere fire hall,
8-11 a.m.
Full menu,
Adults $6, under 12 $3, under 5 free.
Information call 688-1174

Saturday, November 21,
Riverport and District Firemen's Breakfast,
7:30- 11:30 a.m.,
usual menu,
$6.00 adults; $3.00 children 6- 12; children 5 and under free.
No breakfast in December. Chowder Supper December 6

Teas/Luncheons

Saturday, November 21,
Middle LaHave Cemetery Christmas Coffee Party.
10:30 - 1:00,
Lutheran Church, Upper LaHave.
Crafts, bake table and Christmas Basket Draw.
Adults $6.00

November 21,
2-4 pm.
Annual Christmas Tea and Sale,
Springfield Baptist Church.
Proceeds Baptist church

Saturday, November 21,
Christmas Tea and Sale,
West Northfield Community Centre,
2- 5 p.m.

Saturday, November 21,
Christmas Bazaar,
District #1 Community Centre Blandford,
11 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
Lunch of chili or soup, rolls and pie.
Adults $7, children $3.50, under 5 years free.
Bake table, guild items, crafts, fudge.
Sponsored by St. Barnabas Guild

Return to the burn....outs.

Another patch of burnouts on the Stonehurst Road:

Stonehurst burnage

I drove to Stonehurst at lunch to snap some pics of brake burns....this spot is ALWAYS littered with brake burns, some even melting the sand seal surface!

Here's the first of today's shots, more to follow in the days to come:

Scotian sunrise

Shot a couple weeks ago:

uggh, bear with me...

Trying to resize the image I added to the header, sorry for all the scrolling down...

Hiltzer's 17 point buck

Caution: some 'f-bombs' in here...also, if you are squeamish about dead animals, don't watch this video.

I love Hiltzer's hunting/trapping videos. This one is intense, his breathing really put me in the moment...enjoy!

What's on this weekend? This time, for reals...

You can do it all on Saturday, the Christmas luncheon at St. Luke's is a guaranteed crowd pleaser, as is the roast turkey supper in Canaan. It's worth it for the drive to Canaan, check out the review of a previous turkey supper for an idea of what to expect.
(spoiler alert: expect deliciousness)

Breakfasts

Sat, Nov.14
Hebb's Cross Fire Hall
7-11 am
Adults $6
5-12 $3
Under 5 - free!

Teas/Luncheons

Saturday, November 14,
Christmas Hot Luncheon (all you can eat)
St. Luke's church hall, Rhodes Corner.
11 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Adults $8; 5-12 years $4; under 5 free.
Menu: chili, turkey noodle soup, seafood and corn chowder with rolls, beverages and buffett desserts.
Bake sale.

Suppers

Saturday, November 14,
Hot Turkey Supper,
Little Red School House, Canaan,
3:30-6:30 p.m.
Adults $9; 5-12 $4.50; under 5 free.
Bake table.
Proceeds: All Saints Church, Canaan.

What's on This Weekend? Uh....I don't know...

Dang it! I can't scrape the goings on about the county this morning...I'll update this evening when I get home...

In the meantime, I give this ridiculous burnout courtesy of a Kenworth W900! Go, Smokey!!!!

In honour of Burning Rubber's upcoming airing....

...more burnout shtuff..

*cue Top Gear voice over*




Info on the broadcast dates are available here

Extra! Extra! Read all about it...Burning Rubber doc. airs in November!

Burning Rubber (a documentary I was involved with last summer) will be airing on Bravo! Canada this month!

Here are the broadcast dates and times:

Sunday, November 15, 2009
8:00pm EST (9:00pm AST)

Friday, November 20, 2009
7:00pm EST (8:00pm AST)

Check out the trailer on the Burning Rubber site.

Here's another video clip on Bravo!'s site (sorry about the ad preceding the clip).

Please join me in congratulating Ariella and all involved in this production. It was awesome to watch it at the pre-release screening and at the Atlantic Film Festival. Now it'll be shown to so many more folks!

Once this goes to air. it'll be baroing unmasked ..ah well, anonymity was fun while it lasted...

Fall foliage, and all that jazz...

It's a scrapin' kind of Monday

For your viewing pleasure, one crazy burnout! Keep watchin', the action gets 'hot':

What's on This Weekend?

Wow, lots on the go this weekend....a couple teas to git yer sammich on, turkey supper in New Germany is usually good and those soup/chowder suppers might be the antidote to the snowy/cold weather!

Breakfasts

Saturday, November 7,
Pinehurst Hall,
7 to 11 a.m.

