| Posted on December 1, 2010 at 9:00 AM |
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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
| Posted on April 7, 2010 at 9:10 AM |
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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
| Posted on February 26, 2010 at 2:53 PM |
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| Posted on January 21, 2010 at 8:00 AM |
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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.
| Posted on December 2, 2009 at 8:38 AM |
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Mews Letter, Christmas 2009
