When the Sun Shines in November…

…you visit a favourite place!

Yesterday was a beautiful day. The slippery roads from early morning dried up with the warm sunshine and the ice-covered plants and weeds quickly recovered from their frosty kisses. With a day off from commitments we were free to explore without time restraints. Our destination: Cape d’Or.

We visited the Cape a little over a year ago for the first time and it was a blustery day. What a treat to take in the vistas on a bright sunny and warm day this November!

It’s never busy at the beaches and tourist destinations this time of the year. We parked the car and made our way down to the light house and adjacent buildings.

I was keen to try out my new iPhone camera and it did not disappoint! I am truly amazed by the iPhone 13 ProMax’s zoom and macro capabilities. In the past I would not have been able to get details like the one of the actual Cape d’Or seastack or bringing Isle Haute into focus. I am thrilled to have given the camera this initial tough test and it yielded amazing photos.

The tide was just turning when we arrived and we were able to witness the waves crashing against the basalt rocks below on the rugged beach.

The wind was gentle and moved the illuminated grass blades along the cliff edge just enough to catch my eye to give the camera another challenge which it passed to satisfaction.

As the water levels rose we witnessed the force of the Dory Rips below. What are Dory Rips? I have included the content of the information board provided as it explains them very well.

Cape d’Or was first sighted and recorded by Samuel de Champlain. The golden cliffs drew his attention and were explored for copper but operation of the mine ceased in 1905.

One last look toward Cape Split and we were ready to leave Cape d’Or to head to the beach… check back tomorrow for some beach impressions. Enjoy the rest of your day! Best wishes, Anna

Lest We Forget…

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
– John McCrae

Sunny Afternoon Beach Walk

Monday is the one day of the week I have off at the moment and I always rejoice when the weather cooperates. After a foggy start to the day, the sun pushed through the clouds, lifted the fog and illuminated the world. I made my way to Partridge Island Beach mid-afternoon, just in time for high tide.

What great timing: There was no wind, the sun was shining warmly and the beach was not too busy.

Looking toward Second Beach

The open water reflected the bright blue sky and the flooded salt marsh, patrolled by the local crow, presented perfect reflections of the cottages and Dead Tree Island (I made up the unofficial name for the little island).

My friend and I walked the beach twice as we just did not want to go home. We did our best to soak up the warm sun rays before the weather is sure to change, it is almost the middle of November after all!

Driftwood and rocks drew our attention as always. Bright contrasts were provided by sprigs of bright red rosehips and golden leaves kissed with red.

These are the colours that will warm me during the chilly days of winter…

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Best wishes, Anna

November Impressions…

Fog rising over the salt marsh…

Monday morning started with a layer of fog over the salt marsh, the moisture rising slowly after extremely high tides over the weekend, the water illuminated by bright sunshine. I love these mornings, they are full of mystery and foreshadowing of more quiet times…

Walking along the salt marsh the sun pushes through the clouds and dissolves the layer of fog.

I recently found this poem by Jonathan Lockwood Huei and was reminded of it today:

“Sometimes we need the fog
To remind ourselves
That all of life
Is not
Black and white.”

Wishing you all a contemplative Monday. Best wishes, Anna

Nature And Its Contemplative Allure

I have posted about my fascination with driftwood before. While browsing my image library this morning I felt compelled to select just a few photos I captured during various beach excursions this year to highlight the incredible diversity on offer. All I need to keep in mind is to wander and let myself respond to a flash of perception…

These flashes are unique and I can never predict what will demand my attention before I set foot on the beach. Sometimes I respond to the smooth surface of the aged driftwood deposited at the foot of a cliff by a higher than usual tide, other times I feel the need to explore the line quality the cracks present. Every once in a while I discover faces or fantastical creatures looking back at me. Driftwood will always present a rich source of inspiration for my photography.

Wishing you a fabulous Sunday. Wasn’t it great to catch up on that extra hour of sleep we lost in the spring when we switched our clocks to daylight savings time? Enjoy the day, Anna

Saturday Morning with Sunshine…

Join me today for more frosty morning impressions from our back deck and along the way to the art studio…

Much like leaves dipped into egg white and sprinkled with sugar the plants and weeds along the way sparkled in the bright warm sun making this experience a fleeting one.

