Category: Holidays

ACROSS CANADA DAY: 11 July 20~ Vancouver Day 2…CHOICES

1st thing…Sleep in!!! I’m tired. All this sightseeing is hard work lol. Haha after all we are staying a couple of nights in the Granville Street district, the entertainment district in the heart of downtown which means no one is really up to early.

CHOICES!! Life is all about Choices, what to do?

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We are just a short walk from the ferry terminal that goes to Granville Island so we thought it would be fun to check out the famous market. In the early 1900s, Granville Island was home to factories, plants and sawmills. Technically a sandspit and not really island, the neighbourhood sits just south of the downtown peninsula, right under the Granville Bridge. The Granville Island Public Market acts as a hub of activity, but it’s also one of the city’s most important cultural districts with theatres, artisan workshops and craft studios.

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Yaletown was once the Western terminus for the Canadian Pacific Railway, but the area’s more recent reinvention dates back to 1986 when the waterfront along the north of False Creek was host to many of the venues when Vancouver hosted the World’s Fair. Since then that land, along with the warehouse district adjoining it have been transformed into one of the city’s chicest neighbourhoods, filled with residential loft spaces, sidewalk cafes, cool restaurants, unique shopping, and leafy parks. Sitting along the south side of the downtown Vancouver peninsula

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Chinatown of course I wanted to go to China town! Established back in the 1890s, Vancouver’s Chinatown has been humming busily for more than a century with vivid colours, exotic cuisine and a vibrant culture. Vancouver’s Chinese population originally made the journey to work in local mines and build the Trans-Canada railway. Rich in history and architecture, this area east of downtown boasts North America’s third-largest Chinatown after New York and San Francisco. Although we learned that especially these days the greater Chinese population live in Richmond. Authentic Chinese for lunch today!!

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A really cool thing about Vancouver is that usually there is a movie or series being filmed. It just so happened that they were filming The Flash today. So cool!

IMG_3345 IMG_3348 IMG_3350 IMG_3353 IMG_3354Well…Van city…it’s been wonderful!

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Our HOME and Native Land!

Today is a quiet Canada Day celebration in our home. This year a little different because of my husband’s crazy work schedule. But that’s ok. Yes, I could have joined the GOODE fam in the city for holiday celebrations, but where would that leave my hard working husband when he had just a few hours at home. I didn’t want him to be by himself on the holiday, besides I don’t mind the relax time.

So, we had a few hours to have some treats, wear our patriotic colors ( haha) and spend time together celebrating this great land we live in.IMG_8313

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Even Abby wears her red and white for Canada Day!

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Take 2 (that’s better)Screen Shot 2016-07-01 at 12.29.31 PM A little road trip…Screen Shot 2016-07-01 at 12.34.58 PM

I love seeing all the Canada flags and red and white on display along the South Shore!IMG_8379

IMG_8381IMG_8382 Our little adventure today…Riverport, NS for the Riverport Fire Department Annual Canada Day Fish Fry! I remember doing this I think when we were just dating, or something quite similar.IMG_8383 IMG_8362 IMG_8364 IMG_8365 IMG_8366 Screen Shot 2016-07-01 at 12.33.06 PM I ALWAYS get the fish…today I switched it up and had scallops. YUM!!

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And then David went to work, and I relaxed by the pool for a bit 😛 haha ( it wasn’t so bad)

I hope you had a wonderful day of fun and fireworks and celebrating this wonderful country we are so blessed to call HOME…Our HOME and Native Land!

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IMG_2339IMG_8328IMG_8432IMG_8437Happy Canada Day!

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Adventure Awaits…

I picked up a copy of the 2016 Nova Scotia “Doers & Dreamers” book as well as the Culinary Guide.

Oh the possibilities & choices….

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I love our East Coast province ❤ and I love summertime to explore and see and try new things!

This is such a great picture captured by a local photographer… Catherine Rose Photography.

Enjoy your last day of June!

Daddy

I love my Daddy and I love my Father-in-Law. I am so blessed to have these two wonderful men in my life that have been such  wonderful examples for my husband. My husband…I love him so much, He is an amazing Father who does so much for all our children.

Today is the day to celebrate these special men!

Me & my Daddy ( & Abby of course)
Me & my Daddy ( & Abby of course)
Me & My Father-in-Law
Me & My Father-in-Law

And my Amazing Husband

Father's Day

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Happy Father’s Day!

~Heritage Day 2016~

ns_heritage_day_002Nova Scotia Heritage Day 2016

Perhaps no one shaped Nova Scotian politics, literature or freedom of the press more than Joseph Howe, youngest son of John Howe. He expressed his love for the province in all he did, from the push for responsible government to his Halifax inspired poetry, such as the Ode to the Town Clock (1836).

As publisher of The Novascotian, a spirited and popular newspaper with commentaries on the day’s events, Howe loyally promoted notable Nova Scotian literature, including the first of Judge Thomas Chandler Haliburton’s Sam Slick series.

Joseph Howe is perhaps best known for his rousing speeches. In particular, the 1835 defence of free speech for the press. Howe had been accused of libel for comments found in The Novascotian towards the magistrates. He was called before the court, and as no lawyer would defend him, Howe represented himself. He spoke to the court for two days, and after a short deliberation, was acquitted of all charges. The event is commemorated on a statue of Howe located next to Nova Scotia Province House. At the base is a bronze plaque showing the newspaper publisher addressing the court.

