Thursday, December 31, 2009

Top of the Meadow

We would like to welcome Kim Smith a newcommer to PEI.

Kim has begun her new blog "Top of the Meadow" about farm life and life in general here on my "Hidden Island Paradise."

Welcome Kim!

The Best Laid Plans …: "


Welcome to Top of the Meadow. I should have started this blog as soon as we moved here, but better late than never. Not only will I chronicle our ‘farm’ events and life in PEI, I will also try to add a little personal stuff, as well, and maybe even some of my writing.


And photos – I will attempt to post lots of photos, because that’s what makes a blog really interesting. Now to get Martin to show me how his complicated camera works.


"

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Beautiful Place For A Walk

Hi Everyone

I just wanted to share this beautiful video. If you ever wanted to just walk and forget all of your cares Prince Edward Island is the perfect place to do it.

This is why Hal Lone Pine sang that Prince Edward Island was heaven to him.

Click here to watch the video

Watch it as many times as you like as it is soooo peaceful.

Till next post.

Smiles :o)

Gary

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Sites To Know : Whimfield : Modern Pre-Industrial Living

Sites To Know : Whimfield : Modern Pre-Industrial Living: "

Though I began life in Montreal, our family moved to Prince Edward Island in 1970. It is in every way my home. It is where I feel grounded, safe, calm, trusting that life will always bring ease. I need never worry because all things great and small go well and end better. The sailing is very smooth in this little paradise.


The Maritimes in general, and PEI especially, have a heavier gravity than anywhere else. PEI magnetizes its children back. When Islanders meet, we discuss how our conniving to return permanently is progressing. I’ve got it down to July and December so far.


Cameron and Laura-Jane.


This is the story of Laura-Jane and Cameron. It begins 2 years ago in Victoria, BC. In December, they packed their possessions into trailer, sold the condo, put away the tight skirts and high heels, acquired a pair of snow boots, and headed East towards a hazy horizon on which sat an old blue PEI farmhouse listed on the MLS site.


House1


They moved into a wood-heated, uninsulated old farmhouse in the midst of PEI’s worst month, a -20C February. They were told that they were going to die. As one who has hunkered through many a PEI February, believe me when I tell you that it is a miracle that they didn’t.


Dreams of growing their own berries and living the back-to-the-land dream soon gave way to the reality of melting snow in pots to have water, and shovelling out 3ft snowbanks from one single storm. The indescribably luxurious nearby motel, with hot water of all things, was home for a month. Miserable at the time, it somehow became magical in reading their account of it, probably because it wasn’t happening to me, and I’ve learned that you don’t die from it.


Eventually, windows and running water were installed. At some point, you’re committed enough to not be able to turn back. Like being 6 weeks pregnant, like taking on a new life dream and saying farewell to an old one that doesn’t speak to you any longer, there are still moments of questioning. So much of life, and of relationships, is about stability shifts. You just tip the scale a little and keep balancing on the side you made heavier.


Can you reach adulthood in Canada and not own a pair of these? I’ve been seen at the mall in mine. And proud of it.


Snowboots.


Laura-Jane took up a blog to chronicle the daily progress and activities, but also the evolution and reflections of their life’s dream. You’ll find it at Whimfield: Modern Pre-Industrial Living.


Laura-Jane’s blog posts and photographs are wonderful on so many levels. This site speaks of going after happiness and not denying restlessness, of not knowing all the answers ahead of time, of not looking back with regret, and of how little risk there really is relative to what we perceive there might be.


Reality transitions allow you to go back if you need to. I wonder how often that really happens. Seldom, I would guess. Doing that thing that lifts your feet off the ground has an energy of its own. It can take a lot of hits before it caves. Do read the About page, where you can be inspired by their message.


Why Bother? is a recurring theme in many posts. Laura-Jane’s answers are grounded in her relationship with Cameron. Slowly, she is defining the life she wants to share with him and what she’s willing to trade in to do it. Those discoveries are shared with a deeply touching honesty and exposure that few would be comfortable in attaining. The ultimate answer to Why Bother? is that it feels so good to love and be loved.


Tree leaves.


In many of her posts, Laura-Jane is trying to figure out HOW to contact her inner voices. Like so many of us, she trusts that they’re there to guide her, but how do you go about hearing them? How do you recognize them in the first place? In the very beautiful Big Wheels Keep On Turning , she expresses fear that the loudest that these guides ever get is a whisper. It’s up to us to do the rest.


