Foggy Morning on the Northwest Road

Putting a face on my past

Our local newspaper sometimes carries photos of "Five Generations" – a baby in the arms of a young mother along with three other remarkably young-looking adult women who are the baby's grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother.

Recently I received four unexpected photos by email. I'm now able to look into the face of my paternal great-great grandmother. What a gap in time between the five generations of this family (although, granted, I'm no babe in arms)!

This pretty young woman is my grandfather's sister, Clara. The story that comes from her direct descendants is that, after bearing several children, she died at the age of 31. Because her husband remarried after her death, an indignant niece ripped him out of their wedding photograph – leaving the unfortunate Clara with three hands.

Lawrencetown Beach

Another fine November day took us to Nova Scotia's famous Lawrencetown Beach.

The ocean was very calm, probably to the disappointment of several folks with wet suits and water boards who were doubtless hoping for a little more excitement. We'd never seen the gear being used by the couple below but a little googling informs us these are stand-up paddle boarders. It certainly looked like fun!

Stinking Garlic Festival

On a fine November Sunday, we headed to Watershed Farm in Baker Settlement for the 1st Annual Stinking Rose Garlic Festival. A group of garlic enthusiasts assembled in the beautiful blue-roofed barn to hear about garlic varieties and cultivation and to prepare baskets of fine bulbs for planting

Against a stunning sky, a willing group hoed and planted.

Muddy footwear was abandoned at the door as we enjoyed our reward – a delicious, garlic-laced lunch.

One of my favourite things was watching these little girls experience the pleasures of mud.

Another day to say how lucky we are to live on Nova Scotia's South Shore!