May has been full of good things! Let’s see if I can remember a few…

The biggest event of the month was the opening of Pugwash Farmers’ Market! We opened on the Saturday of the long weekend to great success! It was really (really!) windy, but the sun was out and the vendors were happy to be there and the shoppers were smiling and eating and buying and there was a festive feel to the day. Wonderful. I received lots of compliments on opening day. I am really enjoying this market manager gig, but holy hell it is A LOT! There’s always something and I often feel like my head will detach from my neck it’s spinning so much. I am so grateful to Aldon who has been a HUGE help. I don’t think I could do this without him.

One thing that’s been a real challenge this month has been being without a vehicle. Suby (our Subaru) was in the shop ALL MONTH. The local mechanic just couldn’t get to it – mostly because his guys have all been out fishing this month and it wasn’t something he couldn’t do on his own. I guess this is the life of a village mechanic! Last week Aldon found someone else (about 30 minutes away) and he dropped it off today. Now we wait to hear how bad it is. Replace a cylinder or replace the engine? Stay tuned…

We didn’t get much for April showers, but the May flowers are in bloom. And the forest fires are raging, too. So far so good in our area, but there are quite a few evacuees arriving to stay with family here. Any influx of people in a small community like ours is noticeable. The weather has been hot, then cold, then hot again. And lots of wind. The forecast is calling for (much needed!) rain and cold this weekend. Not great for the market, but much better for the forests. We’ll have to see how it goes.

Two +1 had a gig opening for Jolee from PEI mid-month, and it went great! And we’ve been booked to play a backyard 70th birthday party on June 10, which also happens to be Aldon’s birthday. Should be a fun way to celebrate!

We went out clamming with dad and Joker earlier in month (that’s Aldon and Joker in the photo above), but didn’t have much luck. Too bad, but it just means that the few times we get to enjoy them we’ll appreciate them even more, and will hope for better luck next year.

We booked flights for Ava (Aldon’s daughter) and Elsie (his mom) to come out for a visit – summer is coming on fast! Ava arrives at the end of June and Elsie in early July. Summer fun! We’ve decided that we won’t be making the trip to Alberta this summer. Sad, but it just isn’t feasible. We’ll have to gaze into the sunsets and think of our beloved folks out West.

The end of April still reminds me of the end of the school year, but this year, instead of wrapping things up, I’m kicking it into high gear. I’m not used to this kind of pace, having so many things to do, so much responsibility. I’m doing my best to handle it with grace, but every day is a different challenge, and I’m very wary of overdoing it. I do not want to burn out. I want to keep my sanity and my sense of humour. Stamina is my keyword this year. I’ve got to pace myself. Work when it’s time to work. Rest when it’s time to rest.

I’m deep in preparations for the Market, which opens in 3 weeks. I’m finding myself relying on so much of my life experience and challenges from the past, from working at Red Robin, to volunteering at Walterdale Theatre, and of course running the ONEcard program at UAlberta. Add to that some flavour from spending half my life in small towns, and the other half travelling and living in a city – it’s all relevant. But the biggest thing is communication. The good news is: I’ve think I’ve got what it takes. The bad news is: it’s a LOT.

So, April. I started out by re-organizing my work/studio space, and I’m really glad I did because I’m spending a lot more time in here now. It is truly a privilege to have a “Room of one’s own” and I really appreciate Aldon agreeing to let me take over this space (we moved his drum kit back to dad’s workshop in anticipation of their return). I’m so grateful to him for his support and willingness to pick up the slack around here while I’m otherwise occupied. He’s my partner and teammate in this life. I feel lucky in life and love.

Speaking of Aldon, he’s been writing quite a lot, and he’s given me permission to share a recent short story he wrote based on one of our adventures. He shared this with me back in March as a birthday present of sorts, and it means so much to me, I love it. If you’re interested, you can check out The Breezes of Tibidabo.

