Law Office Door

Just sitting here admiring the door to my lawyer’s office. Especially impressed by how the new, locally crafted main door matches the vintage door to the right.

I’m not sure what purpose that original red door served – but there must be a story there …

And wow!!! What a fine example of a “Lunenburg Bump”!!

Linked with Norm’s Thursday Doors

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One Door Closes ….

Well, that’s a wrap, folks! Last week, we packed up and moved out of our family’s home – the place where the kiddies grew (mostly), and from where they were launched.

Well. Actually. The packing-up part took months and was a horribly, gruelling process – one best avoided. But never mind. It’s over now.

But last week, we closed the door(s) on this property and on particular period of our lives. We built this place ourselves fifteen years ago. It was a great experience for all of us, in a gorgeous location and we loved it.

The place is now in the hands of a delighted new owner, who has expansion plans of her own.

As for us, life is full of adventures and it’s time for a new one. So, with one last glance at that view, we turn our attention to the next project.

Construction begins next week.

I think.

I’ll keep you posted….

Linked with Norm’s Thursday Doors

Lines

This way to the beach!

Hirtle’s Beach in Lunenburg County, NS to be exact.

WPC – lines

Weathered

We have to have weather, whether or not. Right?

Or … Adapting to winter on the Coast of the North Atlantic

Wind is the story here. And wildly fluctuating temperatures.

In the previous post, I mentioned that the weather gods were sending us rain and wind for Christmas. It was the forecast of high winds that had me worried. That “gift” was delivered with enthusiasm! Oh, it rained alight!! The rain gutters sounded as if someone had turned in a tap on full force. Temperatures were mild, well above freezing. The wind blew roof shingles off houses, toppled trees and knocked out the electricity to tens of thousands.

We had a simple, old-fashioned county Christmas dinner, ourselves. (Luckily, the turkey had JUST come when the power went out). For us the outage added an element of atmosphere and was restored after about 6 hours – much to the relief of my millennial sons. Others were not so fortunate – some folks made due without power for three more days. Which really was a challenge because the storm was followed by super cold temperatures – in the -20C area with windchill around -27C.

Our annual Christmas hike was postponed till Boxing Day – and let me tell you, it was “some cold”!!

I do not envy those folks who had to cope with freezing houses, not knowing when their power would be back. Those cold temps lasted into the New Year.

And then.

The temps warmed up. Up, up,up! And carried with them another rain/wind storm. This was the storm that brought snow to a Florida and flooded Boston. It was massive! Not so much rain for us, but wind gusts in excess of 120km/hr. Well warned, we were all better prepared. The Power Corp brought in extra help and spread them throughout the land in anticipation. Lobster fishermen moved their boats and secured them as best they could. Hubby stashed everything that could blow around into the garage. I filled my bathtub with water, bought new flashlights and batteries, pulled out our hand-cranked radio and stocked up with snacks (#stormchips!!😉). I even made a pot of coffee and stored it the thermos before going to bed. How’s that for planning ahead?!

The next morning, we still had power! In fact, we didn’t lose power the in this storm at all. Lucky, again. Because more than half of all homes in the province did. The winds and tidal surge did the damage. The Halifax waterfront boardwalk was flooded and torn apart. Flights were cancelled. Bridges shut. Ferries ties up.

Our beach was “breached”.

Boats were toppled off their cradles, twisting masts.

And, dramatically, an entire wall of scaffolding blew off the Lunenburg Academy. This beauty is undergoing much needed renovations. However, questions abound about the wisdom of wrapping a large building, which is perched on a hill facing the North Atlantic, in plastic for the winter. But, no one was hurt and no serious damage was done to the building. So, that’s a question for another day.

Again, the system was followed with a deep freeze which lasted for about a week.

As I write this, we are experiencing yet another “wind/rain” event. It is worth noting that it is +15C and the rain is falling in sheets. The radio is reporting widespread power outages and flooding. Again. And, you guessed it, the forecast is for falling temps. The ground is frozen and is, therefore, unable to absorb all this water. Because temperatures are due to drop quickly, forecasters are warning about a “flash freeze”. That can’t be good!

I’m delighted to report that we, here, have sustained no damage or inconvenience from any of these storms really, except for a dark Christmas dinner. We have been in this area for more that 27 years, and have experienced more power outages in the past two than all the previous years put together. This brings me to the question of the season….

