Amy_BSLCC

To Delight of Snowmobilers, Snowshoers & Skiers Winter has Arrived!

2012-01-21T05:13:00.001-08:00

Weather, it's a funny thing.

If you listen to my parents and their parents you'll hear stories of them walking to school fearing electrocution from the power lines that were even with the snow drifts that they were using as sidewalks!

I am like most a little obsessed with the weather, checking updates, radar images, downloading the latest app, and of course the checking the webcams.(Try them people say Facebook is addictive it's nothing like getting hooked on the local weather cam lol).

But being obsessed and actually knowing what all these different weather trends mean is a different matter.

What I can say is this: I live on the Northern most tip of Cape Breton Island and in my lifetime have seen drastic changes in weather related events. For instance only two years ago we did not see a piece of drift ice in the Gulf of St Lawrence, a phenomena the Dept of Fisheries said they had not seen in the last 100 years.

Spring and rain seem to go right into a very short summer now that includes a 2 week blast of heat everyone complains about(because people quickly forget for some reason that it had just rained for 2 months straight!), yet on the bright side for those who enjoy fall it seems that this is the season in our area that has faired off the best.

We have beautiful mild falls that last well past the official date of winters arrival in December.

Which leads me to winter, this year our winter doesn't seem to want to come, to the joy of some and the sorrow of others.But finally to the delight of the snowmobilers, snowshoers and skiers some snow arrived last night.

Only yesterday friends went for a walk up a local trail leading to the top of a mountain and there was no snow to be found in the woods.

But like I said that changed last night so I hope everyone who is snowmobiling across Money Point Mountain or cross country skiing in Cape North this weekend enjoy it because the long range forecast shows some rain coming.

2011 John Cabot Celebrations begin tomorrow.

2011-06-24T09:34:00.000-07:00

2011 John Cabot Celebrations begin tomorrow.

So another year has passed so quickly and festival season has kicked off again here in Northern Cape Breton.

We have already seen several small events happen the past few weeks but this weekend sees the start of the larger events.

This weekend my family will be attending all the festivities of the John Cabot weekend including lobster dinner, square dance, highland games fun days and more.

And in just a couple of short weeks a Strawberry Festival and the flagship festival for our area the 20th Annual Crab Dinner and Fishing Derby.

For more information about what is happening in Northern Cape Breton check out www.northerncapebreton.com

Enjoying Life!

Amy

2011-01-15T18:35:00.000-08:00

So we finally received a little of the snow that the rest of the Province and Canada has been getting for weeks now.

Everyone is pretty excited, I seen people who were snow shoeing today, snowmobiling, and cross country skiers heading to North Highlands Nortic. Winter has arrived!

I also had the privilege of viewing some pictures a neighbour took that I have attached. So thanks Alan Bonnar the pics are breathtaking.

They show some of Alan's horses up in the Highlands between Meatcove and

Cape St Lawrence in an area locals call the Blueberry Field!

I truly feel these are the nicest pictures I have seen in like forever!

Jan 2011

2011-01-04T15:41:00.000-08:00

I have to say I am pretty lucky today to say I live in Bay St Lawrence (no it's not because we are one of the few areas with no snow in the province) but because what I get to wake up to almost every morning of my life.

There are days when living hours from town can be a headache but trust me it is considerably less then the number of headaches of living in town cause!

The young and the old meet together often whether that be at a community dinner, church service or family gathering. Large family gatherings have not disappeared in this part of the world and it is something that is priceless.

The fall went by quickly and already our local tourism group is gearing up for the summer of 2011, wow time does fly when you hit a certain age doesn't it!

Just up the road Meatcove continues to rebuild and is looking good.

Other good news on either side of our top of the island region we had major road construction that held up traffic a little too long (this is an opinion of this blogger who seemed to have sat for ever before the follow me truck arrived!) but it is all done now and well the wait(s) were worth it we have great roads leading into our area.

Winter is upon us and we turn to activities we all enjoy in this area cross country skiing, sledding snowshoeing and well more sledding to name a few what we all hope for now is to get some winter before it's spring!

Oh before I forget!

Happy New Year!

2010-10-30T05:48:00.001-07:00

The day before Halloween finds me here in Bay St Lawrence still admiring the bright beautiful fall colours of the leaves on the mountains surrounding the village.

Because the leaves were late to change it just means we have them around a little longer for us to enjoy.

And nobody is complaining about that.

