The 'Belle' in Belleville .

This is the time of the year when Belleville oversteps it's own name. It is beyond beautiful. Ancient crabapple trees with gnarled trunks greet you majestically around every corner ....their soft pink blossoms bring a gentle glow to your inner being and just one gaze eases the day's tensions. The lilacs are in bloom ! Here and there I see smiling women and girls and little boys carrying home their treasure of an armload of lilacs. I imagine the glorious fragrance that precedes them as they walk determinedly home, the bounce of spring in their step.

The gorgeous homes in the Old East Hill proudly declare 'Spring has arrived !' with their gardens of tulips and phlox and freshly planted geraniums. The gardens are so beautiful that mere words won't depict the visions...so, I will take some pictures today and post them later.

The shore birds have come back home for the season ! A few weeks ago I heard a loon call as he flew past my window in the early morning light, gracefully heading for the Bay of Quinte where Great Blue Herons and Grackles walk peacefully along the shores .

There is so much natural beauty here, the meandering Moira River under the jurisdiction of Quinte Conversation , graces the centre of the city with it's rapids and twists andold stone bridges . The waterfront trail runs along it's border and is the perfect way to spend a peaceful few hours resting your soul while you not only exercise your muscles, but rejuvenate yourself while gazing on fish playing in small riverside bays, swaying willows with perfectly placed benches, herons scanning for their next meal, and fellow journeymen/women passing by as they smile and say a friendly 'Hello, beautiful day, isn't it?' . 'Yes, it is' you softly answer, and continue on your way.

The Place That Was Enough

Have you ever noticed that if you give your subconscious mind a job to work on before you fall asleep, that it will work on the problem during the night ? For instance , when you have to get up at a certain time, and you set your alarm, you usually wake up before the alarm goes off. This is your subconscious mind at work. It never sleeps, has no need to. However, that being said, it does have SOME requirements. Number one is that you acknowledge it and it's inherent wisdom. It is one of those things that goes by the adage 'use it or lose it'. Then again, some people never lose it, they just don't bother paying any attention to it. I have often been guilty of this myself.
Consulting your subconscious mind when you are in a new place and asking it to come out and give an opinion, can lead to your deepest thoughts and feelings being revealed. This can also apply to meeting new people. Your subconscious mind has access to places within a new person that your conscious mind has not the merest inkling of.
Trusting the message that your subconscious mind gives can save you a lot of grief.

This morning I awoke before my alarm went off. Showered, dressed, quick coffee and I was off driving the long stretch of shimmering asphalt through rocky terrain of beaver dams and small lakes.
I arrived at my destination an hour early so headed into the nearest town to seek out the public beach and daydream. I have always marveled how each little town in Ontario has it's own little sandy beach and lakeside park. Usually there is a restaurant nearby overlooking the long view of the lake. The names of these restaurants are always synonymous with comfort, home, warmth, peace… The Sunset Patio, The Kozy Grill, Dockside Bar and Grill , The Dew Drop Inn.

As I gazed across the slate grey surface of the lake, I felt a sense of hardship; of people who had come together and made a go of it not because of the initial beauty of the place, but because there was nowhere else to go. This place, this place carved out of glacial ridges and granite outcrops, was enough. They could make a home here and be left alone. Left alone because the beauty of this place was not a beauty that would attract tanned summer visitors by the scores and worldly city people who wished to set up summer shops and tea rooms. No. The beauty of this place lay just below the surface and had to be found. All that was known about this place was that once you had spent some nights and days here, it lodged itself in your soul. You wanted to come back. Not only wanted, you HAD to come back. And once you did, you stayed. This place provided a skein of fine thread that completed the fabric of moments that comprised the tapestry of the time you had been given here. This place was enough.

If you chance upon.......

I once watched a film on television, many moons ago, called 'Brigadoon'

It was an enchanting tale about a mystical hidden village in the highlands of Scotland that only came to life once every hundred years .

