…Home to Custom Guided Upper Bay of Fundy Ocean-floor Tours Tours .
Finding interest in a snowy landscape thanks to a branch ripped from the tree during last weekend’s storm is a nice change from the usual beach.
The afternoon light was perfect for casting shadows and adding drama to this humble backyard scene…
Enjoy your day. Best wishes, Anna
“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes
… from the latest snow storm!
We are grateful: for heat, electricity, good food and the amazing caring neighbours who lend a hand where needed!
Thank you Parrsboro! Happy Sunday. We look forward to sunny weather shortly. Best wishes, Anna
Yes, it’s the weekend and after a reprieve from snow and wind last weekend we make up for it this time. It’s the third weather system in Atlantic Canada this January and the snow is being driven sideways.
We were warned about the “weather bomb” earlier in the week and I was so grateful that the medical appointments in Halifax were accompanied by good weather.
Anticipating the snow and strong wind I made a point to get in a short walk at First Beach yesterday afternoon. The tide was slowly moving in but the walk was just what I needed.
Snow was already falling …
…but it meant some quiet time.
Without distractions I make the best discoveries!
From Zen Aesthetic subject matter…
…to the sentient being perched on the stranded ice floe I nearly missed due to its camouflage colours, this short outing was definitely worth it!
Wishing you all a wonderful day! Stay warm, stay safe and let nature dictate how the day plays out. Best wishes, Anna
I wasn’t going to share this image here because I already posted this amazing sunset capture on my Instagram and FaceBook accounts. However, I realize not everyone uses social media. When a personal request to repost my image on a local community FaceBook bulletin board arrived a little while ago I decided to share the image here as well.
We were on our way home after two long days in Halifax for medical appointments yesterday. As we turned off the highway at Masstown the golden sun was nearing the horizon illuminating the exposed wet and icy ocean floor of the Bay of Fundy making it sparkle and reflect, a sight to be seen!
Within seconds of the sun slipping below the horizon the sky began to exhibit fuchsia and pink patches and suddenly, without fanfare, the sky exploded with reds, oranges, pinks and golds appearing even more magical with the colours reflecting off the Bay of Fundy at low tide.
Another storm is approaching… carrying this image with me in my memory bank will get us through strong winds and massive amounts of snow. Happy Friday, Anna
A dusting of snow
Cradled where “X” marks the spot –
Shadow and light play…
We stuck to the initial plan last Sunday: Venture out around low tide and make our way to Clarke Head. I have blogged about Clarke Head in my first post last June as well as August and again on January 1st following my late December visit.
This was the first time I set out in bleak weather. The forecast was for sunny periods interspersed with clouds but when we arrived at Glooscap Campground Beach it didn’t look too promising. We persevered anyways!
I am glad we didn’t turn around: Parts of the beach were a monochromatic wonderland with sandy ripples reflecting light and showing off the texture at its best. As well, the cliffs were so different with the dusting of snow on them. We discovered textures we had not noticed before. We walked toward the large sea stack and came across large ice cakes. The particular one in the slideshow below was tinged pink from the red Bay of Fundy sand. The ice floating on the water this year suggests that the temperatures are much lower than it has been last year. A Parrsboro oldtimer suspects that the gulf stream is shifting…
About an hour into our leisurely walk the sun began to push through the cloud cover and we spotted some blue sky…
…and by the time we arrived at Clarke Head the sun shone brightly which always makes this spot even more magical!
Two Islands appeared mysterious surrounded by an icy mist. It made for a great capture! My walking companions were very happy we had followed through with our plans despite the initial chill in the air. We really enjoyed the excursion and by not pushing ourselves to reach our destination in record setting time we were not too tired when we returned to the car. It truly was a Sunday well spent!
Happy Wednesday to all of you! We are on our way to Halifax today. We hope the weather holds so we can attend to the appointments booked two months ago. Best wishes and keep active, Anna
This was an excursion that was long overdue. Friends and I tried to “find” the old dam twice before but we were unsuccessful. When another friend texted to invite me along for a snowshoe excursion I decided to jump at the chance to finally find this elusive destination!
