Autumn in Antigonish

It's been a two-month stretch without any photos posted, but I assure you I am working more than my 37.5 and continuing to churn out images/words/videos for the newspaper. Here are highlights from the past couple months.

Tommy Landry works on one of his flower paintings at The Studio, run by L’Arche Antigonish, on Thursday, Nov. 22. Photo by Rachel Psutka. 

Tia Andriani (left) as Amy, Noella Murphy as Jo, Emily Scales as Beth and Christina Appleby as Meg rehearse a scene Thursday, Nov. 8 in Theatre Antigonish’s production of Little Women, which will take to the stage at the Bauer Theatre Nov. 22 to 25. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney jokes with Central Nova MP Peter MacKay, alumni and students after a speech at StFX Wednesday, Nov. 14. Photo by Rachel Psutka. 

Royals player Primrose Chareka (right) dives in to grab the ball from her fallen opponent from the Sir John A Macdonald Flames during the Mabel Arsenault Memorial/Subway Classic Dec. 7 at Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School. The Royals won this contest 54-45, with Scott scoring 25 points. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

Watson Mabuku, the executive director of a rehabilitation centre for disabled children in Botswana, has learned about using his own community’s resources while studying at the Coady International Institute. He is pictured here in the Marie Michael Library on Friday, Nov. 9. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

A runner makes his way through a snowy field near the StFX campus Saturday, Dec. 15. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

Morgan Gauthier hangs out in the trees in the snowy woods where she will spend a Saturday, Dec.1 night with friends from FreePlay Antigonish, a group providing outdoor physical activities for youth aged 10 and up. Despite the cold temperatures and several inches of snow on the ground of their Lanark area site, a total of 18 youth and three chaperones used their survival skills to build shelters and fires, cook a meal, and sleep out for the night. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

Pablo Scrosati (left), Steven Keefe and Jimmy Elewa relax near the fire they built under their shelter in the snowy woods where they will spend a Saturday, Dec.1 night with friends from FreePlay Antigonish, a group providing outdoor physical activities for youth aged 10 and up. Despite the cold temperatures and several inches of snow on the ground of their Lanark area site, a total of 18 youth and three chaperones used their survival skills to build shelters and fires, cook a meal, and sleep out for the night. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

A woman places her poppy amongst dozens of others on a wreath at the end of Remembrance Day ceremonies in Antigonish Sunday, Nov. 11. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

StFX senior students wait as their fellow students file into the Keating Centre for the highly-anticipated X-Ring ceremony Monday, Dec. 3. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

Grade 2 students Brayden Michaud (left) and James Deon are rocking as cool Santas during the St. Andrews Consolidated School Christmas concert Thursday, Dec. 13. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

Grade primary student Matthew Lang is a little unsure of his elf hat as his classmates take to the stage during the second of three Christmas concerts held by Antigonish Education Centre Wednesday, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

Duncan MacDonald unloads freshly cut Christmas trees to his selling location in Antigonish Friday, Nov. 30. MacDonald is one of several local growers of Balsam firs hoping that local residents will continue to support the real tree industry. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Life in the east

Every once in a while, life goes unexpectedly. I'm still spinning on the tangent that I've been thrown on since mid-summer, and I'm not sure where it's leading me. I dealt, and am still dealing, with some very serious issues that greatly affected how I live my life. I ended up stepping aside, at least mentally, from this industry, and have probably caused some damage to a potential career as a result. I need to start repairing that, a little bit at a time. Onwards.

Somehow, I ended up here, working at a weekly newspaper called The Casket in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. I've been here almost a month, working as their photo/video guru, plus the ten or so stories I write each week. Everyone's been very welcoming, both at the office and in public. When I went to switch over my driver's licence, I got a hearty welcome and a dinner invitation from the service person. When I went to do that in another province, the woman told me that I was too close to her counter and then told me my last name was too hard to type and I should change it so English people could read it. The differences are pretty stark.

Because I know words are boring, here are a few photos from my first month on the job.

