Digby County Travels

The Coyote and the Man (Orpheus)

2010-10-06T19:41:00.004-04:00

Orpheus and the Coyote

Copyright 06.10.10

Orpheus walked down to the Fundy Shore where wild crested waves raged and gales of wind roared, and flecks of sea foam dashed his face, stung his eyes. He spied a saddle-topped rock between green forest and roiling ocean and sat down to play. Reaching round his hip, from a pocket he withdrew a long but small “box” and placed it to his mouth. With an inward breath he stole the wind and with an outward breath it transposed into song, for he was the Lord of Music. Over his head birds without number were flying and fishes leapt out of the deep blue waters, won by the tuneful sound(1).

And the notes became words and hushed the rage of the storm; commanded dark clouds away and stilled leaves on trees, which bent closer, for language is a perpetual Orphic song(2). From between the tree trunks there appeared a lone coyote--creature of the dark of night, loping of day, and of small or large dramas in the woods of some lives. S/he stood panting. And studying. And ope’d gaping maw with glistening canines and deep from that throat there rose a mighty howl that rang through the trees and soared the hilltops and skittered over Fundy’s surface searching faraway shores.

Orpheus played on. And from behind bending trees slipped not one more coyote, but then there were two, then three, then four. And from each a howl joined the chorus which rose, careening, and filled the air with sound, and tumbled and broke and rose again, in concert with Orpheus’ thrall. And when the song of Orpheus trailed away, so did they. Like a sigh, with a whisper, in single file they were gone.

This was Orpheus: the pacifying and civilizing force of music and poetry(3), whose music breaks down rigid forms of nature, lending them new rhythms and dimensions(4).

He rose from the rock, and the stillness was palpable, as if it couldn’t believe what had just occurred. It was as if the sound lingered, in coyotes and seas, in birds and in trees, that he was the first to enthrall. As quixotic as it sounds, we know that he left, but is singing there still(6).

This is a “true” story. It is a depiction of an event that actually occurred on the Nova Scotia side of the Bay of Fundy where coyotes roam and have recently been dying in number by human devices, with the encouragement of the Minister of Natural Resources, both parties whom seem to believe that coyotes are “man-eaters” and they must be extinguished.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are paraphrased near-quotes from Shelley, Rilke, Virgil and Shakespeare, and also Michael Grant: “Myths of the Greeks and Romans”.

Musical Fog Magic

2010-06-26T09:03:00.001-04:00

While not in Digby County, this is a cool story!

Friday, June 25, 2010
the fog horn collector

When we were away last January, we got an email from Randy Van Buskirk. He collects fog horns, he wrote us. He had bought one from a gentleman in South Carolina much earlier, but he hadn't been able to figure out how to get it to Carleton Village. And he had just heard we were in Florida! Could we possibly pick it up for him on our way home? And he hoped it was okay that it weighed three hundred and fifty pounds.

We were glad to have a chance to do something for our good neighbour Randy. The patient fog horn seller was Tom, who very kindly drove two hours from the South Carolina coast to meet us at the Interstate for a hand-off. We met him at a truck stop in the early morning dark. The fog horn did weigh three hundred and fifty pounds. But Tom and Greg managed to wrestle it from Tom's car into our truck. In this picture, Tom's looking mighty happy to be sending it on to its new home.

And we were happy to have its weight in the bed of the truck as we drove slip-sliding through a tough winter storm into Carleton Village. Randy had gone out and shoveled off our boat that morning so we wouldn't have to contend with two feet of fresh snow. We handed over the fog horn and sailed away to the island. It seems like it was a long time ago.
Now that lobster season is finished, Randy has had time to tune the fog horn and install it on his boat, Sea Arrow. He has a couple of other big horns on Sea Arrow, and he can really manage a floating concert when he's inspired. It's amazing how much he can do with three notes.

On Friday evening we heard the sound of a gigantic tanker steaming directly toward the shore: this time the sound was a bit intimidating, really. When we looked out, we saw Sea Arrow approaching our dock.
Here's Randy, in post-lobster season mode. The fog horn we brought back from South Carolina is the one closest to him. He built a wooden box for its housing. He fabricated the other two horns -- which are really beautiful -- himself, because, he said, somebody told him it couldn't be done.
It turns out that this old fog horn has an amazing history. It was salvaged from USS Neosho A23, a fuel tanker built in 1939. She delivered fuel at Pearl Harbor the day before the Japanese attack there. She escaped during the attack, and continued to serve in this crucial capacity in the Pacific until 1942, when she was severely damaged in the Battle of the Coral Sea.
We love hearing Sea Arrow as she travels the harbour. Thanks to the fog horn collector, she reminds us how much the world is connected in all sorts of odd ways we never could have imagined.

Sable Island

2010-05-25T06:26:00.000-04:00

Canada seeks to turn Sable Island into national park
Posted by The Independent
Sunday, 23 May 2010 at 12:37 am

Author: AFP

The government "will take the necessary steps to explore how Sable Island could be designated as a national park under the Canada National Parks Act," he said in a statement.

The goal is "the long-lasting protection of Sable Island, its majestic horses and some of the rarest birds and wildlife in Canada by designating it a national park."

The 40-kilometer (25 mile) long island supports numerous migratory birds, including species at risk such as the Roseate tern and Ispwich Savannah Sparrow, as well as up to 400 wild horses, Environment Canada said.

Hidden by waves, storms and fog, the sandy strip in the cold Atlantic Ocean has recorded more than 350 shipwrecks since 1583.

Many believed the island's wild horses were shipwreck survivors, but according to the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History they were abandoned after a Boston merchant shipped them to the island in 1760.

Prentice said Mik'maq aboriginals and other stakeholders were being consulted on the park plan.

Farm Bureau Women Visit Nova Scotia

2010-03-26T21:14:00.001-04:00

Farm Bureau Women learn about Nova Scotia
March 26, 2010

Comments (0) Recommend Print this page E-mail this article Share Del.icio.us Facebook Digg Reddit Newsvine Twitter FarkIt Type Size A A A Travelers Lawrence Baggett and Gaines and Lynda Hunt visited with Farm Bureau Women recently and discussed Novia Scotia.

Scottish immigrants arrived in the early 1600's naming the area east of Canada and north of United States, Nova Scotia, Latin for New Scotland. The travelogue and pictures created an interesting presentation of a beautiful country, well kept and inviting.

