I know what you’re thinking, but that’s not it.
I am in love with red dirt and sand, fields and fields of potatoes, the briny smell of the sea and kelp sunning itself on the beaches, the cedar shingle houses that have seen over a hundred years. And let us not forget the lighthouses.
I’m in Prince Edward Island. I’m in love with Prince Edward Island!
(Although, I’ve never been here in the winter. I’m told the feel is very different and I believe it.)
I can honestly say that it’s one of my favourite places on this earth (and I’ve been to a fair amount of places on this globe). It’s my seventh visit here and I know it won’t be my last. (I’m legit checking out the real estate.)
I can’t describe the feeling I get when I come over a hill and see a glimpse of the water. “Gaahhh” is my new favourite word. The water just hits different on this island. I can’t explain it with words because it’s a feeling. I could literally stop every few minutes to take a picture of something beautiful.
Doesn’t hurt to ask:
Years ago, while on the hunt for lighthouses, I came across a beautiful farmhouse that was entirely black. Yes, black. It was the most stunning house I had seen in a long time. I dug and dug until I found it on Instagram (and it’s surprisingly young owner, Zach).
Fast-forward a few years and I was back on this Island, staying only a few kilometres from this black house. I took a chance and reached out to Zach (he was surely no stranger to my username because I loved everything he posted) and asked if he might show me around and he actually said yes!
The outside is striking but the inside is stunning in so many ways, and the view… Ooooof.
Fast-forward to a little over a month ago, I reached out to Zach again and ask if he might have a room to rent for a week sometime during my summer holidays.
Here I am.
I dreamed of this:
When I was packing for this trip, I knew I would need my spinning wheel. Zach has this amazing wrap-around porch that overlooks the cove and I was not letting that perfection go to waste.
I brought two 50 gram batts blende by my friend Michelle. One down, two days to go.
Now, let’s talk yarn:
On Wednesday, I went to Fleece and Harmony. It’s a small mill only a few minutes from the house. You can actually see the machines in the mill through a huge window between the yarn shop and the actual workshop.
I won’t tell you how much I spent but it was enough yarn to make the Goldwing pattern by Jennifer Steingass (in keeping with my PEI tradition) and the Spring Tide Cardigan by Tania Barley. Naturally, I got a few extra skeins… for funzies.
The girl (I really wish I was better at the remembering names thing) helped me pick out all my favourite colours, which happen to also be her favourite colours.
On Thursday, I went to Green Gable Alpacas for a little farm tour. They had a brand new baby (a cria! I had to look that one up). Oh the cuteness! Actually, they were all kinda cute… and curious. It was so hard not to pet them. Did you know alpaca don’t like to be touched? I didn’t know that. I also didn’t know they have some seriously sharp teeth in the back of their mouths - used for fighting. (Note to self: don’t get between fighting alpacas!)
Memory lane:
I ended up at the site of my friend Nicola’s old house. She had a beautiful place on the south/west shore but there was a house fire in the summer of 2020. I hadn’t been back since she and I last saw it together in 2021 when she was on the Island wrapping things up.
In the end, she sold the land and I didn’t know what I would find there. I was shocked to find nothing. The new owners haven’t built anything in the five years they’ve had it. I’ll check in again next time I'm here.
My favourite lighthouse:
I’m not sure why the West Point lighthouse is my favourite. Before Hurricane Dorian in 2019 and Hurricane Fiona in 2023, the beach was vast and lined with a wooden boardwalk. When I was here after Dorian, the boardwalk was no more and half the parking lot was gone. It makes me sad to think what rising water levels and the severity of storms will do to this historic landmarks (and so many others).
I will be spending the next three days driving this island, revisiting old friends (the lighthouses) and trying to find new-to-me places.
"Hi, I really like your house, can you rent me a room this summer?" is definitely something I would only see you asking! I absolutely love this.
The house is so beautiful! Your post makes me want to plan a trip to PEI next summer!