the Christmas Mouse

Joel’s Poem

from the Christmas Mouse

Now Joel we hear you’ve been naughty not nice
You’ve been torturing and slaughtering the Christmas mice
Cheese and peanut butter you have used as bait
Hoping to seal our deadly fate
Your last invention of walking the plank
Was mass extermination of the lowest rank

The church is a refuge a place of peace
Love and Joy and hope for violence to cease
We mean you no harm we want you to know
But you’re gone now and we need a place to go

Yes, while the cats away the mice will play
We’ve moved in for the season and we’re here to stay
But there’s lots to do, we must make haste
Christmas is coming there’s not a moment to waste
At last it’s here and it’s party time
Lots of food and the communal wine
The tree is up, decorating done
All that’s left is to start the fun
We’ll go up to the belfry and ring the bell
To summon the neighborhood mice as well

Oh there will be music tonight you can be sure
Laughing and dancing on the vestry floor
Tails all a quiver, eyes aglow
Little pink feet, swaying to and fro

We are eternally grateful, with one thing in mind
To wish you both a Merry Christmas

                                 ...from all of mousekind.

-by Maureen Phillips

Nuptials

Over the last 100 years or so, the quaint country church in East Port Medway has seen many couples pledge their love in marriage. Today was a special day in the church turned cottage, when Andre and Pete shared their wedding vows and started their life together. We wish the couple a century of prosperity and enjoyment to come.

Yummy... Dixie Lee

If you like Chicken... You'll Love Dixie Lee!

Dixie Lee has returned to Liverpool after a 20-year absence, and the family that ran the original store are the ones who brought it back. David and Diane Bursey opened the Dixie Lee in Liverpool on September 7, 1972.   Now thier son, Andrew, has opened a new Dixie Lee Family Restaurant on Main Street.

Dixie Lee offers a variety of chicken and seafood dinners, and its popular coleslaw, to dine in or take out.

The original grand opening ad from 1972.

An Honour

We continue to be amazed and appreciative of how the community has welcomed us so warmly.

In this case, we extend heartfelt and humble gratitude for the generous gift from Mary and Chris Brown... a hooked rug of Ulgedook Cottage. As Susan says, the rug is truly stunning, and is a testament to Mary’s talent as a fibre artist. We are honoured to have one of Mary’s creations.

The rug will hang proudly in the church, and we will treasure it always. Thanks again Mary and Chris!

Mass Mouse Trap

The mouse population in East Port Medway is on the rise, and people are taking up arms in a counter-attack. I have opted for a “Mass Mouse Trap” (no pun intended) in an attempt to capture multiple mice without re-baiting. The concept is simple… partly fill a bucket with water, and lure the mice to fall in and drown. As pictured below, the bucket of water has two spindles secured above it, the top one with a canister of peanut butter, and the bottom one with a slippery container for the mouse to fall off and drop into the water below.

The trap looks and sounds good, but whether it is effective is yet to be tested.

Post Script (November 10, 2012): Mickey and Mighty Mouse were caught lounging poolside, while Minnie, Speedy Gonzales, and Jerry Mouse were found floating belly-up in the pool.

NEWS! Andrea & Pete are getting married... here!!

Here's the church

click on the image to see...

No holds barred!

There seems to be no holds barred pertaining to preparations for Andrea and Pete’s wedding. Somehow, they have influenced the NS Department of Highways to re-pave the road to Ulgedook Cottage. Now that’s political clout!

Pre-work

After announcing that their upcoming nuptials will take place at Ulgedook Cottage, Andrea and Pete embarked on sprucing up the place with new paint in the vestibule.  Here they are pictured hard at work.  Thanks you two!

Velocity Maiden Voyage

Today was Velocity’s maiden voyage.

Who or what is Velocity, you ask? Well, Velocity is the model name of my new-to-me kayak, which I bought yesterday from Paul Lewis… a competitive kayaker/canoeist (see Custom Walking Stick post, dated August 12, 2012 for more about Paul). Paul sells a few kayaks and canoes, and particularly suggested the Sun Velocity for me, given my size, experience, intended use. And Paul was correct in his choice; Velocity fits and suits me perfectly (thanks Paul).