Valleys of Prince Edward Island are made up of sandy red soil that is very productive while about half of Nova Scotia's over 21,000 square miles is forest and the coastline provides fish and other seafood.

The scenery proved beautiful with areas of various grains, including oats, vegetables, fruits and other agricultural products. Potatoes, apples and blueberries are popular, especially the blueberries made into appetizing deserts.

In our area we "dig" to harvest potatoes, however, farmers of Prince Edward Island "pick" them. Soil is removed from around the plant and blue potatoes are picked up. The potatoes retain their color after cooking. Tasting a piece of the raw product, it was decided the flavor is very similar to our red or white varieties, which are also grown there to help supply the world with french fries.

Beautiful scenes of grass, trees, crops and flowers along with spaces of lakes, bays or ocean created a vision of peace and contentment.

A fun part of the trip was crossing from Maine to Nova Scotia on a ferry, a triple decked boat with space for several buses as well as other vehicles, a restaurant, gift shop and other amenities to interest travelers.

The longest bridge in the world is seven miles long from Prince Edward Island to New Brunswick. Built tall, subject to swaying of the wind, the bridge is closed to traffic when strong currents blow. This is an architecturally interesting design of arched support system providing the strength for a main highway and heavy traffic.

Baggett is interested in food and managed to acquire a cookbook, which includes the recipe for Scottish Oatcakes. He made the not so sweet treat for the women to sample.

In addition to the special taste and nutrition of oats, to enhance flavor, he added some craisins, those delicious dried cranberries.

Would you like to take a trip? Nova Scotia area seems very interesting.
Submitted by Barbara Davis

Art Winner Inspired by Bear River Artist

2010-03-13T16:10:00.002-05:00

Fellow artist inspired winner
Ocala artist takes top prize at Leesburg art festival

Artist Jeff Riggan of Eustis works on a painting. With perfect weather , thousands strolled down Main Street in Leesburg Sunday during the 33rd annual Leesburg Fine Arts Festival. The 2-day festival attracted more than 100 artists. (TOM BENITEZ, ORLANDO SENTINEL / March 6, 2010)

LEESBURG – Ocala painter John "Jack" Thursby won top honors at the 33rd Annual Leesburg Fine Art Festival with his acrylic painting of another artist. The prize was worth $2,000.

"Nature Lover, Bear River" shows a man dressed in a washed-soft shirt, sitting in a wooden chair with a drawing of an owl pinned to a shelf above him. Thursby met the artist when he visited Bear River, Nova Scotia.

"He reached into this birdbath filled with water and rocks and began caressing one," Thursby said. "So I had to paint him that way. The owl is a tribute to Andrew Wyeth, who did a sketch of an owl."

Thursby, a retired professor of art at the Central Florida Community College in Ocala, selects intriguing people for his models and makes dramatic use of light and shadow,

A frequent prize-winner on the outdoor art circuit, he has won best-of-show at the Apopka Art and Foliage Festival for the last five years. His next show will be the Winter Park Sidewalk Arts Festival, March 19 to 21.

Painter Carol Elder Napoli of New Smryna Beach took home the award of excellence, worth $1000.

Judges' choice award in three-dimensional art went to Marilyn Vaillancourt of Weeki Wachee in jewelry. The two-dimension award was given to Linying Wang of Toronto in fine crafts. These awards carried $750 prizes.

Mount Dora jeweler Deborah Barnes won the $500 award of distinction.

Awards of merit, worth $250, were awarded to painter Lynn Ferris of Beverly Hills, digital photographer Sheila Crawford of Palm Coast, fine-crafts artist Scott Anderson of Crystal River and to ceramics artist Mina Heuslein of Port Orange.

Mixed-media artist Janice Cline of Reisterstown. Md, ceramics artist Richard Kausalik of Maumelle, Ark., and sculptor Jack Hill of Beverly Hills won awards of merit.

Larry Harrington of DeLand, who was entered in the drawing, graphics and printmaking category, won an award of merit as did Robert Clibbon of New Smyrna Beach, who was entered in photography and digital art and painter Jinsheng Song of Fort McCoy.

2010-03-04T19:32:00.002-05:00

Real Estate Trends in Nova Scotia
By Nicole Salter
Travellers to Nova Scotia have long experienced the adventure and breath-taking beauty of a land and a people truly shaped by the sea. Renowned for the highest tides in the world at the Bay of Fundy, award-winning vineyards, nationally recognized chefs and over 700 festivals annually, Nova Scotia is a place of remarkable natural beauty and thriving culture. Tourists have the option to relax at Peggy's Cove fishing village, go on a whale watching trip, tour the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island, or take extensive tours. These historic waterfronts are home to some of the province's hottest action (think fresh-caught seafood at trendy restaurants, vibrant live indoor/outdoor music, historic attractions such as Pier 21 Halifax, all with the stunning harbour as a backdrop).

For centuries, Nova Scotia has also been the gateway to Canada, and many Canadians can trace their family tree there. With easy access to the Atlantic and one of the world's largest natural harbours, there's a reason why it has been the entry point for millions of Canadian immigrants. But is there a practical reason to actually stay, rather than visiting as a tourist or using it as a stepping stone to another province?

In the Fall of 2009, the Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS® announced that the average price for MLS® home sales from July to September was $192,826 - still extremely affordable, even though prices had gone up 4.7 per cent over the same three months in 2008. While the market is currently still leaning towards a buyer's market, the new residential listings on the MLS® system continue to decline - which will eventually lead to competition as buyers scramble to bid on the few homes available for sale. The lack of inventory should drive prices up, moving towards a sellers' market, until more sellers put their homes on the market to balance supply with demand. These real estate cycles can take years to achieve.

Linda Smardon, NSAR President, has an optimistic outlook for the immediate future of Nova Scotia real estate. "Towards the middle of 2009, consumer confidence began to build again and the recovery from double-digit decreases in sales and dollar volume indicates a brighter 2010 for the market than some previously thought."

If you are looking for Nova Scotia homes for sale, there is a wide variety of housing choices, ranging from urban to rural, condominiums to single family detached, income properties to lots of land. For an extensive list of properties currently on the market, visit the Multiple Listing Service website and select Nova Scotia.

