October 2020 – Celtic Beamer

Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving? There appears to be many reasons to celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada. Thanksgiving has been celebrated because a war has ended, because a Prince has recovered from serious illness, because a rebellion has ended, because of bountiful harvests and even special anniversaries. Present day traditions indicate it is a time to gather with family and friends to enjoy one another’s company, to share a gigantic cornucopia of awesome food, to raise a toast to good health, and to just give thanks to everyone, and everything, who makes us who we are.

On this Thanksgiving weekend 2020, while we are in the midst of a pandemic, I’m reflecting on what I’m truly thankful for, and there really are so many reasons to be thankful.

First and foremost, I’m thankful to have my Mom. Having been unemployed since February, I’ve had so much time to spend with her. To feel her love and support, during a rather difficult journey, has meant so much. Keeping her safe from Covid is my number one priority. We have obviously spent every day together, doing things like jigsaw puzzles, cooking, baking, gardening, house cleaning, culling out old magazines, clothes, and linens, relaxing on the deck, knitting, going for drives, and playing cards endlessly. It has been a very special time for both of us.

Right up there with my Mom, are my brothers; Sandy and Greg. Yes, Greg is like a second brother to me. I love, and admire, these two very much. They live a life that everyone should live. They work hard, but they relax and enjoy the best of everything life has to offer. They have a beautiful home, they are wonderful cooks, they love to garden and their yard is beautiful. They smart, and sensible, and they both have a great sense of humour. They have been my sounding board when I have been frustrated, and when I have felt defeated. They have offered advice and encouragement, and I always know they will be there for me.

I have so many other friends and family that I am so thankful to have in my life, but I dare not try to list them because I know I’d forget someone. I am sure there are several who do not even realize how much they mean to me. I’m also thankful for the wonderful neighbours in my community. I’m truly blessed to live here.

Strait Area Offsides hockey team. Love these peeps.

Riverdale Blues softball team. Lots of friends in this picture, taken sometime in the 80’s.

I am thankful to live in the Atlantic Bubble. For those of you from away, who may be reading this, the Atlantic Bubble is made up of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland/Labrador and my province of Nova Scotia. Residents are free to travel between these provinces without having to quarantine for 14 days. Anyone outside this region, coming into these provinces, must quarantine for 14 days. Our leaders have kept us safe by keeping our borders closed. The Atlantic Bubble has been declared the safest place to live in North America during this pandemic.

I am also thankful to live in Canada. I may be bias, but I think Canada is the best place to live. I’m thankful my parents moved our family, to Dundee, many years ago.

I am thankful to live in a comfortable house, with a beautiful yard, which allows me watch mother nature at her finest. I love watching the birds and wildlife visit on a daily basis. I love to watch the ever changing conditions of the river and lake. With the stiff wind blowing today, there are beautiful white caps on the water. Other times the stillness provides some of the most amazing reflections possible. I’m thankful to be able to watch all the different trees bud, and leaf out, in the spring, display their various shades of green all summer, quietly provide a gorgeous palette of colour in the fall, before going to sleep during the winter, and remind us all that every season provides us with beauty.

Apple tree in spring with a cedar waxwing.

I’m thankful for the eagles that wake me almost every morning. How lucky am I to see them on a daily basis? I just can’t get enough of them. The coyotes sometimes wake me at night, as they did last night, howling. Oddly enough, I find it eerily comforting. I know I’m safe in my house and I know they are just doing what comes naturally to them. I’m thankful to see deer, fox, mink, otter, seals, lynx, beaver, many birds and other animals either in my yard or very close to my home.

I’m thankful for my creative abilities that allow me to…well…create. Pen and paper, and computer and keyboard, allow me to write, and although not all is worth sharing, writing is just something that brings me happiness. My paint brushes allow me to paint, and try to put into pictures what my heart feels. Unfortunately others don’t always see what I see, so that is a work in progress. I’m trying to decide if I’m an abstract or folk artist. My knitting needles allow me to create wearable items, that I can gift to special people, or wear myself. I spend many hours a week knitting and this is a true passion of mine.

Abstract or Folk? A road, a stream or a fallen down tree? You decide.

I love the shape of this rock and I love lighthouses. I felt they complimented one another. — I love the shape of this rock and I love lighthouses. I felt they complimented each other.

Hats knit during our isolation this spring. They are for the NICU at the IWK.

I’m thankful for my musical abilities, such as they are. I love dabbling with various instruments that I have, and working out a particular tune that I like. Like my painting, I’m not gifted, but playing music gives me great satisfaction when things work out, frustration when they don’t, but a feeling of pleasure regardless.

I’m thankful for the little things in life; a hug, a thank you card in the mail, an unexpected phone call from an old friend, finding a dime, chocolate, socks (oh how I LOVE socks), books, a compliment on my hair (letting it grow Covid style), a friendly wave, a beep of the horn as someone drives by, flying a kite, a full moon, a shooting star, Mom’s chocolate chip cookies (they are famous), farm fresh local eggs, song lyrics that just resonate, a special memory that comes out of the blue, lighthouses, wind chimes, sunrises, sunsets, rainbows, flowers, lakes, rivers, mountains, valleys, my bicycle, my kayak, waterfalls, a good joke, hearing people belly laugh….I think you get the idea.

