Islander Day!

Tags

Ian sherwood, Islander day, moving, Music, PEI, Pub, winter

Today is Islander Day,  what is this public holiday about, no one seems to know for sure, though everything is closed and it’s a day to spend at home relaxing or doing some fun activity. Since everything is closed you cannot shop or do much which would involve a consumer activity, so reading, a craft activity, sports of all kinds is what most people will do.

In Canada each Province has what is called a public holiday or Family day, the concept being to give people a day off in February which is also Carnaval time in cities like Quebec, Ottawa, Charlottetown, etc. We are in that calendar period after the Christmas Holiday period and not yet at Easter which is the next big holiday. So in February you get a break.

Last year for Islander day, we were here in Charlottetown. We had decided to come to PEI to see what life was like in Winter on the Island, we were still living in Ottawa at this time last year. We were seriously thinking of moving to PEI but wanted to make sure that this is what we wanted to do and there was enough activity on the Island to make it worth our while.

Well it was a busy February one year ago, we started looking for somewhere to rent in Old Charlottetown, not at easy as one might think, lots of rent and at very reasonable prices but if you want something more like the big city style apartments, it is not so easy to find. Also real estate agents are not that helpful, most will try to sell you a house in the process, but we were not in a buying mood. With the help of friends we did find exactly what we wanted and moving in in May, some 10 months ago.

So last year Islander day was wet, foggy and with next to no snow at all. It made for a dreary day, so we went to the Pub to drink, because that is what you do on such days.

Speaking of which, many pubs have live music with some pretty good if not professional musicians like Richard Wood or in this case Ian Sherwood, with this song, The short end of the stick.

 

Intermission

Tags

CBC, Charlottetown, PEI, storm, Wind, winter

Well this morning we got up and the storm has stopped or past us, the wind is still pretty strong but is diminishing gradually. The Confederation sea bridge is still closed to all traffic, it has been closed for 12 hours now and I can just imagine that many trucks on the mainland side in New Brunswick are just waiting, parked in the special area for the bridge to re-open. The weather was just as bad in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and Cape Breton (Isle Royale) sticking out into the Atlantic, they always get the brunt of all storms.  What it means for us on PEI is that the grocery stores will start having shortages in fresh produce like salad and imported fruits from the USA or South America. You can still get the essentials since we have lots of farmers and livestock farms.

My main concern is digging my car out from under the snow, right now the front of the car is buried in snow, our parking lot is clean, the plow guy came by early around 5am and cleaned it all out. The City and the Province have re-started the plowing of the streets and the highway and secondary roads after a 12 hour stop, so now they have to catch up. Matt Rainnie the host of CBC Island morning was telling us that another storm is coming this is just a break, an intermission if you like, the new storm should arrive by early hours of Thursday and dump another 25 cm of fresh snow. So Wednesday off I go for more food shopping and essentials.

 

I don’t think I would want to live outside of a major town on PEI in Winter, here we have all the services and living at the corner of two main city arteries means the roads are cleaned first. I heard stories of people in the country side and they are left to fend for themselves, no one can get to them, the wind is too high and there is too much snow on the road. Stories from last night are of 3 babies being born during the height of the snow at home. The way it is organized on PEI is when a storm hits, emergency plows stand by at Fire Halls, all of whom are staff by volunteer fire fighters. If a call comes in the emergency plow will open up the road for the Fire trucks and hopefully make it on time to help, like in the case of births at home. It becomes a neighbourhood affair, since everyone knows everyone else.

 

There are some tragedies of homes burning down and the Fire dept can’t get to them because the driveway to the Farm house is 200 feet long and has not been plowed or is too narrow. Last night a big barn full of bails of hay burned, the storm delayed the Fire Dept by 3 hours. Many of our secondary roads are also nothing more than soft red earth which in Winter turns to hard icy roads and are not necessarily plowed.

I don’t think many people will be going out for Valentine’s day given the state of the roads and everything is closed today anyway. Just stay home and read and enjoy the day. Until the next storm on Thursday morning.

I have to say that the City of Charlottetown is doing a wonderful job of cleaning the streets quickly and efficiently, a much better job than Ottawa who never seemed to be able to clean streets unless you called your City Councillor to complain.

Snow day

Tags

Canada., Charlottetown, PEI, snow storm, winter

We are currently experiencing a big snow storm which came from the US East Coast and now crossing through the Maritime region. Upwards of 60 cm of snow and high winds around 90Km. Everything in the region in closed and everyone is told to stay home, even the plows are off the road until the weather calms down. The Confederation sea bridge to the mainland is also closed completely to all traffic which shows how dangerous the situation is now weather wise.

