Lise's Ramblings

The Veendam: 2013's first cruise ship in our port As an avid birder, I welcome the sight of returning warblers, hummingbirds, terns and plovers. At this time of year, they charm me more than usual.  Soon they’ll flock to our woods and shores in greater numbers, but for now I count every migratory songbird or endangered shorebird I spot.  Gardens have harbingers of warmer days too. Well before anything else grows outdoors, those crocuses, daffodils and hyacinths paint our yards with colour. Last year, I blogged about spring peepers , amphibians that are shorter than your pinkie finger. These frogs overcompensate for their diminutive size with a trill chorus to mark the season. I know to take out my spring jackets when I hear the male peepers.     Our longer stretches of sunshine and spring weather also mean retro cars escape from winter storage, cruise ships return to our ports, crab and lobster boats set out to sea, and farmers return to the...

Major grocery, hardware and department stores stack bags of mulch and top soil near entrances to signal that gardening season is upon us. But, those stores mainly carry the mass-market essentials. For me, the season arrives when the local nurseries and garden centres open their greenhouse doors. Wander indoors to see delicate flowers, fragrant herbs and colourful annuals, or brave the elements and step outside to see hardy perennials, award-winning plants, trees and rare shrubs.  If you don't have hours to spend researching info online, but you want to track down a botanical oddity, graft a tree or nurture seedlings, then consult the experts. Fortunately for me, I can visit knowledgeable folks at places like Van Kampen's Greenhouses, Island Pride Garden Co. and Jewell's Country Market. They can answer my questions and recommend new finds. Even if you aren't a gardening fan, you can enjoy a trip to a green...

In winter months, firefighters rely on guide markers to help them locate fire hydrants buried beneath snow. Boaters count on navigation markers to steer cruisers and sailboats through narrow or rocky channels. We all use guide markers from time to time. Perhaps you install temporary markers at your lawn’s edge to make sure you don’t mangle your grass as you rid your driveway of snow and ice.  Or, maybe you’ve hiked remote trails and relied on guide markers to lead you through dense forest.  When the usual doesn’t suffice At least trees, driveways and fire hydrants stay put. In Canada’s Far North, the landscape changes, so guide markers are a matter of survival. Inuit cope with extreme winds and cold, shifting ice, near-zero visibility, extensive periods of darkness and other challenges. Mere flags, sticks and posts cannot withstand or be seen in such harsh conditions. That’s where a rock inuksuk (pronounced ee-nook-sook) comes in. Towering up to a metre or more in...

Which do you suppose came first, the burning bushes or the fire hydrant? Even if you aren't into gardening, these fiery Euonymus alatus (burning bushes) would have drawn your attention last week.  I spotted them on my way to work. And sure, I appreciated the splash of fall colour , but I also giggled. Perhaps the homeowner intentionally juxtaposed the plants with the fire hydrant. I would like to think that this is merely inadvertent humour to dabble my day with       AWESOME!

When you spot a few ornamental gourds, you may write them off as nothing more than misshapen, colourful fruit. But, seen en masse , those hordes of gourds will strike you as       AWESOME! Gourds at Balderston's Farm Market , Prince Edward Island

My bushel of Honeycrisp apples from Balderston's Family Farm (Prince Edward Island) Kah-runch!  Dribble, dribble, dribble.  After biting into an fruit, it's easy to get distracted by that tart or sweet taste, leaving nothing to stop juice from pouring down your chin, your wrist and your shirt.  If you've only sampled an apple or two so far this fall, then get out to your local orchard, farm or market to stock up on more fresh apples. During the other 10 to 11 months of the year, you'll pine for apples as tasty as the ones available now. Beyond the flavour, here are some added bonuses:  The selection of varieties (gone are the days when you could find only Red Delicious, Galas and Macs) No storage and no transport = minimal bruising Principal ingredients for autumnal comfort foods (Did someone say "Crumble" or am I fantasizing again?)  An abundance of apples adds up to       AWESOME! I favour...

Statistics Canada reports that Canadian commuters spend an average of 52 minutes daily traveling roundtrip to work. In major centres such as Montreal and Toronto, more than a quarter of Canadians spend at least 1.5 hours commuting back and forth every weekday. Ugh. Commute times grow when you add one or more of the following: construction, bad weather, police spot-checks, a sinkhole, an accident or long-weekend crowds.  Any wonder the international Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) rates shorter commute times as a key variable in studies of health and quality of life.  There just aren't many upsides to long commutes, apart from time to listen to podcasts, music or audio books. Sure, dozing, reading, writing and other activities are possible when public transportation is available, but still you aren't spared from delays and lengthy travel times.  I'm grateful for my short d...

Driftwood at Panmure Island, Prince Edward Island  Substantial pieces of driftwood serve as natural benches at the beach, whether you huddle there to gaze at the waves by day or sing campfire tunes at night.  At dusk, driftwood can also serve up eerie silhouettes. "Wait, is that a moose up ahead?" Even basking in the sunshine, driftwood takes on many forms. At times I see antlers, but I have also spotted a teeter-totter, a Hobbit dwelling, an oversized sea horse, a pile of brooms, an antique bird cage... Do you ever wonder where those weathered tree trunks and branches started out? I would like to know if a piece of driftwood started life as a sapling on exotic shores. I contemplate how it looked back then and what animals sought shelter there. Did a swing dangle from one of its branches? Was a fort tucked away among its leaves? Were initials carved in the bark wrapping the trunk? And...

Every once in a while, a special place becomes extra delightful. That's exactly what I witnessed this past weekend.  We're fortunate to have breathtaking views on Prince Edward Island. While the shores and ocean views are incredible, I consider New Glasgow to be one of PEI's jewels. Tourists know the village for its New Glasgow lobster suppers and the PEI Preserve Company . Golfers know about the Glasgow Hills course, because everyone receives free mussels after every round of golf. Families make the trek to visit the Toy Factory , where you can buy handcrafted wooden toys, including a ferry or a lobster boat. I enjoy driving to and through New Glasgow. I marvel at the rolling hills, parceled fields, and all the birds feeding and nesting along the Clyde River, which meanders through the village. However, Sunday's drive to New Glasgow exceeded my expectations, because of a magical new addition.  The bu tterfly house. I fina...

If you’ve ever lived in a rural area or a town on the outskirts of a metropolitan centre, you realize everyone relies on brave men and women who serve as volunteer firefighters.  Volunteer firefighters battle a PEI blaze. Even if you’re a city mouse, you should be thankful for the volunteer firefighters who: douse out-of-control campfires and yard fires; battle barn and brush fires that threaten our food sources such as crops and farm animals; put out forests fires that ravage the trees responsible for cleaning our air; and rescue people, pets and treasured belongings from house and vehicle fires. Volunteer firefighters risk life and limb to save others’ lives. While the volunteers may not have the same modern equipment as full-time, professional firefighters, these women and men are dedicated, well trained and always ready to respond to a call. These individuals also serve as first responders in situations other than fires, work out to stay fit enough for their d...