Travelling Lumsdens

What can I tell ya… this month seemed to end before it started! Hanging on for the ride really, with work full on (PD/Report Cards/Parent Teacher), lots of daily exercise and camp visits for winterizing on the weekends. In November, Janie had a couple of PD opportunities, including a 5 day trek to New Orleans that she and Eileen enjoyed. Thankfully, my StFX teaching came to a conclusion which freed up weekdays and weekend time for the list of chores in my iNotes and some Upper Whitehead overnights. With the time change, evenings (especially at the camp) feel incredibly long. It was a busy fall, but time to regroup for the long winter ahead!

So… maybe a few updates. Firstly, we got a new canoe! She’s a beauty, a custom Novacraft 15′ Prospector in a bright Sunray Yellow. Can’t wait to get that in the water next spring. We had a couple of things in mind here. We love the summer and fall paddling opportunities we’ve had over the past few years, but needed to make some adjustments. This craft was purchased with “portaging” in mind, weighing in at almost half the 90 lbs of our 17′ Old Town Discovery. Trekking through woods, loading on vehicles, and overall storage complications should be lessened. A spring canoe trip in April/May 2023 is now a must!

What else… yep, some travel in the works. Hoping to make use of March Break 2023 for another European escapade. As of late November we have flights booked for our first leg into London (Heathrow) and we’re building an itinerary for Central Europe. Still working through details, but were officially committed 😝. We’ve been inspired (or in another word, “JEALOUS”) by Monica’s epic journey and really have the itch to see some new cities. I’m guessing, as preparations & research unfold, that we’ll be posting how things roll out. We were so encouraged by our Ireland trip, at summer’s end, that we have a better comfort in getting around the “new normal” in regard to travel. Should have a more complete picture on March Break ideas for a December post.

All the while… November was entirely our best month in years for University sport in and around StFX. It included several CIS Football games including playoffs, cheering on the incredibly athletic Men’s Basketball team and both Men’s and Women’s Hockey teams. Mrs Lumsden is a fairly intense viewer of sport 😳… it’s a new side I hadn’t quite seen. She scares the kids!!! Regardless… we still get out and call it “the best ticket in town”! Games shut down for exams in early December but are sure to resume when winter is in full swing in January.

Can’t say it enough! Fall in NS is absolutely golden… the pinnacle in seasons, hands down. The bugs are done, days remain comfortable, cool overnights while nature prepares for our ever shrinking maritime winter. The senses turn immediately to the warmth of a wood fire at the camp, crunching of leaves underfoot, dappled hikes, shimmering lake paddles, and savoury Thanksgiving dishes. Tasks move towards preservation… of storage out of the elements and advance thoughts of how best to brave the elements of winter.

Couple of things of note that we are working on this fall. One is to follow the roar of university sport. We’ve kind of decided that X tickets are the ”best bang for buck” in town… and that we’re gonna take in some games. Football, hockey and basketball teams are in our sights. We’ve also got a trip in the works. Nothing purchased, but elements that are in the basic research stage. Will update here as plans progress.

The list of camp chores is long in the fall… waterline, wood, batteries, winter stores and yard work rounded out October trips. Over the span of a couple of weekend work days we managed to sort all out and have things ready for nights below zero. Even managed a last paddle before portaging the canoe to its winter berth. Hope that we may see lots of nights ahead, but ready otherwise should we not be able to get over as much as we’d like!

We did live vicariously through the travel of others over the past few weeks. Monica’s European adventure continues, as she spent the bulk of October doing a ”workaway” in a small town near Munchen. Andrew and Lori were on the move cruising the Rhine River from Switzerland to Amsterdam with Matt Anderson/Alan Doyle. Further, our friends the Hinchey’s manoeuvred an excellent visit to Europe and we saw some great photos from San Sebastien in Spain. So glad each sent along shots and notes of their journeys as we sponge up ideas for our time abroad! For us it was work and camp, but we know we’ll get our chance again someday soon!

September rolled in with all the trimmings this year, as school returned in full force for both Janie and I. Changes in assignments for both of us will be keeping things fresh at work. Building on that, I’m pushing through teaching a new course at StFX this semester. Janie has also been super busy with her NSTU commitments, attending PD in Quebec and ongoing meetings. As such, it was a busy month.

We did, however, manage some time together with family. The Labour Day weekend saw a Hanlon / Lumsden gathering in Alma with great company, lots to eat, and music until the wee hours. Happy 55th Wedding Anniversary to Mom and Dad! Wonderful to have been able to celebrate with family and friends 🤓 and much thanks to Jenny & Troy for offering up their place and all those that joined in.

