A book and a movie

This is what I am reading now. Or I should say "What I will be reading starting tonight". There it was sitting in my mailbox yesterday afternoon - thanks Ms. Postwoman. I buy most of my books at Amazon. Seeing that I prefer to recycle and reuse, I check the "used books" section first. You can get pretty good buys at times. I did for this book and got it for $2.50. And, it is in excellent shape. I have two more books coming soon (I hope). But then again, one can not multi-task reading - the one book at a time rule !

Last night Dave and I went to the movies. We don't go to the movies often and when we do it's a treat for both of us. Highly recommended by our daughter, we saw Wild Hogs. Well, well, well.... did we ever laugh in that theatre. It is a very funny movie with four great actors.

3 hours later.... new BBQ

Yesterday was the 'install new BBQ' day. Armed and loaded, Dave started the procedure outside but it did'nt take long for the set-up to move inside the house in the kitchen. It was freezing outside. This was at 10 a.m. By noon, our son had joined in the process and at 1 p.m. we had a new BBQ. It's amazing how many pieces there are for one simple BBQ. It all started at the store where we bought the BBQ. The box was too big to fit in the car or in the trunk so we had to take everything out of the box and stuff the pieces here and there in the car and leave the HUGE box there. So it was BBQ chicken on the menu last night for supper ! yum.

Here is the finished product.

How did everyone celebrate the Spring Equinox ? With Saturday's beautiful weather we worked at preparing the gardens for when the time comes to put in the seeds. Saturday evening we picked up some of the broken branches in the yard and made a fire in our fire pit out back (sorry I don't have any pictures to post). And with our first BBQ of the season - this was our way of celebrating Spring !!!!!

Next weekend - we are taking out our bikes (weather permiting of course). I had the new bike last summer so this year it's Dave's turn for a new bike. I can't help but post a picture taken last August when my husband surprised me with a brand new 'cruiser' bike. I love this bike, it suits me just fine.

Hen & Chicks

A very special aunt made this hen and chicks for me - tante Angèle. She is no longer with us but she's one of those person that it's hard to imagine that they're gone from this world. Tonight I went up in the attic to get this special Easter decoration. Don't they seem happy to be out...


What a cutie !!!!! This little bunny is made entirely of 100% organic cotton socks. His big brown eyes are made from wooden buttons. He was up in the attic with hen & chicks.


While BBQ hunting in Yarmouth today, I bought this lovely daffodil plant. More Spring cheer for the inside of the house. I'm sorry if I'm a little Spring crazy but I can't help myself...

They said it was going to be nice

This first Saturday of spring was 'magnifique', just as they had predicted during the week. Although it was nice and sunny (not a cloud in the sky) there was a slight breeze making it comfortable to work outside with a light sweater. Dave and I were up early, had our homemade waffle with maple syrup breakfast then outside we were. We emptied half the compost bin and put the 'golden stuff' in the veggie bins. I did three loads of laundry and they all dried outside (yah, don't have to use the dryer anymore til next winter).


Another item on our 'to do' list for this weekend was take out the BBQ from its winter hibernation. Well, when we removed the cover the inside of the BBQ was mostly rusted. So off we go to Yarmouth to buy a new BBQ (not in the plans but....). Of course you can never buy anything that is already put together so we have a new project for tomorrow. However, we had it in our mind that we were having BBQ for supper tonight (Saturday) so we bought this cute little briquette BBQ and we were able to have our supper. It will come in handy for camping this summer, our old one was ready to be buried.

Earth Shoe

Stopped at Frenchy's today during my lunch hour. Found a pair of Earth Shoe sandals. They have a gel in the soles - very comfy. Out of curiosity, I searched the internet and found a similar pair on the Earth Shoe site for $120. Of course, you know I paid way less then that. These sandals will definetely be in my backpack when we go camping this summer. I have my hiking sandals but these are almost as good. They'll be nice for around the campsite. I also found two nice hardcover books for $1 each. One that I already have in my library 'Simple Abundance' and the other 'Men are from mars, women are from venus'. Whenever I find a book that I already have, I just can't leave it there.... I have to buy it. Will give it to someone.


