Category: Photo Essay

We have a walk that takes us down through the Hunter Farm to the Annapolis River and across to the Lawrencetown tree nursery. The walk begins in the organic apple orchard and ends with a cold beer at Lunn’s Mill brewery. Andrew Maher owned the property from 2008 to 2021. The new owners are Rob Jarvis and Sinead Wills (justbewoodsy.com) (see blog post here).

Living Edge planks were cut by Stephane Doucet using his Alaskan chain-saw rig.

We end our walk at Lunn’s Mill Brewery.

Acknowledgements

To everyone who has left their mark on the local landscape: individuals, organizations and government. Heather is my walking partner. Edward is a creative force.

Postscript.

Last night, we watched The Power of the Dog on Netflix.

Heather has photographed the Winter landscape.

With the cold weather, we increased our time with books, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles and various board games (new to us). The main challenge has been the BIG crossword, with 579 clues down and 594 clues across. Fortunately, perhaps, there seems to be an online Google industry for those addicted to the Christmas crossword. Although, for the purists, this may be considered ’cheating’.

We hope to be back in Nova Scotia next week, in 2022; COVID willing.

Meanwhile, enjoy the landscape.

Acknowledgments

Edward inserted the graphics. Heather was the photographer.

The day after we arrived, Iqaluit had its first Winter storm. It is now a week later. Most days, we have managed to get out for a walk downtown. Although with COVID many stores are closed.

The days are short. Sunrise 09:23. Sunset 13:44.

The Black Heart Cafe is only open for take out.

The North Mart is one of three grocery stores in town.

The legislative building is downtown.

The building with the sculpture is the RCMP.

Of course, you can find the CBC in the North.

From Andrew and Julia’s house, we overlook the sea ice on Frobisher Bay.

Hope everyone has a wonderful family Christmas !

I noticed in The Bridgetown Reader that Keith Egger and Allison Walker are conducting a guided mushroom walk on October 2nd. This inspired me to walk down from the Hwy #201 to the Annapolis River with my iPad in hand.

“In an age in which we often find ourselves at odds with nature, Stafford serves as a guide and interpreter listening for the ways stories name of region, a country, and with familiarity and affection, explicating the terrain for those of us who have forgotten or never learned how.”

”The trouble isn’t making poems. The trouble’s finding someone that will listen to them.” p.15.

An interesting comment on the creative process.

Acknowledgements

Edward has been very busy with the Parrsboro International Plein Air Festival (see blog post). Heather has been constrained by cataract surgery.

Postscript
Edward, too, has been photographing fungi — near Newville Lake, north of Parrsboro.

References

Kim R. Stafford, 1986, Having Everything Right, Penguin Books.

Randall Jarrell, 1964, The Bat-Poet, Harper-Collins.

In the last few days, I have become very ‘place-conscious’. Likely, the result of reading The Hermit of Gully Lake.

One of our regular walks is through the old Lawrencetown Forest Nursery, down to the Annapolis River. This week, I noticed that the platform used by the Lawrencetown Voluntary Fire Department to dry out their hoses has been repainted red and black. It should now be visible from the air.

The abandoned nursery is adjacent to the Lunn’s Mill beer company. There would seem to be a potential collaborative business venture. The old nursery could be turned into an outdoor museum, demonstrating the different planting practices over the last several decades. Visitors to Lunn’s Mill could walk, snowshoe or cross country ski the trails, enjoy the outdoor museum, before heading back indoors for a beer.

Before taking the photograph, I stopped to ask permission. The owner, named ‘ Outhouse’, had moved to the Valley from Digby Neck. They had received support from the LifeSchoolHouse group in Clarence for this venture.

These two examples are evidence of the subtle changes that are taking place in rural society, in response to the larger societal shifts.

Acknowledgements

Edward kindly inserted the photographs. Heather shared the walks.

Postscript

I managed to find the first edition of Joan Baxter’s book ‘The Hermit of Gully Lake’ at Endless Shores Books in Bridgetown. It was first published in 2005. There are differences with the new 2021 edition however the story remains essentially the same, about a specific person and a particular place.

As we begin 2021, it seems timely to document some of the changes in the village of Lawrencetown.

On the positive side, signage for the new Lawrencetown Community Health Centre and Pharmacy  have been installed this week. At the Nova Scotia Community College (COGS) they have installed a field of solar panels and are completing a new residential training wing.

On the “negative” side, we see FOR SALE signs at the BeaverCreek Winery and the Winemakers Tavern. Plus Shakes on Main remains closed because of COVID.

The Thrift Store, the post office, gas station, and recycling centre all operate under the management of Carleton Road Industries Association (CRIA). On Carleton Road (Hwy #201) Lunn’s Mill Beer Company is open for retail. Before Christmas, this consortium purchased the End of the Line Pub in Bridgetown (now called The Station) serving food, beer and entertainment.

What are the lessons?

Small rural communities in Nova Scotia can reinvent themselves, even in the most difficult of times.

We look forward to more detailed plans.

a) how the Health Centre will help address the shortfall of family physicians in this part of Annapolis County?

b) what will be the impact of the residential training centre at COGS on the surrounding community?

c) will the new solar field at COGS help move the province towards greater use of alternative energy?

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Edward for organizing the photographs and for the Zoom coaching.