Oldie from Hopedale.

Group of Elders of Hopedale Labrador, says around 1900 on back of picture.

Heat hit out of blue.

Wow, got up to 24.9 at back of house yesterday. Only complaint I have is the dusty roads, council has not put down the dust suppressant yet. It was too hot even for the pesky bugs, until early evening that is. Great for my garden, I'm always impatient waiting for things to grow enough to harvest.
Pic is of some of last years lettuce in the side raised bed.

Yowza, hot or what?

Would not complain about it being up to 21 c at noon only for fact it is so dusty. Council has not gotten around to applying the dust suppressant yet, takes the fun out of hot days for many.

Garden is staring to show signs of life at least; can’t wait for the fresh lettuce, spinach, herbs, and the flowers will brighten up the front.

Can’t seem to get pictures to down load, so can’t show last years crop of lettuce, must be this heat.

Rummage

My new/first scanner arrived late last week; good thing the weather was not that great as I would have felt guilty about spending most of the weekend playing around with the thing if it was sunny and calm.
It is a Conoscan 4200F, does negs and slides too.
Fran helped with digging out all the old pictures, man there is a lot.
This one is one of my favorites, taken at the Okalakatiget Society opening and of their new [old boarding school] facility in 1985. Not all the members of the Moravian Church Brass Band [of the day] were present, but it added a unique touch to the day. The dog liked it so much that he joined up on the spot, all-be- it, as their leader.

Sea Highways.

This baby is up for sale soon, http://www.ozhorizons.com.au/tas/spirit/accom.htm any one interested?

Morning person.

I have long been a morning person, much to the consternation of my dear wife. She be the other way.

I find a sort of calm, with a dose of apprehension of what a new day will bring.
Maybe too it’s the fact that most of the evil little shits in the world are asleep at this time of day. What ever it is I am usually in a very good mood in the morn.

So I use the above to explain my rational in adding my two cents worth to the post over at NL-Outsidethebox regarding a possible use for the GBS [gravity based structure] once it has [in NL’s words] sucked all the oil out of the earth. NL has suggested that the GBS could be put in the middle of the Straight of Belle Isle and used as part of a fixed link.
I think the Inter model cable car would be the best option; it worked well for North West River for years. Maybe they could resurrect some of the parts that are still there near the old HBC store.

Picture courtesy of Chris Waynes who resides in the old dart.

Speaking of boats.

Left is the mv Bonavista on my first visit in 1978. Had some great trips on her in the early 80's. A bunk up in the bow was something to experience.
Also experienced a trip in first class, just below the bridge, much quieter for sure.

Other one is the mv Northern Ranger heading to dock in 2005. Had many trips on her, bring back Marine Atlantic IMHO.

Answer to comments and addition.

Peter said,
Yeah, that's great to see. Congratulations to all. I like the look of the service in the church too. Seems like some good things going on with the church, local elders in charge.


I am told that this was the first time the graduation class had a church service prior to the dinner dance. If it is not the first, then it has been many years since the last.
All I spoke to thought it a very good thought by grads, and added something a little special to the day. I’m not overly religious, but when I hear that Nain choir singing in Inuktitut I always get a little tight in the throat. Plus I like the church interior, plain and simple.


Brian, sounds like you're really counting down the days till the Ranger comes in. Twelve more sleeps. LOL! -Peter


If you could see the shelves in the stores you would be counting the days too. Aside from that, it is always nice to see the ‘first boat’ come steaming up to the dock, even if it just has coke, chips, ice cream and perhaps beer. It is the sign of new stock for the larder and perhaps new household items to come.
The first couple of years after my arrival the ‘Nain Brass Band’ used to still play on the boats arrival, this legacy of the Moravian Church was another nice event IMO. Alas the band has disbanded due to no new blood taking up the instruments.


In my post yesterday I forgot to mention that a wood pecker has been sighted around town as well.

Wildlife.

lot of some what unusual wildlife activity in the near vicinity to the town of late.
Five moose have been seen close by. One cow and yearling are close to town, some times in outer fringes of town. Another cow and two your ones have also been spotted.
Also close is a black bear, it has been seen harassing the yearling moose, mother moose sent it packing, bear was seen sliding down a snow bank at high rate of speed.
A beaver is in one of the water ways, not sure which one.
A European starling has been seen, not unusual for up here, but not all that common either.
Earlier this week some one sighted some kind of humming bird, right in centre of town.

Seems the humming bird, if that what it is, has been coming back last couple of years.
Black bears have been hanging around near town last several years. They have been up on Nain Hill last several years, some times as close as near the back of our houses. Some have also been hanging around across the harbor; last year some people were even feeding one with fish guts, wildlife officials advised that this was not such a smart idea.

Only 13 more sleeps till the first arrival of the passenger/freight boat mv Northern Ranger. The freight only boat may or may not get here first, I think it is the mv Astron this year, but stand to be corrected.

