Caper Art by Berni

December Mewsletter 2010

Summer and agreeable weather came to our shores from mid-April to mid-November. In fact we picked a wee daisy today.

It was wonderful to have visitors to the gallery and more then wonderful to have our family with us in July. Rory and Eric are now teenagers, nice, kind interesting teen agers. We love them very much and can't wait for summer 2011. The new year will be exciting for them as their school band will be visiting London, England.

We were so pleased to have a visit from Tim, Deb, Andrew and Maggie as well as Derrick, Melissa, Sidney and Grace this past summer.

The Community Hall was a centre for activity all summer with the great breakfasts and Wednesday coffee mornings. Wash day bridge on Mondays went very well. We had strawberry and blue berry fests as well as celtic colours which were enjoyed by one and all.

Our book clubs are alive and well.

On December 11th, the South Mountain Arm of Gold is treating the seniors to a turkey dinner atthe hall.

Over the summer, my neighbour kept me posted on new bird life in our area. There is no startling news. Some birds didn't make to our area this summer. Do we blame it on climate change?

It was a great year for roses. Our pond had an ugly algae, however it didn't seem to bother the water lilies. It was a bad summer for nasturtiums which I like so much.

Thanks to my neighbour, I made grape jelly from their local grapes. It was a jelly with a special flavour indeed.

Since early October, I’ve been seeing interesting cloud formations from the perch. They are calling out to be painted one day soon. I will have to drag out a canvas.

In September a film crew from Nova Scotia Life came to do a shoot of Gallery Ruairicroft. Mykal Anjello loved every minute and she stars in the film. Her book Nap Sack Cat Tales is for sale from the gallery.

Critters Corner is sad to tell everyone that Rusty MacInnis passed over the rainbow bridge, or so we think. He has been missing since Nov 11. A coyote was seen close to his home on that day. He was a darling orange cat loved by Carole and Benny.

When Ken was home in October he bought us a top of the line pressure cooker. For over fifty years we owned a pressure cooker and I was always too scared to use it. The new one seems to be user friendly. Today it took two hours to make a new England dinner fit for a king so I'm wondering if it could be used to make plum pudding.

It's that time of year. Yesterday the Christmas music made its way to the ghetto blaster.

Merry Christmas to one and all!

Berni and Thorney

Ruairicroft, Cape Breton

March Mewsletter in April!

March came in like a lamb and went out like a lamb, leaving behind warm April showers. It's so nice to be treated to nature’s colours. The crocus is a welcome sight. We cut some forsythia twigs and await the lovely blooms.

The gold finches have returned and are undergoing their spring moult. The purple finches show a lot of colour. I heard them referred to as sparrows dipped in raspberry juice. Our lone song sparrow can be heard singing its wee heart out, blending with the sound of the lone loon on the lake.

A few weeks ago our neighbour had a close encounter with a coyote. It was over the way of Widow’s Point. Over on this side of the lake, I hear the bobcat population has increased. It’s a good idea to have a whistle and a walking stick when walking in the woods.

Meanwhile there is a lot going on at the Community Hall. Movie nights are happening April 2nd and 16th. There will be a card game night, April 9th at 7 p.m.

The “Over the Road Matters” rughooking group meet at 10 a.m., the last Thursday of the month.

The second annual roadside litter pick up day will be April 24th. For more info, phone Dawn at 345-2242.

Prior to the Community Hall’s general meeting on April 19th, there will be a ham and scalloped potato dinner starting at 5:30 p.m.

This past winter, my outings were few so it’s good to be out and about once again. St. Peter's seemed to winter well. Our niece Debbie and I dined out at MacDonald’s Country Inn one day last week. I enjoyed an olden days kind of bread pudding that was worth writing about.

This past week in the Ottawa area, the Sedgehill Band from London, U.K. did an exchange with Rory and Eric’s highschool band in Metcalfe, Ontario. What a wonderful experience for young folks to share their music, make new friends, and learn about other countries.

Cathy said that their billets, Charlie and Ben seemed so worldly and sophisticated at thirteen years old. In the olden days, I can remember being a basket case worrying about going to the Music Festival in Arichat. Times sure have changed.

Critters’ Corner wintered well. Tigger still rules the roost at Billie’s. Fluffy has our neighbours well trained in how to cater to a visiting cat. Bigfoot finds his way to our neighbour’s yard taking a route around Coco's place.

Mykal Anjello made a few great escapes to the outside when the snow was on the ground. Her turn arounds to the warm kitchen were fast indeed. She didn't like the feel of the snow on her paws. Her story "Nap Sack Cat Tales " is available for sale at Gallery Ruairicroft which is open by appointment at 345-0707.

Pussycat Samantha Burns from Kingston N.S. has passed over the Rainbow Bridge. Our sympathies from Critters’ Corner.

Members of the Cape Breton Artists’ Association will be having an opening April 16th from 4 to 6 p.m. at the main art gallery of Cape Breton University.

Beannachd leibe

February Mewsletter 2010

The robins have come home. The news came to me from our neighbour who had seen and heard the birds one day last week. They also have juncos, blue jays, sparrows, gold finches and chickadees.

In our yard, the chickadees puzzle us as they seem to have moved into the swallow's tree house. In fact it looks like winter births have taken place. You never know. The book tells us they mate in June.

The belted sandpiper spent the winter in our midst. From a distance we hear the loon. Four eagles are close by. For some reason they seem to be doing low passes over the frozen lagoon. Today we see no birds as we have a visiting Merlin hawk in the area.