I love the genuine voice with which she writes. So many of her feelings are simple worries that we all share if we’re trying to change the present. Fragile delights arrive every day, just waiting to be noticed. It feels like a daily dose of reconnecting to what really matters most.


About seeing what you want to see, in This Is Our Bedroom. The photographs are so honest, so not-postcards, that they glow with the unassumingly breathtaking beauty of this gentle place. There are no busy effects. It’s just life at its least complicated. Nature seems to express its beauty through a powerful, pervasive serenity that can be missed or too easily ignored.


About why it’s just good enough to live with those you love and not need more in I Love Living In The Country :10 Reasons Why.


Christmas tree.


As they work to experience this transition to the fullest, they grow and learn more about what they want to be part of their life and what they consciously choose to reject. As Laura-Jane says, “eventually the quiet voices get louder and the louder ones subside”. On the days when that seems too hard and too far away, eat brown sugar from the spoon and read the Sears catalog.




Thank you for subscribing to A Greener Tea. If you are subscribing via email, please be aware that in order to comment on this thread, you will need to visit this post on the Web: Sites To Know : Whimfield : Modern Pre-Industrial Living. Replies via email will be seen only by Christine.


© 2007–2009, Christine Scaman. All rights reserved.

"

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Amanda And John

Hi

Have you ever been to Kings Playhouse in Georgetown? Well I think we could call it a jewel in the crown that is my hidden island paradise.

Yesterday my friend, Kent Jackson called to ask if I would like to attend the annual fund raiser for the playhouse last evening.

You see, Kent's daughter Amanda and another friend John Cain would be doing a couple of songs together to entertain the crowd.

I agreed that I would go.

The evening was a great success raising over $11,000.00. for the Playhouse expansion project.

It was a very fun evening with some wine and cheese hosted by the Rossignol Winery

There was also a silent auction of many items donated by local businesses.

I did attempt to record Amanda and john on my older Flip cam. Given the size of the space we were sitting in, the distance from the stage and the subdued lighting I guess it came out ok.



Check out my web page just click this link

Join my Net Friends just click this link

Till next post.

Smiles :o)

Gary

P.S I have been playing with a new feature from Google in Google Reader, my RSS service.

A little feature called "send this". It lets me post interesting things that I come across directly from the reader onto my blogs.

So keep an eye open for one of those posts appearing from time to time.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Dunn Creek Farm

Dunn Creek Farm: "We recently visited John Quimby of Dunn Creek Farm who was kind enough to have us over for a tour of his certified organic farm in Murray Harbour North.
He was also kind enough to stuff us full of organic veggies at his kitchen table and send us home with baskets of organic potatoes, yellow beans, [...]"

Thursday, August 06, 2009

Guardian Newspaper Book Article



















photo credit - MARIE

Welcome back

Just a quick update on a bit more media coverage on our book "Prince Edward Island Tales"

Sally Cole a writer for our local daily paper has written an article about our book.

Here is just a little intro to Sally's words:

LIFESTYLES Post a comment | Lifestyles RSS Feed

Last updated at 12:49 AM on 06/08/09

Strength in numbers print this article
Members of the Montague Library Writers Guild write Island-inspired book
BY SALLY COLE
The Guardian

"For the past year, an enthusiastic group has been meeting regularly at the Montague Public Library.
The members have two things in common.
They are passionate about living on P.E.I. And they’re excited about writing.
They have combined these passions in a new book, Prince Edward Island Tales.
Seeing the final product gives group member Wendy Jones a sense of satisfaction.
“I’ve been published in newspapers and magazines before, but it’s nothing like seeing your words in a book. I feel like a real author,” says Jones, a member of the Montague Library Writers Guild who, with Joanne Collicott McGuigan, Gary Gray, Laura-Jane Koers, Hugh MacDonald, Marie MacIntyre, Tom Rath, Leslie Stewart and Tom Schultz, is happy with the final product. “The book looks great,” she says."

To read the entire article simply click here

Thanks for reading my post and the article. Joining this group was a two fold purpose for me. As I continue to recover as much of my abilities as I can after suffering a stroke in 2002 I thought that being part of the group would be good to challenge my brain through mental exercise. Second when I was challenged to write something for the group I remembered many experiences of my youth and wondered if others would relate to those experiences.

I have found that my self confidence has been built up within me and my brain has responded to the challenge in a positive way.

I would recommend this sort of experience/ therapy to any stroke survivor who is needing to challenge the creative abilities of the brain as well as a focus on general all around rehabilitation.

If you would like to learn more about me then click here to visit my web page.

