Ice Flows!

Those are not marshmallows behind Ron.
That's an Ocean of ICE!

We are finally getting back to some beautiful weather here on PEI.  Temperatures are still below the zero mark but the sunshine sure makes up for it.  

We decided to take a drive to see if we could discover more interesting finds on the island.  We drove up to Cavendish (one of our favorite spots) and decided to take the Parkway which runs along the coastal shore.  It was beautiful!  We stopped along the road to take in the view.  The ocean had frozen over solid.  Instead of it being flat like a skating rink (which I thought it would be) it looked like the waves were frozen in mid air.  It was all lumpy and bumpy with what looked like ice bergs stuck in the middle.  I had never seen anything like it.  It reminded me of an ocean of meringue.  It was beautiful!

We drove a little further along the Parkway and stopped again.  The landscape between the ocean and land were breath taking.  I just couldn’t get over how frozen everything was.  It was frozen as far as the eye could see! 

We drove along to North Rustico to see what the harbor would look like.  There are people who live in North Rustico year round, but we didn’t see too many people today.  It was very quiet.  I think we saw a total of 3 cars moving in town. We got out and walked along, what would have been the beach, although it was covered with snow and ice. It was cold but made for some really nice photos.  J

On our way back along the Parkway, we realized that we had not seen one Red Fox!  Where did they all go?  I missed not seeing them.  Then Ron decided to take a side road that we had never gone on before and low and behold … there sat a Red Fox right in the middle of the road.  He was all by himself.  I felt like the day was complete … we had seen a Red Fox!

Looking across to the Seawood Estates Shoreline

There's usually water between the house in the front and the houses in the back.

We have gotten fresh Mussells here.  They were delicious!

The water (or should I say ice) outside of the Seafood Plant

Seafood Plant in New London is only 10 minutes from our house.

New London





Harbour in New London

They have to take the boats out of the water or they will be crushed by the ice.

Stopped along the Cavendish Parkway to take in the view

The Cavendish Parkway View

Quite the sight to see

Nothing but ice in the Ocean

It reminds me of an ocean of meringue

Mother nature at work

North Rustico Harbour

Tourist area of North Rustico

North Rustico Harbour

I didn't know my son started a business here!

We shopped in this gift shop on our first trip to PEI in 2005

North Rustico Light House

We had our photo taken at this Light House on our first trip to PEI in 2005

North Rustico

Shoreline of North Rustico

On the Beach in North Rustico

Bailey wonders "where is the water?"

We dressed Bailey in a RED coat so we could see him in the WHITE snow!

Ron & Bailey heading out to sea ...
or should I say the Ice!

On the pier in North Rustico

Nothing but ice as far as the eye can see!

The only Red Fox we saw that day.

Valentine’s Day

Usually we don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day.  I feel that every day should be Valentine’s Day and we tell each other every day how much we love each other.  We don’t need a special day to do that.  I also feel that the stores take advantage of the consumers during this made up holiday by charging more, especially on flowers, so we have a rule in this house (well … actually it’s MY rule), flowers are NOT to be bought during Valentine’s week.  I know … I’m cheap … but I can get those same flowers before or after the week of Valentine’s for a lot less and I prefer it that way.  Ron knows these rules and abides by them without protest.  So with that in mind, you can imagine my surprise when this year he decided to go against the traditional “No Valentine’s Celebration Rule”! 

Ron had gone into town to pick up some material for a project he was doing.  When arrived home I came upstairs.  I could tell something was up by the little smirk he had on his face.  As I reminded him of our rule, he said “I know, I know … but this is our first Valentine’s Day in our new house and you do so much for me that I just wanted to get you this.”  He handed me a card to open.  I felt totally embarrassed because I was living up to “our rule” and had nothing to give him in return.  It was a beautiful Valentine’s Day card from Ron and Bailey.  Then he gave me a package to open.  He said that he saw it weeks ago and it had reminded him of us and he just had to get it.  I opened the box carefully and saw that it was a Willow Tree ornament.  I have several Willow Tree ornaments in my collection so I guessed he knew I would like it.  When I opened the box I pulled out the perfect ornament that represented Ron and myself.  It brought tears to my eyes.  It was an image of our love for one another.  It was perfect!

Later that night, since I didn’t buy a card or present for Ron, I decided we would have a wonderful dinner and that would be my gift to him.  Something I know Ron would enjoy!  I dimmed the lights to set the mood for a romantic candle lit dinner.  We had steak with fresh sautéed mushrooms topped with Béarnaise sauce, lobster tails with melted butter for dipping, fresh carrots, my special devil eggs, olives and sweet gherkin pickles to round out the meal.  For dessert we had home made Tiramisu (one of Ron’s favorite’s).  Ron said it was the best meal ever!  I must admit … it WAS pretty good!

Even though we don’t typically celebrate Valentine’s Day, it turned out to be a wonderful day!  It’s nice knowing that your husband loves you so much that he “risks” getting into an argument over spending money on a made up holiday.  Lol 

So long as we have each other that’s all that matters.  But if something should happen to either one of us, we have a Willow Tree ornament to remind us of how much our love meant to one another.  It was perfect!



Can you feel the love for one another?  We can!



The Storm is Over … for Now!

As you may have read in my previous blog, for the past 48 hours PEI has been blinded by a huge snow storm that passed over us.  Winds gusted over 80 kms making the snow blow in a horizontal position.  It was the wildest thing I have seen. 

This morning when we awoke, we found ourselves shielding our eyes from the bright sunshine that was pouring through our windows.  The dark skies had parted. It was a brilliant blue and there wasn’t a cloud in the skies!  The storm had passed … and it was beautiful once more.

