Returning Home

Today was one of those days of laundry and catching up with my St. John's Life. And exhaustion.

I've taken on two long road trips this past summer and maybe that wasn't so wise of me. A lot of driving.

However, the other side of me thinks this is a good thing, to still be semi-active, not as much as I'd like, of course, but savouring the sweetness of life. Particularly beautiful Newfoundland. I never tire of the scenery and here are a few samples:

The Architecture of Trinity

I spotted this man painting his extraordinary shed, more delicious architecture, again in Trinity, I was desperately trying to get that can of paint on the ground in the picture:

We stayed in Eastport also, the beach was breathtaking, my friend is a speck in the distance in this picture and she's going to enlarge it and put it on her bedroom wall.

And finally, Salvage. An artist's paradise.

The great news is that I am newly inspired, freshly minted in fact, with many wonderful events and projects about to unfold. More on that later.

Once I catch my breath.

Blue Window

So yes, open it
Just a crack.
The blue curtains
Need replacing.
Once I saw outside,
1935 it was.
I didn't like it then.
I doubt if I would now.

Saturday Review

Ramana gave me this idea of having a summary of my week here. So I am trying it on for size.

And by the way, click to enbiggen any of the photos.

Grandgirl and I are just back from a few days in the Trinity Bight area and today were going to move on and stay further north but changed our minds. Our stay in Doran House was so perfect ("awesome!") that we knew anything else would be a let down so home we came and are planning a pyjama day tomorrow (reading, pizza, movies, games, making another Ipod playlist of a mash of our favourites).

First off is a picture through one of the windows of Doran House:



Then one of my favourites, a picture of Ansa on the cliff with Grandgirl below on the beach, embracing the water. She said she felt like she could take wing along with the birds at any moment and fly over it, it was all so beautiful.




Then we hiked up to the lighthouse at Trinity Bay, the view from there was astonishing, there are still remnants of the ramparts and the cannons used to defend this important harbour 400 years ago. And I bring you a picture of the lighthouse:



And this is a photo of the view from the lighthouse, doesn't it look like a magical town? (it is).




The weather was amazing for the time we were away and we drove back to more and more RFD and now, ha, that we're home, full RFD is upon us.

We ate last night at the Twine Loft (a special treat), the second sitting at 7.45 (how European of us!) and got dressed up to match the auspicious occasion. The food was amazing, a four course meal, she had the coq-a-vin entree and pronounced it a winner, I had the hazelnut encrusted salmon with scallopped potatoes (seriously scallopped in swiss cheese AND whipping cream, there should be a law against such offerings - how can one ever go back to plain?). A magnificent salad was served after the mains which enchanted Grandgirl, never having been introduced to this particular prandial routine before. The dessert was also crime laden. Barren Berries Pudding floating in rum sauce topped with whipped cream laced through with a reduction of raspberries. And oh yeah, carrot-orange soup as starter with just-out-of-the-oven bread. I don't know how we rolled ourselves to the car afterwards. And on top of that, our marvellous waitress and I became friends and exchanged contact info. She is heading off to Ireland soon on a life-dream project involving a spa (she's in her late fifties and now or never is upon her.) I told her my life dreams were happening rather late too, so she found it very encouraging.

I managed to finish a Richard B. Wright book which I loved, he's an author that I greatly admire. And I started a short story involving a guy just released from prison.

All in all a wonderful week. Grandgirl and I are having a glorious time, singing in the car to Lady Gaga AND Nina Simone, walking with the dog, getting caught up on all the doings of each others' lives. I feel so very lucky to have this gorgeous and intelligent young woman in my life.

Through a Glass Clearly

Photo taken through the Trinity Cooperage window, August 22nd, 2008

We're just back from a road trip to Trinity, a place that the word 'spectacular' doesn't do any justice. The harbour is beautiful, sheltering a town that has been carefully preserved. We explored the functioning forge and cooperage, museums and the churches and marvelled at the age of some of the tombstones. The weather was incredible also.

One of the highlights was a hike, considered one of the world's best, on the Skerwink Trail. It is approximately 5.4 km long, a little challenging in parts due to the climbing. But the views from the over 200' cliffs make it all worth while. Eagles soared, moose dawdled by and we ate wild blueberries along the way.

We stayed here at this great B&B. I'm a total fan of the B&B experience, apart from the friendliness of the owners one gets to meet travellers of all kinds and we actually spent time exploring restaurants and sharing dinners with our fellow B&B-ers in Trinity and of course exchanging life stories. Fascinating life stories. B&B-ers in Newfoundland share a sense of adventure and a thirst for the different and unusual. Being a writer, I so delight in these windows into the lives of others.

I don't know why Ontarians are depicted as dull, plodding, careful and predictable. We had a good laugh on the Skerwink trail. Not too many attempt it as it has an element of risk, but the hikers we encountered on the Skerwink were, without exception, all from Ontario!

PS: I'm heading up to Fogo and Twillingate with my granddaughter for a few days for our annual vacation together so I won't be on line until the end of the week. Happy end of summer all!