Hello, Lovely People!
Just popping in to say "hello" and let you all know that we are settled into our new house! I still have lots and lots of boxes to unpack, but we're home and it feels like home!
Showing posts with label It Feels Like Home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label It Feels Like Home. Show all posts
Update + An Old Favourite!
And Now, The Weather! - Understanding Winter Weather Warnings
It was a wild and wonderful weekend in the Pacific Northwest as a multi-day snowstorm descended on our area. Almost 7 feet fell over approximately 3 days, and this snowfall coupled with low temperatures and high winds made for quite the aftermath. I knew this was no normal storm when I came home Saturday night, in the middle of the storm, and had to dig my way into my house.
Ten minutes later I was inside, furnace blaring and the kettle whistling, pondering this weather system. Snow is not a rarity in Northern British Columbia. Indeed, Kitimat means "People of the Snow," and we'd heard the stories of snowfalls so deep people had to shovel their roofs before their steps. That being said, even the locals agreed there was something extra wild and wooly about this storm.
Curious, I conducted a few Google searches and discovered that our current storm was the result of an Arctic Outflow. What's that, you say? Well, it was new to me, too, so I searched a little further, and on Wikipedia, I found the following definition:
An Arctic Outflow Warning is based on a combination of wind speed and temperatures which produce wind chills of at least -20 for at least six hours during the winter when very cold Arctic air breaks from the interior mainland of British Columbia and spills out through mountain gaps and fjords.
-Wikipedia
Ah. Mountain gaps and fjords. Well, that pretty much describes Kitimat!
This mystery solved, I got to thinking about regional weather warnings and how they vary across North America (and indeed the world). I often hear from my readers how interesting they find life in Northern British Columbia and Canada in general, so I decided today to share with you some of the winter weather warnings we hear and experience throughout the colder months. I'm going to insert actual passages from Environment Canada, and then add my two cents.
Heavy Snowfall - What do most people think of when they think of Canada? Snow! And while, contrary to popular belief, we don't have it year round, most parts of Canada do receive a fair amount of snow.
Heavy Snow can greatly reduce visibility, create hazardous road conditions, and knock down trees and power lines.
- Environment Canada
Nesty Notes - Prior to the cold weather setting in, make sure your home and car are ready for the worst. Remember to check your 72 Hour Emergency Kit and stock your car with food, water, blankets and a winter emergency kit. Keep your shovel where you can get to it; ours was inside our porch, a good thing it was considering our sheds were buried under the snow. And speaking of shoveling, keep an eye on your driveway; sometimes it's easier to stay on top of it throughout the snowfall than to try and remove seven feet of snow all at once. If this happens, try to befriend someone with a snow blower. Cookies help.
Winter Storm - This is what we experienced this past weekend and, while it's pretty to look at, it's not all curling up by the fire and sipping hot cocoa...
Winter storms are large-scale weather systems, hundreds of kilometres across, that are called extratropical cyclones because they form and develop outside of the Tropics. These storms gather their energy from the temperature and moisture differences across the boundary where different air masses meet or collide. The larger the differences in the temperature and moisture levels across this boundary, called a front, the more energy there is available for the storms to develop. This is why some are stronger, or more intense, than others.
Winter storms tend to move from west to east and can produce strong winds, heavy snowfall, freezing rain and bitterly cold temperatures as they impact any given area.
-Environment Canada
Nesty Notes - In addition to ensuring your emergency supplies are in place well in advance of the cold weather season, when a winter storm in in effect, please listen to the road reports and do what the police are advising you to do!! I will never understand why people feel the need to go careening around in their cars in the middle of storms. Stay out of the way of snow removal crews (a popular commercial in Nova Scotia notes "This isn't a feather duster I'm driving!") Also, remember your pets! They should NEVER be left outside during the cold or inclement weather of any kind. End of story!!!
Wind Chill - If you've ever found yourself walking into the wind on a cold winter's day, you've experienced wind chill:
Wind chill is when the wind makes cold temperatures feel even colder. Environment Canada’s wind chill index will tell you the combined cooling effect of these factors on the human body. It uses temperature-like units to liken the current conditions to how cold your skin would feel on a calm day.
Days with an extreme wind chill value can cause exposed skin to freeze very rapidly, leading to frostbite. Wind chill can also play a major role in hypothermia, because it speeds up the rate at which your body loses heat. Protect yourself by taking appropriate steps to stay warm when you are outdoors.
-Environment Canada
Nesty Notes - In my experience, when there is a wind chill warning in effect, unless you absolutely have go out, these are days to stay inside. If you must go out, make sure you bundle up; thermal underwear, hats, mittens, and a warm coat and boots are a must. Essentially, cover all skin and cover it well. Now is not the time to worry about fashion. If you don't have a car and need to go somewhere, take a cab or the bus; it's worth it. Keep kids inside. And again, bring your pets in.
There are other winter weather conditions, like blizzards, blowing snow, and snowsqualls, but for today I'm focusing on the ones that particularly effect my area. This link will take you to Environment Canada's web page of Winter Hazards which is where I got the excerpts listed above.
Stay safe and warm! I'll be back on Friday with a vegetarian family favorite, Spiced Bean Tagine. See you then!!!
A Very Nesty Christmas - A Marshmallow World!
"It's a marshmallow world in the winter,
When the snow comes to cover the ground.
It's the time for play, it's a whipped cream day,
I wait for it the whole year round!"
When the snow comes to cover the ground.
It's the time for play, it's a whipped cream day,
I wait for it the whole year round!"
- Carl Sigman
It's hard to deny the Christmas spirit when this is what you see when you look out the window!
Regular followers of Nesty will recall my mentioning that in Kitimat, we guage when the snow will finally land in the valley our town is nestled in by watching the squirrel on Squirrel Mountain. Well, our favorite rodent is well covered now, and so are our yards! Can you pick him out in the picture?