The temperatures were rising significantly, and Ron wanted to tackle clearing the HUGE snow drifts that had piled up against the house.  He got all bundled up and went outside … only to start stripping off his jacket soon after.   The snow drift beside the house was 7 ft high … good thing Ron had his snow blower!  He started clearing the huge drift with the snow blower but then he had to stop and knock down some of the higher snow so he could clear it away.  It was a big job, but I could tell he had lots of fun doing it!

I had initially gone out of the house in my warm sweater but quickly came back in and changed into my thin zip up hoodie.  It was hardly a winter jacket but it was so warm out that it was plenty to keep me warm. 

What I found amazing was the way the snow had drifted and formed many layers of ridges.  It reminded me of the Sahara Desert … only in white.  We had such high winds that it blew the snow around then froze, then blew more snow and froze and so on.  It had created a sea of ridges through the yard.  It was so pretty I just had to stop and stare at it.

The weather was so beautiful today.  There was almost no wind that I thought, why not have lunch on “the terrace” and look at this gorgeous view!  Our patio table and chairs were still packed in the garage so I got the card table out from downstairs, went to the garage and got a couple of fold out chairs and set every thing up outside.  When Ron came in for lunch I told him we would be lunching on “the terrace”.  He laughed and told me I was crazy but then thought … why not? 

I thought that since it WAS still winter time I would make clam chowder.  A nice hot bowl of soup while over looking the frozen river seemed appropriate.  It was so nice.  There is hardly any traffic on our road and we find it so quiet and peaceful to sit out and just look at the view.  This is what we had envisioned our retirement to be all about.  While we sat there enjoying our lunch we couldn’t help but think to ourselves … we are so lucky to be able to do this.  We are living our dream!

Clearing a path through the snow drift

7 ft snow drift

Big job clearing away the snow drift

Snow drift is taller than Ron!

Ron knocking down some snow so he can clear it away

So nice out ... you don't even need a jacket!

So many layers in the snow

Love the swirls in the snow

Thought I'd try out the snow blower.  Fun!!



I LOVE PEI !!!



Looks like the Saraha Desert only white!

A wave of ridges

Lunch on the terrace

A beautiful day to have lunch outside

Who wouldn't love this view?

Bailey keeping a watchful eye

Bailey loves the view too

Winter Storm Hits!

Where's the road ... or the water??

Well, they said it was coming … and they weren’t kidding!!  There was talk all over town of the big storm that was going to hit PEI. 

I was getting my hair cut yesterday and the hot topic of the day was the weather.  They were saying that it was going to be the biggest storm they have had in years!  Then I went to the hardware store and they were talking about it too.  I thought I better get some extra milk in case I couldn’t make it out for a few days, and everyone was talking about weather in the grocery store as well.  I started to get a little worried!  This was going to happen!!

There was a big range as to how much snow they predicted we were going to get.  Some said 25 cm and others were saying up to 40 cm, it all depended on who you talked to.  Along with the snow we were to expect high winds as well.  It was hard for me to imagine all of this, as we had a beautiful day with the sun shining and clear blue skies.  With what everyone was saying, in just a few hours all of this was going to change … big time!

Last night I went to bed around midnight.  I let Bailey out for his final piddle for the night and I checked for falling snow.  Nothing!  I was starting to think that this big storm everyone had talked about was going to miss us completely.  I felt quite alright with those thoughts and headed to bed.

This morning I awoke to what sounded like little pebbles hitting the window.  I got up and looked out the window only to find a blinding snow storm!  There was so much snow flying around that I couldn’t even see the road in front of the house!  White out conditions took on a whole new meaning to me.  At times we couldn’t see the house next door.  The wind was so strong that at one point Ron clocked the wind at 81 kms on his weather station!  It was wild.  I started to hear the voices of my family and friends who had asked me “why do you want to move to PEI?  The winters are horrible!” start to ring in my head.  Looking outside I saw a pure white canvas that used to be my beautiful view and I had to ask myself … why DID I move out here?

Bailey got up and sauntered over to the front door to be let out for his morning piddle.  We put his coat on and sent him out to do his business.  He stood on the porch for a few seconds with the wind and snow blowing in his face and thought to himself “no way … I can hold it! Let me back in … NOW!”  I let him back in but knew he had to go and try again.  As luck would have it, we had just received a parcel from my cousin earlier in the week.  She had knitted all of us scarves for the winter, including Bailey.  We wrapped the scarf around Bailey’s head and made sure his ears were covered from the wind.  Then we sent him out with strict orders to do his business.  Worked like a charm.  He went out … did his thing … then raced back to the front door faster than lightening!

Throughout the day the wind howled and the snow flew around, creating 4 and 5 ft snow drifts around the property.  I thought for sure that it would let up at some point during the day, but no, it has continued and will continue, according to the weather man, until at least tomorrow.  I wonder what I will wake up to tomorrow?

The news reports on the radio had everything in PEI shut down for the day.  All the restaurants, grocery stores, businesses and even the liquor stores were shut.  The police were telling people not to be on the roads because it was not safe due to white out conditions.  It was like they put a big closed sign on PEI. 

But for those who are concerned for our safety, let me put your minds at ease.  We have plenty of food and water in the house and if our power goes out, as many areas have, we have a full tank of propane to heat the fireplace and keep us warm.  So we will be fine.

This is my first East Coast winter storm.  I have never experienced anything like this before.  It’s been a little scary to hear the wind blow as hard as it has, as well as a little exciting.  But as we like to say … this is just another adventure for us! J

All bundled up and ready to go out

What happened to our beautiful view?

I guess this is winter on the East Coast!!



Went to go out the side door ... but it was blocked.



Snow blew so hard it got stuck in the windows

Yes ... this is winter!!

This is what you called being "Snowed In"?



If you can't go out in this weather ... then bake cookies!