My Girl ♥

my girl and me
mother’s day weekend 2013

♥

Today, June 14th,

is my girl’s birthday.

Since the first moment I held her

and gazed into her eyes

when I was just eighteen,

she’s been as constant in my life as the stars.

I wonder if she realizes

how much she has enriched my life,

how proud I am of her and

how happy I am to be her mom, because

she is more than a daughter to me.

She is my friend.

♥

  Happy Birthday,

 **  Denise  **

♥

“A daughter is one of the most beautiful gifts this world has to give.” ~ Laurel Atherton

Wildlife of Newfoundland & Labrador

Today I’m taking a look at some of my province’s wildlife.

Let’s begin with the largest of all mammals: the whale. In Newfoundland, boat tours offer whale-watching trips, a big attraction for tourists.

Humpback Whale
google.ca

Whale breaching the water

Whale lobtailing – slapping water surface with its tail

Twenty-two species of whales can be found along the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, the humpback and the minke being the most common. Five thousand humpback come to our northern waters during the summer.

*

Many birds migrate to Newfoundland and Labrador for the summer months.

wikipedia.com

Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, one of six seabird ecology reserves protected by the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Park System, is one of the largest, most accessible and spectacular seabird rookeries in the world.

google.com

This reserve at St. Mary’s is also known as the Bird Sanctuary.

Northern Gannets
photocredit: wayne loveys

Many gannets come to feed on small fish called lance right here off Perry’s Point, around this time every year. It’s fun to watch them dive!

national geographic

*

Seagulls
photocredit: Janette Lambert

Of course we see these fellows all year round. This time of year is the best though, because they are usually seen in pairs with their mates.

*

Snowy Owl – male

Snowy Owl – female
wikipedia

Puffins
photocredit: Eric Abbott

So Cute!
photocredit: Eric Abbott

Bald Eagle
photocredit: Glenda Williams

Bluejay
photocredit: Scott Young

Canada Goose and young
photocredit: Garfield Coish

photocredit: Garfield Coish

*

The ptarmigan, or partridge is a popular game bird in this province.

Willow Ptarmigan
photocredit: Peter Troke

Rock Ptarmigan shedding winter feathers

Otter
google.com

Pine Marten
google.com

Wolves
google.com

Lynx
photocredit: DarrelJMiles

Red Fox
photocredit: Neil Simmons

Fox with arctic cod in Labrador
photocredit: Dean Martin

Black Bear
photocredit: StevenDavidGunning

Polar Bear Cubs paying one of our communities a visit
photocredit: Colleen
Saunders

Adult Polar Bear

Polar bears sometimes visit us when they are hunting seals on the moving ice floes. They can be unpredictable and dangerous.

*

Labrador Caribou
nlsceneryandwildlife@facebook

Moose – largest member of the Deer family
mmoss.ca

Well, hello there!
photocredit: Jo Jesso

Snowshoe Hare – in winter he turns white for camouflage
nlscenery@facebook

Baby Harp Seal, aka whitecoat
(my photo)

adult Harp Seal
(my photo)

We see many seals on ice pans in our little town during early spring.

*

Coyote – a relative newcomer to our province
nlsceneryandwildlife@facebook

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I realize this post is showcasing wild animals of Newfoundland and Labrador, but before I go let me show you some tame species that originated here.

Newfoundland Pony
photocredit: James Costello

Newfoundland Pony
photocredit: Eric Abbott

Newfoundland Dog

Labrador Retrievers

*

As it is in many parts of the world and due to several factors, some of our animal population numbers have dwindled to the point of concern and now need protection. They include two I’ve mentioned above: the Caribou and the Newfoundland Pony.

Arctic Tern
flickr.com

They also include certain seabirds. The Arctic Tern is well-known for its long distance migrations. It migrates farther than any animal in the world, from the Arctic to wintering grounds off of Antarctica and back, a journey of about 40,000 km. Newfoundland is one of its breeding grounds.

Populations are difficult to determine, but it is known that southernmost populations are declining and are listed as “of special concern.”

