Just some thoughts – Page 14 – Just An East Coast Girl

WE Day

Today is WE day! What exactly is WE day and WHY have I not heard about this before?

I woke up to lots of posts about WE day and no school today because of inservice and buses running to WE day cancelled because of snowy road conditions….

We’ve had Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday and Dumping Day in Atlantic Canada, today is Wednesday known as Hump Day or as I’ve just learned WE day. So many “days” this last week of November!

So what is WE day?

Here is what Wikipedia said…

WE Day is a celebration of youth making a difference in their local and global communities. WE Schools is the yearlong program that nurtures compassion in young people and gives them the tools to create transformational social change.

Free The Children is a children’s charity founded in 1995 by child’s rights advocate Craig Kielburger. An article in the Toronto Star newspaper quoting Free the Children indicates that WE Day was created to “empower, educate, and above all, inspire”.

Me into WE

We are a movement comprised of individuals with unique gifts, talents and contributions. Together, we are powerful beyond measure, knowing that our strength lies in the uniqueness of us. However, the movement isn’t complete without you. We are capable of doing more together than any one of us could do alone.

I LOVE this concept…ME into WE! I always like to think of others before myself and a movement that encourages people to be themselves with their unique abilities and talents and bring them together to work together for the greater good of our society. Much can be done if we work TOGETHER!

I guess this is a big movement with huge events in cities in 3 countries. Today there is an event for Atlantic Canada in Halifax at the Scotiabank Centre

WE day…Hmm?

Have a great Wednesday!!

It’s Dumping Day!

The seasonal “kickoff” to Lobster Season.

As the lobster hunt gets underway today harbours are congested with boats racing to lay claim to prime fishing spots, marking territory with buoys scribbled to distinguish them from hundreds of others.

Thousands of crew members will be out laying traps today! Praying it’s a safe one!

Here are a couple pictures from photographers in the area…

Metaghan Wharf BY photographer Ron Deveau

Brier Island in Digby By photographer Amy Tudor

Be safe!

Giving Tuesday

Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it’s Giving Tuesday! Today kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. December can get pretty busy and hectic and sometimes…unfortunately…we may not be as nice as we should be. Sometimes it takes just a gentle reminder. Be KIND, Be GiVING, THINK of others!

I saw this Advent calendar. I used to do advent calendars when the kids were little. I suppose I still do with my lifesaver tree.

I loved this idea for an Advent Calendar…a Kindness Calendar and thought I would give it a try for the month of December! A great way to be thinking about giving this Christmas season.

It’s Cyber Monday!

Whether it’s shopping online or just another work day, grab a cup of your favourite coffee and have a great day!

PS. Coffee ALWAYS tastes the BEST on MONDAY mornings!!

Cheers to a new week!

Anniversary Sunday November 27, 2016

I remember back 30 years ago in November… we were dedicating our new church building. 30 years ago in July David & I married in the tiny facility that was once a liquor store, carpet store…our church where we met… and now someone’s home.

The summer we got married was crazy with the church being built. We didn’t want to wait until November for the new facility, so we married in the tiny building.

Later that Fall, in November 1986, the beautiful facility complete with red carpet was ready! This was a huge undertaking for a very new congregation that was only about 5 years old. This is where we served, this is where we raised our family. The church has grown over the last 30 years, people have come and gone. There have been many many changes.

This November, actually today, is the Annual Anniversary Sunday. This year 30 years later there is more great news and more reason to feel so blessed. Over the last 6 months the church as gone through a building expansion. Knocking back walls, adding here and there to make room for the growing congregation and young families ( lots and lots of new babies). So this November after having church at an off site location for the past 6 months , we are back in the newly expanded building. There is still lots to do, final touches and things to finish up BUT…we are VERY thankful and feel so blessed!

I didn’t get a picture of the outside finished today it was snowy so I will update one soon…

New signs with the Church’s Mission Statement

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The building project coordinator giving an overview

David sang a quartet special music

It was so nice to have the founding Pastor there today beside the current Pastor.

Happy Anniversary BOBC!

There’s just something about the first snow

Yay!!!! It snowed!!!!!

The FIRST snow of Winter is my FAVOURITE! A light dusting of snow on Christmas Eve and again on Christmas Day is perfect. Those are my favourite snowfalls.

A little bit of snow to keep things beautiful and clean during January and February are nice too.

It kinda makes you feel like a kid again…great memories of building a snowman and sledding.

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Enjoy your snow day!

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Bridgewater is ready for Christmas!

The Annual Christmas on the LaHave Parade and Fireworks is a sure sign to know that Bridgewater is ready for Christmas!

Every year we brave the cold, bundle up warm, and walk from our home to downtown to enjoy some local festivities. The last weekend of November…there’s just so much to do.

But this year David couldn’t do it! Even though he got in for a massage today and is feeling a little better, his back is still not quite good enough to walk a long distance and to stand in the cold.

James to the rescue! Thanks James for doing this with me!! All bundled up and ready to go.

… and Abby stayed home to keep David company.

I love the parade sponsored by the Chronicle Herald complete with red noses.

There were some really good floats!

