Happy 1st of May!
may day, may day…
I’m just over here having a few issues with my blog trying to decide the best course to take. Just letting you know I may be MIA for awhile…
Enjoy this beautiful new month! Happy May Day!
Category: Birds
Colourful visitors
So I put my bird feeders up this week because I was hearing and seeing lots of birds in my backyard garden and today I had so many colourful visitors. MORE than pictures can really capture.
Here are a few of my favourites of the little yellow finches.
Tomorrow looks like it’s gonna be a beautiful day. Time to get back in the garden!
Sunny Monday ☀
It’s a sunny warm Monday here in Nova Scotia. A PERFECT way to start the week.
I had a few colourful visitors this morning ( did’t get my camera quick enough) telling me it was time to fill up my bird feeders. I love watching these little feathered visitors in the morning and Abby gets excited about the word “birds” . So first thing on my list…put seed in the feeders ✔
This weather gets me thinking about summer and before you know it, it will be vacay time! David has time off in May, June, July & September this year ( for summertime vacation) Yay!!!!! Even though we don’t have any big travel plans this year…it’s a “stay at home” “enjoy our own province” kinda year…I’m planning, oh yes I am! 😂 May vacation will be mainly yard work. I’ve got his “work order” started. June and July we will relax at home and do some day trips and exploring.
I will give you a sneak peak at one little “getaway” I am planning. We are going to spend a couple of nights here in July.
What do ya think? I can’t wait!!
There’s no time like the present to start getting things on my list! ✍
It’s a PERFECT day for a BBQ dinner.
Well, that’s all for now…have a great day!
We’re in this together
Here are just a few ways Nova Scotia is doing it’s part in environmental protection. ( taken from the Government of Nova Scotia website)
We lead all provinces in cutting Greenhouse Gas emissions
In 2009, Nova Scotia released the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulations establishing GHG emission caps on the electricity sector. Amendments were also made to the Air Quality Regulations to set tighter limits on Nova Scotia Power Inc., sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions for 2015 and 2020. As of 2014, Nova Scotia has already reduced GHG emissions 17% below 1990 levels, the most of any province in Canada, and is on track to reach 24% by 2020. This far surpasses our target of 10% below 1990 levels by 2020.
Nova Scotia is the first province to require efficient LED streetlights
Nova Scotia is the first province or state in North America to make LED streetlights the law. LED lights are expected to use less than half the energy of traditional lights and when combined with reduced maintenance costs, the estimated annual savings could be $18 million. They’ll also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 30,000 tons.
More than 25% of Nova Scotia’s electricity comes from renewables
Nova Scotia’s Renewable Electricity Plan is a program to move Nova Scotia away from carbon-based electricity towards greener, more local sources. The plan set renewable electricity generation targets of 25% by 2015 and 40% by 2020. In 2015, almost 27% of Nova Scotia’s electricity was supplied by renewable energy sources, like wind, tidal, biomass, and hydro, and we are on track to reach 40% by 2020.
Nova Scotia has more wind power in our mix than 8 other provinces
As of September 2016, there was almost 600 MW of installed capacity from wind generation in the province.
Nova Scotians are the leading composters in Canada
Nova Scotians are the leading composters in Canada on a per capita basis (combined curbside and backyard). More than 95% of residents have access to curbside collection, and 48 of 51 municipalities use clear bags to enhance diversion of organics and recyclables from the solid waste stream.
Over 100,000 Nova Scotians have renewable heat in their homes
Nova Scotians are doing their part to reduce their energy consumption and replace more of their energy with sustainable sources. Today, over 100,000 Nova Scotians have heat pumps in their homes. Of those, at least 80,000 use a heat pump as their primary source of heating. Over the last five years, Efficiency Nova Scotia’s work alone has helped roughly 56,000 Nova Scotians reduce their reliance on oil.
We’re in this together, let’s everyone do our part!
春分 🌸
It’s Chūn fēn
or the first day of Spring! 
Love EVERYTHING about Spring! However we are still getting the COLD here in eastern Canada…
Too far I think because we got MORE snow!!!!!!! ugh….
Believe it or not, today is the First Day of Spring!! You really wouldn’t think so after last night and this morning, here in Nova Scotia.
