Author: Adventure For Two

I am from Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada and I'm back from traveling with my husband on an expat assignment to foreign lands. 2011-2012 we were in Shenyang, China. Spring 2012- Spring 2013 we were in Resende,RJ Brazil then back to Shenyang, China in July 2013 until the end of July 2014. Expat life WAS amazing! Adventure abounds no matter where we travel to. We really enjoyed the amazing opportunity to live and experience culture and tradition in these places. BUT now we are finished and adjusting to life in our small town in Canada. Our days of travel and adventure are not over.

Christmas By the Sea 🎄⛵🐳⚓️

All the way from the “Christmas Tree Capital of the World”…

It’s Christmas by the Sea this weekend!

Image courtesy of Peter Zwicker Photography Bacalao Studio. He does amazing photography!! Check out his website.

http://www.bacalaophoto.ca

We don’t have snow yet but I think this photo truly represents “Christmastime in Lunenburg” I live 20 minutes from Lunenburg, one of Nova Scotia’s well known Historic towns. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Town. People come here from all over the world .

This weekend in Lunenburg it is their Heritage Christmas and Christmas By The Sea.

There are actually 3 Christmas Festivals in towns close by this weekend, not to mention the small communities having events and then there is the Victoria Christmas at the Citadel and Lighting Ceremonies at various spots in Halifax. And of course I want to go to all so… yesterday I stopped into Mahone Bay for Father Christmas Festival pics and we drove to Lunenburg today. Tonight is Bridgewater’s Christmas On The LaHave complete with fireworks. These are the local ones. Next year I think I’m gonna take in some of the events in the city I haven’t seen.

This morning we bundled up, picked up some coffee and drove to Lunenburg.

Lunenburg is a well known fishing town by the sea, it is the HOME of the Bluenose II, and so much of the Christmas traditions and decorations revolves around that. It is also very beautiful!

And a few at night…

We didn’t get chance to take in the festivities, the lighting of the vessels, the Christmas by the Sea market and crafts and food tasting, we didn’t see the parade or the tree lighting at the bandstand BUT we got some beautiful pictures of a very special place…Merry Christmas from one of our favourite towns by the sea…

Peace & Love Around The World! 🕊

It’s November 25th…ONE MONTH TIL CHRISTMAS!!!!

which also means it’s time for the Annual Father Christmas Festival in Mahone Bay. This Festival is one of my absolute favourites! It really puts me in the mood and excitement for ALL THINGS Christmas.

It’s the little rituals and traditions in the small communities along the South Shore that I love and appreciate so much. This year’s theme is Peace & Love Around the World. 🕊 I like the dove ornament from 1991. It really captures the theme for this year.

In previous years when we go to the festival, David & I would grab a hot drink and wander around beautiful Mahone Bay and look at the many Father Christmas displays placed there by local business and committee members. However, today, David’s back is TOTALLY messed up! Yes, he periodically has problems and yesterday he came home from work walking with an S curve! There go my big plans for this weekend. He’ll be on the floor and on his back much of the weekend trying to get it straight.

Off to Mahone Bay I go, just to get some pictures because the displays are truly beautiful and today it’s not so crazy busy with people.

I missed strolling along hand in hand with my husband, but I was happy to get the pics and we’ll have other years to continue our tradition. He just needs to get that back FIXED, like NOW!!!!!!

I picked up my 2016 Pewter Christmas Ornament, like I always do at the Father Christmas Festival. This year it is a Cardinal. ” There is no better time to catch sight of a cardinal than in the winter, when his brilliant red plumage contrasts with the brightness of a freshly fallen snow. The more vibrant his crimson colouring, the more likely he will find a lifelong mate who can join him in singing rich, cheerful duets to bring sunshine even on the coldest and darkest of winter days. We all have unique qualities to celebrate. Stand out and stand proud. Make the world a brighter place.”

It is these simple pleasures that make me feel truly blessed for the peace and love we have in our country!

And Just for FUN…

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A quick stop tonight to get them with lights. It’s just so pretty!!

Thanksgiving Greetings!

Celebrating with our American family & friends!

And in honour of your holiday…

we dressed for the occasion

we ate turkey complete with dressing and green beans! Well , it was chicken ( only two of us home tonight, so I didn’t roast a turkey) But then chicken is kinda like turkey…close enough, right?

And we relaxed in front of the TV watching a few SPECIALS…

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

and the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade screen-shot-2016-11-24-at-3-58-12-pm

and even a little football…

YES! I am a Cowboys fan!!! They are having an AWESOME year. 10 wins in a row!!!

and finished it off with the Disney Magical Holiday Celebration.

It was so much fun! There are so many great specials on TV on Thanksgiving Day. It’s really the kick off to the season! And the BEST part is, I feel like it’s a holiday for us too since my sweet husband doesn’t work tomorrow and it’s the beginning of a super fun weekend for us!! Yay!!!!!