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And the finale is the fireworks!!

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New to Bridgewater’s festivities this year are 6 large hay bale snowman placed at various points around the town. They were donated by a local farmer and decorated by students from Bridgewater High School. It’s fun seeing their smiling faces as we are driving through town.

Well, The store fronts are decorated ( like this beautiful one at Treasured Friends) the lights are on and Bridgewater is ready for Christmas. There was a great crowd out for the parade and I’m sure everyone is in a festive mood.

I missed my sweetie tonight but made sure he had a red nose too!

It sure has been a fun filled couple days!

Hmm? I wonder if we will get snow tomorrow? ❄️❄️

Christmas By the Sea 🎄⛵🐳⚓️

All the way from the “Christmas Tree Capital of the World”…

It’s Christmas by the Sea this weekend!

Image courtesy of Peter Zwicker Photography Bacalao Studio. He does amazing photography!! Check out his website.

http://www.bacalaophoto.ca

We don’t have snow yet but I think this photo truly represents “Christmastime in Lunenburg” I live 20 minutes from Lunenburg, one of Nova Scotia’s well known Historic towns. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Town. People come here from all over the world .

This weekend in Lunenburg it is their Heritage Christmas and Christmas By The Sea.

There are actually 3 Christmas Festivals in towns close by this weekend, not to mention the small communities having events and then there is the Victoria Christmas at the Citadel and Lighting Ceremonies at various spots in Halifax. And of course I want to go to all so… yesterday I stopped into Mahone Bay for Father Christmas Festival pics and we drove to Lunenburg today. Tonight is Bridgewater’s Christmas On The LaHave complete with fireworks. These are the local ones. Next year I think I’m gonna take in some of the events in the city I haven’t seen.

This morning we bundled up, picked up some coffee and drove to Lunenburg.

Lunenburg is a well known fishing town by the sea, it is the HOME of the Bluenose II, and so much of the Christmas traditions and decorations revolves around that. It is also very beautiful!

And a few at night…

We didn’t get chance to take in the festivities, the lighting of the vessels, the Christmas by the Sea market and crafts and food tasting, we didn’t see the parade or the tree lighting at the bandstand BUT we got some beautiful pictures of a very special place…Merry Christmas from one of our favourite towns by the sea…

Peace & Love Around The World! 🕊

It’s November 25th…ONE MONTH TIL CHRISTMAS!!!!

which also means it’s time for the Annual Father Christmas Festival in Mahone Bay. This Festival is one of my absolute favourites! It really puts me in the mood and excitement for ALL THINGS Christmas.

It’s the little rituals and traditions in the small communities along the South Shore that I love and appreciate so much. This year’s theme is Peace & Love Around the World. 🕊 I like the dove ornament from 1991. It really captures the theme for this year.

In previous years when we go to the festival, David & I would grab a hot drink and wander around beautiful Mahone Bay and look at the many Father Christmas displays placed there by local business and committee members. However, today, David’s back is TOTALLY messed up! Yes, he periodically has problems and yesterday he came home from work walking with an S curve! There go my big plans for this weekend. He’ll be on the floor and on his back much of the weekend trying to get it straight.

Off to Mahone Bay I go, just to get some pictures because the displays are truly beautiful and today it’s not so crazy busy with people.

I missed strolling along hand in hand with my husband, but I was happy to get the pics and we’ll have other years to continue our tradition. He just needs to get that back FIXED, like NOW!!!!!!

I picked up my 2016 Pewter Christmas Ornament, like I always do at the Father Christmas Festival. This year it is a Cardinal. ” There is no better time to catch sight of a cardinal than in the winter, when his brilliant red plumage contrasts with the brightness of a freshly fallen snow. The more vibrant his crimson colouring, the more likely he will find a lifelong mate who can join him in singing rich, cheerful duets to bring sunshine even on the coldest and darkest of winter days. We all have unique qualities to celebrate. Stand out and stand proud. Make the world a brighter place.”

It is these simple pleasures that make me feel truly blessed for the peace and love we have in our country!

And Just for FUN…

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A quick stop tonight to get them with lights. It’s just so pretty!!

Thanksgiving Greetings!

Celebrating with our American family & friends!

And in honour of your holiday…

we dressed for the occasion

we ate turkey complete with dressing and green beans! Well , it was chicken ( only two of us home tonight, so I didn’t roast a turkey) But then chicken is kinda like turkey…close enough, right?

And we relaxed in front of the TV watching a few SPECIALS…

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

and the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade screen-shot-2016-11-24-at-3-58-12-pm

and even a little football…

YES! I am a Cowboys fan!!! They are having an AWESOME year. 10 wins in a row!!!

and finished it off with the Disney Magical Holiday Celebration.

It was so much fun! There are so many great specials on TV on Thanksgiving Day. It’s really the kick off to the season! And the BEST part is, I feel like it’s a holiday for us too since my sweet husband doesn’t work tomorrow and it’s the beginning of a super fun weekend for us!! Yay!!!!!

Seriously though, we are so blessed in North America. There are so many reasons to pause and BE THANKFUL!!

Happy Thanksgiving USA!