Tag: Comfort Cove

Fall, Food & Foliage in the Cove

FeaturedFall, Food & Foliage in the Cove
Gathering & Preserving

Fall is my absolute favourite season. I am rather new at this gathering and preserving and to my surprise, I like it. I love experimenting with herbs and trying many of Newfoundland’s vegetables and fruits in different ways. Black Currants in a green salad, partridgeberries in stuffing, apples in soup stock, pears in stir fries, turnip fries, zucchini fries, roasted beet, roasted carrot and apple soup, hot peppers in cabbage rolls, damson jam with very little sugar, etc.,etc.

Homesteading……vegetable stock, eggs from our hens and a quiche with basil, spinach, tomatoes, peppers and eggs—–all from our little garden and greenhouse

Aunt Molly Ground Cherries

This plant was given to us by a friend. I had never heard of them.

I made the tray using a print by Jeannette Pope. Check out her Facebook page….Art by Jeannette

”Aunt Molly Ground Cherry is an outstanding variety that originated in Poland. Fruits are 1.3-1.8cm(1/2” to3/4”) in diameter. Fruits mature to a golden orange colour and drop to the ground in their husks when ripe.”

http://mckenzieseeds.com

Aunt Molly Ground Cherry

Cindy’s Pears

Slow cooker applesauce and autumn, a combination that works well.

I was becoming a little distraught because of our having a very wet and foggy October here on the northeast coast but October has reaffirmed my belief in her today, and I can honestly say:

I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Keep it simple.

Comfort Cove…..October’s Party

FeaturedComfort Cove…..October’s Party

We are celebrating our fall season in Newfoundland, Canada and October has been a glorious month to date. Comfort Cove, located on the island’s northeast coast, is dressed in my favorite colours. My hike today meandered onto Bight Road and my senses were on full alert.

Nature is not a place to visit, it is home.

Forest Photography, Wise Nature Saying

October’s Party

by George Cooper

October gave a party;

The leaves by hundreds came

The Chestnuts, Oaks and Maples,

And leaves of every name.

The Sunshine spread a carpet,

And everything was grand,

Miss Weather led the dancing,

Professor Wind the band.

The Chestnuts came in yellow,

The Oaks in crimson dressed,

The lovely Misses Maple

In scarlet looked their best;

All balanced to their partners,

And gaily fluttered by;

The sight was like a rainbow

New fallen from the sky.

Then, in the rustic hollow,

At hide-and-seek they played,

The party closed at sundown,

And everybody stayed,

Professor Wind played louder;

They flew along the ground;

And then the party ended

In jolly “hands around.”

Cheerful Charlie is visiting from Nova Scotia

………………..and stops by for a visit with Gerald, a man we all miss on Bight Road.

…………..and then I make my way gnome to my little forest.

Pot Cove Trail, Cottlesville NL

To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles. Mary Davis A beautiful fall day is made for hiking….so off we went to Cottlesville to walk this very interesting trail. I am sure nature lovers and foresters world wide would be amazed that a new species of tree can be found on Newfoundland’s northeast…

by carolfromthecove

Green Gardens Trail at last!

This trail has been on my bucket list for a number of years and I finally hiked it. It is 9.5 km return and I was definitely in my happy place as I walked through its varied and amazing landscape. Located approximately 3 km from Trout River on Route 431, the trail makes you feel…

by carolfromthecove

Icebergs and Inukshuks

Weather in Newfoundland can surely drive one mad! Here on the northeast coast, we have had a cold, dreary April and snow flurries in May. This is not unusual. However, the week to date has been exceptionally beautiful and today I donned my hiking boots and headed for Twillingate. I met Christina there and we…

by carolfromthecove

Comfort Cove Wildflower Walk

FeaturedComfort Cove Wildflower Walk

The best that can be said of my knowledge of wildflowers is that I know very little but I like them. I like learning about them, searching for their identification through books,  asking other people,  from wildflower experts and the Wildflowers of Newfoundland and Labrador FB page.

Some friends and I did a little walk about the Cove on a lovely sunny morning and together we studied the wildflowers growing by the side of the road in Comfort Cove. These I believe are pretty common wildflowers but oh so pretty.