We have a busy month ahead of us here in Bay St Lawrence/St Margarets Village, on November 13th at the Centre in the Bay we have a evening with musical guests Evans and Doherty. We had the pleasure a few years ago to have Kevin and Brian perform for us and we are looking forward to their return, also the annual big St Margaret's of Scotland CWL Christmas Bazaar is happening Nov 28 at noon

And also a shout out to Bay St Lawrence alumni Ryan MacDonald who participated in Wipeout Canada! We can't wait to see how he done! We are all keeping our fingers crossed he conqured the Big Balls!! lol

The Bay Cafe has closed for another year and we thank everyone for their continued support and look forward to welcoming Paula, Sheldon and Joanne back in the Spring!

Amy :)

Fall in Bay St Lawrence

2010-10-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

Summer passed in a jiffy and with all the activities work and home related I did not manage to keep the blog current.

But I have shaken off the sand from the beach and have hit the blog running!

Fall has settled in nicely. The leaves are a little behind in changing their colours but it is truly beginning to look spectacular on the mountain ranges that surround the village.

We are all working tirelessly getting ready for Celtic Colours. At the Community Centre we are having a lobster dinner with all the trimmings, nearby at the North Highlands Museum and Cultural Centre they are hosting paint out sessions and the big concert is right in the middle at North Highlands Elementary in their auditorium.

We had several well attended fundraisers and pubs over the summer and here is my chance to thank everyone involved volunteers, musicians and of course the staff at the community centre and cafe.

Here's hoping just like the rest of us you take time in the next week to enjoy some of the over 200 cultural experiences associated with Celtic Colours and don't forget to extend the drive to Bay St Lawrence just off the Cabot Trail :)

Amy

2010-07-08T17:21:00.000-07:00

So, as I sit on my patio over looking the Gulf of St. Lawrence at the top of Cape Breton Island enjoying a warm ocean breeze I am trying to figure out how to tell a story about my families adventures in fresh strawberry picking and readers actually believing it, frankly if I were not there perhaps I wouldn't.

This time of the year my husband, son and I go to an area of our village we call the cove (self explanatory name I hope!), and well we eat no pick wild strawberries lol

Yesterday was the day we decided would be the big search (wild strawberries are small and like to hide in tall grass very hard to find at times) and we parked and walked into a large field.

Large fields nothing out of the ordinary for the most part throughout the world right? But what makes this story unbelievable is minutes after we arrive we have deer running by in front of us, then bunnies, and to top it off a seal sun bathing on a rock.

I think to myself nobody is going to believe me and I am happy my family is there to back me up because I have told this story today at least 100 times.

And yes there are days I question moving to rural Cape Breton at least the shopper in me and all it takes is an experience like yesterdays and it puts things in perspective and it makes it all worth while.

Just random moments in time I as a human forget why Cape Breton Island is the most beautiful place in the world and then a simple but beautiful creature a deer prances by you with a little your in my field attitude and you think WOW! Now I remember why...

On another note we have a busy week ahead of us Down North the Bay Cafe is getting a new paint job and looks awesome, St Margaret's CWL is hosting their annual Strawberry Brunch on the 11th, and the big one the 19th Annual Crab Dinner and Fishing Derby is happening on the 18th.

PS thanks to the OSHAN Whale Watch for the pic of the seal and hopefully you'll get to our events over the next couple of weekends here in the village.

Amy out!

2010-07-05T10:27:00.000-07:00

Well one should never promise they are going to update bi-weekly and not!! LOLOL But better late then never.

The past few weeks have been busy with events throughout the region and in particular Bay St Lawrence and Sugar Loaf.

Mother Nature cooperated and we had great days for both John Cabot Landing Festivities and Canada Day Celebrations.

The weather what can one say besides drive 5 kms on Cape Breton and the weather changes the thing is ours has of late has been great. And not only during the day but our evening sunsets have been breath taking.

The North Highlands Museum and Cultural is also open full time and offering an amazing line up of guest speakers to enjoy throughout the summer.

Crab season is going to begin shortly which means fun for everyone at the Crab Festival. One of the highlights of all our events Down North in the summer.

The Jumping Mouse Camp Ground just launched their new website and we are all very proud of it. Definitely worth checking out.

2010-06-20T04:00:00.000-07:00

It has been a great weekend here both activity wise and weather wise.

The 5th Annual Yard Sale happened in Bay St Lawrence and we seen visitors from here in our Village and all over the world.

The area seen its first Farmers Market and the feed back so far is it was a great success.