How do we adapt to, what seems to be, the new normal?

My husband and I are planning to build a new house in the summer. (Downsizing. Haha! Yeah, sure!). As we consider heating systems, we are hoping to build for the future. Whatever that brings. And what should we do for back up, when the power goes out – as it obviously, inevitably will.

In our present home we have radiant in-floor heat powered by a geo-thermal system. Which is great, but expensive and invasive to install. It would require some sort of back up, if we were to stay. The thought for the new house is in- floor heat powered by solar panels. With a power wall as back up.

We are still researching. Any thoughts?

WPC – weathered

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is coming – The goose is getting fat – Please put a penny in the old man’s hat – If you don’t have a penny, a ha’penny will do – If you don’t have a ha’penny, then God bless you.

A bit of peace and bliss at the beach today. A calm before the storm. Literally. The (ungrateful) weatherman is forecasting a Christmas Day storm of snow turning to rain with high winds for tomorrow. I expect we’ll get mostly rain. However, it’s the winds that can get me down.

We won’t notice this time though. Just so glad that we are all home here together. Both boys are home. The turkey is brining. The tree is lit and decorated. We’ll be busy catching up, playing games and just general silliness. Revisiting some traditions and creating new memories.

May the magic of the season gladden your heart and fulfill your desires!

Merry Christmas!

Window

“Set wide the window. Let me drink the day.”

– Edith Wharton

Peaking out an upstairs window in Old Town Lunenburg.

WPC – window

Nautical Doors

The Tall Ships have been and gone.

After much anticipation and massive preparations, 25 Tall Ships visited Halifax for a festive weekend July 30 – Aug 1. There were parties, concerts, picnics, ship tours and fireworks.

Led by Sail Training International, Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta is a transatlantic race of 7,000 nautical miles taking place over the course of five months in 2017. The race started at the port of Royal Greenwich in Great Britain on April 13.

It finishes in the port of Le Havre, France, which will welcome the grand winner between August 31 and September 3.

The Race route included stops in Portugal, Bermuda, the United States and Canada – coinciding nicely with Canada’s 150th Anniversary as a county.

From Halifax, 13 of the ships made their way to Lunenburg for the weekend of August 10-12. And what’s time we had!!

Alongside Lunenburg’s “shorter” waterfront (no high-rises here!), these tall masts seemed all the more impressive.

The party is over now. And we wish them all Fair Winds!

Linked with Norm’s Thursday Doors

Ooh! Shiny!

The brass bell aboard the schooner Bluenose II, on a rainy August Saturday in Lunenburg, NS.

WPC – ooh! shiny!

Order

If there hadn’t been women we’d still be squatting in a cave eating raw meat, because we made civilization in order to impress our girlfriends. Orson Welles

All fall in!  

Lined up and ready for dinner!!!

This lot arrived compliments of our generous neighbour… who just happens to be a lobster fisherman. A happy surprise phone call on a Sunday morning!

They were deliciously fresh, of course. But. Still. I can help but wonder just how hungry must the first person to eat a lobster have been ….  (it’s a perennial question for me.). There’s a lot of amour on those “sea bugs”.

WPC – Order

Small Town Magic

I realize that cities and towns the world over usher in the last weeks before Christmas with a ceremony that often includes the lighting of a tree. 

And it’s no different in Lunenburg. 

Or maybe it is. 

As the self-proclaimed “Balsam Fir Capital of the World”, Lunenburg County takes Christmas trees very seriously. It follows that the town would sport a real beauty. And everyone wants in on the action. So a lovely “festival of trees” cluster around the official tree – individuals, families, and organizations sponsor the trees.  There must be a hundred trees there this year (I didn’t count them). 

Several hundred people gathered last night to witness the lighting of these trees. There was such a lovely feeling in the group. 

People reunited with old friends, made new ones, enjoyed treats from the outdoor market and sang carols. I was lucky enough to stand next to a friend and former music teacher who has the most beautiful soprano voice.  (Naturally, I lip-synced). 

Children laughed and ran round with their friends – dogs barked. It was a joyful scene.

Then. The moment came for the countdown to flicking the switch and light trees.  A hush. 10, 9, 8 … 3, 2, 1!! A communal gasp!  And the perfect finish as the Kinderchoir sang a German Carol. 

And that, my friends, is a little bit of Lunenburg magic. 

(Apologies for the poor photo quality – caught up in the moment)