Today seemed like a good day just to be hanging out in the kitchen. It’s Saturday and it’s the first Saturday in December which means that Christmas Daddies is on television. ( Normally it’s on the first Sunday but this year is the first year for the new day Saturday) I REALLY enjoy watching this telethon. BUT, to be honest sitting all day…during the daytime in front of the TV doesn’t thrill me so I had an idea…
I can just hang out in my kitchen all day with the TV on and I can do my Christmas baking. Why not? It’s PERFECT!
And to start, well before I started Christmas baking…a new baked treat for Abby girl.
She was thrilled and VERY polite when I gave her the whole plate. One at a time was fine with her, no need to devour them all at one.
And then it was on to the really fun stuff. Cranberry Bliss Bars, Peppermint Bark, Almond Bark, Pecan Bark, Peppermint Patties and Peanut Butter balls. And poor David is not here to sample…he’s off exploring Charleston, SC today before he heads home on Monday.
Poor David…he’s missing out… haha
And…6 hours or so later…my table looks like The Land of Sweets…Who doesn’t love tasty treats at Christmas. These are the special ones, reserved only for Christmas time.
And the plus to all day baking in my kitchen, I saw the whole Christmas Daddies program with the grand total of over $410,000. pledged to go to make Christmas special for children in the Maritimes!!!
Father Christmas often appears as a large man, often around seventy years old. He is dressed in a red suit trimmed with white fur, often girdled with a wide black belt, a matching hat or hood, often long and floppy in nature, and dark boots. Often he carries a large brown sack filled with toys on his back. It has been said that the red suit only appeared after the Coca Cola company started an advertising campaign depicting a red suited Father Christmas in the 1930s.
The Father Christmas Festival in Mahone Bay is this weekend and next, and I love all the different Father Christmas figurines.
David having a little chat with Norman the Gnome It has become a somewhat new tradition for me to visit Mahone Bay for this festival and…pick up my new Amos pewter ornament. Living away makes you really appreciate local and what your community and neighbouring communities offer. I love Amos pewter things and have decided a few years ago to collect these special ornaments.
Each year the Amos Pewter company create a new collector ornament. This year is the Winter Blossom. Each has a lovely inscription about the ornament …” There is a beauty in the cycle of the changing seasons. We wonder at the uniqueness of each softly falling snowflake, joining with others to blanket the earthen a magical whiteness. As the days become longer and warmer, each melting snowflake helps to foster new life that grows, transforms and ultimately fills summer with bursts of blossoms and butterflies. Change is the hope for newness and transformation. Nourish your dreams you embrace the changes in life’s seasons.”
For the last few years at the festival the image of Father Christmas has changed. This year’s 2015 “signature” Father Christmas is Della Robia. He has a gentle face and an Old World European look.
And a new feature this year… The Nutcracker Fantasy. It was my favourite. The creativity and the detail. I am AMAZED that every year there is something new that tops the year before. I could spend hours wandering around here…
And David’s favourite…
Mahone Bay is definitely ready for Christmas and after this weekend with all the specials my mood is very festive, It really is a wonderful time of the year!
Have you ever tasted roasted chestnuts? They are good. Not as good as one would think listening to the famous song…”chestnuts roasting on an open fire jack frost nipping at your nose, yule tide carols being sung by a choir…” I love that song and this time of year! It’s about a month til Christmas now and it is when all kinds of wonderful, special things happen around town.
Tonight…in Lunenburg, NS, the lighting of the fishing vessels down on the waterfront. Hot chocolate, roasted chestnuts, a few of the shops open later, Christmas music playing, carollers singing …and PIRATES!!! I didn’t expect pirates! We enjoyed a nice dinner ( our favourite apps at our favourite place) ahh…it’s a great start to the weekend!
Today was so great! Usually Monday is a slow start. lots of coffee and cleaning. Today I was off and running…meeting my friend for a day of shopping and adventure. You just never know when we’re together. It’s so much fun!
First stop, West LaHave and a peak at her new home with the most awesome view of the water. I could sit there for coffee everyday. Love the wharf and buoy’s hanging…
Then off roading with faithful Bessie on the back roads to Old Town Lunenburg to browse the shops and a bite to eat. We both love shopping and are a dangerous combination. Lunenburg is a great spot to pick up special one of a kind Christmas gifts and I will definitely be stopping back for a few things.
Wanda is so creative and wanted to show me where her creativity begins…
Haha, lots of fun pics 🙂
A new beach for me…Oxner’s beach to pick up some drift wood and interesting things. Lots of inspiration to create!! What a great day, a PERFECT start to the week. And only one thing missing…
The Pumpkin People are back in Kentville this October and it is time to get up close and personal with all your Lego favourites!
More than 300 of these pumpkin characters have arrived for their annual October visit. It’s time to experience all the fun characters and get lost in lego land with the Pumpkin people!
