November Winds

Five loons I saw, I am sure they were

Swimming today in this tidal stream

Back from the lakes of summer bliss

Or simply passing this late autumn scene

Now November winds are cold and strong

The leaves' stubborn hold has finally let go

We’ve had our first frost in recent days

And do I see a pellet or two of icy snow.

We’ve been teased and spoiled this year

By lingering warmth and bright sun

Late blooms have given us extended joy

But warm days are now on the run.

Our stockinged feet are on the coffee table

The fire before us blazes warm and bright

A glass of peaty whisky cradled in our hand

Makes us realize that all is right.

Of Granville Fairies and Raindrops

We have lived in Nova Scotia for only three and a half years. Our village of Granville Ferry has a population of 110 according to the last census. Several houses on our road, the oldest settler route in Canada, are currently unoccupied as permanent residences. So one would think that our locale would not be one to attract trick-or-treaters.

Our first Hallowe’en here saw a timid three children appear at our door. This left us with a pleasant quantity of chocolate that we may not have otherwise purchased. 

For our second Hallowe’en, we were more prudent and purchased less candy. Between six and seven more energetic children appeared at our door that year. We thought this to be quite amazing given that we were living in the early days of the Covid era. 

Covid has seen an influx of young families moving to our general area. We thought that for our third Hallowe’en, perhaps there would be a slight increase in costumed visitors; so we purchased enough to feed a small army, realizing full well that we might remain the beneficiaries, as well as the benefactors, of a sizeable quantity of chocolate.

And they came. And they came from far and wide: From our village of course, from Granville Centre, from Granville Beach, from Port Royal and from Victoria Beach, from Annapolis Royal and Clementsvale, from Long Island (Nova Scotia) and even from far away Dartmouth. 

And they came early. We were sitting on our back deck enjoying the last rays of sunshine at 4:30 p.m. when the first knock came at our front door. And they kept coming. Until well after eight o'clock they came when it was finally dark and our carved pumpkin was, at last, able to display its glowing toothless smile.

There were Rabbits, and Ninjas, and Zombies, and Butterflies, several Witches of course, and Princesses, Angels, a beaming Soccer Player, and Astronauts, two Spidermen, and a giant Mushroom. All were truly delightful. 

Some were timid. Some bold. But perhaps the most interesting of all was a young girl who came as a shimmering Raindrop. And, as her proud father pointed out, it had all been her idea. Dressed entirely in white, she carried a large white umbrella bedecked with solar twinkling lights, and dangling ribbons of white cloth hanging around its perimeter.

In all, we counted forty-one costumed visions who went away with chocolate delights, leaving us enthralled, and almost entirely lacking in sweets.