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 PlanΒ 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!

Quietly at home…

Today, Queen Elizabeth II,Β Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, is celebrating her 91st Birthday!

This lady is a picture of royalty, style and grace.

Here are a few stats of her reign…

β€” Elizabeth has reigned for 65 years and 75 days. On September 9, 2015, she became Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, passing her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria.

β€” She has had 13 Canadian prime ministers and 13 British prime ministers serve during her reign, from Louis St. Laurent and Winston Churchill, respectively, to Justin Trudeau and Theresa May.

β€” She has met 12 U.S. presidents, from Herbert Hoover (after he left office) to Barack Obama, more than a quarter of all U.S. presidents.

β€” She has travelled more than 1.6 million kilometres on official trips, visiting 106 countries.

β€” She has visited Canada 22 times β€” the largest number of trips to any nation.

β€” She has four children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

β€” She has cut back on her official duties in the last few years, but Elizabeth still conducted 332 official engagements in 2016.

And a few pictures…

Happy Birthday!!

Happy 1st Anniversary

It’s been a whole year already!!

Andrew and Kristina are celebrating their first Wedding Anniversary! Here is a look back at a few of my favourite Wedding pics.

Happy 1st Anniversary!

Wishing you a wonderful day celebrating!! xo ❀

A Sunny Saturday

Whoa! What another gorgeous day! It’s sunny and the flowers are blooming. I LOVE SPRING!

Today weΒ enjoyed Easter dinner at Mom & Dad’s.Β It was so delicious thanks Mom!

David LOVED dessert! ( 3 kinds of pie)

And then this afternoon while David went on the bike, Abby and I relaxed a bit outside.Β 

 

James has some of his SMU friends visiting and they went hiking.

Ahh…Easter weekend!

Spring Cleaning!

I spent another day outside. It was a beautiful day again. Not as nice as yesterday but still nice to be outside. I have all my gardens cleaned the “initial clean”. Dead leaves and junk out and all of them are raked. Now I just need to get the lawns raked.

All of that garden work makes me realize it’s that time of yearΒ to spruce things up!!

Β I’m gonna be ambitious and start going through my house room by room and get it all sparkly and shining. I’m also hoping to get rid of some clutter ( not that I have a lot) BUT we all need to do a little purging once inΒ awhile!

Besides…when warm weather days FINALLY arrive, I want to be outside!!! Yesterday and today made me realize that there is no way I want to be in the house when it’s gorgeous outside.

Spring Cleaning Ahead…

Tuesday Tease

Yes…I know. The gorgeous amazing weather today was just a tease of what is to come…

BECAUSE here on the East Coast of Canada it is just a little too early to have temperatures as nice as this. That’s ok, today was the most enjoyable day!

The next few days will be cooler but I am just so thankful for today. One day for some “garden therapy” and to anticipate the wonderful season that will soon be here. Which means, I better get some things done inside so that when the weather is nice like this again I can be outside!

 

The next couple days…

It started this afternoon, and today and tomorrow and maybe even Wednesday morning are gonna be nice! I mean sunny and warm temperatures! It has been so cold and grey and snowy here that once again everyone is talking about the weather…”WAIT TILL TUESDAY… IT’S GONNA BE NICE”

This afternoon the thermometer on my back deck was almost 20 degrees. The crocus flowers were in bloom and David went for a ride! He actually took our daughter Laura for a ride. She’s living at home again for a while and has never been on his bike.

Ahh… I love this kind of weather!

I even got out my lounge chair and just maybe tomorrow I can spend a little time there!

from Shenyang with love… πŸŒΈβ€

Ahhh…Spring. April. and Blossoms.

My Chinese friends know all too well that it is my favourite time of year and they also know me well enough that even after leaving Shenyang almost 3 years ago ( wow it’s been that long) that I still miss and long for the April days of walking in “my” park when all the blossoms are peak!

So, Sunday was a gorgeous blue sky day in Shenyang and they went to “my” park just to take pictures especially for me!

Ahhh…how I wish I was walking here today…

Thanks so much for the thoughtfulness! ❀