Marlene Morell, co-director of the Antigonish branch of Ca-r-ma, holds five three-week-old foster kittens under her care at her home on Friday, Oct. 5. Ca-r-ma is trying to raise funds for their trap, neuter, release program. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Mark Chisholm, 12, is the fifth of six children in his family to deliver the Casket each week. Pictured here Tuesday, Oct. 2 while loading his weekly delivery into his family’s vehicle, Mark has been delivering the paper for five years, and his family has been involved with deliveries for 13 years. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Ella MacDonnell (left) and Lauryn Burke take part in a Terry Fox run with Children’s Place Day Care at Antigonish’s Columbus Field Thursday, Oct. 4. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Jessica Buteau was dressed for the occasion as she helped Ca-r-ma Antigonish with their annual fundraiser, Alley Cat Cosmic Bowling. The dedicated bowlers raised around $4000 for the organization that helps trap, neuter, and release feral cats. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Salmon fly fishing tourist Paul Chain, from New York, casts his line into the rising sun in the West River outside Antigonish Thursday, Oct. 11. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Ryan DeGruchy (bottom) and David Bond of the Dr. J.H. Gillis Royals pile a tackle on Cameron Davidson of the Horton Griffins during second period Friday night football in Antigonish. The Royals lost 27-8. (Rachel Psutka photo)    

Cameron Davidson (second right) of the Horton Griffins is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Dr. J.H. Gillis Royals Friday night in Antigonish. The Royals lost 27-8. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Brennen Wray of the St. F.X. X-Men heads to the penalty box after a brief fight in front of the Saint Mary’s Huskies goal during home opener action Saturday, Oct. 13 in Antigonish. The X-Men won 5-3. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Alexandre Arseneau of the U de Moncton Aigles Bleus leaps for a header during first half action against the St. F.X. X-Men Sunday, Oct. 14. The X-Men won 3-0. (Rachel Psutka photo)

A singles rower waits to race Saturday, Oct. 13 at Lochaber Lake at the first ever regatta hosted by the St. F.X. Rowing team. Since the regatta, the rowing community and Lochaber have seen a half million dollar investment by the federal government into developing the lake as the only course east of Quebec for international-level rowing. (Rachel Psutka photo)

District 6 Strait Regional School Board candidate Carmel Beaton looks on as incumbent Brian Murray answers a question at a forum at St. Andrew Junior School Tuesday, Oct. 9. Murray was re-elected to the school board seat as a result of Saturday's voting. (Rachel Psutka photo) 

Grade 4 students Taleah Kennedy (left), Sophie Delorey, Effie Maggie Burke, and Catherine MacDonald take full advantage of the nature trail behind St. Andrews Consolidated School during a morning recess break Thursday, Oct. 11. (Rachel Psutka photo) 

Town of Antigonish Deputy Mayor Diane Roberts inspects the 1st Battalion of the Nova Scotia Highlanders in front of Antigonish Town Hall Sunday, Oct. 14, as part of the commemorations of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. Accompanied by pipes and drums, the battalion marched down Main Street to recognize the gallantry of thousands of early Canadians who fought to defend their homeland during the war. (Rachel Psutka photo) 

X-Women Keirsten Wilson (left) and Melissa Landry take a tumble during pre-season action against the Acadia Axewomen Saturday, Oct. 13 at St. F.X. (Rachel Psutka photo)

X-Women Erin Sigalet (centre) and Aneta Nejmanova go up for a block against the spike of Jazmin Logue-Prest of the Acadia Axewomen during pre-season action Saturday, Oct. 13 at St. F.X. (Rachel Psutka photo) 

Grade primary students at St. Andrews Consolidated School have mixed reactions to meeting a real-life firefighter during a visit from St. Andrews Volunteer Fire Department as part of Fire Prevention Week Thursday, Oct. 11. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Rachel Dragan (right) of the X-Women watches her shot deflect off the post of the Saint Mary’s Huskies during first half action Saturday in Antigonish. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Dominique Comtois of the X-Men waits for medical treatment in the endzone during play on Saturday, Oct. 20. The X-Men lost 29-16 to the visiting Mount Allison Mounties. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Hayden Peters (right) of the X-Men avoids a couple of Mounties during play Saturday. The X-Men lost 29-16 to the visiting Mount Allison Mounties. (Rachel Psutka photo)

