"WHENWE" MOMENTS

Sometimes - many times -  I miss the good life we had in Botswana. While I acknowledge the reasonable and valid reasons why we left that country of easy living and moved to this country of far from easy living, I do miss the relaxed lifestyle, the friends, the good times. I was reminded of those happy days when we met with our friend Reg, who was travelling on the Balmoral from Southampton to New York, retracing the path of the Titanic. That entailed a stopover in Halifax, and we had the opportunity to meet with him twice, once for an evening and once for an afternoon. It was a delightful visit, chatting about friends and places, and generally catching up with each other, as one does with old friends. And, yes, we did leave at a good time, and some of the changes in the social life and governance are not appealing to everyone, but our conversations left a tiny pang in my lonesome heart. I have been longing for the warmth (sun and friends), the camaraderie, the laughter and joy of our previous life. Such a contrast to life in cold, wintery Nova Scotia.  I suspect that climate does, indeed, determine the social interactions of the people,  and the generalised personalities as well, to some extent. In Nova Scotia, I suspect it is not some extent, but to a large extent. My experience of Ontario - ditto. New Brunswick as always been a bit different in my experience - more warmth in that rocky province, almost as a counterfoil for the rough landscape. But, forge on we shall. Wonderful to see Reg again. Wonderful to reminisce. And now, we shall continue to chip away at the vagaries of life here, and perhaps create a wonderful memory of two for reminiscing in our senior years.

SPRING SNOWSTORM

A spring snowstorm, coming from the east, an unusual direction,  astonished us this weekend. 

Snow fell in large, wet flakes, settling onto the ground in thick, heavy mounds. We had about 15 cm of snow, but because the temperatures were springlike, and the ground had started to thaw, the snow failed to meet its accumulation potential because it melted on the ground, and compressed with the weight of the water in the flakes.

The green tulip and lily shoots were engulfed with sticky, white snow. They just patiently paused, and let the white blanket cover them, until only their bright green tips peeked out over the counterpane.  

Our beautiful view was obscured by opaque clouds, but the bird feeders remained visible, and the occasional hardy chickadee sallied forth to refuel.

The dogs kicked up clumps of snow that created small snowballs that they then chased as they romped around the yard. Toti was incorrigible. Phiri sat,  cool as a cucumber, on the snow and watched the clouds roll by.

Today, it is back to normal, with the usual assortment of birds stopping by our bird feeder for a snack.

 My favourite is the Cardinal.

 I do like the lively chickadees, though.

  

 We have the omnipresent Blue Jay as well.

There are other birds that stop at the feeders, but these ones remained long enough for a snapshot today.

HEAD TO TOES

A day of pummelling and pressure, with relaxing results.

It didn't start of with any intention further than the usual reflexology treatment and an accompanying pedicure, but someone cancelled an appointment just as I arrived for mine,  so I was slotted into the schedule for an extra extravagance - an energyssage at Head to Toes Reflex Services.

 

What a marvellous massage.  My aching muscles appreciated the attention;

 I suspect that the toxins loosened by the reflexology flowed out of my body more easily as a result.

An energyssage involves the use of several essential oils while gently massaging the back. Hot mud is applied, then covered with hot towels.  I simmered underneath that warmth while Deb attended to legs and feet. The feet had just had a pedicure and reflexology treatment, so they were feeling quite content, and certainly were relaxed, 

 but those leg muscles were happy to be massaged into a more pliable state.

Although I am very good about providing niceties for others, I often neglect to provide anything other than essentials for myself. We all need a bit of pampering now and then. I think I might have to go for the full head-to-toes treatment about once a month, when I can afford it. 

BEACH TREASURES

April arrived with clear, bright skies. Temperatures remained crisp, and the north-west wind bit as it puffed around the corners and into the coves. 

The dogs and I bundled up and went for a walk on the beach in Cornwallis. Well, I bundled up. They carry their fur coats with them all the time.

Some treasures were found, as always. Treasures like this lovely whelk shell...pastel pinks whorling across its exterior, the varigation of swirling colour attracted this casual beachcomber.

    More often, those conical shells are broken, revealing the startling white interior. I think this might be a Northern Whelk. There are an abundance of mussel shells on all our beaches. Sometimes barnacles are attached to them, which I think is hilarious. Imagine, hitching a ride on a mussel.

This beach is rather impoverished in beach glass, but I did find a couple of small bits of green glass. I love the glaze caused when the glass tumbles in the waves. 

There is always a bit of crab claw somewhere on the beach....

...and occasionally there are odd items, like this bit of metal.

      I think it comes from an engine.

My favourite item on this beach was the weathered logs, twisted with seaweed, string, and rusty wire.

 I imagined that they might be the masts or spars from pirate ships (yes, even at this age my imagination gives me joy) The Annapolis Basin is rumoured to have housed smugglers, and I reckon it may have included pirates from the Caribbean on their summer holidays. I didn't see any pirates, but perhaps it's too early in the season. Yo,ho,ho, but no bottle of rum.

An intertidal pool  revealed that the wood posts were probably  supports for a weir that collapsed from  neglect years ago. I don't care about that truth...I'd rather pretend the spars came from a pirate ship. It made the outing much more enjoyable; my pace became jaunty, swathes were cut through the air with my sabre, and I found shimmering gold, translucent with the sunlight shining through the whorl.      Treasures of beauty found on the beach.  

The dogs, as always,  enjoyed their outing, running on the beach after dipping their toes in the cold water from the Atlantic Ocean that twice daily, with the tides,  refreshes the water in the Annapolis Basin via the Bay of Fundy. 

One of the pleasures about living here, on the edge of the ocean,  is the proximity of pebble beaches,  with lovely views and little treasures,  where I can replenish my mind and soul while meandering beside the sea.