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Larry Muffin At Home

~ Remembering that life is a comedy and the world is a small town.

Larry Muffin At Home

Tag Archives: sun

Gardens

14 Sunday Jun 2020

Posted by larrymuffin in garden

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

flowers, home, life, sun

In all these many decades we have had gardens large and small every year in every house we lived in. Some of our Summer gardens where on a large balcony or terrace, I remember our first apartment together in Ottawa we had Tiki bamboo torch lights and wicker baskets from Roger Horchow. Incidentally he died last week, aged 90. This at a time when it was still not that popular in most gardens to have such items.

Our first house South of Ottawa, I went and dug up some Hollyhocks one night from a house slated for demolition, they had the most beautiful flowers simply abandoned, so I thought I could save them and give them to Will for replanting in our yard.

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Our first house had a yard which was in need of urgent care with a tree which turned out to be a White Persian Lilac, we built a red cedar deck and Will planted the flower beds and built a small water piece with  Japanese lantern. We had twigs of Virginia creeper which would turn bright red in the Fall, we simply buried them and they took off covering a whole wall. We had Nasturtiums, Tobacotiana, Bee Balm, Solomon Seal, and President Kekkonen roses.

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In Mexico, we had lots of plants which we bought with large terra cotta planters in Xochimilco. Cut flowers I remember could be bought anywhere for very little money and you could always have fresh flowers in the house or bring large bouquets to a dinner party.

In Poland we lived in a very large 3 storey house in Saska Kempa, across the Vistula River from central Warsaw. The garden was very large and we had house plants and two gardeners who took care of the ornamental bushes and trees, including cutting the lawn.

In Rome we lived in a medium size condo building which was surrounded by many large mature trees and the architect had obviously designed the approaches to the building with terraced levels of plants and fruit trees, I remember the lemon trees and how strong smelling and tasting the fruit was. We also had a terrace and we had succulent plants, flowers and could change according to Season what we had on our terrace. So at Christmas we had several Poinsettia of various reds and white leaves plus a small pine tree in a large planter.

Back in Canada we had a 160 year old house which had a beautiful garden with masses of ferns, ornamental trees and flowers. The previous owner’s father was a gardener and worked at the Official Residences in the Capital, any plant leftover found its way into the garden of the house. We hired a company to help with cleaning both in the Spring and Fall, they could do all the necessary work in 2 days whereas we would have required a week to do the same.

Now in Charlottetown, the house is surrounded by plants and shrubs and on our balcony we have flowers in boxes. This year because of the pandemic, the garden centre I go to in York, did not have the same variety, what was on offer was cut in half. I still found everything I wanted and got some beautiful begonias in the large variety, also Night Sky petunias and New Guinea Impatiens.

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Our garden is ready for the Summer, now if only the weather can get warmer in the 20C range that would be nice.

Sunday

03 Sunday May 2020

Posted by larrymuffin in life

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

Beach, cuisine, home, Me, nature, PEI, sand, sun, surf

Well today was a gorgeous day, Sunny and warm and no cold wind. It was so nice that we decided to hop in the car and go down St-Peter’s Road to the beach, we usually go North to Brackley Point Beach but today we decided to look into another area.

This is following Hwy 2 North-East about a 30 minute leisurely drive. Funny enough from our house to the cut-off to St-Peter’s Road which is just next to the airport runway, now quiet because no flights are coming here. There was some traffic and then suddenly a lot more traffic. Note a lot of traffic on PEI is 15 cars.

The reason was the Agency Liquor Store at the Irving Gas Station on St-Peter’s Road. It’s open longer hours than the Government Liquor Stores and has more hard liquor, you know the hard stuff, the brown stuff, like Bourbon. The clientele goes with the Liquor. After that it was clear sailing,  the road to St-Peter’s Harbour suddenly becomes unpaved and is basically the red dirt road typical of the Island. It was dry and not muddy, red mud is sticky and clings to everything. Driving on it is difficult, I still have my big winter tires on the car because of the Pandemic I did not want to go to the garage to have them change etc, I now have an appointment for the end of May. Winter tires gives better traction anyway.

