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!

Point of View


The New Solid Tire Works Well With Light Loads


I did one load of quarry stone (loaded about 2/3 the height of these wet leaves) and was disappointed that it did not roll very well at all with a heavy load - however with this large, but fairly light, load of wet leaves it handled well.  So I am quandried as to whether to buy another pneumatic tire and tube for those 'seldom' jobs that are a bit tough for the old fellow.

Pleasures Only Shadows Be

Are They Shadows


Are they shadows that we see?
And can shadows pleasure give?
Pleasures only shadows be
Cast by bodies we conceive
And are made the things we deem
In those figures which they seem. 

The Last of The Two Eagles - coming in for landing


High On The Amtrak Electric Poles


After the train had passed I decided the eagles were not around this day and walked back to the Ridgeline - when first one, then a second large raptor flew in and landed high overhead so I grabbed my Panasonic and started shooting several photographs - this being the 3rd I believe - and was able to see more clearly that it was a couple of eagles.  Sometime in the course of taking the photographs another Amtrak train passed underneath the two birds who ignored it completely.