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.

It’s beginning to feel like Christmas!

ONLY in my house and in the stores! CERTAINLY NOT outside!

We are having a mild week here. And today, very rainy. It’s funny how I associate Christmas “feel” with cold and a nice light dusting of snow… many parts of the world that celebrate Christmas don’t know what snow is! Even when we lived in Brazil I commented that it was a nice change (for one year) not to have snow. The things you can do with decorating in a mild climate are so different compared to when you have to worry about cold and snow. And…to be able to go to the beach on Christmas Eve…Day…New Year’s…that’s pretty cool too!

But here in Canada where we “live in igloos” and have snow all the time and our means of “transportation is by snowmobile and dog sled”…it’s mild! haha

It’s the middle of November and I am in decorating mode this week. Cleaning and putting up some Christmas decorations. Not as much as last year ( I don’t think) I can’t do the same thing every year. But atleast it is pretty and cozy and I can listen to Christmas music in the appropriate atmosphere while sipping a flavoured hot drink and enjoy the very short season that is Christmas on the evenings that get dark early.

So upstairs it’s a bit of red and green with an Asian flair since I have so many China things and downstairs…more colourful and whimsical to reflect the South American influence.

Even the laundry area got a touch…

There’s still a few more things I need to put up but alas… it’s pretty and cozy and I can listen to Christmas music in the appropriate atmosphere while sipping a flavoured hot drink and enjoy the very short season that is Christmas on the evenings (or days) that get dark so early. Now to get my outside lights up. BUT that’s a job for David 😀 (and there’s still LOTS of leaves)

Did you know?

Today is the Official “SendOff” for Nova Scotia’s tree to Boston. It was cut fresh yesterday. You can see the reason Nova Scotia does this EVERY year in last year’s post. Click on the link below.

A gift for friends

This year’s tree is from Cape Breton in Inverness County on the Northern tip of Nova Scotia. The 47-foot (14 metre) white spruce is from Crown land along Route 395 in Ainslie Glen, close to the Waycobah First Nation.

NEXT week there are so many fun Christmas things to be doing… it seems that the last weekend of November is the start of all the fun events we enjoy so much! Yay!! I can’t wait. Let the fun begin.

Have you started decorating for Christmas yet? Do you wait until December 1st?

Surprise!

Andrew’s wife pulled it off! She surprised Andrew, our oldest son for his 28th Birthday!

His Birthday is today, November 15th, but they are working today, so Sunday night she took him to pizza delight to celebrate. Unbeknown to him family and friends would also be there!

Surprise!

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Happy 28th Andrew! Wait…How can my boy be 28?

Not to be seen again for…many more moons?

Today is the Biggest and brightest supermoon in over 60 years!! (supposedly)

You’ve heard me say before I wish I had a camera that could capture the moon in a way that it’s as real as gazing up at it! I LOVE full moons. When I look at them I know friends and family all over this world are looking too, and it’s the same moon and somehow…it just brings us a little closer together.

Here are a few of my favourites that other wonderful local photographers shared.

Photo by Ronald Smith at Hirtle's Beach — Photo by Ronald Joseph Smith at Hirtle’s Beach, NS

Lloyd Westhaver- Mader's Cove, NS — Photo by Lloyd Westhaver- Mader’s Cove, NS

One of my favourite photographers captured these two in Halifax this morning…

And of course one from China. This photograph is from Beijing BUT it really reminds me of the bridges in the park where I always walked when we lived there. See…same Supermoon!

Thank you so much to these wonderful photographers. Your talent and ability is awesome, so we all can enjoy this spectacular beauty! Don’t forget to look up!

Family Foto Shoot time

It’s that time of year…. November…when it’s cold…Brr…normally.

BUT TODAY WAS GORGEOUS!!!!

Time to get some family pics done for our Annual Family picture.

This year’s location…the beach! Crescent Beach, one of my absolute favourite places to go. And this year we took the dogs. It’s nice to have them in the pics too, at least every other year.

These are just the fun ones from my iPhone. James does our “Annual Pic” and that one I will post December 1st. I just really hope he got something we can use. It was fun because the dogs wanted to play and the sun was shining and to get 6 people and 3 dogs all looking at the same time and when the photographer needs to be in the picture too… haha…we shall see!

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More than just a GUY thing!

Another Saturday morning of cleaning up leaves and they are still not all down! We did a quick clean and I started just a little Christmas decor…I’m anxious but…

There is a “Guy Show” at Exhibition Park this weekend and “the guys” thought they would like to check it out. BUT, it’s more than a guy thing so Kristina & I went too!

There is a Guy Show PLUS a Christmas Craft Fair at the same place so we thought it would be fun to check out and do a little shopping too.

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Who wants to spend their whole Saturday working in the yard, that was so last week haha, And besides… David & I love to hang out with our kids ( missing one)

Honour those who SERVE Nov 11

Today we REMEMBER and say THANK YOU!!!

America has SPOKEN!

WOW! I honestly didn’t see that coming!

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I am Canadian so it is not my decision BUT America has spoken and Donald Trump is their choice for a new leader as the 45th President of the United States. I believe History was made last night ( and I am SO TIRED as I stayed awake to watch it)

All I can say is no matter who is leader, I truly believe there is a bigger picture, a HIGHER power, who is Ultimately in control of ALL things!

It will be interesting as we see things play out in the coming days…

Just a note from Canada’s Prime Minister

Wishing you a good Wednesday!

Day of Decision…

…for our neighbours south of the border.

THE day is FINALLY here!!! We have been hearing about the USA Presidential election for OVER a year here in Canada. I can only imagine what the news has been in the United States.

Today is a big day… when the decision is made for a new president. It is HUGE! I honestly have to say that I am extremely thankful to be Canadian, especially today. I honestly wouldn’t know what to do! My heart would want to vote a certain way BUT then to look at the representation of that vote…ugh….why has it come to this? I am thinking and praying for my dear family and friends that are Americans and who must decide today.

Today’s decision will impact more than just the United States of America.

MUST DRINK COFFEE

Settle in!

It’s the first evening after the time change from Daylight Savings time. And…it’s dark out SO EARLY!!!!!!

I guess it’s time to settle in and enjoy the next number of months cozy inside. Reading, catching up on your favourite shows, exercise, puzzles, maybe a new hobby? The evenings are long.

We had lunch with my Mom & Dad today. Dad’s knee seems to be recovering nicely. It’s been 2 months since his knee replacement. Abby loves going there and made sure she had some quality time with both of them.

David stopped in to see his Mom & Dad. They are headed out this week to see family on their Annual trek to Florida. They’ll stop in Ontario a bit and then on to South Carolina for American Thanksgiving before arriving at their “Winter Home” in Cortez at the end of November.

It’s that time of year…time to settle in!

Have a great week!