Take 5 with Kathy - "My unruly garden..."

my snow peas and beans

This is the third consecutive year I have attempted to plant a vegetable garden with varying degrees of success. After year one, I gave up on Chinese lettuce, carrots, and beets. During year two I once again tried green onions, without much yield, so they were left out this year. The only things that seem to really grow well are tomatoes, snow peas, and zucchini. Last year I tried growing green and yellow beans, but only a few yellow ones grew. I planted them in my raised planter in front of the snow peas in late June this year and they really took off! All my tomatoes, beans, and snow peas are in blossom and I’ve even picked a couple handfuls of snow peas – they taste so good!! The green/yellow beans are just beginning to grow tiny little pods so there should be a bountiful harvest.

my unruly snow peas

Since I have arthritic knees, I grow as much as possible in the raised bed so I don’t have to bend down. This works well, except for the snow peas which grow 2-3 feet above the netting. Last year, they all flopped over and became a tangled mess making it difficult to find/pick the peas. So, I had hubbie help me tie some netting across the top hoping I could train the plants to hang underneath. Sounds good in theory, but snow peas have a mind of their own. The past couple weeks, every time I would go out and try to guide the little tendrils to curl around the top netting, by the time I was done at the other end, the first ones were already peeking back above!! The vines are so tender, that they easily break or bend when I try to pull them through. After several days of trying to train my unruly snow peas, I finally realized they were just not going to do things my way. Their natural tendency is to grow upwards and no amount of coaxing on my part was going to change that. I’m just hoping now that if they get too tall they will fall over on their own so I can still reach them.

That got me thinking of spiritual analogies and I wondered, “How easily do I respond to the Lord’s training and discipline in my own life? Am I sometimes resistant to His gentle guiding and prompting me in the right direction? How often do I stubbornly refuse to listen and decide to do things my way?” Hebrews 12:11 says, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness for those who have been trained by it.” Only when I follow God’s good and perfect ways am I able to bear the kind of fruitful behavior that He desires for me.

My poor rose bush!

When I returned from PEI a couple weeks ago, I also realized I had an unruly rose bush. Now, it wasn’t completely the bush’s fault as we had very little rain until this past Tuesday and it obviously had been infested with some pest, probably aphids. The leaves had all turned brown and were falling off and there was one tiny pink rose clinging to a bare branch. What had been an absolutely beautiful bush loaded with miniature roses had become something truly sad and pathetic to behold. So, armed with gloves and pruning shears I began to cut off all dead branches back to any sign of new growth. Many scratches and thorn pricks later, the poor thing looked even more pitiable! What the bush didn’t realize, and I knew from past experience, was that this drastic pruning would allow it to put all its nutrients and effort into sprouting new leaves and buds. When I looked at it yesterday, it was already coming to life again and several new buds had formed. Even a few roses had bloomed – all this in only about ten days!

New growth coming!

Tomatoes are coming early this year!

I thought of the verse in John 15:2 which says of God’s work in my life, “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He trims clean so that it will be even more fruitful.” What great lessons we learn about God and our relationship with Him from the things He has so lovingly created!

Of course, I’ve also had to deal with unsightly weeds (which seem to grow no matter how dry it gets), especially the ones which creep up between the inlaid bricks of my backyard patio. And the huge tree in our front yard needed all the bottom branches trimmed so we could mow the lawn without having to duck to avoid the thousands of various bees that are feasting on the blossoms! A few plants in the garden benefited from some transplanting as well because they had become too big or would look better in a different location.

When I was done with all this, I felt tired but I’m very happy now with the results. I took some pictures yesterday to compare with ones from previous years and it really is amazing how beautifully things grow when they receive even the most basic care.

A few of my lilies

How much more complete is the work God does in us as He transforms us into His beautiful image!!

Until next Sunday,

Kathy

P.S. If any of you have any tips for my snow peas problem, I’d love to hear from you!

   

Sugar Free Oatmeal Cookies

I found this recipe on Pinterest recently, and decided to whip up a batch and shock surprise my family! 


The recipe is so easy.  It would be perfect for a teachable moment with young children.  


Mix the following in a bowl:


2C oatmeal ( I used the quicker cooking type)
1/2 C raisins
1/3 C unsweetened apple sauce
3 ripe mashed bananas
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 C almond milk ( I used skim due to a nut allergy)


I used my spring release ice cream scoop to spoon the batter onto the pan.  Bake 350 for 15-20 min.

