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.

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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!

Stages of Reroofing Garage

Getting the staging steady enough for my untutored carpentry nerve.     

Close up of the triangular bracing nailed to the side wall along with the bracing.
September 2008

Nigeria



Welcome Nigeria - and please return another day.

View From The Garage Roof

September 2008
 When you work on a summer place time becomes difficult to measure.  While perusing my album of photos and seeing this view from the garage roof that I was re-shingling I thought perhaps it was taken 2011 or 2010.  But the picture properties do not lie - it was as noted above.  Five year ago this summer, wow! 

As always it was the sunset that mused my eye - and now as I am typing and looking at the photo I can again hear the silence, feel the cooling of the coming evening's breeze, re-breathe the air, and evoke that strange hollow feeling of life fulfilling me and eluding me simultaneously as I lifted my eyes unto the hills.     

Oldies But Goodies - 20 February 2013 - "Not A Shore Bird"




Spring 2009

A few years ago I spotted this Emu in our woods and luckily had time to get my camera and snap away.  The first shot was from a fair distance as I had no idea if an Emu was hazardous or not.  However he seemed basically uninterested in me as I gradually came closer getting some nice close-up photos.  Amazingly this bird is almost invisible in the woodland background - just like a deer - until the eye suddenly spots him.  Considering that his native habitat is not of North America temperature woodlands it is impressive how he blends into the background.   This Emu, escaped from a captive farming venture just a mile or so away along with others, most of whom were recaptured, somehow eluded the owner for about three years at the time the photos were taken.   His movements up and down our wooded peninsula were spotted from time to time and would make minor local news in the county paper.  Unhappy to say, I have never seen or heard of him being seen since.  Quite likely some hunter took him down in a sporting shot, ending his existence of living peacefully and occasionally bringing joy to people like myself.