Winter at the Homestead

     I took the following photos at the Homestead on Dec. 27th.  It's been snowing nearly every day the past two weeks - it's either snow storming or light flurries all day.  It's been like living in a snow globe!!

     I went out to the main highway in Alma to Holy Trinity Alma Anglican Church and took the following photos - a winter wonderland for sure!!!
     The church is used seasonally now.  Construction started on the church in 1888 and was officially opened in October 1890. 

Happy Holidays

     We'd like to send out greetings for a wonderful Holiday - Merry Christmas to one and all.  May 2014 be happy and healthy for you.

     Special thanks and good wishes go our guests who stayed with us in 2013 - we very much enjoyed having you stay with us.



Christmas 2013 Canada Remembers Choir

performing at Government House, Charlottetown, PEI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_PIp6pesWg

Government House. cf. www.theguardian.pe.ca

Kerras Jeffery's Backroad Folkart, Alma featured on Canadian Pickers Show

     Last evening beautiful Prince Edward Island, local antique collectors, including my brother Kerras, were featured on the Canadian Pickers TV Show on the History Channel - it was a great episode.  Click on below to watch it!

http://www.history.ca/video/when+pigs+fly/video.html?v=2412058672&p=1&s=dd#video

Checkout Kerras' blog

http://backroadfolkart.blogspot.ca/2013/10/canadian-pickers-episode-on-pei.html

 Below: Photos of Scott and Sheldon at Backroad Folkart.

Confederation Trail near Homestead

     The famous Prince Edward Island Confederation Trail runs very close to the Jeffery Homestead.
     For more information regarding Confederation Trail see the following websites:
http://www.tourismpei.com/pei-confederation-trail
http://www.tourismpei.com/pei-cycling
http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g155022-d265234-Reviews-Confederation_Trail-Prince_Edward_Island.html

     Above: new pavement on Centerline Road - this photo is taken going east - the Confederation Trail is just ahead as the road straightens.

     Confederation Trail, looking south - this takes you towards Rte. 2 in Alma and further to Alberton.

     Confederation Trail, looking north - this takes you towards St. Louis and to the end at Tignish.

Above: looking north down Confederation Trail.

     Above: Confederation Trail, looking north, a short distance in on the trail from Centerline Road - on the far left you can see the house and barn of Jeffery Homestead. 
     Below:  Jeffery Homestead as seen from Confederation Trail - using zoom lens.

     Below: looking back towards Centerline Road - its just ahead.

    Below: Entry gates to Confederation Trail.

Below map cf. http://superiorfootprints.org/2013/08/22/pei-a-haven-for-cyclists/

Below info cf. http://www.tourismpei.com/confederation-trail/tignish-to-elmira

Main Trail (Tignish to Elmira) - Main Trail (cumulative distance)

Tignish to Elmira	KM
Tignish	0
St. Louis	11.1
Alma	14.6
Alberton	21.1
Elmsdale	26.8
Bloomfield	35.5
O'Leary	44.8
Portage	59.1
Ellerslie	71.9
Richmond	82.9
Wellington	90.7
Summerside (waterfront)	109.3
Kensington	122.7
Freetown	131.1
Emerald	136.8
Fredericton	147.4
Hunter River	154.5
Milton	170.8
Royalty Junction	176.7
York	182.9
Tracadie	195.3
Mount Stewart	204.0
Morell	219.1
St. Peters	230.5
Selkirk	242.1
Bear River	248.9
Harmony Junction	257.6
Elmira	273.4

Sunflowers are blooming

     Here's a few photos from around the yard yesterday - the sunflowers are blooming, however, a bit later than usual.  The rose bush is still blooming as well.

We picked plums and pears from the fruit trees - there's a few tomatoes too!

Around the yard as fall approaches

     I was working in the yard yesterday and took the following photos - the plums, pears and apples are ripening.

Mom and Dad had a great garden this summer!

     Above to the left: Five blue spruce trees we planted on July 8th, 2011 to mark Mom and Dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary.  Below: here they are planting them - they're growing!!

Sunflowers are starting to open!

Today was a beautiful warm/hot summers day with little breeze!

Above/Below: a hearty rose bush Arnold gave Mom following a serious illness in the spring of 2007 - it's hearty like Mom!

     Below: a whirligig made by folk art brother Kerras.

     Below: the window boxes did well this summer - we planted miniature dalhias on each end with marigolds and pansies in betwee.

Below: the fruit trees are producing well.

Below: the new flower bed survived the warm dry summer!

Below: a plant called "Strawberry Sundae" - disregard the weeds :-D)

     Below: the birch tree is big - Kerras and Dad planted it 35 years ago - they dug it up as a seedling from the back woods.

     Mom and Dad planted these six maples in 2005 - they've done well, especially the first one on the right as it's near the septic field tile and its roots gets lots of moisture below.

     Above to the left: there's the little spruce tree planted in 2011 for our first-great child Ciara Jane Pitre, born on June 15, 2010.  It's a beautifully shaped spruce tree - it was very tiny the first couple of years but its starting to grow.  Here it is again below.

Below: Kerras folk art pig still watches guard over the place!

     Below:  on Sunday August 18th we planted two more trees for family members at the Homestead - first an "Empress Tree" in honour of our Grandmother, Empress (MacNevin) McDowell who will turn 94 on September 6th.   

     Also we planted a "Canoewood Tree" (aka. liriodendron/tulip tree) for our 2nd great-grandchild Charlie Christopher Clements born on April 24, 2012.   Here he is below.

     Both these trees are flowering and will grow fast and large to 60' high and 60' wide.  We still have to plant a tree for our 3rd great-grandchild Emma Christine Olive Pitre born August 16, 2012.