Now is a great time to start feeding the birds. There have been lots of robins on my lawn. They’re now making their way back to Canada and a feeder is a useful source of food for them on their journey. During this time of the year, birds are able to rapidly gain weight so they have enough energy to fly the far distances required.
Happy 1st Day of Spring! ( ps I put ALL my snowmen decor away so please no more SNOW)
Jamaica mon’
Smile mon! that’s right we’re in Jamaica for the day!
Jamaica is our first port of call. Ocho Rios is Spanish for “eight rivers”. The name “Ocho Rios” is a misnomer because there are not eight rivers here. It is most likely a British corruption of the original “Las Chorreas” or “the waterfalls”, the name given because of the nearby Dunn’s River Falls. Ocho Rios is in the parish of Saint Ann on the north coast of Jamaica. Scuba diving and other water sports are offered in the area.
Limestone, molasses, sugar and coffee are the key exports in Jamaica.
Docking at James Bond pier named after the 1962 James Bond movie Dr. No
Dunn’s River Falls Waterfall and Beach
A “MUST HAVE” while in Jamaica is Jerk Chicken with festival ( the little fried donut) and bammy (made from cassava root)
The birds were so much fun to interact with at Dolphin Cove. Macaws, lovebirds, parrots, an owl…were all very friendly and liked the attention.
This way to the Iguana!
Meet Charlie! Charlie II that is. The first Charlie, the one I held last time we were in Jamaica passed away. This Charlie was a sweetie though. I love Iguanas, they are just so interesting!
David was REALLY brave and held the snake. NOT me though…I am terrified of snakes!!
We had an amazing day in Jamaica…now to set sail!
David purchased a bamboo shirt…he’s looking a bit tropical for our dinner tonight.
Goodbye from Jamaica ( and Charlie)
Cosmetic Snow ❄
Our local weather newscaster has a new term for a beautiful light fluffy snow day! It’s called cosmetic snow.
Today I enjoyed being cozy inside and watching the birds in my yard as the light “fluffies” were falling…
Wishing you a wonderful snow day! xo ❤
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…
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??
Just hanging out…
As I was enjoying my coffee this morning thinking about a lot of things, I looked out my window and saw these three hanging out.
It’s not a real nice day, it’s drizzly, and deciding if it’s gonna rain some more or clear up ( my husband is actually outside doing some more digging in case it rains) Me…I like rainy Saturdays, well ok not really but if it does rain, I stay in my PJ’s a little longer and enjoy an extra cup of coffee…and I like that.
and think or plan… THERE’s Lots on the list. Here’s but a few…
…thankful for the amazing friends in my life. the few very close ones that I can count on when I’m going through a hard time!
….the joy of planning gardens and landscaping this Spring
…the adventure of planning what to do around Nova Scotia this summer for FUN and when family visit.
and the BIG one….planning our 3 week adventure to celebrate our Anniversary in July. I’ve been thinking about that one a lot lately.
So for a little while, and while it is nice and quiet, I’m just hanging out…
I wonder what these three are chatting about as they hang out this morning?
ENJOY your Saturday ❤
Backyard Visitors
Sunday. Monday. Tuesday….It’s only Wednesday BUT what a rainy week! Our 2 week Nova Scotia summer is over and it feels like cool rainy fall weather. I am so very thankful for the 2 week vacation we had the first part of July…the weather was gorgeous!
We’ve been put on hold with our backyard garden project. It’s kinda hard to work when it’s rainy and soggy. We actually have less to do than we thought because we shifted our plan, a little more restructuring to make the best use of the small space, and some of it won’t be able to be started and completed until next summer. So that means less to do this summer! But it would be nice to finish up what we have started.
In the meantime I am so pleased with how it’s coming along. I’ll soon post a few pictures. One of the goals I had was to make my garden bird friendly. I wanted to see and hear birds in the morning, I love watching them. So I put out a couple feeders and bird baths and the birds are coming! They found them and have been frequent visitors. I love them and of course Abby does too. She sometimes tries to case the birds and two chipmunks that have been visiting. It’s hard to get the pictures because they are still a little camera shy!
This rainy weather is “for the birds” (and our new front lawn) Waiting patiently for the sun to return… Have a GREAT east coast day!
Just An East Coast Girl 