It’s that weekend in October when the small town of Mahone Bay comes to life with all sorts of colourful people…scarecrow people!
It’s been rainy and cold and not so nice but we just had to get to this quaint little town for the Annual Scarecrow Festival. There was still lots of people out and about.
And a fresh loaf of bread from the local bakery and homemade pumpkin/carrot soup when we arrived home warmed us up real fast!
This weekend, Friday night and Saturday night, Bridgewater is all lit up with CREATIVITY! It’s the Afterglow Art Festival and this year it’s two evenings.
What is Afterglow Art Festival? It is a free art at night celebration of community creativity held in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. For three years the event has brought together artists of all kinds, from budding young artists to experienced professionals from across Lunenburg County to bring exposure to the talent of our community.
This year our daughter Laura is there with Face Forge.
Lots of music and activities and artists…
And my favourite ( other than Face Forge, of course)…
…floating lanterns, LOTS of them, floating down the river
September is my husband’s favorite time of year. It’s his Birthday month and it’s usually when he takes a vacation. He loves Fall. Nice warm sunny days ( not too hot) and cooler nights. Although this September we’ve still been running a bit of air conditioning.
Today is officially his first day of Vacay and PRIORITY for this week was a long bike ride! So this morning bright and early off he went with a fellow colleague…
LA TOUR de Honda Fury
First stop…Middleton in the Annapolis Valley. Coffee time, of course!
It was a beautiful Saturday and lots of picturesque places along routes in our province. Unfortunately getting pics proves difficult on a bike unless you are making lots of stops. For the most part they just enjoyed the ride!
And lunch at a great Turkish restaurant ( David said it was my kind of place and we would have to go sometime)
They had a great “tour” and it might have been nice to see a few more places, they both agreed that they are not “long distance” bikers. But then again this was the first long ride and maybe with a few more stops and (pictures for me lol) they would love it.
As promised back in May…Here is my second edition RESULTS page of the quest to find the BEST fish & chips places in Nova Scotia. As you know last summer we did this and in the Spring we decided there were just so many places we didn’t get chance to try that we would do another post.
Fish & Chips is a staple food along the South Shore of Nova Scotia. We LOVE our fresh haddock. There are so many great spots along the coast where it is a feature on the menu. So just where is “the BEST”… the best tasting, the best presentation, the best value for your money?
If you want to check out last year’s list you can click on the link below:
And after lots of study and careful consideration…:) Here are the 2015 RESULTS
May 24~ The South Shore Fish Shack, Lunenburg …revisit
We were here last year, their first season open and we loved it. So back we went. Now this was only the second weekend open this year and once again we thought the fish was fabulous. Cooked to perfection and so delicious. They’ve switched up a bit from being served in boxes to served in baskets ( I like the boxes better) and they also switched from bottles of pop to fountain pop ( not a fan) I don’t drink pop but David does and he much prefers his COKE in a can or bottle, but hey they’ve got it right and serve COKE! The South Shore Fish Shack is wonderful and I know we will go back again. PLUS the view on a summery night is amazing!
May 30~ The Turkey Burger, Cookville ( just outside of Bridgewater)
I think Turkey Burger has got EVERY restaurant in the province beat for portion size. Their servings are HUGE!!!!! I remember eating at the Turkey Burger as a teenager…vanilla milkshake, cheeseburger and fries would be my order back then. Tonight I had a milk shake… and David & I ordered the 3piece fish & chips. The milkshake is large and made with real ice cream and so thick and delicious. And the three piece fish…well, we could feed our WHOLE family with that order. The fish was fresh and flaky, so tasty good. This restaurant is a MUST for anyone visiting the area.
July 5~ revisit~ We were impressed with Turkey Burger on May 30th, so when our nephew and his wife were visiting from Ontario we wanted to treat them. However, our second visit wasn’t quite as good. Portion sizes are huge…they were impressed! But the fish was a little overcooked and batter a bit greasy this time. I think I’ve tried enough fish & chips here and will try something different. BUT the milkshakes are THE BEST ( I had one again)
Our son and nephew enjoying the fish & chips 😀
June 7~ The Wharf Wrap Restaurant, Eastern Passage
The Wharf Wrap Restaurant in Eastern Passage is located by Fishermen’s Cove. The restaurant itself is nothing to look at but we’ve heard rave reviews how their Fish & Chips are “the best” so of course, I wanted to go. We ordered the one piece and added a piece of fish to share. Just like last week at the Turkey Burger, portions are HUGE!!! We couldn’t believe it. How can these restaurants afford to serve such large pieces of fish. The batter on this fish was a little different. Its a cracker crumb/batter with “secret special seasonings” that only the owners know. I guess it’s a family secret that even the chef’s don’t know entirely. Well, it was different BUT oh so delicious!!! It is served with fries and their special pineapple flavour coleslaw. Once again we were not disappointed. YUM!!!
