Old houses...

Wouldn't you love to attend a Halloween themed weekend here...?



There was a beautiful older house here in town. Well, to be honest there are quite a few stunning older homes in this town. But the one I'm referring to was down by the Waterford River -- close to where we used to live.

It was restored in the 90s and became a successful B&B. Until two years ago when there was a devastating fire! Arson, by one of the co-owners. It was set to be demolished.

I should go take a look.

Source

Summer so far...?

It's been rather...eventful. Weather wise it's been up and down. Started out promising during the first two weeks of a sunny and warm May but then it got cold and gloomy and stayed that way till the end of June. We had my husband's parents with us for several days which was nice. One morning, while having our breakfast, we heard a big boom which, I assumed because of the overcast skies, was thunder. Found out later there had been a gas explosion at a garage not far from us that blew off the sides and ceiling. Luckily not many people were there and no one was killed although there were a few injuries.

Last few days of June, summer came back with a blazing sun for a couple of days before more rain and gloom. Which is how things seem to be going this month. Been windy too. Been getting weather systems from down south including the remnants of Hurricane Chris and now Beryl, I believe. Despite the overcast skies and some rain today, it is rather warm and muggy.

I'm not complaining about the rain because it's been a pretty dry winter and spring. So much so that fires have been breaking out. Last week there was a bush fire not far from here that had us a bit worried. Watched the water bombers do their work and it was doused within a couple of hours. But not before heavy smoke forced part of a nearby neighbourhood to evacuate! Luckily damage was limited to the woods with only a few houses suffering melted vinyl siding and scorched fences / decks.



Our house is back onto a green space and though I often see the remnants of people's illegal fires in the woods, I'd still rather have the woods back there then a new housing development. Do you see how close together those houses are? And nary a tree on any lot unless the home owner plants one. Unfortunately, in April we discovered there are plans for a commercial/residential development behind us :(

Hygge

Friday the 13th. Well, I could post something about bad luck, black cats, walking under a ladder, or that movie but instead I've gone another way. Today it's all about 'hygge.'

If you haven't heard the term before then check this out here. Basically, it's Danish for a somewhat indefinable variation on our term 'cozy' but tinged with lots of nostalgia for 'simpler' days. I gotta say my only trip to Copenhagen was full of hygge. There was that amazing restaurant where the only lighting in the entire place was candles. And, oh the old jazz they played! There was the canal boat/bar we stopped in for a warming tipple. And then there were all those outdoor vendors and Xmas markets (sorry, I have to mention the time of year) and versions of glogg (a kind of mulled wine) on offer everywhere. I felt like I was in some version of heaven. But no, it was just Danish hygge.

Regardless of the politics behind the term (for that you can read this here) I feel the snap I took at Lester's a few weeks ago captures it. Certainly the feeling I got on that chilly, overcast day when I walked in from Lester's fields and saw that fire, felt it's warmth, and found myself smiling uncontrollably at the other people in the check out line...well, MUST be hygge!

And those two pumpkins just make it, don't they? Sigh...