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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Rift Root Valley


Grass Arched Against The Sky


Tiger Swallowtail - Pterourus glaucus


Our Italian Honey Bees


Short Stalked White Russula - Russula brevipes


just a note on these non-poisonous but disagreeable-tasting mushrooms that points out (to me at any rate) the bizarre turns that nature can take: "when this species is parasitized by the Lobster Mushroom (Hypomyces lactifluorum), it is transformed into a choice edible".  

That is when it is covered in an orange mold (which itself has to be identified correctly) its' flavor is changed from terrible to delicious - but along with identifying the covering mold, one must take care to identify the mushroom being covered as that mold parasitizes various mushrooms including poisonous species.  

So nature is capricious and bizarre, and humans are bizarre. Can you imagine the state of mind to enable one to pick a mushroom covered in mold, and then to say 'hey this terrible tasting mushroom probably tastes delicious now that it is moldy'.