All in all, Nova Scotia Real Estate is holding steady as a great opportunity for buyers to find affordable homes in a beautiful setting, and for sellers to achieve full market value for their homes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicole_Salter

2010-03-04T19:32:00.000-05:00

Brier Island: Land's End in the Bay of Fundy

2010-02-25T15:26:00.001-05:00

Land's end in the Bay of Fundy

Tiny Brier Island a major stopover for migrating seabirds, shorebirds, waterfowl and hawks

By Dave Cooper, The Edmonton JournalJanuary 13, 2009

The fog is thick and the winds are brisk, not a great day for whale watching. But here I am clutching the damp rail of a temporarily converted lobster boat as it plows through two-metre swells. Suddenly, skipper Roy Graham shuts off the big diesel for a few minutes.

"Just listen," says guide Penny Graham. "We can't see them, but we might hear them and get closer."

A dozen pair of ears tune in for the whoosh of a humpback blowing, or exhaling, as it breaks the surface. Since whales will often move in one direction, we could follow and hopefully get close enough to see something through the fog. But the wind drowns out any whales that might be in this prime area off Brier Island, reputed as the best place to see them in the Maritimes.

It's not great today. When there's fog and no wind you can hear the humpbacks. The wind is not a problem when you can see the giants breach.

But we were warned. Roy and Penny have been doing this longer than most, filling in time between lobster seasons by taking out whale-watchers. There are now more than a dozen firms from the city of Digby right out along the spectacular 73-kilometre spit called the Digby Neck to Long Island and Brier Island.

Two hours earlier, Penny had stood on deck and described the weather as marginal. We were told we'd be lucky to see anything, but since many folks just had the one day on the island, it was a four-and-a-half hour boat ride now, or try again tomorrow.

And the forecast for tomorrow was more of the same.

"Anyone want to get off now? Once the boat leaves the dock, we're not turning back," said Penny.

After a few hours on the heaving sea, a few green-faced landlubbers had wished they'd taken that advice.

As the wind picked up, many hoped the fog would blow off. Penny laughed. "Nope, this is a soueaster." Translation: The wind was just bringing in more fog from the Atlantic, which seems to have limitless fog to share with Nova Scotia.

Penny scanned the sea for "fluke prints," areas of foam where a whale has smashed its tail into to sea. Nothing.

She inhaled deeply. "I smell them." The boat stopped again. "When they're feeding you can't miss that smell."

The distinctive odour of herring is often a great way to track the whales, But alas, not today. On we went through the fog, hoping that something would pop up within 50 metres of the boat.

And suddenly, something did. "There," she yelled. Everyone bolted for the rail to see what looked like a giant porpoise arc through the sea on a parallel course.

"It's just a minke."

The smaller whale doesn't have the reputation for playfulness of the humpback, but on a day like this any whale will do.

The sleek, dark back and dorsal fin appeared a couple more times, and then so did an orange zodiac craft. "That's Tiverton. They've come to see our whale. Nobody is seeing anything today," said Penny.

As we docked at Brier Island, Penny handed everyone a complementary pass. "Sorry about today. Come back and ride for free next time."

At the end of a spectacular formation of volcanic rock, Brier looks out into the Bay of Fundy with a rugged face of 40-metre cliffs that reminds many of the Giants Causeway in Ireland. On neighbouring Long Island, a popular stopping spot is Balancing Rock, a sliver of basalt that seems to stand alone.

Brier's southern point trails off into the sea, leaving the bar of Green Island and Gull Rock, a graveyard for unfortunate ships caught in the powerful tides of Fundy and St. Mary's Bay.

Losses were so great that the first lighthouse was erected in 1809, with two more in later decades. The locals were not above scavenging materials from wrecks. A lumber ship that was smashed on the rocks in 1908 yielded enough wood to build the community hall.

At just five kilometres long, Brier is a tiny island rich in history. Three hours from the U.S., it was a major rum-running base during Prohibition. Special low-profile, fast boats were built on the island to evade the authorities. (During a Nova Scotia liquor strike, the flow was reversed, admits one resident. "We loaded up in Maine.")

In the mid-1800s, the village of Westport was a major port for the trade of salted cod to the Caribbean, bringing back molasses and rum which were then taken to England.

The seafaring roots run deep. The village was the boyhood home of Joshua Slocum, who sailed alone around the world in his 37-foot sloop the Spray between 1895 and 1898, a feat until then thought impossible.

Once home to a fleet of sailing vessels, the harbour today is the base for an important lobster fishery from November through April. But you won't find lobster on the menu at Lavena's Catch Cafe, a quaint spot near the ferry ramp in Freeport, a few minutes across Grand Passage from Brier.

Judged one of the best places to eat in Nova Scotia, it's also inexpensive and a hit with locals and tourists. The haddock and scallops are locally caught and fresh each day.

Our bed-and-breakfast in a restored 1830 home was just a short walk to the ferry, which runs hourly.

On the other end, our server advised us it would be leaving right on time. "Well, my stepfather is the captain."

Because of its location on the Atlantic Flyway and at the gateway to the Bay of Fundy, and the great tides which have created a rich ecosystem, Brier is a major stopover for migrating seabirds, shorebirds, waterfowl and hawks. The Big Pond lowlands and Whipple Point are protected areas.

While the whole Digby Neck is spectacular, it is not beach country -- with one exception. At the hamlet of Sandy Cove, a short unmarked road leads to the secluded Sandy Cove Beach, a popular place in the summer when the sun is shining and the water temperature tolerable. That wasn't the case in late September.

We found several spectacular white sand beaches west of Halifax on the southwest coast. But the water temperature was a chilly 10C.

IF YOU GO:

- FLIGHTS: WestJet and Air Canada offer daily direct flights to Halifax. Digby is 235-kilometre drive through the beautiful Annapolis Valley. Digby Neck is a narrow ribbon of land between the Bay of Fundy and St. Mary's Bay. There is a two-minute ferry across Petite Passage to Long Island, and a five minute ferry from the end of Long Island to Brier Island. ($4 per car for each ferry. No charge for return trip.)

- Accommodation: Bay of Fundy Inn, a restored 1830 home now run as a bed-and-breakfast. $75 night for two. (1-800-239-2189). Owners also run Mariner Cruises Whale and Seabird Tours. A tour of up to five hours on the water costs about $48 per person, $40 for seniors and students, $26 for children. Website: www.novascotiawhalewatching.ca

- There is also a lodge, hostel and motel on Brier, as well as other whale watching firms. Order the free Doer's and Dreamers' guide from the province.

Website: www.novascotia.com

- The Grahams say around Brier Island, finback whales, minke whales and harbour porpoises are the first to arrive in the spring. In June, the humpbacks begin to return; by late June they are abundant, and white-sided dolphins are often seen. By mid-July all five species are commonly sighted and usually remain until late fall.