Mom and dad migrated home, and we jumped right back into our Sunday family days, which I think we all missed while they were away. We got together on Easter Sunday and celebrated mom’s birthday. And we’re playing music with dad again too, which is fun. Two +1 has a gig opening for Jolee, a country artist from PEI on May 13th.

Spring has arrived, but it’s a slow warm up out here on the coast. There’s lots of light, but it’s still quite cool with wind coming over the water. I hear Edmonton is getting crazy hot temperatures, which might feel nice, but is pretty disconcerting, no? I think like most areas we need some precipitation, but I’m just keeping my fingers crossed for pleasant and sunny Saturdays from May 20 into October this year, so the market does well.

This is all I have to share this month. I hope things are going well for you, but if they’re not, remember that you are loved. Take care of yourself and get some rest – that’s what’s keeping me going. And when all else fails, find an animal to love.

Spring is here and the ice is breaking up. Although I think we may have got more snow in March than any other month this year so far…

I’m busy and tired, but satisfied. It’s been a good month.

Everything is good. The jobs are all good. Home is good. We are good.

I celebrated 4-dozen trips around the sun this month! I’m not much for birthday parties, per se, but Aldon and I did take a lovely trip to Tatamagouche to celebrate. We walked on the trail, hit up TataBrew for beer and bought a few treats. Then we came home and made homemade lasagna from scratch. Fresh pasta! Sauce! Yum!

Honestly, I don’t have much else to share. We stayed out too late having drinks with some friends. We watched some tv. I read some books. We soaked in the hot tub. BO-RING! You may exclaim, and you wouldn’t be wrong, but that’s just fine with me. I love my boring life.

I loved Brandi Carlile’s memoir Broken Horses and then recommended it to Aldon. He enjoyed it too. I first saw her play at Edmonton Folk Fest in… 2010, I think? and she won my heart (along with most of the hill – they even had her back the following year). I haven’t been keeping up with her career since then, but she’s been killing it. Some might even consider her one of the forces behind Joni Mitchell’s return to the stage 💕

VenCo by Métis author Cherie Dimaline was a lot of fun. I loved this description I read on Goodreads: “Have you ever wanted to read a book reminiscent of The Golden Girls, but it’s a witchy scavenger hunt around the country for magical spoons? If yes (because clearly the answer is yes), get this book immediately!” 🤣

OK I’d like to go start my weekend now (rest is important!), so I’m signing off. I hope you are finding plenty of joy in your life, whether it’s busy and boring like mine, or quiet or crazy or whatever. You’ve only got the one, so make it your own. XO

February came and went in a flash. Winter arrived in Pugwash, although the harbour still hasn’t frozen over, I got another new job and life is just whooshing along, punctuated by evening soaks in the hot tub.

Let’s see, I guess I should start with the new job: I am the new library assistant at the new Pugwash Library! I am absolutely delighted. I hemmed and hawed about applying – I mean, I just started working for the Farmers’ Market, the last thing I need is another new job, but… the LIBRARY! And it’s only minimum wage, but… the LIBRARY! I have always wanted to work at a library. I LOVE LIBRARIES! I have applied for a few entry level library positions in my life, but I’ve never even been called for an interview before this. Working at ONEcard at the University of Alberta was the closest I got: I physically worked in a library (but not for the library).

Anyway, I applied. I interviewed. I accepted the job offer. I went to Amherst (about 45 minutes away) for two days of training at the main branch in the region. I was a few minutes late for my second day because we had freezing rain first thing in the morning and the roads were absolutely treacherous the whole way. It was terrifying. I hated every minute of that drive, but then my training was over and I got to start at the Pugwash branch, which is a 90-second walk from my front door. It is just up the street. I’ve got it made.

