Gordon Pinsent 1930-2023
Actor Gordon Pinsent died at the age of 92 yesterday, February 25. He was born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland, the youngest of Stephen and Flossie (Cooper) Pinsent’s six children. Like…
Lewes Bonfire Night
Remember, remember the Fifth of November The Gunpowder Treason and plot, I see no reason why Gunpowder Treason Should ever be forgot. A bonfire is a great thing to see.…
The Ride of Her Life
In the fall of 1954, a woman decided to leave her home in Maine and, with her little dog, go to California. Annie Wilkins was 63, had been ill, had…
Padstow May Day
Now imagine a still night, the last of April, the first of May. Starlight above the chimney pots. Moon on the harbour. Moonlight shadows of houses on opposite slate walls.…
Justify
A big chestnut colt won the Belmont Stakes on Saturday. Five weeks ago, Justify won the Kentucky Derby. Three weeks ago, he won the Preakness. So he won the Triple…
Pegasus World Cup
This Saturday, January 27, is the 2nd annual Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in Florida. The richest horse race in the world, it costs one million dollars to enter.…
Horse Fun Show
Riding students on school horses, visiting horses and riders. A barn open house and bbq. Warm, sunny weather. A good thing because the yard and barn were full of horses,…
School Horse
To call yourself a rider, one horse can give you your best final test: a school horse. Horses ridden in lessons build up knowledge of what makes a good, and…
Hanover Horses
A Facebook share - Waco Hanover celebrates his 40th birthday in 2017. He's a Standardbred pacer, living in Vermont.* From his name, I knew he was of Hanover Shoe Farms.…
Dan Patch
Dan Patch was a harness racing horse, a pacer. He was crazy good, they said. 110 years ago, he was the best pacer ever seen. He was a huge celebrity…
Horse Show
A horse show is a great way to spend a day. Sleek horses, adorable ponies and their riders showing their skill. It's watching beauty in motion. Today, at Spring Brook…
The Great Benjamin’s Circus
The circus came to town last Friday. The Great Benjamin's Circus at the Princess Louise Park in Sussex. Catching sight of a huge tent with lights flashing and flags flying…
Cuba
In the late 1980s, with one wintry week off, my boyfriend and I decided to go to a resort. We found a last-minute deal in Cuba. Our fellow passengers on…
Santa Dogs
The Christmas season, for me, officially begins with the Santa Claus parade. But you have to start feeling festive a bit earlier if you're going to be in the parade.…
Breeders’ Cup
Saturday was Hallowe'en. A big day. This October 31st was a big day for another reason. The Breeders' Cup Classic horse race and the chance to see something that's never…
Ron and Secretariat
Last weekend, my dog and I went to Grand Falls/Grand-Sault in northern New Brunswick to see a statue unveiled. It is Ron Turcotte and Secretariat crossing the finish line at…
American Pharoah
Saturday, I saw something I've never seen before: the winning of the American Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. I hadn't expected it to happen, but I hoped. American Pharoah made…
Teddy in PLP barn
Musical Ride II
The RCMP Musical Ride was in Sussex this week at the Princess Louise Show Centre. Tonight they are giving a very special ride in Moncton, to honour the three Mounties…
Musical Ride
The RCMP Musical Ride was in Hampton NB last week. The horses stayed at Butternut Stables where I ride. I was there when they arrived and, next day, I ran…
Turcotte, the movie
If you live in or are from New Brunswick, if you’re Canadian, if you like horse racing, the NFB has a film for you: Secretariat's Jockey: Ron Turcotte (2013). In…
The Christmas Gift
This Christmas, I got lots of nice presents but my favourite is a list of stores written on a scrap of paper. It’s about the gift that didn’t happen, but…
Ponta Delgada
I’m not a city person, but one city stays in my mind. Ponta Delgada, capital of Saõ Miguel in the Azores: a tiny perfect city. Having flown in to another…
North Cape Trail, PEI
We went to Prince Edward Island in November for “oh, a day or so.” Just off the bridge, in Gateway Village, an “olde towne” of new buildings with tourist services…
Jeep
I got me a Rubicon! I’ve never had a Jeep, always wanted one. In my head, I have a list of vehicles, or types of vehicles, that I want at…
New England Fall
Driving to New Brunswick by the American route, through New England. Trying to pick out roads as the crow flies. But mountains and forests in the north. Looking at an…
Going to Graceland
Thirty-four years ago, Graceland became a memorial shrine. The day before, August 16th 1977, the King of Rock and Roll had died in it, his home. Despite liking Elvis, Graceland…
Show Jumper
Coming up fast to the fence, feeling the muscles gather beneath you, crouching low over the horse’s neck, then springboarding into the air. Sailing over the rail, touching down on…
Fiat Bambina
If I could possibly justify another teeny-weeny cute car, I’d get the new Fiat 500. I’ve only seen one around here, a silver grey one. I like the tv ads, and…
Friday the 13th Port Dover
Bucket list item checked off. The bikes at Port Dover. Beautiful weather and the only Friday the 13th in all of 2011. I was a little nervous about it, I…
Royalty
In June 1983 royalty came to St. John's. Charles and Diana, Prince and Princess of Wales, arrived on the Royal Yacht Britannia. Two years before, I had woken up early…
El perro de la playa
The Costa Rica beach dog - or el perro de la playa - a short story In the morning, when Helen opened her cabaña door, the dog was standing beside…
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
It started with an email I received. You may have also got it, it’s making the rounds. A woman turned a jet into a house on a tropical beach for…
Skating on the canal
Low-flying on glass, long swooping strides pushing you along. Wind at your back propelling you. Wind coming at you, slowing you, your legs pushing forward into its face. It’s you…
New Year’s Eve at the Harbourfront
The most wonderful place I ever spent New Year’s Eve was the waterfront in St. John’s, Newfoundland. The tradition started, according to CBC, in the 1960s with one family going…
The Boat House, Laugharne
When I was in high school, I discovered the beauty of Dylan Thomas’ writing. I first read Under Milk Wood and then moved on to his poetry. In community college,…
Portugal and Eco: The Knights Templar Castle, Tomar
Vacationing in the Azores, my reading was Humberto Eco’s Foucault's Pendulum. It was my introduction to the Knights Templar and I fell in love. I was going on to Portugal, and Tomar…