July 2016 – Page 3 – Just An East Coast Girl

ACROSS CANADA DAY: 2 July 11~ Hello Mr. Prime Minister

Today is another travel day with a quick stop for bagels. Bagels in Quebec, especially Montreal Bagels are the BEST in the world. It’s all in the way they are prepared and baked. Oven roasted…YUMMOS!

And then on to Canada’s capital. It was a quick stop.Ok it was more of a pause and drive by… When the kids were younger and in school, we spend some time here exploring and learning first hand about Canada’s capital and city, Ottawa. Today we stopped for a few pics and to wave Hello to “Justin & Sophie” 😀 and have a picnic along the beautiful Ottawa River.

Every summer, artist John-Felice Ceprano, does some amazing work with rocks. Ceprano lifts stones and slabs to create “rock balance art.” Every summer he expands the collection of sculptures at Remic Rapids adding to his creations using only materials found on-site. Such a cool spot along our travels.

A quick diversion to my old home city of Port Perry. A few pics of my Uncle & Auntie’s farm. A few pics of our Manchester home. I lived there in the early 70’s before my parents moved to Nova Scotia in 1975. And since we were in Port Perry…dinner was at Haugen’s Restaurant where Mom ( & my cousin Peggy) used to work. And look who joined us? It was so wonderful that Peggy & Brian drove down from Lindsay to have dinner with us.

Driving down the busy 401…are we having fun? Just a wee bit tired!!!

And then it was on to David’s twin brother’s home…Martin & Rebecca live in Niagara Falls. We took advantage of the fact that we were a little late arriving to get a few night shots of the falls…

We just enjoyed their company at our home in Nova Scotia, and now they are back home. And it is here that we will spend a few days visiting, checking out their new place ( they moved last Fall when Rebecca & I were in China) and seeing a couple of our favourite spots before we move on to the next part of our travels.

It’s late…time for sleep in Niagara Falls Ontario.

ACROSS CANADA DAY:1 July 10~ Old Quebec City

We are in Old Quebec City for the night after a looooooong day of driving. Oh well, we have been through these parts many times before and will again so it’s just a push on driving through today with pit stops and coffee stops and more pit stops.

We are staying in a quaint hotel Auberge du Tresor right in the heart of Old Quebec. We have stayed in this area on past Anniversaries, I LOVE it!

Had a nice dinner, actually at a “Rabbit Restaurant” lol French Onion soup on this rainy day and Rabbit Poutine were my choices.

We looked around a bit and now we need a good rest.

Tresor, that’s my absolute favourite perfume! Who knew it was a hotel too?

Goodnight from our amazing view across the street from the Chateau Frontenac.

Our 30th Anniversary Across CANADA Road Trip!

After all the planning…It’s here and I am so excited!!!! 3 weeks of FUN and ADVENTURE with my sweetie traveling across our beautiful country.

Originally, we hoped to have enough time to do it all by car BUT with only 3 weeks we will driving and flying and renting a car. Either way it will be fun! We will see some places we saw 29 years ago, and make some new memories, as well as stop at some places we have been wanting to see for a long time.

Itinerary is planned, suitcases are packed, and after a good night’s sleep tonight….OFF we go bright and EARLY in the morning!!!!!

Planes, Trains, Automobiles, Ferries…it’s gonna be a FUN Adventure!

Please don’t eat the berries

I had a visitor in my garden. Actually I get frequent visitors. I LOVE to see them but really wish they wouldn’t fill up on greens in MY garden.

We tried spraying a product …but the whole back yard smelled like Coyote urine…gross!!!!

Now that the blueberries are on the bushes, I sure hope they are not in to green berries as well. I really would like to be able to pick them when they are ripe.

Well, it’s Friday and we had a good rain overnight! Hopefully it will help the dryness we have been having!

Port City

If you have been reading my blog for any amount of time you know that I love the waterfront in Halifax and it’s especially fun if there is a cruise ship visiting.

