Heyy, I thought this was Riverport, not Rose Bay!

Riverport, NS

May 26, 2012

Shot on the way out to the wharf to catch some mackerel.  

I didn't realize the water caught so much of the setting sun.  I tried to turn the highlights down so the sky wasn't so blown out.  Some day I'll learn how to do masked levels adjustments...

Blomidon Field

Blomidon, NS

June 2, 2012

It was an odd weather weekend back in early June.  The previous day was decidedly chilly, but the next day the sun was shining and we were on the road.

The Apple Blossom Festival was preparing for the big parade and we had our sights set on Kentville to soak it all in.

Windows down, arms pretending to be planes while we wizzed past fields showing first sprouts.  It was that kind of Saturday.  Just the antidote for a wet and chilly day like today. 

Minas Basin Moonrise

Blomidon Provincial Park

Blomidon, NS

June 1, 2012

Time to take a break from all those shots from across the pond and head over to the Annapolis Valley.

It was a gorgeous evening to watch the moon rise over the Minas Basin.  Wolfville's lights can be seen in the distance.  Heck, you can even see a few stars in the night sky.  This shot was taken from the entrance to the provincial park (hence the light cast from the street lights in the foreground).

Blomidon is a fun park to visit, mostly car camping though like most provincial parks there are a small number of walk-in sites.  The view of the Minas Basin from the park rarely disappoints.  Many of the campsites have a view of the basin and have a nice breeze which helps keep the bugs at bay.  That also means it can get pretty chilly, we were bundled up that weekend but enjoyed the break from the black flies.

If you have time, check out their network of walking trails.  If you are lucky you will be able to spot Five Islands Provincial park and Parrsboro on the North shore of the basin.

Scotland: Glasgow Subway

Glasgow Subway Car

Glasgow, Scotland

June 19, 2012

During our short stay in Glasgow, I was glad I managed to get one trip on Glasgow's Subway.  While it was a 'wild ride' (the cars rock back and forth a lot), I think I must've held my camera on an extreme angle when I captured the above shot.

Believe it or not, it is the third oldest underground metro system in the world.  Approaches to some stations are still on an uphill, to assist the cars in braking.   As you can see, the cars themselves are tube shaped.  Mind those short entrances when you board the cars.

We noticed construction activity at several stations, which surprised my native Glaswegian guide.   For a subway system that was opened in 1896, I'm sure any upgrades are a welcome sight.

The subway run consists of two rings, both underground.  One runs clockwise, the other anti clockwise.  Simple! Sure, there are likely problems with timetables....but the subway map is pretty easy to understand.

Scotland: The Hunterian

Glasgow, Scotland

University of Glasgow

The Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery

June 19, 2012

This place screams "I am a museum!", doesn't it?  Feast your eyes on The Hunterian, Scotland's oldest public museum.  It is home to the largest single holding of the works of the famous Scottish Arts and Crafts/Art Nouveau designer; Charles Rennie Mackintosh.  Sadly, that exhibit was not open the day we visited the museum.  Frownie faces all around.  

Luckily we managed to amuse ourselves in their permanent collections.  The exhibit of The Antonine Wall was of particular interest to me, mostly because we had been talking about Rome's influence in Scotland the previous evening.  Like most people mistakenly assume, Rome's outer reach did not end at the infamous Hadrian's Wall.  I loved looking at the Roman coinage, garment artifacts, weapons, etc..  The inscribed tablets and other pieces of stone which date The Antonine Wall were also very interesting.

The admission to this museum was free, as was the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh.  Apparently these are funded by council tax.  Civilized, that.

Scotland: Olympic Fever

Edinburgh, Scotland

June 18, 2012

I wouldn't say that people were feverish about the olympics 'down South'.  There were plenty of adverts in cities, on the telly, etc.....and this awful thing.  It seemed very out of place in Edinburgh, maybe it was because we had just walked down from the castle, I don't know.  I do know that when we rounded the bend and saw this, we all exhaled a disgusted sigh.  

I am rather pleased with how the buildings lined up inside the rings.  I wish I could say that composition was intentional, errrrm, it was not.

Scotland: The Cuillins

Glen Sligachan

Sligachan, Scotland

June 22, 2012

In the heart of Scotland's Isle of Skye (or just plain 'Skye', as the locals call it) lies The Cuillins, one of 40 national scenic areas in Scotland.  I hope you can understand why from this shot.  Stunning.

We hiked up the Glen for a couple hours, towards the hill you can see on the left in the distance.  That peak is named Marsco, it is part of the Red Hills/Red Cuillins.  The Red Hills are mostly composed of granite, compared to the Black Cuillins (you can see the base of them on the right hand of the shot) which are mostly basalt and gabbro.

This area of Scotland is a popular destination for ramblers, hikers and climbers.  If you are up for a challenge, you can complete the Black Cuillin Traverse. This takes you from Glenbrittle in the West, to Sligachan in the East. 

