hmmm, long time no blog....

So yes, I realize that's it's been a long time since I've posted. Mostly because there hasn't really been much to report here. Just some snow, cleaning of the basement and a few family gatherings. However, I just returned from Ottawa & TO, so will have a few pix to post as soon as I get a chance. We are also awaiting another major winter storm here in NS, so might have some storm pix too.

The trip to Ontario was very good - very productive, thesis-wise and I got to see many friends. In Ottawa I hung out with my friend Denise & her family while they were readying for a move. Lots of packing, organizing & hanging out with the 4-year old while the parents packed & organized. I also had some great hanging out time with friends in TO, as I bounced from Bronwyn's to Nicola's to Yvonne's over the 12 days there. I also managed to catch up with a few friends at a Stitch 'n' Bitch session one evening, and another evening at my favourite pub, the Victory Cafe, in my old neighbourhood. During the days I got in a few coffee breaks & lunches to catch up with fellow current & past ROMulans (other ROM students), in between bouts of thesis writing. Somehow I didn't make it over to the Zoology/EEB department, as I didn't venture too far from the ROM during work hours.

After Noel, or post 'Post-Tropical Storm', whatever that means

It is now Tuesday, a day after I started this post and 2 days after Noel left the Maritimes. I and many other Maritimers are still wondering what a post-tropical storm is, but many others are just hoping to get their power back and cleaning up after the storm. Although many parts of the Nova Scotia lost power due to a heavy rainstorm with wind, the east side of Nova Scotia was pummeled by Noel, especially the coastal areas. In some places the storm and damage was worse than Hurricane Juan. Noel pretty much destroyed Queensland Beach (at least according to the news). The beach is a hot spot for locals (i.e. live within a 2 hour drive) and tourists - it always had great sand and a nice surf. The sand is mostly gone now, as is the parking lot and the road is impassable (go to #16) - looks like it was hit by an earthquake, but all the damage was caused by the ocean. They figure it will cost $500, 000 - 1 million to fix this major road.

We were lucky here, only a slight blip in the power, just long enough that we had to reset all the clocks. Just across the river the power was out for a couple of days and others are still waiting for power in the cold. Oh, we had lots of wind and rain, but I've heard worse during a winter storm. We even have apples and leaves still on the trees.

A few pix, since my recent posts have been rather photo deprived.

Noel approaches & the jays feed up

Wind blown jay

back off! my stash! mine, you hear?!

Can I come in? It's cold & windy out here.
(Ok, so I actually took this today, but I think the sentiment was probably there on the weekend.)

After the storm

Lovely blue skies


And lots of standing trees, with leaves!

And the weather yoyo continues...

Following the snow flurry morning, we had ice in the driveway yesterday morning. I think the high for the day was around 6 degrees. This morning we woke up to a balmy 13 degrees and hit a high around 20 this afternoon. I think someone forgot that it is November. The plants are also quite confused - I found a spring wild flower blooming along the driveway.

Halloween in Brickton

doesn't seem to exist. No kids at the door, no ruckus, no nothing last night. Was just another night; I even kinda forgot that it was Halloween at all.

nothing like the weather...

Last week and this weekend the temperature was in the high teens and low 20s. People were wearing shorts and t-shirts in Halifax while I was there early in the week - 'cuz it was 23 degrees. This morning we had snow flurries.

Where Brown Bread is brown bread

A very important aspect of rural life in the Maritimes (well at least Nova Scotia) is the church or community meal. Often these are dinners (that start at 4:30!), but lunches and breakfasts are also common. People will easily drive 20-30 minutes to attend one of these, especially those with a reputation for good food (the Bridgetown fish chowder pots are always drained to the last drop). So far, the farthest we have driven is about an hour to partake in the Fireman's Turkey Dinner with homemade cherry pie, during the Bear River Cherry Festival this summer.

At one of these community dinners tonight, I was reminded of another aspect of my cultural heritage, as I overheard a visitor from the US: Brown Bread. Here in the Maritimes (and probably parts of New England) what we call Brown Bread is made with oats and molasses, hence it's brown colour. Some of you may know it as Oatmeal Brown Bread, if you've ever bought the Dempster's version (I use this term loosely). Here we call bread made with whole wheat, Whole Wheat Bread, not brown bread. The first time I encountered this difference in food culture was shortly after I had moved to BC. I was buying a sub at Subway when they asked if I wanted it on white or brown. I was very excited and thought these West Coast people must be really advanced, because back home we only ever had the option of white or whole wheat for subs. Culture shock lesson one.

Why did Brown Bread even come up at this dinner tonight? The menu was ham, potato scallop and baked beans (with apple crisp or pumpkin pie for dessert). Of course Brown Bread is always served with baked beans here. The beans are made with a molasses sauce and pork fat, and are sometimes known as Boston Baked Beans (as opposed to southern baked beans which have a tomato sauce). Traditionally Saturday night was Baked Beans & Brown Bread night in the Maritimes & New England - which might account for all the draughts in the old churches here!

As You Like It in Brickton

Tonight we went to the annual Brickton Dinner Theatre, put on by the Brickton Players (all 6 of them). The production was their take on Shakespeare's As You Like It, and included a Rita McNeil impersonator (+ Men of the Deep impersonators). Not quite Stratford, but much more enjoyable than any (U of T) Hart House Shakespearean production that I've seen.