Ah...Good Nova Scotian Fish Products-in Maine

2010-02-24T08:14:00.001-05:00

Sullivan Harbor Farms Overview
When Joel Frantzman decided to produce the best smoked fish, he attended a preeminent smoking course in Aberdeen, Scotland. He visited a number of small, high-end Scottish smoke houses that produce the best smoked salmon and other fish. He then returned home to Hancock Village, Maine, armed with the knowledge and determination to make his mark on the smoked fish marketplace. He has succeeded!

Smoking fish and seafood in small batches, using old world methods and “fanatical attention to detail,” Sullivan Harbor Farms sells superior smoked fish products. It’s not just because the smoked salmon is special (it’s lovely with a deeper smoke than most), because one can usually find a decent supply of that popular food in major cities.

It’s the other treats, including smoked shrimp and smoked scallops, that add up to major excitement for food lovers seeking new flavors and experiences. The seafood are dry cured and smoked in small kilns with natural hardwood smoke in a state-of-the-art facility. Time-honored techniques meet the best in modern equipment, and you’ll taste it!

Scallops and shrimp are refrigerator-packed with a shelf life of two weeks. Photo by Evan Dempsey | THE NIBBLE.

The day boat scallops come from Digby Neck in Nova Scotia, Canada, and the small, sweet shrimp from the Gulf of Maine. All of the salmon comes from Ocean Legacy, a small salmon farm in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia. Clear bay water propelled by 25 foot tides sluice through the salmon pens, enabling the growth of muscular fish without the need for hormones. Low fish density (uncrowded pens) mean no antibiotics. The result: healthy fish particularly high in Omega 3s.

Locally farmed salmon were once Maine’s top seafood export after lobster. The cost of environmental monitoring and other issues caused the industry to decline over the past decade. But a handful of artisan seafood smokehouses exist, and are now getting farmed Atlantic salmon from Maine’s neighbor to the northeast, Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia has Roseate Terns

2010-02-22T20:31:00.002-05:00

Roseate tern decline perplexes researchers
Photos

The roseate tern is considered a federally endangered species.
By Rich Eldred
The Cape Codder
Posted Feb 22, 2010 @ 06:14 AM
CAPE COD —
Piping plovers get all the publicity but Cape Cod’s shoreline is even more important to the federally endangered roseate tern. Perhaps the terns need a new agent.

“Almost all the North American roseate tern population spends a couple of months on Cape Cod and the Islands at a handful of these important sites,” observed Becky Harris, director of Mass Audubon’s Coastal Waterbird Program at Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary in Barnstable.

Harris has been directing at three-year $70,000 project monitoring roseate terns through the summers on the Cape.

“Roseate terns are at the highest level of endangerment and there’s been about a 30 percent decline in population the last 10 years and people don’t know why,” she said. “If we can figure out what’s happening during this period of decline, that’s our ultimate goal.”

The population peaked at 4,310 pairs in North America in 2000 and fell to 3,320 by 2006. Harris employs a field staff of seven, scattered over the Cape and Islands, to monitor the terns.

The birds are feeding and hanging out (staging). Roseate terns breed primarily in Buzzards Bay on Bird Island (in Marion), Ram Island (Mattapoisett) and Penikese Island. It’s estimated 1,100 pairs breed on Bird Island and 450 plus on Ram’s, about half the total Northeastern population. Another 1,250 or so pairs nest on Great Gull Island off Long Island, N.Y. They generally nest alongside larger colonies of common terns and prefer islands to avoid predators such as coyotes, raccoons and skunks. Their summertime concentration around Cape Cod, however, makes them vulnerable to events such as Hurricane Bob.

Once the chicks can fly they depart the island, usually in late July, and like any other tourist, visit Cape Cod.

“They show up first in Falmouth, at Black Beach-Sippewissett Marsh, then spread out to Outer Cape sites through September,” Harris explained. “Plymouth Beach is a regular spot, Chapin Beach and off Crowes Pasture in Dennis (is another). The most heavily used area was Nauset Marsh, Coast Guard Beach and Hatches Harbor. There were up to 15,000 to 20,000 total terns, including common terns. Wood End (in Provincetown) was used spottily.”

They still can’t feed themselves so the adults forage and bring back fish, usually sand lances, for the chicks.

The task of the field researchers was to sift through massive tern flocks and count and identify the roseate terns via their leg bands. Needless to say, that required sharp vital eyes and a powerful scope.

“We had old scopes that weren’t up to the job,” Harris conceded. “We ended up getting really good Zeiss 80 power scopes. Zeiss helped out with the scopes.”

Identifying the birds isn’t easy. Researchers spend six to eight hours a day staring through the scope, waiting for the birds to flash a leg and give them a good view.

“Sometimes up to two-thirds of them in a flock are roseate terns, maybe 1,500 to 2,000 are banded. So you can get a lot of observations staring through a flock. It takes a lot of practice,” Harris said. “You can get exhausted by the end of the day but I certainly miss it.”

Chicks are banded after they hatch, adults at different migratory sites.

“There are six different colored bands on the adults and you can identify who the individual is,” Harris said. “They also identify as many fledglings as they can. They have only metal bands. If you can get close enough with the scope and have good focus, you can read their numbers.”

The numbers are like a zip code.

“If you can read the sequence, you can see a bird came from, say, Great Gull Island, N.Y.,” Harris explained. “We have identified a fledgling from every breeding colony in the Northeast where more than five chicks were banded. We’ve identified 15 to 20 percent of all the chicks banded this year. So we can pretty much confirm they are all coming here.”

Harris was especially impressed that birds from Connecticut and New York fly north to the Cape before flying south for the winter.

All told, 2,722 chicks were banded in 2009, and 413 were confirmed visiting the Cape, representing 11 colonies from Nova Scotia (in which case 13 of 14 banded birds showed up) to New York.

“We can’t identify every chick because the bands have to be read at a distance,” Harris conceded. “As far as the adults, the color banding has been going on for five years, and at the Buzzards Bay colony nearly 2,100 adults (75 percent) have been banded. That gives us a chance to learn about their movements.”

One thing noticed was that birds spent several days on a beach, disappeared for several more, then returned. A handful of roseate terns have been tagged with geo-locaters and those birds have flown as far as Bermuda, most likely foraging, before returning to Cape Cod.