Happy Saturday! Best wishes, Anna

24 Hours Difference

…or to para-phrase: High Tide versus Low Tide during the New Moon Phase.

The images above were captured 24 hours apart from approximately the same spot just outside ArtLab on Main Street in Parrsboro. These photos are great examples of the extreme change in tide levels that take place roughly every 12 + hours.

Parrsboro, NS – Inner Habour at high tide during the New Moon, November 4th, 2021

Here is a link to an official website that goes into more details about the Bay of Fundy being home to the highest tides in the World. I hope you enjoyed today’s little nature lesson.

Wishing you a fabulous weekend! Best wishes, Anna

Frosty Morning

This time of the year is always bitter-sweet for me. I am not a huge fan of winter (although I realize how important winter is in our yearly cycle). I love the colourful display autumn has in store for us, especially since we moved to the Maritimes.

We woke up to the first hard frost this morning. On the way to my ArtLab Studio Space, I noticed a cluster of leaves in various stages of decay. These demanded my immediate attention. I bent down and angled the camera to capture the icy beads on the leaves’ veining and every once in a while there was a shaft of light that illuminated the leaf to highlight the initial colour. It was truly mesmerizing and such a fleeting moment in time. Once the sun reached the angle to bathe these leaves in the warm autumn light the icy beads melted and the leaves continue in their slow decay. Feel free to click on each image to see minute details.

Thanks for stopping by on this sunny fall day in the Bay of Fundy. Autumn Blessings for all, Anna

On a Glorious Morning…

… in early November I delight in the view from my kitchen window while getting the coffee prepared I tote along to my studio space. This mature oak tree has accompanied my morning routine for nearly ten months now and I cannot get enough about the way the tree has changed during that time.

These days I detect minute changes every morning. Today the sun was moving at the perfect angle to illuminate the way the colours change from golden with just a hint of green to a deep brown which announces their imminent departure from the branch the leaves are attached to. All we need is a strong gust of wind…

I have witnessed the changes in the cluster of Japanese Knotweed throughout the year as well. As I passed this morning the sun was reflecting brightly off the pond’s surface sending sparkles up and through the moving stems of the plants. Despite its invasive nature and the fact that it spreads without constraints, I find inspiration every time I pass this cluster. The thought of diamonds sparkling beyond the grove made me stop to capture these images.

I soon arrived at my destination, ArtLab Studios and Gallery, to begin my day immersing myself in creative endeavours. This is the view from my studio space this morning.

May your day start with sunshine and warmth! Best wishes, Anna

Halloween Impressions…

I am so glad I captured these images late Friday afternoon… glorious sunshine, pumpkins lining the steps of the front porch, the oak tree in full colour… images that convey the warmth of the season.

The hydrangea in the late afternoon sun drew my attention and I love the images I was able to capture thanks to the perfect angle of the sun.

And then, when I walked into the living room this morning I was reminded that it is Halloween…

We may not have the snow we used to “enjoy” in the west this time of year… I am not even talking about the light rain that started the day. Can you see what caught my attention? Who and what created these strange, sperm-like and unwanted window decorations? The question remains unanswered. I will just blame it on some unknown spirits that might have passed through the backyard during the night.

At any rate, the windows won’t get washed by human hands anytime soon… the heavy rain and wind are keeping us indoors today.

The view from my temporary studio space on Main Street shortly after noon…

It’s the kind of day to be enjoyed indoors. The candy is ready for the trick or treaters that may venture out later. Wishing you all a relaxing Sunday afternoon. Happy Halloween, Anna

Of Long Shadows and The Last of the Autumn Colours…

Can you hear it? When the sky is cloudless and deep blue and the sun shines brightly at 3:30 in the afternoon the beach is calling! We parked the car outside the gate to Glooscap Campground and my attention was drawn immediately to the long shadows the trees cast along the path, a clear indication of fall and the angle of the sun’s path.

The rising tide brought with it some fishing boats heading toward the Parrsboro Pier, always a great sight when strolling along the beach.