Also if you would like for me to share FREE tips and tools that you can use right away I invite you to click here and sign up to be one of my Net Friends.

Thanks so much for dropping by and please do come back often.

Smiles :o)

Gary



Monday, August 03, 2009

Prince Edward Island Tales featured in The Buzz...

Hi again everyone

The new issue of The Buzz is on news stands across Prince Edward Island. Much to our delight our book "Prince Edward Island Tales " is featured in the current issue.

Here is a brief exert from the article:

Prince Edward Island Tales
Montague Library Writers Guild

Prince Edward Island Tales - Montague Library Writers Guild "Prince Edward Island Tales - Montague Library Writers Guild

Nine writers, nine lives and fifty ways to view the Island and its inhabitants: this is what Prince Edward Island Tales, by the Montague Library Writers Guild, offers its readers. The newly released collection is filled with stories, poems and prose dwelling on various aspects of life on the Island—everything from moving a house down a road and across a bridge to an early morning ferry crossing, to the study, hunt and killing of cluster flies.

In September 2008 librarian Swarna Chandresekera’s suggestion to form a writers guild at the Montague Library was taken up with a lot of enthusiasm by a small group of dedicated writers. The main purpose of the group was to motivate and inspire its member to produce the best works they were capable of. To further stimulate the creative process they decided it would be a good idea to work towards publishing an anthology. The result is Prince Edward Island Tales."


Of course to read the entire article you just need to click here

We are very pleased that the good people at The Buzz saw fit to feature our book.

Thanks for checking out this post about our new book and just so you know more people are signing up on my "Net Friends" list where I share great FREE stuff and the occational low cost item that I feel could benefit you greatly.

To get your FREE stuff and become one of my "Net Friends" simply click here and sign up.

In the meantime here is a little You Tube video clip from the movie Aladdin that I really like and I would love to share with you. (it reminds me of when my girls were small and this was one of their favorite videos in their collection)

You never had a friend like me



Till next post...

Smiles :o)

Gary

p.s. Our book is also available online at Amazon.com for those of you who might like to get your own personal copy this way.

If you love Prince Edward Island then you will love this book.

Sunday, July 05, 2009

commandN comes to Prince Edward Island












Hello Everyone

Maybe you are a fan of commandN.tv or maybe it is something totally new to you.

Amber and Jeff MacArthur produce this weekly web based tech show along with Will Pate.

The MacArthur's are P.E.I. born and their parents operate a business in Charlottetown called "Best of PEI"

The quality of their show is excellent and you can connect with them on twitter if you wish.

The neat thing about this show is that it was shot in Charlottetown giving viewers a sneak peek at this welcoming provincial capital city located right here on my Hidden Island Paradise.




Click Here to visit the commandN.tv web site to find lots more shows.

I hope you enjoy the show and the site, and that you become a regular follower of commandN.tv

Every day more fans are also joining my Net Friends List and you can too. Just Click Here to signup.

Till next post enjoy.

Smiles :o)

Gary

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

A Sneak Peek At My Favorite Island











photo by Jack Slade, of Montague, Prince Edward Island

Sailing on the Brudenell River





Hi Everyone

There is nothing better than a day on the water....Or is there?

Here is a little video to give you a taste of what YOU can experience if you decide to come visit my Hidden Island Paradise.



If you feel the urge to share my paradise island, come visit and to get more info click here to link to my Hidden Island Paradise visitor information.

Don't forget to stop by for a tea while you are on the island. I would love to treat you to tea on the patio at the Station Cafe with a fabulous view of the Montague River I might even consent to be your guide while you are in my part of the island.

If you like what you see, hear and feel, why not sign up as one of my Net Friends to receive more free goodies on a regular basis. New Net Friends are being added every day, just click here to become my next Net Friend.

Till next blog post,

Smiles :o)

Gary

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Prince Edward Island Tales


















This cover just draws you in as indeed does our hidden island paradise...


Hi everyone

I just wanted to put up a quick post to draw your attention to a new book that has just been published.

This wonderful little book is the product of nine individual writers working cooperatively. They are all members of the Montague Library Writers Guild, drawn together by their common love for the written word.

Since all of these writers make their home right here on Prince Edward Island it seemed only natural that they would all reflect the flavor of Island life in their work.

The book is now available on Amazon.com and here is a snipit of what they have to say about the book.