Seriously though, we are so blessed in North America. There are so many reasons to pause and BE THANKFUL!!

Happy Thanksgiving USA!

Hot off the Press!

The first shipment has arrived!

Our youngest son James enjoys photography! He takes beautiful pictures as he travels. He travels almost as much, if not more than my husband and I. Just for fun he thought he would compile a few of those images, ” Dramatic Skies” into a 2017 Calendar. This is the first time he’s done a calendar and they turned out great! A perfect idea for Christmas gifts. There are photos from Canada, China, Brazil, Cuba, Australia, and of course a few from Nova Scotia.

I can’t wait to put mine up!

DWTS

Do you watch Dancing With The Stars? This is the cast for Season 23.

It is one of my favourite shows to watch…it reminds me of my Auntie Bea. It was her favourite show and she never missed an episode. Tonight is the season 23 finale!

There were a lot of favourites to watch on this season and tonight a winner will be chosen between the final three. I loved watching all three of these couples but two of them were so good all through this season and it’s hard to decide who I would like to see win.

The finale is held at the magical place called “The Grove” in Los Angeles. What a beautiful venue.

Will it be Laurie Hernandez, James Hinchcliffe or Calvin Johnson Jr.?

I’ll be watching tonight!!

——a little bit later….

O WOW!!!! That was THE BEST finale ever! It was so worth staying up til midnight to see it.

And the WINNER is…

Laurie Hernandez & Val

Yay!!!!! Goodnight all 😀

In between the showers

It’s been a rainy weekend and I really had hoped to check off “finish decorating for Christmas” from my “TO DO” list.

So in between the showers ( we were in and out numerous times) today my sweet hubby & I got it done!

It’s been so nice having him home a few extra days this weekend and the great news is that he also took a vacation day for next Friday. That means just a 3 day (crazy busy) work week!

So sweet

Family is THE BEST!

I don’t get to see my extended family that much. I suppose it is partly my fault. I could just jump in the car and go visit. BUT, I love family gatherings. Opportunities to “get together” Today was one such occasion. My Dad’s older brother turns 80! WOW, now that’s a reason to celebrate.

His wife called this week and said she was planning a little gathering for him and we said we would be there!

He’s just so sweet!

I enjoy the stories the brothers and sisters share of when they were kids growing up and out to work at a very young age. They were so poor and life was pretty tough back then. It’s nice to see them laughing and enjoying their time together. It was a good afternoon!

Happy Birthday Uncle Beverly!

Chips or Popcorn?

What is your favourite “go to ” snack if you want to indulge?

I tend to be more of a chips person and try not to eat too much corn anything. Although popcorn every so often is a treat.

There have been new flavours ” World of Flavours” on the market for these snack foods and we decided to test out a couple. Doesn’t maple and bacon just make your mouth water?

So which one do you think is the best?

Maple Bacon potato chips OR Maple & Bacon popcorn?

James & I voted the chips and David voted popcorn.

So we opened the bags. The initial “smell” gave the popcorn high ratings. While the chips were nothing special.

After doing a careful taste test , the popcorn came out the winner! You can actually taste the maple and bacon separately. Each handful is a little different and very addicting.

And the chips…I was disappointed. They just taste like a similar flavour ( sour cream and bacon) but this time with a different name.

So…our vote is Bacon & Maple popcorn! A delicious Friday Night movie snack! James said too much of either would actually make him sick 😦

Abby liked the smell and was eager to try them, however, she had to settle with her own treats.

Rainy Friday

It’s Rainy Friday. My husband is off today and while we were enjoying our coffee asked ” What will we do for adventure today?” He knows me so well! He knows I LOVE adventure in my life and enjoy doing something FUN with him! One idea I had didn’t pan out so we decided to get on our hooded jackets and spend the day doing errands in the rain.

Instead of grabbing a coffee break while we were out…we got some delicious treats and had coffee at home. Jam filled donuts ( and cinnamon buns), delish!

And then we went out again! I take horrible selfies. I always get just half of me and all of him, it’s never even. BUT David who usually does it for us was concentrating on driving… except for when I said “Quick! look!”

One of our stops and one of my favourite Christmasy places is the hardware store here in town. It’s so pretty in the Christmas village there.

After the hardware store we went to the mall. We ended up browsing a lot of the shops and actually picking up some Christmas gifts. We got a few people crossed off our list today! Yay!! christmas-shopping

What a relaxing fun day with no real agenda enjoying my husband’s company 😀

Full of beans

Remember how excited I was a few weeks ago to see these treats at Walmart.

I can’t believe they have THESE here….

Well, I picked up a box to try! And they are delicious. BUT they are full of beans ( on the top) which is ok. They are a bit different than the ones we had in China but enough the same for me to REALLY enjoy them and to be so thankful that this is another item I can get here.

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Happy Thursday…YES I am VERY happy because it’s the end of the work week. My husband is taking two days off, Friday and Monday. So…long weekend coming right up!