It's no wonder that Skye was used in the opening sequence of Prometheus, its landscape has an otherworldy feel.  

It was an amazing hike up the glen, I wish we could've ventured further.  If you happen to find yourself in Sligachan.  Stop, go for a ramble and recuperate in the Sligachan's excellent pub afterwards.

Iceland: Keflavik International Airport Scooter

Keflavíkurflugvöllur

Keflavik, Iceland

July 1, 2012

It was odd to begin celebrating Canada Day in Iceland...2012 was that kind of summer. Luckily it was also the same day as the Euro 2012 final which gave us something to do as we killed time in Boston, waiting for our return flight to Nova Scotia.

While we queued up for the first leg of our flight home, I noticed this sleek piece of industrial design leaning up against the window. Had a child left it there by accident? No, this is an official scooter for IGS. They run the terminal's 'nordic deli' restaurants and bars as well as aircraft handling for the airport.

Sadly, I missed the opportunity to snap a shot of another IGS scooter that had the front of the scooter modified to carry trays of food . Next time....

What's on this weekend? New Ross Christmas Festival! Breakfast! Desbrisay Open House!

New Ross is the place to be this weekend for all things Christmas.  Hebbs Cross has your greasy breakfast fix, back to New Ross Friday and Saturday for a community supper.

Breakfasts

Dec. 8
Hebbs Cross Fire Department
7:00am - 11:00am,
Homemade baked beans, eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage, toast, tea, coffee, juice. 

Price $7, children $3.

Suppers

December 7

Community Supper
New Ross Legion

4:30pm - 6:30pm,
Come and taste all the delicious foods that makes up a Pot Luck meal. 

Adults $9.00; 5 - 12 years - $4.00 and those under 5 years eat at no cost to you. 

There will be Christmas crafts and Surprise Packages for sale, and perhaps baked goods.

Dec. 8
Turkey Dinner & Supper
Forties Community Centre

11:30am - 1:30pm,
Turkey dinner with all the trimmings. 

Adults $10; 12 and under $5; under 5 $2.50. 

Proudly part of the New Ross Christmas Festival. 

Call 689-2612 or 689-2000 for information.

Community Events

Dec.8
Craft Fair and Tree Decorating Contest
Forties Community Centre

10:00am - 4:00pm,
No admission. 

Proudly part of the New Ross Christmas Festival. 

Call 689-2612 or 689-2000 for information.

Dec. 8
Christmas Craft & Gift Fair
New Ross Consolidated School

10:00am,
A large Craft & Gift Fair featuring 40 vendors.

Festival Stage performers and Demonstrations of traditional crafts. 

Light lunch available and door prize draw.

Dec. 8
Christkindlmarkt - part of the New Ross Christmas Festival
Bandstand

4:00 pm,
A little German Christmas Festival for those who miss them. 

A part of the New Ross Christmas Festival. 

Featuring German sausage, Pancakes and cookies with other genuine German goodies.

Dec. 9

DesBrisay Museum Christmas Open House
DesBrisay Museum

2:00pm - 4:00pm,
Crafts and games for the kids, face painting, gingerbread decorating, Jelly bean game.

Christmas Carol singalong, Christmas trivia games, door prizes, apple cider, punch and Christmas Cookies. 

Bring a food bank donation.

Mommy....where do socks come from?

Sock knitting machines

Halifax Crafters Merry Beary Market

Olympic Hall

Halifax, NS

Dec. 1, 2012

While perusing the offerings at the recent Halifax Crafters winter market, I did a double take after I passed a stand selling socks.  What did I just see?  Wait...was that a machine that makes socks?!?  It sure was!

From what I've gleaned online, this is a P.T. Legare Circular Knitting Machine.  Check out the many varieties of these time saving devices here.  

If you'd like to learn more about the crafter who owns this machine, check out this interview with crafter Rosie Smith on the Halifax Crafters' site.

Congrats to the organizers and crafters for another successful craft show!

Scotland: The Lonely Walk Home

Glasgow, Scotland

June 19, 2012

I spotted this fellow on the cab ride home after a hard day's work of boozing and dining in the West End.  As you can see, this area was semi-industrial. At the time, his suit and tie apparel seemed like a nice contrast to the surroundings.  

Scotland: Food, Glorious Food!

Glasgow, Scotland

June 19, 2012

Sometimes it pays to ask.  I spotted this nice display of fish while walking somewhere in the West end of Glasgow...I entered the store and asked in my most polite voice, if I could please take a photo of his fish on display.  The shopkeeper shrugged and said yes.  

It's not the most exciting shot ever, maybe I was just excited to see some mackerel fillets in the window.  At any rate, I'm glad I took 'mundane' shots of grocery store shelves and shots like this one.  If anything, I regret that I didn't take more!