The batter is very soft, but not runny.  When I make them again, I would like to try pressing them down into a flatter shaped cookie.  

They are so yummy.  Healthier than regular Oatmeal Cookies and perfect for satisfying that sweet tooth!




Joining:
Foodie Friday

The good stuff isn't cheap...

I've been trying out some new makeup. Working at covering up some features while highlighting others.

You know what I mean. 

I never really realized, until lately, that there is a makeup scale. Yes, I understood that there is a range of prices where makeup was concerned. However, I thought that was all about brands and brand names.

Not so. Price also represents quality. 

When I go "full out" and wear a more expensive foundation, primer, blush, eyeshadow and liner, lip stick and liner, mascara - I could pass for a 20 year old/young, even though I'm 45. :0)

Just like I did today.

That got me thinking about what else I could cover up...
an abusive relationship
harmful habits
how I truly feel 
the state of my finances
the depth (or lack thereof) of my faith

Do you know what I mean? 
Can you relate?

Have you ever put your "expensive make-up face" on and stepped out of your house looking 20 instead of your real age? Looking rich instead of poor, happy instead of sad or hurt or defeated? Looking super spiritual instead of super phony?

My good make-up costs. It costs a choice between three lipstick colors or one. It costs the choice between do I do this, or purchase that. It costs.
But it's worth it.

Knowing we're rich, being happy instead of sad or hurt or defeated and living a Spirit filled life cost, too. But are all worth it.

Anything worthwhile has a cost attached.

Let me leave you with this: please spend more on your inner person... after all, I'm just going to wash my make-up off before bed, tonight.


Lisa

Take 5 with Kathy - "A week at the cottage..."

For the past 24 years now, we have spent some summer vacation time at my parent’s cottage in Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is the most beautiful spot on the south shore overlooking the Northumberland Strait. When dad was considering retirement, he and mom decided they would like to build a cottage in PEI, where they had lived since 1966, and spend the summers there (eventually they moved to Halifax to be near my sister and I and our families). Their grandchildren have many wonderful memories of visiting Grammie and Grampy at the cottage, sleeping in the “loft”, swimming at the beach just steps down the road, building dams in the little stream that trickled towards the ocean, strolling along the beach collecting seashells and sea glass, roasting marshmallows over the outdoor fireplace and making s’mores, flying kites and blasting off self-made rockets (some which were never seen again!), tapping away on mom’s old Underwood typewriter (a real novelty in the computer age), washing off their sandy feet under the outdoor shower, gazing at the millions of stars which filled the night skies and watching the occasional satellite drift through space, watching for the first glimpse of the Point Prim Lighthouse across the ocean as evening turned into darkness, playing table games, and just having a whole lot of fun! They have also enjoyed watching their “trees” grow much taller than themselves; Dad planted a maple tree for each grandchild.

The proverbial question that is asked within the first hour of arriving has always been, “Is the tide going in or out?” Dad patiently goes through the same old explanation every time so that we can plan our walks, swimming, and other water activities accordingly. It was no different July 9 when I, my daughter-in-law, and four relatives from Quebec arrived for the balance of the week. What a great time we all had although we missed my husband, who is in Hong Kong for a few weeks, and my son, who is in the midst of a summer academic term at university. The weather was absolutely perfect, except the last day was pretty hot/humid, and we just enjoyed each other’s company and reminiscing about past vacations at the cottage.

A small portion of my sea glass collection

My favorite activity, as I wrote about last year this time, is walking along the beach searching for sea glass and I was not disappointed. I came back with both pockets full to add to my collection. Another thing I’m always amused and fascinated by are the little hermit crabs. I love picking them up and letting them crawl across my hand – it really tickles! If you’ve never seen these little creatures, it’s probably because they are hiding inside a shell. Usually you see them at low tide as they scamper sideways along the seabed in the shallow water. However, the shells are not their own! Hermit crabs search for an empty shell, often “periwinkles” as we call them, and claim it for their own home. When they outgrow that shell, they simply look for a bigger one and may even evict another hermit crab and steal its abode! They are pretty funny to watch.

hermit crab on the cottage beach, PEI

The best thing about the cottage is the opportunity to just kick back, throw off your shoes, and relax! We plunk down in the old couch and simply stare at the ocean through the big picture windows. It’s mesmerizing and you feel instantly like letting the world float by without a care. And that old couch – several times mom and dad have suggested getting rid of it and we all say, “But you can’t do that! It’s so comfortable!” So comfortable, in fact, that once you’ve sunk down into it, it’s really hard to get out. Many a great book have been read on that couch, numerous naps have been had, and it’s even been a bed at night on several occasions.