The weather was perfect. We were the first to “cut the trail” after a lovely dusting of snow. The forest was magical with fluffy snow drifting from the higher branches, sunlight breaking through the trees to cast shadows and highlight specific snow-covered spots. I was transported back to my childhood and had to pinch myself as a reminder that I was not hiking in the Bavarian Alps but making my way through a Nova Scotian forest.
The distance we travelled wasn’t too far, perhaps a mile. The last stretch went uphill but we soon heard the rushing water as we arrived at the partially frozen falls. If I thought the forest was magical, I was even more taken by the ice sculptures Mother Nature had in store for us.
Along the adjacent hillside, a wonderful cluster of icicles drew my attention and one particular sculpture located close to the dam wall called out for a closer inspection.
All four of us were busy capturing ice, light and shadow and the falling water with our cameras. We looked for creatures in the ice and found a dragon or dinosaur (or could be a camel?) and a bear…
…no matter what it was each of us saw the outing as a wonderful way to connect with each other and nature! Another afternoon well spent getting to know the Parrsboro area.
I hope you enjoyed the photos. Wishing you a fantastic Tuesday. All the best, Anna
I am not a huge fan of winter however, witnessing the ever-changing ice formations before, after and during the tides has become an obsession with me.
To reach First Beach I walk along the Aboiteau and parts of the Parrsboro Inner Harbour. I understand that this year’s temperatures are comparatively lower than during the past few years. I can’t get enough of the bulging formations, cracks and ice floes. Combined with the blue sky reflections many of the images could easily be interpreted as paintings.
Enjoy today’s offering. May they set the tone for a great week! Best wishes, Anna
Sometimes one has to just throw caution to the wind and do what one wants to do, and that is, to take full advantage of the gorgeous sunshine despite the cold.
I think I have become complacent, trusting and not to mention, a bit whimpy! When people in Nova Scotia start to complain about the cold, it is easy to slip into the same mindset. Today I pulled on my new, super comfy winter boots, zipped up my winter coat, which regularly protected me from -40 C on the prairies, and set out to snap a few pictures to post here. I just had to get out for a change!
Imagine my surprise, when it wasn’t all that chilly. I don’t like wearing a hat and it was no problem, at least not until I ran into some friends on the beach and we stood and chatted for a while. Only then did I have to pull up the hood. As long as I kept on moving I was fine and if I didn’t know any better I would have thought it was at least 10 degrees warmer. Apart from the light breeze at the beach, the wind stayed away.
I am grateful I persevered and went outside. It was so rewarding to find natural ice formations, seaweed encased in a layer of ice, hoar frost-covered branches and patches of lacy ice on the rocky beach. It made for a great afternoon of exploring.
The weather is supposed to warm up. I look forward to getting out on a more regular basis again. Hope everyone else is staying toasty warm! Happy Saturday, Anna
The temperature on my weather app told it it was -24 C this morning but I let the sunshine fool me. It is cold outside, no question about it.
The high tide yesterday flooded the area beyond our backyard yesterday creating a vast ice-covered area with a small crack for the water to flow. This winter is so different from last year’s and I have the best view from the living room to contrast and compare the two winters in Parrsboro.
Meanwhile, it has warmed up to -14C and when I stepped outside I could not feel the wind immediately. Standing in the bright sunshine I detected an unusual sound. Looking around I realized it stemmed from the tree and its reaction to the slight breeze. It sounded like thin layers of ice breaking up on a lake due to wind action.
Stay warm, everybody! Wishing you all a great weekend. May the sunshine prevail wherever you are! Best wishes, Anna
Lonely goose on ice
Craning her neck and searching –
Where is the water?
…to the community. I am happy to announce that after a meeting with the Recreation Director for the Municipality of Cumberland County, Carolyn Bollwerk, a date is officially set to start a local Walking Group.
When: Wednesdays, starting March 2nd, 2022, 10 a. m.
Meeting Point: The Bandstand at the corner of Main Street and Eastern Avenue
Contact: Anna Hergert <annahergert@me.com> or Carolyn Bollwerk <cbollwerk@cumberlandcounty.ns.ca> for more information and to register.
Yesterday’s storm was less severe than expected. I made it out for a chilly beach walk this afternoon and evidence of storm damage is everywhere!
