HIGHLIGHT OF 2024

 

Rob and I at Fisherman's Cove on our last day in Nova Scotia.

If I had to pick one highlight from 2024, it's easily Rob visiting Nova Scotia with me for the first time last May.  

We had thought about going for the last week of June and had booked that week for vacation. But Spring came to Ontario early last year and it was looking and feeling more like summer when May arrived, so outta the blue while he was working one night, I texted him to get his thoughts about going to Nova Scotia for our week in May, which was only a couple weeks away.

I had been dealing with some health issues that started the beginning of March and had to cancel a planned trip with my niece in April. I was feeling pretty good in May and wanted to take advantage of it. He asked me why May, and my response was, it's still Spring like weather there, where here the trees had most of their leaves, not great for birding. The kids would still be in school and it's not yet hurricane season. All that sounded good to him, and I think I booked the plane tickets, hotels and rental car that evening.

Because there was a lot of uncertainty regarding my health, we decided not to tell anyone we were going, in case we had to cancel the trip last minute. We flew down the morning of Sunday, May 12th, which was Mother's Day. I was born and raised in Truro/Bible Hill, Nova Scotia before moving to Toronto when I was 19. I wanted the trip to be about showing Rob my Nova Scotia, places that were important to me growing up, and we covered a lot of ground over five days. 

The first place we visited was the Bible Hill cemetery so I could place a potted plant at my parents headstone. I blogged about that last year. There is a lovely walking trail close to the cemetery and we visited the trail a few times while there.

My first meal after the plane landed, Deep Fried Clams!

We spent three nights in Truro and did a couple road trips from there. We took the trip "down country" that I did so many times as a kid with my parents. Through Great Village, Portapique, Five Islands and other small towns, we made our way to Cape d'Or, a beautiful spot I had only visited once before with my Mom years prior. We visited Victoria Park in Truro and other nature spots.

Cape d'Or, it's a walk down, but worth it.

Jacob's Ladder in Victoria Park, we both went to the top.

On Wednesday we headed to the Liverpool area on the south shore. My Grandmother had lived there and Easter, Christmas and some of my summer vacation was always spent there as a child.

We stopped at Peggy's Cove on our way.

We spent two nights at White Point Beach Resort and visited the town of Liverpool, and other areas I remembered. 

I could of listened to the waves all day. White Point Beach.

Summerville Beach, I loved spending time here as kid. 

It was surreal visiting Summerville Beach. I hadn't been there in decades but can still recall childhood memories of spending time there, the jellyfish, making sand castles, and the taste of the salt water. We walked the beach bare foot and looked for sea-shells, I brought a couple home.

Our last stop before heading to the airport to fly back to Toronto was Fisherman's Cove, another place I had last visited with Mom. 

Fishing boats, surrounded by gulls coming in at Fisherman's Cove.

Even though it wasn't really a birding trip, we saw lots of birds and even had a couple lifers. We also got to witness a first for us, a Bald Eagle having a bath in a lake. The Osprey is the provincial bird of Nova Scotia, but we didn't see any. The bird of the trip for us was the Northern Parula, we saw them often, and heard them everywhere! 

Northern Parula, Blue-headed Vireo, Canvas Back Duck (my lifer), Black-throated Green Warbler and an Oven Bird

A lifer for both of us on our last day, Common Eider's. We saw many.

It was an enjoyable but busy five days. It was fun surprising family and friends along the way. I know we didn't get to see everybody we would of liked to, but I am grateful that Rob got to meet some of my cousins and friends, and we'll meet more the next time we visit.

FALL FRENZY

Lobster statue at the Halifax airport.

The last few weeks have been busy, busy, busy, including a whirlwind trip to Nova Scotia to spend Thanksgiving weekend with my Dad and visit some family and friends.

I now feel like I can slow down and catch my breath. Lots of R & R in my future though, annual girlfriends weekend this coming weekend and Rob and I are off the first week of November to spend some quality time together at home.

Please enjoy a few photos taken during the last couple weeks.

I always enjoy a feed or two of deep fried clams when down home.

Rub the budda belly for good luck!

Lots of Blue Jays in the yard this time of year.

Almost 6 months old, Merry & Molly keep us on our toes on a daily basis.

I was so excited when it snowed last Sunday I ran outside in my housework clothes! 

25 YEARS IN TORONTO!

It's been 25 years since I moved to Toronto, Ontario!

I still remember walking out of Toronto’s Union Station onto Front Street all those years ago, and looking up at the tallest buildings I had ever seen.

It was 1989 and I was 19 years old. I had left my hometown of Truro, Nova Scotia the day before on the train. I came with a friend, Sherry. She was on March Break during her final year of high school. I had finished school and was working, but was off, still recovering from a serious car accident the November before. My older brother lived in Toronto at the time and I was coming to check out the big city. I had a return ticket for two weeks after I arrived that never got used.

There was a lot of job opportunities here at the time, and having my brother here was added security. Toronto was a big, new and exciting place to a small town girl from Nova Scotia.

Those first few years were spent taking advantage of all Toronto had to offer; the nightlife, new foods, seeing the bands live that I had worshipped as a teenager. My brother and I had a couple apartments together before I broke out on my own. He eventually moved further west, and I was truly on my own.  

I had a variety of jobs over those first years; cashier, filing clerk, and credit investigator. I’ve been working for the University of St. Michael’s College for close to 20 years now in an administrative type position.   

One of the things I am most proud of since I’ve been here, is starting a successful women’s social club that ran for over a decade. Many friendships were formed because of that club, and many of my closest friends are a direct result of it.

It hasn’t always been easy here for me, especially on the relationship front. I kissed a few frogs before I found my prince, but he was worth every tear shed. Rob and I have been together for over ten years now, and married for just over one.

I’m definitely not the same person I was when I left Nova Scotia. I don’t feel the need to always be on the go anymore and enjoy my time at home more and more. Rob and I have discovered a shared passion for birding, wildlife and nature in general. We volunteer and try to support many organizations dear to us. When we do go out, it’s usually early in the mornings to see birds instead of late at night to see bands. I still enjoy a few concerts every year though, I’m just more fussy about it.  

I will always be a Maritimer at heart and I still miss many things from Nova Scotia; my family, friends, the seafood, and the smell of the salt air, but Toronto has been good to me.  

Nova Scotia gave me my roots, but it’s in Ontario that I learned to spread my wings and fly.

Here's to 25, cheers!

24 YEARS IN TORONTO!

Fresh cooked lobsters!

This past March marked 24 years of living in Toronto for me. I've made a good life for myself here; great friends, a good job and a wonderful husband. Toronto is home to me now, though I'll always be a proud Maritimer.

One of the things I miss from Nova Scotia besides family and friends is the fresh seafood, especially in the summer. This past Saturday I was able to satisfy my need for some good seafood with a big feed of lobster and a backyard full of friends.

A table full of lobster, and friends.

Murray trying to pierce his nose.

I wonder what the next 24 years will bring?