Yesterday I did my food shopping like everyone else, here is a view of the parking lot at the Atlantic Superstore.

It looks as if the store is buried in snow.

This morning the view looking West in Charlottetown. The storm is coming but it is still 2 hours away from us.

Just outside the City as the snow starts.

About one hour later when some brave souls still went out. Walking the dogs is also difficult in blizzard conditions, they don’t want to do out because of the heavy snow and high winds.

A little later on Queen street downtown. Visibility now is almost nil, the airport is closed and so are all businesses. People are simply staying at home and enjoying a quiet day.

It will be like this until at least 10 am tomorrow Tuesday.

 

 

The world is a small town

Tags

CBC, Charlottetown, PEI, storm, Wind, winter

This saying figures in the title page of my blog. This is certainly true of where we are now. We go to Receiver Coffee three times a week when I am done with my duty at the Art Gallery. It is the in spot on Richmond Street behind the Confederation Centre of the Arts.

The food is quite good and the coffee superb, they also have art on the walls for sale by young emerging artists. Currently they have amongst others a photographer who is also a barber at one of the Hip Barber shops in town. His name is Jared Doyle and he has an account on Instagram Ivory Orphan. Looking at his portfolio I notice that we know all the people featured, same at the Café, everywhere we go now, look around and you see friends, acquaintances, neighbours or prominent citizens, we speak to everyone, exchange greetings and news. It is that sort of a place.

This morning I was listening to CBC Island Morning with Matt Rainnie and Rich Cormier, there is a big storm coming says Matt so you should go to the grocery store and stock up because Friday morning it is going to be a snow day and no one should be on the road. He is speaking about the entire Province of Prince Edward Island not just Charlottetown the Capital. As I write this the storm has arrived and already the wind is howling at 80Km per hour and we are expecting 40 Cm of snow or 16 inches in the next 5 hours, which is significant. The winds will top 100km in about one hour, the bridge to the mainland has is closed to all traffic and the Canadian Coast Guard has come into the harbour to dock for the night, I can understand they don’t want to be out at sea in this weather.

So I followed Matt Rainnie advice and went to the SuperStore to stock up on all the food items we may need. I was not alone at the store and it was a chance to speak with people about this and that, at the Deli counter a lady was exchanging news with the Deli Counter clerk, the polite thing to do is wait until she finishes the story, you don’t want to barge in, she might be someone’s cousin you know.

Got my shopping done, it was a beautiful day today but by 6 pm the clouds had accumulated and on the news they were giving us the run down of all the places that were cancelling activities tonight, all of it re-scheduled for a Saturday or later. So it is pretty obvious no school tomorrow, the University and College are closed. Many businesses will not open and very likely the government will also be shut down for the day. The airport has already cancelled the evening flights and many delays for tomorrow, so call ahead. At any rate who wants to land or take off in 80 Km winds, not me.

I still had to take the dogs out, they did not want to go out too much wind and blowing snow for them, but out we go, not far like a few feet do what you have to do and turn around quick.

Yes we live in Mayberry and it is a nice feeling, everyone will be at home tomorrow and just read and relax until the storm passes.

Art Night

Tags

Art after Dark, art., artists, Beach, chagall, Charlottetown, colour, Gaugin, winter

Many activities on the Island are organized in January to entertain people around a cultural or artistic activity. One of the craft Beer companies organized Art after Dark. So our friends DS and PS and C O’G organized a Art after Dark of our own and we went up the streets to our friends house to paint and have food and drinks. Will made a wonderful chicken meatloaf, it was quite good.

C O’G brought her artistic organizational skills and supplied the already primed canvas, we had tons of paint brushes, paint tubes etc and a glass of wine for inspiration.

Here are the results of this fun evening.

Homage à Gaugin on an Asian theme, Holly in a pot, domestic happiness

Homage à Marc Chagall or where is the fiddler on the roof.

Pot de fleur sur la nappe à carreau

Homage à Jack Bush or Brackley Point Beach at night.

There are about 10 other paintings but the artists took them away. 