Rest was important in Jesus’ eyes and He knows we need those times to go to a solitary place and relax from the busyness of our everyday lives. One time He told His disciples, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31) In Matthew 11: 28-30 He said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I’m very thankful for the times of rest I’ve had so far this summer. I hope you are enjoying some too!

Until next Sunday,

Kathy

Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia

Joining:

Seasonal Sunday

Announcing the winner...

It was our pleasure, at Take Six, to host this lovely giveaway from "A Day At The Beach".  We would like to thank those that entered and those who visited their site and took a leisurely stroll on their beach.  


They have been holding an auction on their Facebook page to say "thank you" to everyone who helped them reach 1000 likes.  I know you will want to stop by and bid on some of these items brand new to their page.  The auction ends TODAY at 10pm. (Atlantic Standard Time)  





The winner of this beautiful beach glass necklace is...

Linda @ A La Carte

Congratulations Linda!  Please email me your mailing address and I will get your beautiful prize right in the mail!! :)  Thank you so much for entering our giveaway!  

~Tanya

Dipped Cutlery Tutorial

Before I get into this post

 I want to remind you all of our wonderful giveaway

going on right now!!

Please visit HERE to have 5 opportunities to enter

for a chance to win this beautiful beach glass necklace

by A Day At The Beach!

Draw date:  July 20

Dipped cutlery is very easy to do.  Pick up some very inexpensive cutlery and a can of Plasti Dip.  I got new everyday cutlery so I decided I would "dip" my old set.  I choose red Plasti Dip at my favorite Home Hardware store.  There were some other color options:  black, yellow, and white.  Plasti Dip is a rubberized coating to use on tool handles etc. 

I did this by holding onto the end of the utensil and dipping the handle into the Plasti Dip.  I dipped each piece twice.  Once did not coat enough for the look I wanted.  I poked the end underneath a heavy box and let them sit to dry.  I left them overnight to be sure.

When they are first dipped you no longer see any pattern on the utensil.  

Once they are completely dry, you can see the pattern again.


Note:  I do not put these in the dishwasher, because I'm not sure if it would ruin the coating.  

This tablescape is a tribute to my wonderful country.
See the Canada Day Tablescape HERE. :)


Now that the cutlery is done, I may try dipping the stems of some glassware.  What else could I do with my Plasti Dip?  Any ideas?


Joining:
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Heart and Home
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Tutorials, Tips & Tidbits
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Strut Your Stuff

Take 5 with Kathy - "The Mystique of Fog..."

Fog rolling into Halifax harbour

Living on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, we are very accustomed to fog, especially in the spring and summer. The past few weeks, it has often been rather foggy, but if a sunny day is forecast, we know that in time, the fog will burn off or retreat out to sea. Sometimes, we get frustrated when this happens for a stretch of days or weeks, but many tourists find it quite fascinating as many of them have never seen the phenomenon of ocean-generated fog. Generally, the fog is created as warmer water from the south meets our colder north Atlantic water. On days when it does retreat out to sea, you often see it rolling back in like billowing clouds skimming above the surface of the water. Within minutes, you can find yourself once again surrounded by fog. I actually find it rather interesting to watch, unless it’s going to spoil my plans for the evening.

The fog that intrigues me most is what we call “sea smoke” and mostly it occurs in the winter when warmer air hits the very cold water in the Halifax harbour. It is very surreal and mysterious-looking as it rises wispily from the water’s surface. I also love fog that settles lazily over a valley or hovers above a pond.

My husband and I love to take pictures in the fog – it’s a little challenging to get the exposure right (again, digital cameras allow you to experiment a lot more than with film and it’s a lot less expensive!). Our first three days in Newfoundland (if you missed last week’s blog, I wrote about some of our other experiences) provided much opportunity to do just that. I’ve learned that the waters off the Avalon Peninsula, where we were, and the Grand Banks are among the foggiest in the world so we were not surprised. You just have to go with the flow and make the best of whatever nature provides. We were very blessed that the last four days over the Canada Day long weekend were sunny and pretty much fog-free. Even the locals were commenting about it.