 

This concludes my two-part series on Newfoundland and Labrador, and what nature here has to offer. I hope you found these images both informative and entertaining.  

Are there any species of note that are indigenous to your part of the world?

Related articles

• My Picturesque Province (jenniferkellandperry.wordpress.com)
• A Postcard from Newfoundland & Labrador (eatlikeagirl.com)
• Goat rides a horse in Newfoundland (sunnewsnetwork.ca)

My Picturesque Province

Here in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, there is a long-running TV show called Land and Sea. On the air since 1964, this program is produced locally and showcases our fair province in documentary format.

Being as proud as I am of my province, I am sharing below some photos from the Land and Sea Facebook page, as well as a couple from the net. I realize most of the images I usually share on my blog are my own, but for this post I thought you might enjoy these breath-taking pictures sent in by local photographers.

Here are captures of scenery I particularly liked. First, a few taken in and near St. John’s, our capital city:

Fort Amherst – credit: Sandra Muir

Cape Spear, Easternmost point in North America – photo credit: Heather Drake

Cape Spear – credit: Linda Coates

The Battery – credit: Sarah Dyke

St. John’s Harbour

Cabot Tower on Signal Hill – Parks Canada

Here are some great shots sent in from other areas around the island portion of the province:

Gros Morne – credit: Joe Jesso

Top of Gros Morne Mountain – credit: Jessica Gillard

Top of Tablelands – credit: Jessica Gillard

Rocky Harbour – credit: Irene Howell

Rocky Harbour – credit: Joe Jesso

Cape Bonavista – credit: Bernice Goudie

Trinity – credit: Loretta Lander

Francois – credit: Matthew Greene

Petit Forte, Placentia Bay – credit: Edwina Williams

Greenspond – credit: Yvonne Burke

Dunfield – credit: Bernice Goudie

Mainland, west coast – credit: Conway LeCointre

Shoe Cove – credit: Stephen Clarke

Summerford – credit: Ruby Small

Tilting, Fogo Island – credit: Paddy Barry

Finally, photo selections from the Labrador portion of the province:

Northern Lights, Albert Lake near Labrador City – credit: Larry Jenkins

Near St. Lewis, Labrador – sent by Calvin Poole

Port Hope Simpson, Labrador – credit: Jon Oliver

 

I hope you enjoyed this peek into the natural beauty of the corner of the world I call home. Due to its unspoiled and authentically rugged nature, it has become a major tourist destination in recent years. I hope you too can visit someday.

 

 

Coming Soon: Wildlife of Newfoundland and Labrador

Related articles

• Take a trip to Newfoundland (dadsjustknow.wordpress.com)
• Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada – Have you been? (sunsequitur.wordpress.com)

It Has Its Perks

Okay, the kids are in bed fast asleep!

This is going to be a quick post this evening, as I’ve been pretty busy and don’t expect to be up many more hours myself. I am now on Nanny duty for a week, staying at my daughter’s house while she and my son-in-law are away enjoying a vacation.

donating her hair

No big deal, you are probably thinking. But hang on a second, besides being responsible for a seven year-old girl and a five year-old boy, there is Ginger the cat and Nico the golden doodle dog. In addition, Poppy won’t be showing up to help out until Saturday.

dog eating the cat food again

Ginger is a breeze, and adorable with her new “lion cut”, but Nico is another story. Daily walks, poop-scooping, and simply managing an unbelievably lively and big one year-old pup may be the most challenging part of the deal.

Ah, but it is only for a short time. And it certainly has its rewards. Our girl has always been our angel, being the first grandchild and all. And then there’s our little man. After I read him a bedtime story and tucked him in for the night, I said, “I love you.” Sleepily, he said, “I love you too, Nanny.”

the tooth fairy has been busy

Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.

first birthday

Missing You

On a May morning in the 90′s, while my world was going through a significant transition, I wrote this poem in my journal. It was at a time when I was enduring what would be a long and painful separation from a loved one. I am grateful every day that we were eventually reunited.