So yes, I have been incredibly busy this month. I basically went from having one part-time job to having two part-time jobs to having three part-time jobs in the span of two months. Which adds up to a job and a half if I’m doing the math right. It’s plenty of work, but I’m actually really digging it because I enjoy having a variety of things to do. I don’t want every day of work to be the same. And (so far), having a lot to do and a partially set schedule alongside a super flexible schedule seems to be just what I need in order to get shit done.

Also Aldon, I’m really leaning on him to take care of things home while we adjust to this major lifestyle change, but it’s great because he has the time and energy for that now, and he likes it too. And if we end up managing a second vacation rental this summer (stay tuned), he’s probably going to need to do the bulk of that as well. So our team is really rallying right now, and things are feeling good.

Book recommendation: Ducks by Kate Beaton

A graphic novel memoir by a Cape Breton gal who went to work in the Alberta Oil Sands to pay off the student loans she accrued from a liberal arts degree (and then went on to draw about it). It’s really well told, and even if you wouldn’t typically pick up a graphic novel, I still recommend you check it out. Especially if you’re from the maritimes and/or Alberta!

Television recommendation: Poker Face

I love this series! Well, I should say I love Natasha Lyonne (I’ll watch her in anything), but the writing and visuals are also fantastic. I really liked her in Russian Doll, which was a bit strange for a general recommendation, but Poker Face has a familiar crime/detective structure, only inverted (called a “howcatchem”- a new term I learned this month), and it has a great 70s nostalgia vibe. Comparisons to Columbo are spot on and it’s just so much fun (for murder)!

I think that’s all I have to share for February. These letters may get shorter (or worse?) as work picks up, but I still plan to get something out every month. And I hope to get out and take more photos as it warms up too, I didn’t have much selection to choose from this month.

What a strange January it’s been! The weather has been… weird. It’s been much warmer than usual – the Northumberland Strait hasn’t even frozen, which is unheard of, so that’s kind of a big deal. We’ve had some snow, but it hasn’t stuck around long. We got a LOT of rain last week, which is pretty strange for January, so… I don’t know. There’s nothing to be done about weather, we just take each day as it comes and go for walks when we can.

Of course, winter isn’t over, just January. It snowed quite a bit this morning, and the forecast has it getting COLD by the end of the week, so maybe we’ll get it all in February this year.

My main excitement this month has been watching the Amaryllis we got mom for Christmas bloom a second time. She had it for the first bloom, and then we brought it home when my folks went south and it fully bloomed again! Quite spectacular, and a lovely thing to brighten up the house in the dark days of January. And, I think it might even attempt round 3…

I have been reading like crazy this month. There’s something I love about curling up with a blanket and a book (or iPad/iPhone, usually) in the winter. I’ve finished 11 books already this year! I’m sure I’ll slow down, but this month it’s been my comfort zone. I especially enjoyed Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel (Canadian author, literary sci-fi) and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin about creativity, games and friendship.

Aldon and I did a “dry January” experiment this year (i.e. no booze this month), which has been great! I’ve been paying closer attention to my consumption of everything and how it makes me feel. So much of what I do is just habit, and I can change my habits if I’m aware of them. The abstinence method is a good kick start, and we’re both glad we did it. We know we save a lot of money when we don’t buy alcohol, and I know that I sleep better and feel better, so I’m expecting some changes as we hit a new month. Having said that, I am looking forward to having wine with dinner tomorrow evening. Cheers!

I hit the ground running with the Farmers’ Market this month, getting my feet under me, trying to get organized and working on grant applications. The first market isn’t until May 20, but there’s lots of work to do before the season starts. I’m enjoying it and really looking forward to this summer.

Since Two+1 is on a break while dad is away, we’ve been collaborating with some other friends in the Village and are working on a bunch of Joni Mitchell songs with an eye to maybe putting on a tribute show this summer. It’s still early stages, but we really might have something here. And I am definitely stretching my vocals in a new direction!