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We had never been to that area of the Island and discovered that it is a Nature Preserve with very high sand dunes that look like the grand canyon but not quite. With high Marram grass growing on top, the grass is planted by volunteers to protect the dunes. The area behind the Marram Grass covered sand dunes is a mix of wetland, plants, grasses and maritime shrubs and shallow ponds of water which rise or ebb with the tides, perfect for ducks and other aquatic fauna. The dunes are so high that you do not hear the Sea until you follow the marked sandy path across. The dunes are protected and to avoid damaging them people are asked to stick to walking on the beach.

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The sand was warm today to the touch and despite nice waves the wind was very light. I have always been fascinated by the immensity of the Sea, it looks infinite. However if you look at the map you will see that we are clearly in the Gulf of St-Lawrence.

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The quiet of the beach and the fresh air is exhilirating. The only noise is the surf and bird songs. The Piping Plover nest on the beach and you have to be careful when walking around, it’s a little bird and it camouflage itself with the natural colours around. It is also an endangered species only 6000 in the World.

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Near the beach and at the end of the road you can see some beach houses, some are expensive looking but they really only function from May to September. You would not want to live in the area in Winter with the terrible fierce storms, unreliable electricity and rural mud roads. In Winter such roads are not plowed so become impassible. I would love to live at the beach like that in the Summer.

The nice thing about beaches in PEI is that they are very clean, quiet and not overrun with people.

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Today was a nice break from the City, we came home, had a nice Osso Buco for dinner and our neighbour surprised us with a Coconut cream pie she had made, it was delicious.

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Winter morning

07 Monday Jan 2019

Posted by larrymuffin in winter

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

fog, morning, PEI, Sea, sun, vista

This photo was taken this morning, mix of Sun and clouds with some fog over water opening unto the sea. Dramatic no? We get this sort of vista in Winter in PEI.

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My father and the Sea

29 Friday Sep 2017

Posted by larrymuffin in Uncategorized

≈ 14 Comments

Tags

Dad, Funeral, Music, PEI, Sea, sun

My Dad died 2 years ago on 12 July, it was very sudden a hot Sunday in Montreal. He did not want the usual funeral service, did not like the expense of it all, could not see the point. He had spoken with his doctor who was also affiliated with the Medical School at McGill University in Montreal. He had made all his arrangements ahead of time, so we had no involvement but to honour his commitment.

In June 2017 McGill University notified us that they were releasing his remains and according to their protocol, they had a service of thanks for all those who donated their bodies to the advancement of medical science, very nice service done in one of the grand halls of the University, the funeral parlour then took care of the cremation.

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My Dad also had a wish, he wanted to be buried at sea. So I made those arrangements with music, a fiddler, French Champagne Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin and a floral tribute.

So we honoured his wish. My sister and brother-in-law were with us and Will on whom I can always count and have all these years for his support. What was uncertain was the weather, stormy and unpredictable, though today by 2pm the heavens cleared up and the sun appeared, turning the clouds into shiny silver streaks on a blue background.

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It was quite beautiful, the captain took the ship out some distance and at a certain point in the open sea his ashes were released and the flowers thrown into the water while the fiddler played. My sister reminded me that today 28 September was the date of the death of our mother 4 years ago. I thought it was Fate who wanted this event to coincide with the date of her death. My parents had been together some 64 years.

The sea was calm and a cool breeze was felt while the sky smiled on us. I just looked at the vast expanse of the sea and became reflective about my parents, time and our place in the universe, there was not a sound except for the wind. The captain and his wife were very kind and thoughtful throughout this journey on the waters.

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On our way home going West the sun was very bright as it was setting, the clouds where now golden with a hint of pink and violet. We were quiet in the car, tired from the day and happy it had gone so well. Our duty is done and Dad got his wish and we know, all of us, that he would have been very happy with this day.

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Dad on vacation in Greece with the Aegean sea behind him.

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Our brother Stephan who lives in Florida could not be with us unfortunately, but here we are Will, Sophie, Andrew and me on the boat.