Did you find him? If not, here's some help...
There he is! I'm so happy that I'm finally able to show you a good picture of our squirrel!
It's been brought to my attention that people were having difficulty commenting on Nesty last week. If this happened to you, I'm so sorry! I just love your comments and I truly appreciate that you take time to type up your thoughts on my little blog. I believe the issue has been resolved, but if it happens to you and you feel so inclined, please drop me a line at nestyblog@gmail.com. Thanks!
Window to My World - Pumpkin Rock
When you move to a new town, it can seem strange, cold, and lacking when compared to the place you came from. I have discovered, however, that in time, something pretty amazing happens. Suddenly, your "new" town becomes "your" town, a warm, familiar place with traditions and customs you now embrace.
Last Halloween, actually, just after last Halloween, we discovered one of our town's unique traditions. Starting November 1, people from around the town bring their Jack-o-Lanterns to a rock face known as "Pumpkin Rock."
We're not sure, this may actually be a fairly new custom, but it is one that we were excited to join in this year. And so, despite the heavy rain, today we headed down to Pumpkin Rock to deliver our Jack-o-Lanterns to their final home. They seem pretty happy to be there:
We were really impressed with the pumpkin carving skills on display at Pumpkin Rock:
After I said good-bye to our Jack-o-Lanterns one last time, we went for a drive to check out the local Inukshuks, which had been decorated for Halloween:
And that, my friends, was Halloween in our town, a place that has come to feel very much like home!
Last Halloween, actually, just after last Halloween, we discovered one of our town's unique traditions. Starting November 1, people from around the town bring their Jack-o-Lanterns to a rock face known as "Pumpkin Rock."
We're not sure, this may actually be a fairly new custom, but it is one that we were excited to join in this year. And so, despite the heavy rain, today we headed down to Pumpkin Rock to deliver our Jack-o-Lanterns to their final home. They seem pretty happy to be there:
Window to My World - Halloween at My House
I just love decorating for Halloween! Here are a few pictures of what I've done to make our home spooktacular for Halloween! Enjoy!
How do you decorate for Halloween? Do you decorate the interior of your home? What about the exterior; is there a wreath on your door, a pumpkin on the patio, or corn stalks and hay bales on the front lawn? We'd love to know!
I'm Thankful for Turtle Pumpkin Pie!
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. As with many holidays here in Kitimat, this year we got together with a group of friends and had a Thanksgiving Dinner Potluck. I love these holiday meals; in addition to the great time we have spending time with our Kitimat friends, we get to try out recipes that, while new to us, are time-honoured traditions in our friends families. I volunteered for dessert duty on both Thanksgivings we have spent in Kitimat, and although my dessert of choice may not be a traditional family recipe, it is quickly becoming a tradition in my new household, and at our Thanksgiving potlucks!
Last year my mother introduced me to Turtle Pumpkin Pie. My sister was making it for our family's Thanksgiving Dinner, and as Mom was describing it I knew it would be the perfect dessert to take along to our Thanksgiving Dinner! I personally love traditional Pumpkin Pie, however some people don't enjoy it, although interestingly enough they almost always like pumpkin flavoured foods (lattes, cookies, and the like). My theory is that it is the heavy cooked pudding consistency of pumpkin pie that they don't like. And fair enough; these are probably the same folks who take a pass when bread pudding or custard is on the menu.
Turtle Pumpkin Pie, a Kraft Foods concoction, takes the flavour of pumpkin pie and puts it into a sweeter, fluffier form. It still uses canned pumpkin, but instant vanilla pudding mix, milk, and Cool Whip are added to make a delightful cream pie filling that is spooned into a graham cracker crust lined with caramel topping and pecans (just like a Turtles chocolate, see?) The pumpkin filling is topped with lots of Cool Whip and then drizzled with more caramel and a sprinkle of pecan pieces as the final touch. It's really rich and yummy, and will change the mind of many pumpkin pie opponents.
Another great thing about Turtle Pumpkin Pie? It's super easy to make; in fact, it's no-bake! It only takes an hour to set up in the refrigerator, so you can even prepare it while the turkey's cooking. It doesn't get any better than that! (Oh alright, I suppose if it were calorie free...)
Here is a link to Kraft Canada's recipe for Turtle Pumpkin Pie.
I decided to roast a turkey for us on Monday so we could have "leftovers" during the week. We especially love making Hot Turkey Sandwiches, and Turkey Leftover Sandwiches (with stuffing and cranberry sauce). My project for tomorrow is to make Turkey Soup from my turkey frame (I always make sure to leave lots of turkey on the frame for the soup!) I decided to go traditional with this turkey and simply stuffed it with bread stuffing made form my Mom and Nana's recipe, and seasoned it with butter and poultry seasoning. Sometimes, the heart just needs tradition! Although, I will admit that I broke out my fancy turkey basting kit and injected some melted REAL butter into the meat before popping it into the oven. It was unbelievable!
Of course, having a turkey with all the trimmings in the fridge leads to lots of late night snacking! I will have to make sure I get in lots of walks this week!
I've enjoyed sharing some of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes and traditions with you over the last few posts. The next big celebration? Halloween, of course! I've started decorating and planning already, and we picked up a batch of candy and treats for the trick or treaters when we were in town this week. As well, I have lots of wonderful homemade treats planned! And of course, I'm looking forward to sharing it all with you!
In closing, I'd like to thank everyone who commented on Friday's post; what an outpouring! You made me feel great! I am still catching up with visiting everyone who visited my blog last week and on Monday, but rest assured I will be stopping by your blogs soon!
Have a wonderful week (it's halfway over already!). See you on Friday!!!
