The Brown Knowser

That summer day, in 1996, was wet, dark, grey. There was the possibility that we wouldn't stop. I had no desire to get soaked, only to load back into our 1980 Datsun 200SX, and make our way, wet and miserable, on to Nova Scotia. Our first wedding anniversary had been a bust. I was coping with strep throat, had barely any energy to celebrate. Thankfully, we hadn't made any travel plans, and I sufferd at home. It wasn't quite our second anniversary on this day. We were still a few days away, when we planned to be in Prince Edward Island. But I didn't want to remember our trip to Hopewell Rocks to be a soggy, dismal one. Though it wasn't yet our anniversary day, it was part of our anniversary trip. As luck would have it, much like on our actual wedding day, the torrential rain stopped at the right moment. Though the sky was still grey, we decided that we would make our way down to the base of the rocks. We weren't at the lowest tide, but we could still acce...

The folks who live next to our rental cottage, east of Shediac, New Brunswick, have several hummingbird feeders at the back of their home. On our second day at the cottage, after having enjoyed the afternoon at Parlee Beach, returned to see two hummingbirds in what appeared to be a conflict. It seemed as though these birds were possessive of the feeders and didn't like to share. After some time, one of the birds succeeded in scaring off the other. But that bird didn't just want to keep the other hummingbird from the feeder. I noticed a bumblebee slowly buzzing around a feeder near a planter box. The dominant hummingbird was quick to shoo it away (so quickly that I couldn't move fast enough to capture the bee). Who knew that these tiny birds were so territorial?

I'm still on vacation, and that means the last thing I want to worry about is work. Or about how my backyard fence, back home, is falling apart. Or, whether I get a blog post out this week. In the nine days since my family and I left home and headed out east, I have looked at a computer screen twice. That doesn't include my smartphone, of course, but I would never write from such a small screen. I've sort of liked not having to think about much beyond where we are going for the day, how we're going to keep the kids occupied where we're at, and what we were going to eat while at that place. And, in keeping with that frame of mind, I'm not going to worry about blogging for the rest of the week. If I don't feel like writing, I won't. That's not to say I won't have anything this week. I'm setting up a bunch of photos from our trip, which I'll share each day. But if I feel inspired to write something, and if I have the time, I...

I was doubtful, at first. What I wanted was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I was determined to make it happen, no matter what. Even if it meant that I was to do it alone. But DW was all in. Our initial plan was to leave with enough time to drive from our rental cottage, in Western Shore of Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, to Peggy's Cove, an hour away, and arrive before sunrise. If we timed it right and if the weather cooperated, we could capture some stunning photos before the throngs of tourists arrived. We'd take our photos and drive back to the cottage before the kids woke up, not even knowing that we had been gone. To do this, we would have to wake up at 4:30 and be on the road by 5. If no traffic or construction slowed us down, we would be at the lighthouse by 6, with about a half hour to spare, to take pre-dawn photos and find the best angle to catch sunrise. I knew I could push myself to get out the door but I didn't want to drive in the dark, alone. DW didn...

Summer is waning. Days are shortening. But with any luck, the weather will cooperate with warm days, cool evenings, and clear skies. Today marks the fourth day of my vacation, which both DW and I have asserted that we need so desperately. To get away from the daily grind, from what is familiar and repetitive. We've packed up the kids, loaded the SUV, and headed east. (I wrote this post a few days before we left Ottawa, so I can only assume that things have gone according to plan.) 1992 The first day of our vacation was a jaunt to Lévis (pronounced lay-vee for my non-French friends), which was a quick stop over and a relatively short drive for our ultimate destination. Our plan was to arrive shortly after lunch, take the ferry across to Québec City, where we'd wander the old streets, perhaps shop, have dinner, and then cross back to our hotel at a decent time so that we (mostly, I) could get a good night's rest. Sunday was all about driving. It's a 10-and-...

I've known for years that when people sign up for an event, not everyone actually shows up. And that's okay. At my last photo walk , in June, the event quickly filled up. Not that that was difficult: I only opened 12 spots for this free event. But when people signed up so quickly for it, I was encouraged to expand the number of participants to 16, and those spots were quickly taken. Of course, only about half of those people showed up, and we had a great time. If you're interested in seeing the photos from that Brown Knowser Photo Walk, among others, the link is here . But what was most encouraging was that people who wanted to attend the last photo walk, but couldn't make it (not those who signed up, but those who knew about the event but had other commitments) said that they would attend the next one. Well, folks, the next one is coming soon. On Friday, September 21, let's meet at the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill at 6:00 pm and do a short lap. ...

If you're to believe the rumours, Barrhaven is home to one of the city's smallest breweries. Or maybe, it's a coverup. Whatever you choose to believe, home brewer and owner Paul Card, of Conspiracy Theory Brewing Company , has taken his love of the craft and decided to increase production to 240 litres at a time—roughly 900 to 1,000 litres each month. All of this is done in his garage, a stone's throw away from the Minto Recreation Complex (and around the corner from one of my friends' house), in Half Moon Bay. Hidden, in plain sight. But now, it's time to get the word out. Because the truth is out there (or, at least in the can). Brewer/owner Paul Card I visited Paul as he was about to make a new batch of brew and he let me sample four beers that he had, ready to go. He was kind enough to take some time to explain his work and share his hopes for opening a brew pub in Barrhaven. His beer varies from a mild blonde (Staged Landing) to a hoppy...