Parking Lot Irony

While I was running a 'quick' errand at the grocery store today, Mom & Dad waited in the car. Mom was a bit bored, so was re-reading a sign for the umpteenth time. As she just finished reading 'We are not responsible to any damage to cars caused by shopping carts' she heard a loud bang that "scared the pants off" of her, and turned to see a shopping cart at her door. Ironically, she would have seen the wind blown cart approaching had she not been reading the sign.
For some reason the scenario puts me in mind of Doctor Who.

Fall Colours

Another photo heavy blog this time. I haven't had much time to work on the blog in recent weeks, but will continue to post when I can.

The fall colours are at their peak here in Nova Scotia, so I've headed out on the roads with camera in tow. On Tuesday, we headed out on an 800 km drive up to Joggins (near the New Brunswick border) via Parsborro. Coming back through the Wentworth Valley was stunning, even though we reached it as the light was dwindling. Alas I took no photos during the trip - great photo ops did not coincide with safe pull offs. I've been wandering around the property with the camera though and took it along yesterday for the drive home from the dentist. I was rewarded with several photo ops on some back country lanes (where I could safely pull over).

The side of the road:

from the end of our driveway, looking along Highway #1 towards Lawrencetown

In the forest:

on my aunt's property, across the road from us.

The 'backyard':

looking over one of the apple trees towards the Annapolis River

After a fall storm. A lovely sunny morning.

Along the driveway:



Lots of maple leaves on the trees (and on the driveway)

The garden:

The roses are still blooming here! Flowering kale & cabbage, I think.

Cape Blomidon:

from the Wolfville ridge. This is probably the most photographed & recognized scene in the Annapolis Valley (when you see the cape you know that you are home).

Country Lanes:

Vault Rd & Clem Rd.

Vault Rd.

Hay & barn on Vault Rd.

How I Spent My Summer Holidays - a photo essay

It was a pretty busy summer here in NS; I've already posted the trips I've taken and several of the events I've attended, but there is still more! I thought I'd post some photos from a few more events and of other things that kept me occupied over the summer.

The Annapolis County Exhibition in Lawrencetown
(the next town over)

Walking the sheep. Riding like crazy. The zipper. The ferris wheel over the big tent.

Winning pumpkins

The Hants County Exhibition in Windsor
(the oldest agricultural fair in Canada)

Dad & the giant pumpkins - he's standing next to the winner (584 kg, though we saw larger ones on the side of the road near home). These things get carved out and are raced down the river (I think that event is coming up soon). Windsor is the home of the original giant pumpin, grown by Howard Dill in the 80s (or was it the 90s?)

Port George Country Jamboree and Giant Yard Sale

A couple of crowd shots. Mom avoiding the sun. Lunch time: scallop burgers & strawberry shortcake - yum! (Somehow many of our outings involved food.)

Moonlight Concert in Paradise
(between Lawrencetown and Bridgetown)

A backyard concert

with a thousand of our closest friends ;)
The people who own this house put on a big band backyard concert every summer with the proceeds going to the Paradise community hall. Incidentally, the husband built a train track (with a small functional train) around the perimeter of the property.

Gatherings

BBQ at our house for the Forresters organization

Church picnic in Port George, organized by Mom. I had to include the pic of Dad with his 'cool' shades

The shore at Port George
AKA our natural air conditioner on those really hot & sticky days (only 20 or so minutes from home)

Market day in Annapolis Royal

Main Street

The Saturday morning market at the bottom of Main Street

Visiting with friends and family

Mom trying to get Dad to smile in this pic with one of his classmates from mechanics school & his wife - they visit every summer but I haven't seen them for at least 10 or 15 years. My friend Denise was home from Ottawa visiting family and came by for an afternoon.

My cousin Marion & her kids were home from Ontario. They came over from the south shore with sister Jeannie and Mom/Grandma (one of Dad's sisters) in tow. My aunt across the road also came over for the visit and later trip to the Oaklawn Farm Zoo.

Cousin Chris & his daughter Bronwyn (ok, so he's my Dad's cousin's grandson, which makes Chris my 2nd cousin once removed, but we grew up together)

The Lake - Baxter's Cottage

Hanging out in the cottage

BBQ'ing and playing cards after dinner

the lake - we spent time at a couple other cottages on the same lake

watching the sunset at the lake

Flora & Fauna - watching and photographing

wild flowers? or perhaps just feral

from Mom's flower garden

eggplant blossom - yep, I did lots of gardening this summer

fed the birds too. Apparently this downy woodpecker likes sitting in bird seed...

we have tonnes of bluejays that come to the feeder & a few white breasted nuthatches. We also regularly have lots of chickadees, chipping sparrows and morning doves. There are also lots of occasional diners, like goldfinches, house finches, purple finches, dark eyed juncos, and rose-breasted grosbeaks.

hairy woodpeckers

the squirrels love the birdseed too, especially the sunflower seeds

they're cute but pesky

I also played with the kitty too (when he wasn't tormenting or being tormented by the squirrels)