November 7,
Chester Basin Fire Hall.
7:30-10:30 a.m.,
Various menu selections.

Teas/Luncheons

November 7,
Pleasantville fire hall,
St. Peter's Ladies Guild, Soup and Sandwich Luncheon,
11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
assorted desserts,
Adults $8; children $4.

Saturday, November 7,
Christmas Tea,
All Saints Lutheran Church, Newcombville,
11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Dessert variety of pies.
White elephant, craft and bake table.
Adults $6; under 12 $3; under 5 free.

Suppers

November 7,
Turkey Supper at Epworth United Church, New Germany,
4- 6 p.m.
Adults $10, children under 12 $5, under 5 free

Saturday, November 7,
Fish Chowder Supper,
4:30-6:30 p.m.
Presbyterian Hall, Lunenburg.
dessert, cakes/pies,
Adults $8; children $4.
Take-outs/delivery 624-8407, 634-4846

Sunday, November 8,
Chili, Turkey Noodle Soup and Corn Chowder Supper, 4-6:30 p.m.
St. Luke's church hall, Rhodes Corner, Hwy. 3.
Adults $8; 5-12 $4; under 5 free.
Cakes for dessert,
Fundraiser for the Halifax Hospital Chaplaincy by St. Luke's Church and Mt. Olivet Church, Upper LaHave.
Take-outs available. 543-3352 (the day of)

The head used to have a body

A followup from yesterday's post...

I love the composition of this shot...from the faded paint on the shed, to the bag of bait apples inside...

It's Fall, time to git yer deer!

New Tonka truck attachment?

Well, maybe in the backwoods of Lunenburg County. (^_^)


Photo and deer head courtesy of Travis Taylor

So, you think you're having a bad hair day?...

Talk to this guy, then get back to me...spotted last week on the Indian Path Rd.

Still more killer sunrises

Shot last week:

What's on This Weekend?

I don't the details with me, but I know that this Saturday is the Dayspring Fireman's breakfast....If you ever wanted to see a grannie dressed up as the devil, now's your chance! Usual time, usual menu (7-11, eggs, bacon, hash browns, etc..). Sorry for the lack of details but I can only scrape so much free content online!

Other than that, the Conquerall Mills luncheons are always great, and Sunday looks like a Corned Beef and Cabbage festival in several parts of the county, enjoy!

Breakfasts

October 31,
Royal Canadian Legion #23, Lunenburg,
7:30-11:30 a.m.
Adults $6; ages 5-12, $3.
Takeout available for pick-up $6.50. 634-4215

Teas/Luncheons

Saturday, October 31,
Delicious all you can eat Halloween soup and sandwich luncheon and sale.
Conquerall Mills Community Hall,
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Adults $7, 6-12 $3, 5 and under free.
For Lutheran Ladies Aid.

Suppers

Sunday November 1,
St. Andrew's Anglican Annual Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner,
12 pm to 2 p.m.
West Northfield Community Centre.
Adults $10, under 12 $2.

Sunday November 1st
Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner
Chelsea & District community centre
4-6 p.m.
Pumpkin pie or apple pie for dessert
Adults $10, children 5 - 12 $5, under 5 free.
All proceeds for the Fire Department.

Remains of the hole in the sky

Remember that hole in the sky last week?

Here's another shot from that night, I captured some neat reflections on the sand:

Last of the Grimm Rd. burns....

for now....

Further down the Grimm Road....

...I spotted this little strip:

Grimm Rd. burn

I went on a drive on my lunch hour to snap some brake burn pics for ya'll.

More Grimm Rd. burnage to come this week:

What's on This Weekend?

Wow...LOTS going on this weekend, even on Sunday...take your pick! The Cherry Hill breakfast, Petite Riviere Harvest Tea and Mahone Bay Roast Beef suppers are all safe bets, though I am intrigued by that Kohl Canon Supper...

Breakfasts

October 24,
Royal Canadian Legion Bridgewater Branch #24
Halloween Breakfast,
7:30- 11:30 a.m.
Everyone welcome.
Adults $6, children 5- 12 $4, under 5 years free.
Proceeds to Veterans' Benevolent Fund or other groups that may need financial assistance. Please come out in support of the Veterans.

October 24,
7:30-10:30
Newfie Breakfast,
Chester Basin Legion.
Various menu selections.
Take-outs available.

October 24,
Firemen's Breakfast and Yard Sale,
United Communities Fire Hall, Cherry Hill,
8-11 a.m.
Adults $6; 5-12 years $3.25; under 5 free.

