July 28, 2024 - Milford, Nova Scotia (Milford House)
The Princess' Beloved Rustic Petite Place ... and her Question of the Day
While I had visions of Eggs Benedict for brunch swirling in my head, on the patio of Mateus Bistro in Mahone Bay … it was not to be. We were very late getting away, one thing after another went slightly awry. We were not going directly to Milford House (MH) but first to Ratinaud’s to pick up a stick of French bread and some delicious cheese and a bit of meat for our charcuterie supper. Then to Wiles’ Market to pick up the brown bread we pre-ordered and a few other treats. We arrived at MH before 4:00 pm, and soon we checked into our beloved cottage ‘Little’. We strategically planned our unpacking to minimize both weight carried and to avoid the steep incline with Norm’s knees. A little frog on the path welcomed us ‘home’. Our rustic home for 4 nights.
A few changes to the cottage, a few deck boards replaced and a brand new couch! No coffee maker this year but we brought our own. But otherwise the same old Little we have come to know and love.
With everything unpacked and the hammock set up , Norm made his first attempt to sit in the hammock. I wished I had a photo. Not a graceful swan, lol! All I heard was “Gayle stop swearing, stop swearing” in his not so quiet voice, lol … I guess laughing would have been the preferred alternative? Would have been a great photo … but it could have been disastrous as he narrowly missed the adjacent wooden chair as he smashed to the ground. After the second try in laying in the hammock before long he was fast asleep. Eventually I too succumbed to a short nap lulled by the gentle bird songs.
About 7:00 pm a doe and her 3 fawns stumbled along the water’s edge from a distance. Another great photo … if only closer. By 7:30 pm it was time to prepare our Porch Picnic. A chef prepared and presented charcuterie. No one does charcuterie like Norm and Bill.
A separate meat charcuterie of cured lamb sausage and proscuitto and a cheese charcuterie of French Camembert, Roquefort and Petit Basque, a colourful pasta salad Norm made, French bread and mushroom pate. With wine and sparkling water … but of course,
I only had one question ….where was mon chocolat?
July 29, 2024 - Milford, Nova Scotia (Milford House)
The Day of the Loons ... and the Quiet Dark Stillness of the Night
We awoke to the eiry cries of loons seemingly so close by; later in the morning we saw them swimming past our cabin. A reminder to always have one’s camera and binos ready! 6:00 am seemed to be a bit early to get up and with a menacing cloak of fog hanging over the lake like a shroud back to sleep it was.
So glad I brought the old electric coffee pot for that first cup of coffee. As it turned out the camp stove was a bit of a challenge to get going as there was a clog in the fuel pipe. Never one to pack light for these occasions, we had our espresso latte before long once Norm figured out the issue.
But before the espresso, I was eager for my first trail walk this year. So off I went alone … but not really, after all I had my ghostly pet companions who accompany me. Little forest delights along the way including tiny jumping frogs. It’s a 45 minute walk or so that I thoroughly enjoy each and every time. Though I prayed the mist would not turn into rain. And just as I was headed back home, the sun poked out. By now it was really quite warm.
The rest of the day was a cottage day … just relaxing, reading and sharing thoughts and stories. Norm thoughtfully had brought our trip journal and a photo album from our honeymoon back in 1980. So every day on this MH trip he will read a little more and then we fill in with even more recollections.
It was pretty windy today but that kept the hungry mosquitos away. The water on the lake was choppy but seemed warm to the touch. Maybe tomorrow for a swim!
For dinner we decided to eat at the lodge. The meal plan includes dinner and breakfast the next morning for $45 plus tax/tip/beverage. Our table overlooked a garden where we watched the hummingbirds dining, sipping the sweet nectar of the nearby phlox. For me I had an appetizer of spinach dip and naan bread, Norm had seafood chowder. Main courses were broccoli salad, smashed potatoes and a stuffed Portobello mushroom for me, and for Norm … Beef Bourginnon, Caesar salad and smashed potatoes. Dessert was strawberry NY cheesecake and berry crisp. So very filling!
All was very quiet … I had hoped for another call of the wild from today’s nearby loons. But it was not to be, I guess they too were tired. I think I have heard their calls more today than other past trips. But for now the night was silent, the sky was black, not even a cricket stirred.
Photos from the walk along Pompy Trail.
Bunchberries.
July 30, 2024 - Milford, Nova Scotia (Milford House)
Day 3 at Milford House ... Collecting Memories
No loons this morning … at least that we heard. Not up until 7:30 am. It was a quick grab of a coffee and then an outside to sit kind of day.
Norm read a few more pages of both the Honeymoon Journal and the photo album. Our approach to travel has changed since the early days. One thing that stood out was how many picnics we enjoyed … like nearly daily. We seemed to always have lunch, very different than our current habits. We observed more changes. Not much for breakfast in those days. Big splurges occasionally on wine. Significantly more museums visited and a lot more kilometers travelled.
