Full moon

The August full moon is called the “Sturgeon Moon” after a time when sturgeon fish were full-grown and ready to harvest in the Great Lakes. Indigenous people in our region named this moon the “Berry Ripening Moon” and I like that better. 

The Sturgeon Moon/Berry Ripening Moon is thought to promote strength, endurance and spirituality and I’d like to tap into some of that. The high tides certainly reflect the moon’s power.

What a delicious summer it’s been. Plump strawberries and blueberries, best-ever Ontario peaches, raspberries busting with flavour… fresh fruit pies (fresh fruit laid a graham cracker crust and smothered in a jello-cornstarch glaze OMG)… also lobster rolls, fish ‘n’ chips, peas in the pod, crisp sweet French breakfast radishes.

All our visitors agree that food here tastes amazing. One family member even claims that her hair becomes more beautiful on the Island. Really? That would make an interesting pitch: “Come see what the Island can do for your hair!”

Although the Cove is close to perfect, we did embark on road trips to other almost-perfect places. In the middle of Cape Breton Island a five-minute cable ferry ride brought us to Englishtown and “Donelda’s Puffin Tours.” We loved St. Ann’s Bay and the excursion that gave us close-up views of razorbills, guillemots, cormorants, and Atlantic puffins… who nest in underground burrows, hold multiple small fish in their serrated beaks, flap their wings 300 times a minute, and fly up to 88 km/hr. Are puffins cute? They probably don’t think so; they’re fierce survivors.

Another outing took us to Double Hill Cidery in Caledonia where we sipped delicious sparkling ciders under a huge white tent on the crest of a hill overlooking one of the most beautiful landscapes on PEI. 

Then we almost rented e-bikes in Georgetown to take a speedy ride down Confederation Trail, but it was too hot out. 

And what about Montague Days… how many volunteers does it take to pull off a festival like this? Parade, live music, vendors galore, a buzzing waterfront. Here in the Cove we think we’re pretty great when we organize a Strawberry Social—and we are!—and our Social was amazing!—but it didn’t last two days.

I should mention a trip of a different sort: a Trip down Memory Lane as illustrated in my new graphic memoir Birth of a Hippie. My book launch is coming up and am I nervous? Of course! It’s all about me! I’d better go swimming and forget about it.

How can anyone be anxious at the Cove? Best water ever. Warm, clear, welcoming. When I see attentive parents and delighted children laughing and playing down at the shore—and picking up after themselves!—my hope in humanity is revived. 

But these lazy hazy crazy days of summer are much too hazy. The Berry Ripening moon is not supposed to be red. There are forest fires north of Moncton, outside of St. John, in the Miramichi… 

But speaking of berries, I’d better scoot over to Tryon to pick some blueberries. Ahh, blueberries on my granola, on my ice cream, fresh blueberry pie… Yum.

JoDee’s book launch will be at the Confed Centre Art Gallery on September 11 at 7 pm.