The Mounties celebrate a last minute touchdown following an interception during play against the X-Men Saturday. The X-Men lost 29-16 to the visiting Mount Allison Mounties. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Matthew Lavallee (centre), is joined by his daughters Meadow (left) and Madison to sing traditional songs as the public joins in for a circle dance at the Mi’kmaq History Month celebration held Monday, Oct. 29 at StFX. Sponsored by the Office of the Aboriginal Student Advisor and the Aboriginal Students at X Society, the event was attended by over 100 students and members of the general public and offered food, traditional dancing, and a film in celebration of the culture and history of the First Nations people in the Antigonish area. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Heather MacGillivray, Kristina Richard, Carol Ann Boyle and Mary Eileen Garvie show off their red shoelaces in support of Be a Fan Day, honouring Special Olympians, Thursday, Oct. 25 at the CACL workshop in Antigonish. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Mary Coyle, former director of the Coady Institute and current senior advisor, received an award for her work with women’s rights around the world from the Adsum for Women & Children’s 23rd Annual Successful Canadian Women’s Dinner Tuesday, Oct. 23. (Rachel Psutka photo)

And finally, because I did mention that I am a video guru, here's the only multimedia piece I've produced so far:

Plowshare Farm

Starting in June, I visited a group of organic farmers to document their lives on a horse-powered farm. I posted some images then, and completed the project a few days ago with less than an hour left in my internship.

Many thanks to the farmers and my editors, who allowed me excess time in the last week at work to pull the whole project together. It ran large (A1, with a full A3), and my video went online like all videos. Ha.

Done, again

Thursday was my last day at the Mercury, at least for now. I hope to return someday, it was a good experience and I felt like my work was greatly appreciated. I'll even write if I have to! All jokes aside, I'm pretty sad to see my summer go. But unfortunately, we must all float on. Here's a few shots from the last month. I'll have a few pdfs, especially for my long term project, in an upcoming post.

GUELPH, Ont. (04/08/12) - Enrico Borghese crashed off his bicycle on July 24 when he tried returning to the bike lane after passing another cyclist on eastbound Stone Road. Pictured here on August 4, Borghese says the curbed edge is too high to mount if cycling parallel to it. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

FERGUS, Ont. (10/08/12) - A young drummer waits to play with the Fergus Pipe and Drum Band at the Fergus Scottish Festival during the Friday Night Tattoo. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

FERGUS, Ont. (08/08/12) - Andrew Dashper, from Waterloo, practices throwing a stone during the Scottish Heavy Events School, held as part of the Fergus Scottish Festival in Fergus on Wednesday. The two-day school teaches aspiring heavy event competitors the skills to compete in the amateur competition during the festival, running this weekend. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

FERGUS, Ont. (11/08/12) - Lucas Wenta, from Poland, prepares to throw a hammer during the Fergus Scottish Festival heavy events on Saturday. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

GUELPH, Ont. (13/08/12) - Anand Khagram, two and a half, gets a comfy wagon ride with a stuffed monkey friend along Guelph's London Road courtesy of his mom Christina Kingsbury on Monday afternoon. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

GUELPH, Ont. (15/08/12) - Visitors explore the University of Guelph's trial garden during its annual open house on Wednesday. Rows of flowers, including these rudbeckia, and vegetables were on display for local gardeners to examine. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

GUELPH, Ont. (22/08/12) - Members of the Unaccompanied Minors (left to right), Lane Carter, 18, Grayson Carter, 18, Adam Monod, 17, and Elise Wagner, 17, placed third at the 2012 National Music Festival in Fort McMurray, Alberta on August 18. Photo by Rachel Psutka. 

GUELPH, Ont. (25/08/12) - Ribmaster Adam Gordon lathers on the barbeque sauce at Boss Hog's rib stand at Guelph Ribfest on Saturday, August 25. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

GUELPH, Ont. (20/08/12) - Football players take part in the Guelph Gryphons training camp on Monday morning at the University of Guelph. Around 120 athletes were on the field with coaches to determine what roles each player will take in their upcoming season opening exhibition games later this week. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

GUELPH, Ont. (29/08/12) - Odin Knight-Kron, 10, practices his hoop skills with the help of Andrew Giordano of Centre of Gravity circus summer camp in Guelph on Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Rachel Psutka. 

GUELPH, Ont. (29/08/12) - Clelia Porzio-Gouveia, 7, practices her silks skills with the help of Jessica Martin of Centre of Gravity circus summer camp in Guelph on Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

GUELPH, Ont. (29/08/12) - Madeline Erickson, 10, practices her silks skills at the Centre of Gravity circus summer camp in Guelph on Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

Updates.

The past few weeks have been trying. I'm facing the prospect of unemployment again in less than a month, along with homelessness, and not sure where I'm going from here (on multiple levels).