 

Walk on a Sunny cold day

03 Tuesday Jan 2017

Posted by larrymuffin in Uncategorized

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

Beaconsfield house, Charlottetown, Fanningbank, light house, PEI, sun, Victoria Park, winter

This Winter we have so far many cold but brightly sunny days, cold around -6C or +8C it alternates depending on the wind South East or North East.

There are many places to walk in Charlottetown, the downtown area is quite small, 6 blocks by 9 blocks. with green squares and parks here and there. Then we also have the 50 acre Victoria Park facing the entrance to the Straits with 3 rivers coming together.

I took a walk and some photos of the area yesterday, lots of people walking their dogs.

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The opening into the Straits of Northumberland with on the right side of the photo Rocky Point where Port La-Joye or Fort Amherst is located, the first establishment before Charlottetown was built. Even today a beautiful spot if a bit isolated.

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One of the lighthouses in the area to guide ships, this one at the entrance to the North River. They are automated.

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Beaconsfield, a folly built by in 1877 by James and Edith Peakes, a very prominent family of immense wealth. They did not enjoy their house long, James went bankrupt and left town moving to Vancouver some 6000 Km away, I suppose he took the new train across Canada, to work in a bar, am not sure what happened to Edith but I believe she stayed in town. The house was re-possessed by Henry Cundall, who had other homes in town, who moved into it in 1883 with his sisters Penelope and Millicent. It is a beautiful museum today and gives a good idea of how the affluent lived then.

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Fanningbank, the Official Residence of the Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Prince Edward Island since 1834. I do volunteer work here, I just completed the updating of the notes for the guides who give tours in the Summer months. It had to be completely redone, covering each room, the furniture, the paintings and portraits, the oriental rugs, etc plus the history in a short format in both Official Languages, 20 pages in French and 20 in English. It took me 3 months and I am quite happy with my work.

As you walk the boardwalk you will pass in front of the Residence, the thick hedge is higher than it looks, Fanningbank is next door to Beaconsfield house.

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The Prince Edward Battery (1799) just to the West of Fanningbank in a defensive position facing the entrance to the Harbour of Charlottetown, British regulars and Colonial Militia until 1864 manned the site. The stone powder house (1866) was just restored completely.

It is a nice walk, fresh air, bright Sun, just fun all around thing to do. I have taken our Nora for a walk here, she liked it, lots of smells and wants to jump into the river, roll in the grass and chase the crows. I know crazy Wire Hair Dachshund.

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Happy Winter Solstice

20 Tuesday Dec 2016

Posted by larrymuffin in Uncategorized

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

boys, Christmas, dancing, Fire, rituals, Saturnalia, Solstice, sun

Well 21 December is the Winter Solstice and we are told by our resident Meteorologist at the CBC Charlottetown, Kevin Boomer Gallant that now days will start to become longer and on this first day a good 68 seconds of light is added to the day.  Can Spring be far off?

Enjoy the Winter Solstice remade in to Christmas. An old Gaul tradition was to build a big fire to entice the Sun to return.

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 painting by Sergey Sovkov.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This afternoon in Charlottetown

07 Friday Oct 2016

Posted by larrymuffin in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

boat, Charlottetown, COWS, cruise ships, ice cream, Marina, PEI, sun, water

We have had a glorious sunny week in Charlottetown, late Summer weather with cool nights.

There are 2 cruise ships in port every day and next week we will have 3 in one day. Though the ships can carry upwards of 2000 passengers, they usually have only about 1000 on board at the most.

It is so pleasant to walk around town and go the to dock to look at the river and all the green and some colour now on the trees all around, really idyllic. Here are some pictures.

 

 

 

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With this Thanksgiving weekend a lot of activities at the Marinas, the owners are taking their boats out of the water for winter. There was one this afternoon being taken out a great big thing, valued at $750.000 cdn. I can just imagine the cost of gas for that boat. It is so big that as it goes down Water Street to its parking place for the Winter it needs an escort truck to make sure incoming traffic is not in the way. The other pictures are of the various Cruise ships. This is my backyard literally, the once close up with the Holland American ship is taken from my kitchen window.

It is so relaxing to just sit on the docks, enjoy the quiet and the sun and eat an ice cream looking at the scenery.

 

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