Do You Remember?
I don’t. Count on it.
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A Giving Community – ImPort Stanley
ImPort Stanley is weekly series about life and discoveries by a recent “import” to Port Stanley, ON.
Our little village is showing support for Ukraine. The decal above is on the window of The Harbour Merchant Coffee Company. Around the corner toward Little Beach, Joshua and Company will donate 20% of all sales on Wednesday (March 16) to the Red Cross and its efforts in Ukraine. The Canadian government is matching donations until March 18, so your money doubles.
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Cuddles the Cat Update
It’s only been six weeks since Cuddles the senior cat came home with us and it’s becoming like he’s always lived here.
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Shopping – ImPort Stanley
ImPort Stanley is weekly series about life and discoveries by a recent “import” to Port Stanley, ON.
My heartbeat sped up as I plopped in today’s title! I absolutely love shopping in Port Stanley and have made it my mission to visit all the stores. Hey, it’s research! This is a long one. And there are more stores to come, with the announcement this week that the former L.R. Jackson Fisheries building was sold again, with a vision of more retail opening there. And that the Dominion of Canada building across the harbour was sold, to become a microbrewery next year. A market is coming to the old firehall at the base of Schoolhouse Hill. And something is cooking in the former Village Square coffee shop across the intersection.
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What We Get Wrong About Sleep
Our collective sleep quality and quantity is one of many things negatively affected by the pandemic. People who never had trouble sleeping now have bouts of insomnia. Add an incomprehensible war with 24/7 coverage and our ability to wind down is worsened. We have always talked a lot about sleep in this house. It’s probably third, after food and the cat. I slept like crap. I had a great sleep. What time did you get up? And so on.
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The Stork Club – ImPort Stanley
ImPort Stanley is weekly series about life and discoveries by a recent “import” to Port Stanley, ON.
It’s been gone more than four decades but The Stork Club is an important part of Port Stanley history. Its logo is emblazoned on local souvenirs and on a mural en route to the main beach.
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You’ve Got to Change Your Mind
A young friend, a former colleague actually, told me this phrase as part of a teenage-hood anecdote. When she got upset about something she couldn’t do anything about, her Mother would say, “You’ve got to change your mind”. As someone who didn’t grow up with that kind of advice, I see its immense power and wisdom.
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Where to Eat – ImPort Stanley
ImPort Stanley is weekly series about life and discoveries as a recent “import” to Port Stanley, ON.
As you’re well aware, Covid has affected the hours and operations of restaurants. Please click on the embedded links of restaurants that interest you and find the latest info before you head out. A link will go to a Facebook page if the business doesn’t have a dedicated website. I’ll offer my opinion about places I’ve tried. But don’t let my lack of personal experience with a restaurant deter you from trying it. I’ll get to all of them eventually!
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Talking Dog Language
Gary Larson drew a Far Side cartoon I’ll never forget. It’s one among many memorable ones, actually. I can’t reproduce it here because of copyright laws and the fact that I’d like to keep my house instead of giving it to Larson’s lawyer.
…Where to Stay – ImPort Stanley
ImPort Stanley is weekly series about life and discoveries as a recent “import” to Port Stanley, ON.
Full disclosure: I’ve never stayed in a Port Stanley hotel. However, several friends have. Some return year after year to stay in the same spot. That tells you a lot. We’re fortunate to have room for our guests to stay. But any more than 2 will have to read this page and pick out their best option!
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Gossip Mongers
I was looking for some info about my first book, Celebrity Tantrums, and hit up Google. The book was published in 2003 so some of the details are fuzzy in my memory. Google never forgets. One link seemed a little strange so I investigated further and that’s how I found out about a mistake I’d made in the manuscript.
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Son of a Beach – ImPort Stanley
ImPort Stanley is weekly series about life and discoveries as a recent “import” to Port Stanley, ON.
For many, a visit to this town is mainly because of the beach.
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Anticipating Cuddles
Even as we grieved for Miss Sugar, we knew it wouldn’t be long before we welcomed another little beating heart into our home. There’ll never be another Miss Sugar or a Spice. But the place felt empty without a furball to feed and love. Enter Cuddles, a 13-year-old panther-like beauty surrendered to Animal Aide in St. Thomas 7 long months ago.
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The Berm – ImPort Stanley
ImPort Stanley is weekly series about life and discoveries as a recent “import” to Port Stanley, ON.
If you’ve visited Little Beach, you might wonder why a large tract of land a parking lot away is just sort of sitting there. They’ve put in place some picnic areas made of boulders. Currently, the 23-acre patch is partly a photographer tripod platform, dog exercise area, and goose toilet. There are well-worn footpaths around the perimeter. On the water’s edge, it seems ripe for development. But its history offers clues into why that hasn’t happened yet and perhaps shouldn’t happen at all.
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Gigging 101
Every week, someone asks me about the freelance life. What’s it like to work for The Man all your career and then do your own thing? Lots of people are taking the plunge. Some who have been working from home since the pandemic will never go back into an office and now gig instead.. Others have seen the freedom and benefits of working for themselves. I’m no fortune teller, but I got lucky. My freelance/self-employment career began before the pandemic started. It gave me a chance to get a foothold on it before the latest spurt of growth in the gig-economy.
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The King George Bridge – ImPort Stanley
ImPort Stanley is weekly series about life and discoveries as a recent “import” to Port Stanley, ON.
Watching the lift bridge in Port Stanley is oddly compelling. A patio with concrete picnic tables sits at the water’s edge, and there’s nowhere I’d rather be on a warm summer night than on one of those benches, enjoying an ice cream cone, watching the boats float past. We try to guess how much they cost. Or where they’re from. Or just enjoy the view of happy-looking people doing what they love. When the bells sound and the bridge breaks in half, rising to 80-plus degrees, you can’t look away. It’s never boring. It opens every half hour during peak season.
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Dear Young Woman
I’m writing to you as an elder sister. You can’t imagine it now (nor should you, if you’re living your life well), but I don’t feel that much different than you do. You may look at me like a Mother or Aunt figure. I see you as a peer.
…Schoolhouse Hill – ImPort Stanley
A weekly series about life and discoveries as a recent “import” to Port Stanley, ON.
My most frequent – and really only – complaint about living in Port Stanley is this darn hill!
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