July 2~ Pearles in Paradise …revisit
This is always a favourite when we go to the valley. No complaints, just ALWAYS the same VERY good fish!! That’s why we go back.
July 2~ The Dockside, Digby
Not a fan! Digby is known for it’s scallops and they were delicious but we have had much better fish and chips. The best thing was the view, right on the waterfront, overlooking the scallop trawler fleet.
July 5~ Lanes Privateer Inn, Liverpool
This was a pleasant surprise. A spontaneous lunch stop with some of our family on the way through to the beach. I took took the opportunity to see what the fish & chips were like. They were REALLY good! Home cut fries with lightly battered fish. A perfect lunch, especially when enjoyed on their garden terrace!
July 7~ Acadian Fish & Chips, Hammond’s Plains Road
We have seen this restaurant on our way through to the airport, city or to David’s brother’s place and always comment we should try it! Vacation time is great for eating out. I love their decor outside, lighthouse and little fisherman. It’s a family owned and run business. They serve home cut fries and nice servings with a lemon wedge, tartar sauce and coleslaw. The service is super fast and they are very friendly. A great spot!
July 9~ The Battered Fish- Halifax Waterfront
It was ok. I love the waterfront so eating takeout with a view is so much fun BUT we’ve had better fish & chips.
July 10~ The Blarney Stone, On the 103 in Hebb’s Cross
A small licensed family dining restaurant that has been serving customers since 1983. With a diverse menu offering east coast specialties such as fried clams, fish and chips and other great home style meals like hot sandwiches and burgers. This place is ALWAYS packed and it’s been years since we visited.
Like I said this spot is BUSY!!! The food is great. David & I shared the 4piece fish and chips which was enough for us. The fish was normal portions but lightly done, flaky and not greasy. The chips were just regular ( not hand cut, so nothing special) David did have a side of sweet potato fries which were delicious. A great little spot for good food!
July 18~ Tastee Freeze, Hebbville
This is not the place to get Fish & Chips, it’s a wonderful spot for soft serve ice cream. That being said we just wanted a quick take out of fish and chips to take to the waterfront in our town to enjoy and the Tastee Freeze is just 5 minutes away. We thought we’d give it a try. We’ll be back, we love this spot…but for ice cream!
August 2~ Food Truck Fish & Chips, Huey’s at Halifax Waterfront
Food Trucks set up at the Waterfront during the Busker’s Festival. We had to try Fish & Chips from one. Huey’s was the one that had fish & chips. The experience was cool. The chips were home cut fries which were excellent but the fish was way too much batter for the fish. Oh well…
August 15~ Food Truck Fish & Chips, Irene’s at Chester Yacht Club
Chester Race Week and Chester Village is a busy spot!! A few food trucks were there to help with the event and all the people. We finally got chance to go on Saturday the last day of the races, and had lunch at the yacht club overlooking the harbour so we could watch a bit of sailing. Our food truck choice…Irene’s. Again, not the best fish & chips around but we loved the atmosphere and relaxing lunch.
August 30~ AND for a third time this summer, revisit the Turkey burger in Cookville.
This time was much like the very first time we went. HUGE portions, cooked to perfections. Actually this time even though I didn’t take any pictures ( totally forgot) James, David and I shared the 3piece fish and chips and it was more than enough for lunch!! So I highly recommend this place. If for some reason it’s not quite what you expect the first time, give it a second chance. Now that this year’s Fish & Chips quest is finished, we need to try some of there other dishes! 🙂
So this year instead of going until middle of October with my search, we finished the end of August by returning to a favourite. I am just getting around to getting this blog post ready. There are still so many more places in our beautiful East Coast province that serve this delicious meal, and yes we will keep ordering “Fish & Chips” as we travel about. There are also some other tasty seafood dishes worth mentioning…chowders. lobster rolls, crab cakes, fish cakes, scallops, clams, mussels…hmm…next year I may be on a different quest.
We’re loving these gorgeous days in September and October before cold weather hits. Hope you get chance to go for a nice drive and have lunch or dinner at a local spot.
She was thrilled and VERY polite when I gave her the whole plate. One at a time was fine with her, no need to devour them all at one.
David having a little chat with Norman the Gnome
It has become a somewhat new tradition for me to visit Mahone Bay for this festival and…pick up my new Amos pewter ornament. Living away makes you really appreciate local and what your community and neighbouring communities offer. I love Amos pewter things and have decided a few years ago to collect these special ornaments.
Mahone Bay is definitely ready for Christmas and after this weekend with all the specials my mood is very festive, It really is a wonderful time of the year!
Such a wonderful evening. Thank you Town of Bridgewater for an awesome event!
Haha, lots of fun pics 🙂
Just An East Coast Girl 