Stairs up to Cape Spear Lighthouse

If any of you have been to the Cape Spear Lighthouse, near St. John’s, you know how foggy it can be. We saw from Signal Hill in the city that it appeared to be not too bad looking across to the Cape, but as we headed up the road toward this national historic site, we were soon shrouded in some of the densest fog I have ever seen. I was driving and  could hardly see the road at times. We’d been warned many times about the abundance of moose in the province and I was so afraid one would pop out of the woods beside us – I couldn’t even see the ditch! Needless to say, we did not see the lighthouse that day and having never been there before, I didn’t even know which direction to look. As you can see from the pictures, we now know it was a very long climb by stairs up to the newer operational lighthouse and then up many more steps to the historic lighthouse that is now a museum (obviously, we went there again on a sunny day but the fog was still fairly thick). It was exciting standing on the easternmost point in North America!

Cape Spear operational lighthouse

On our last full day in Newfoundland it was once again a beautiful sunny day so we decided to do the Irish Loop which skirts around the southern part of the Avalon Peninsula. For the first three hours, it was sunny and warm. Then as we neared the southern tip near the “barrens” and Cape Race it began to get foggier and foggier. The air turned very cool and the winds became quite strong. No point in trying to see the Cape Race Lighthouse we figured! We couldn’t even see the ocean just on the other side of the road. But, that’s the mystery and intrigue of Newfoundland weather and eventually as we rounded the tip of the peninsula and headed north the sun once again broke through.

Of course, fog can present dangerous situations for drivers and mariners alike. I have a deep appreciation for the many fishermen who brave the dense ocean fog to make their living and provide for our dietary needs. I also thank the pilots who navigate aircraft through unpredictable foggy conditions. A few years ago, our airport had to install new navigational equipment just for this purpose. Even with that, many times flights have been delayed or cancelled because the fog is too thick.

Cape Spear Historic Lighthouse

All this made me think of a verse in I Corinthians 13:12. I read it in the Message paraphrase and liked its rendition, “We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing Him directly just as He knows us!” Sometimes I want to know everything now and not have to wait until God makes things clearer and more understandable to me. But I’m assured that some day, when I see Him face-to-face everything about my life will become completely clear and it will all make sense!

Until next Sunday,

Kathy

A foggy photo op in Petty Harbour, NL




Don't miss out on our beautiful giveaway HERE!!

Joining:

Sunday's Best
Seasonal Sunday

I Bleed Red & White

I saw the title of this post on a "Canada Day" t-shirt this year.  I LOVE it!!  I love my country, and I love celebrating things.  So, long before the first of July I pull out the flags and the red and white.  Not everyone in my family is quite so patriotic.  But we still love each other!  ;)

O Canada

Our home and native land

True patriot love in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,

The True North strong and free.

From far and wide,

O Canada

 We stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land, glorious and free,

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!

~~~

See how I made this red dipped cutlery HERE!!
~~~

Did you enter

our beautiful giveaway HERE

from A Day At The Beach?

You won't want to miss it!


Joining:
Tablescape Thursday
Inspiration Friday
Feathered Nest Friday
Home Sweet Home
Sunday's Best
Seasonal Sunday
Tablescape Tuesday
Let's Dish

A Day At The Beach + Giveaway

Who doesn't love a day at the beach.  It's such a great place to kick back and relax, enjoy a picnic lunch, splash around in the salt water, and maybe do some beach combing for that coveted piece of beach glass.


This past Christmas Paula gave each of my daughters a beautiful necklace made from beach glass. This jewelry was created by the talented Parri and Amanda from A Day At The Beach.   Today it is my pleasure to introduce these ladies to you.  I recently asked them some questions about their business.  

1.  How did you start your business and why sea glass jewelry?

Parri started picking beach glass years ago.  She introduced it to Amanda and her family when they moved to Nova Scotia from New Brunswick.  It is a really addicting hobby.  It is so great that each piece is so different. It is a great lesson on life too.  Sometimes life throws you some hard things and it is through those things that God forms you into the person He would have you to be.  The beach glass is the same.  It is tossed and turned by the waves, rocks and sand and then it comes out all smooth and ready for us to make something beautiful out of it.  After awhile you can really collect a lot of it and we thought we should do something with it.  Amanda found a class to teach us how to make jewelry and so we took it.  We found it was really fun to do!!  We signed up for a small craft fair and Amanda's husband suggested he make us a Facebook page so people would know we were going to be at the craft fair and it took off from there.  This has been such a blessing to us and it has been so cool to see how God has been providing for us with glass He was smoothed and prepared!!