Product Description

Product Description
"This collection of poems and short prose pieces showcases the talents of the Montague Library Writers Guild members. They have focused their talents on accounts of life on Prince Edward Island, Canada ranging from a description of cluster flies, to an account of a 5-year-old making the rounds of his community over 50 years ago. There are poems about the shore, fishing, and a youth hockey match. A piece describes why someone should choose to live on PEI while a poem describes the exhilaration of a February day."

Don't waste a minute pondering as to whether or not to buy this book. If you love Prince Edward Island or know someone who does then just go ahead and buy this book today (now)

You will not regret your taking action on this opportunity but hurry as supplies are limited.

Buy it right now at Amazon.com

Don't forget, you can receive free stuff from me on a regular basis. Sign up for my Net Friends list.

Wishing you many enjoyable hours with this wonderful book as it reflects the beauty of my Hidden Island Paradise.

Till next post.

Smiles :o)

Gary

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Tour de PEI 2009


Hi Everyone

Well this past week brought some beautiful weather as well as women to Prince Edward Island.

It was the week of the Tour de PEI 2009.

This is the week that 100 fast women literally took over the gentle country roads of my hidden island paradise.

I was out and about (as they say in Canada eh) on Wednesday and managed to catch them as they flew by. Once on the Wood Island Hill in Montague and again at the finish line in Georgetown.

Here are the videos that I shot from those locations. (don't blink or you may miss them)




Tour de PEI 2009 Montague, PEI




Tour de PEI Georgetown, PEI

Check out the Tour de PEI Facebook group for even more videos of the 2009 event.

More people are signing up for my Net Friends list and you can too. Just click here to sign up.

Til next post.

Smiles :o)

Gary

Sunday, May 24, 2009

BRITS great fish and chips




Hey Everyone...Welcome back

I just wanted to let you know about a great place to eat if you love fish n chips. I was in Charlottetown on Friday to run a few errands, visit my new grandson and attend the Brain Injury Coalition of PEI's annual fund raiser.

As the afternoon was drawing to a close my mind wandered off to the land of fish n chips. I had heard good things about this place called BRITS on University Ave and so I thought I should give it a try.

I was very happy with the quality of both the food and the service. The London decor added to the atmosphere and the booths allow for privacy. The washrooms were clean and well maintained.

I highly recommend if you are in the area and you have a yen for fish n chips do check out BRITS.

Click Here to see their Lunch on Line Menu.


As I travel around the Island I will continue to post about interesting places that I visit. I also share interesting tid bits of information with my Net Friends as I travel the internet.

Please accept my invitation to join my Net Friends list to receive my emails . Just Click Here to sign up.

Wishing everyone a very enjoyable dining experience on Prince Edward Island.

Till next post,

Smiles :o)

Gary

p.s. Let me know by way of a comment if you would like me to check something out for you if you are considering a visit to our beautiful island. I will see what I can do.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Montague Fanily Fun

Hello Everyone

Montague is a great place to live. Where people take time to spend with their family.


Montague Oktoberfest 2008 from Rodney Smith on Vimeo.



Click Here to visit the Montague Prince Edward Island web site.

That's it, short, sweet and to the point. Besides, if a picture is worth a thousand words then how much is a video worth. - Thank you Mr Smith!

Till next post.

Smiles :o)

Gary

P.S. Oh and by the way, dont forget ! Click Here to sign up for my Net Friends list...Thanks

Thursday, May 07, 2009

Road Trip To PEI 09'

photo credit John Quimby 65 GMC step side


Hello everyone

Welcome back to my Hidden Island Paradise!

Today I would like to introduce you to a person of interest. Mr John Quimby

This is what John says about himself:

" I've been a broadcaster, radio programmer,voice talent, copy writer and media producer. I'm a husband, a dad, a certified organic farmer, an a mature horseman, a dog and kid trainer and a history nut. I've been lucky enough to work with some of the most talented and creative people in the world."

Now, let me take you far away from my Hidden Island Paradise to Santa Barbara, California where John lives with his wife and two sons.

Why?

Because John is traveling from his home in California across the USA to Prince Edward Island, Canada in a vintage 1965 GMC stepside truck. Reason being... well, why don't I let John tell the story.

John writes his personal blog posts at:

Dunn Creek Organic Farm PEI, Canada

"From life in the city to living in the country"

Click Here to go to read John's blog. (you can link to other sites that he has from links on his blog

I know you will really enjoy John's story and please, please don't forget to listen to John's podcasts found throughout his blog posts.

Till next post.

Smiles :o)

Gary

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Big Break Prince Edward Island



Hi Everyone

If any of you watch the Golf Channel then you might know about the Big Break show that airs there on Mondays.

