Newfie Ties

 I was thinking about our trip to Newfoundland yesterday afternoon and missing the island in the North Atlantic known as "The Rock" quite terribly.  The only thing for it was to look at the pictures from our time there in August.
It was a special trip firstly because we had all of the Rascals with us, and we had time to hike and just look at the ocean.
It was also a bit of a homecoming: Ole Rascal was born there and our Middle was christened there, and I myself lived there for nearly three years in my early twenties.
Once you spend time in Newfoundland it gets in your blood.  Of course, it was already in my blood with my Nana being a Newfie herself: born in Topsail, she moved to Montreal as a child but never forgot she was a Newfie.

 Newfoundlanders have a distinct appreciation of nature and of... talking.  You never saw people who could just sit and chat for hours over a cup of tea (with Carnation milk from the can) or a simple meal, or in festive times a bit of a drink.
When I lived there in the 1990's I spent many afternoons chatting with Nan Babb over that strong tea, so many afternoons that I picked up a bit of her Newfie accent that has never really left me.  In fact my neighbour of twelve years thought until just last summer that I was born and bred a Newfie.

 I wish we could go back this summer but alas we have no plans, for now.  I often dream of buying a little house there so we could go to Newfoundland every summer.

Watching the boats come in and out of Petty Harbour.

Middle Rascal

Clothesline... by the ocean.

 One afternoon in Newfoundland, after our oldest two had flown back to Toronto to their jobs, Lil Rascal wanted to hike on her own with her Dad.  It was a 14 kilometre hike so I was okay to give it a pass!  Instead, I drove our rental jeep out to Portugal Cove, where I had read about an antique store in a former church.
I walked into the church and instantly knew I had looked at an old web page, the church was indeed full of... stuff, but it was most definitely the home of Buddy and his wife, who were just finishing up their breakfast!  After getting over my embarrassment (somewhat) I was given a tour, in the true style of a hospitable Newfoundlander.  The fellow had in fact sold antiques, so he offered to sell me something from his vast supplies of crockery, rag-rugs and oddities.

I chose a bean pot and some pieces from a tea set, and after paying him in cash I made my way to the door.  Before I left he said to me "I knew your Mudder you know, Topsail you're from?  My but you look just like her, and your voice is the same too."

I was so shocked I didn't have the sense to ask the name of this "Mudder", so I just explained that no, my mother was a mainlander, although my Nana was indeed from Topsail (and in fact I hadn't mentioned my Newfie blood, I'd simply told him I was "From Away").

He was about the age of my mother so I have to wonder who it was he knew that I seemed to be tied to!
I might have to go back one day to find out.

If you ever get a chance to visit beautiful Newfoundland you have to go.  You'll never forget it, and it might even get in your blood.
Wishing you a lovely day on this Friday,
xoxDani