Shop Log: Rest In Peace

Shop's Log.  Halifax NS.  May 18th, Saturday, 16:17.  Weather: Overcast, 7℃.

A regular customer came by the shop today.  I hadn't seen her in quite a while so I was happy to see her.  I also knew that her husband had been in the hospital but was "recovering"...the last time we heard.  So I asked how he was doing.

"Oh, he passed away. Funeral's next week." she said, a bit too casually...and I knew she was putting on her brave face.  I was dumbstruck and I heard myself utter automatic words of regret.  I really wanted to know what had happened and how she was coping...but I knew it was not my place.  And I honoured her courage at this difficult time by not dwelling on it.  But my throat was constricting.

Her husband was a very dear and sweet man.  He was 90+ years old.  He would walk up and down the street for his exercise.  He would drop by the shop to buy a little something for his wife in a very conspiratorial way.  He loved to surprise her.  He loved her dearly.  He would always ask me, "If she doesn't like it, can I return it?"  ...and I always said, "Sure!"  But not one item was ever returned.  I will miss him.

I light a stick of incense and offer a silent prayer.  May you rest in peace.

Downtown Halifax Tree

Took this photo around end of April when I went downtown to pay my pound of flesh to the Canada Revenue Agency...just kidding. he! he!  I found it languishing in my phone so I thought I'd show it the light of day.  That tree must be a bit leafier by now...

Shop Log: Thank You, Mr. Passerby

Shop's Log.  Halifax NS.  May 11th, Saturday, 19:45.  Weather: Clear, 12℃.

I had been debating whether to write about this trivial occurrence...but recent events favouring the Dark Side made me think that every little bit of sparkle would help tip the balance back.  A law office that's a few blocks from our shop was broken into the same night as this journal entry.  Some weeks ago, the Petro-Canada station around the corner got robbed by a 16-year old!  ....and a couple of shoplifters recently came to regale us with their presence too. So you see, there's enough incidents going around to slowly make one lose faith in people...IF we let them!

So, here is my story.  I was closing shop.  I went outside to bring in our sandwich board.  My lower back was bothering me again so I must have been moving a bit awkwardly.  A young man was passing by...our eyes met for half a second...and he was gone, or so I thought.  As I struggled with the sandwich board (OK, I'm exaggerating a bit...I wasn't *that* helpless!), the passerby did a double-take, turned around and came at me.  I am ashamed to admit that my initial reaction was defensive...like I was expecting something bad to happen next.  But in fact, he came back to hold the door open for me as I lugged the sandwich board inside!  Service with a smile too!

Guess my spidey sense was on the blink.  That small act of kindness did more than help me get that sign indoors.  It reminded me that all was not lost.  There are more good people around us than we think!  

Spring In My Walk

My wife keeps encouraging me to go out walking.  For my health, she says.  Or maybe she just wants me out of her way. :-)  Anyway, cloudless spring days are a great time to be out.  Flowers are busy blooming!

Magnolias...

One of my favourite flowers.

Azaleas...

Daffodils...

...and some street scenery I have not noticed before.  This convenience store on the corner of Preston and Jubilee.

The Halifax Central Junior High School.

Hope you are enjoying the sunshine too!

Sunny Mahone Bay

Sunny Sunday.  Couldn't believe it when I was forced to switch on the A/C in the car.  Haven't done that in a while.  Off to Mahone Bay, we were.

We weren't tourists this time...had a little work lined up.  But I did manage to snap a few pics.  Like these grand old trees....

...and this house that sorta looked like it was playing hide-and-seek.

"Tallyho!"  Surely this vehicle was not used for foxhunting?

Lunch was at The Biscuit Eater.  

Excellent eggs benedict on biscuits!  

Sorry, got caught up in excited conversation...new project brewing!  No pic of the actual eggs benny.  But here, have a look at the plates.  We cleaned them out pretty well. :-)

I do no justice to The Biscuit Eater with my 3 photos.  The place is bright and wonderful...and filled with books, books, books!  If I get the chance, I will do a proper feature of this place.  Promise!

Hope you had a good Sunday!

Shubie Sunday

A gloomy cloud was giving Halifax a long, chilly embrace today.  It was drizzling and cold...but that didn't stop me from taking a little walk around Shubie Park.

Shoo-buh-NAH-kah-dee ...that's how you say it.  It's a mouthful and I must admit I had difficulty pronouncing it too.  

The canal was built in the 1800's, connecting Halifax Harbor and the Bay of Fundy.  Used for transporting goods, the canal operated on a series of locks to allow big vessels to travel on it.  http://www.shubenacadiecanal.ca/shubenacadie-canal-waterway-maps#.UWtRECt36nZ

The canal is not used for transportation anymore.  The advent of railroads eclipsed its usefulness.

This is the third lock, preserved for posterity. 

Despite the gloomy weather, I enjoyed my walk.  

The ducks didn't seem to mind the sun's absence.

Neither did the birds.

If you ignore the distant yet constant roar of motor vehicles emanating from the surrounding highways, it could actually be a very peaceful place.

Easter Sunday Hike

It was a cloudless, sunny Easter Sunday.

Went for a short hike in our neighbourhood.  Still many patches of snow here and there.

This pond was still half-frozen!

Parts of the trail were still icy.  I slipped and slid as I bumbled forward.

Moss and ice.

But spring is definitely in the air!