Well a few months ago they rolled tape right here on Prince Edward Island.

Meet Caroline Larsson, 24, Orlando, Florida. The Stockholm, Sweden, native is an accomplished player on the Duramed FUTURES Tour and competed in the 2007 LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament. Watch Big Break Prince Edward Island - Mondays starting at 9 pm ET on Golf Channel.

Click Here
to check it out

If you like golf you will love Prince Edward Island. (my hidden island paradise)

By the way in the opening shot of Caroline beside the West Point Lighthouse, she is standing on my favorite beach spot on all of Prince Edward Island. I love the sunsets there as the red fireball of a sun sinks into the Northumberland Strait to the West. The bigger than life full moon is rising from behind the dunes. It is one of those WOW experiences on the Island. (I guess Caroline being there would make it a double WOW!!!)

Enjoy! and we'll meet you at the 19th hole...

Till next post,

Smiles :)

Gary

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Seen From Away

























Hello everyone

There is a question that we islanders are asked more than occasionally. That question is this "is the color of the soil on P.E.I. really red?"

Well when you look at the picture of the cover of my friend Tom Schultz's book "Prince Edward Island seen 'from away'" (above) you tell me. (the picture is a view looking South on route 23 from just North of Newtown Cross Prince Edward Island)

In this quick read book (about 118 pages) that Tom wrote last year he tells the story of how he and his wife came to retire on P.E.I. It is also a description of people, places, and practices on the island as seen by a newcomer.

Tom's book gives you the flavor of just how delicious life can be here on my Hidden Island Paradise.

Tom's book is available for under $15.00 USD by contacting Tom Schultz at

Wood Island Prints
670 Tran Canada Highway RR 1
Belle River, PEI C0A 2B0
Canada

Or email him at schultz@pei.sympatico.ca

Also at Amazon.com

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"This book describes the people, places, and practices of Prince Edward Island, Canada (the smallest province, located just north of Nova Scotia in Atlantic Canada) as seen by a recent newcomer. "From away" is the local term for anyone not born on the island, no matter how long they have lived there. This book can be a useful visitor's guide or a tool to help long-time Islanders recover an appreciation for the things they have stopped noticing because of long familiarity."

Tom says that his book is "dedicated to the hope of new beginnings inspired by the Creator"

If you are looking to a new beginning on a hidden island paradise get a copy of Tom's book and let him give you a proper introduction.

Don't forget to sign up for my Net Friends list over on the Right hand side of this blog. If you enjoy the subjects that I research and explore I share interesting finds that I come across as I travel.

Mostly these are free and usually contain many times the value of similar products sold on the net for cash.

Till next post,

Smiles :o)

Gary

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Tea Time in Paradise



















Welcome

Today I had a special treat. I was out with Franca, Tony and Red when we decided to visit the Farmers Market in Charlottetown. When we got there, there was only about three quarters of an hour til it closed. Not to worry, there was plenty of everything and lots of people too.

This was my very first visit to the market and my what a treat. Everywhere I looked I saw people that I knew. (or knew me) I spent the first bit of time just walking around and getting the lay of the land so to speak. The atmosphere was friendly and the aromas mixed and pulled you along as if on a gentle leash.

I bought hot Italian sausages at Taylor's Meats and Cranberry Almond Biscotti at Lady Bakers Tea Trolley.

I happened to inquire at the Tea Bar as the sign called it if they sold online. She told me that she had just set up a web page but did not have very much traffic as of yet. She asked me to check out her web page and let her know what I thought. I said that I would, gave her a card and was off to the car.

I found the web page and also a Facebook Fan Page which I thought was pretty cool. I think she is on the right track and I plan to be a regular visitor. I have some thoughts for improvements which I will pass on to her if she is interested.

In the meantime I wanted to share with you my readers some information on her business. Now if you are a tea drinker (and many of us are) be sure to check out Lady Baker's Tea Trolley right here in our Hidden Island Paradise. (oh and let them know what you think)

email: sales@ladybakersteatrolley.com

Website:
Company Overview:
After catering tea parties in Charlotte, North Carolina, Lady Baker turned over a new leaf and relocated to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, one of Canada's most beautiful provinces.
She set up a tea bar at the local Farmers Market and continues to cater her delectable and charming tea parties at Beaconsfield Heritage House on Charlottetown's Harbourfront and at historic Avonlea Village in the summer season.
Her loose tea products have a reputation of being excellent quality and with the use of the Affinitea brewing machine at the Market she can make the best cup of tea ever and serve you a latte to die for!
And that's not all. Her baked-from-scratch cookies, scones and lemon curd have become so popular she decided to hire extra help. (read less)
Mission:
To be full to overflowing with hospitali-tea so friends go away smiling and return soon.
Favourite quote: While there is tea there is hope.
Arthur Pinero (British Playwright)
Products:
Loose leaf black, oolong, green and white teas; a variety of herbal tisanes; tea accessories; home baking and the traditional tea party experience

Ciick Here to go to the Trolley Facebook Fan Page.