This year I’m especially thankful for my health and happiness. They go hand in hand, in many ways. If we don’t have our health, we really have nothing. If we don’t have happiness, we really have nothing. If you aren’t happy, it can have detrimental effects on your health and vice versa. I am so very thankful to have both.

Yours truly, happy and relaxing, while kayaking and listening to music, and sporting the Covid hairdo.

If you have read this post, sit back, close your eyes, and take a few minutes to reflect on what you are thankful for. I’ll bet you will be surprised how long your list will be.

All photos were taken by me.

When I received the itinerary for my trip to Ireland in May 2019, and noticed we’d be visiting Slieve League Cliffs, I was very intrigued. One of the destinations my Grandma and I wanted to see, when we travelled to Ireland in May 1986, was the Cliffs of Moher, but time and circumstances didn’t allow us that excursion. I don’t believe we were all that disappointed, because the rest of our trip was so phenomenal. However, over the years I wished we had been able to visit the Cliffs of Moher. This trip was allowing me to see cliffs, and although they weren’t the Cliffs of Moher, I somehow felt it would be a highlight.

I googled Slieve League Cliffs and quickly found out they are actually some of the highest cliffs in Ireland and almost three times the height of the Cliffs of Moher. This was going to be a treat. For personal reasons, I was secretly excited for this day. In my day travel bag I placed my Grandmother’s photo, which I had carried with me to Ireland. It was a photo of her, on the plane, as we travelled back from Ireland in 1986. I didn’t want her to miss out on the cliffs again.

Grandma – taken on May 19, 1986 on our flight home from Ireland. She’s wearing an aran sweater my Mom knit.

We arrive at the visitor information centre, at the base of Slieve League Cliffs. Inside the centre are two stunning wood carvings. Each one is has at least four dolphins, in various poses, from swimming to surfacing from the water. They carvings appeared to be from one solid piece of wood.

Wood carving in visitor centre at Slieve League.

Outside some columbine appeared to be growing wildly in a lovely shade of bluish purple.

Columbine at Slieve League Cliffs visitor centre.

Window box at the Slieve League Cliffs visitor centre.

Our large coach can’t make the trek to the upper parking area, so we park and travel on a smaller bus accompanied by two local gentlemen; one is the driver and the other provides commentary as we drive to the cliffs.

Narrow roadway leading to the parking area at the base of Slieve League Cliffs.

After a quick visit in the centre, we are soon on our way up the very narrow roadway. The drop, on the ocean side, was extremely steep. We arrive at the parking area, at the furthest point vehicles could travel. It was a very short walk until the cliffs were in full view. I was stunned. I had a huge lump in my throat and my eyes were tearing up. Grandma and I finally got to see some cliffs. The weather was ideal. It is often foggy, rainy, and windy, and visibility is often hampered, but on this day it was sunny, warm and calm. I could see for miles. The cliffs are almost 2000 feet. It was breathtaking.

Steep drops to the ocean. (Taken through the bus window)

The view was beyond anything I expected.

There appeared to be many crevices and tunnels at the base of the cliffs where the waves have been eroding the rock for years. The colours of the cliffs range from lush green where grasses grow, to white rock, to dark greens and greys. Fences are erected to keep people back from the edge. There is also a boardwalk, that leads up to a path, which continues on to the top of the cliffs. Time did not permit me to climb to the top of the cliffs, but I did go a short distance from the boardwalk on the path. I wanted to be alone for a few minutes and just take in the sight and be lost in my thoughts.

Crevices and tunnel like places along the base.

The amazing force of the water over many years causing erosion.

I tried to take a couple of selfies, but trying to get a significant portion of the cliffs in the background behind me proved to be impossible. A very nice person saw what I was trying to do and came over and offered to take my picture for me. How kind was that? I then reciprocated the offer when I saw a couple trying to do the same thing. I could tell they were most grateful even, though they didn’t speak English. Their faces told me how happy they were.

Taken by a nice gentleman who saw me attempting to take a selfie.

I just couldn’t get enough of the cliffs. It was much more than I ever expected and I was overwhelmed. I slowly made my way back down the path to the boardwalk. I didn’t want to leave. There were lots of people, but there is so much room to walk around, or just stand and stare, that it really didn’t seem busy at all.

Maureen MacIntyre – One of my travel mates.

Walking back down towards the boardwalk.

There are a couple of lengthy hikes that takes one to the top of the cliffs. One is called One Man’s Pass. It takes about 2-3 hours return to do this hike. Another hike includes One Man’s Pass and continues on to Pilgrim’s Path. Pilgrim’s Path is the backside of Slieve League Cliffs. It takes about 4-5 hours and is recommended for experienced hikers.

There were several sheep/rams lazing about on the drive up and back from the cliffs. They appeared to be roaming freely, as it is likely a communal grazing area. One had very long curly horns and very long straight wool. It did not look particularly friendly and I was quite happy to be safely in the bus.

Unfriendly looking, curly horned, long wool sheep/ram.

Near the main viewing area we could see what remains of a signal tower built in the 19th century and was used to watch for a French invasion. There is also an area where stones were placed forming 71 EIRE as a navigation aid for WW2 by American bomber pilots. It also warned that they were flying over neutral territory.

I left Slieve League with a feeling of peace and contentment. It was more than I had ever expected it would be. Brack Tours really know how to make a trip to Ireland breathtaking, entertaining, relaxing and memorable.

Month: October 2020

Thanksgiving

Slieve League Cliffs

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