Isle of Lewis Landscape

Isle of Lewis, Scotland

June 27, 2013

A foggy day in the Hebrides.

Leverburgh, Scotland

Leverburgh, Scotland

June 26, 2012

A typical shot from the road, just outside of Leverburgh, on the Southern tip of the Isle of Harris.  Lovely scenery!

Somewhere on the A859 between Tarbert and Leverburgh

Isle of Harris, Scotland

June 25, 2013

I'm realizing June 25th was quite the day, we drove all over the place!  Here's another shot of the gorgeous countryside we encountered in our travels.

Luskentyre, Scotland

Isle of Harris

Luskentyre, Scotland

June 25, 2013

Yet another gorgeous view from the Hebrides.  You gotta love that white quartz sand, it makes the water look all turquoise and almost tropical.  Almost.

The dunes surrounding the beach were peppered with hundreds of rabbit warrens and many footpaths leading to and from the beach.  Ah, Scotland...I left part of my heart on the Hebrides!

What's on this weekend? BAKED BEANS!

Another nice spread of breakfasts and suppers this weekend.

Tough call on which supper to choose, the Blandford corned beef supper is always great but the scalloped potatoes, baked beans and sweet brown bread in Petite Riviere sound excellent!  Happy dining, everyone.

Breakfasts

Saturday, March 23

Newfie Breakfast,

Chester Basin Legion

7:30-10:30,

Menu selections and take-out available.

Saturday, March 23, 

Firemen's Breakfast,

United Communities Fire Hall, Cherry Hill. 

8- 11 a.m. 

Adults $7, 5- 12 years $3.25, under 5 free.

Sunday, March 24

Brunch

RCL, Br. #49, Mahone Bay.

10 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

Adults $ 7.00, $3.00 for children over 5, under 5 for free. 

Suppers

March 23

Corned Beef and Cabbage Supper, 

Blandford Community Centre,

4:30 - 6 p.m. 

Adults $12, youth $6, under 5 free.

Saturday, March 23, 

Old Fashioned Baked Bean Supper, 

Wesley United Church, Petite Riviere, 

4:30-6:30. 

Menu includes scalloped potatoes, salads, brown bread and dessert. 

Adults $8; children 12 and under $3; under 5 free.

Saturday, March 23

Turkey Supper

Barss Corner community hall

4:30- 6:30 p.m.

Adults $12, 6- 12 years $5, 5 and under free. 

Proceeds for Baptist Picnic Grounds

Hebridean Highland Cow

Luskentyre, Scotland

June 25, 2012

During last summer's Hebridean excursion, this was the only highland cattle we spotted.  I'm glad I grabbed this shot.  On the return portion of the drive, it was long gone.

A.D. Munro - Behind the Butcher Counter

A.D. Munro - Butcher & Grocer

Tarbert, Scotland

June 25, 2012

A peek behind the counter at A.D. Munro's in Tarbert.  I love the weathered butcher's stool, not sure if that's the best place to leave a knife...but hey, it's not my shop.

A.D. Munro - Butcher & Grocer

A.D. Munro - Butcher & Grocer

Tarbert, Scotland

June 25, 2012

If you ever find yourself in Tarbert, there are only two small shops to buy provisions.  A small newsagent and a butcher/grocer; A.D. Munro.  

The first day we arrived on the Hebrides, I made several trips to the newsagent to pick up essentials like toilet paper and hand soap.  The next day, we checked out the local grocer to see what was in stock.  Turns out, a bit of everything!

As you can see from this shot from the meat counter, plenty of selection.  No shortage of lamb, that's for sure.  It's hard to not trip over a sheep while in the Hebrides.  They also had plenty of pork, chicken and beef.  It was a rare treat to have an actual butcher working in the shop, he was very helpful when we were trying to decide what cut of lamb to buy.  Here's a shot of someone picking up some meat at the counter.

Munro's also had a small selection of veggies, snacks, staples, booze, cell phone minutes and everything else you'd expect at a corner shop.  Good thing, too...the nearest grocery store is in Stornaway, a solid hour's drive North!.

What's on this weekend?

It must be spring, more church/fire/community grub options this weekend!  I'm tempted by both of the Sunday suppers, too bad they are at opposite ends of the county!

BREAKFASTS

March 16, 

Blandford community centre, 

9- 11 a.m. 

Ham, eggs, beans, etc. 

Adults $6; youth 5-12, $3.

Saturday, March 16

Firemen's Breakfast, 

Petite Riviere fire hall,

8-11 a.m. 

Full menu. 

Adults $7, children $3

March 16

Riverport and District Firemen's Breakfast, 

7:30- 11:30 a.m.

Usual menu, 

$7 adults; $3 children 6- 12; children 5 and under free.