What downers! Let's change the subject. Here's some photos from the past couple months of not really updating any daily work. (I shot a fair amount of "it's hot out" weather features.)

GUELPH, Ont. (19/06/12) - Conan the golden retriever shakes off the water during a swim in the Speed River near Royal City Park in Guelph on Tuesday afternoon. Temperatures were set to reach 30 C, with humidity making it feel more like 40 C.  Photo by Rachel Psutka.

GUELPH, Ont. (19/06/12) - Montreal resident Sahra Campbell, in Guelph to visit her brother, picks a shady spot in Royal City Park to read a book on Tuesday afternoon. Temperatures were set to reach 30 C, with humidity making it feel more like 40 C.  Photo by Rachel Psutka.

GUELPH, Ont. (26/06/12) - Annie de Grey takes in a sunny Tuesday afternoon with some hula hoop time in Guelph's Exhibition Park. The temperature is expected to soar throughout the week, peaking for a weekend with both days over 30C. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

GUELPH, Ont. (01/07/12) - New Canadian citizen Harish Vasudevasarma (left) watches as his fellow new Canadian John Ford is greeted by his 21 month old son Charlie at Guelph's Canadian citizenship ceremony on July 1. Vasudevasarma, a native of India, and Ford, a native of England, were amongst the 41 new Canadians welcomed at the ceremony. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

GUELPH, Ont. (05/07/12) - Matthew Paonne, 8, takes cools off from a hot Thursday with help from the Guelph Fire Department at Norm Jary Park. Matthew was one of dozens of children who came out with their parents to enjoy the spray from a fire hose and climb inside a fire truck, ambulance, or police cruiser as part of the Hot Summer Nights program, which will be held on Thursdays throughout the summer. Photo by Rachel Psutka. 

GUELPH, Ont. (09/07/12) - Danielle Visschedyk (left) and Matt Havercroft go in for a catch during a practice of the MuD Ultimate Frisbee touring team in Guelph on Monday, July 9. The Guelph team won provincial championships last weekend in North Bay and will be heading to Victoria, B.C. for nationals next month. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

GUELPH, Ont. (10/07/12) - Bruce MacDonald plays the bagpipes with the Guelph Pipe Band during a performance in the McCrae Memorial Gardens on Tuesday, July 10. The Guelph Pipe Band puts on outdoor evening performances on the second Tuesday of each month until September. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

GUELPH, Ont. (18/07/12) - Fife Road resident Ernest B---- shows where a stash of at least ten city signs, including three stop signs, were found Tuesday by his wife in a ditch off the road just west of Guelph. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

GUELPH, Ont. (19/07/12) - Towing crews work to clear debris from the intersection of Elmira Road and Speedvale Ave in Guelph shortly after 3 p.m. A two-car collision closed Speedvale westbound between Elmira and Imperial Roads. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

GUELPH, Ont. (20/07/12) - John Carroll looks down the tracks on the final journey of his tourist train, the Guelph Junction Express. The train cars have been sold, and the train went on its final journey Friday afternoon. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

GUELPH, Ont. (25/07/12) - River Craig, 10 months, shows off sound-dampening ear muffs with his dad Mike at the Guelph Farmers' Market on Wednesday. The family runs Muffle the Music, providing noise protection for childrens' ears, and hopes to sell a few sets in advance of Hillside Festival. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

GUELPH, Ont. (31/07/12) - Johann Huang and Caley Patrick Doran of Moxie's Grill show off a dish they will make for a fundraiser for Guelph's hospitals, which will be held in September. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

GUELPH, Ont. (13/07/12) - Rick McNabb, an agricultural assistant with the Ontario Veterinary College, brings feed in for Prince, a horse residing in the large animal barn over the summer, on Friday, July 13. The Ontario Veterinary College celebrated its 150th year in Guelph in 2012. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

ROCKWOOD, Ont. (12/07/12) - Nolan Burke, 9, and his cousin Sam Gitter, 4, throw water at each other at the beach in Rockwood Conservation Area on Thursday afternoon. The two, from Fergus, were out enjoying the heat with their families. Photo by Rachel Psutka.

ROCKWOOD, Ont. (12/07/12) - Tyler Little, from Guelph, and his Siberian husky Chevy take in a hot afternoon with some floating time in the lake at Rockwood Conservation Area on Thursday. Photo by Rachel Psutka.