Two men chanced upon it and one of them fell in love with the village and a woman there. He wanted to stay. The villagers knew a secret and they were always happy . I remember the film gave me such a great feeling deep down in my heart and soul and even today when I think of it, that feeling overtakes me once again.

I have often thought Belleville, Ontario is a larger version of Brigadoon . The people here are 'go-out -of-your-way' friendly and the general mood is one of peace, laughing children, singing birds, ancient tree-lined streets and gentility.

One never lacks for things to do when one either lives in or is visiting Belleville . There are numerous white sand beaches within a 20 minute drive of the city . Listed below are the most popular ones and they each deserve to be put on your list of '101 things to do before I leave earth' ~

Sandbanks Provincial Park

North Beach Provincial Park

Presquile Provincial Park

Make sure and pack your wicker picnic basket with crisp cool carrot sticks, salmon or cucumber sandwiches, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, and an assortment of drinks ...once you get there and are out enjoying the fresh lake breeze and soaking up the sun, your stomach will begin to rumble ! So pull out the old plaid camp blanket (that you remembered to pack) , set up a beach chair and an umbrella, and sit down to your own gourmet lunch in Nature's Paradise Restaurant . You might have to share the odd crumb with a ring-billed gull or two.

Stay tuned for more of 'things to do if you chance upon Brigadoon', err I mean , Belleville, tomorrow !

Have You Bought Your Petunias Yet ?

The cultivations of gardens is an ancient practice. Streaming, colourful glazed pots of lobelia and dianthus resting majestically on the creaky old wooden stairs leading to the porch of a century home can make all the difference when trying to sell.

Curb appeal sells ! What better to say 'HELLO!' and 'WELCOME' than baskets of healthy herbs and old stone paths sprinkled with johnny-jump-ups ?

Yesterday I made a visit to my neighbourhood nursery and bought the elements of the planters I made up today. Cosmos, petunias, lobelia, marigolds, nicotiana, and others are now happily lounging outside my windows.

Have you ever noticed how houses with healthy and well-loved, colourful gardens
sell so much quicker ?
We are natural beings...our restless souls are soothed by gazing on soft petals and breathing in the scent of illusive blossoms.
Gardens help us to feel good, when we feel good, we like where we are so much better . Perhaps this is why seller's who take the time to carefully weed their flower beds and place attractive pots of flowers and greenery near their entrance, entice more buyers and sell quicker.

Drive down any street..which houses do you notice the most ? Why the ones with gorgeous and varied landscaping , of course ! Cultivating your flower beds and adding colour, shining your windows and making your entry inviting, is the best way to say to potential buyers '' ! First impressions are afterall, very important.

Happy Gardening !

Lazing Under the Old Willow....

It's a misty evening here in Belleville, Ontario. Outside my window soft spring rain lends a hush to the night air. The stately brick homes of the Belleville's Old East Hill rest peacefully wrapped in the gentle embrace of giant Oaks, Maples, Beech, Spruce and Pine. The trees bring so many gifts to the city and it's inhabitants, season after season, without ever asking for anything in return, other than to be admired and thanked now and then.

Many of the old trees that line the streets of Ontario's heritage towns are dying. They are dying not because of neglect or disease. Their decline is a gradual and natural process due to aging. We often forget that trees grow old and die too. Perhaps this is because they live so much longer than us and in some regions of the world some species can live thousands of years.

Kathleen Wolf of the University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture points out that studies show homebuyers will pay 3-7 % more for properties with an abundance of trees. I would estimate that real estate sales in the Quinte region not only prove Kathleen's point, but that here the percentage is likely much higher. Not a week goes by that I don't have a call from someone looking for a vacant piece of land to build on, not too far from the city and what is their number one desire in their search ? Trees ! Trees sell ! Trees are the ultimate home stagers. They give shade and cleaner air on hot muggy days. They cut the harsh winds on stormy days. They attract squirrels and all manner of our bird friends.... refreshment for the soul and a connection to our natural roots.

