Thursday 28 March 2013

Wednesday 27 March 2013

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!

Tuesday 26 March 2013

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.

Monday 25 March 2013

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!

Friday 22 March 2013

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

Thursday 21 March 2013

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.

Tuesday 19 March 2013

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.

Monday 18 March 2013

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!.

Friday 15 March 2013

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.

Thursday 14 March 2013

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.

Wednesday 13 March 2013

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.

Tuesday 12 March 2013

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.

Friday 8 March 2013

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.

Wednesday 6 March 2013

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!

Tuesday 5 March 2013

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!