Congrats to The Champs

Our Friday store visitors had a heck of a finish to the 2016 Womens' Senior Curling Championship. After leaving the shop they went back to town and beat Alberta. Then on Saturday morning they beat Alberta again to get to the finals.

Mary Sue, Colleen and Kim share a laugh

Now I should tell you that Coleen bought one of Vickie's Paintings titled "Sunset at Gold Rock" and in the final that afternoon, they threw the "gold" rocks! Coincidence?? I think not!!
The result...

2016 Senior Womens' Champions- from left to right skip Colleen Jones, third Kim Kelly
second Mary Sue Radford and lead Nancy Delahunt

It was great fun meeting and getting to know this terrific quartet of awesome curlers and wonderful ambassadors of our province and we wish them  success at the World Championships next year in Lethbridge Alberta.

The team surrounded by indigenous wild life

Hope our paths cross again ladies. Life will be a little boring with you leaving town.

A Visit From Champions

Yesterday, we took part in "Tourism Day" at the Canadian Seniors Curling Championships being held in Digby. It was a lot of fun meeting players and fans from all over Canada and showcasing stuff from our store.
They sure do LOVE Digby!
Well, one of the teams asked if the shop would be open today so they could stop by. We said sure and look who showed up!

Nova Scotia Senior W omens' Champions

They came here fresh off a big win against Saskatchewan and Skip Colleen Jones left with one of Vickie's paintings. All the team was so supportive and are going home with several pieces of Vickie's Sandra's and Lisa's work and we thank them very much.
In addition to being great competitors, they are all friendly and really nice people.
What great representatives of our friendly province!

P.S. They didn't buy everything so if you're in the neighbourhood, come on by this weekend and say hi!
Both the men and women are in contention with only a few games left so Go Nova Scotia!!

Spring Will be A Few Days Late

So yesterday at around noon, we had nothing but bare grass. And then it started to snow. And then it started to blow. And this morning we woke to this:

Winter makes a brief return

At the height of the storm yesterday, we watched a huge section of a dock flow by on the waves and current. It's probably in Boston by now!
If the windows weren't covered, you could see all the neat stuff inside.

The new snowblower is working great and we are connected to the world once again.
So when you come and see us next summer, think of that snowdrift as you walk in the door!
See you soon.

Vickie's Latest Work of Art

Vickie is back on her polymer clay horse and has decided on the theme for her next collection.
She is calling it predator and she is taking her inspiration from the teeth and talons of some pretty nasty beasts whose shapes she finds beautiful (go figure).
The first in the series is the Mako.
When we lived in Jacksonville Florida, Ponta Vedra Beach, actually, we used to find a lot of shark teeth. Each shark has a distinctive tooth design and the Mako's are particularly beautiful.

actual fossilized mako shark's tooth

So starting with this figure, Vickie hand cuts her own forms and uses several different polymer clay techniques to form representational shapes with unique and beautiful patterns. She then combines them with agate and metal spacer beads to produce a beautiful necklace. A set of ear rings, a bracelet and a pendant will complete the set and she plans on doing several in different colour combinations.

The Mako Necklace - no two alike - collect the whole set!

These pieces will be available in the shop next spring and will also be for sale on our new Etsy site (more about that in the next post).
Out here on the Neck, the sun is getting stronger every day and most of the snow has melted. Although we are expecting a big snow storm next week, spring is just around the corner so make your plans now to visit our little piece of paradise out here on scenic Digby Neck.
See you soon.

Whale Cove Campground- a True Digby Neck Experience

Many years ago, I worked as an exploration geologist, spending entire summers living in a tent. I loved it! Growing up, my family camped every summer and the experience gave me some of my fondest memories.
Nova Scotia is basically one big camp site, and a fabulous one to boot! Each year, outdoor enthusiasts from all over the world come here to enjoy the outdoors.
Out on "The Neck" we only have one campground but fortunately, it's a real beauty.
Whale Cove Campground (located, coincidentally, at Whale Cove) gets its name from the numerous whale sightings nearby. It's a beautiful place which offers several different types of accommodations.

Check out the nearby wharf

Do you RV? They have large, easily accessible sites with water and electricity and a dump site.
How about a rustic cottage They have them- with housekeeping!
Campers have a wide choice of clean sites with a lot of amenities including free WiFi, a coin laundry, a small museum and lots more.
Maybe you've never camped in a tent but would like to see what it's like. Well, they even have a Rent-A-Tent program so you don't need to buy expensive equipment before you try it out!

