Colours of the season

I’m more than half way finished the next in the series, the peculiar red and green shale that Howley describes from the north end of Change Islands Tickle.  When I was there sketching and photographing I was struck by the colours, two separate pieces of red and green rock side by side on the water’s edge.  As I’m painting and looking back at photographs I see the many variations of red and green in these rocks, ranging from yellow to a deep dark red, a bright orange and an almost lime green.  Is this what Howely describes as peculiar?  I feel I am revealing the secrets of this peculiar structure. 

In one of his miscellaneous note books that I found at the Provincial Archives I was delighted to find this handwritten recipe for ginger cake. 

Soft Ginger Cake

2 eggs

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup molasses

½ cup melted butter

2 cups flour

1 tsp ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp allspice

1 tsp soda in 1 cup of boiling water (add this last)

Whether James P. baked this himself or not I cannot guess; but to quote him from page 66 of the book Reminiscences of Forty years of Exploration in and about Newfoundland:

"... I can assure all who contemplate a life in the woods that a knowledge of cooking is a very important one to acquire."

Merry Christmas to all!