It was Hurricane Fiona, however, that stole the headlines this month! With the prediction of a Cat 2 landfall just miles from the camp, we all braced for the worst. Thankfully, Camp Lumsden fared without incident. Antigonish and North Eastern NS, not so much. Major power outages, crumbling of power infrastructure and closures / cancellations followed Fiona’s march across the Atlantic provinces. Our fingers are crossed that it served as the storm for a generation.

Unfortunately, camp trips were at a minimum this month, only managing two overnights. A sign, perhaps, that we were busier than usual. Of note, Janie and I snuck in during the last weekend for a beautiful fall trip. With unbeatable weather, we enjoyed the crackle of the wood stove, eating outdoors and canoe time. A much needed couple of days off grid.

August was full of fun & surprises! It included some Camp time, the Lumsden Boys weekend 2022 version, SummerFest in Antigonish and Monica’s departure for Europe. I also managed some prep time at the camp to read the text that will be used for this fall’s course at StFX. A steady month for sure!

Lastly, we took a totally unexpected turn and decided to, with haste, book a Lumsden style trip to Ireland! With both Janie and I having Irish/Scot as part of the lineage, it only seemed proper to join our growing list of family and friends to recently make the pilgrimage. If you’re up for following along, Click Here!

July served up the “emergence” from Covid rules & regs in Nova Scotia. The move, following several years of health initiated restrictions, was less than subtle and meant for Janie & I in person attendance at NSTU PD,  a wide open return to Stanfest, and full on summer activities @camplumsden. The new normalcy is upon us!

After a few days “down time” post school end, Janie and I tooled up for her annual NSTU Insurance Trustees Workshop at Keltic Lodge. While she gets to work, I get to play. In short, I hiked my ass off in CBH National Park, taking on a series of trails averaging 13 kms a day, in sun and rain, on moderate to skilled trails. We enjoyed Keltic and the beautiful scenery, meals and company. Looking forward to next July 😉!

Next on the Lumsden Family agenda was Stanfest. I hit the site running July 9th and basically never left until July 26th, staying at camp (Mom’s during the event) and working the site everyday. Janie and the kids are also committed volunteers doing fence day, regular shifts and whatever else might be asked. We had superb Stanfest weather, great entertainment, homecomings with festival friends and I was lucky enough to take part in Singing Stan (thanks so much Troy)! Huge effort and powerful result!

Of course, summer means “camp time” and we wove chores, activities and our 27th Wedding Anniversary throughout July. Whether a quiet nap on the porch, a paddle in one of the many lakes/runs in this chain of lakes, meals from the BBQ or one of the many tasks required to keep a building in the woods solid and thriving, Camp Lumsden is the heartbeat of our summer. Our home away from home…

In the teaching profession, June becomes the NASCAR equivalent of the final lap! Deadlines for meetings, reporting, graduation, marks, transition… it seems like days go by where we have a quick supper at home and turn back to work. It’s that “big push” to have all things accomplished by year’s end.

Ah… but wait! Chris tests positive 🦠! After almost three years of of Covid era teaching I finally landed the virus and was sent into isolation for the third week of June. All in, the effects were quite manageable and the week of quarantine found me at Smelt Lake tackling camp chores, helping out the neighbors, viewing plant & animal life, and finding solace in sunrises, woods & water 💦. Even made my first soup (Ham… and it was very good). Drop in a trip to Tampa Bay, Florida for Janie (IB Professional Development) and you have a super busy month! 

Yet, in all the chaos, everything got done to the best of our ability and school ended without a hitch. Janie’s grad committees went off excellently! I even got a quick weekender in on Main River, NB with the MtA boys and a quiet camp visit with Scott & Ross for my 54th Birthday. In all this, Janie and I have continued to work hard to maintain our focus on being healthy, both in diet and exercise. Good bye pizza… hello veggies & hummus! Yep, SURVIVED another darn busy June.

And wasn’t May ‘22 a bit of a celebration! Big congrats are in order to our two StFX grads as they completed their undergrad studies in chosen fields. Proud Mom and Dad for sure, whether talking level of perseverance, work ethic or just plain ”smarts”… both Peter & Monica are deserving degree holders! Looking forward to watching their next steps in chosen fields.

Camp life was exciting as well. Firstly, nailed my first real wildlife sighting with our trail cam, a bobcat no less (see below)! The mystery to trail marking and scat solved. Beautiful animal! Further, the wood bin is totally stocked, leant a hand to some repairs to Eastern Anglers boat haul, and visits with Monica, Peter and Emilie!

At home, paint, trim and a new propane stove helped pimp out our living room renovations. We’ve picked away, bit by bit, and managed to get a look with which we are entirely satisfied. A mix of openness & functionality. Great design work by Janie, and I still have all my fingers! 🤓 Eyes now are on June, closing out the school year, and a restful, productive summer!