Teas/Luncheons

October 24.
Harvest Tea and Sale,
Wesley United Church, Petite Riviere,
2 - 4 p.m.
Adults $7, children $3, under 5 free.
Sandwiches and pie with ice cream, bake and white elephant tables, petite boutique.
Sponsored by U.C.W.

Suppers

October 24,
Kohl Canon Supper,
ham, baked beans, brown bread and rolls, pies for dessert.
Basement of St. John's Anglican Church, Chester Basin.
4:30-6:30 p.m.
Adults $10; children 5-12 $3; under 5 free.

October 24,
Roast Beef Supper.
4:30- 6:30 p.m.
St. James Anglican Parish Hall, Mahone Bay.
Adults $10, children 5- 12 $5, under 5 free.
Takeouts available.

October 25,
St. James Lutheran Church Annual Soup, Chowder and Chili Supper.
4- 6 p.m.
Branch LaHave community hall.
Apple crisp with ice cream for dessert.
Adults $7, 5- 12 years $2, under 5 free

October 25.
Corned Beef and Cabbage Supper,
Hebbs Cross fire hall, Desserts, strawberry shortcakes and apple and lemon pie.
Adults $9; 5-12 years, $4.50; under 5 years free

Guest Post: Wind and Light

Here's another guest post from Jeff Doran, enjoy!

What are whirligigs without wind? There was no shortage of either at the 10th annual Whirligig and Weathervane Festival in Shelburne, NS, September 19. In fact, the exhibits had to be moved into the lee on Dock Street so they wouldn't take off.






I may have contributed to the gusts since I had come from breakfast at the Sandy Point Lighthouse Community Centre. It was also the 10th annual Lighthouse Festival.

I've always said September is the best part of summer.

I started at Sandy Point light just down the coast from Shelburne.
There were whitecaps in the harbour. The community centre has monthly
meals and a view which would cost you twice as much at a restaurant.
Rain showers cleared to a rainbow in the direction I was headed.
Baccaro light is stuck out at the end of a point of land past Port La Tour, next to the giant volleyball of the coastal radar station. It was windy and lonely out there. I saw one car leaving as I arrived and one car arriving as I left. The location blew us away.



Inland at Barrington, Seal Island light has been partially relocated and partially replicated. In 1979 the lantern was removed by helicopter from the island off the coast of Clark's Harbour. The lighthouse was recreated by the Cape Sable Historical Society and has been open as a museum since 1985. You can climb five stories to the Fresnel lens made in Paris.





The Whirligig Festival was a frenzy of twirling, jigging, cranking and clattering works of art. Anyone interested in wind energy should consider the possibility of using whirligigs to saw dowels and churn shotglasses of butter. In addition to the usual miniature industrial applications, there were complicated cog and wheel inventions which spun dancers and circuses. Traditional rural life was represented by blacksmithing, wood chopping, milking, ox driving, hunting and fishing, not without modern humour. An angler baited a humpbacked whale. A brace of ducks took aim with shotguns at a hunter distracted by a bathing beauty removing her top. Domestic violence was represented by husbands getting thwacked and pummeled. Folk art seems to bring underlying feelings to the surface, perhaps a result of extended solitary hours in the workshop.

When I left, rigging was slapping a tattoo on masts in the marina. I had planned to stop at three more lighthouses on the way home, but I ended up pulling into the parking lot at Summerville Beach for a nap.

Must have been the big breakfast.

No waves, but a nice hole in the sky....

Even when there aren't waves to ride, it's worth a trip to the beach to take shots like this:

Midville Branch Burns

I guess brake burns are like leaves, they start to fade in the Fall....spotted this small strip in Midville Branch last night:

Birds gotta eat too..

The back side of Crescent Beach at low tide is a great place to do some bird watching:

What's on This Weekend?

Mmmm, that harvest luncheon has me hungry for chili.....

Breakfasts

Saturday, October 17,
Fireman's breakfast.
Petite Riviere Fire Hall,
8 -11 a.m.
Full menu, adults $6, under 12 $3, under 5 free.
Information call 688-1174

Teas/Luncheons

October 18, Sunday,
Harvest Luncheon,
Italy Cross, Middlewood and District fire hall,
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Menu: soups, chowders, chili, cakes and pies.
Adults $6; children (5-12) $3.
Proceeds for ladies auxiliary

Suppers

Saturday, October 17.
Cod Fish Supper,
4:30- 6 p.m.
Adults $12, youth 512 $6, under 5 free.
District #1 Community Centre, Blandford

Red sky in morning....

I was lucky to witness the amazing sunrise this morning, these colours didn't last very long

Guest Post: Fall Colours

Thanks to Jeff Doran for his guest post and photos...enjoy!