Wild Madder/Bedstraw
Wild Madder/Bedstraw

Wild madder/Bedstraw

This one took a little time, but was ID’d by members of  Wildflowers of Newfoundland and Labrador.  It is further described as a roadside mix, dumped by contractors doing road work. I, for one, am so glad they did…growing all along the roadside of Comfort Cove-Newstead they make quite the visual statement.

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I took this picture on one of my solo walks in Newstead. A variety of Daisy…Ox eye, English, some other???? not sure. As children we called them Bachelor Buttons and would pull off the petals one by one, reciting “he loves me, he loves me not.”

St. John’s Wort

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I like wildflowers, I like how they grow anywhere…in fields, among rocks, bogs, roadsides, between old boards, barrels, on barrens…simply wherever they feel like it.  They always seem so happy and free and for the most part co-exist happily together, sometimes invading each other’s space.

 

On a recent medicine walk in Woody Point NL, I learned that the leaves of the common Yarrow can be inserted in wounds to stop bleeding. Also the whole plant can be thrown in a fire to drive away flies.

 

You belong among the wildflowers

You belong in a boat out at sea

Sail away, kill off the hours

You belong somewhere you feel free.     Wildflowers  by Tom Petty

Cow Vetch
Cow Vetch

Bring your enthusiasm for life with you everywhere you go, and it will be contagious.   Dr. Bernie S. Siegel

 

Butter and Eggs
Butter and Eggs

 

Butter and Eggs

 

Butter and Eggs

Butter and Eggs

 

Go outside, walk, walk and then walk some more, see and explore, learn and marvel.

A Short Tale With the Possiblity of Unlimited Treks

FeaturedA Short Tale With the Possiblity of Unlimited Treks

What kind of life can you have in a house without books? Sherman Alexie

A house without books is certainly not one I would want and parents and grandparents who do not read to their children are not people I understand.

 

Digging the hole for the post.

Little Free Libraries are found all over the world and having seen them in various locations in our province, I wanted one. Seeing  and reading about the one in Green’s Harbour, Trinty Bay closed the deal for me. Thankfully my husband agree to make me one and because the ground was frozen, it had to wait until this week to be erected.

 

This is now extra special because two of our grandchildren are here and helped us with the set up.

Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.  Emilie Buchwald

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Preparing to cut the ribbon.

 

Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries.   Anne Herbert

I am blessed in that even though my grandchildren love their devices, they are avid readers.

 

Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

 

I am thrilled that two people have already stopped by to get  books and another left some books.

Fill your house with stacks of books, in all the crannies and all the nooks.  Dr. Seuss

 

The sign reads “Take a book, leave a book”, but if you don’t have one to leave, please feel free to take one and….. spread the word.

Corner of Elderberry Lane and Poplar Road, Comfort Cove.

I always read. You know how sharks have to keep swimming or they die? I’m like that. If I stop reading, I die.  Patrick Rothfuss

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cull’s Point Lookout Trail

FeaturedCull’s Point Lookout Trail

….gets some clearing and some new signs.

 

 

The trail from the sign in to the actual lookout is approximately 1/2 km and today is still snow covered in places.

We are very fortunate here in the Cove that in 1977, Kevin Head and 15 others developed this trail as a part of a summer works program.  Later Gordon White,  Keith Copper and others involved with the town council at the time (still gathering information on this)  made the trail longer and  it now goes around the headlands and coves, ending near the Wild Bight Road. This is not a long trail, ( approximately 3 km return) but I find it quite relaxing and peaceful.

 

 

Rock along the trail
Tenacity

Tenacity

 

 

 

New signs

 

 

New sign
Sea Stack
Sea Stack

This first lookout along the trail is perhaps my favourite. It is a great place to stop and maybe have a cup of tea, being careful not to go too close to the edge of the cliff. Later there will probably be an Osprey’s nest on the top of the sea stack. We have stopped to watch the birds guard the nest when out in our boat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lichen on White Spruce
Lichen on White Spruce
Lichen on White Spruce

 

I absolutely love this lichen on the white spruce and want to decorate  them with red berries. 🙂

 

 

 

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These windfalls and others have now been cleared.