The hot tub in the backyard has been incredible for keeping the winter blues at bay. We typically soak daily, after we finish work for the day, usually around sunset. I still can’t believe our good fortune! And I’m sure it’s going to make our airbnb even more popular than last year. The owners have confirmed that we will be offering the Sunset Suite again this summer, but we’re not quite ready for online bookings yet. And we’re going to be accepting bookings outside of the airbnb platform this year as well – the fees are crazy. The suite goes for $1500/week, but on airbnb it comes out to $2100! So if you have any interest in staying there definitely reach out to us directly.

That’s it from me this month. Take care of you and yours! Stay warm…

As this year comes to an end I am feeling so fortunate that I am able to take time away from work to rest and nest.

We had a wonderful Christmas this year, and our little part of the country was spared the worst of the wintry weather. A wind storm blew in on Tibbs Eve (December 23) and knocked out the power at my parents place, but fortunately they have a generator and a wood stove, so it didn’t hurt our holiday cheer, even when it didn’t come back on until about 7:30pm Christmas Eve. The power stayed on in Pugwash so Aldon still had to go into work on X-mas Eve, but I went to mom and dad’s and had a lovely day until he could join us. Mom cooked up an incredible clam chowder in an electric rice cooker and we feasted. As we enjoyed a post-supper beverage in front of the fire, waiting for friends to stop by, the power came back on! The only thing that would make it more festive would have been some snow – it was dark and green outside. We went to bed happy, full and wearing new plaid PJs (thanks, Santa-mom!).

I woke up first on Christmas Day (I usually do) and let the dog out, and what do you know? It started snowing! It was still dark outside, but as the day dawned, the snow kept falling. It snowed all day. Big, fluffy white flakes gently falling outside the windows – it was just like being in a snow globe. Magical! We all kept cozy in the house while outside a winter wonderland developed. It was a quiet Christmas, just the way I like it. Just the 4 of us (and Joker), though we certainly missed our loved ones from afar.

In what is technically November news, our family band Two +1 recorded a demo to share with the local radio station. I’m not sure if they’ll play it or not, but it was fun to do. Aldon took care of everything. We rented a bit of gear from L&M in Truro and then proceeded to play the same 6 songs over and over again in Dad’s workshop where we usually play together.

Somehow Aldon managed to find a decent take of each song (not an easy task) and spiff them up a bit. Mom found some old blank cds and printed off a CD cover, and we found an old school computer that still has a disc drive (not an easy task), and Aldon burned a few copies for mom and dad and their friends who still own cd players. If you’re keen to check it out, the digital files are available for streaming on our band page (interested in a download? Send me an email and I’ll get you the files).

Two +1 also played a volunteer gig at the local curling club for the Turkey-spiel this month. Mom curled and we provided the entertainment on Friday night. We even learned a few Christmas songs for the occasion! It was fun. The band is now on hiatus while my folks head South for a few months this winter. They’ll be back just in time for us to practice up for our next gig in May. In the meantime, we brought all of our gear home to our tiny flat and set-up a music room in studio in the front room.

I’m often going on about how much we love our place and how fortunate we feel to have found this amazing rental, and it just keeps getting better: we now have a hot tub! In the backyard. It’s insane. It’s incredible, I can’t get over it. Well, I need to get over it a bit, because we overindulged the first week we had it and my skin got a bit cranky, so I’m learning to take it easy and maybe not go in every day.

Since we had to incorporate all of the band gear into our place, I decided to nest this week. I call it nesting. It’s a thing I like to do every once in a while where I move everything, clean everything, go through cupboards and drawers and boxes, re-arrange the furniture and generally make our home feel fresh and new again (while retaining all of the coziness we’ve built). The last week of the year is the perfect time to nest. End of the year, change of seasons, and I have time and enough energy to move things around, try something new and get rid of what is no longer useful.