Your home away from home

There are plenty of nearby places to eat and you can even get fresh caught lobster right at the campground!

They even have their own lobster boat!

And there's lots to do for the whole family. Beach comb for agates and sea glass on the rock beach, explore the coves and wharf and hike nearby trails. (And if you find a nice piece of agate, bring it to my lapidary shop at The Artist's Mark Studio/Shop and I'll cut it and polish it for you for a nominal cost. Guests from Whale Cove get a 10% discount on all our goods and services.

Beautiful Bay of Fundy agate

Your hosts at Whale Cove Campground are Tina Frost and her family. If you want to see how big a difference super friendly, helpful hosts can make to your experience, check out the comments on the Whale Cove Campground web site.
Stay at Whale Cove and maximize your Digby Neck Experience!
And while you're here, stop by The Artist's Mark and say hi.

For more information on the Whale Cove Campground, go to www.whalecovecampground.com

A Great Way to Experience the Digby Area

I am fortunate to live in an amazing area. Digby is located within the UNESCO Southwest Nova Biosphere- one of only 16 areas in Canada recognized internationally as being one of the world's most important nature areas and home to many endangered plants and animals. The geology is fascinating (see my earlier post) and the scenery can be breathtaking.
So a trip to this area can be the trip of a lifetime and a real learning experience for the whole family. In short, it can be something that your family will never forget.

Hiking at the Seawall on Digby Neck

 Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could have a really knowledgeable "local" take you to the best spots to maximize your visit? That's the idea behind Gael Tours.

Greg Turner- your Tour Guide

Greg Turner (no relation) is a life-long resident of the Digby area. An avid hiker, he knows all the really great areas off the beaten path and with 31 years experience as an educator, he can show you things that make this area so special and provide you with lifetime memories.
Greg conducts two different tours.

Plankton, Periwinkles and Predators:
This tour will help you explore the fascinating ecosystem of Digby- amazing sea life connected with the remarkable high tides and tidal pools of the famous Bay of Fundy. This tour is a Bay of Fundy Recommended Experience.

Stones, Steeples, Ships and Seafood:
Learn about the history of Digby and our world renowned scallop fishing fleet. In a short time, you'll feel like a native and you'll even get to sample local seafood (which is outstanding by the way).

Ecotours are the hottest trend in travel and a great way to maximize your vacation dollars and create family memories. If you want to learn more, go to www.gaeltours.ca

And while you're in the area, be sure to drop by our shop at the Artist's Mark on Digby Neck- right across from the Seawall cliffs and beach.
We look forward to welcoming you and sharing our amazing beautiful, unique area.

Great Place to Stay on the "Neck"

We are definitely into winter here on The Neck and the pace of life has slowed considerably. My new snowblower has worked great so far but time will tell. We get huge waves here when the wind blows from the south and today they are spectacular at high tide. It's truly an amazing place during a storm!
Linda Graham from Centreville stopped in this morning to say hi and I thought it would be good to do a post and tell you about her operation.
Graham's pioneer retreat is located in Centreville, about 5 minutes further up the neck from our shop. If you are looking for a memorable, comfortable and unique place to stay, this is it! Four cabins overlook beautiful St. Mary's Bay, providing spectacular views all year. What makes them unique is that they are totally "off the grid" and yet have electricity and all the comforts of home. How? By generators that can be started and stopped with the flick of a switch.

One of the cabins at Graham's pioneer retreat

For more info on Grahams, go to www.digbyneck.com
So plan your next visit to beautiful Digby Neck and stay at Graham's pioneer retreat. You can go bird watching and whale watching, spend time on some beautiful beaches, go rock hounding (if you are nice to me I'll tell you where!), enjoy some local seafood and a bonfire and see a spectacular starry heavens in our world famous dark night sky.
Visit the amazing Balancing Rock and try and figure out how it got there.

And if you stop by The Artist's Mark, I'll tell you all about the geological history of the neck and show you how we create beautiful jewelry from our local agate. If you are staying at Graham's you'll get 10% off all your purchases in our shop.

Beautiful moss agate pendant in a sterling silver setting

So much to see.
So much to do.
You're gonna' love Digby Neck!