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!

Stargate


An old brown glittering beer bottle bottom in a marsh becomes a Star-gate to a galaxy of the mind - and it was a Star-gate to my mind at first glance at the reflection of the world above

Preparing To Fill Feeder In Hive

Carefully - trying not to squash any of the little guys - lifting off the water-proof hive lid

free and clear

now for a little calming smoke

lifting the feeder cover and gently puffing the bellows to blow smoke onto the bees
Carol had been interested in honey bees for some time and then after Christmas this year started a bee-keeping course - one evening a week - in Harford  county.  Her interest steadily increased so she ordered hive components and her starter colony - mixed Russian and Italian as it turned out - to set up in late April.  Cold days and rainy weather gave us a little concern but with the well built hive frame and sugar-water starter feeding the bees seemed to be surviving nicely. She would refill the top feeder without smoking the bees but today she was going to inspect the special Queen bee shipping cage to insure that the queen had chewed her exit route and was laying eggs to keep the colony vital.
 
one final puff before lifting off the feeder cover

Old Whiskey Bottle

- with an e

Phaethontis Oneiro