 

 

A beautiful day, sunny and warm on March 31!

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The trail as of today is quite slippery in places. Hiking stick(s) and cleats are recommended.

 

 

 

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Doctor’s Hill

In the background you can see Doctor’s Hill

Is there anything that is better than to be out walking in the clear air?  In Praise of Walking by Thomas A. Clark

 

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.

Oxeye 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.

A Sunday Trek along Bight Road

A Sunday Trek along Bight Road

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

A beautiful fall day along the Wild Bight Road.

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The times they are a’changin.
While I don’t see Bob Dylan in this setting, his words ring true.

Peaceful and serene.

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The little red tractor….sure miss stopping and talking to Gerald Head.

Dogberries are so plentiful this year….and so beautiful as they add their splash of colour to the landscape.

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Thankfully there is no change here, the colours are vibrant.

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Bight Road

Farm in the Bight

A lazy Sunday in the fields.

October’s Party by George Cooper

October gave a party
The leaves by hundreds came-
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.

The Chestnuts came in yellow,
The Oaks in crimson dressed;
The lovely Misses Maple
In scarlet looked their best;
All balanced to their partners,
And gaily fluttered by;
The sight was like a rainbow
New fallen from the sky.

Then, in the rustic hollow,
At hide-and-seek they played,
The party closed at sundown,
And everybody stayed.
Professor Wind played louder;
They flew along the ground;
And then the party ended
In jolly “hands around.”

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October dressing for her pool party.

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Bight Road

O world, I cannot hold thee close enough!
Thy winds,thy wide grey skies!
The mists that roll and rise!
Thy woods, this autumn day, that ache and sag
All all but cry with colour! That gaunt crag
To crush! To lift the lean of that black bluff!
World, World, I cannot hold thee close enough!
Edna St. Vincent Millay

A Trek around the Cove.

A Trek around the Cove.

A chilly December morning but everything still looks scenic.

“Silence begets Reverence”……..fr. Adventure Canada Video

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Through my father’s eyes.

The crow is busy eating his breakfast on Uncle Allan’s bench and I love the colourful buoys with the mussels still attached.

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Bittersweet Nightshade   Solanum dulcamara

Identified with the help of the Wildflower Society .  Todd Boland’s  field guide, Trees & Shrubs of Newfoundland and Labrador is also an excellent reference. Another handy reference, Wild Flowers of Newfoundland Canada by Bill and June Titford is usually in my knapsack when I hike. This is a much older book but is still very useful.

Head’s Store

Continuing on our walk, we come to what used to be Lewis and Elsie Head’s store. When I was a child, every Saturday morning one of us would have to walk here to buy groceries for mom.

The tide sure is high this morning.

And then we walk to the end of Cove Road and turn down Church Road. The roads had no names when I was growing up here, simply ‘up around the cove’ or ‘in the back way’.

Bethel United Church on the left and then this unique blue building on the right.

I always grin when I pass this building, not so much because it is a blend of two architectural styles, but because it is a blend of two religious denominations!  When I was growing up here, the longer one (with truck parked in front of it) was the Salvation Army Citadel and the one with the higher peak and white doors, was the United Church. People from the Salvation Army went to one school and used the back road in the community and people who were United attended a different school and used the cove road to get there! Many years later, the local fish plant obtained them and eventually joined them together and here they stand………. harmoniously together:)

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Continuing on our trek, approaching Newstead or already in Newstead? I am not sure where the boundary is.

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Wharf Demolition.

The old Government Wharf in Newstead has been deemed unsafe and is being torn down.

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Solomon’s Island Bird Sanctuary

Solomon’s Island and Newstead Harbour

Trekking along down Harbour View Drive or is  it Ocean View …..will have to take a closer look on my next trek.

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Saw this interesting contraption by the side of the road and thought it was handmade……I have seen some interesting and imaginative creations being used and driven here. The owner was nearby and so I asked him if he had made it, but no, it was bought somewhere in St. John’s.

 Our 5 km trek has come to an end, hope you enjoyed the scenery.

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

All photos by L. Fudge