Holidays – Life by the Sea

Something Wicked This Way Comes – Halloweens of the Past

October 31, 2016 1 Comment

I’ll admit it. Halloween is not my favourite holiday. I’m not a fan of the grotesque, zombies or even clowns. I’ve been afraid of clowns long before it was a “thing”. When I was growing up in the 70’s and 80’s we all wore home made costumes – not made using a pattern either. We took old items and fashioned them into pretty generalized versions of things – a hobo, a witch, a pirate or a rock star. I distinctly remember it being a real challenge to come up with a costume idea that utilized things you could easily find around the house. More than one year I remember my mom telling me that if all else failed I could always cut a hole in a sheet and go as a ghost. I always thought that was an odd suggestion considering we didn’t own white sheets. There’s nothing cooler than […]

Holidays, Recipes

Pumpkin Recipe Roundup

October 30, 2016 No Comments

Pumpkin recipes have always been part of my family’s autumn menu selection. That might have something to do with the fact my grandfather used to grow giant pumpkins. He was one of the first in Nova Scotia to use seeds from famous giant pumpkin grower, Howard Dill. Each summer we would visit my grandfather’s pumpkin patch and watch as one tiny seed kept growing and growing into a monstrous pumpkin. Sometimes he won prizes at the county fair and even if he didn’t we had lots of pumpkin to use! As a child with developing taste buds, we tended to stick to two variations of pumpkin – roasted seeds or more often, pumpkin pies. My dad enjoys baking and pumpkin pies are still one of his specialities (his recipe coming soon!). I think that enjoying his pumpkin pies is where my love for the savoury over sweet tastebuds developed. I adore […]

Holidays, Life With Boys, Memories, Parenthood, Reflections

Celebrating Six – A Birthday Letter to Luke

April 24, 2015 No Comments

Dear Luke: This morning I quietly snuck into your bedroom. In the darkness, I crawled into your bed beside you and softly sang “Happy Birthday”. You stirred and your eye lids slowly opened – welcoming a new day. A new year. Six. You now have to use two hands to illustrate how old you are. 2,191 days since I became a mom. You’ve become so independent, confident and even more curious about the world around you this last year. After some initial anxiety about moving on to “big school” you found your footing and became more comfortable with your new surroundings, new routine and new friends. At times school has challenged you – you’re still much more fond of playing than doing “so much WORK”. You’ve expanded your mind in creative new ways and are grasping concepts that you find interesting and are eager to share at the end of […]

Holidays, Life With Boys, Memories, Parenthood, Reflections

December Dilemma – When New Traditions Overshadow the Old

December 5, 2014 No Comments

Christmas is a time for inclusion and giving to those in need Christmas is a time of year when we all seem to be acutely aware of those we share this world with. We try to give to others in a myriad of ways whether it be through moral support, monetary or material donations. We seem to have an underlying sense of duty to ensure everyone greets December 25th with a sense of joy. We aim to, even if for just one day, lighten the load of others so they can wear a smile. We strive to bring back the magic and wonder of their childhood for them or assist them in providing that to their own children. We have an innate sense of commitment to leave no man behind. December for me is an ever-changing mix of “then” and “now” I tend to spend the time leading up to […]

Holidays, Life With Boys, Memories, Parenthood

Four Already? – A Birthday Letter to Kyle

November 6, 2014 No Comments

Dear Kyle: I’m still trying to process the fact that my house no longer has any trace of a baby. You and your brother are two active, loud, rough and tumble boys. You’re no longer small, cuddly, totally dependent babies. As if your little soul knows when it is the anniversary of your birth, you started your forth birthday the exact same way as your third birthday. You quietly opened our bedroom door, slipped inside and crawled up into bed with me. We bundled up under the duvet, I pulled you close to me and we spent the next half hour or so in an embrace – you were content to be in my arms while I ran my fingers through your brown hair and rubbed your cheek with my finger tips and kissed your sweet little mouth. I wished you a happy birthday. I told you I love you. […]