A truly happy person is one who can……..

FeaturedA truly happy person is one who can……..

…..enjoy the scenery while on a detour. (Anonymous)

We spent some time in Eastport in October 2017 and enjoyed many delicious meals, shows and activities. Finding ourselves with some time to spare between activities, we decided to hike the Sandy Cove Look-Out trail. It was an overcast dreary day and the hike was uphill but not very long.

The trail winds through trees and is fairly nondescript, but I always like to finish a trail once I have started, so we kept going.

We have to take personal responsibility for uplifting our lives. The Sacred Path of the Warrior Chogyam Trungpa

The trail was wet, dark and grey.

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At the top, the Canadian flag flies precariously in the wind.

In summer, beautiful Sandy Cove beach is a favourite of mine.

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My husband saw this beautiful Caribou Moss and took photos.


It was the bright spot of the hike and I am so glad we took the detour.

“But,in my simple ignorance, suppose
That self-same Power that brought me there
brought you.” The Rhodora Ralph Waldo Emerson

photos L & C Fudge

Magical Cape Spear

FeaturedMagical Cape Spear

Hiking around the boardwalks and trails of Cape Spear is always beautiful and for me spiritual; hiking it with one of my grandchildren is pure magic.

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“Walking gives freedom. When you walk you can determine your own tempo. You can choose your own course. You can think whatever you want.”      Nina Kuscik

Normally, I would agree with this quote but in this case, my four year old grandson chose the tempo and the course, and my thinking was limited to ….stay away from the cliffs, do not lose sight of him, do not run, do not spoil his day with too many warnings……….

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Wait for me!

On my previous visits to Cape Spear, I had never explored this!

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Surely with this workout, he will sleep tonight!

I truly do not understand people who abuse our earth with excess garbage, it will only sustain us for so long. Awesome is everywhere, let’s preserve it.

Photos by L. Fudge

Cape Spear, Newfoundland …..add it to your bucket list!

“Walk as if you are  kissing the earth with your feet. No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.” Buddha

A Short Tale of Wildflowers

A Short Tale of Wildflowers

White’s wharf in Comfort Cove has been around for many years and has been photographed many times. Many family boats have  tied up here over the years and it has, at times, been quite busy; but, it was only today that I really focused on the variety of wildflowers that grow there.

English Daisies

 

Cow Vetch

 

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Columbine……perhaps came from my mother’s or aunt’s garden many years ago.

 

Columbine

 

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“Like wildflowers, you must allow yourself to grow in all the places people thought you never would”. –E.V.

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A flake of bluebells (harebells).

The flake was laid against the side of the cliff and the flowers have grown up through it.

You belong among the wildflowers.

You belong in a boat out at sea.

You belong with your love on your arm.

You belong somewhere you feel free.–Tom Petty

 

The Common Tansy, White Clover and Bittersweet Nightshade also grow here underneath the cliff and along the side of the path. The nightshade is so pretty when in bloom, but is poisonous. Todd Boland’s book Wildflowers and Ferns of Newfoundland is an excellent resource tool.

Happiness is buttercups

and grasses grown waist high

Happiness is the sun on your face

Birds on the wind and a butterfly…….

Hettie (White) Sarson

 

I will keep looking for more wildflowers around the wharf and I will………

 

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try to always find the extraordinary in the ordinary.

Squid Jiggers Trail, Change Islands

Squid Jiggers Trail, Change Islands

Newfoundland is the world’s 16th largest island. Change Islands lies off its northeast coast and is accessible by a short ferry ride from Farewell, which is approximately an hour’s drive from Gander. The phone number to check the ferry schedule is 1 888-638-5454. If you are a visitor to our province, allow extra time as many of our side roads are in terrible condition. Also note that Farewell is not a town, so there are no services, except washroom facilities. In summer, I believe there are chip/food vans on sight. Simple works for me, hope it does for you too.

Our old Islander camper van has taken us on many adventures and is ideal for our hiking lifestyle.

The population of Change Islands is approximately 300. Change Islands “includes two large islands connected by a causeway that was built in 1965 and resulted in the arrival of the first motor vehicles on the islands.” Jean Edwards Stacey in Art At The Edge.

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Causeway linking the two islands.

