An April Stroll around Quidi Vidi Lake

There seems to be two camps on the pronunciation of Quidi Vidi.  Some say Kitty Vidi, while others say Quada Vada.  However you pronounce, it is a startlingly beautiful place.  Hubby and I took Saturday afternoon to hike around Quidi Vidi Lake, then on out into Quidi Vidi Village----breathtaking is putting it mildly!!!!!!

Just to take a stroll around Quidi Vidi late in the early spring sunshine and feed the birds is amazing.  Yesterday afternoon was exceptional---15 degrees Celsius, light breeze and sunshine----stuff dreams are made of :)

I had made up a batch of date squares in the morning,and took the crumb scraps from cutting them out (along with some bread) to feed the birds at the lake.

The big light blue building with high walls all around it top right of the above photo is Her Majesty's Penitentiary.  It was built in 1859, and is still in use today.  I always feel strange taking a leisurely stroll around the lake while only a few hundred meters away is an actual prison!!

Cheers

:)

After the Sleet Storm

We get a lot of freezing rain in these parts this time of year. It can, and usually do, cause major damage.  There is something almost hypnotizing though, to hear it clicking on the windows.

It is always so pretty afterward--I love to go outside and stroll around our garden after a storm.  The trees and shrubs look like they are covered in crystal.

Cheers

:)

Happy Easter

Winter Walk

I love walking this time of year, but it's usually a very brisk

 "get out and get it over with"

 type of walk. 

Friday afternoon, however, it was sunny, minus 2 degrees Celsius, 

and not a breath of wind.......

glorious day for a long walk in the woods.

I came upon a beautiful big stack of freshly cut firewood.  

When you get up real close, you can actually smell sap from the wood.

Awesome. 

A lot of hard work already done here....

but lots more to do before it is stacked up

in the wood box!!

When I stopped to take a picture, 

all I could hear was a squirrel (or squirrels)chattering loudly in a nearby tree, 

and the drip-drop from the tiny melting icicles, in the late afternoon sun.

Cheers

:)

Brunch at Granite in downtown St. John's

Today, I met up with my niece and her friend Michelle, who is in the city from Goose Bay.  

We went downtown to attend a pottery exhibit and grab some brunch.  Deciding where to 

eat in downtown St. John's is very difficult.  There are so many great options, 

but boy did we hit it lucky today!!!!!

We went to Granite by Portobello's on Duckworth Street.  My niece had read that they 

were now doing brunch/breakfast.  They actually just started doing breakfast yesterday.

Granite has a nice atmosphere -- airy, but quite welcoming.  

The interior is gorgeous, with a whole wall of windows  overlooking St. John's harbor.  

We grabbed three pub chairs at the window bar in the corner.  

When seated, we were actually looking out at the awesome view of St. John's harbor.

(Notice how this view is the same one depicted in the top photo) 

I chose the Traditional Newfoundland breakfast--

consisting of baked beans, bologna, fish cake, egg, fried potatoes and toast.   

The coffee was freshly brewed, hot and plentiful.    

 I couldn't finish my plate, but really enjoyed trying....Yumm!! 

The other two choices in our group were the Stuffed Touton, which was

 a huge pan-fried touton, stuffed with scrambled egg, sausage, bacon and cheese, 

with a generous dollop of hollandaise sauce over top.....

...and Steak and Eggs.....

The food was delicious and the prices were awesome. 
Our server showed us the main menu, and we are definitely going back for a nice supper......soon!!

Cheers

:)