Rocky Mountaineer: Now What?

So ends the excitement of an excursion nearly a year-and-a-half old. I relived this trip in the sharing and feel letdown like you do when your vacation is over and it’s time to unpack and go back to regular life.

Thank you for taking the time to visit, read, and comment. My deepest apologies for not joining in the conversation. I have not been online regularly for numerous reasons. My focus in life has changed; I’m on the go and not often home as I had prior to going MIA. Again, I am overwhelmed, my finger in too many pies but life changes and we must adapt.

I have joined a writers’ group but have not produced anything new in over a year. I finally began a new piece I struggle writing at the 1350-word mark. I began about a week ago and am thrilled to pieces. Thought I’d lost my mind until now because I couldn’t sit still long enough nor think clearly to compose a coherent sentence.

The end of July, I had to let my cat Dickens go. One day he was fine and three days later, he was full of water. His heart was strong, so that wasn’t it. It could have been his liver or maybe cancer, the vet said. I recalled much later that he had started the sniffles again. The vet also said they could draw the water but it would come back. Dickens and I adopted each other January 24, 2015, when he was about a year and a half. I had no idea he had FIV and gum disease but we worked through that. Though Lady Gaga gave him a hard time, she’s still needy as heck and wanders around the house crying when not snoozing.

There have been many surprises and roadblocks in the past year-and-a-half. I still haven’t new glasses except for cheaters and can tolerate the laptop screen only for short sprints. I would like to read more, too. Sigh.

I’ve saved packets of day trips in reserve and as opportunity presents itself, I may post about them but make no promises. You are welcome to drop by anytime. I’ll leave a couple pies (will apple and lemon meringue do? maybe cherry?), cooling on the window sill and a hot pot of coffee if you have time for a drop.

Left this posting to the last minute and could not get into my site today. Ready to call Ghostbusters, I decided to log into WordPress like a stranger (or a first-timer) to find the login. It’s a long way around but it worked. Seems I’ve missed WP changes, too.

Thank you ALL, sincerely, for the camaraderie, laughs, and smiles over the past years. I miss my friends in the blogging community but haven’t the energy to return the favour at present. I hope to focus what time and effort I can muster to get back to writing and promise to visit when I can.

Happy Halloween everyone!

© 2018 Tess @ How the Cookie Crumbles

Beothuks and more

Today I have a mishmash of tidbits. This hadn’t been an exciting day but one filled with lots of interesting information.

On the move again. Luggage out by 6:30 a.m. Buffet breakfast at 7:00 and on the bus by 8:00 a.m. Another wet day pressing the windshield wipers into service. Swish-swish.

Francis, our guide, read a poem: http://www.linda-ellis.com/the-dash-the-dash-poem-by-linda-ellis-.html. Check it out. Maybe you’ll enjoy it, too.

A couple from our group shared a strange incident from the night before. One of them had flipped through the TV channels for something entertaining. A particular station clicked, the air conditioner snapped on. Clicked again, and it turned off. They wondered what else might be off.

A moose will challenge anything in its way. We passed a moose killed on the road the previous night, but I didn’t see it, and we couldn’t slow down even though others asked.

Because we weren’t going to see icebergs today, Francis popped in a DVD about them. Did you know icebergs are about 10 stories high? Pieces break off, the berg rolls over and continues breaking off until it melts in summer. Check this out:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dysuQIDtdoM (Something has changed in WordPress, I can’t seem to insert videos here lately.)

First stop, the Beothuk Interpretation Centre

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Beothuk Facts:

• First Indigenous People
• https://www.tes.com/lessons/gye8OhWExDMW6A/beothuk-tribe (background)
• Beothuk means Red Indian
• Red ochre applied to skin from birth
• Europeans left behind old ships
• Boethuks collected the iron nails, screws and nuts and repurposed them
• Iron artifacts found in their base campsites
• Hunted by Europeans when they came to fish during warm months
• Forced inland away from fishing
• Misunderstanding and fighting / driven out by Europeans
• Disease / had no immunity
• Beothuk Interpretation Centre
• 4,000 artifacts
• Designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1995
• Boyd’s Cove = 11 house pits

A short stop at Little Harbour, which has one street. In June and July, there are icebergs here, but not during out visit. The weather windy, nippy and overcast, we strolled down the one short street and took pictures of root cellars, the rocky shore and the few houses.

Houses along the one road. Not a car passed us.

Old root cellar. Painted door in good repair, it must still be in use..

More Quick Facts about Newfoundland:

• The twin towers in New York were built by Newfoundlanders
• Newfoundland only place you’ll find Pineapple Crush. Everyone else knows Orange Crush.
• Doctors Banting and Best co-discovered insulin
• Experimented on dogs
• A boy at death’s door was first human to be injected with insulin (miraculous recovery)
• Planting starts in early June: carrots and potatoes
• Tomatoes need a greenhouse
• Farmers use Biodegradable_plastic over plants to keep in heat and protect from early spring frost

Capelin Facts:

• Capelin – member of the smelt family
• Harvested for Japanese market
• Russians also came to do the same
• Especially for female roe /males discarded
• 30 – 40% are male (a market must be found for them)
• Occasionally an overloaded boat swamped
• Fishermen made the best of their catch
• A lucky fisherman took all he wanted from his nets
• Some fishermen buddied up to make the most of a day’s catch
• http://www.fish-fishes.com/salt_water_fish/capelin_fish.html
• Are food for cod and puffins (we didn’t see these either as we were too late in the season)

Old Irish Tradition: Mummery (check link for Mummers’ costumes and song)

During the 12 days of Christmas, 25 to 30 people could knock on someone’s door. They’d be invited inside, given a piece of chocolate cake, and a drink for adults. Everyone tried to identify each other. The visitors performed plays, sang, played instruments, danced, and had a good time. This old tradition is now enjoyed only at Hallowe’en.

* * *

Next on May 20^th – Twillington

© 2015 Tess @ How the Cookie Crumbles. All Rights Reserved.

For more related posts, click on Newfoundland / Labrador tab at the top of the page

Thank you for reading and commenting. I appreciate your kind support.

100-Word Challenge for Grown-ups – Week #152

If you’d like to join in the fun, click below

http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2014/10/20/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week152/

The prompt this week is … could I really wear that … +100 words

MASKED

Morag’s eyes rounded. “No way, José.” She moistened her lips and took a shallow breath.

“Yes, way.”

“Will this fit? Where’d you get it?”

“Try it.” Zena thrust the spilling black chiffon at Morag. “I’ll be back.”

She stroked the fabric, then threw on the dress. It flowed over her curves and puddled at her inelegant feet. Tiny rhinestones scattered over the skirt and bodice shimmered in the lamplight.

“You like?”

“It’s revealing…” Morag’s eyes glowed.

“Uh-huh. Here’s your Venetian mask.”

“Could I really wear that to hide these moles?”

“Remember, you’re the good witch tonight. Behave okay?”

Morag cackled. “I do love a party.”