We often questioned how we could have afforded the 5 week honeymoon trip back then. Well, our expectations were low … one or two star hotels were absolutely luxury to us, lots of picnics/sandwiches too. According to our records, the average cost of our hotels in France was 55 francs or $16 Cdn dollars.
Surprisingly, at least for Norm, good food like fish bouillabaisse and paella were treats we budgeted for. We seemed to eat dinner out most nights or have lunch out occasionally in restaurants. Perhaps selections ordered from the more affordable ‘Table de Hote’ menu and perhaps shared somewhat. For me, at that time in France, finding vegetarian options in restaurants was difficult.
We had breakfast in the screened in porch at the lodge this morning. Our young waitress was only 15 years old and this was her first year at MH. She told us she was saving up for both a tattoo and a vehicle … a truck. A truck??? We privately chuckled at the priorities of the young. For me at that age it was always about saving money for hopeful potential travel, swimming classes and future school. For Norm it was (perhaps surprisingly) … sports cards, sports equipment and golf fees.
Well I think they had to grow the blueberries for the pancakes or maybe it was that they had to wait until the hens laid more eggs … but everything moved at a turtle’s pace. Not that there was any big rush. When breakfast arrived we joked it was almost lunch.
After breakfast I walked back to our cottage via Boot Lake Trail. All was green and beautiful, no turtles to be seen basking on rocks.
We were rewarded mid-day by a sail past of Mom, Dad and Baby Loon! I am reminded of the swim for us that hasn’t happened yet. The wind is up again bringing in mid afternoon clouds which cools things off. Lots of hammock time, reading, and day dreaming … the way a cottage day should be. We watched a few canoes go perhaps on a day trip. We have done lots of those day trips too … but right now we are happy just to be. And grateful for the experience ‘Little’ provides … knowing that there may come a time when that hill is just too steep. Nothing here is taken for granted.
Dinner was pizza from Lequille Pizza Shop about 15 minutes down the road. We were able to use Internet while we waited for the pizzas to cook. Two 9” pizzas and I ordered some onion rings for the ride home. And of course after my 10th ring I was full. Happy but full. So only half my pizza got eaten. Our small fridge is still crammed with food and with only one day left.
It’s dusk now and I’m watching with intent hoping to see a bat. Dusk turned to darkness and no bat. By now Norm is fast asleep in the hammock. Luckily the mosquitos are fast asleep too. Should I wake him? Or let him slumber?
Boot Lake Trail. The loon family.
On the left - a touch of gothic … a black starflower leaf.
And below - pizza.
July 31, 2024 - Milford, Nova Scotia (Milford House)
July 31 - Our Last Day
It’s 7:30 am and beyond the time I’m usually up. I head to the bathroom and there in the sink is a very large, thick spider. I think of Linda and her future trips to Africa and Australia. This is the large second spider I will have to wrangle. Only this time it didn’t go as well so reinforcements were required (Norm). Hopefully the two spiders will meet up … outside … and have a lovely life together.
Grabbing my first coffee I see ‘the family’ from a distance. Mom and Dad showing baby how to be a loon. All is quiet, voice lessons must come later. Not long after a hummingbird drops in for a visit. Not an unusual sight here at Little although I don’t see a single thing in nature for the hummingbird to eat. Down at the lodge the flowers attract both many insects and hummingbirds, but here there are no flowers just greenery here.
Breakfast didn’t go as smoothly as usual. Just when the scrambled eggs, bacon and brown bread toast were ready to be served the pot of espresso fell off the burner onto the deck! Luckily Norm was wearing long pants and shoes … yikes! … and still can move out of the way fast!
The wind is up again, but after my hike to the lodge I decided rather than a further walk it was time for a swim. I coaxed Norm to join me. It was wonderful! The water was cold at first, but then with warm with cool currents running randomly throughout . Definitely both of us appreciated the swim.
It’s 5:00 o’clock now and the loons with their haunting cry just announced that it is ‘wine and tapas hour’… at least that’s what I heard, lol!
We decided to scrap the traditional spaghetti dinner and savour it another time at home. Norm whipped up a burger for himself and a piece of my leftover pizza. I had a piece of brown bread and cheese and for dinner …it’s all I wanted.
The rain came last night, and did it ever pour! But by the time it came for us to pack up the rain had stopped. The hill wasn’t too slippery and we were careful. We will book again for next year unless Norm’s knees are worse, then we will readjust.
Coming back from the car after almost the last load, I spotted the Loon Mom and her baby for one last sail past. Closer this time, as if to say … Good bye, see you next year!