2.  Where do you ship to?

We are willing to ship anywhere!!  Mostly we ship all over Canada and the US....we have gone as far north as Fort McMurray....as far west as BC....as far south as Florida. We have had pieces go to Australia, China, Ethiopia, Germany, Great Britain.....and other places I am forgetting I am sure.

3.  Where do you collect your glass?

Most of our glass comes from  Nova Scotia and New Brunswick....though I did find some in Mexico when we were there...Amanda's husband picked some for us in Chicago and we had a lady we know bring us some pieces from Israel!! :)


4.  Are you a web based company or can we find you at some local markets?

Most of our business is done online...we have a Facebook Page and a website (for our Non-Facebook friends).  We do also sell some of our pieces at a local store in Truro, NS called Lou Lou Clothing and Accessories.  It is located on Prince St.  We would like to have it in other places around the province...well for that matter around the country!

5.  What is your favorite piece and why?

Hmmmmm.....my favourite piece.  That is a tough one!  It changes, for me, all the time.  I have a piece that is white pottery with roses on it that I love, as well as a marble.   I also like the clear ones that just have silver accents since they go with everything.  I really love them all!  I often figure out what I am going to wear, based on the beach glass I want to wear that day.


6.  Are there any pieces with special stories behind them?

We love to find ones with words on them.  So many times when we find a really unique one, we wonder what it might have been originally.  There are tiles we have been collecting for years, we have found hundreds now.  We would love to know the story of where they came from.  Whose house were they in?


7.  Can people provide you with a special piece of sea glass and have an item made?

We definitely do that!!  We have an album on our page that shows some of the pieces we have made for people with their own glass.  It also lists the prices.  Some people like to bring us their pieces and leave it up to us.  Others like to sit with us and pick out charms and crystals.  We will do both.  It makes pieces even more special when you know you found the glass yourself!!


8.  Have you ever decorated silverware?  ( beads on handles etc.)

Yes we did make little sugar spoons like that once.

9.  If someone had a sea glass collection they no longer wanted, would you be interested in them donating it to you?  

We sure would.....as long as it is hand picked beach glass. All of our pieces are hand picked and we use them just the way we find them. Some people use tumbled glass or glass they buy at a craft store....we do not! :)


10.  What is your next business step?

Our next big adventure is the Turners craft sale in Moncton, NB this summer.  It is a three day outdoor sale which we have never done before.  (Aug 10-12)   We will also be doing two sales at Christmas.  One will be the Turners at the Moncton Coliseum, and one in Truro, NS at the Agricultural College.  If you live in those areas you can check us out there!! :)

The following are fabulous pieces from A Day At The Beach Facebook page.

Necklace and ring

I bought this necklace for myself.   LOVE it!!   ;)

I would love to have earrings like this.  I love transferware!

Sun catchers for your window

Earrings

Bookmarks

Charms

Glass Markers

Shipping is $5 within Canada and the US.  Payment via Paypal and email transfer.  

Take Six would like to say a big "thank you" 

to A Day At The Beach for visiting with us!

Go have a stroll on their beach today!!

A Day At The Beach has donated this stunning necklace for one of our Take Six readers to win!  It is so beautiful and summery!   DRAW DATE:  July 20

How to enter this giveaway:


You have the opportunity for 5 entries!!  :)  Remember for each entry there must be a separate comment.  It makes it so much easier on "draw day".  We will be drawing on JULY 20.


1.  Leave a comment on this post.


2.  "Like" Take Six's Facebook page and leave a SEPARATE comment telling me you have done so, or that you are already following our Facebook page.


3.  "Like" A Day At The Beach's Facebook page and leave a SEPARATE comment telling me you have done so, or that you are already following their Facebook page.


4.  Post about this giveaway on your blog or Facebook page and leave a SEPARATE comment telling me you have done so.  


5.  Visit A Day At The Beach's Facebook page or Website and leave a SEPARATE comment telling me the number of your favorite piece.

Take 5 with Kathy - "Puffins, Murres, and whales! Oh my!..."

Village of Brigus

Just recently my husband and I visited the Avalon Peninsula region in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. We have longed to visit this beautiful and unique part of our country for many years, but only ever saw the inside of the airport on a return flight from Europe. So, this was the year and we spent seven wonderful, fun-filled days exploring everything we could pack into that time frame.

