NFL

Newfoundland! Newfinland! Newfundland! Newfunland!

Railing at the Anna Templeton for Textile Arts

Yes, I’m back again on the Rock. A strange choice, perhaps, when fuel prices are soaring and everything salad-like and familiar is on the mainland. But, here I am, and like most people I carry my world with me wherever I go. So, Planet Claire now resides here in the new home of Misty and Rob.

Pitcher plant on Cape Spear

Summer arrived nearly two weeks after I did, and so I got to experience two full seasons of lilac blossoms; one in Vancouver and the other here. They are just about finished, and the local vegetables are now nearly large enough to be eaten. There is a farmers’ market most weekends where local veggies, meat and baking as well as a few crafts can be bought. The sea is also coming to St. John’s, and the capelin will soon be rolling into its nearest shores. The whales are already offshore gorging their gorgeous selves on the wee fish.

Signal Hill in the fog

Humpback Whales

Humpback whales with tourists

The warm weather has enthused locals and nonlocals alike, musical and otherwise. The 14th annual Sound Symposium is now ON, and includes a daily horn symphony that is played in the harbour on the various steamwhistles and horns in the bay. It tends to be a little abstract and a lot loud. I was lucky enough to get a chance to go to the opening night gala for free and see a variety of musical shows that included choral music and a circus. Of course, everyone in St. John’s is born holding some kind of instrument in their fetal fist so seeing musical talent is a near every day event here. Even so, the crowd was enthusiastic about each performance in the varied lineup.
Lupins, lupins everywhere!

I now have a job, another baking job working for two of the best people to work for ever. The bakery itself is called Sweet Relic and is in the oldest building in St. John's. If you are in the area, make sure to come by and taste some of the best baking in the city made by the kitchen boss Patricia. You'll probably be buying it from cafe boss Russell, so that means you will get to see what I mean by good folks.