Last year my mother introduced me to Turtle Pumpkin Pie. My sister was making it for our family's Thanksgiving Dinner, and as Mom was describing it I knew it would be the perfect dessert to take along to our Thanksgiving Dinner! I personally love traditional Pumpkin Pie, however some people don't enjoy it, although interestingly enough they almost always like pumpkin flavoured foods (lattes, cookies, and the like). My theory is that it is the heavy cooked pudding consistency of pumpkin pie that they don't like. And fair enough; these are probably the same folks who take a pass when bread pudding or custard is on the menu.
Turtle Pumpkin Pie, a Kraft Foods concoction, takes the flavour of pumpkin pie and puts it into a sweeter, fluffier form. It still uses canned pumpkin, but instant vanilla pudding mix, milk, and Cool Whip are added to make a delightful cream pie filling that is spooned into a graham cracker crust lined with caramel topping and pecans (just like a Turtles chocolate, see?) The pumpkin filling is topped with lots of Cool Whip and then drizzled with more caramel and a sprinkle of pecan pieces as the final touch. It's really rich and yummy, and will change the mind of many pumpkin pie opponents.
Another great thing about Turtle Pumpkin Pie? It's super easy to make; in fact, it's no-bake! It only takes an hour to set up in the refrigerator, so you can even prepare it while the turkey's cooking. It doesn't get any better than that! (Oh alright, I suppose if it were calorie free...)
Here is a link to Kraft Canada's recipe for Turtle Pumpkin Pie.
I decided to roast a turkey for us on Monday so we could have "leftovers" during the week. We especially love making Hot Turkey Sandwiches, and Turkey Leftover Sandwiches (with stuffing and cranberry sauce). My project for tomorrow is to make Turkey Soup from my turkey frame (I always make sure to leave lots of turkey on the frame for the soup!) I decided to go traditional with this turkey and simply stuffed it with bread stuffing made form my Mom and Nana's recipe, and seasoned it with butter and poultry seasoning. Sometimes, the heart just needs tradition! Although, I will admit that I broke out my fancy turkey basting kit and injected some melted REAL butter into the meat before popping it into the oven. It was unbelievable!
Of course, having a turkey with all the trimmings in the fridge leads to lots of late night snacking! I will have to make sure I get in lots of walks this week!
I've enjoyed sharing some of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes and traditions with you over the last few posts. The next big celebration? Halloween, of course! I've started decorating and planning already, and we picked up a batch of candy and treats for the trick or treaters when we were in town this week. As well, I have lots of wonderful homemade treats planned! And of course, I'm looking forward to sharing it all with you!
In closing, I'd like to thank everyone who commented on Friday's post; what an outpouring! You made me feel great! I am still catching up with visiting everyone who visited my blog last week and on Monday, but rest assured I will be stopping by your blogs soon!
Have a wonderful week (it's halfway over already!). See you on Friday!!!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you for Family, friends, turkey dinners, shorter days, crisp nights, home, time to breathe, kitty cats, funny hats, puppy dogs, new pens, crisp leaves, the smell of woodsmoke, Prayer, hot coffee, a single rose, a full moon, flannel jammies, ink smears, a day with no plans, farm markets, the unexpected, a letter from a friend, paper weights, a feeling of calm, the sound of laughter, remembering your favorite song, good dreams, last minute adventures, a sale rack, long drives, honey bees, the sound of waves, first snow, green plants, a new dress, warm cookies, funny movies, knowing that you can, the first step of a new journey, scented candles, solving a mystery, knowing you are loved, reading a great quote, notebooks, new foods, naps, each new day...
Happy Thanksgiving Apple Turkeys! - A Tutorial
For almost as long as I can remember, one Thanksgiving decoration has been a constant - The Apple Turkey. My recollection of its origin is fuzzy, so, as I do with many things I can't remember, I called Mom. She confirmed my hunch that we had first made Apple Turkeys as a Sunday School Project. She thinks that perhaps she found the idea in a magazine, maybe Country Living, but even she wasn't sure. That's enough of an explanation for me, and I hope it will suffice for you!
If you would like a charmingly absurd Apple Turkey of your own, here is a handy dandy tutorial to guide you through the creative process. If you are like me and tend to get obsessive about things like wing placement and the perfect beak, please bear in mind that this craft was designed for five year olds and approach it as such (read - relax, this is supposed to be fun!)
Step One
Assemble Your Materials
You will need:
Glue
Scissors
Paper in pretty colours
Toothpicks
A pencil or marker
Step 2
Make Your Turkey Some Feathers
And a Head
Turkeys enjoy having feathers and a head, so you don't want to skip this step!
Cut out a turkey shaped head as well. Draw on eyes (so your turkey can see what's going on). I sometimes like to add a contrasting beak; the design details are really up to you!
Once you have all your paper cut, glue toothpicks to the pieces. Let the glue dry (See, I told you this was easy...)
Step 3
Turkey Assembly
Take a deep breath, this is about to get complicated!
Find the prettiest side of your apple and make sure that side is facing up, with the stem of the apple facing you. Using the picture as a guide, take two toothpicks and insert them into the bottom of the apple as feet. Then, place the turkey's head on the top of the apple toward the front.
I was just joking, this isn't complicated at all!
Don't worry if your turkey is a bit roly poly, that's just part of their charm!
Turkeys need wings, so go ahead and put them on either side of your apple.
See, I told you this was easy!
Step 4
Sit Back and Enjoy Your Apple Turkey!
All that's left to do it put your Apple Turkey to work decorating your home. They really like hanging out in the middle of your dining room table during Thanksgiving Dinner, but in the meantime, use them to decorate all around your house!
Remember that they are made of fruit, and will drip a bit of juice, so make sure you put them on a safe surface. Apple turkeys get embarrassed when they ruin your stuff!
I hope you've enjoyed this little tutorial as much as I've enjoyed sharing this fun little family tradition with you!
Before I sign off for the weekend, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving, an a wonderful weekend!