“We’re thinking there may be more pelagic birds than we’re seeing,” Harris said. “It’s a hard thing to figure out where they are.”

The chicks also don’t return the next summer.

“Banding enabled people to tell that chicks raised here, took two to three years before returning to breed and the return rate was low. So something is happening between South America and here. They’re not coming back in high enough numbers to keep the population growing,” Harris said.

The terns winter in Brazil and Argentina and little research has been done there.

Another observation was that the males did most of the feeding, which could lead to greater mortality as they foraged.

“They are expending a lot more energy feeding the chicks,” Harris said.

Somebody Else Loves Canada and Digby Neck

2010-02-21T13:45:00.001-05:00

This is by somebody who lives in Louisiana, who has a website at: butterbeansblues.com

Canadian at Heart

The far away softness of a morning train whistle intruded into my dream, faint but persistent, like a memory just out of reach and still out of focus. The curtains fluttered in the early ocean breeze and I could hear seagulls arguing over scraps, the throaty hum of a boat engine leaving the breakwater, and the steady rhythm of an axe splitting firewood. These were the sounds of summer, of home and growing up, of comfort in knowing where I was and belonging.

Outside the small motel cabin, the sun was breaking through and burning off the fog, revealing a bright blue sky littered with hazy clouds. I imagined I could feel the day beginning to warm, nearly sense the dew evaporating on the grass and the chilly ground heating up. The train whistle sounded again, closer this time, and from the other side of the trees I could just make out the silhouette of a locomotive as it slowly wound its way from The Valley, keeping to its schedule as it always had. You could plan a life around the Canadian Pacific, my grandmother had often told me, And you'd never be late.

It was late August and there hadn't been much traffic on the road from Yarmouth. The familiar villages were now behind me - Church Point, Bear River, Weymouth - I had taken my time driving, having no particular timetable to keep to and suspecting that it might be years if not a lifetime before I would find myself on these roads again. I had breakfast in Digby, watching the scallop boats come and go with the tides, then slowly headed down Highway 217, "The Digby Neck" as it was commonly known. I was thinking of how many times I had made this trip, through Gulliver's Cove and Little River, and Sandy Cove and finally to the extraordinary hairpin turn at East Ferry, where the road unexpectedly ended at the very edge of the ocean and more than one carelessly overconfident driver had plunged over the guard rail and been taken by an unforgiving tide. After one particularly spectacular night time crash, I remembered Uncle Shad telling Nana that it was a miracle anyone ever survived - Them whats lived to tell the tale, don't, he said grimly, It'd be temptin' fate to brag and it don't make no sense to try and outrun your own timetable.

Across the passage, Tiverton sat in the afternoon sun, a picture postcard of a tiny fishing village. Bait shacks lined the coastline and a dozen or so dories rocked on the whitecaps. A Nova Scotian flag waved from the old post office building and a small circle of old men mended nets on the end of the wharf. After Tiverton, there would be Central Grove at the halfway mark, two or three houses and a lily pond and you were past it, and then I would be on the top of the hill that overlooked Freeport - green and blue and sparkling from the square to The Point - a picture I can still see if I close my eyes and wish hard enough. The small white church on the left, just below the cemetery, the cove at high tide, Curt's candy store by the schoolhouse, the baseball field. The road stretched out like a shimmering ribbon, down for a ways, then flat for a ways - past McIntyre's and the dance hall, past where the post office used to be, then gradually rising up toward the sun and around a gentle, downward curve to where I could see the Sullivan's house and the remains of Willie Foot's, Uncle Len's pale green gingerbreaded one, and at the very foot of the hill, down a steep gravel driveway with a strawberry field on one side, what was once Nana's beloved summer house. It sat, almost untouched by time, just as I remembered, overgrown with high grass except for the shortcut path which led from the top of the driveway to the front road. Knowing that a new generation of villagers still cut through to save the long hike around the curve made me glad - Nana had always fussed about this minor trespassing but never with much conviction or heart. John Sullivan's boat was gone, replaced with a shiny aluminum storage shed, strangely out of place in the weeds and debris. There was not a remnant of the canteen and the ferry slip looked to be new. Sparrow's old house still stood but appeared empty and badly neglected while wildflowers grew in place of Old Hat's chicken wired garden.

Despite my citizenship, I will always be a Canadian in my heart.

2010-02-03T19:39:00.001-05:00

Travel destinations: Digby Neck, Nova Scotia
by Frances Stanford writing to or for Helium Destination Guides

Digby Neck, Nova Scotia, is the perfect vacation destination to choose if you are looking to enjoy the great outdoors. The ferry from Saint John docks in this location and it is just off Route 101 – the main highway through the Annapolis Valley. There are a few accommodations to choose from, one of which is the luxurious Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa. You can also choose the rustic cabins of Brier Island Lodge, one of the best eco-tourism accommodations in this area. There are also cottages for rent at daily and weekly rates.

Mountain bikers will truly enjoy Brier Island, which you can access by means of a ferry from Digby Neck. There are two dirt roads on the island, which measures only 4 by 1.5 miles. You can even rent a bike if you forget to bring your own.

Long Island is the favoured destination for hikers in the Digby Neck area. There are several hikes through woodlands that take you out along the coast to enjoy the panoramic vistas of both the Bay of Fundy and St. Mary’s Bay. You will have to make sure you wear suitable footwear as you will traverse bogs, swamps and marshes. If you wish you can even climb down one of the steep cliffs to the water’s edge at Balancing Rock where there are 169 steps down the sheer bluff.

Digby Neck is the perfect location to enjoy whale watching at any time of the year. These giant creatures feed on the tiny marine life that comes into the Bay of Fundy with the tides. There are several tour companies operating in the area with whom you can book a cruise to take you farther out into the bay to watch the whales frolicking in the ocean.

Birdwatchers will likely want to spend a great deal of time in the marshes of Seawall where many different species of birds can be found from spring until fall each year. The entire area is completely unspoiled by the tourist industry and offers an exciting chance to get to see the wildlife and flora of the area in its natural setting.

Many artists have found the perfect scenery for great paintings and it is not uncommon to see people with easels set up in the most unlikely venues. Even if you don`t paint, the photos you take of your visit to this area will bring back memories time after time.

Learn more about this author, Frances Stanford.

