CapeBreton-NorvellHimself-SingleMalt: April 2014

What's It All About, eh?

Cape Breton evokes deep memories and strong emotions for me as well as a deep appreciation for the beauty of my adopted island. My hopes are that you too might find the photos evocative - maybe a view you've not enjoyed before, or an 'Oh I've been there', or if from away that you may be encouraged to visit this fair isle so that you might come to love and breathe Cape Breton as I do. One word about place names that I use - some are completely local usage while others are from maps of Cape Breton that I've purchased over the years. I frequently post travel and other photos that are of interest to me - and hopefully you.

On the right hand side bar find my take on Single Malt whiskey - from how to best enjoy this noble drink to reviews (in a most non-professional manner) of ones that I have tried and liked - or not. Also musings, mine and others, on life in general.

Photographs are roughly 98%+ my own and copy-righted. For the occasional photo that is borrowed, credit is given where possible - recently I have started posting unusual net photographs that seem unique. Feel free to borrow any of my photos for non-commercial use, otherwise contact me. Starting late in 2013 I have tried to be consistent in identifying my photographs using ©smck on all out of camera photos I personally captured - (I often do minor computer changes such as 'crop' or 'shadow' etc but usually nothing major), and using ©norvellhimself on all photos that I have played around with in case it might not be obvious. Lately I have dropped the ©smck and have watermarked them with the blog name.

COMMENTS are appreciated as feedback is the driving energy of blogging - And if you like this site please pass it along to a friend. Thanks!

NOTE: TO ENLARGE PHOTO, CLICK ON SAME - If using Firefox also click f11 - photos will fill the screen ...... ----------------------------------- ......TRANSLATION BUTTON AT TOP OF LEFT COLUMN!

National Geographic composite photograph - with data workers shown life size as they work

The President tree is the name of a giant sequoia located in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park in the United States, east of Visalia, California. The tree is believed to be at least 3,200 years old. It is not the tallest giant sequoia tree in the world with a height of about 247 feet (75 m), nor the widest at about 27 ft (8.2 m) in diameter at the base, but it is the third largest tree in the world, measured by volume of trunk. As of 2012, the volume of its trunk measured at about 45,000 cubic feet (1,300 m³), with an additional 9,000 cubic feet (250 m³) of branches.^[1] That same year, it was determined that the President was larger than the General Grant, if measured by total volume of wood above ground.^[1]
The tree was named after President Warren G. Harding in 1923.^[2] Nearby trees include Chief Sequoyah, the 27th largest giant sequoia in the world, and the Congress Group, two dense stands of medium sized sequoias that represent the "House" and "Senate".

via Wikipedia - a completely advertisement free web site. Wikipedia depends upon contributions for its' support. Please do as I do and contribute to this great organization.

The wood is slowly reclaiming that which at one time was a level field carved from the wilderness for the Green Hill mansion house, and had in my early childhood days before World War II been known by all and sundry as "The Old Ball Field". But even in those days of yester-lore it was a fading name for all I remember was the bucket upon bucket of strawberries that my parents picked there to turn into preserves and jellies for the coming year and even to my unskilled youthful eye there was no sign of the ball-diamond of that heroic sport of old. Then when war brought jobs and a great influx of men and women from 'the south' to work in munition plants and other war-time businesses a saw mill was started here to churn out an endless supply of rough-sawn oak lumber for houses, and munition buildings and such, So in turn the name "The Sawmill" entered the local lexicon and strawberries and late summer blackberries disappeared from the field for good but in turn many a household went out to The Sawmill to bring home a wagon load of rough cut bark wood for heating the home through the long winters. Then in early teen-age years the bordering Stoney Run, where sawdust had been carried to the river to help clog the 'channel' for fishing boats, became the local swimming hole for many of us young boys and the abandoned sawmill was only a fading back-drop growing into shrub.