As well, this week Nesty is a featured blog over at the link party Friendly Friday! Friendly Friday is hosted by The Frugal Novice, Thanks, Mail Carrier, and Healthy Home Blog. I'd like to thank the hosts of Friendly Friday so much for this feature, and for the lovely write up of my blog! Please take the time to go and visit Friendly Friday (you'll find some great blogs!) as well as the host blogs.
Today I'm linking to:
It (Finally) Feels Like Home...
Any of you who have relocated far away from all you knew well, held dear, and loved with all your heart, will understand my next statement:
Dorothy had it right; there's no place like home.
As most readers of this blog know by now, about a year and a half ago my husband and I relocated clear across Canada to our current place of residence - Kitimat, British Columbia. After many long hugs, tearful goodbyes, and "one last times," we packed up our Jeep with Molly and the cats and set off on a long drive across Canada. Upon arrival in Kitimat, we resided temporarily in a local motel. Although the lodgings were comfortable and the staff friendly, nothing makes you feel more uprooted than living in a motel (and this was after 8 days of motels on the road). After about a week, we found a nice house. Two days later, our belongings arrived. Once we were unpacked, (about a week later) I decided it was time for me to head out alone and check out my new town.
Kitimat is a very pedestrian friendly town, with a network of pathways and green-spaces. However, on my Day of Bravery, I was still not familiar with any of these. Nonplussed, I headed out with my shopping bag and basically followed, on foot, the same route my husband had taken us on wheels (No, I don't drive.). I got myself to town all right, although I did head up a dirt road and got to see some very nice houses before I got myself turned around. (To the locals who are reading this, do not even ask! I've never been able to locate this dirt road again. I personally believe that Kitimat has it's own version of the Bermuda Triangle. And no, it wasn't Cran-, Blue-, or Strawberry Street.) Once in the "City Center" I was OK; I went for a coffee, visited the post office, and picked up a few items at the grocery store. Carrying the remainder of my Americano, I headed for home, feeling very much in control and enjoying the bright spring air.
This feeling did not last long.
I missed a turn. As I walked by the soccer fields I felt my first stirrings of doubt. Had I passed those before? I kept going. Hmmm. None of this looked familiar, and yet it did, as we had been taking a lot of drives around our new town. I walked on. Reasoning that I should just go strait (our town mainly consists of crescents and cul de sacs connected to main roadways), I plodded away, my Americano cold, my feet sore, and my spirits low, low, low. Finally, I reached the end of the road, and saw a place that I definitely remembered from my husband's list of "Do Not Go" locations. That was it.
I was lost. I was lost, and I didn't know anybody, and I was never, ever, going to find my way home again. In that moment, I hated my new town and wished desperately to be back in Sydney. Whimpering, I turned around and headed back the way I came. Desperate, I broke the first rule of being lost and left the "main trail" so to speak, and started roaming the crescents and cul de sacs. At this point I didn't know if I'd even recognize my new house.
Plum tuckered, I decided to sit down on a bench in a playground (we've got a lot of playgrounds, too.). As I crossed the grass, I looked up, and saw something I definitely recognized; the school that was across the street from our house! There was hope! Gathering what was left of my bearings, I headed back to the sidewalk, and, keeping one eye trained on the school, I slowly picked my way home. Once in my house (yes, I recognized it!) I collapsed on the sofa with Molly and decided I would never, ever leave the house alone again. At least not without a map.
Over the next few months, thanks to my husband and a few new friends, I learned the path system. It turns out, the entire time I was wandering around lost, I was never more than 5 minutes from my front doorstep. And the walk into town? What took me half an hour is actually a 10 minute stroll. With time and practice, I was soon zipping around town like I'd been here forever. I fell in love with our new town. The map got to stay home.
By Fall I thought I was foolproof. Last October I got my comeuppance when a some friends invited me to lunch at a local restaurant. They offered to pick me up but I said that I would walk to get my exercise. I headed out with plenty of time and enjoyed a brisk walk in the autumn air. I kept my ears open and jingled my keys a lot, as there had been several bear sightings over the past week. I reached the restaurant, sat down, and began to peruse the menu. My friends had not yet arrived, but then, I was early. Settling back in the booth, I glanced down at the table top. I noticed that the name of the restaurant was emblazoned on the tabletop...and it was not the name of the restaurant I was supposed to be sitting in.
Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no!!!! Mumbling an incoherent explanation to the hostess, I stumbled out of the restaurant and took off running. I checked my watch; I'd be late, but not too bad...if I took a certain path. The path that the bears had been spotted on.
I approached the path and got out my keys. Jingle jingle jingle. In truth, bears are nocturnal and are rarely seen during the day, but rarely wasn't good enough for me. I saw bears lurking behind cars and mailboxes, waving at me from windows, walking into stores. Jingle jingle jingle, all the while jogging and leaping over honest to goodness bear scat. Finally reaching the road the restaurant was on, my cell phone rang. It was my friends. I panted an explanation. Listening to their reply, I realized that this lunch was quickly becoming a comedy of errors; the restaurant was closed. They picked me up and we made our way back to the establishment I'd been at before my mad dash through the woods. I gave the server my sanest smile (I think she thought I was drunk).
This all came back to me this evening. I was out for a walk and I was zipping through the City Center. My feet were on the path but my eyes were on the clouds swirling around the mountain tops. I realized I'd reached a point where I didn't even need to think about the paths and roads. I knew where I was. It finally feels like home.
I've felt it other places, too. A few weeks ago my husband and I went to the local coffee shop for a snack. As we entered, he saw a group of people he knew, and I spotted a friend. Chatting with her, I glanced across the room at my husband laughing with his friends, and I realized that this was something that happened back East all the time. It was a familiarity of place that I had thought we might not experience again for a very long time.
