East cam Christmas tree

Cape Breon Living Webcams

Yesterday, Sunday December 12th was a beautiful mild and sunny day without a breath of wind... a  perfect day to put up my outdoor Christmas tree. So if you are wondering where the tree is today, rest assured, it didn't blow away with the high gusts of wind we often get here on the east coast, like we are getting today. Before the tree ends up in the ponds or the ocean (depending on the wind direction), I carefully stash the tree in a safe place until a day that winds are a bit more gentle. So hopefully we'll get to see the little Christmas tree more often than not during this Holiday Season!

Thanksgiving 2010

St Peter's

On this Thanksgiving week-end, we went on a day trip ending up driving around the Bras d'Or Lakes. We started off at 8:30am from home, passed through the town of St Peter's, picked up 2 coffees and baked goods at Tim Horton's in Port Hawkesbury and from there we got on the Trans-Canada Highway heading north to Sydney. Before leaving Sydney, we grabbed a pizza and headed home via the Old Highway 4.  The day was a typical fall day where we had sunny periods, then rain, crazy winds, heavy grey clouds and fluffy white clouds too. It made for interesting pictures.

Photo of the Week July 30, 2010

This week's photo was taken in Grand Etang during our trip to Cheticamp on July 27th. At least once during the summer, I like to take a road trip along the west coast of Cape Breton to Cheticamp and the Cabot Trail. Before we left the house that morning, the weather was fine, just a bit overcast, then we hit heavy rain from Louisdale to Port Hastings. I had checked the radar on the Environment Canada website and only noticed a thin strip of precipitation running through Cape Breton, and I believe that was what we drove through  up to Port Hastings. I figured we'll be ok weather-wise by the time we reach Route 19... and sure enough, the radar was right! The rest of the road trip was a mix of sun and cloud with slightly cool temperatures of 20ish celsius.

On this road trip, we ended up in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park as far as the Bog trail where a boardwalk allows visitors to step into a typical highlands bog environment, complete with Pitcher plants, Sundews, Bicknell's Thrush, and orchids. It's a short but very pleasant and interesting walk. From here we returned by the same route, stopping at look-offs and stopping for dinner at the Irving Big Stop in Auld's Cove across the Causeway.

Photo of the Week June 4, 2010

Last Friday I posted this scene on the Photo of the Week page. I have to mention it's one of my favorite spot for walking. Every summer, my younger sister and her 2 children, come from Ottawa to visit us, using her vacation time to come down to a place that hold dear memories for the last 28 years or so. This is where my sister and the kids love to spend time at least once a day, it being foggy or sunny. Either way they seem to enjoy the peacefulness one gets every time on this path that heads down to the shore or Chapel Cove Rd up above. Soon, they will be here again for another much deserved vacation, on their island getaway of Cape Breton...

Webcam update

For the past few months, on the Cape Breton Living website, we've been showing only one camera which was overlooking east at the ponds, hills and houses. As of yesterday, the camera has been moved to overlook south-west at the shore, wharf and the ocean. Eventually, hopefully soon, 2 cameras will be up and running again at the same time so everyone can view either the east view or the west view in real time. Till then, I hope you enjoy the view whichever way it's facing!

Photo of the Week April 16, 2010

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It's Friday once again and here is the latest Photo of the Week on Cape Breton Living website. On a quick stop in town for a coffee at Tim's, I snapped this photo of the buildings across the street. The village of St Peter's is working on a beautification project and being revitalized with a new look on the main street with professionally designed façade and streetscape improvements. I must say that I do like the new look along Grenville Street and congratulate the Village of St Peter's on a fantastic job, which is still today a work in progress.   

The Blue Heron is back

First thing this morning, before my first coffee, I walk down to the road to pick up my newspaper and as I pull the paper out of the box, I spotted the large Blue Heron, back from its winter vacation. He looks as if he's trying to keep warm, with its neck all tucked in, looking as if he's thrown a big blanket over his shoulders or should I say his wings. It's not an easy task to capture an Blue Heron on camera. As I got a little closer, in a blink of an eye, he was up in the air flying away. Lucky for me, he just made a loop around and landed a few feet away from his first spot in the pond. Glad to see them back, another sign of spring.