The Elms are making a comeback. Disease resistant varieties are now being planted in many towns . Elms are stately trees that grow over 100 feet tall and send deep roots down hence making them better to withstand the harshness of life on a city street . The salt run-off, limited soil cover, pavement and sidewalks blocking water from penetrating the soil, pollutant laden air and rain and not enough nutrients since we gather their fallen leaves each fall and cart them away, all work towards a very stressful life for a city tree.

Be kind to trees and they will be kind to you. It may be a good idea to plant young trees in your yard now, that way as the older ones slowly die off, the youngsters will be there to take their place. Since they can't be in the forest propagating their own offspring, maybe we can give them a helping hand !

One of the finest places to experience 'a forest in the city' atmosphere, when in Belleville, is to take a walk down the Parrott Riverfront Trail . The trail winds through a myriad of old and stately trees and wildish areas filled with bird song . On a hot day in the city you can find respite if you pack a picnic lunch and a blanket, and stay cool under the shade of a giant old pine or one of the grand maples that line the walk. You will leave feeling refreshed and looking forward to the next time .

Community Involvement ~ The PHOTO-NAT CLUB

The Quinte region has a wonderful array of groups to be a member of. Becoming involved will not only enable you to partake in an activity you enjoy, but also you will meet many wonderful people who share interests with you !

Opportunities for photographers abound in the Quinte region. PHOTO-NAT Club Belleville is your place to meet other amazing photographers and share and learn about photographing nature .

In their own words they are :


“Photo-Nat Photography Club is dedicated to photographing and enjoying the natural world. Our members are a mix of nature photographers, nature enthusiasts and amateur naturalists. Some of the members are naturalist who enjoy photography and some members are photographers who enjoy nature”

Sounds like my kind of group !

Some of the members even have their own websites . Check out these sites and feast your eyes on some of the indescribably beautiful images of the natural world around us as seen through the eyes of these amazing photographers !

Images of Photography by Terry Carpenter

Adventures In Photography by Tony DeGroot

Dick Kane - Photography

They meet at Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario in Room P10 of the Pioneer Building (the building closest to the Road) at 7:30PM on the last Wednesday of every month . Here is your opportunity to learn about recognizing and photographing Ontario’s indigenous plants ! This Wednesday’s meeting features Court Noxon ~ Indigenous Plants of Priince Edward County Up Close and Personal .

The group often organizes outings to beautiful local places to partake in the abundant opportunities to capture outstanding photos. This past Saturday they had an outing at Goodrich Loomis Conservation Area .

Goodrich Loomis Conservation Area Education Centre

Cedar forest at Goodrich Loomis

I welcome any Quinte region photographers (or residents outside our area who have photographed here ) who have photos they would like to be dislayed in my Belleville and Quinte Real Estate Blog, please email me here roylep@gmail.com with your photos and you will see them in a post or two (duly credited of course ).

This September the PHOTO-NAT club has a 3 day adventure in Algonquin Park planned ! I just may have to upgrade my camera,
dig out my camping gear and become involved with this group !
I’ll meet you on the trail !

The Old East Hill

I started one of my community blogs tonight. It is called 'The Old East Hill' and is a blog covering stories and information about The Old East Hill, one of Belleville's oldest neighbourhoods.
I decided to do a separate blog that covers just Old East Hill stories , since there are so many and I love this neighbourhood so dearly.

Now as I make the daily trek along the streets of The Old East Hill, i spot a million stories waiting to be told. Like today I thought of what the story behind The Super Duper, the small corner store transformed from the gullet of one of the old two storey houses here, might be. Like, 'Who Started That Store?'. 'Who Owns It Now?'. 'How Long Has It Been In Busness?' and so many more. I am seeing my community through whole different eyes now. Hmm, who knows where this might lead......

Time to hit the hay. G'night all !