As noted by the Great Canadian Canoe and Kayak Company, the Velocity is “an expert's kayak that is beginner friendly… the best crossover kayak ever made for both touring and river running. The revolutionary hull design makes the Velocity both faster and more maneuverable than other kayaks of its length. Entry level paddlers can get started with an efficient design that is stable, comfortable and predictable. When your skills improve and are ready to push the envelope (quicker rivers up to class III whitewater, multi-day backcountry treks, coastal paddle trails, or ocean surfing) the capabilities of the Velocity won't let you down.”

Today, I joined several friends for a brief paddling jaunt in Volgers Cove. At first, I didn’t seem to track well, but I soon became accustomed to the power of my new, 240cm, wood paddle and mastered the ability to keep the boat straight.

The voyage was short, but very enjoyable. I look forward to venturing on the waters again soon, and am happy that I have many friends to join in paddling adventures.

Here are some useful links for kayaking in Nova Scotia:
Canoe Kayak Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia Sea Kayak Routes
Paddle Lunenburg-Queens
Nova Scotia Boat Ramp Locations
Transport Canada Sea Kayaking Safety Guide

Deliverance

We simply have too much fun; thanks to wonderful friends.

Today, we trekked inland to Annis Lake, where Don and Marlene have a relaxing, rustic property. And our visit could not have been more enjoyable, given the serenity, munchies, campfire, and camaraderie. Our stay was captivating and peaceful, particularly given the lack of any bugs… not a single mosquito!  

The highlight of the day was Susan’s first-ever boarding and paddling of a kayak. Congratulations Susan for your adventurousness, and thanks Don and Marlene for your easy-going guidance.

View Susan's adventure here:

Shelburne

After the Port L’Herbert Pocket Wilderness Trail, we headed to Shelburne to scout around town. There’s a lot to see in Shelburne, including historical buildings and homes along the waterfront. Regrettably, our arrival to town was late in the day, so we simply strolled along Dock Street and soaked in some of its’ history. As noted on the Town of Shelburne Visitors webpage.

“Shelburne Harbour has the third best natural harbour in the world. The native Mik'maq traversed the Roseway River and used the surrounding lands for summer encampments long before our shores were visited by Spanish, Portuguese and French fishermen.

In the spring of 1783, 5,000 settlers arrived on the shores of Shelburne Harbour from New York and the middle colonies of America. Assurance of living under the British flag, and promises of free land, tools, and provisions lured many to the British Colonies at that time. Four hundred families associated to form a town at Port Roseway, which Governor Parr renamed Shelburne later that year. This group became known as the Port Roseway Associates. In the fall of 1783, a second wave of settlers arrived in Shelburne. By 1784, the population of this new community is estimated to have been at least 10,000; the fourth largest in North America, much larger than either Halifax or Montreal.”

 

We also went to Sandy Point Lighthouse, which is situated in the water but you can walk to during low tide. Some history of this light is found on the Lighthouse Friends webpage:

“On September 25, 1873, H. W. Johnston, the Department of Marine and Fisheries agent for Nova Scotia, submitted a report to the minister of the department containing the following information on the recently completed lighthouse at Sandy Point.

Shelburne Harbour Light, which is a fixed red one, elevated sixty-seven feet above the level of high water, is situated on Sand Point, east side of the entrance to Shelburne Harbour. The tower, a square wooden building, is painted white, and was erected by Mr. George De Champ for the sum of $725. The light was first shown on the 1st September, 1873, and is intended as a guide to Shelburne Harbor, and to mark the dangers of Sand Point. Mr. Edward Goudock was appointed keeper, at an annual salary of $200.”

Port L'Hebert Pocket Wilderness Trail

Today we headed to Port L’Herbert to explore the Pocket Wilderness Trail. Surprising, this park is no longer serviced, but remains in great condition. The three kilometre trail is well marked, and includes many boardwalks over any wet areas, and three look-off decks on the waterfront.

Learn more below, and on the Trails NS website at:  Port L'Hebert Pocket Wilderness Trail

"The Port L'Hebert trail was Bowater Mersey's first Pocket Wilderness. It opened in 1979 as a project to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the founding of Bowater Mersey Paper Company Limited by Nova Scotian financier, IW Killam.