Change of pace, or taste.

I had some left over mashed potato with chopped onion, so decided to make up some zucchini potato cakes. This recipe made 4 cakes.

11/2 cups left over mashed potato with chopped onion.
1/2 medium zucchini, peeled, grated, with water pressed out of them.
1 egg whisked up.
1 teaspoon oregano
Fresh ground black pepper

I mixed all the ingredients up well, the mixture was a little moist, so I added 1/3 cup bran flakes to absorb some of the moister.

Made the mixture into 4 cakes about 3/4 inch thick.
Gently coat cakes in flour, I used some 12 grain flour, but any flour would do.

In medium fry pan heat cooking oil

Fry until brown, turn carefully and brown other side.

Place on paper towel placed in heat proof pan; keep warm until ready to serve.

I had this with shake n bake chicken and fresh asparagus, accompanied by a nice French red, a 2004 Chateau Arnaud Minervois to be precise.

Fran had baked spuds with her meal, so more cakes for me. Alas I was not so lucky with the wine, had to share it equally.

Grad 2006.

We were off to the Aimee’s grade 12 graduation last evening.

First was a ceremony at the Moravian church, thought this a nice touch.
The Nain choir gave a couple of fine renditions in Inuktitut, and a nice service by Johannes lamp.
The grads all in their finery made for a pleasant hour.


The graduation was well attended by teachers, family of grads mainly.
The meal was very good, and lots of it. The volunteer teachers, students and others did a fine job with the meal, decorating, serving and the like.




Thirteen made it this far, I think there was about 23 or so in Aimee’s kindergarten class. Not too bad I guess, though three of this year were carry overs from last year, and a couple moved to other communities.




We were very proud of our Granddaughter, who had her brother, and our Grandson, Brian as her escort.

Proud or wharh?

This is the 2006 grade 12 class of Jens Haven Memorial School, three days before their Graduation Dinner dance this Saturday.

Spring is here, sort of.

Took some pictures of the last of the ice that is ‘hanging in’ in last several says. With the temperatures up and the wind from the west most has been blown out or melted now. Also been doing some walking up in the hills.






Also been doing some walking up in the hills.

Weather is great for getting around, bugs are just too much of an annoyance when it warms up.

Attention: NL tourism brain trust.

I think I have come up with a great concept for a tourism marketing video for Northern Labrador. That’s if you do that sort of marketing of course. Any way, we would start off with a shot of the official Labrador flag, then fade, then zoom in to what has become the unofficial ‘spring flag’ of Northern Labrador.












Perhaps we could then switch to some shots of rugged mountains; this one is just a hill. Maybe we could have some one standing on the edge of all things, this bloke is just for concept, the real bloke would need to be disheveled, long hair, ruddy face like he has spent too many long hours in the pubs of some place.














Maybe finish off with a zooming in shot of some washing hanging on the line, have to be careful what we show though, would not want to upset any sensitive sensibilities would we.



I think this has potential, it's such a great idea perhaps it has been done some place before, you could get some technical ideas if it has.

The Day After.

Well looky here, bloody sun, some what, out the day after Victoria Day.
Same spot as foggy pic taken Sunday.

Interruptis Indeed.

Old Blork http://blork.typepad.com/ and his wife seem to be having a nice tour of Italy. Makes us stay at home bloggers look a bit banausic.

I have walked in many hills and mountains on three continents, never have I come across the view Blork describes in his May 22 post.

View from Signal Hill?

Well no, it's a view, from the hydro plant, of Nain yesterday.
Could have taken the same pic from dawn to dusk, today you would get camera soaked, though the fog has lifted about 20 feet.

Reason for the trip was; Grandson wanted me to go with him to see if we could spot the two moose that have been hanging around town for couple of weeks. He and his mom had watched the two interlopers for some time the evening before, they had come close to the edge of town, up near the dame and what was once a sandpit. Did not see the moose, or much else.
So Victoria Day has held to tradition with the lousy weather, raining today. No one up here could go camping any way, unless you wanted to trudge over the hills by foot. Ice is still covering most of the harbor, this "in" weather pattern will keep it there till an "out" pattern develops.

The second day of the story telling festival was cancelled due to a sad happening. A young married man committed suicide Saturday afternoon. Our thoughts go out to his family.

Victoria Day +1 part 2.

More scenes of participants and observers at story telling event yesterday. Plus one of kids doing what they do best on a nice day.

Victoria Day +1

So yesterday turned out to be a great day, around +8 with a breeze in off harbor.
The Inuktitut Story telling Festival went off well. It was held in two tents near the ball field. Many elders had lots to say, all was recorded for future TV shows and use in language retention programs, as well as historical archival. Some scenes of tea break above.
Festival will continue today but in the sports-plex, it is predicted that weather will not be as kind.

Victoria Day Weekend at 1230 hours on Saturday..

And what a beautiful day it turned out to be sure.

People heading off to the story telling festival I believe.