A Taste of Nova Scotia - Music

I don't think it is a secret that I really like my 'neck of the woods'. It has some problems, but there are other aspects that make up for the negative. I have always been very big on supporting locals, though. I read the books, watch the movies and television shows, and of course listen to the music. I have gone though large periods of my life where it was basically my favourite thing ever. I just find they capture the spirit of the province and its people so well! I can relate to them.

One of my favourite bands is The Rankin Family. They started out as five. Then, the older brother died in a horrible car accident in Cape Breton. This brought them to four. About a month ago they lost one more to cancer and now there is three. I was devastated! When I look back on so many aspects of my life it is bands such as this that I remember. They shape my members and add a musical quality to them. So, I thought I would share some of my favourite songs by John Morris, Jimmy, Raylene, Cookie, and Heather Rankin. Their music will live on even if John Morris and Raylene were tragically taken so young. R.I.P.

This has always been one of my favourite Rankin songs. It is sung by Raylene and honestly, I like to think it is the motto of Nova Scotia. We have had many industries come and go, but we always manage to 'Rise Again'. I have faith that we will continue to do so.


A bit more up-beat. If memory serves me well this was the last album there were five of them.


I have always enjoyed this song by them. I loved this album! I used to play it obsessively. Well, actually it was a cassette tape... And it was so hard to find the song you wanted, so you would actually listening to every song. Nowadays I am terrible for skipping around...


So, no surprise this song is also from the same album:


I was such a nerd when I was a kid... I had this songs memorized, so I naturally was proud of myself for speaking Gaelic! I still have this song memorized... I have no idea what I am saying anymore, though. I also still want to speak this language... I love it!


The girls also had a Christmas CD. This is not the best recording... I saw this concert, though!


One sad thing about listening is I am always reminded of how all my Rankin CDs were stolen... I have slowly gathered them back, but I still don't have the Christmas one again. I was thinking maybe it would be a good gift for this year.

Appreciation For My Own Backyard

I have been very slack on blogging lately, so I thought I would try and get back in the groove in November. The problem was I couldn't think of anything to post about... As luck would have it, it is NaBloPoMo November, so lots of other people are trying to jump-start their blogging. BlogHer shared a list of prompts and I am going to join in on the days where I can't think of anything else to blog about.

The prompt for November 2 is:

If you could live anywhere, where would it be? 

Windsor Sunset

Is it sad that I am not entirely sure if given the chance I would move out of Nova Scotia? It suits me. I like living near the water, the quietness, and the natural beauty. There are other places I would love to visit, maybe stay for a while, but I have never had a burning desire to move. That's probably to my disadvantage and might not always be practical because my province is dying, but a person can hope, right? And share pictures...

The Look-off

Windsor 

Hall's Harbour

Driving down the highway...

Clouds

Shot over the water.

Yarmouth Light

Tree Frame

Hall's Harbour

Peggy's Cove

I could go on for a while...

Saturday Snapshot - August 18, 2012

Taken at the gift shop in Peggy's Cove.

Welcome to another week of Snapshots hosted by Alyce at At Home With Books. Last week I had a lot of picture from Peggy's Cove, so I did a separate post about them if anyone is interested.

Day 11 - purple

Peggy's Cove Light

Day 12 - spoon

Cat start to the day.

Human start to the day.

Day 13 - simple

The life of a cat.

Day 14 - arrow:

From White Raven by Irina Lopatina. Read my review here.

Day 15 - ready:

Cat version.

Human version.

Day 16: food

Stanley Lobster. Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

Haddock

Day 17 - faces:

Other Pictures:

Saturday Afternoon.

My reading companion.

Taking Whimsy for her last walk.

Back home!

Cat eating cardboard...

Silly Casey!

Postcard from Amanda.

Postcard from Ames.

Clouds.

Then, we took a trip to Yarmouth. Like Peggy's Cove I will probably do a separate post, but here are some of the pictures just as a preview:

Yarmouth Light.

Driving towards Yarmouth Light.

One of the guys pictures. He went out on the rocks for this picture. No cars. Shows the natural landscape.

Touring Nova Scotia - Peggy's Cove

Peggy's Cove was officially founded in 1811 and is blessed with interesting folklore surrounding its name. Some people claim it was was named Peggy's Cove because it is located in St. Margaret's Bay and Peggy is a nickname for Margaret. My favourite story, though, is one of a young girl who was the sole survivor of a shipwreck on Halibut Rock. She was too young to know her name and they local inhabitants named her Peggy. She went on to live there and the Cove became 'Peggy's Cove' in her honour. There are other stories, but this one has always been my favourite. It is not the name that draws people there, though. It is the beautiful natural landscape and the famous lighthouse that graces them.

The current year-round population of Peggy's Cove is about 35. As a result it is a small fishing town that manages to keep its charm despite being a popular tourist destination. While we were there we saw them restoring a fishing boat:

Just walking through the Cove is both picturesque and quaint. We enjoy parking at the beginning and strolling through. Here are some of the sites you see along the way:

Older Style Homes

Fishing Boats

Water, fishing shacks, and lots of sky.

Traces of the Past

Traces of Their Livelihood 

Water

Lighthouse

We took many pictures! This was just our more recent visit, too. If I went back over the years I would find lots more pictures to share... Peggy's Cove is one of our favourite places to visit. I hope you enjoyed this presentation!

Saturday Snapshot - August 11, 2012

Poster of Peggy's Cove Light

Welcome to another week of pictures for Snapshot Saturday. I am once again a bit late, but hopefully people will stop by and enjoy!

Day 4: somewhere you sat

Day 5: logo

Day 6: writing

Postcard my Great-Grandmother received from Arizona in 1986.

Day 7: 8 o'clock

Bonus 8 o'clock Picture

Day 8: glasses

Day 9: messy

Day 10: ring

A Picture of a Picture

Bonus ring picture.

Other Pictures:

I am ready for my close-up!

Cat in the sink.

The dog moved.

Sunset

Tree Frame

My current favourite picture of Casey.

Natal Day Firework

It looks like she is smiling.

Whimsy

Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia

Clouds at Peggy's Cove

Blueberry Grunt

Sunset at Peggy's Cove

I have lots more Peggy's Cove pictures. I might do a post about it.