A Lost Hawk

2010-01-27T20:04:00.000-05:00

From the Chronicle Herald
Hunting hawk goes astray
Bedford man asks public to keep eye out for missing feathered friend
By CLARE MELLOR Staff Reporter
Wed. Jan 27 - 4:53 AM

Cree, a northern goshawk, has escaped from her pen in Bedford. Owner John Conohan is asking people to keep an eye out for the bird of prey.

A Bedford man is asking the public to keep an eye out for his valuable hawk, which is missing.

John Conohan had just arrived in Clearwater, Fla., on Tuesday afternoon when he got a call from his neighbour in Bedford saying that the hawk, named Cree, was no longer in her outdoor chamber.

"He opened the door and she was gone," said Mr. Conohan, who is catching a flight back to Halifax today to look for Cree, a five-year-old northern goshawk.

Cree lives in a windowed chamber that is a little more than two metres high and two metres wide. It’s underneath the balcony of Mr. Coonan’s home on the Bedford waterfront.

When neighbour Bob Payn went to Mr. Conohan’s home to feed Cree on Tuesday afternoon, he dropped the food through a special shoot that goes directly into the chamber but he didn’t hear the bird retrieve it. Cree wears a bell that jingles when she moves.

Mr. Payn noticed that one of the bars on the window of her chamber had come loose.

"I’m assuming maybe the wind blew (one of the bars) loose. I’m hoping that no one tampered with it," Mr. Conohan said from Florida on Tuesday night.

Mr. Conohan is a professional falconer and has owned the hawk, which he uses for hunting, for about a year. He estimates the bird is worth about $3,000.

"She is a prize falconry bird," he said. "She is very well-trained. It is pretty distressing."

Northern goshawks are indigenous to Nova Scotia, which means they can withstand the cold weather.

Mr. Conohan was busy Tuesday evening contacting media outlets to get the word out about the missing bird. He also sent an email to the provincial Natural Resources Department.

"She is about the size of a large crow," he said.

"She has orange eyes. She has a black and white barred chest, black and brown wings, and a grey and black barred tail with white tips on the tail."

Cree also has small leather straps called jesses attached to her feet.

Mr. Conohan believes the bird will stay in the area.

"I don’t think she would have flown out (Monday) night because typically they don’t fly in the nighttime. . . . Normally, they will just sit in a tree until they want to hunt.

"I have a special lure that I use (to) bring her down. She is trained to come to a lure."

Mr. Conohan said Cree poses no threat to humans.

"As far as small dogs or cats, she has never attacked any of them. I don’t think she would. Yet if she is hungry, I really can’t say what she would go after for food."

Owls and even other hawks could attack Cree, Mr. Conohan said. Crows dislike hawks and would cause a big commotion if she got close to them, he said.

Mr. Payn, who has been out searching for Cree, said she is a "gorgeous bird" and he understands Mr. Conohan’s distress.

Anyone who spots the hawk can call Mr. Payn at 835-8233.

( cmellor@herald.ca)

Skating at the Farmer's Market-Annapolis

2010-01-26T05:23:00.001-05:00

From the Annapolis Royal Heritage blog:

Annapolis Royal Heritage
Exploring heritage in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Skating at the Farmer's Market

Since yesterday's post was about fire, I figured that today's should head toward the other extreme. I am not sure how much further I can go in the other direction than ice. Over the past few weeks I have been watching the progress of the new outdoor skating rink at the Annapolis Royal Farmer's market. While there have been previous rinks built in this location there has not been one since I have lived here. Since I enjoy skating I was thrilled to see the framework of the rink installed in November. Each day as I drive or walk past the market I have watched the posted sign to see if the rink was ready to accept skaters. So far the weather has not been consistently cold enough. I was quite happy when I saw Grant Potter, the Recreation Director for the Town of Annapolis Royal, walking up the street with a sign featuring a large green skate.

After dinner my five year old and I grabbed our skates and made our way to the Farmer's Market. The ice was as nice as any outdoor ice I have ever skated on. With the exception of a few minor bumps in the corners it was a perfectly smooth sheet. The market stalls even provided some protection from the wind. After an hour or so on the ice, a cup of hot chocolate from the pub (the building in the top image) topped off the evening.

At some point over the next few weeks I will try to make a post about some of the historic skating facilities that we have had in Annapolis Royal. I may also try to make a post about some of the historic uses of the area currently being used as a skating rink.

All for now,
RGS

Annapolis Farm:Hidden Meadow

2010-01-26T05:20:00.001-05:00

From their blog

The farm
"Excellence through responsible farming"

Nestled in Nova Scotia's breathtaking Annapolis Valley lies 165 acres of prime agriculture land and home to Hidden Meadow Farm.
Home to rare and heritage livestock, organic veggies, herbs and cut flowers.

We sell breeding stock and baby chicks, poult's, gosling's and duckling's.

Meat sales as follow's:
Berkshire pork, heritage turkey & chicken, Scottish Highland & Belted Galloway beef, Muscovy duck & African geese.

Veggies & fresh herbs: all grown from certified organic seed,started right here on the farm.
All grown organic with no synthetic fertilizer just a good 'ol heaping of manure, no herbicide's, fungicides or pesticides just allot of hand picking pests!
Cut flowers: starting with tulips ending with kale.Nothing to brighten up your day like a fresh bouquet!

Wool and fleece from our stunning Cotswold sheep, and when available fresh eggs, wild cranberries & blueberries and homemade preserves.

If you are interested please visit our contact info.

Open Farm Day Is Coming, check it out here!
Open Farm Day
Hidden Meadow Farm For Sale Page
http://hiddenmeadowfarmforsalepage.blogspot.com/
Labels
1930 (1)
geese (1)
highland calves (1)
Contact us
You can contact the farm by email:
stacycory@hotmail.com

Does conservation of Rare breed farm animals matter to you?
Great Farming Finds
*Acres USA
*American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
*Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network aka ACORN
*Countryside & Small Stock Journal
*Heritage Harvest Seed
*Hobby Farm Home Magazine
*Hobby Farms magazine
*Hope Seeds
*Johnny's Select Seed
*Polyface Farm
*Rare Breeds Canada
*Seed Saver Exchange
*Seeds of Change
*Small Farmer's Journal
*West Coast Seeds
Followers

Blog Archive
▼ 2010 (4)
▼ January (4)
Local Supper
Sunday
Highland calves for sale
Who would of thought,Geese on my farm?
► 2009 (6)
► December (6)
Winter has shown it's face, first snow for some.
After going through the new Johnny's catalouge I h...
Going through seed catalogue's wondering what to o...
Heritage apples, mmmm good. This is a Ribston Pip...
Apple blossoms in sprin...
The farm 1930
About Me

farmer
View my complete profile
Monday, January 25, 2010
Local Supper
Tonight we will be enjoying a farm raised young Royal Palm Turkey, mashed blue potatoes,golden beets,sweet potatoes, turnip & carrots with pear and spanakopita for supper.
For dessert a delicious homemade apple crisp with Cortland apples and fresh whip cream.
I love cooking and growing unusual vegetables, their so good, go ahead try something new surprise your taste buds!