***

Fat raindrops on the window glass
of this dreary rented room
are a welcome relief.
They offer cold commiseration
to the tears on my face.
The overcast gloom
of grey clouds
is a dome of hammered tin.
It fits well with the gloom
of my thoughts.
A shroud of fog
mercifully blankets my world,
insulating and protecting me,
numbing the reality I cannot face.
This ache is easier to bear
when it is raining,
easier to take than a pitiless sun smiling down,
illuminating the reasons why
you walked away.

- May 10, 1995

photo credit: laughingsquid.com

The Whole World Smiles With You :)

I’m sharing a few smiles I’ve collected from around the world in today’s post. While you listen to the great Louis Armstrong, it is my hope these photos will put a smile on your face too.

Cuba:

Smiles served with Breakfast

Our Favourite Waitress

Lunchtime Serenaders

Smiling faces at Dinner

Jamaica:

How’s this for Service with a Smile?

Sweet!

New Friends from Montreal

Our Concierge

Italy:

Sisters we met in Stresa

Our Favourite Bartender in Rome

 

Friends in Florida:

Relatives in Ottawa:

Dominican Republic:

All-inclusive – even the Smiles

Friendly Lady

“I’ll be your waiter this evening”

Charming

My Personal Favourite  :)

What could be more universal, in any language, in any country, than a freely-given smile? When you see a smiling face, does it make you happy too?

Related articles

• Reasons To Smile (beingreal365.wordpress.com)

A Mother’s Reflections – Part Two

When I was a very young mom back in the Eighties, I often drew writing inspiration from my two children. To honour Mother’s Day, I am publishing a couple of short pieces from my 1980′s archives. In this second post, I offer this observation on my son.

My Son

Oh, the exuberance of youth! Anyone who observes my four-year-old boy would probably echo that sentiment.

Each morning he rises early, eager to greet the new day, full of curiosity and mischief even in the routine. His giggling laughter while he plays with his father rings through the house, as I prepare his breakfast. His never-ending questions – which must be answered – abound as he plays with his cereal and wriggles on his chair. And throughout his busy day, his sense of humour shines through, laughing at me even as I scold him.

Sometimes, when disciplinary measures are taken, there is a challenging, defiant gleam in his eye, and I wonder if I will ever be able to control this curly-haired little bundle of energy.

But then I stop myself and question my motives. Do I really want to control him? I would much rather guide him as he learns everything he needs to know, not hold him back. I want him to be inquisitive and bright, and never feel pressured to curb his natural desire to reach out and experience life and all it has to offer him.

After all, isn’t that what growing up is all about?    ♥

 

My babies are all grown up!

 

Is it just me, or does anyone else out there feel like it’s been a gazillion years since your kids were little?

 

Part One: Picture a Little Girl

A Mother’s Reflections – Part One

When I was a very young mom back in the Eighties, I often drew writing inspiration from my two children. To honour Mother’s Day, I am publishing a couple of short pieces from my 1980′s archives. For today, here is a poem.

Picture a Little Girl

Picture a little girl with eyes of warm innocent blue.

Picture the morning sun kissing her braids as they swing and dance in the breeze.

Think of a youngster who adores her new puppy, and yet chastises him severely when he chases her “poor little cat”.

Imagine a child with a song in her voice and a laugh always ready,

Yet almost as easily a tear is born because her heart is so soft.

Think of a little girl who loves reading fairy tales, chewing bubblegum, and giving big wet kisses,

And yet can be quiet, intense, and deeply absorbed in a thought.

Imagine a little girl graced with all of these qualities.

Wouldn’t you love it, if you had a daughter like that?

I’m glad I do.

♥

Tomorrow: My Son

A Few Words to my WordPress Family

When I got the idea to start this little blog sixteen months ago, I didn’t fully appreciate what lay in store. For those who haven’t been following my blog since the beginning, my purpose for blogging was to give me incentive to create, and to develop the stick-to-itiveness I would need to tackle the project of writing a novel.

By sharing something regularly, I anticipated Jennifer’s Journal getting some initial feedback from my family and friends, and indeed, that was how it progressed for the first few posts.

