June 2015 – Just An East Coast Girl

EVERYTHING Strawberries 🍓

It’s strawberry season! Fresh, local, sweet, red, delicious strawberries. I picked some up at the market, So I am making lots of delicious treats…

Strawberry pie and shortcake and salsa and just plain strawberries. Oh…how I’ve missed this goodness!

And today, this morning… we went Strawberry picking, the first U-pick of the season. It’s been a few years…So much fun!

And because it’s vacation, I came home and made biscuits so David could have fresh Strawberry Shortcake

Lovin’ EVERYTHING strawberries.

Tourist in your own town or a stay vacation…call it what you want but this year’s summer vacation we aren’t traveling too far. Everyone asks “Where are you going?” Maybe they expect to hear a really cool place. I guess we could have booked something away…I love our vacations to far away lands and exotic places, interesting cities and really fun places, who wouldn’t? I’ve been spoiled.

I was talking to Chinese friends and told them we were taking a two week summer vacation and they said “two weeks is long enough to come to China!” Oh, I wish…I will ALWAYS want to go back.

Nope sorry. This year our “summer vacation money” is being spent on our outdoor projects and no excess being spent on travel and hotels during peak season because 2016 is gonna be a big year for travel for us! Destination wedding in April, and 30th Wedding Anniversary trip in July ( which I am still working on the itinerary). I’m also wondering how I can squeeze in a cruise or resort vacay in early 2016 too, maybe February. Winter is just too long and too cold.

So…we’re here BUT I’m excited. I have learned to appreciate small things in those big things. Like a good meal, a beautiful sunset, fresh air walking along a clean beach, a quaint little coffee shop, a unique fishing village, an old world town…lots of things so Tourist in your own town? What does Bridgewater offer the visitor? Ok, so maybe not just Bridgewater. But our province. Nova Scotia. It’s beautiful and I really want to enjoy it and appreciate it and do some things, maybe like a tourist. I don’t know but I have a list of wonderful ideas and my handy Nova Scotia Doers and Dreamers guide.

Let’s hit the road Baby!

Oh…

The Seaport Market on a Sunday

Another rainy Sunday in the forecast. What to do? I have REALLY been wanting to checkout the Seaport Market in Halifax. Besides we had a few errands to do in the city. Sounds like a perfect idea.

About the Seaport Market…A little bit of history from their website http://www.halifaxfarmersmarket.com/about/

The Halifax Farmers’ Market was created by Royal Proclamation in June of 1750, a year after the founding of Halifax. The Governor and Council designated a site for the Market – the present day Bank of Montreal building. For 50 years this flesh, meat or cattle market, as it was known, sold produce as well as livestock delivered from Acadian farms in the Annapolis Valley and from local farm production. In 1848 the City of Halifax was incorporated and the original City Charter conveyed the Country Market property to the city “for the public and common benefit and use of the City of Halifax according to the true interest and meaning of the original grant.” The Market has operated in several locations across the city since its inception in 1750, but moved to the Halifax Seaport in 2010 where it is now known as the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market – the longest continuously running Market in North America and proudly hosting over 250 vendors! The Halifax Seaport is a vibrant arts and cultural district found at the south end of the Halifax waterfront. Extending from Piers 19 to 23, you will find artisans, retailers, cruise terminals, event facilities, cafés, galleries, offices, a museum, a university and the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market. This district has been redeveloped to showcase local talent and is now a popular destination for locals and visitors alike.

Right on the waterfront in Halifax, one of my favourite spots!

We had a wonderful few hours, had something to eat and even picked up a new cutting board from a local artist.

I just love going to the market!

Community

It’s not very often that there is a summer event, a fun thing you can do with your family, that is entirely free. Well today I was happy to be a part of a group that wants to encourage families but also show them that Jesus loves them and has a plan for their life if they let HIM.

Bridgewater Open Bible Church in Bridgewater, NS has been putting on a Community Fun Fair at Shipyards Landing for the last few years. It’s so much fun for the WHOLE family. Face painting, games, bouncy houses, music, entertainment, cotton candy, BBQ, and lots more and……….it’s ALL FREE!!!! Just come with your family and enjoy it. It’s a way to show LOVE in our community.

This year we are home and David & I helped a little. We manned the Bouncy House Obstacle Course haha. FUN!!

What a great day!

YAY it’s SUMMER VACAY 🍉

Actually tonight…in a few hours…when David finishes work for the day, BUT I am in Vacation mindset all day today:D

Two weeks to do whatever… relax, road trips, beach, hikes, adventures, naps, BBQ’s, camp fires, play in the garden, picnics, motorbike drives…YAY!!!!!!

Ok, gotta go get a few things checked off my list first! Have a GREAT day!

On the right path

Well as you know we are doing yard work as our main projects for the summer. The front garden was a lot of work but really didn’t take a long time to do, not compared to the back. The front grass looks so wonderful, and I am really happy we went with the sod route. It’s a much faster and more gratifying solution.

BUT, this backyard, like I said will be a whole summer’s project. I had certain goals in mind to have accomplished before our two week vacation, which starts after tomorrow, but its not gonna happen. It’s just taking longer. We’re on the right path…but that’s where we are…PATH!

One of the projects is to create a pathway from our side stairs to the garden shed and it’s started, but it’s taking longer than expected. We decided to put the stones in the lawn so we can easily mow, rather than create a rock or gravel path. I didn’t realize there could be so many rocks and tree roots in one lawn. This is also a project I can’t really help with besides being there to be an encouragement and a “goffer” for things if David needs them. So it’s still a work in progress and then we are soon on vacation and other than a little bit if we feel like it, I didn’t want garden and yard work to be on the agenda for vacation.

Oh well, it will get done…hopefully before the snow falls…haha

Just a few pics of the backyard progress…

I just love how it’s looking.

Living in the moment

WHY?!

Why do I have such a hard time living in the moment enjoying today and what it brings? I am being real honest here, it is one of my biggest struggles. Living away I was always looking forward to the next trip, the next place to explore, the next fun event, the next time to do something with foreign friends…ehh!!! It’s the same here, I find it hard to just enjoy today. And then, if we were doing that I was the opposite because I didn’t want it to end…I wanted TIME to stand still to savour EVERY moment and every experience that opportunity brought.

This week so far, Yesterday and today has been cool and overcast…and I admit, I’m a little mopey! I could busy myself with “inside” projects. I have a few BUT I don’t want to. I want to be outside. I want to do something, GO somewhere, I want an ADVENTURE!!!

I am looking forward to the end of the week. David starts vacation for 2 weeks and every morning I wake up counting the days!!! I want some fun, quality time with my husband doing some fun things.

I really need to try harder…I am thankful, oh YES I’m thankful for the moments, that’s not it…

Hope you’re enjoying TODAY!

It’s been interesting…

the weather I mean. Spring has had nice days and cool days and windy and rainy days. An interesting Spring BUT NOW…

Summer is here!!! And it has been 4 years since I’ve been in Nova Scotia for summer. 4 years since I’ve had a hot East Coast, wanting to go to the beach and swim in the Atlantic Ocean summer. So…Bring it on!!! PLEASE get hot!!! In exactly 5 days we are on vacation and we are staying here so that we can hopefully enjoy beach time and exploring some of the quaint spots in our own province.

Alas…today though is cool and rainy and I’m feeling chilly and all I want to do is curl up and nap.

I think someone else feels that way too…

So this week…please switch over to SUMMER Season…it’s too short normally and it’s TIME to play!!!!