Today there is a Lobster Dinner in Smelt Brook just a hop skip and jump away from Bay St Lawrence so what a great opportunity to take Dad out for a super delicious meal.

And next weekend is a big one John Cabot Day Landing Celebrations: a lobster dinner, family square set with Dwayne Cote and Mario, Highland Games, local entertainment BBQ, children activities and of course John Cabot landing himself on the shores of Sugar Loaf Beach.

Do enjoy and don't forget to stop by the Community Centre in Bay St Lawrence have the best chowder and relax.

2010-06-06T02:00:00.000-07:00

Well what a busy week here in Bay St Lawrence to get my little post started one must thank a gentleman named Fred Stillman @ www.kattuk.ca. Here is his story.

Fred comes to our area throughout the year touring visitors on bikes. He always stops by the Centre and eats in the cafe and well just like all visitors we treat him really good.

So Fred decides to go back to the city start a facebook group Bike for the Bay and return yesterday and give 25 kids bikes and fix all their broken ones at no cost.

Pretty amazing guy for sure. And a million thanks.

Other things happening: today the St Margaret's of Scotland Ladies CWL host their yummy annual Lobster Dinner from noon until 2pm.

The Cafe at the Centre is days away from opening up and are excited about all the old staff returning and the new staff coming!!

Remember to follow us on twitter amy_bslcc and facebook bay st lawrence community centre

Until next time Amy out.......

2010-05-19T09:55:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe it has been 2 weeks since I last posted I am trying to promise myself I will post at least once per week regardless of the readership which right now appears only to be me lolol.

Oh well for anyone who knows me knows I love to hear myself talk so I am ok with it just like a great inventor I will someday be on the discovery list. lol

So it is absolutely gorgeous here in Bay St Lawrence, Lobster season has started, crab season continues and the other fishing boats are out catching sole.

The birds this morning were all on amphetamines I am sure of it. They were chirppin crazy (pardon the pun!) but it was awesome to hear I had a hard time dragging myself to work and not just staying home and enjoying their obvious wooing of each other. lolol

Looking forward to the lobster dinner and the blessing of the boats this Saturday here in Bay St Lawrence.

2010-05-05T16:41:00.000-07:00

The Centre is getting all spruced up for another summer, we are looking forward to the Cafe opening in the evenings as well.

There are a number of tourist in our area the season is pushing earlier into the spring all the time.

The Bay St Lawrence Annual Lobster Dinner is just around the corner. check it out http://ow.ly/1HwlJ

2010-04-24T19:00:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy week in Bay St Lawrence Halibut fishing started as well as crab fishing continued.

The picture shows a 200lb halibut caught by local fishermen compared to a 2lb halibut. Taken April 23, 2010. Incredible fishing.

The weather was beautiful and the whales are back.

The Bay Cafe was excited to have Paula back to volunteer for the day Friday, no one can beat her corn chowder.

Now it Nelda's turn to pop in one of these Fridays and make an amazing pot of fresh seafood chowder.

The first of many of the festival and events are going to happen here at the Top of the Island May 23rd is the Bay St Lawrence Fire Dept. Annual Lobster Dinner the link is http://www.baystlawrence.ca/festivals/bsllobster/index.html

Looking forward to a great week ahead and a busy spring.

Dockside Bay St Lawrence

2010-04-16T03:00:00.000-07:00

We are all excited today (those of us who love fresh snow crab)

Today is the first day of the off shore crab fishery that the traps get hauled by the fishermen since they set them

It's a chance to go dockside and get fresh off the boat snow crab.

We are so very lucky.

Yummmmm!

A beautiful evening in Bay St Lawrence

2010-04-12T14:49:00.000-07:00

Well it's just gorgeous weather in Northern Cape Breton.

Another fishing season starts later this evening when the off shore snow crab fishing begins.

The seasonal businesses are getting ready to open and the wharf is buzzing with activity.

The world gets smaller as our venture into Social Media Grows

2010-04-10T15:28:00.000-07:00

Well this is my first stab at blogging we are Twitter and Facebook users keeping friends from near and far up to date on what's happening for families, youth and visitors around the Bay St Lawrence Community, at our Community Centre and around our larger community at the Northern tip of Cape Breton Island.

But we are growing and to do this we have decided to add blogging to our repertoire.

Locally spring has sprung lots of green grass boats are going in the water for a new fishing season and everyone is excited for the summer ahead.

Amy out!