I am proud to say what was not from our farm was bought from our neighboring farmers.
Buying local is so important to the life of family farms, and why wouldn't we support our farmers, so fresh and delicious!
Nothing better then knowing where, how and who raised your food.

Hope this makes you think of your food in a different light, try to answer the questions of where? how? and who? before your next purchase.

Cycling in S.W. NOva Scotia

2010-01-22T20:46:00.001-05:00

Heading to Canada, ehy?
Posted on January 12, 2010 by cyclinggypsies
Please see this great blog by the same name

Yep, it is finally time to leave Europe and cross the Atlantic for Canada. So long and thanks for all the baguettes…

You will find our new home beyond Heart’s Desire, beyond Crooked Lake, beyond Malignant Cove and beyond Upper Dyke Village. Once you get to Bear River take the quiet road to Grosses Coques and look for our place at the far edge of town where the grickle grass grows. Note: if you end up at Burnt Head you have probably taken a wrong turn at Sissiboo.

As you can probably tell I have spent unhealthy amounts of time on Google Maps, exploring the surrounding regions of our new destination, an area rich in lobster and wacky town names. Where in the world are we talking about? The west coast of Nova Scotia on the east coast of Canada. Fear not, if I have lost you already, a Google Map is provided below

View Larger Map

Grosses Coques, literally translating from French to ‘big shell’ (thank you Google Translate), overlooks the Bay of Fundy, a stretch of water known for whales and having the most extreme tides in the world. Because of the unique shape of the bay a funnel effect is created, meaning the difference in water level between high and low tide can be as much as 14 metres. The tides are so extreme in some upper bay rivers the river flow is completely reversed by the rising tide (thank you Wikipedia).

Our winter home will be provided by our friends Colleen and Andre in exchange for some renovations. On the agenda for 2010 is putting in some new oak flooring downstairs, refinishing the pine floor upstairs, redoing the upstairs walls, putting in new windows and a small bathroom upstairs, starting an organic garden, creating a successful bakery, completing triathlons, marathons, becoming fluent in French, brushing up on some ‘dumb newfie’ jokes, becoming a competent sea kayaker, spotting some whale/puffin/caribou/dumb newfies, learning to play the guitar and perhaps the fiddle, and more regular stretching. By the way, happy new years!

In amongst of all of this we hope to save some money for more cycling adventures – starting with a 6,000 km loop around the east of Canada. You can see the basic route idea below, starting in Nova Scotia and heading anti-clockwise through Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, Labrador, Quebec, and New Brunswick.

Sandy Cove Vintage Postcard on Ebay

2010-01-11T20:47:00.003-05:00

On Ebay

Sandy Cove Digby Neck Nova Scotia Vintage Postcard

Item condition: --

Price: US $9.75 Buy It NowBuy It NowBuy It Now

Shipping: $1.25US Postal Service First Class MailSee more services See discounts | See all details
Estimated delivery within 4-7 business days

Returns: 14 day money back, buyer pays return shipping | Read details

Coverage: Pay with and your full purchase price is covered | See terms

Digby County Profile

2009-12-29T19:44:00.000-05:00

From N.S. government

Digby County Profile

Located within the following geographies:

District Health Authority: South West Health
Province: Nova Scotia
Country: Canada

Year: 2006 2001

Demographics Income Education Households Labour

Social Health Resources Environment Production

Figure 1: Population by Age Groups

Population

Based on the 2006 Census of Population, Digby County has a population of 18,995 which is 7.3% lower than in 1996. In 2006, 20.7% of the population was under the age of 20 and 19.2% was 65 years or older.
In comparison, Nova Scotia has a population of 913,465 which is 0.5% higher than in 1996. 22.8% of the population was under the age of 20 and 15.1% was 65 years or older.

Family Structure

In Nova Scotia, family structure has shifted from the traditional larger married families to smaller married families and an increase in both common-law and lone-parent families.

Figure 2: Family Types for 2006

In 2006, for Digby County, total census families decreased 7.3% to 5,960. Married families decreased by 9.8% while common law families increased 14.6% and lone-parent families increased 21.4%. Lone female parent families were 12.3% of all families while lone male parents were 2.8% of all families.

In Nova Scotia, total census families increased 5.3% to 725. Married families increased by -1.4% while common law families increased 43.2% and lone-parent families increased 14.1%. Lone female parent families were 12.3% of all families while lone male parents were 2.8% of all families.

Citizenship & Mobility

Compared to Nova Scotia, Digby County has a relatively low immigrant population. In 2006, there were 590 immigrants which is 3.2% of the population compared to 5% immigrants for Nova Scotia. In Digby County, 98.5% of people were Canadian citizens compared to 98.3% for Nova Scotia.

86% of Digby County's population was born in the province of their residence.

Figure 3: Digby County

Figure 4: Nova Scotia

In Digby County, 24.3% of the population moved within the last five years. 13.9% moved within the municipality, 6% moved within the Province, 3.4% moved within Canada, and 1% moved outside of Canada. A lower percentage of residents moved in the last five years than in Nova Scotia (33.2%).

Figure 5: Digby County

Figure 6: Nova Scotia

Language

English is the predominant language in Digby County, with 74.7% speaking only English in the home and 69.4% speaking only English at work. This compares to 97.8% and 96% respectively for Nova Scotia. 22.1% of people in Digby County speak only French at home and 3% speak French and English at home. For Nova Scotia, 1.4% speak only French at home awhile 0.4% speak English and French at home.
Figure 7: Languages Spoken in Home for 2006
Figure 8: Languages Spoken at Work for 2006

Nurse Practioner Lost in Digby County

2009-10-23T19:42:00.001-04:00

from CBC news.ca

MacDonald urges talks in nurse practitioner spat
Last Updated: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 | 8:00 AM AT Comments8Recommend8CBC News
The two sides in a dispute over a nurse practitioner in Long Island need to sit down and try to work out a solution, the Nova Scotia health minister says.