We rode this month like the stampeding mustang that she was… Up and down like an hombre being tossed by a nasty bronco! Weekdays saddled to the classroom, weeknight hacienda renos, and weekend drives to camp or events. Rustling at its best trying to steal time to get it all in… a rodeo best described as ”April”!

Talk about work… no need here. Suffice to say focus divides in April, to including this year and the next. At home, renos continue at a pace outstripping our means to keep up. In a desire to hold on, I tried to consolidate! First… we decided on an open ceiling concept. ✅ This prompted clean up / painting overhead (3 sprayed coats) as best we could! Not bad. ✅ Then to the walls… patch and paint. Easy-peasy. ✅ Flipping next to stripping and refinishing hardwood floors. Ugh! ✅ That one nearly broke my heart ❤️ (and back). But… we’re loving the new look, and getting down to finishes such as curtains, furniture, and lighting. Its us, and we’re sticking with it. Just hoping the sum total is accomplished before ”the parts wear out”!

Weekends. Well… the camp figured prominently, and we watched the throes of spring align around us while reassembling the systems (solar / heating / water) that provide throughout the warmer months. Spring… that quiet, bug free, greening that surges nature back to life. Love it! The warmth of the wood stove on chilly nights tempered by that heat you feel when the sun warms your shoulder in the lea of a building. Ahhh…

Events in the mix included Easter with family in PEI, perhaps the first softening we noticed in regard to Covid restrictions in our home life. Great visit with family, food and music 👍. Further, we finally managed to cash in some concerts tix, purchased months prior, for what was a spectacular Jackson Browne / James Taylor evening in Halifax. Feel good food for the soul!

March 2022 was a month of doing! At home, camp and on the road, we tackled both long required and new to us projects. I’ll sketch out “the biggies” that absorbed much of the ”free time” we had during the short spring days!

Firstly… a hunk of maintenance for camp engines. I like to think of it as housekeeping (with a little piece of mind). Tune ups were due for Honda equipment, including outboard and generator, which meant two trips to New Glasgow. Further, after a couple of years of steady use, the Stihl Chainsaw got delivered to Green Diamond for a freshening / sharpening. When I got this machine back in my hands it showed much improved performance. Always good to protect these investments if one can swing it! Best of all… valuable camp time is used for recreation as opposed to playing “Mr Fix-it” without access to proper tools & parts!

At home, we tackled major work on the lower floor, tearing out saggy ceilings, painting/patching walls, selling old furniture, tracking down replacement options and ciphering trim install. We yanked the old wood stove and were frequent visitors to the County landfill. Lots of work, the bulk (beyond electrical) being completed by Janie and I. Its a work in progress, but we’re optimistic in regards to result!

I also ventured to Port Williams in March… a long overdue connection with friends in the valley. We always take on a project while there, keeps us out of trouble! I packed up my otter tail canoe paddle template/rough cut board! Having all the tools, we rendered the near 2” solid piece of poplar into a “right pretty” paddle! We utilized a plethora of tools… electric, hand, air in the shape of planes, sanders, saws and routers. I think we even surprised ourselves this time around… great paddle that I’m anxious to try this season. Thanks so much to all the folks that provided materials, tools, tips & tricks along the way!

I‘d be remiss not to mention another tug at the heart strings this month, with the passing of Uncle Bernie. Words such as giving, family, tradition, selflessness and loyalty quickly come to mind. Lots of thinking about parents, cousins, sons and daughters to follow. A parting glass… 🥃

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you.”

– Walt Whitman

A February for… trying something new. Installing a “Chair Rail” trim, fabricating an “Otter Tail” shaped canoe paddle, prepping camp style “Moose Burgers”, tracking Venus on the Eastern horizon – lots of learning. Thinking one has spent 50 plus years on the planet does not make one an expert… so much to see, try and do. Start a conversation, listen, share, research and give something new a shot!

A February for… remembering others. This month our Aunt passed away. It was all just very sad. Too young, vigorous, too full of energy and life to be gone so quickly – things are always good, until they are not. As we get older, we continue to learn “perspective’ from others, take example from those who get it right, and find much grace in those that have become role models.

A February for… weather extremes. Sheets of freezing rain, freshly fallen snow, powerful winds and sunny days with bare lawns. A dynamic series of weather systems that came and went weekly – keeps one in touch with the natural. An abundance of teachers fancy themselves amateur climate prognosticators (can you predict a snow day), but we’ve worked to become much more conscious of our particular impact/footprint on our little slice of earth!

A February for… thinking ahead. From cleaning a creosoted flue to charting messy home ceiling renos, jacking a sagging shed to navigating the protection of fragile eco-systems… looking to the past for clues to the future!