Beaches – Page 2 – Just An East Coast Girl

Buckwheat pancakes and beach

It’s been almost a month since Christmas. January is going quickly! David’s parents spend their winter’s in the south, in Florida. I guess the older you get the appeal of snow and cold isn’t there.

I can see us doing something similar when David retires. I don’t mind the cold if I am wearing the right clothes. I remember before we went to live in Northern China not having the right winter clothes. I used to think our winters didn’t get cold enough. I had mitts, and a warm coat and boots for the days it snowed a lot and I needed to shovel BUT I never wore a hat, and most days I would wear shoes. Since living in China ( and also because I am older I guess) I have warm winter gear…and LOTS of it, for whatever occasion. I learned from the Chinese ladies that you can look great…even if you are wearing 3 layers of long underwear!!! haha. So I don’t mind the cold, I actually love it! It’s a chance to wear all my fun clothes!

But I also like the warmth and as we get older, so David & I will have to figure out what will work best for our family. David’s parents are in Florida from November to April, normally. That’s a along time and they miss celebrating Christmas with the family.( I’m not sure I would like that)

Sometimes it’s hard to think what might be a nice, useful gift to give his parents for Christmas since they are not right here with us. So for the last few years we have gone online and searched out interesting restaurants in the Bradenton/Cortez area. We call the restaurant that looks interesting and purchase a Gift Card and arrange to have the restaurant send it to his parents. It has worked out quite well!

We got an email yesterday saying they enjoyed their Christmas Gift! Brunch at a great little Crepe place ( with money left to go again) and walk on the beach…

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NOW that sounds like a lovely Sunday and perfect way to enjoy the Winter! Ahh…

Digging out from all this white and dreaming of white…

sands! Ahh…yes. Caribbean white.

Yes, that’s right! I’m dreaming of white sands. I got an email today!

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My, the folks at NCL are prompt! It’s still a few weeks away… 55 days to be exact.

Just after we got back from our 3 week Across Canada Trip in July we booked a cruise for March. David’s older brother and wife have never cruised and have been wanting to go on a cruise with us for awhile… We have done this exact cruise before BUT we love this particular ship and the ports.

And after this snow ( although VERY beautiful and wintery) I can’t wait to be on the ship cruising the beautiful Caribbean seas and relaxing on white sandy beaches!

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So while we are digging out today ( ok David is digging out. He loves to use his snow blower the first few snowstorms, after that it gets OLD very fast), I’m checking in, and doing research on excursions.

Have a great Sunday! I LOVE planning vacations…

Time for brunch!

A year of CHANGE

I LOVE January! Especially the first weeks of a brand new year!!!

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It is a month of reflection. It is also a month to make resolutions to organize, declutter and to make some changes. A few weeks ago David and I talked about this. We talked about 2017 and what to do? What it would bring? Goals and plans and what to accomplish. Some of the conversation stemmed from his back flaring up right before we went to China in December. It’s frustrating to have issues like that. You wonder if better health, and more REGULAR exercise could help these flare ups. We’re getting OLD!! Ok, older… and we NEED to look after ourselves…

Time for change

We talked a lot and decided that for us 2017 is gonna be year of CHANGE…physically and health wise!! We are not in bad shape. Neither of us is overweight, although I have put on a few more pounds than I like since returning from living in China where I walked everywhere. So…in 2017, we are gonna do our best to strengthen and tone some areas physically to see if that helps with overall strength ( and back issues for David) We are gonna change our eating habits a bit…tweak a bit…just to have better energy. And we may even enjoy a massage or two each month. We are gonna try to spend more time breathing in the “fresh air”. Lots of things to change and try this year for better health and longevity.

So…2017…Let’s BRING it, we’re UP for the challenge!

Lots of things for reflection!

All things new… Jan 1, 2017

January 1, 2017…

The people you love… The places you’re a part of… The memories you hold onto… …and those unforgettable moments when you close your eyes and breathe in life with a smile… A new year is a reminder to celebrate and give thanks for all the things that are good in your world… 💙

With an annual walk on the beach this afternoon after the rain cleared a bit ( yes we went yesterday because it was such a nice day BUT January 1st Beach walk is a tradition and a MUST) …a reflection of what was ( yesterday)… and what is to come (today) And a delicious seafood chowder to warm us up ( FULL of shrimp, haddock, scallops, lobster, crab and a little potato)

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We are READY! It’s time to begin…

Sunrise…Sunset…Sunrise…Sunset 🎶

Sunrise sunset, sunrise, sunset,
Swiftly flow the days,
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers,
Blossoming even as they gaze…

Sunrise sunset…

Soon 2016 will be but memories…Good ones, Amazing ones!!!

My dear husband is back to work for a few days. Yesterday, today and tomorrow he has 12 hour shifts and is very busy overseeing some maintenance work during the holiday shut down. His long days working have been giving me time to do some things at home that I don’t normally get chance to do over the Christmas holidays.

During this time I have also been thinking a lot! Thinking of all the blessings of the past year…we’ve had many!!!! Thinking ahead to what 2017 will bring…

A lot of tragedy…a lot of death and uncertainty in the news the last few days… It really makes you stop and think and count your blessings!

Days swiftly flow…sunrise’s come, followed by beautiful sunsets. I’m not sure which I enjoy more. December has brought some beauties!

I hope you get a few quiet moments before this year is through to enjoy them. Here is one I took…

The rest are beautiful sunrises and sunsets captured by fellow photographers from Nova Scotia enjoying them too! ( Betty Meredith a local photographer is one of my favourites to follow)

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May EVERY sunrise hold more PROMISE

And every SUNSET hold more PEACE

I pray you are making the most of each day and the opportunities and adventures it presents…

( Sunrise, Sunset…from Fiddler on the Roof)

https://youtu.be/nLLEBAQLZ3Q?t=1m10s

What is happening here?

I am sad!!! VERY very sad!!!! Something is happening here along the coast of Nova Scotia in the last month…and no one can figure it out!!!!!!

Herring, Lobster, Bar clams, Starfish and more…

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In some of the photos it looks like things have been cooked.( lobster turns from black to red when it has been cooked or steamed)

A marine mystery is confounding residents of southwest Nova Scotia who are watching thousands of dead fish, starfish, crabs, clams, scallops and lobster wash up on the shore. Residents of Plympton, a small community in Digby County, say they have been finding dead herring on the shore of St. Mary’s Bay for more than a month, but recently other marine life has started washing up dead. Dead fish have also been found on the shores of the Annapolis Basin. This is extra concerning now that other species are involved.The Department of Fisheries and Oceans began investigating Nov. 22 after thousands and thousands of herring began washing in the eastern end of St. Mary’s Bay. But still no one knows what’s causing this!!!

I hope this mystery is solved soon!!! It is so very sad for our beautiful coast and all the marine life. What is happening??

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!

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!