There's other things, too. When we arrived, we watched Maritime news, read the Cape Breton paper, and checked the regional headlines for Nova Scotia on CBC's website. We knew little about BC politics and we really didn't care to. But at some point, it changed. Now, we wade into discussions about BC politics, events, and occurrences, and it's the "stuff" going on back East that we are less aware of (although we really do care to!).
At first, when I realized that we were identifying BC as home, I felt guilty. In time, I let the guilt go, realizing that to successfully relocate, you have to integrate. So yes, while Dorothy may be right in that there's no place like home, home is indeed where you make it. Confucius once said "Wherever you go, go with all your heart," and I think that's the trick. Go with all your heart, and be there with all your heart.
Dorothy had it right; there's no place like home.
As most readers of this blog know by now, about a year and a half ago my husband and I relocated clear across Canada to our current place of residence - Kitimat, British Columbia. After many long hugs, tearful goodbyes, and "one last times," we packed up our Jeep with Molly and the cats and set off on a long drive across Canada. Upon arrival in Kitimat, we resided temporarily in a local motel. Although the lodgings were comfortable and the staff friendly, nothing makes you feel more uprooted than living in a motel (and this was after 8 days of motels on the road). After about a week, we found a nice house. Two days later, our belongings arrived. Once we were unpacked, (about a week later) I decided it was time for me to head out alone and check out my new town.
Kitimat is a very pedestrian friendly town, with a network of pathways and green-spaces. However, on my Day of Bravery, I was still not familiar with any of these. Nonplussed, I headed out with my shopping bag and basically followed, on foot, the same route my husband had taken us on wheels (No, I don't drive.). I got myself to town all right, although I did head up a dirt road and got to see some very nice houses before I got myself turned around. (To the locals who are reading this, do not even ask! I've never been able to locate this dirt road again. I personally believe that Kitimat has it's own version of the Bermuda Triangle. And no, it wasn't Cran-, Blue-, or Strawberry Street.) Once in the "City Center" I was OK; I went for a coffee, visited the post office, and picked up a few items at the grocery store. Carrying the remainder of my Americano, I headed for home, feeling very much in control and enjoying the bright spring air.
This feeling did not last long.
I missed a turn. As I walked by the soccer fields I felt my first stirrings of doubt. Had I passed those before? I kept going. Hmmm. None of this looked familiar, and yet it did, as we had been taking a lot of drives around our new town. I walked on. Reasoning that I should just go strait (our town mainly consists of crescents and cul de sacs connected to main roadways), I plodded away, my Americano cold, my feet sore, and my spirits low, low, low. Finally, I reached the end of the road, and saw a place that I definitely remembered from my husband's list of "Do Not Go" locations. That was it.
I was lost. I was lost, and I didn't know anybody, and I was never, ever, going to find my way home again. In that moment, I hated my new town and wished desperately to be back in Sydney. Whimpering, I turned around and headed back the way I came. Desperate, I broke the first rule of being lost and left the "main trail" so to speak, and started roaming the crescents and cul de sacs. At this point I didn't know if I'd even recognize my new house.
Plum tuckered, I decided to sit down on a bench in a playground (we've got a lot of playgrounds, too.). As I crossed the grass, I looked up, and saw something I definitely recognized; the school that was across the street from our house! There was hope! Gathering what was left of my bearings, I headed back to the sidewalk, and, keeping one eye trained on the school, I slowly picked my way home. Once in my house (yes, I recognized it!) I collapsed on the sofa with Molly and decided I would never, ever leave the house alone again. At least not without a map.
Over the next few months, thanks to my husband and a few new friends, I learned the path system. It turns out, the entire time I was wandering around lost, I was never more than 5 minutes from my front doorstep. And the walk into town? What took me half an hour is actually a 10 minute stroll. With time and practice, I was soon zipping around town like I'd been here forever. I fell in love with our new town. The map got to stay home.
By Fall I thought I was foolproof. Last October I got my comeuppance when a some friends invited me to lunch at a local restaurant. They offered to pick me up but I said that I would walk to get my exercise. I headed out with plenty of time and enjoyed a brisk walk in the autumn air. I kept my ears open and jingled my keys a lot, as there had been several bear sightings over the past week. I reached the restaurant, sat down, and began to peruse the menu. My friends had not yet arrived, but then, I was early. Settling back in the booth, I glanced down at the table top. I noticed that the name of the restaurant was emblazoned on the tabletop...and it was not the name of the restaurant I was supposed to be sitting in.
Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no!!!! Mumbling an incoherent explanation to the hostess, I stumbled out of the restaurant and took off running. I checked my watch; I'd be late, but not too bad...if I took a certain path. The path that the bears had been spotted on.
I approached the path and got out my keys. Jingle jingle jingle. In truth, bears are nocturnal and are rarely seen during the day, but rarely wasn't good enough for me. I saw bears lurking behind cars and mailboxes, waving at me from windows, walking into stores. Jingle jingle jingle, all the while jogging and leaping over honest to goodness bear scat. Finally reaching the road the restaurant was on, my cell phone rang. It was my friends. I panted an explanation. Listening to their reply, I realized that this lunch was quickly becoming a comedy of errors; the restaurant was closed. They picked me up and we made our way back to the establishment I'd been at before my mad dash through the woods. I gave the server my sanest smile (I think she thought I was drunk).
This all came back to me this evening. I was out for a walk and I was zipping through the City Center. My feet were on the path but my eyes were on the clouds swirling around the mountain tops. I realized I'd reached a point where I didn't even need to think about the paths and roads. I knew where I was. It finally feels like home.
I've felt it other places, too. A few weeks ago my husband and I went to the local coffee shop for a snack. As we entered, he saw a group of people he knew, and I spotted a friend. Chatting with her, I glanced across the room at my husband laughing with his friends, and I realized that this was something that happened back East all the time. It was a familiarity of place that I had thought we might not experience again for a very long time.