 

Things you learn

Tags

Canada., Charlottetown, Nova Scotia, PEI, snow, Storms, winter

Learning the Island life is interesting, per example Islanders will shop in droves the day before a big storm is forecasted. Last week we were told 48 hours ahead that a big storm was coming, result the next day the grocery stores were full of people, it was a sunny bright day and it was hard to believe that a storm was coming. During the night it started to snow and then the high wind which put traffic restrictions on the Sea Bridge to the mainland. In Charlottetown where we had green grass and some snow on the ground we now have more than 2 feet of snow or 60 cm, blowing snow made it deeper in some areas.

Huge mounds of snow in our parking lot next to our house must be at least 2 meters high if not more.

The traffic restriction on the Sea Bridge which is 12Km long means that only single family cars can cross and all trucks are stopped and must wait often up to 12 hours before they are allowed to cross. There is a very good warning system and a APP to warn you well ahead that there might be restrictions. Groceries stores will run short or out of certain food items. Though this has never affected us so far, we tend to buy from local farmers on the Island. Most deliveries are made by truck across the bridge and in Winter there are at least 2 days a week when restrictions apply due to very high winds. This means that the SuperStores run short of grocery items. Store managers were interviewed on this situation. We use to have ice breakers years ago crossing from the mainland to the Island but that is no longer the case.

Confederation Sea Bridge above the Straits of Northumberland, in the distance the mainland of Nova Scotia.

So the tradition on the island is to constitute in Winter a pantry reserve of food so that if you cannot get out due to the winds or amount of snow, then you are snug as a bug in your house. Our car was buried in snow up to the roof, there really was nothing I could do to get it out until the big snow removal tractor came and in 5 minutes I was completely clear. The streets are deserted, no cars can be seen. Some brave souls still have to walk their dog, we do but it is quick, they do not want to go out anyway.

What I find impressive almost in a Chicago style of street cleaning is how the City of Charlottetown sends out the snow plows the minute is starts to snow, my street is cleaned and clear in no time at all.

I believe the City is building an Ice Rink for skaters across from our house.

Frozen in Rome

Tags

Charlottetown, frost, Italy, PEI, Rome, snow, winter

This morning we got a message from a friend in Rome telling us that the Città was frozen at minus 11C which is unheard of in Winter, maybe minus 2C but never lower.

Here are some pictures of the frozen fountains of the Città.

Piazza Bocca della Verita

Piazza Barberini

Basin of the Fountain of Pope Paul V.

Fountain Piazza d’Aracoeli

Fountain Piazza Repubblica

A very spectacular effect, I remember cold Winters in Rome but never like this one. In comparison in Charlottetown PEI this morning is was minus 8C which is expected.

Walk on a Sunny cold day

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

 

 

 

This and that

Tags

Art Gallery, Farms, Parliament, PEI, Piazza Navona, Rachel Beach, Rome, sculptures, winter, XMAS

Our morning today started with this view looking South to the Hillsborough River from our kitchen window.

Meanwhile in Ottawa in Parliament, the Central Column of the Hall of Honour was decorated with Christmas greenery.

Back in PEI in the countryside this view

While in Rome on Piazza Navona they are having a Christmas Fair.

This evening I was at the Art Gallery of the Confederation Centre of the Arts for a Vernissage of works by Rachel Beach from NYC.

 

Interesting works, she told us that Matisse was one of her inspiration and that her work is all about texture, context, ideas on fabric and colours, forms and shapes and language. Think of ethnography, archeology, symbolism used by all cultures to communicate.

 

 

28 November

Tags

Charlottetown, North Eastern, PEI, snow, Wind, winter

The day Winter arrived to PEI. Up until now we had a mild Autumn and lovely sunny days. But on the night of the 27 to 28 a North Eastern Wind blew in with great force at 110KM per hour and bringing with it snow and rain. Some 12,000 people on the Island lost power and we all knew Winter had arrived. This meant school closing and warning about icy roads. The Ferries were cancelled and the Confederation bridge to the mainland had severe restrictions on motor traffic crossing, with such high winds I would not want to drive on that bridge 150 meters in the air over 12 km.

This morning a brilliant sunshine and mild weather, the snow is melting and with it we got dazzling sunlight which you only see in Winter.

During the night we were woken up by the snow clearance machines at 3:00 and 4:30am. I did not get up to move the car in our lot, too much trouble. The snow with all the water in it was like concrete, lucky thing I did not have to shovel it.

Another storm is predicted for Tuesday night with again high powerful winds, Winter here is about the wind more than anything else. Lucky we live in the centre of the Capital so we are somewhat protected from losing power, but I am always concerned about the big old trees in such storms and big branches falling. We do have a lot of big ancient trees all around.