Weather

I have always been fascinated by weather. Eric Sloane's Weather Book is a favorite of mine. He wrote it back in 1949. It remains a Bible of sorts for me to this day.

From the first page in the book:  "The weather is with us wherever we are, yet nothing is more taken for granted than the daily drama of the sky."

Today was a particularly interesting weather day. A gorgeous red sunrise signaling "red sky in the morning, sailor take warning," followed by ever-changing skies throughout the day.

I know a sailor with a "weather eye." It's different from being a meteorologist as they are all slaves to that weather mapping stuff even though they get it wrong much of the time. The one with the "weather eye" has what Eric Sloane refers to as a "sky philosophy," one who can look up at the sky throughout the day and have a keen sense of what's ahead. I'm working on it! I'm forever looking up at the sky and my camera captures much of what I see. I can't always predict the weather though. In time...

There was a beautiful sunrise this morning.  On the way to work I was listening to a Dar Williams song. These lyrics struck me -

"Well the sun rose
With so many colors it nearly broke my heart
It worked me over like a work of art..."
~Dar Williams.

Later in the day, a summer storm rolled in, somewhat dramatic in nature. My car got washed, garden watered, and my dirt road is less dusty. Now brilliant sunshine has returned. I love weather!

Summer

Although I don't typically get personal on my blog, I'm referring to this season as my summer of discontent. The contributing factor was a relationship gone awry. Most people navigate successfully through these situations and I imagine I'll get to the other side. I hope! Fortunately, I'm resilient by nature, a good thing. Time will help and I await the passage of time. I'm lucky to be surrounded by incredible friends who make me laugh and keep me going.  Plus, there's my camera. I shoot pictures every day. My passion.
Weather-wise, it's been an odd summer. A little on the cool side. And a bit too much rain. Not much swimming but fine days for boating - sailing, kayaking, rowing.Plus the rain is great for the gardens.
It's afternoon now and I'm sitting on my porch - in a sweatshirt. Definitely not late July weather. But, it's gorgeous. Cows graze in the field across the street and the outside world is incredibly green. The perfect bucolic setting.
Last night I was at my friends' lake house about a 1/4 mile up the road. We had just finished dinner and I glanced at the sky. Based on the clouds (which I've come to know), I had the feeling it was going to be an amazing sunset. Yep, some magnificent colors. Here are a couple photos. One was down at the lake. The other photo was what I happened to see when I looked behind me heading down to the lake. Always a good idea to look in all directions!

I mentioned  I live across the street from cows.  I'm beginning to realize they're quite social. I love photographing them. Sometimes I think they rather enjoy it too.The often appear to pose for my camera. Here's a particularly special photo of one of the girls. Love her expression! It was early morning just after sunrise and the light was perfect.

Today my entire house smelled like manure with a strong wind blowing. I'm grown accustomed to the smell of sh*t, plus I love the girls. We have a great relationship.  Here they are in the early morning fog. My favorite time of day.

Nova Scotia...more!

Today I was struck by the wildness of the sea. The power, the beauty.

I sat close to the breaking waves for a long while. A place of comfort.

Something about the ocean. Can't get enough of it. 

South Shore, Nova Scotia

This place has captured my heart. I'll leave a piece of me behind when I begin driving south tomorrow. 

A gorgeous area. And Canadians are super friendly people. I 'almost' want to move in, but I have a lovely home to return to.

Life is good.

Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia

Bless the ships at sea. Bless the lighthouses that guide them home.
This is Peggy's Cove lighthouse, an active lighthouse. This is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the country and I swore I wouldn't take a picture of it. But I did. And more than one.
I have a strong affinity for lighthouses. There was a time when I sailed on the ocean and a lighthouse would often guide us to shore. 

I remember a feeling, all bleary eyed from sleep deprivation in the middle of the night, THEN breathing a sigh of relief. The light.

French Village, Nova Scotia

I continue to be taken by the beauty of this area, the warmth of the Canadians, and the general laid back feel of this country.

Rainy days continues, only one day of sun. I'm making the most of it. Getting out between showers, but today looks like one of those all day rain events. All ok, as I have plenty of inside things to do. Back home, there are always chores.

Below is a photo of Micou's Island. It's an island just across the way from where I'm staying. At low tide, one can cross over on a sandbar. There's a lush pine forest and walking through it after the rain smelled like Christmas. Loved it!

Nova Scotia

Arrived in French Village, Nova Scotia (south shore), yesterday. A serious road warrior the past couple days. Yesterday I was in 5 states and 2 countries in crazy blinding rain. Today I continued to deal with rain, but not as insane. When the rain let up, I jumped out and took photos. I'm thrilled that fog seems to be a Nova Scotia specialty (along with the rain, not so good). Rumor has it sun is in the forecast for tomorrow, and 70 degrees! Wow! Staying in a house overlooking St. Margaret's Bay that empties into the Atlantic. It was once the lighthouse keeper's house. I feel a deep connection to the sea here.

view from the former lightkeeper's house where I'm staying

New Brunswick coast, shortly before I got to Nova Scotia

quick shot in the rain, somewhere near Moncton Nova Scotia

St. Andrews, near the Bay of Fundy as one can see from the tides

near the Bay of Fundy

fog - there will be more!