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Just across the tickle, this beautiful house provided a colourful backdrop for our overnight stay. In the morning, it was a welcome splash of colour in the fog and rain.

Viewing an old church on this grey foggy day.


Root Cellars


Strolling through Change Islands

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The sign says approximately 1 hour, one person told me 11/2 hours and another, 2 hours. I would allow the maximum if you want to enjoy and explore. I would rate this trail moderate not easy because of the terrain. There are stairs, rocky areas and sections are crisscrossed with tree roots.


……and off we go.

Setting for Al Pittman’s play West Moon? I know it isn’t, but if I were here on All Soul’s Day, I would have to make a late night visit to listen for their voices.

We arrived on Change Islands late in the afternoon on Monday and had hoped to do the trail on Tuesday. Tuesday’s forecast called for rain, so we decided to leave around 5 pm on Monday to do the hike…..halfway through, it started to rain.:)

Roseroot

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Bakeapple/Cloudberry

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Lobster Traps

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Elephant Tree

Keep your eyes open.

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Giant Dinosaur Egg!

…always a welcome sight.

Two days before we did the hike, I found a most beautiful book at our library book sale. Serendipity!

Art At The Edge
Fogo Island and Change Islands Through the Eyes of Therese Frere. It was commissioned by the Shorefast Foundation. The artist is from Quebec and her depictions of the islands are stunning. The text is written by Jean Edwards Stacey and provides many interesting facts and details about the author and Fogo and Change Islands. I can’t recommend this book enough.

Click on the Change Islands link at the beginning of the blog for more information about the town and plan your visit.

“…that the distance between ordinary and extraordinary is only a step, a breath, a heartbeat away.” Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas

photos by L. Fudge, text by carolfromthecove

A tale, not a trek.

A tale, not a trek.

On Thursday, May 24 nature brought us 26-28 cm snow and even the birds weren’t amused! The day before was sunny and clear and I planted some more flowers. Overnight, and most of Thursday, the snow fell and broke a record for this time of year on the northeast coast.

Nature in all her glory.

Is this really May month?

The Pine Siskins, White-Throated Sparrows,Purple Finches, Juncos and Bluejays were all happy that I fed them; even if they too, were disgusted by the snow.

Continue reading “A tale, not a trek.” →

From Woodpiles to Stages….

From Woodpiles to Stages….

……a December to March pictorial trek.

Pine Siskin
Pine Siskin
Pine Siskin
Pine Siskin

Pine Siskins

American Gold Finch
American Gold Finch

“When I am bored, remind me:
This is the excitement of life-
darkness alternating with light,
down dancing with up,
and inactivity being absolutely essential
-as prelude-
to the most fulfilling experiences of all.”
Gratitude

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“Our life is frittered away by detail….Simplify, simplify.”
…….Henry David Thoreau

Woodpile by SH
Woodpile by SH

Woodpile by SH

I find this stacking and piling of wood settling and pleasing. Notice how the pieces are fitted and arranged and ….free standing with the ends being arranged to support the arrangement. Art and detail.

Cove Textile
Textiles in the Cove
Textiles in the Cove
Textiles in the Cove
Cove Textiles

Textiles in the Cove

To have eyes without imagination must be a sad state of affairs.
…C. Fudge……although I may have been influenced by Anne of Green Gables 🙂

A different perspective

Whites’ Wharf…a different perspective.

A different perspective

Icicles and Stage

Grandpa's Stage

Granpa’s Stage in Winter

December 2017-March 2018 (93)

No connors today.

Serenity

Serenity

Dogberries

Dogberries

Icicles

View from my window.

Simplicity
Create your own corner

Simplicity

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
….Theodore Roosevelt

Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland

Bountiful

Bountiful

Snow capped DogberriesSmurf HatsDecember 2017-March 2018 (142)

Robins’ Feast

Where are the gnomes?

Where are the gnomes?

December

Love this guy..and what a deal..paid $10.00 for him.

Our corner of the world
Robins’ Feast

Tranquil

Across the road

Across the Road.

Welcome Home

Welcome Home.

“Your true home is in the here and now, it is the door to each single moment.”
……….Thich Nhat Hank

We have only had a few days of snowfall this winter and then a few days later it is mostly melted. It sure is pretty and pristine when it does fall. Happy winter and hopefully spring will soon be here!

Photos L. Fudge