The Port L'Hebert Harbour is named after Louis L'Hebert, Champlain's apothecary on his voyage to Nova Scotia in 1604. It is a well-known wintering ground for migrating Canada geese. There is eel grass, open water, and the minimal disturbance the geese need to survive the harsh winter months. The Canadian Wildlife Service has designated the upper end of Port L'Hebert, including the delicate shoreline along the Pocket Wilderness, as a waterfowl sanctuary."

"Build it and they will come"

In this case, we built a bonfire at Broad Cove Beach and others came to enjoy it. A fun time in the dark, illuminated only by the flames of he fire, with the soothing sounds of small waves lapping on the beach. And the lesson for the night… people have different perspectives of “bonfires.” How so, you ask. As evidenced in that Joel brought a box full of 16” firewood to stoke the fire, while and Don brought a truck load of 4’ (yes, four foot) logs for the same purpose. We had enough wood to burn several days, but decided not to so.

SpongeJoel MudPants

Today was a great day of sailing with Don in his 16' trimaran named Inkling. We spent several hours cruising Medway Harbour, and travelling north to the mouth of the Medway River, where it got too shallow to proceed any farther. And as time passed, Joel became frightened of hitting submerged rocks as the tide started to recede. So we headed in for Don’s dock house (pictured below at high tide).

Unfortunately, the water depth in Don’s inlet is reduced at low tide to a point where it became impossible fro us to return to the dock house. Instead, we were forced to come ashore several hundred yards away, along the grassy shoreline. However, between our landing point and the hard-packed shore was twenty-feet of knee-deep, yucky mud, which we had to traverse.

Wearing his shoes and pants, Don plunged off the boat into the muck and slowly trekked his way to shore. It is questionable whether these clothes could ever be cleaned of the would ever be cleaned and worn again. I, on the other hand, placed his shoes around his neck and clambered ashore barefoot wearing only short-pants. A pressure washer was required to later clean his legs and feet (pictured below).

Batman... and Robin?

Me (Susan), "What the....that's a bat! Joel, get it outside. Gross!" Me: Exit room. Joel, "Come back. You've got to help me." Being a city girl, Susan calls her friend from the country, Glennie. And she Googles. All good suggestions.....for people without 20 foot high church ceilings. Bat is currently hanging out at the top of the 14 foot stained glass window. Feel a long night coming on.

Queens County Seafest

The Queens County Seafest was this weekend at the Brooklyn Marina, drawing out hundreds of participants and thousands of spectators. Susan and I served brew on Friday night, and enjoyed some fine entertainment during the remainder of the weekend.


Here is a short synopsis of the event, from the Seafest website.

“From humble beginnings in 2000, Queens County Seafest has become one of the most popular community events in Nova Scotia. It is an exciting homecoming event for dozens of former residents of the county and attracts visitors to the province from across North America and beyond. For shark fishermen in Nova Scotia Seafest is a premier event that can not be missed.

There are only about 1000 people in Brooklyn, but the population of the village explodes during Seafest. People just can’t seem to resist this huge ‘block party’. The street along the waterfront is closed, neighbours and friends maneuver from home to home, party to party and the marina, is alive with people, fishing boats, sail boats and yachts of every size and description. The marina is the focal point for all the events and activities.”

Lobster Feast

Yesterday, Susan suggested that we have lobster sometime before the end of September. Today, we hosted a lobster feast that was attended by folks from East Port Medway (both permanent and seasonal residents). It was a fantastic time with yummy food, from which I came away with several observations/conclusions:

1) it is easier to have Sobeys prepare lobster rather than “do it yourself,”

2) we have some really great friends,

3) those darn mosquitos are bothersome, and

4) Susan really (and is good at) enjoys hosting these events!

Custom Walking Stick

I was honored today when a new friend, Paul Lewis, provided me with a custom carved walking stick. Paul uses “moose maple” (acer pensylvanicum) for his walking sticks because the bark remains intact, regardless of it’s age. Paul carves interesting and pertinent designs on the sticks, that will be meaningful to the owner.