Today was a day in the city with Martin & Rebecca. Seaport Market, Cruise Pavilion & Shops (because there was a ship in) Harbour walk, a visit to the new and very modern Halifax Central Library , and a quick visit to the Hydrostone Neighbourhood and Market. Did I mention we enjoyed a Lobster sandwich and Fish Tacos …

Picturesque Places

I love when family and friends come to visit. It usually means that we get to show them the most picturesque places in our area. I never tire of this…

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We had a fabulous day!

Vacation Begins!

Today my husband starts Vacation!!!

A little earlier than expected BUT because of the crazy weekend and lots of overtime he took an extra day. So he’s up early sipping coffee on the deck trying to get in to vacation mode.

Hmm? What to do today? WE have 3 days to do some things with his twin brother while they are still here.

Pool Party

Andrew & Kristina’s pool is READY for cooling off on hot summer days! They have actually been using it lots for the last couple weeks. They can’t imagine life without it!

I knew they would love it. We used ours so much when the kids were small.

With the family all visiting, they thought it would be fun to have a Pool Party BBQ Splashing & Grilling up some Goodies = LOTS of FUN!!

Thank you so much Andrew & Kristina for a wonderful afternoon!!

Family Days

These days are family days! GOODE family all together this weekend. A little bit hectic and crazy the more Goodes that are added to the list, BUT fun to be together.

Canada Day many of the Goodes gathered in Bedford at Glenn & Holly’s home to celebrate Canada Day. David worked so we didn’t get to go this year. Late Friday night David’s twin arrived. His brother and wife and youngest son will stay with us this week while other family are staying with David’s parents. Their son Jonathan is also here for just the weekend ( he’s working in NFLD for the summer) so on Saturday while David caught up on a few hours sleep they spent some time in the city and we joined them later to have some time together celebrating our son James and their son Jonathan. These two graduated the same day a couple weeks ago…

Maxwell’s Plum, always a favourite

And even a quick drive by SMU where James will study in September Some of the cousins with babies and little ones have also been enjoying quality time together.

Sunday was Goode Family Day in Mahone Bay at David’s parents. EVERYONE was there. Ok, not everyone ( it’s hard to get everyone together anymore) BUT lots of the “GOODE GANG”

Here is a pic of David’s parents with the GREAT Grandkids, yes, that’s right they have Great Grandkids! They’re so sweet!!!

But sadly…David & I didn’t make it again. David was up early this am and out washing all the cars in the yard ( it’s good therapy haha, he really enjoys it)

And while he was in the middle of that he got a call to go back in to work. A serious situation and something that took hours to get straightened around. That’s just the way things are when you’re on call 24/7. He got done in time for us to go visit for an hour and then it was home and to bed because 4am comes early!

Today I had Jeremy while David’s twin brother and his wife celebrated their 29th Anniversary in Lunenburg.

Everyone is around for the rest of the week so I am sure we will still have lots of time to catch up. At least his brother and family are with us and so we get to see them a little more.

But I have to say…I am really looking forward to our summer vacations with NO work interruptions!!!! Just a few more days…a few more days… 😛

Wishing you a great week!!! It’s a hot one here.

Our HOME and Native Land!

Today is a quiet Canada Day celebration in our home. This year a little different because of my husband’s crazy work schedule. But that’s ok. Yes, I could have joined the GOODE fam in the city for holiday celebrations, but where would that leave my hard working husband when he had just a few hours at home. I didn’t want him to be by himself on the holiday, besides I don’t mind the relax time.

So, we had a few hours to have some treats, wear our patriotic colors ( haha) and spend time together celebrating this great land we live in.

Even Abby wears her red and white for Canada Day!

Take 1 haha ( Abby is bored of the picture thing)

Take 2 (that’s better) A little road trip…

I love seeing all the Canada flags and red and white on display along the South Shore!

Our little adventure today…Riverport, NS for the Riverport Fire Department Annual Canada Day Fish Fry! I remember doing this I think when we were just dating, or something quite similar. I ALWAYS get the fish…today I switched it up and had scallops. YUM!!