Story: "New Land" and Last day of September Landscapes

 "New Land"

The hot-air balloon floated higher and higher transporting James to a fantastic new land.

A pristine stream gurgled playfully as it flowed between lush green fields.  The air smelled intoxicatingly of lilac roses.  Fruit trees boasted rosy apples, purple plums, sunset peaches.  Birds sang beautiful symphonies.  

James called his family, friends.  "It's wonderful.  Come."

They answered:

"The rats had babies.  Can't come."

"Need bucket for leaky roof.  Can't come."

"Picking rocks out of the garden.  Can't come."

"Afraid of heights.  Will stay in basement.  Can't come."

James sent pictures and delicious food, but they, sadly, preferred "Home Sweet Home".

This is the last day of September.  I took my camera with me on my walk and snapped a few photos.  It's always a lovely time of the year.

Fancy Rocks - Museum of Nature

 Some rocks and crystals from the wonderful collection at the Museum of Nature in Ottawa.

I hope you are all keeping healthy. Every day brings changes here. The nursing homes are on lock-down which is sad but necessary. My mother can't read a letter or work a phone by herself, so I am left with messages given to the workers in the home to be passed on to her. We are cutting back on socializing and outings. At least the weather is sunny and going for a walk or a drive is pleasant. The people in the cities will have a rougher time of it.

The Big Rock

Near my mother's home in Morin Heights is a big rocky outcropping that, as kids, we aptly named The Big Rock. It made a great place for a picnic.

 It is possible to climb the face of it as it has little ledges that act as steps.

Lichens and mosses grow on the rough rock.

This moss, which grows 1-2 inches high, looks like miniature fir trees.

At the top of the outcropping, two big humps of rock stick out, with a flat mossy section in the middle.  It's a good place to have a sit down and enjoy the setting. Sitting on a great hunk of stone is always good for the soul.

 A wooded trail that gradually ascends from the back to the top of the rock provides an easier way to access the view. This photo makes the rock look quite short, but the first photo looking down gives a better perspective of the height of it.

Some Favourite Rocks

 A few of the unusual rocks I spotted on the beach.  I really like this purple one.

 This one almost looks like driftwood with its "graining".

 I wasn't sure at first if the little stones were stuck in cement, but it did seem like they were in another kind of rock.

 What an odd shape.  It looks like some old bubblegum, but it really is hard rock.

 Beautifully smoothed with delicate veining.

 This one is different!

 Another puddingy one similar to the one above.

Because there was very little seaweed on the beach , I thought I should give this bunch a cameo appearence for being the stand out.

Inverness Beach - Pebbles

 One of the wonderful surprises I encountered at the Inverness beach was the profusion of beautiful coloured pebbles.

So many different shapes, and colours, and mixes.  How did they all end up here?

 I was tempted to start picking up my favourites to bring home, but I realized that would pretty quickly become a heavy load so I just took photos instead.

For the most part, the beach is just sandy, but periodically flat piles of pebbles line the shore. Some people find sea glass here as well. It's a really interesting beach.

Cavendish - Home of Anne of Green Gables

 We headed further west along the north beach, up near Cavendish, the town made famous by the Anne books written by L M Montgomery.  PEI has very red soil which shows up in the cliffs, the farmers' fields, and along the beach.

 Pebbly pattern.

The flat stones inspired someone to make a couple of inukshuks.

 A barnacle covered piece of driftwood  looks like some ancient sea monster.

The sea grass on the lumpy sand dunes reminds me of an old carpet put out to air.

 A sturdy boardwalk climbs up over the dunes and down the other side.

The beaches just go on for miles and miles.

Driving back to Charlottetown, the scenery is very much like our home area except for frequent glimpses of the ocean. It really is a pretty place to visit. We didn't visit Green Gables, although we drove by it, but tourists, especially from Japan, love to see the farm that inspired the books. The restaurants and cottages for rent have names inspired by the books, and, at the farm itself, a range of activities for children and adults aim to take you back to the beginning of the 20th century PEI.

Museum of Nature - Rocks

 One of the things that I find fascinating about rocks and minerals is that so many of them look so dull and boring on the outside, but when they are split open they  have wonderful colours and shapes. 

 This is a meteor about 2 and a half feet wide.  It came all the way from - well, who knows where...

The patterning on this rock is reminiscent of an abstract painting  or an aerial view of a town.

The quality of the photos is poor.  I found it difficult with the glass, lighting, and sparkles to get good pictures, but you can still get an idea of the diversity of the rocks.
  

 I haven't labelled the rocks as I was only interested in them as natural pieces of art.  I particularly like the bright green sprinkles in this one.

The white rock in the middle had very fine spikes all over, but they got bleached out.  I like the large agate on the right side with its lovely contours.

 Again the whites are bleached out but you can still see the different shapes presented here.

 No, that is not your kid's playdough mushed together.

 The left one would make great paving stones. The spiky middle one in the foreground looks to me like an upright bunny facing left.

 Soft and bubbly on the left, cool and minty upper right, and  a patch of snow lower right.

 This is not an etching - this is an original rock painting done by a rock.  And the one on the right is not a child's glue project.

 Too bright for the camera, but vibrant red crystals are  poking out of a grey rock. In the back, tropical sea blue inside  a dull brown rock.

 Very fuzzy pic, but I really like the dramatic markings.

 Great chunks of colour.

 A crystal angel flying above a blue fountain.

 Just like a piece of modern military sculpture.

A gently nestled delicate aqua crystal in a shimmery silver setting.

A pouff of brilliant white.

And finally shades of blue, purple and brassy coins.