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!

Hits - Update




Sweden gave me a click today 4th July '12 - yeah!!!

(I know this blog is small time stuff - big blogs get as many hits per minute as I've gotten in 4 months - but this going around the world to other countries gives me a thrill)
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See How He Looks

© August @ '92     photo by smck

THAT’S ME

Idle moments while I replay
tapes of memory in my mind

clear rivulet wash on sand
bright flash of winging bird
eyes in love and supplication
quest in mine

ahh – early child almost a stranger
peering down the imagined
reaches of the future

                                                                                           See
                                                                                                         how
                                                                                                                     he
                                                                                                                                looks!



69



sometimes when i dream too much of yore i see myself looking forward at me
© smck

I wrote this little poem long years ago - perhaps when this photo was taken - and meant it for myself, no photograph for reference, but then when I found this picture in our old box of family photos the poem seemed to leap up into my mind as the homage to my younger son - coming back from the beach above L'Archeveque and onto the grassy interval behind my friends fishing shack where we staying for a few precious weeks.   smck
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Lobster Season Is Through For The Year

© July '10    photo by smck
The lobster season is through in mid-July and some of the boats will be putting out to sea again to haul snow crab from far off-shore.  A boat or two might only do the lobster season but by fall all L'Archeveque fishing will be done for the year with the boats and gear overhauled and stored for the following season.  Lupines blooming are a good calendar marking for the time of  year.
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Sound of Rock Upon Rock

© September '08    photo by smck
This was taken the same day I snapped the opening banner of the blog.  Even now I can hear the sound of rock upon rock, being washed up then back by the waves and tide - and feel the mist of scattered light rain that threatened to deluge at any moment.  Above me on the eroding cliffs of Collin's old field one can stand and look out at the sea no different than when the long gone house and barn were being built in the 1800s.  Bleak and drear this day, bright and filling another and fulfilling that Gaelic desire to have solitude and quiet around you like a shelter against the burly of the world.


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Tu Es Mon Compagnon de Voyage!

© August '09    photo by ctmck

I think it much better that, as we all go along together, that every man paddle his own canoe

Character of 'The Indian' in The Settlers in Canada by Captain Marryat (1844)


Tu es mon compagnon de voyage!
Je veux mourir dans mon canot
Sur le tombeau, près du rivage,
Vous renverserez mon canot

When I must leave the great river
O bury me close to its wave
And let my canoe and my paddle
Be the only mark over my grave

From 'Mon Canoe d'écorce' ('My Bark Canoe')
 translated by Frank Oliver Call


August is laughing across the sky
Laughing while paddle, canoe and I,
Drift, drift,
Where the hills uplift
On either side of the current swift.

Be strong, O paddle!
Be brave, canoe!
The reckless waves
you must plunge into.
Reel, reel.
On your trembling keel,
But never a fear my craft will feel.

Song: My Paddle Sings, 
E. Pauline Johnson
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