There's other things, too. When we arrived, we watched Maritime news, read the Cape Breton paper, and checked the regional headlines for Nova Scotia on CBC's website. We knew little about BC politics and we really didn't care to. But at some point, it changed. Now, we wade into discussions about BC politics, events, and occurrences, and it's the "stuff" going on back East that we are less aware of (although we really do care to!).
At first, when I realized that we were identifying BC as home, I felt guilty. In time, I let the guilt go, realizing that to successfully relocate, you have to integrate. So yes, while Dorothy may be right in that there's no place like home, home is indeed where you make it. Confucius once said "Wherever you go, go with all your heart," and I think that's the trick. Go with all your heart, and be there with all your heart.
Dinner With Friends, Relax and Have Fun With It...
I truly love nesting, and I adore entertaining. I love planning menus, shopping for groceries, and cooking up a storm. Setting the table, lighting the candles and pouring the wine thrill me. But the best, the very best, part is watching all my guests have a wonderful time.
However, sometimes I feel the pressure. Not from my spouse, or from my friends, or anyone. I feel the pressure that I put on myself. I start to believe that if it's not a gourmet creation, it isn't worth serving. And that's not good. When this happens, it's just a slippery slope to culinary disaster. So I have learned that when I'm veering into Stepford territory, it's usually a good time to kick it back a few notches.
Take this week. We were attending a potluck to which I had agreed to bring cupcakes. And of course, because I'm me, I planned these cupcakes. I decided on two flavours, two kinds of frosting, and hand made fondant decorations. I purchased special jewel tones muffin liners. On the day before (when I planned to bake and create fondant delights) I woke with a horrible pain in my back. No matter, I baked up my two batches of cupcakes. It was well into the evening when I took my package of homemade marshmallow fondant out of the refrigerator and placed it on the counter next to the new shade of paste icing colour I had purchased just for this occasion! I sighed deeply and began to unwrap the fondant. If you've never worked with fondant before, let me tell you just this: it requires kneading. Lots of kneading. Usually, this is the sort of task I live for, but tonight the thought of working that mass of sugar was making me weepy. It was then that my dear husband pointed out that everyone at the pot luck would just be happy that there were cupcakes to eat, and wouldn't I rather relax and watch television with he and the dogs? The decorations would be missed by no one but myself. With grudging relief, I agreed with him. (And hey, who eats the fondant decoration anyway?)
It felt good to relax and have fun with it. And he was right, everyone was happy with my "plain" little cupcakes with their simple chocolate rosettes frosted on top. I felt so good about it that later that week, I decided to keep going with the laid back fun. We were having our good friends and their children over for supper, and I was trying to decide what to make. I often find that I miss out on the conversation and fun because I'm busy sauteeing, reducing, or grilling. This time, instead of concocting a multi-course meal featuring the foods of distant lands, I turned to an old favorite, hot roast beef sandwiches and fries.
Folks, it was wonderful. I threw the roast in the oven and then picked up my knitting and sat down with a cup of tea. When the roast came out half an hour before our guests were due to arrive, I put in a tray of oven fries, put some corn niblets in the steamer, and made gravy. I actually chatted with our guests as I arranged everything buffet style and put a second tray of fries in the oven. Everyone served themselves and we had a great time.
Have I given up gourmet completely? No, of course not. Cooking is my thing, it's what I do. But every so often, it's perfectly alright to do things "homestyle." After all, we gather to eat together as much for the friendship and laughter as for the food.
Here's a few more tips for having friends over for dinner and living to tell the tale:
- Graciously let them bring something if they offer. Of course, tell them they don't need to bring anything, but if they insist (especially if it's a good friend) give them something to bring. Wine, dessert, whatever they offer. The other night for dessert we had a wonderful fruit and cookies pizza that our friends brought, and last week we enjoyed a wonderful homemade apple wine when we grilled steaks for another friend.
- Pick one "Wow" item and go simple with the rest. If you're making homemade lasagna from scratch, for example, feel free to use a kit for the Caesar salad, and everyone loves that garlic bread that comes in the foil bag. Steamed frozen veggies, oven fries, and sauce mixes are other great ways to save time and stress.
- Consider plastic. I know, it's not green, and it doesn't work for all events, but if you're having a big crowd or are serving something casual (like barbecue or corn on the cob) go for it. Clean up will be a breeze. Just make sure that the plate you pick out can stand up to the food it will be holding, or clean up will be a royal pain in the neck.
- Self Serve. Buffet or "family style" serving is great because people can take as much as they want of what they want. Nothing's more awkward than watching someone try to choke down a food they hate or wade through a plate that's holding way more than they can consume. It's not just limited to food, either; try a self serve bar or coffee and tea station at your next get together.
- Plan for your audience. If you're having a family with kids, make the food kid-friendly. I don't mean that you have to serve chicken nuggets, but perhaps leave the rare steaks and stinky cheeses for another time. We had a build your own pizza night with some friends and their kids one night and it was a big success.
- Don't be a clean freak. Get the dishes out of the way, but leave the actual washing up until later. Your guests came to see you, not the sight of your back disappearing into the kitchen for the better part of an hour. I really love the "great room" style of our house, since I can be in the kitchen and still be a part of the conversation.
- When necessary, use your space. If you really need to keep people out of the kitchen, place a bowl of punch and / or some appies in the space where you want your guests to congregate. It's hard to resist the appeal baked brie or a shrimp ring. I like company when I cook, so it's not a big deal for me, I just pour them a glass of wine and give them something to do.
Do you have a great casual entertaining tip? If so, please share in the comments. Have a wonderful holiday weekend, and to those of you heading back to work or school next week, best wishes for a wonderful year!
Time for Me, Time to Be...
Recently, a short film shot in Nova Scotia enchanted the world and went, in the language of our times, viral. The video, called How to Be Alone features Tanya Davis, a poet, singer, and song writer, performing her poem in a variety of settings, accented by charming hand drawn animation by director Andrea Dorfman.