The South West Nova District Health Authority did not renew Karen Snider's contract at the health centre in Freeport, leaving Long and Brier islands, as well as part of Digby Neck, without a full-time nurse practitioner.

That has angered people in the area, many of whom don't have a family doctor.

Provincial Health Minister Maureen MacDonald said she has asked district officials to meet with community representatives.

"I think the district health authority has a responsibility to be accountable to the people of that community," she said, adding both sides need to keep "open minds."

The district health authority has not said why it decided to let Snider go. Officials say it's a personnel matter.

Public comment regarding funding cut
But some people claim Snider was targeted because she spoke out about a cut in funding for an administrative assistant position at the clinic. Snider commented in a local publication and brought the issue up with her collaborating physician and other nurse practitioners.

After a public meeting Monday night in Freeport, some people were organizing letter-writing campaigns, petitions and a march on the Nova Scotia legislature.

A community spokesperson, Andy Moir, said the community is only willing to meet with district health officials if they are willing to discuss Snider's reinstatement.

The health authority is already advertising for a replacement for Snider. In the meantime, it's bringing in nurse practitioners on rotating shifts to keep the clinic open at least two days a week.

The clinic, which serves about 1,500 people, has gone through six nurse practitioners in the last five years.
Post a comment
8Comments have been postedRecommend this story
8People have recommended this story

Take a Look at Digby Harbour!

2009-02-09T09:47:00.003-05:00

Picturesque Digby harbour. Just click on the title. If this doesn't work click on the link in "Links" in the sidebar.

Digby County Nature in November 08 copyright23.11.08

2008-11-23T11:42:00.000-05:00

As I sit here, drowsy and muscle-weak after shovelling the first thick down of fluffy virgin snow from the doorstep, my eyes want to close. The lids drop, the pen stops, and my other senses engage: the crackling and pop of shards of cedar lath igniting maple logs, the warmth stealing over my back like the slide of a warm towel wrap. I'm enveloped in a patchwork quilt of memories of today, yesterday and the month gone by.
I linger in the delight of the early morning: four deer browsing in my yard for the remains of this year's apple "drops" under snowy caps. The flicker of white tails drew my attention away from the computer screen, to my office window. Something in the woods startled them, and with spring loaded legs they bounced away; lithe brown shapes and a flick of white, the acre of orchard now lonely without them.
The hoofprints were so close to the house the other morning; the morning after the burgeoning full moon. As I watched, that night, its stark brightness rising over shadows of white pine, fir and spruce, a howl rose from the dark edges of the meadow, its keening siren followed by a duo of sharp barks. I would never, could never, shield these beautiful creatures from a natural predator such as a night-time, human-shy coyote, but I would do whatever possible, within the bounds of our laws, to protect them from human predators on my property.
It is coming back to nature, for me here. The ghostly grey heron stalks my brook (and other Digby County waterways) for trout lulled to oblivion by the statue of the great bird which suddenly comes to life too quickly for the rest of the life of the "brookie" on idle: one snatch and the long spindly legs bend and lift the ghostly great figure up into the air, absolutely soundless with its prey.
A pair of great horned owls haunted the evergreens till of late, the "hoo-hoo" and "who knew, you?" prickling my ears on ebon nights, to my delight, while they scanned the night's floor for mouse and shrew.
These are the predators and prey that inhabit my world on Digby Neck, in Digby County. They are not to be feared but are our marvels. Together they create Balance in our natural world. The rufous hummingbird which sips the colourful feeders for sweetness and calories with which to create its incredible wing-beat, and the coyote and the owl are equally part of the amazing assortment of living creatures around this area.
I've mentioned just a few of them. This is a birder's paradise. Digby Neck and Islands in on the migratory bird flyway! You'll be amazed at the numbers and species of birds you will find here! Even researchers flock to this place. They fly (in small planes) to this area. Or they fly down Hwy. 217 in their cars. They nest for a while in our accommodations spots. An excited gaggle can be heard when they gather to share what they've seen watching them! And, not to belabour the point, they do enjoy the finest in seafood that is available here.
I am reminded, now to rouse myself and fill the bird-feeder with the energy that birds need now that the snow fall has covered a lot of their food sources. This act helps them, but it is also so I can be graced by their visits- blue jays, juncos and others. The cylinder of the bird feeder is like a battery-they draw from it the energy they need to sustain their living systems, their mobility, and their high body temperatures (40 C.). I will re-charge the battery whenever it is needed for these ends, and to sustain the living creatures and amazing bio-diversity of Digby county.
One day soon, you will come to Digby County, and let me show you....

Of History and Mailboxes copyright 6.11.08

2008-11-07T14:05:00.000-05:00

We are very close to our beginnings, here, in this part of Nova Scotia. The village names along Digby Neck could just as well be stamped with the family name of those who opened the earth and piled the stones to create the first permanent dwelling on that particular spot. I drive down this narrow and lush peninsula and know that there are still Tidds who live in Tiddville; Mink Cove could just as well be called Gidney Hollow, for tho' many descendants moved away and sold the original land grants from the British government of the time, many have also returned to reclaim their heritage and place of prominence in this community.

All the old names are here: Denton, Raymond, Titus and more. Perhaps you would see your ancestral (or present) surname here- on a modest rural mailbox that could tell you a thousand stories. If you travelled with the rural postie who drives -still- from mailbox to mailbox everyday, opening its maw and filling it with the concerns of today, perhaps if you listened very closely you would hear on the outrush of breath from that opening the concerns yesterday, of yesteryear, of each dwelling occupant before: the bills for purchases, the taxes, obits and marriage notices, government prescriptions and proscriptions, and invitations to attend one event or another.

The rural mailbox is not just an "incoming" receptacle. The responses to each life's trudge and each person's grudge were placed in the same embracing space to go *out*, along with the joys, remembrances and the social "touch" needed then and needed now, with friends, relatives, lovers and acquaintances who lived and live down the road, up the Neck, or simply "away".
Both in and out communications are announced with an upright crimson flag attached to the side of the mailbox, which remained prone, as many of us do, when silent.

Our rural mailboxes will likely become quaint technology of the past, despite their dressings up and dressings down, the ingenious shapes and colourful drapes and safer (according to Canada Post) placements roadside.

Come see them soon! We're not yet just numbers on a highway. Our mailboxes have names that go back sometimes 200 years. My mailbox says so.

Kathleen Gidney