Til next post have a cupa tea and relax mmmm...good

Smiles :o)

Gary


















Saturday, January 17, 2009

Islanders by Choice


















Welcome everyone

Have you ever considered living on a Hidden Island Paradise? Well my friends Ian and Julie (photo credit) did. My friend Julie tells the story of how they came to be "islanders by choice".

"In December, 2007 we visited friends in PEI. We fell in love with the province, yes even in the winter, came home finished our house renos, sold the house, bought a house on the island and moved here in May of 2008. So now we are islanders by choice.

Ian is starting a roofing business, when he is not sailing that is, and me well I am taking a much needed break. I just wish we had bought a place with smaller gardens so that my break was more relaxing and less gardening."


Click here to visit Ian and Julie's website and in turn view my Hidden Island Paradise through their eyes.

If you enjoy the subjects and people that I blog about on my Hidden Island Paradise then why not join my Net Friends to make sure that you get my new posts whenever they are released as well as other interesting stuff that I will be sharing. Just enter your first name and email address in the form on the Right margin and click submit.

Til next post,

Smiles :o)

Gary

Friday, January 16, 2009

Unique Experiences on Hidden Island Paradise...







Hello everyone

If you are "from away" as we Islanders say and you are planning to pay us a visit then why visit the same places that everyone will be visiting when you can have a unique experience with these Island folks. Making Shine, is just one of these unique experiences.

Experience PEI has the means to give you a truly unique Island experience. Just read a bit of what they say on their site.

"Prince Edward Island is a wonderful place to spend your vacation and even if all you do is what everyone else does, you'll have a good time.

But at Experience PEI we believe you're looking for more. That's why we have designed our exclusive experiential adventures to take you off the typical tourist routes to meet fascinating Islanders, share their lives and participate in hands on learning activities.

We will show you the real character of the Island... the unique and the unusual as opposed to the common and obvious.

We have grouped our experiences into themes. Check out each of the themes below to find the experiences that most suit your sense of adventure. If you don't see what you're looking for, tell us what you'd like to do and we'll work to create a custom experience just for you.

If you haven't yet decided where you're staying during your visit to Prince Edward Island, the accommodation operators listed on our Links page share our belief in making your vacation memorable."




So do plan to come to our island but make sure that you have at least one unique experience while you are here. Click Experience PEI and book it now!

We love our hidden Island Paradise and we know that you will too.

If this is your kind of experience then sign on to my "net friends" by filling out the form on the Right and click the submit buton to receive more as they become available.

Till next post,

Smiles :o)

Gary

Friday, January 09, 2009

Big Snow in The Old Days


Hi everyone

This is just a short entry to share a photo that I found of a train stuck in the snow near Murray Harbour, P.E.I.

This is what the website had to say.

"Then as now there were heavy winters with lots of snow. Trains got stuck, especially in “cuttings” where tracks were lower than surrounding land. Train crews were away from home for days or weeks and work trains with 40 or 50 snow shovelers were dispatched to dig them out. The early wooden plows were relative light and had difficult time. These were the days before Employment Insurance and the railway paid well. The years 1905, 1909, and 1923 were particularly bad, predating the use of rotary plows which became available after 1930 when the branch was converted to standard gauge track (56 ½ “ between the rails).
Despite long waits for normally late trains, people in Murray Harbour depended upon the services they delivered. The train was an important daily event that was eagerly anticipated at the end of the line."

Click Here to go to the Murray Harbour website.

So if you are ever feeling down with snow in your driveway think of the train crews of days gone by when they had to shovel (sometimes for days) to get the train unstuck so it could bring needed supplies, mail and passengers to it's destination.

If you have great snow pictures of big snow on P.E.I. during days gone by please let me know. Just leave me a comment or shoot me an email...thanks!

Thanks for reading and till next post.

Smiles :o)

Gary

PS Something new here is my sign up form for my Net Friends List. (on the Right Margin under my profile) Don't be shy I plan to give away free stuff as well as personal updates and tips that work for me.

GG