Landscape

In the Nova Scotia Countryside

Nova Scotia Farm on a November Day - Ellie Kennard 2012
Nova Scotia Farm on a November Day – Ellie Kennard 2012

I loved the colours of this landscape on that overcast November day, I remember. The colours always seem so much richer, deeper, stronger and at the same time gentler when the sun is not brightly showcasing them. That November afternoon there was a storybook quality about the scene, which made me stop the car on a busy road and get out to capture the moment. At any given moment, no scene ever looks the same as at any other time. The elements change, the light changes and suddenly you are seeing a different view altogether to the one you passed only yesterday, or even 10 minutes ago. That was surely the case here as I have passed this scene hundreds of times since then and never seen that same special quality in it since.

Original Post:This would have been post #312/366 for my Photo a Day 366 project in 2012.

Unfortunately the original post is lost. But the photo is not and it is one of my favourites from that year. But… that’s not the first time you have read that here, I know! Okay, I admit that I have more than a few favourites from that time. I only hope you all enjoy seeing them through the eyes of my memories.

Ipswich Town Upside Down

Ipswich in reflection - Ellie Kennard 2016
Ipswich in reflection – Ellie Kennard 2016

When we lived in England, I spent a number of years working in the town of Ipswich, in Suffolk. In those days (1980’s) we tended to park a vehicle and walk around the friendly little town, both during the day and at night. The last time we were there, however, in September of 2018, we parked our car (at a very expensive rate) to walk to a restaurant in the town at night. There were 3 of us including my husband Steven, but even so we all felt so uncomfortable, so unsafe, that I resolved never to enter the town on foot again at night. The streets where we walked were in the same part we had known so well. But they were so different that it was as if we were in an entirely unknown town. Where was my friendly, familiar Ipswich?

As in this reflection, my perception of Ipswich was turned upside down. This photograph was taken during our visit of 2016 when, even then in the friendly daylight, I was marvelling at the fact that it looked totally unfamiliar.

Leaf Jam

Leaf Jam - Ellie Kennard 2012
Leaf Jam – Ellie Kennard 2012

This photo is a favourite of mine as it was taken at the end of a long hike when I was still almost too sick to undertake such a walk. I was working on a project called “Thankful” with a small group of friends. This is why I really appreciated finding the image and post again as I have almost forgotten what it means to have balance issues and to be so unwell.

We rested when we arrived at these falls and as we were sitting on the rocks (and it wasn’t all that warm, I seem to remember) I saw this bundle of leaves hanging on for dear life. I am so glad to have recovered this post, rather like a mini diary entry as it (and the photo) reminds me of days that I am so glad to have left behind me. Thankful indeed!

Original Post: October 28, 2012 – 301/366 – Leaf Jam – or “The Intrepid Travellers Find the Falls 

Today we decided to do a trek to a place that we have only just heard about, Crystal Falls. We only had very scanty directions (rather sweet ones, given by Google Maps that start off by saying: “Let’s start at Tim Hortons” – Tim Hortons is a chain of coffee shops, for those unfamiliar with this Canadian icon). Eventually, after asking directions twice, we found the rough track that we hoped led to this place, deep in the woods (we were told to be careful of coyotes, which lent an air of excitement to our trek). We trudged along a rocky dirt road that climbed up and up and up a hillside until we came to a rather ugly set of power lines. At the bottom of the hill just under these power lines, we could see the falls.

The descent was steep and tricky and for myself, with balance issues and carrying camera and lenses the trip down was fraught with danger. I made it to the bottom where we then made our way through swampy terrain until we reached the edge of the pool. The falls were there before us and were lovely even though not spectacular. Although I took many photographs of the falls and will no doubt go back and take more, today’s feature is of a leaf jam that took my fancy with the water spraying up from it. 

We saw a couple approaching us from the opposite bank and when we could make our way within hearing distance they told us that the real way back to the road was on their side, much easier and a very pretty walk along the river. To get there we had to jump across slippery rocks, balance across logs wedged between heavy boulders in the rushing stream (remember the balance issues) and eventually be helped up the bank. 

So we were intrepid travellers today.

Park Bench – Blowing Snow

Park Bench - blowing snow - Ellie Kennard 2012
Park Bench – blowing snow – Ellie Kennard 2012

Another rescued image post from Google+ that had never made its way to my blog, so I was really glad to see it and restore it here. Winter is setting in well here, with temperatures into the well below freezing numbers. It’s so nice to see this sitting here in a comfortable house in front of a warm fire.

Original Post: February 13, 2012 – Park Bench, Canning Nova Scotia – February afternoon

The village of Canning was once a ship building town and ships used to dock here to load apples and potatoes to send around the world. Now the river is small, just about big enough for a canoe or a row boat. It’s hard to imagine that a ship could ever have made its way up here.

There is a park here and in the summer it is lovely to sit on this bench and see the birds on the water and in the fields edging the dykes beyond. Quite beautiful in the blowing snow too, although the bench is rather less inviting and I nearly froze as I was taking this image.