Beneath the softly falling snow, pansies make a showing and in some areas the pussy willows have their buds in bloom even though it’s cold enough to see the lagoon frozen solid. In fact, a few weeks ago we watched folks have a Sunday afternoon skate. They seemed to enjoy the outing. It brought back memories of our skating days over the Cove. We were not allowed to skate on Sundays.

February was a busy month at the Community Hall. They had a good crowd at the big breakfast which takes place every third Sunday of the month.

On the last Thursday of the month, our hooking group meets at the hall. We had a nice crowd yesterday. We went down memory lane talking about old stores and places of business in St. Peter's that are gone from us forever. We still have the Cosy Corner and MacDonald’s Hotel, the old post office building and the liquor store. It seems to me the upstairs of the building housed a place for temperance meetings.

Critters Corner will be glad to see the end of the snow. All our furry friends long to chew on some fresh grass. We see Coco, the chocolate coloured Lab, go for her walks.

Last Sunday we had a classy gourmet meal at Debbie and Dave’s place where we met their Lab Keiver, a real heart warmer.

Blessings be on you and yours.

Mewsletter January 2010

On the wings of a belted kingfisher, we welcomed 2010 to our shores. I hope it will be a good year for everyone over the road and on the island of Cape Breton.  In spite of the cold weather, people reported seeing the kingfisher amidst the snowflurries for more than a week.

Our neighbour has junkos, song sparrows and downy woodpeckers flitting about.

At our feeders we have the chickadees, the darling birds of wasted energy. We watch them so happy to come to the feeder and then go into the thick of the woods to crack open a single sunflower seed. It boggles the mind.

The lake shares many moods with us accordingly. It’s comforting to see that it’s still open. This evening the teal colour compliments the generous twilight colours of the clouds. For a few days the lagoon has been glib which is not inviting for water fowl.

Lois MacDonald is gone from us. She and her twin Lorna were childhood friends of my sister Joan and me. We learned to swim, skate, dig for clams and catch smelts in cereal boxes as the fish entered the lake from the brook coming from Oban.

I remember the four of us joining the junior choir at our church. Lois and I both sang alto. The first hymn we sang so long ago was the 23rd Psalm. I think of those moments every time I hear the hymn. I will always remember Lois.

From Critter’s Corner, Pussy cat thoughts and prayers are with Lois’ Katie, the little dog she loved so much.

Down Barra Head way there are two young, well mannered orange cats who would like to come in from the cold to a good home. If you can rescue these poor cats or know someone who can, call 535-3311.

Best wishes to all from “over the road” folks.

Mews Letter, Christmas 2009

Winged visitors to the bird feeder have been few and far between these days. We see no birds. One day last week I got  a peek of a foxsparrow at Sobey’s parking lot. It made my day.

The crows and seagulls stay close by. Recently there was a moment that they were perplexed to see some free spirit  mid-lake on a seadoo. I hope he was wearing woolen socks! It was a cold and windy day.

The seadoo stopped. It seemed it took about five minutes before it was restarted. Calling 911 crossed my mind but local boats are put away for the winter. It may have been a question of what came first, rescue from afar or hypothermia?

It's a great day over the road. Our lake couldn't be bluer or more peaceful if it tried. There is not a cloud in the sky and the temperature is a balmy 10 degrees. The visability is so generous. From the perch, I can see the Kirk at Iona across that stretch of lake.

I reflect and give thanks for our ancestors who worked hard and worshiped at the Malagawatch Church. Today is St. Andrew’s Day. It’s been a glorious November.

A few weeks ago, the Pringles had a phone call from a person with a very Scottish brogue belonging to Anne Marie Pringle from Edinburgh, who is visiting in Dominion, Cape Breton. Her visit to the Points turned out to be a great Pringle ceilidh as they went back in history and compared similarities in the clan.

Critters Corner welcomes a darling chocolate lab over the road. Coco has come to live with Phyllis and Ross Wagg. Coco hasn't met up with our cats yet but folks notice Bigfoot has altered his strolling route when he passes by Coco's house.

Mews letter from Critters Corner welcomes another puppy dog who has come to live with Debbie and David.

Imagine there being three cats all named Abby! The first Abby cat is adapting to the arrival of Keiver, a Lab puppy. Abby in Truro is doing her best to share her house with another cat named Beau. Linda's cat, Abby in Marble Mountain is still a bit skitterish around kids.

Activities at St. George’s Community Hall are alive and well. We seniors are looking forward to our annual Christmas dinner on December 11 at 4.30 pm, kindly sponsored by the South Mountain Arm of Gold Association.

Over the Road matters rug hooking group will meet at 10 a.m. on the last Thursday in January, 2010 at the Community Hall.

We will meet to talk about art the second Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in January 2010. The topic will be the Barnes Collection.To keep in touch with local events see www.channelhall.com and www.marblemountainvillage.com

Our first Christmas card for 2009 came in the mail on November 24th from Joyce, Eunice and Clarence Landry.

Before signing off,  Myki wants her book “Nap Sack Cat Tales” to be mentioned. She and her Paw can relate to the Pringles and the love and respect we all have for the Bras D’Or Lakes and our past history.

The wee book can be found on Amazon.com at http://tiny.cc/rkFOn and Barnes and Noble at http://tiny.cc/2SNcr

Myki looks forward to a Christmas book launching in our local area.

Our Mews Letter wishes one and all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!