The beach was littered” with colourful artifacts after the rough seas we have been experiencing. I don’t see these colours any other time of the year. Delightful discoveries, indeed!
Enjoy the rest of your day. Best wishes, Anna
Yup, this was yesterday, the day after we dug out from “the big storm.” These high mountains of packed snow on either side of the road after the snowplow cleared the streets and our super helpful and kind neighbours helped us shovel the driveway and paths to front and back doors reminded me of my childhood growing up in a small mountain village in Bavaria. According to the Parrsboro old-timers, this is a normal winter, the way it used to be. Over the last few years, everyone has been spoiled with milder weather and less snow or rain.
When the sky was so beautiful and clear yesterday we decided to go for a short excursion. We ended up at First Beach across from the Parrsboro Lighthouse and found it hard to believe that we had just weathered a major winter storm that brought destruction and lengthy power outages to most of Nova Scotia. I enjoyed a short walk along the calm waters of the Bay of Fundy with gulls circling overhead and seasoned sea glass under my feet.
Today is spent preparing meals suitable for a power outage and baking some bread to thank the neighbours for their help on Saturday. Fingers crossed the power stays on and the trees in our yard remain standing.
Happy Monday. Stay safe, Anna
…and the absence of an internet connection has me posting later than usual today.
We are still clearing areas of snow drifts on our property and after a short drive through the community we are feeling rather grateful that we do not have toppled trees across our yard or no heat.
We are warm and we really enjoyed the sun and deep blue sky all day. I even went for a short walk on the beach. The image I am inserting at the top of my post today was shared on Facebook by a friend. Love the sentiment!
Stay tuned for more images from the Fundy Shore soon. I was unable to upload any images today as I am using data on my phone. Apologies and all the best for a relaxing Sunday, Anna
True to the forecasts we have been following all week, the big winter storm arrived yesterday afternoon. The wind was fierce all night, we lost power for about 11 hours and the snow drifts are impressive.
It took some time to dig a narrow path across the back deck for our short-legged ShihTzus to go outside😊.
The most disappointing discovery for us was the “crow tree” decapitation by the strong and relentless winds. We consider ourselves very fortunate that we have not suffered more damage. The storage shed is standing, the camper is upright, windows are intact and the patch job on the roof from Thursday seems to have done the job. At the moment we are sorting out why our internet is not working…
In the end, it will all work itself out. The heat is on and I am hugging a hot cuppa full of gratitude that we have weathered our first big winter storm in the Bay of Fundy.
Happy weekend, everyone! Stay safe, stay warm! Best wishes, Anna
…reminiscent of an artist’s canvas…
…especially if you fill your days with new challenges.
The last couple of blog posts have been brief not because I didn’t feel like writing and sharing images but because my attention was briefly diverted.
Yesterday I was invited to test the brand-new Fundy GeoPark Ambassador Training Programme. I am among the first to be certified as a Fundy GeoPark Ambassador and feel quite honoured to have been asked to participate in the test run. It was an hour well spent as it added to my knowledge base. Living in the heart of the Fundy GeoPark carries a certain responsibility and sharing background information along the way with visitors in the community and general area is a great way to engage.
And just because it was so much fun spending time in the ZOOM classroom yesterday, another three hours today added to my educational enjoyment. This blog was created thanks to walking the Fundy Shore and exploring Nova Scotia. I was looking for a way to engage with the community on a deeper level and when I started my research I was directed to NS Walk. As I perused the website last week I discovered today’s free online training programme for potential walk leaders and didn’t waste any time. I signed up and joined 21 potential walk leaders and the coordinator from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and even one person in Ontario for three hours to engage in discussing and planning new walk programs around our province.
I can’t wait to get started and see where this leads me next. I love getting out into nature and it has really helped to clear my mind while keeping my fitness levels up. Staying cooped up in one’s home for prolonged periods is not natural and with the NS Walk leadership training, I feel I have plugged into a growing community.
But, first things first: We have another storm approaching for the weekend. Once I can assess the situation I will be out there scouting walking and hiking routes. Stay tuned for new excursions and adventures. Best wishes, Anna
Tide Rollers & Mudlarkers...