In the case of this stick, Paul has carved the word Ulgedook, along with some fern leaves, an arrow, and a star - all in keeping with Mi’kmaq traditions.

I sincerely thank Paul for this walking stick, which will be used earnestly, and will join some other sticks that I have obtained over the years.

Here is some information about the type of wood Paul uses.

Acer pensylvanicum (striped maple, also known as moosewood and moose maple) is a species of maple native to northern forests in eastern North America from southern Ontario east to Nova Scotia and south to Wisconsin, Ohio, and New Jersey, and also at higher elevations in the Appalachian Mountains south to northern Georgia.

It is a small deciduous tree growing to 5–10 m tall, with a trunk up to 20 cm diameter. The young bark is striped with green and white, and when a little older, brown. The leaves are broad and soft, 8–15 cm long and 6–12 cm broad, with three shallow forward-pointing lobes. The fruit is a samara; the seeds are about 27 mm long and 11 mm broad, with a wing angle of 145° and a conspicuously veined pedicel.

Moosewood is an understory tree of cool, moist forests, often preferring slopes. It is among the most shade-tolerant of deciduous trees, capable of germinating and persisting for years as a small understory shrub, then growing rapidly to its full height when a gap opens up. However, it does not grow high enough to become a canopy tree, and once the gap above it closes through succession, it responds by flowering and fruiting profusely, and to some degree spreading by vegetative reproduction.

The wood is soft and considered undesirable among maples. Although ecologically there is no reason to consider it a pest, foresters sometimes consider the striped maple to be unwanted, often cutting it or applying herbicides to kill it. Its shade tolerance makes it difficult to control, as it is often present in great numbers in the understory.

Planked Salmon

Today, along with Susan’s cousin Vicki and her husband Dave, we attended the Annual Planked Salmon Supper hosted by the Greenfield & District Fire Hall Department. Although we didn’t win at crown and anchors, we scored with a scrumptious meal.

Here is some more about the annual dinner:

“The Greenfield Planked Salmon Supper just might be one of the longest running traditions in Queens County, and planked salmon might just be one of my all time favorite meals. I may be dating myself and someone please, correct me if I am wrong, but I am sure I was attending these Planked Salmon Suppers as long as 30 years ago” -anonymous

SOS - Sale of SeaShell

Yes, I said “sale,” not “sail.” I came to the conclusion earlier this summer that we didn’t give SeaShell the attention that she deserved, and that she may get more use by someone else. So up went the “For Sale” sign, which was soon replaced by a “Sold” sign. A great couple (Brian and Carla), who reside in Mill Village in the summers, will now captain SeaShell, and enjoy sailing the coastal waters. Thanks Brian and Carla.
I am pictured here bidding farewell to SeaShell.

kousa dogwoods

Susan loves these trees, which are abundant in Liverpool (read below for the the reason why).

“Steeped in Maritime history, the seaside community of Liverpool, Nova Scotia is well known for its past. From fishing to shipbuilding to the more colourful pursuit of privateering in the mid to late 18th Century, Liverpool has turned into a haven for visitors who come to admire its scenic views and numerous attractions.

And thanks to the foresight of former mayor Christopher Clarke, garden lovers now have their own reason to visit Liverpool. Towards the end of his term, which ran from 1996 to 2000, Christopher organized a millennium program that arranged for local residents to buy kousa dogwoods. Over 700 trees were sold and now – eleven years later – the trees that pepper the entire municipality attract visitors who come to admire the blizzard of blooms each spring."
-Niki Jabbour, "Steeped in Maritime Tales," Gardens East: May 2011

Independence Day

Today, we joined our American neighbours in commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. To celebrate Independence Day, we hosted a barbeque get together, and fittingly decorated with red, white and blue steamers and balloons. Most appropriate was an American flag draped from the mezzanine.

Part of the evening was spent attempting to name all 50 states and their respective capitals. At times, the Canadians had to assist the Americans with this undertaking.

Canada Day Weekend

Canada Day weekend started Saturday with a pleasant visit from my former co-workers from the City of Halifax Planning Department - the Planning Techs. We have banded together for lunch in Halifax every quarter for the past twenty years, and decided to come to Ulgedook Cottage for our 2012 summer luncheon. Although the weather was glorious, and events were happening in Liverpool for Privateer Days, we spent our afternoon enjoying our potluck luncheon and updating our news and sharing stories from yesteryear.

