Real Wind!

The Wreckhouse.

The name alone sums it up quite well.

This is the name given to an area in south western Newfoundland .... and it certainly lives up to its name! It is said the be the second windiest area in the world (winds of a category 2 hurricane), and from the news reports and stories, I can believe it. The winds are so strong, trains have been blown off of their tracks (well, when we had trains) and blows tractor trailers over on their sides.

Here are a couple of pics from CBC.

Picture One

Picture Two

We've travelled through this area many times on our way back and forth between Ontario and here (there is no choice...the Trans Canada goes through it and it's the only way to get from one side of the island to the other). Although, we've been fortunate to not go through during an extreme windy time, there has always been noticeable winds to some extent.

We've always found driving through the area to be a rather eerie feeling. I love driving through it now....but must admit, on our first visit to Newfoundland, not so much (and we didn't even know about it). You see, one goes through this section about half an hour after getting off of the Ferry. I remember, that first time, wondering (to myself and out loud)....just where exactly we had came to ..... and why?? It kind of reminded me of the moon (or what I pictured being on the moon would look like).....barren, scrub vegetation, mossy grassy stuff covering the ground, the odd tree...if you can call them that...all twisted, very small and look like they've been permanently blown over by a wind. It was quite flat....except for the odd looking blobs of rock type things that seem to ring the area (which turned out to be the Long Range Mountains....but who knew?). There were no buildings or people and was certainly different than the area we were coming from. We wondered (and were somewhat concerned) if this is what all of Newfoundland was going to be like. Thankfully, it was not...and became one unique, beautiful section of a unique and beautiful province in which we chose to make our home.

But still....those winds!!!

Ahhh....It Has Arrived!

Winter...that is.

Yesterday (Sunday) we had our first snow storm of the year....and it was a doozy! The winds were high...100 km/h (60 mph) and according to the news tonight, we had 39 cms (16 inches) of the white stuff. Seeing as it's fairly early in the season for such a storm....I hope it's not a sign of things to come.

Time will tell...

Here are some pics I took over the course of yesterday and today. (Click them to enlarge)

The calm before the storm...so to speak. Taken yesterday from our back deck before the storm started.








Ahhh...it has arrived. Taken a couple of hours later...around noon I believe...

These next couple are taken from the same vantage point as the first two pics. Hmmm...where has the ocean gone? It's still there....it just can't be seen for all the blowing snow and cloud.



Can you see the ocean in this one? Same deal as the previous one....it's there somewhere...we can certainly hear it!




Still comin' ....around 4:00 in the afternoon.....



The wind blew all evening and it continued to snow.

This is what it looked like when I opened the back door this morning....




A closer look....






Out front (I couldn't get the front door opened over the snow) Click the picture to enlarge it and notice the snow in the trees toward the back and on top of our shrubs in the front.



Closer up of the shrubs



Jake and I decided to take a walk. Standing in front of our house looking up the driveway toward the road.



Standing at the other end of the driveway, looking down toward our house. We have a long driveway...about 200 feet....which makes for a lot of snow to blow out. Thankfully, that wind took care of some of it....but still a lot to move.

Annual Christmas Shopping Day

Every year since we started homeschooling, we take one day off to do Christmas Shopping. It's always a weekday, usually in the beginning of December. We don't take snow days, or P.A. days, so other than regular holidays, it's the only one we take off all year. It's become a much anticipated yearly tradition with our family.

This year's Christmas shopping day happened this past week. Larry had the day off, so it was a perfect opportunity. We headed into town around 8:30. We spent the morning shopping, followed by lunch at Swiss Chalet (I think this is Larry's favourite part of the whole day lol). After lunch, we finished up our shopping, completed a few errands and then headed home. We were even home in time to get the tree up.

I guess, this would be our official start to the Christmas season.

Another sunrise over Pouch Cove (click pics to enlarge)

Battle of the Sexes

We had two chocolate sales to go to on Saturday (and I forgot my camera....so no pictures).

One was the Farmers' Market and the other a women's breakfast.

Seeing as Brittney and I are the only women, we went to that one. We first had to eat a beautiful buffet breakfast....bacon, sausages, ham, eggs, fresh fruit, muffins, hash browns, toast, orange juice and coffee ...... yes....it was rough but somebody had to sacrifice and do it....who better than Brittney and I? *wink*

Jake had been excited for a few weeks....declaring it "The Battle of the Sexes". He was determined his team would sell the most and win.

He was rounding up support all week....telling everyone he met.

Saturday morning came, we headed off. Larry and Jake dropped us off and continued on to their show. Jake was on pins and needles all morning....but had his game plan down. Larry even left him alone, at the booth, while he scooted back across town to pick Brittney and I up.

After the shows were over, we headed home to tally up the money. Jake could hardly contain himself as Larry counted......................















and the winners were:


















The Women!!!

I kinda felt bad and was worried Jake would be so upset. He tried so hard and is very sensitive. I do believe, out of the four of us, he worked the hardest. As I pointed out to him though....it was two totally different venues. Ours was a one time deal....theirs is a regular weekly event. Ours had 200+ women, with only 6 vendors....the market has several vendors (many of them food) from which to choose.

Surprisingly, he was ok with it all. He congratulated Brittney and I, shook our hands and patted our backs....with one warning,

"Just you wait until next year.....things *WILL* be different."

Oh my......

Happy Birthday to my Dad!!

My Dad turns 83 today/tomorrow....(depending on when this posts --- November 19th)

Happy Birthday, Dad!