Howe eventually became a member of the Legislature in 1836, then Premier from 1860-1863, and then finally, a federal cabinet minister. He was appointed Lieutenant Governor for a short time before his death in 1873 and now lies buried beneath a slab of Nova Scotian granite in Camp Hill Cemetery.

Joseph Howe is this year’s Heritage Day Honouree…

 

It’s fun to celebrate our beautiful province on Heritage Day. And what better way then with some traditional local food. Last year we enjoyed homemade Beavertails and Lobster. This year I went for something a little different … Sauerkraut and mashed potatoes! This is a Lunenburg county meal and my family loves it. And for dessert…Apple Pie with Ice Cream. ( February is Apple Month in Nova Scotia) Delish!

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IMG_4309And of course,  I was sportin’ my comfy Nova Scotia tartan and enjoying my coffee from my NS mug. lol  Happy Heritage Day!

 

新年快乐 🎉🎉🎉🎉🐒

It’s the YEAR of THE MONKEY!

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As the sun rises…Today January 8th is the first day of Chinese Lunar New Year!

For many of China’s lunar holidays, people of northern China like to eat jiaozi (Chinese dumplings). Why are jiaozi so popular? Why do people always choose to eat jiaozi during the holidays?
Writer and lecturer of studies of Chinese ancient civilization, Wang Fengchen, explains that the earliest jiaozi were eaten in the Three Kingdoms Period when there were wonton in the shape of a crescent moon. Moving on to the Northern and Southern Dynasties, people ate jiaozi, back then called wonton, together with noodle soup. Only in the Tang Dynasty did people start to eat jiaozi without the soup. During the Song Dynasty, the name “jiaozi” began to evolve.
Apart from their rich history, jiaozi have been popular for many other reasons. Wang thinks jiaozi are the favorite food for the northern Chinese.  I have to agree!!  He says, They’re not only delicious, but also very simple to make. Different places have their different ways of making and eating jiaozi. For example, in some of the southern cities in China, jiaozi are made in the shape of ear of wheat, while people from the north tend to make jiaozi like crescent moons. People from some places like to eat jiaozi together with noodles, implying a wish for great fortune. Based on the auspicious shape of jiaozi, it usually has implications for wealth or a good harvest, which is why people like to eat jiaozi for luck and especially at New Year.
At the beginning of the hottest part of the summer, the beginning of autumn, the beginning of winter, the winter solstice, as well as the lunar New Year eve, people will eat jiaozi, rewarding past successes and hoping for good fortune in the following days. Chinese people have the tradition of being thrifty in managing a household, and as jiaozi are a delicious delicacy, people like to save them for important occasions. After being passed down for a thousand years, eating jiaozi has become an important part of Chinese culture.

And eating jiaozi on the 1st Day of the New Year is tradition. Guess what’s for dinner tonight?

IMG_4131IMG_4136IMG_4053Jiaozi!!!
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and meatball soup and noodles!!!! Lots of favourites!!

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新年快乐…快乐猴年 🐒

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My HEART is in China today ❤

Some days I miss China more than others and today is one of them. So even though it is Super Bowl Sunday here in Canada and I am anticipating watching the game later (and will make some fun treats for that. It will be a two post day) it was all about Chinese New Year’s Eve.

This is the biggest holiday in China and the New Year’s Eve Family Reunion meal, CCTV New Year’s Eve Gala and Fireworks is “the thing to do” on this evening, which is actually morning and noon time here. So we did. I watched the Gala LIVE, and made some of our favourites including jiaozi, we lit sparklers before our meal ( fireworks is tradition ) and enjoyed our favourites. James even got a red envelope ( hong bao) because he is “young” and also because it is his year… The year of the Monkey. I also chatted and called a few of my Chinese friends and family. I’m so thankful for technology and excellent internet for live streaming.

 

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Oh how I miss China…新年快乐！

 

~2016~ It’s a BRAND NEW YEAR!!!!

 

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What will this new year add up to for our family?

LOTS of Special Moments and a few Milestones too this coming year…it’s so exciting!!!

Here are a few things we are looking forward to…

On April 16th Andrew & Kristina begin their life together as a MARRIED couple. Wedding in Cuba!!

June 4th, another Goode Family wedding!

July 18th is  30th Wedding Anniversary for David & I. It’s a milestone one!! and…hopefully we will be in Paris to celebrate.

September 2 is Kristina’s 30th Birthday. No more 20’s for our sweet new DIL.

December 26th my last Birthday celebration of the 40’s…

I’m looking forward to seeing how this and MORE all unfolds over the next 12 months!

We’re starting it off right with our New Year’s Day walk on the beach…

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And then lobster chowder for lunch when we got back!

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Happy 2016 folks and here’s to a brand new year!

The last day of the year

Whoa! The last day of 2015.

So much happened this year. So many things that I couldn’t have imagined. Good things…GREAT and Awesome things, but also a few very sad and heartbreaking things. That’s the way life is, you just never know what each year will bring.

This year, New Year’s Eve, we are having a quiet evening at home. Yes, I know…no exciting city to see how they celebrate New Year’s Eve. We just needed quiet and together. Sure I still have a Bucket List of ideas for other years…here’s hoping!

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Tonight as 2015 passes to 2016, we are THANKFUL for having had another year and look forward to what a new year will bring! There are some exciting things already planned and here’s wishing for surprises and adventure along the way.

Happy New Year!What are your thoughts and wishes as we celebrate this New Year’s Eve?

IMG_3293HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!