The summer season is fast fading to early fall, even though the calendar tells us there is still a month left of this solstice.  It’s been a pretty warm one, and up until today the land was crying for rain.  We are glad for the relief from the heat and humidity.  Often, we recommend September to people as a time to visit.  The days are still warm, and the nights cooler with less bugs and humidity.  The tourists have also thinned out and days at the beach are still enjoyable.  Nature’s bounty is evident at the farmer’s markets and roadside stands.  Potatoes, beans, carrots, turnip, beets and blueberries.  Tomatoes are coming along, and the pumpkins will soon start appearing.  If you choose now to come for a visit, we can show you prime blueberry picking and a long nature walk to go with it.  Think about it…

I forgot to bring everyone up to speed on our little chickadees.  As far as I can tell, they all survived and flew the coop.  Now their former home has become a resting perch for our resident squirrel, who delights in tormenting Mollie and Seamus to no end.  He sits, flicking his tale saucily, waiting for his hunters to go away, which of course they don’t.  Seamus barks excitedly, Mollie yawns excitedly (Airedales do that when they are excited or annoyed or agitated) and the squirrel creeps down the birdhouse pole, tantalizingly close to his pursuers.  They sit like statues, waiting, but don’t move a hair until the squirrel hits the ground.  Then, the chase is on!  The squirrel inevitably outsmarts them to taunt another day.  The King of the Terriers certainly doesn’t rule this hunt!

For those who are allergic to goldenrod, or ragweed, this is not the time to be in PEI.  It is about as abundant as the blossoms on the potato plants, but definitely more irritating.  Sneezing, watery eyes, runny noses - antihistamines will be your best friend.  Choose the non-drowsy kind so that you don’t miss any of the beautiful scenery or exciting things to do.  On the other hand, snoozing is a great activity to indulge in when one is on vacation.

While you’re here, make sure you take in one of our farmer’s markets.  I help a friend sell her lamb at the Charlottetown Farmer’s Market on some Saturdays, and it’s just like Christmas!  Except, of course, that it’s not presents I get, it’s wonderful, farm-fresh produce, eggs, baking, ethnic cuisine, pottery, beverages, flowers and much, much more!  Alternatively, in PEI you can stop at any number of stalls on the roadside which are operated on the honour system.  Yes, you read right!  Farmers, and anyone growing veggies and/or fruits will place some of their bounty in a stall near the road and you can stop, choose your produce and put your money in the cashbox.  Some people don’t even ask a specific amount for the fruits of their labour.  Just whatever you can give is fine with them.  Ya gotta love PEIslanders!

September is a beautiful month to visit the Island.  We still get some warm, beach days but the evenings are cooler and the crowds have thinned, not to mention the mosquitoes and black flies have pretty much run their cycles.  Think about planning a long, relaxing weekend here at Howarth House.  We are open until the end of October.  Check us out!

The wild roses are blooming in our maze, the green is awash in pink splashes of colour.  This year we are planning to harvest our rosehips.  Besides the wild rose bushes we have rugosa roses, which apparently yield the highest quality and flavour.  Did you know that the rose is a relative of plums, blackberries, raspberries and apples?  The fleshy bulbs which form after the floom dies, especially on the rugosas, supposedly taste like an apple.  This is a new venture for us, but we plan on drying them and possibly making some syrup.  From there, we can make soup, wine, jelly and tea.  The rosehip is very high in vitamin C, bioflavinoids, B complex vitamins, pectin, vitamin E, selenium and manganese.  Come mid-September we will be busy harvesting the hips.  Why don’t you drop by and give us a hand? We have a cottage or room just for you!

One of our beautiful rose bushes!

I have posted some new links that you may want to check out.  Howarth House is located on the beautiful Points East Coastal Drive.  This link gives you all the information you will need to make your vacation the best ever. 

You will have noticed the tab on our website called “Helen’s Haven”.   Well, Helen now has her own website and I have provided the link.  We are still managing Helen’s Haven but you may contact her directly by clicking the “Contact” link on her website.

The East Point Lighthouse is a must-see attraction while visiting us.  It was built in 1867 and has served to help ships avoid the dangerous reefs offshore.  This is the place where “the sun rises and the tides meet”, three tides to be exact.  The Atlantic ocean, Gulf of St. Lawrence and Northumberland Strait all come together at this point.  Amazing!

