In May 2011, after four years of life on McNutt's Island, we moved to Montreal. This blog remains, though, as a (sort of) daily record of our time on the island, and a winding path for anyone who would like to meander about among its magical places. For additional perspectives and insights I recommend Greg's book, Island Year: Finding Nova Scotia (2010), and my Bowl of Light (2012). I'll continue to post once in a while. If you do want to read this blog, one option would be to begin at the beginning of it (which is, as we all know, in blog-world, at the end), and read forward, concluding with the most recent entry. It's a journal, really, so it does makes more sense if you read it that way. But, you know, read it any way you like.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

beauty and the beast

On this drizzly morning a few sheep have ambled into the back orchard. Among them is The Major. He is not some stand-offish sort of ram who looks down his nose at the rest of the flock.He is content to graze near the newly emerging daffodils that line the rock wall.
He is, at heart, a simple soul. Modest and unassuming.
Yet there are times when he stands amid the daffodils and thinks deep thoughts.
Along with the rest of the flock, he has endured the long months of winter. Now he sometimes takes his ease, and lies down on beds of flowers.
How we shall miss The Major.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

an unexpected turn of events

Oh, dear, I have been putting off writing this post because it will be hard to do. But now the time has come.

When we returned to the island in late February we were confronted with an unexpected turn of events that has an enormous effect on us. And now we will need to move away from McNutt's Island.

Maybe you can imagine our initial shock, followed by all the other kinds of emotion that don't need to be spelled out here.

But this was all happening at the same time that the tragedies in Japan and Libya were unfolding. And it helped us to keep some perspective on our situation. A disappointment is not the same as a tragedy.

We will always remember our four years of adventure on McNutt's with great fondness.

I will continue to do occasional blogging from here until we actually leave, so I hope you, dear reader, will continue to drop by now and then. Blogging from the island has been great fun for me and I hope of some value for you.



Thursday, April 7, 2011

Greg and short in same phrase

Really, I never think of the words "Greg" and "short" very close to each other. Since he's a very tall person. But we learned today that his writing has been short-listed for an award, so there you go.
His regular column in The Shelburne County Coastguard is one of three nominees for Best Specialty Column by The Atlantic Community Newspapers Association.
That's quite an honour!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

spring scenery

It's a fresh day. Many times I have tried to capture the beauty of Old Man's Beard. At least this gives you some idea of it.
A home for somebody, in an old apple tree. This tree does not give many apples, but it provides other benefits.
The apple trees provide a good place for insects to live, too. And they, in turn, are a food source for birds, who make striking patterns on the bark.
A fresh spring sky today. Lots of wind and sun, and story-book clouds.