Killick Coast drive

Since we both love photography, drives that normally take some people 2-3 hours to complete took us 5-7 hours. The “Rock”, as many Canadians affectionately nickname this province, certainly lived up to its reputation. The scenery is spectacular with every bend in the road offering more stunningly rugged vistas, quaint fishing villages where time seems to have stopped, brightly coloured houses lining the narrow old streets of downtown St. John’s, panoramic views of the capital city from Signal Hill, iconic lighthouses perched high on rocky cliffs, historical landmarks such as the grassy airstrip where Amelia Earhart departed on her solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean and the pretty town of Heart’s Content where the first transatlantic cable messages were received, the barrens where caribou roam free (unfortunately we didn’t see any), and of course the notorious fog which we are well-accustomed to in our home province of Nova Scotia, although fog takes on a whole new meaning in Newfoundland…more about that in my next blog! We also enjoyed some rousing Irish/Newfoundland music, the friendly hospitality of the locals, and some fantastic local seafood (the snow crab was especially delicious).

Without a doubt though, the highlight for us was a boat tour to the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve (we also had a lot of fun imagining the origin of some of the place names – if you’ve never been there, just look at the map and you’ll know what I mean). Being subject to motion/sea-sickness, it took a lot of faith in God to go on this adventure, but I wouldn’t trade it now for anything! We went with Gattherall’s, a company that uses a catamaran supposedly to minimize the above mentioned sensitivity. As we motored out of the harbour in Bay Bulls, we soon encountered ocean swells that compelled everyone except the captain to hang on for dear life as we roller-coasted our way to the open sea. I really thought I had made a huge mistake! But there was no turning back and I breathed a quick prayer that God would answer my dream of seeing a humpback whale to make this trip really worth it.

Gull Island, Witless Bay

Before long, we neared Gull Island, one of four islands in the reserve. It couldn’t be more appropriately named as thousands of gulls swooped overhead (a hat or hood is recommended) and soon a symphony of bird calls filled the air. With one arm hooked firmly around the railing and the other trying to hold my camera steady, hubby and I started shooting pictures with abandonment (thank goodness for digital cameras!). Of course, he got the closest shots with his telescopic lens, but other than trying to keep my balance or falling overboard, I was in pure heaven! Along with several species of gulls, we were treated to watching Atlantic Puffins, Common Murres, and Black-Legged Kittiwakes in their natural breeding/nesting site. As the captain slowed the engine, we casually drifted by this amazing spectacle drinking in all the sights, sounds, and smells.

Atlantic Puffins and burrows

We learned that the Atlantic Puffin is the official bird of Newfoundland and Labrador, has to beat its wings at 300-400 beats/minute to fly fast enough to stay in flight, mates for life and returns to the same nesting site each year, lives in colonies where they make burrows 1-2 metres deep, dives up to 200 feet to catch prey, and Witless Bay is the largest colony in the Western Atlantic. They were fun to watch as they would suddenly pop out of the water and skim across it trying to become airborne.

Common Murres

The Common Murre, as we were informed, looks something like a penguin, although much smaller. They also dive up to 200 feet in the water and nest on rocky crags where they live in very dense proximity. They lay a single egg in a depression in the rock. The cliffs were simply black with many thousands clinging to the edge – now that’s close company!

Humpback on boat tour

We had already seen our money’s worth, when a staffer spotted two whales in the distance as they spouted – “There she blows!!” As the captain steered our vessel for them, we learned it was probably a mother and calf so they didn’t come near. Soon my prayers were answered though as a male humpback started swimming beside and under our boat!! What a sight he was! Although he never “breached” (jumping out of the water), he began putting on quite a show surfacing often to spray high into the air, rolling over “waving” to us with his long fins, “spy hopping” to check us out, and simply impressing us with his size and power (evidenced by the significant rocking of the boat when he swam underneath). I just marveled at the absolute power of the One who created such a magnificent animal. A couple days later, we had an extra treat of watching another humpback as we stopped our car above Outer Cove. He came in very close to shore feeding on capelin.

Humpback at Outer Cove

I came across this verse a couple days ago and thought it was very appropriate:

“Roar, sea, and every creature in you; Sing, earth, and all who live on you! Clap your hands, you rivers; you hills, sing together with joy before the Lord, because He comes to rule the earth” Psalm 98:7-9a (GNT)

Until next Sunday,

Kathy


Joining: 
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