SUPPERS

Sunday, March 17

Chowder Supper,

Vogler's Cove hall, 

4- 6 p.m. 

Fish/Corn chowder, crackers, biscuits. Dessert: carrot cake and peach cobbler. 

Adults $8.50, children 5-12 $4, under 5 free. 

Vogler's Cove Tide Calendars available, $15.

March 17

St. Patrick's Supper,

4- 6, Forties Community Centre, 1787 Forties Road, New Ross. 

Corn beef and cabbage, carrots and potatoes, desert, tea/ coffee. 

Adults $11; children 512 $5.50; under 5 $2.50. 

Doors open at 4, serving starts at 4:30. 

For information call 689-2000 or 689-2612.

Harris Tweed Foot Loom

Harris Tweed Warehouse

Tarbert, Scotland

May 25, 2012

Tarbert was our 'home base' for the Outer Hebridean portion of our transatlantic sojourn last summer.   Tarbert is located on the Isle of Harris, home of the world famous......you guessed it, Harris Tweed.

We were lucky to witness a live demonstration of an older, Hattersly loom in operation.  I was surprised to learn that every single metre of Harris Tweed is woven on these looms....which are foot powered!  Check out this page to see a video of one of these mechanical beauties in operation.

The tweed warehouse had that wonderful smell that comes with wool, sometimes I think it smells like crayons.  We spent a long time looking at bolt after bolt of gorgeous fabric, trying to narrow down the choices of which ones to buy and bring back to Canada.  Since our visit to Tarbert, I notice Harris Tweed everywhere.  

The story of how Harris Tweed changed life on the island is very interesting, I recommend browsing the official site.  They are, after all, the guardians of the orb.

Infinity Bridge

Confederation Bridge

Somewhere over the Gulf of St. Lawrence

March 2, 2013

A foggy bridge crossing made for a neat infinity effect.  Man, that bridge seems to go on forever!  Doesn't help matters when you can't see the end of the structure, nor much over the side.  Those concrete walls are the perfect height to shield most car drivers from the 'dangerous' view over the side.

Windy Sentinels

 Amherst Wind Farm

Tantramar Marsh

March 4, 2013

Surely I'm not the only driver who succumbs to the Don Quixote effect when spotting this wind farm.  The drive from East - West is particularly stunning.  The first few glimpses over the horizon make one curious, then transfixed as the numerous turbines come into full view.  

I hope to see more of these dotting the landscape in years to come.  The recent Wind4All CEDIF has sold out, which hopefully bodes well for future wind power investment and development in the province.

What's on this weekend?

I've been laxing on the community grub updates lately.  A thousand lashes with a wet noodle for this blogger!

Several breakfasts to choose from this weekend.  It looks like the weather is going to be splendid so a great time to get out and about, soak up some sun....and bacon grease. I bet there will be scrumptiously sweet molasses bread at the Pleasantville fish cake & baked bean supper.  If not, FOR SHAME!

Breakfasts

March 9
Hebbs Cross Fire Department, 

7- 11 a.m. 

Homemade baked beans, eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage, toast, tea, coffee, juice. 

Price $7, children $3.

Saturday, March 9, 

St. Martin's Anglican Church hall, Martin's River

7:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, toast, pancakes, hash browns, baked beans, tea, coffee, juice. 

Adults $7, children 5 and up $3, children under 5 free.
Proceeds for St. Martin's Restoration Fund.

March 9

Parkdale/ Maplewood hall,

7- 10:30 a.m. 

Pancakes, real maple syrup, sausage, bacon, eggs, toast, juice, tea, coffee. 

Adults $7; youth $3.50; under 5 free. 

Info: Calvin 644-3602, Joanne 644-2877

Saturday, March 9th
Central United Church Hall, Lunenburg. 

7:30- 11:30 a.m. 

Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Bologna, Beans, Hash Browns, Juice, Toast, Tea & Coffee.

Adults $7; children (6-12) $3; Under 6 free.

Suppers

Saturday, March 9

Pleasantville & District Fire Department Supper,

4- 6 p.m. 

Fish cakes, beans and brown bread, dessert. 

Adults $9; Children $5; Under 5 Free.

Stupendous Skye

Calmac Ferry Hebrides

Isle of Skye to Isle of Harris, Scotland

June 23, 2012

Another gorgeous shot looking back at the Skye (Uig) as we started the ~45 minute trip to the Hebrides.  As you can see, the weather was on our side, again.  Truly blessed, we were!

Acadia Orchid Show - Pt.3

K.C. Irving Environmental Centre

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Feb. 23, 2013

Seems like a drizmal kind of day out there, I prescribe another gorgeous orchid shot to cheer you up!