How Entertaining!

Wow, do I really feel out of the loop - what a great feeling!!

It's a hot and sticky day here in Alberton, PEI, and Michael and I are using the free wifi at the local library.  The first thing I had to find out when I was finally able to get on the internet was the time of the men's 100m dash this coming Sunday (I'm rooting for Usain Bolt!). No matter that's its summer holidays and that it might be a gorgeous sunny day I'll be rooted in front of the TV rooting on Usain!

Yes, this is our island TV! We've left behind our 40" HD colour TV and we're watching our 3" x 4" black and white relic that Michael has owned since the 80's.  One channel, no Netflix. Whenever we're home it's on. We can tell by the volume and tone of the announcer's voice when something exciting is happening and then we run and squint at the screen. The vertical hold was causing a few problems one day but I've found that reception is much better in the living room with the antenna pointed southwest. Entertainment at its best!  If it weren't for the Olympics we would only be using the radio function (yes, it has a radio TOO!!) to listen to one of the local PEI radio stations - Michael especially likes the station that plays "music to set your traps to!" which is especially relevant as "setting day" for our local fishermen is next Thursday.  If I can get myself up at 5am we'll  go and watch.  Now THAT will be entertaining!

When we're not glued to the Olympic coverage we're taking in other forms of entertainment - here's a few examples:

 Our friend Julie's (centre) CD launch; she's also a server at the Albert and Crown pub. Over the summer she travels around the island with her band playing at a number of bluegrass festivals. Her band includes her mom who Julie calls her best friend. Family is #1 on the island and multi-generational get togethers (parties, drinking at the local pub, celebrations, musical groups) are commonplace. The people of PEI value their elders very much which is why many of our friends are "young people". This is very different from the way we are treated by the younger generation in Ontario....VERY different!

 Nothing beats gazing into the firepit!

Unless it's listening to Matt Minglewood, a well known Maritime musician.

A parliamentary re-enactment was quite impressive...

and getting to share an evening with the Hay Babies before they left for Europe was quite a treat!

No PEI summer would be complete without a jam sessions with Jay and Tammy at their recently purchased home in Skinners Pond.

 They also play at our local pub and it's just one big singalong with lots of folks getting up to sing at the extra mike or using Jay or Tammy's guitar to play along.

 The Alberton parade was good fun - we got to meet Miss Alberton in person when she came in to celebrate her win at the pub the night before the parade!!

One of my favorite entertainments was the STRONGMAN competition which took place during the local exhibition. During this contest the men had to lift a series of concrete balls of increasing weight up onto platforms!! Yikes! The final competition was lifting and carrying a 310 lb. field stone as far as they could. The fellow in the above picture carried the field stone for 183' which clinched the competition for him. He and the second place winner will be going to Quebec to compete in the national strongman competition!

So as you can see life is pretty entertaining around here. Even when there is nothing to do at all but sit and watch the weather!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL!!

 Today is Yesterday was Michael's birthday (for some reason this post didn't publish yesterday, stupid Blogger) - he's 55 (caught up to me ha ha!) In tribute I am posting a series of photos from the past summer when we were at our home in PEI. The other day he was wishing we could be there walking down our laneway, strolling on the beach, sitting on our front porch as the sun was rising. Well dear, in 6 months we'll be there once again. Until then, remember and enjoy...and always remember - LIFE BEGINS NOW!!

 He's not only handsome - he's handy!

 On the wharf in Summerside, as the sun is setting...

 Whacking away in the forest with his machete!

 Enjoying the serenity of the front porch early in the morning...

 I'm not quite sure what he's doing in the middle of the raspberry bushes!

VERY MUCH ENJOYING HEATHER'S TIKI PARTY!

 We love to explore - here we're checking out the island's other drive-in theatre - we can see the screen in the distance from our property so we went on the hunt - won't be watching any movies here for awhile!

Mr. Potato Head:)

 Our favorite pub owner - Steve -and his lovely wife Kelly (and me) whooping it up at the Albert and Crown...

 Gotta love the red soil...there's still some in the trunk of the car:)

You know where this is Marguerite!

 Enjoying an early morning coffee...potatoes growing in the background.

 PEI is a great place for Michael to fly his kite...

 Enjoying a dance...again at the Alberton and Crown...we like it there...

 ...every night's a party!

 The singing white sands at Basin Head...

 You just can't get a bad shot in PEI, and the scenery ain't bad neither...

 Michael's debut as a lobster fisherman...he's always up for anything!...

 even when others have had enough he keeps on ticking like the energizer bunny...

 taking orders for a bbq on board some friend's boat in Casumpec Bay...mustard and relish on mine please..

Our last night was spent up near Tignish with some musician friends who were jamming one last time before heading south to Texas...unfortunately Michael had some difficulty handling the "screech" that night. You should have seen him in the morning!...

 however, there are no pictures of him on our trip home - here we go, crossing Confederation Bridge!

But we'll be back for more adventures, more sunsets and more memories......ONE LOVE Michael!