Davis' message is a good one, and it left me thinking. And although, based on a few articles I read, the poem is referring more to being romantically unattached, I think that it can resonate for others who are alone in different capacities. For many people, being alone is a hard reality, and something that they truly struggle with.
Relocation is going to be a regular reality for our foreseeable future, and so I count myself lucky that I enjoy being alone. My nest is my haven, and I love spending time here. I spent six months alone during my husband's training, and courses often take him away for a week or so at a time. And I'm fine with that. I may not always like it, but I'm fine with it. I'm comfortable being alone, with my books, my music, my crafts and my cooking. I have wonderful conversations with my dogs. Do I get lonely? Absolutely. But there are some aspects of being alone that I rather enjoy, and, though they may not be enough to make me crave being alone, they certainly make alone time tolerable. Eating what I want (popcorn or ice cream for dinner, why not?), staying up late watching marathons of cooking shows, spending hours crafting or reading a new novel are a few of the little "home alone" indulgences that I allow myself. And to me, the best thing about being alone for a while is that it really makes me appreciate the wonderful life that I don't live alone, but share with a really great man.
Window to My World - "If You Go Into The Woods Today..."
Shortly after we arrived in Kitimat, we were enjoying a Saturday afternoon drive when we rounded a corner and saw this fine fellow on the road ahead. We kept a safe distance away (this photo is taken with a zoom) until this Grizzly Bear retreated back into the woods, leaving the road free for us to pass. However, after we had driven by, we paused for a moment and looked back. Guess who was back in the road, watching us drive away?
Although fascinating, bears are wild animals with the potential to be very dangerous, and should always be treated as such. For some information on bear safety, here is a link to a page of information prepared by BC Parks.
Have a wonderful week!
Window to my World - Canada Is...
As many of you know, my husband, myself, and our three (at the time) furbabies came to Kitimat from the Canadian East Coast. To get here, we drove across the entire country, hitting every province except Newfoundland, PEI, and the Territories (hey, there's time!). It was a fabulous journey, one which I often say every Canadian should do at least once.
If you aren't Canadian, our country is wonderful and welcoming and you should come and see it! As you pass from one province to the next, you will be amazed at how very different our various regions are. In the East, you can see whales and icebergs in Newfoundland and Labrador, and continue on to gentle mountains, breathtaking coasts, and gorgeous farmland in the Maritime provinces of Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. In Quebec you can enjoy amazing culture, beautiful countryside, and spectacular city life in Montreal and Quebec City. Ontario, a huge province, has a bit of everything, from the metropolis of Toronto to the remote Canadian Sheild. Passing into Manitoba you will feel a real change as the prairies begin. Saskatchewan is a true prairie province with wheat fields, grain elevators, views that go on forever. Alberta is another province with a bit of everything; it begins with wide open prairies and then ends in the majestically beautiful Rocky Mountains. "Super, Natural British Columbia" is almost indescribable in it's sheer natural awesomeness. We entered from the North, through the Rockies, and followed the mountains to our new home. To the south, there is the Okanagan Valley, Whistler, and, of course, Vancouver! So come and visit us!
One thing you will find of interest is our uniquely Canadian fascination with GIANT OBJECTS!!!! Hey, we never said we weren't quirky!
We set out on our journey determined to see as many of these objects as possible. However, we, with assistance from our trusty GPS, planned too efficient a trip, and we missed out on a lot of these unique landmarks. You can check out this great slideshow of Canadian Giant Objects. For several years I lived across the street from Sydney's Giant Fiddle, and I have visited the Giant Glooscap on several occasions. Sadly, we did not think to get a picture of ourselves at the Giant Fiddle before we left home, and the only Giant objects we managed to find were these less well known ones. How we missed the giant Canada Goose in Wawa, Ontario I will never know. Anyone who's been to Wawa knows that it's a very small town, and that goose was probably impossible to miss.
Above, you can see Molly and I posing with the Giant Blueberry in Oxford, Nova Scotia. We are only about 5 hours into our journey here, so we look relatively fresh, if not a little sad (giant sunglasses are a homesick girl's best friend!) Below, I am striking a pose with a giant sheep somewhere in the farm country of Ontario. I can assure you I was heartily sick of that hoodie by the time we reached British Columbia.
What a trip! When we were children, Roger Whitaker was popular, and one of his 8 Tracks (remember those?) always seemed to be in the car, ready to play our favorite, "Canada Is..." We sang that song in our grandparent's backyard in Cape Breton, and on a playground in Swift Current, Saskatchewan where you slid out of a clay buffalo's mouth! And as an adult traveling West to an unknown new home, I hummed it to myself many times. I did a search to see if I could find this song to share with you, and I found this wonderful slideshow prepared by the Vendramin family after their 2007 cross Canada trip. I don't know them, but I thank them for posting this wonderful gift of a video to YouTube. In it, you will see many of the giant objects that pepper our wonderfully diverse country. I will admit to getting misty when the Nova Scotia pictures started playing, especially the Cape Breton pictures of the lobster and Baddeck. And of course, any pictures of Mounties or their training facility in Regina fills me with pride. So enjoy, and we hope you visit our beloved country. We're a little proud of her!!
Have a wonderful week!
If you aren't Canadian, our country is wonderful and welcoming and you should come and see it! As you pass from one province to the next, you will be amazed at how very different our various regions are. In the East, you can see whales and icebergs in Newfoundland and Labrador, and continue on to gentle mountains, breathtaking coasts, and gorgeous farmland in the Maritime provinces of Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. In Quebec you can enjoy amazing culture, beautiful countryside, and spectacular city life in Montreal and Quebec City. Ontario, a huge province, has a bit of everything, from the metropolis of Toronto to the remote Canadian Sheild. Passing into Manitoba you will feel a real change as the prairies begin. Saskatchewan is a true prairie province with wheat fields, grain elevators, views that go on forever. Alberta is another province with a bit of everything; it begins with wide open prairies and then ends in the majestically beautiful Rocky Mountains. "Super, Natural British Columbia" is almost indescribable in it's sheer natural awesomeness. We entered from the North, through the Rockies, and followed the mountains to our new home. To the south, there is the Okanagan Valley, Whistler, and, of course, Vancouver! So come and visit us!