And finally, while you are here, we highly recommend a meal or two at the Sandstone Restaurant.  Located in North Lake, the Bluefin Tuna Capital of the World, this large, airy food emporium offers excellent service and some of the freshest seafood available on this end of beautiful Prince Edward Island!

Yes, it is mid-summer, but there is still lots of time left to experience the quiet beauty of our estate.  We’ll see you soon, eh?

This place is for the birds!  Last week we heard a scratching in the living room stovepipe so assumed it was a bird.  Well, it would have to make it’s own way out, right?  It did, about three days later.  The latch wasn’t on the door, so it managed to push the door open, unbeknownst to me.  I heard a thudding sound, like a bird hitting the outside of a window, only much louder.  It must have knocked itself out because it was lying on the floor in the sunroom.  I picked it up and proceeded to go outside and try to find a place to put it.  Of course, the dogs wanted to “help”.  Not happening, so I secured them in the house.  I went down into the maze and found a secluded corner with a bench.  It was starting to rain, which I thought was a good thing because that would help revive the poor thing.  I set it down and it was able to lift it’s head, but was still dazed.  I found out later that it was an immature starling - we have a couple of families nesting in the eaves of our house.  When I checked back the next day, it wasn’t there so I’m thinking good thoughts and hoping it flew away.  Yes, that’s it!  Now for the chickadees.  We seldom see them, they spend most of their time in the woods near the property.  So it was quite unusual to see one nesting in a birdhouse near the cottage clothesline.  Every time I go out to hang laundry, the mom flits around, chick-a-deeing at me.  They are SO cute!  Anyway, a few days ago I was going to hang laundry as usual when I noticed something in the grass.  There was one of the babies, no bigger than the size of a chicken’s egg, and with few feathers.  I don’t even think it’s eyes were open!  I got some latex gloves and a ladder and carefully picked the little guy up.  He struggled a bit and I hoped that I wasn’t holding him too tight.  Gingerly I moved him into the birdhouse hole and nudged him through.  Success!  Then a couple of days later I decided to start checking regularly to make sure everything was okay.  Well, sure enough, another one!  This one was a little bigger and had more feathers.  I can imagine how hot it must be in there so they were probably moving towards the cooler air.  Anyway, same process only I had left the ladder there just in case.  This fellow was a little stonger and struggled a bit more but I managed to get him back in.  I checked again today, but no little birdies.  They must have heard me because all of a sudden the babies started squawking.  Mom must be out hunting for food.  Can’t wait until they start to leave the nest!  With any luck I’ll get a chance to see it.  As a footnote, the same house last year housed a squirrel family and I had to put one of the babies back in there too.  It was pretty young, eyes closed and little fur.  I don’t know if it made it but hopefully I’ll have more luck with the chickadees!  Until next time, stay cool and dry.

Lots going on here this weekend, the big event being the Cavendish music festival.  Keith Urban, Taylor Swift… and next week it’s Regis and Kelly.  Here’s hoping the weather will be great for them, and the island hospitality warm and wonderful as always.

Big news!  We have another video available, courtesy of PEI Hotels and Cottages.  Check out the new link and please consider making us part of your travel plans.

Howarth House PEI Hotels & Cottages

If you’re lucky, you already have your tickets for the Village Feast at the Souris Arena on Saturday July 3rd.  They have been on advance sale for the past while.  Check it out at http://www.ekpei.ca/VF.html. 

The weather is supposed to be sunny and warm this weekend, so why not spend the weekend in Eastern PEI?  Need a place to stay?  Give us a call.

Most of our summer friends are here now, just waiting for a couple more.  We love the variety of living here.  Summer means friends we haven’t seen for several months and a busy social time.  Winter means time to catch up with the full-timers, the ones who brave the “northside” year round.  Soon the Priest Pond bridge will be finished, and that will make things easier for everyone.  It also means that there may be some people driving by, looking for a place to stay.  That means business for us and hopefully, a restful stay for those who decide to stop and bide awhile.  Might that be you?  We’d love to see you - give us a call or stop in!