I just could'nt resist posting a picture I took with my best companion - Tabi. We rescued her 12 years ago. She is the love of the household. The most laid back friendly dog you'll ever find. She only wants to please, that's all !


Toured the gardens around the house after work and found these Iris slowly emerging from the ground.

Walk in my shoes

It was another amazing sunny day today. A little on the cold side with the wind but still a very nice day for a walk. My favorite outdoors activity has to be walking. I prefer walking by myself, to be with my thoughts but if someone offers to join me I never refuse. I start my day at 7:20 a.m. with my first walk of the day on campus of the university where I work then at noon I take another one hour walk.

On campus there are two trails called 'les petits bois' (the little woods). You have a choice to either walk the entire time in the woods or start in the woods and end up on the shore. The pictures were taken in the newer trail. The oldest trail of the two dates back to 117 years.

So come on, take a walk in my shoes and see some of the spectacular views I am blessed with every day.

Here I was just about to turn left to enter the woods. You can see the lighthouse up ahead. It was too windy today to walk along the shore.


This picture is pretty self-explanatory - a stone wall along the way.

Another view of the trail, slightly covered with a soft blanket of snow. The trees are so tall and straight - seems they are all at 'attention'. Feels like one is walking through an honor guard.

This is amazing. No one knows who but someone decorates this tree at Christmas and again for Easter. Who would imagine that the simplest things will attract so many on-lookers.

So there, you have just taken a glimpse at my mornings and my noon hours.

What are you planning for your Vernal Equinox celebration?

Ice Follies

To spread some of that fabulous Spring spirit I've been having lately, this afternoon I planted 5 narcissus bulbs 'Ice Follies' (white petals with buttery yellow centers). The bulbs already had a head start so it should'nt be long before I can show you an up-date on their progress. I might have blooms for Easter. Would'nt that be wonderful !


Sometimes I have to pinch myself to realize and appreciate that less then 50 feet from my front steps is this amazing hiking trail. I took this picture 30 minutes ago while having my daily walk. I could hear a family of squirrels having some kind of loud discussion. Pretty soon the pussywillows should appear. Then for sure - Spring will have arrived. The one thing that tops everything else about Spring.... the beepers at night. Oh, can't wait.


10 minutes after the top picture was taken, this picture was taken - heavy snow flurries and very dark clouds. I was just about to exit the trail.


Spring Overflow - I took this picture on my trail walk. A small overflow coming out of the rocks along side a fish pond.

Not just any tote

A regular pit stop at Frenchy's yesterday led me to this beautiful tote. Not just any tote.... a yoga tote. Used it last night for yoga class. All my stuff (except my yoga mat) fits in it. Our yoga instructor is moving to Halifax so she's trying to find a replacement. If we end up without an instructor I will travel to Yarmouth for yoga class once a week.


Thought I would give you a sneak peak at the honeysuckle branch that I've been forcing for the last couple of weeks.... nice bright green buds but no flowers yet. I might not get any flowers but at least I will have had the pleasure of watching it turn green.

Perfect ending

Perfect ending to a perfect day ! View at 7:30 p.m. from our back porch. Isn't this a good enough reason to "Celebrate Life".

Spring goodness

Hopefully today's Springtime goodness was a taste of what's coming. Mild, sunny, blue sky and windless day - all in today's weather. Don't get me wrong, I love Winter... we need Winter. But at this time of the year I start looking forward to Spring like weather (exactly like what we had today, minus the snow). Can't wait to get my hands dirty digging in the gardens. Getting everything ready for planting. What do I put in the ground : (everything organic) peas, green beans, tomatoes, carrots, salad mix, arugula, garlic, pole beans (heirloom seeds + 100 years old). In the herb kitchen garden = sage, rosemary, oregano, thyme, parsley and basil.

Vacant birdfeeder - where are the birds ?