One thing you will find of interest is our uniquely Canadian fascination with GIANT OBJECTS!!!! Hey, we never said we weren't quirky!
Above, you can see Molly and I posing with the Giant Blueberry in Oxford, Nova Scotia. We are only about 5 hours into our journey here, so we look relatively fresh, if not a little sad (giant sunglasses are a homesick girl's best friend!) Below, I am striking a pose with a giant sheep somewhere in the farm country of Ontario. I can assure you I was heartily sick of that hoodie by the time we reached British Columbia.
Have a wonderful week!
Sunday Breakfast on the Patio
Sunday is delight of a day. Some of our favorite memories are of wonderfully relaxed Sundays spent sipping coffee, reading, and talking. We have our favorite Sunday music, and of course, our favorite Sunday foods. Sometimes we do a full breakfast, and other times we go out and let someone else do the cooking.
Cooking is one of the ways that I show those I love how much I care about them, and so obviously I spend a lot of time planning and executing culinary delights for my sweetie! However, our favorite Sunday breakfasts tend to be the ones that don't require a lot of cooking and clean up, so that we can enjoy as much of the day as possible relaxing together. And so, Saturday night, I decided to do some preliminary work on the next days breakfast.
The weather has been absolutely wonderful, and the best time of day to sit outside is the morning and early afternoon, before the sun is too high and the backyard becomes uncomfortably hot. I knew that I wanted to take full advantage of this wonderful time of day. So, I planned a simple breakfast of sweet rolls, fresh juice, and of course, dark roast French press coffee.
As many of you know, the mandate of Nesty is to chronicle my pursuit of a happy home and a honeyed life through simplified living. And to me, part of this pursuit is finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. I could have easily baked the rolls the night before and served them up cold, from a plate on the counter, and it would have been fine. Instead, I decided to put a little more thought, yet not a lot more work into the whole thing and make a memory out of this particular Sunday.
I decided to make cinnamon rolls, which are always a favorite in our home. I prepared the rolls up to the point of shaping them and putting them in the pan, but instead of letting them rise at the time, I loosely covered them and popped them in the fridge for the night. When I woke up, I let them sit on the counter for half an hour to rise while I preheated the oven and took care of the dogs. Once the rolls were in the oven, I made coffee and orange juice. Before long, the rolls were finished, and while they cooled I prepared a vanilla glaze for them. I popped outside to move my barbecue table up to the upper patio. I fetched a few serving items, such as my cake safe and a favorite tray, plus a pretty tea cloth, and set everything up outside. Before long, I was calling my husband to breakfast on the patio:
Now, isn't that nicer than just putting everything on the counter? By waiting to bake the rolls until the morning, the house was filled with the scent of baking bread and fresh coffee. In addition, we enjoyed our breakfast outside in the fresh morning air surrounded by the beautiful coastal mountains. And by keeping the menu simple, we got to enjoy each others company without thinking about the cleanup.
This took so little effort, and yet it made us both so happy. And that's the real motivation for me to do things like this; the joy I feel seeing someone I love happy. What do you do to make life nicer for the ones you love?
Have a wonderful week!
Cooking is one of the ways that I show those I love how much I care about them, and so obviously I spend a lot of time planning and executing culinary delights for my sweetie! However, our favorite Sunday breakfasts tend to be the ones that don't require a lot of cooking and clean up, so that we can enjoy as much of the day as possible relaxing together. And so, Saturday night, I decided to do some preliminary work on the next days breakfast.
The weather has been absolutely wonderful, and the best time of day to sit outside is the morning and early afternoon, before the sun is too high and the backyard becomes uncomfortably hot. I knew that I wanted to take full advantage of this wonderful time of day. So, I planned a simple breakfast of sweet rolls, fresh juice, and of course, dark roast French press coffee.
As many of you know, the mandate of Nesty is to chronicle my pursuit of a happy home and a honeyed life through simplified living. And to me, part of this pursuit is finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. I could have easily baked the rolls the night before and served them up cold, from a plate on the counter, and it would have been fine. Instead, I decided to put a little more thought, yet not a lot more work into the whole thing and make a memory out of this particular Sunday.
I decided to make cinnamon rolls, which are always a favorite in our home. I prepared the rolls up to the point of shaping them and putting them in the pan, but instead of letting them rise at the time, I loosely covered them and popped them in the fridge for the night. When I woke up, I let them sit on the counter for half an hour to rise while I preheated the oven and took care of the dogs. Once the rolls were in the oven, I made coffee and orange juice. Before long, the rolls were finished, and while they cooled I prepared a vanilla glaze for them. I popped outside to move my barbecue table up to the upper patio. I fetched a few serving items, such as my cake safe and a favorite tray, plus a pretty tea cloth, and set everything up outside. Before long, I was calling my husband to breakfast on the patio:
Now, isn't that nicer than just putting everything on the counter? By waiting to bake the rolls until the morning, the house was filled with the scent of baking bread and fresh coffee. In addition, we enjoyed our breakfast outside in the fresh morning air surrounded by the beautiful coastal mountains. And by keeping the menu simple, we got to enjoy each others company without thinking about the cleanup.
This took so little effort, and yet it made us both so happy. And that's the real motivation for me to do things like this; the joy I feel seeing someone I love happy. What do you do to make life nicer for the ones you love?
Have a wonderful week!
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