Gabarus Lake

 Just before Christmas, I found myself in Cape Breton again to spend some holiday time with my mother. December 21^st was particularly clear, crisp, and cold, with a light layer of snow, so I packed my camera into the car and let it take me where it would.

By early evening, I remembered a sunset I had never captured, and headed out to a little place I know on Gabarus Lake.

On the way there, I came across this lovely fellow and couldn’t resist stopping the car to catch the juicy way the light was falling across him.

I arrived at my destination with plenty of time to wander before the sun went down, so I piled on gloves and an extra sweater and went to investigate a nearby brook. It was there that I found exactly what I hadn’t known I’d been looking for!

Mother Nature had turned some random twigs into canvas, and frozen some dripping water into expertly carved sculptures. There were icicles and droplets, solidified in place by the calm below-zero temperatures, and painted with reflections of the surrounding water and skyline. I was entranced!

So cool!

I did also end up getting my sunset shots. This is actually two stitched together for the full effect and it's my favorite.

All in all, it was a long drive, and a cold, wet shoot, but so definitely worth the trip!

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Once, this was my favorite place on Earth.

I grew up here, made so many friends, and hit so many milestones right along these shores. These days, it's overgrown and unkempt, split into lots to be sold to the highest bidder. For me, though, the memories alone made it warm and inviting. My heart swelled so much that I stood there frozen to the spot, and went through the entire spectrum of emotions while the sun burst out from behind the ominous-looking clouds.
It was a sign, I knew. Someone very important knew I was there, and he hadn't forgotten either.