Jean Thoreau's Island...

Since I was a kid I had heard the name Jountrou's Island. [I am guessing at the spelling here based on how I heard the name pronounced].

It really is not an island anymore as you can see from this photo the gap between it and the mainland has filled in.

This is where Sandy Point began eons ago. I had asked several people if they knew the actual spelling of the name. My cousin Anne Evans gave me the clue I need this evening. She told me she thought that the actual name was Jean Thoreau's Island. A quick google revealed that one Jean Thoreau was an American privateer (pirate with a license) who was originally from Jersey in the Channel Islands. Just as interesting is that he is also the grandfather of American philosopher Henry David Thoreau of On Walden's Pond fame.

There has long been talk of pirates operating out of Sandy Point and the Bay St. George area in general. Across the bay from Sandy Point is Sea Wolf Lagoon, shown as Barachois des Loups Marin on French charts from the 1800's.

Strawberry fields forever...

I realized today that I had been seriously neglecting my hammock. Not normally one to shirk my obligations I had failed to attend to my post guarding the potato patch. I obviously could no longer be so lax so after pouring a mixture of Rose's Lime Cordial, ice, soda water and a dash of Lamb's white rum into a tall glass I gathered up my pillow and headed off.

I laid at attention for half an hour, slowly sipping the cooling concoction that allowed me to bear such a rigorous task. The breeze was quite helpful as it not only kept the flies away, it occasionally rocked the hammock allowing me to relax into the proper state of inattention.

Later, as I was weeding said potato patch, I spotted a lovely red berry hiding amongst the dried grasses. A brief period of diligent picking yielded a nice cupful of wild strawberries. Some of these were later added to a salad of fresh romaine lettuce from the garden, with sundried tomatoes and thin slices of videllia onion tossed with a vinaigrette made up of balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, honey and fresh basil.

It is a difficult life to live but someone has to do it. Oh my! There is a nightcap of scotch that needs to be drank. Duty calls!

Day of the dolphins...

Sometimes when you are really lucky you have an extra special day. Today was one for me and my sister Gwendolyn.

We were on Sandy Point today. We had gone there to help some people bring over the ashes of their uncle who had recently died. Gwendolyn provided the internment rite (she is an Anglican Deacon) while I filmed the day. I will be using parts of it in my film on Sandy Point.

On the way back we encountered a herd of dolphins feeding in the bay. I managed to capture some of it on my video camera. You can check it out here. Day of the Dolphins.

A strange and awesome feeling...

I have been reflecting on the changes in my life over the past few years. Almost four years ago I became a grandfather. That was the same year that I went back to university full time. Before I had even completed my undergraduate degree I knew I had to at least continue to a Masters.

Well that is almost done now and soon I will be headed back west to begin my PhD. There were times that I did not expect or want to go back to Calgary. There seemed too much baggage and pain. But once I worked through it and knew what I really wanted for myself I felt ready.

But it is not just me. Starting in September D'Arcy, Evan and Tianna will all be in grad school. And Dylan has turned around his school life, getting over 75% in all of his grades this year. He has three more terms of high school and he will be done. Then he plans to attend the Vancouver Film School.

And now I feel centred and grounded and at peace. It is a strange and awesome feeling.