Site for the pole beans.


Green grass.... a sure sign of Spring ! or is it.

International Women's Day

To all women out there
Happy International Women's Day !!!!!

This picture was taken last Fall. It is my ever so precious gratitude stone. I am grateful for so many things but this morning on this "International Women's Day" I am grateful to be able to celebrate another wonderful day.

Meet "Puss"

"Puss" is a very special cat. He lives in Dieppe, New Brunswick with his parents Ginette and André (Ginette is my daughter). He is an apartment cat and can be a "scary cat" at times (see picture below taken Christmas Eve 2006 running away from the lobster). He visits at his grand-parents house in Meteghan Station but they would love to have him more often.

Everyone loves "Puss", but no one more than his maman. She's had him since he's only a few months old. This picture is soooooo funny, seems the plant is on top of Ginette's head.

What I am reading since last night

I finished reading "A Walk on the Beach" by Joan Anderson. Of her three books that I've recently read, my favorite was "A Year by the Sea". Now I will read "Yoga Sutra" which I got for Christmas.

The four elements

Inspired by my very special niece in Ontario, I am in the process of collecting dishes to put together place settings representing the four sacred elements - earth, fire, air and water. I want to have six settings so I have to duplicate two of the elements... water and earth. Before I purchase a piece, it has to appeal to me, be special. The purchases have to be special. Not something that you 'just do because'. Each place setting will consist of a dinner plate, a bowl, a water glass, a wine glass, a placemat and a candle holder. Earth will be in the green and brown shades; Fire is red; Air is white or clear and both settings of Water will be in the blues. It could take a while to find and collect each and every piece.

Here is a sneak peek :

Two pieces I found at Frenchy's today - water glass and bowl for the Water element setting.


Wine glass for Fire. This one I bought at a boutique.

The bowl for the Air place setting from Pier 1.


Speaking of collecting.... one of our (my husband and myself) favorite thing to do is beachcombing and looking for seaglass. I've been collecting seaglass for over 10 years. This is only one vessel full of the colorful treasures found on the beaches of Clare, Yarmouth County, Shelburne and even from Briar Island, Digby Neck. In all the years I've only found two red ones.

A walk in the trail

What a gorgeous Saturday morning. We did'nt get too much snow from the storm yesterday. We mostly got heavy winds and freezing rain. Most of the snow we got was at suppertime. My husband, our dog Tabi and myself just got back from a nice walk in the trail next to our house. Dave is now removing snow from the driveway and afterwards we might go to Frenchy's.

Winter storm advisory

Forecast since yesterday has been for a winter storm advisory for today with snow, wind and freezing rain. At 4:15 p.m. we are having a light freezing rain and we got a small amount of snow starting at around 1 p.m. Compare both pictures, nothing much in terms of snow in the second picture.

Scene from our back porch at 1 p.m. today

Scene from same spot at 4 p.m. today


Went for a walk around the house at noon and picked up a few honeysuckle branches. I will try and force them to blooom. They have little buds on them.

Beaten-up stool

Here is a picture of that old-looking wooden stool I was talking about in my previous post that my husband bought last night at Frenchy's in Saulnierville. It sure has seen its days. Since this picture, my fern has been placed on top. The dried flowers in this picture are from my niece's wedding last October.

My "new to me" coat

Happy March 1st !!!!! So far it's been "in like a lamb".

I got this lovely Esprit knee-length coat at Frenchy's. I paid $6 for the coat and $15 to have it dry-cleaned. Still a good price for an Esprit brand. I love ALL Frenchy's but my favorite is the one in Meteghan Centre. I enjoy going to the Tusket store. It's pretty small but I always get out of there with at least one bag full of stuff. The first thing I do when I walk into a Frenchy store is check-out the brick a brack sections and of course the books. I've found nice books in the past. A lot from the Oprah book club. Yesterday at the Saulnierville Frenchy's my husband bought an old wooden stool that I will use to put a plant on. Should have taken a picture.