Eagle Banding at Merasheen Island

I've just started the monumental task of organizing and cataloging all of the photos that hubby has taken over the years in his work.  He is about to retire and I really want to organize all of the fabulous pictures that he has taken.  As you'll see, it's a job worth doing....I think so anyway.

The first group of pictures I'll share are from an eagle banding trip to Merasheen Island in July of 2006.  Merasheen Island is located in Placentia Bay, on the southeast coast of Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada.  On this trip, my husband and his cohorts actually went up on cliffs at the edge of the ocean and climbed out into eagle nests, to put a tracking band on one of the the legs of the baby eagles (known as eaglets).  Surprisingly, the mother eagle is very non-aggressive and didn't bother them at all while they completed this work.  To see where Merasheen Island is located on the island of Newfoundland, click here.  To actually learn a little about Merasheen Island, click here.

For this particular expedition, the group stayed in a wildlife camp on Merasheen Island.  The provincial government actually have many of these patrol/research camps all over the island.  This is a shot of the spectacular sunrise right form the wharf......

I wouldn't mind getting before daylight if I could look at this view.....

Merasheen was resettled many years ago, but many people come back each summer to fish and some have beautiful homes and cottages on the island.  There are lots of old stages and sheds all along the coastline, that are still used by the people who come each summer, like this.......

Here's a shot of mama eagle coming back to the nest...

This little guys just got banded, as you can see......

Notice the band on the left leg.

In the afternoon, after the days' work is complete, it sight-seeing time.  Here is an old abandoned stage near the water's edge........

Here, the boys pulled up and visited with some people who come back here to live each summer, to trap lobsters.......

  

This friendly little guy was really happy to see visitors.........

This is the view from the wharf at camp that they stayed in.......what a place to sit and relax after a day's work........wait for sunset, then crawl into a warm cozy sleeping bag.....

Cheers

:)

Caribou at "MileTen" on Mint Brook Resource Road, near North Pond.

Every year a small herd of caribou grazes in the area of Burnt Pond.  We had been planning a trek up over 'da road to see them for the last couple of months, but the timing just never seemed right.  On Sunday morning, it was very gray and snowing and didn't look like it was going to happen, but the snow stopped and it brightened up a little, so we decided to give it a shot.  With the milder weather, the road is really muddy in places, so we went in Dave Stead's old truck.  Dave & Sharon picked us up and we stopped in for the other Dave (& Linda) and we were off!!

We took photos from the road, and it was still pretty gray up there, but you could easily see the animals......

One of these was still pretty lazy and didn't even bother to get up for a photo......

It is likely that there were many more down over the bank, that we couldn't see...

Awesome afternoon.  we usually do this much earlier in the winter on snowmobile.  I am so happy we went up though---it was well worth it!

Of course, as always with us, we just can't get together without having a little lunch.  Dave G had some crab legs cooked up, so with a little persuasion we went in to their place.....he didn't have to twist our arms too hard!!!

Cheers

:)

"Peanut Butter Cup' Cake

I was visiting Brown-Eyed Baker, one of my favorite blogs, last week and came across this recipe.  I fell in love the moment I saw the first picture and knew I had to try it !!!!  Click here for recipe.

It was surprisingly easy..................

 After I baked the chocolate cake, I whipped up the peanut butter frosting....

......sliced the cooled cake into three layers..........

.............then started to slowly put it together.........

When I had the three layers assembled and frosted, I  made the chocolate ganache.........yummmmmm........

......the smells are what satisfies me the most while I bake.........

........divine............................

This cake was the most "fun" thing I've baked in a long time--and I loved the look of it too........

......What do you think????

Cheers!!!!

:)

Creamy Pesto Chicken

I finally used pesto for the for the very first time!!!!!!!  Wow, I certainly didn't realize what I was missing...this stuff is awesome..  I used it in a Creamy Philly Pesto Chicken recipe that I found on the Kraft-What's Cooking website.  Click here for the recipe.

This recipe was so easy.  The chicken breast were quite large so I split then lengthwise to ensure even thorough cooking.  I then heated a little oil in a large skillet and fried the chicken  for about 6-8 minutes on each side, until golden........

After all the chicken was cooked, I placed it in a casserole dish and set aside  I doubled the recipe for the sauce because there were eight nice big pieces of chicken and the recipe was for only four pieces.

I poured the chicken broth into the pan used to fry the chicken and brought it to a slow simmer---cut the cream cheese into small pieces--then added cheese & pesto to the simmering broth, stirring until smooth and creamy.......  

Pour the sauce over the chicken in casserole and bake for 20-30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

I served the chicken with oven roasted potato chunks and a side of steamed broccoli & matchstick carrots...

A simple, but delicious meal. 

Stay tuned for more pesto ideas!!

Cheers

:)

Mallard Cottage in Quidi Vidi

Well, I had a great treat last Wednesday evening.....my niece, Tonya, and I went out to eat at Mallard Cottage in Quidi Vidi Village.

Quidi Vidi is a small neighborhood in St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador.  When you drive down to old St. John's and go to Quidi Vidi, it is like stepping back into another time.  It seems almost untouched by today's world.  It is magical and beautiful, and I so envy anyone who lives there!!

We arrived without a reservation, but because it was quite early in the evening we were lucky enough to get seated at the fabulous rustic bar to eat.  I don't know if I would ever want to sit anywhere else!  We had a front row seat of the entire kitchen and the staff buzzing around as busy as bees.

As soon as we were settled , the bar attendant, Maggie, poured us icy water that is treated by a reverse-osmosis process right on site, and chatted with us as if we were old friends.  Once we decided on our menu choice, we took the opportunity to "size up" our surroundings.  The place is nothing short of phenomenal!  The cottage could be used as a set for a medieval storyline movie.  I could just imagine Robin Hood and his merry men sitting in an alcove, enjoying the rich hearty food listed on the menu....like Lamb Pot Pie, Newfoundland Cod or Seared Rabbit Loin with a local Vegetable Hash.

Only moments after we ordered, our drinks arrived, and then a special surprise...an amuse-bouche.  It was a delightful appetizer of crab and shrimp combination with a light yogurt sauce, compliments of our chef, Jake!! 

The atmosphere at Mallard Cottage feels like coming home.  All the staff were very accommodating and friendly-they all smile at you and make you feel like they are truly happy to see you. 

Jake was the chef who prepared our mouth-watering feast of fresh Pappardelle, smoked pork hock & bacon, in hock and bacon cream. 

 .......Need I say another word, it was outstanding.  The flavors were distinct, yet very subtle and the creamy sauce was light and delicious.  Jake was absolutely charming and he actually took the time to come over and chat with us.  He asked if we were enjoying our meals and he even discussed the method of preparation---what a breath of fresh air he was!!!

After we enjoyed our meal, we sipped great coffee and soaked up the atmosphere some more.  Every table was full, and the whole place was bustling with relaxed excitement.  We were too full to order dessert, so we didn't even look at the dessert menu.  Even though we were seated at the bar, we were not rushed at all.  We asked for the bill and it came to us in the most charming way.........

......the bill was actually attached to a piece of wood with a nail.  There was a sample of the Petite Forte Fig Bars, baked by the in-house baker that very day.  The fig bars were delicious, and it was just the right amount of a "little something sweet" to enjoy with the last drops of our coffee. A quaint, but delicious end to a fabulous meal. 

Here is a shot of the scene that awaits you as you leave the cottage......breathtaking indeed.

We enjoyed our meal and the service so much.  We will be going back,with a crowd.....and a reservation!!!

Cheers

:)