Pictured here are (left to right):

Kelsie, Linda, Sharon, Susan (Joel’s girlfriend), Ann, Dale (Ann’s husband)

On Sunday, we celebrated Canada Day by participating in activities in Liverpool, including a geocaching event at Lane’s Privateer Inn, the evening Entertainment Tent, and fireworks.



Aflight and Afloat

SeaShell is back in the water again, and comfortably docked at berth 25E at the Brooklyn Marina.  The launch went quickly and easily, thanks to several helpers, and to a 30 ton crane from Veinotte Enterprises.

Here are some photos of Seashell, with her newly painted bottom, aflight before becoming afloat.

Time flies

Time flies... and so do mosquitos... but not ticks.

My goodness, where has the time gone. My last post was two months ago. In the meantime, lots has happened, but none of it seems significant at this moment.

We have been busy tending to chores in preparation of the arrival of summer, at which time we want to simply sit back and relax. But in retrospect, all those time consuming tasks don’t seem like much now. Things like cleaning and tidying, painting the front door, spreading top soil and planting lawn seed, staining the picnic table, etc. I also had to prepare the boat (SeaShell) for launch, including sanding and bottom-coating the hull.

By June 21st, we should be set for some rest and relaxation, and take in the many and varied sights and activities of the South Shore, starting with Privateer days from June 28th to July 1st in Liverpool. See more at:  Privateer Days

Mosquitos and black flies are in full force, and we hope they subside with warm, pleasant weather. Worse though are ticks.... yuck. Both of us were “tick’d” off to one on each of us... yuck.

Learn more about ticks in “A Primer on Ticks in the Outdoors,” by Andrew Hebda, Curator of Zoology, Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, at: "A Primer on Ticks in the Outdoors"

Beaches

This weekend, we visited eight beaches that are within a thirty minute drive from Ulgedook Cottage. To the east, there is Cherry Hill, Broad Cove, Rissers, and Crescent Beach. To the west, there is Eagle Head, Beach Meadows, White Point, and Summerville Beach.

Brief descriptions, links, pictures, and location maps, follow.

To the east:

Cherry Hill Beach
"Locals know this beach is a stunner. Cherry Hill's appeal is largely elemental: It offers a direct route to happiness via its empty curve of fine grey sand, exposed water and endless sky. Wonderful beach for surfers or a nice place to walk and enjoy an afternoon."

Broad Cove
"Broad Cove has a beautiful little beach. The beach has a nice private sand area, and the cove is partially protected so the water stays relatively calm. With big well known beaches close by this beach seems fairly quite with not a lot of visitors."

Rissers Beach
"Whether you want to swim, search for sea shells, or just spend the day relaxing in the sun, Rissers Beach Provincial Park offers every kind of recreational opportunity available at the seaside. Some of the features of the park include a kilometre long white sand beach and Interpretation Centre and boardwalk along an inland marsh."

Crescent Beach
"Connecting the LaHave Islands to the mainland this beach streches out from the shore to Georges Island and provides a popular beach destination for tourists throughout the summer."

To the west:

Eagle Head Beach
"Located on Route #3, Eagle Head, on the Atlantic Ocean - white sand beach, no facilities. A great beach for those looking for a quiet experience."

Beach Meadows
"Nice long white sand beach-approximately one mile long.Great view of Coffin's Island. Nice picnic ground site."

White Point Beach
"White Point Beach is one of Nova Scotia's most famous beaches. It is accessible by way of the White Point Beach Resort. There are day passes available."

Summerville Beach
"Situated on the Atlantic Ocean. 1 km white sand beach, unsupervised swimming, picnic area (roofed tables), toilets, change facilities, parking, wheelchair accessible. One of the most popular of the beaches in Queens County."

Of course, there are other fantastic beaches within an hour drive from Ulegedook, including Hirtles Beach to the east and Carters Beach to the west.

For an extensive list of beaches in Nova Scotia, visit NS Beaches.