But as time went on, I gained other followers. I was thrilled! As many of you did before me, I was claiming a tiny corner in the blogosphere with my words and pictures, and you gave me the inspiration to post every week. Bit by bit, you helped my confidence grow.

image credit: hindustantimes.com

What I hadn’t counted on, though, was how a number of my new followers have turned into friends. My WordPress family feels very much like a family, in the way we support one another and appreciate what we as individuals are trying to contribute as we blog. Some connections have even gone beyond our blogs. But whatever the connection, I love this community and value your support. Big Hugs to all of you.

image credit: liveruralnl.com

This brings me to the subject of blog awards. I am always honoured and pleased when someone nominates me for one of these tokens of recognition, and I happily accept it in the spirit in which it is given. However, to blog about them individually can be very time-consuming and repetitious, not only for me but for my readers as well. That is why I am taking the liberty of changing the rules and doing what some others have done: combining accumulated awards in one blog post, dispensing with questions and answers, and giving a shout-out to some of my most recent new followers.

So here goes!

New (to me) Awards:  

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

nominated by:
-   Solothefirst @ solothefirst
-   exbullet @ my secret diary

WordPress Family Award

nominated by:
-  Kelly @ free little words

 Awards I’ve Received a Second Time:

Versatile Blogger Award

nominated by:
-  Olivia Stocum @ theclaymoreandsurcoat.com

Liebster Award                                    

-  Shaun @ praying for one day

Thank you, everyone! Readers, I urge you to check out these wonderful blogs.

Here are some of my most recent blogger/followers. Thank you, and welcome aboard. In appreciation, I share the WordPress Family Award with each of you. Respond to it, or not, as you wish. Once again, Readers, I suggest you sample these interesting blogs for yourself.

 Kristen Mazzola

Rantings of an Amateur Chef

 The F Stoop

 Cristian Mihai

 Seven Hundred 50

My Nascence

 Digital Hegemon

Poetic Licensee

 Flux and Flow

Andrew Toynbee’s Very Own Blog

Related Link:
 In the Beginning: Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Kids Do Say the Darndest Things

First Day of School

This morning I read a funny post by 40 is the new 13, a fellow blogger, on how children make crazy assumptions based on their own brand of logic, such as dogs are boys and cats are girls.

It sparked a memory for me. It wasn’t of an assumption one of my kids made, but a memory of what my son said one day when he was in grade two. I think it would be considered a malapropism.

Above is a pic I took of my boy back in the day, waiting for the school bus on his first day of kindergarten. When he got to second grade, his teacher, Mrs. Snow, was a kind and lovely young woman, and all the children adored her.

One day, when my little boy was nearing the end of that school year, he got off the bus and came home with an interesting piece of news. My friend and I were chatting over coffee when he entered the kitchen. He dropped his book bag and announced,

“Guess what? Mrs. Snow isn’t going to be a grade two teacher anymore.”

“No?” I asked, curious. “Is she giving up teaching already?” It seemed odd because she was nowhere near the age of retirement. “Oh, she’s going to teach a different grade, is she?”

“No,” he said. “She’s going to be a prostitute teacher.”

I nearly choked on my coffee, while my friend tried in vain to suppress her laughter.

Now the first thing I did was gently correct him. “You must mean substitute teacher, honey.”

The next thing I thought was, where did he hear that word? It wasn’t a word that was bandied about in our household. It wasn’t like he was living in a bordello, or that we let him watch a steady stream of  TV shows like Hill Street Blues or Spencer for Hire. And I sure as heck couldn’t imagine it as a topic of conversation among him and the other kids around his age. How did this word get into his vocabulary?

To this day, the answer remains a mystery.

Another one I liked was when my niece asked for a “girl-cheese” sandwich. Even when her mother corrected her, she continued to say it.

“It’s my cheese sandwich. And I’m a girl, right?”

Did you have any “verbal typos” to share from your childhood, or from one of your own kids?

(Of course, you don’t need to be a kid to say the darndest thing. The other day I called a take-out restaurant and asked if they had any “pressure-treated” chicken. I’m still shaking my head over that one. )

More fun reading:
Dogs are boys, Cats are girls