I took the round-about way to the Oktoberfest turkey dinner at the Forties community centre, but it was worth the wait and worth the drive.

I loaded my old VW van with camping gear and set out in search of fall colours inland, following the La Have River to New Germany, continuing on Rt. 10 with a stop at the Shannon River Canoe Access Park. The highway was in rough shape the rest of the way to Middleton and I made a mental note to return by a different route.

The forecast was clear but cold, so I planned to enjoy the luxuries of a serviced site at one of the many campgrounds in the Annapolis Valley where I could run my electric heater and even connect my laptop by wireless Internet for on-location Skyping. The only problem was that campgrounds advertising those amenities also offered karaoke, putt-putt and Greco pizza, not exactly suiting my peaceful and meditative mood.

The weather was so good I decided to venture to the Fundy Coast in hopes of finding a secluded spot in which to tuck the van for the night. I had two sleeping bags for warmth and a hand-crank rechargeable flashlight for entertainment.

At this point my directions must remain veiled in secrecy because I discovered the perfect spot and I want it to stay that way. Suffice it to say I landed on a dead-end road right at the water's edge. The wind was stiff and waves were spraying onto the road, but it was snug inside the van. I made chili watching sunset through the windshield.

Fundy Coast

Red sun at night... who made up that nonsense? I fell asleep to the sound of surf and woke to the howling of a gale through the weatherstripping. Wind was rocking the van like a street mob. The windshield was scummy with salt. I was pretty sure there was no hurricane in the forecast so I settled back to be rocked to sleep. A burst of light through the side curtains woke me this time. At first I thought my hide-away had been spotted by the authorities. Then I heard the thunder. By my count the lightning storm was far away. I fell asleep counting.

Then the rain hit. It came with the sound of a jet take-off. Pellets drilled the fibreglass roof. Maybe it was hail, I don't know. I didn't go out to check. I told myself some people like the sound of rain on a roof when they are sleeping.

I slept fitfully. I thought about surrendering and seeking shelter inland, but that would mean crossing North Mountain. I resigned myself to a long, sleepless night.

Sometime after 3:30 a.m. (the last time I checked my watch) the storm must have passed, because the next thing I knew it was 7:00 and I was awake and cold. I had looked forward to morning sun warming up the cab while I had a leisurely coffee. I had forgotten I was in the shadow of the mountain, so even though the sky was clear, I huddled in the dark, warming my hands around the butane stove, watching the shadow diminish with maddening slowness across the Bay of Fundy. It was high tide and the waves were higher than ever. Big flakes of scud blew like an explosion in a laundromat. When the sun did come up, though, it came right in my back window and warmed the back of my neck as I had my second cup of coffee.

I had a light breakfast because I was saving myself for Thanksgiving dinner which began at 11:00 a.m. When I left the shore, some locals were coming down to look at the waves. They must have wondered how I got there first.

Back on the Evangeline Trail I stopped at a farm market for Honey Crisp, Old Fashioned Cortland, Gravenstein, Jona Gold, Red Cortland and pears at a third of the price in Bridgewater. I kept a litre of sweet apple cider at hand to swig on my drive down the Dalhousie Road.

Lahave River

The colours had me saying "Wow!" and "Whoa!" at every turn. These were not the garish reds of calendar art. These were burnished golds and bronzes against a backdrop of evergreen. One hillside had me searching my memory for a Crayola box of names for yellow. The pavement went from good to bad to worse, but the worst of it was better than the best of Rt. 10.

At the turn to the Forties I started keeping a sharp eye out for the community hall. Still, I almost missed it because I mistook the crowd of cars in front of an abandoned convenience store for a used car lot.

The hall was hidden in back. I saw people coming out with sated expressions. It was noon. I worried I was too late for white meat.

But there was plenty of everything for $10. The room was barely half full, decorated in harvest colours. I had the works plus pecan pie.

I've had my share of Thanksgiving dinners at a variety of homes on both Thanksgivings in North America, and the Forties dinner put them to the test. My table-mates complained of the lack of squash, but then, they agreed, it was hard to make for a large crowd.

I left with no plan except to avoid Rt. 10 and find a warm place in the sun to lie down and digest. I took Rt. 12 and the Lighthouse Route to Mahone Bay where I parked facing the water with the sun over my shoulder, cracked open the cider, fired up the laptop on a whim, found three wireless sites within range (thanks, unsecured site -- you know who you are), Skyped my brother in Pennsylvania and used up all of my two-hours of battery power. He was planning his fall colour trip.

Then I went home and lay down. I heard on the news it had snowed in Antigonish.