The autumnal light illuminated the red sandstone cliffs to reveal their unique striations while the pups enjoyed some off-leash time on the sandy part of the beach. Even the little dogs cast long shadows…

Despite the fall colours well past their peak we discovered and delighted in these beautiful sights. What a wonderful surprise to find these trees in full leaf painted in the brightest colours Mother Nature could find in her paintbox…

As the sun was setting we reflected on our year of living in Nova Scotia. Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of our release from quarantine after arriving in the province. A year ago the leaves were off the trees but the light was as magical and the weather nearly as perfect for our first beach excursion in late October 2020…

Have a fabulous Saturday, everyone! Best wishes, Anna

Infinite Possibilities…

Sometimes it is important to stand back, quietly observe and just focus on the smaller “picture”… I love heading to the beach and while I can appreciate the vast views across the water and the craggy cliffs behind me I delight in the treasures along the tide line. Aged sea glass, seagrass in various stages of decay and the various rocks and pebbles whose colours make it difficult to “just pick one”. There are scallop, mussel and clam shells mixed with broken sea urchins or fragile crab armour. Depending on the season one finds squid eggs, tiny jellyfish, but very rarely a seahorse hiding in the seagrass.

Then there is the driftwood! One log can capture my interest for hours. I observe lines, the variation of weathered wood, each log or stump with its own personality! Driftwood is such a rich source of inspiration…

May today’s images provide you with inspiration despite the lack of colour. Sending you all sunshine and warm breezes for a wonderful weekend. Best wishes, Anna

Change of Colour

The peak of the fall colours is definitely behind us, but every once in a while I come across a “late bloomer” if there is such a thing in maple trees…

I noticed the small tree reaching toward the azure sky while waiting in a parking lot. What drew my attention immediately was the sharp contrast to the sky. Upon closer observation, I noticed the subtle changes from the point where the tree branches outward from the trunk all the way to the crown. The colours transition from shades of green to yellow and orange and eventually glow a deep red at the very top. Mother Nature did a great job “painting” this analogous colour scheme. ;-D

The forecast today is for rain in Parrsboro. A great day to head to the studio on Main Street. May this colourful maple brighten your day wherever you are. Best wishes, Anna

Carpe Momentum…

It was a day filled with chilly wind, moments of sunshine and blue sky interspersed with amazing clouds. Instead of spending the late afternoon lounging on the couch or tending to some items on the “to do list” we jumped in the car and drove to one of our favourite beaches.

Spencer’s Island was the first beach we explored a year ago after completing the mandatory isolation following our move to Nova Scotia. A Sunday afternoon trip down shore always restores depleted energy for us. We have walked this beach in warm sunshine wading through the shallow water at low tide looking for sand dollars and we walked it leaning into the wind with jackets zippered fully to withstand the stiff breeze. Yesterday afternoon was one where a well-insulated jacket was a basic requirement.

The sky was changing constantly and the surf was delightful to watch and listen to. I picked up a couple of pieces of well-polished sea glass and collected bits and pieces the tide had washed up… I have some ideas where I want to incorporate crab shells, lobster claws and seaweed in some art work, but that is another story! Let’s look at some images I captured during the Golden Hour just as we started our drive back to Parrsboro.

The scenery always takes our breath away. Yesterday it was constantly changing with the light getting filtered through the clouds. Travelled along the winding road, glimpses of the water with Cape Split and Blomidon across the Minas Basin always excite.

We could not have timed the trip home any better for several reasons: By the time we arrived in Port Greville the sun was slipping below the horizon and the rich sunset colours reflected in the clouds and water. On the radio Carly Simon’s song “You’re so Vain” was playing. The lyrics include “…Then you flew your lear jet up to Nova Scotia / To see the total eclipse of the sun…” We didn’t see the total eclipse of the sun, we witnessed nature’s best colour show instead!

With hardly any traffic on the road we were able to pull over and take in the views and sky colours which made for a leisurely drive. The trees down shore are nearly bare but the colours in the water and sky made for a fabulous display, one not soon forgotten.

Hope you enjoyed this little end of day outing witnessed with our eyes and captured through the lens of my camera. May your week be filled with magical moments and rich colours. Best wishes, Anna