More changes will be coming in the new year – I’ve accepted the position of Market Manager for Pugwash Farmers’ Market! I had so much fun as a substitute for the holiday markets this winter that when I was approached about the possibility (after learning the previous manager had resigned), I had to seriously consider it. And I’ve decided that yes this is a very good idea. I’ve been involved with the market for years, and I love the people. I’ve been looking to supplement my web design work with something completely different, and to get more involved in the community, and this seems to me to be an excellent way to do both at the same time. I’m excited!

OK that’s a wrap on December. I have plenty to be grateful for, and I hope you do too. Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year and all the best in 2023.

P.S. I will be on the 30-day Yoga Journey in January as I have been for the past 3 years. It’s free if you want to join – let me know and we’ll do it together!

Remember, Remember the fifth of November… I got Wordle in 1!

I used to play daily, but that hasn’t happened for ages, so I feel particularly lucky that I just so happened to play on the day when the word I always use first finally came up! Now I don’t know what to do with myself.

When I pick up my phone these days I open a book. It seems like every fall I fall in love with reading again. And with the recent take-down of my go-to pirate book site, I’m back at the library. With pleasure! It feels good to be an upstanding (mostly) reader again.

The Libby app has made some great updates since I used it last, and I’m thrilled that I’m still able to use my library card from Edmonton (and by that I mean, it works. I’m not sure if I’m “allowed.” Please don’t rat me out!) as well as a new one here in Pugwash – where they are finishing up a new library building in the village. Hooray for Public Libraries!

Let’s see… what else happened this month. I didn’t take very many photos, so not much, I guess!

On the 8th I decided to get up and go out before dawn to catch the lunar eclipse. It was crazy windy and cold! I had a hard time holding still to nab photos and had to wait until there was a bit more light.

Winter is coming, but it’s not here yet. We’ve had a wee bit of snow, but it didn’t even last a day. The cold wind is starting to get to me though. It blows right through you (it’s no place for the old)!

I filled in for the Pugwash Farmers’ Market Manager at the Outdoor Festive Market on November 19th. It was chilly, but the sun was out and there was miraculously no wind. Aldon brought the holiday tunes and kept me company. I already know a lot of the vendors so it was a pretty day! I’m also covering the “Christmas by the Sea” market this weekend, but it will be indoors (at the high school).

I’ve been busier with work than usual, but everything is humming along just fine out here. Aldon has big news of his own. He was accepted into the SEB (Self-Employment Benefits) Program this month, which provides financial and business support for entrepreneurial folks creating their own work. He’s planning a production company and wants to bring events to the North Shore of Nova Scotia. It will be a challenge to be profitable in this (very rural) area, but I know he’s got what it takes, and I’m super excited to see how it develops. Stay tuned!

As usual, you can comment here or send me an email. Love from me to you and yours 💕

I love autumn. It’s time to shift into coziness. I’ve done a lot of knitting this month. And reading. So many of my favourite things involve getting comfortable, so I’m going to imagine you reading this love letter snugged up with a pillow and blanket. Maybe you’re wearing pj’s or hand-knit socks? Perhaps you’ve poured yourself a cup of something warm, and and the steam meets the glow of the screen as it lights up the smile on your face…

My favourite hot drink these days is just a cinnamon stick steeped in hot water. We bought a big jug of local apple cider at Masstown Market this week, and I’m planning to muddle up some cider and spices this afternoon while I roast a sugar pumpkin for puree. Aldon has a delicious pumpkin chocolate chip cookie recipe, and the home-roasted version of pumpkin is far superior to canned, AND it comes with seeds that I’m looking forward to snacking on.

We took a mini road trip to Woodstock, New Brunswick on the first weekend of the month. A friend of ours from Edmonton was getting married in the maritimes, so we hopped in the car and went on an adventure. The weather was gorgeous, and autumn leaves were still on the trees (NB wasn’t hit too badly by the hurricane): perfect for driving, sitting on the patio at a couple of breweries, and walking on trails. I was in heaven taking photos of all the many varieties of mushrooms we found on our rambles. Aldon was patient. October is good for mushrooms out here.

The wedding was lovely, but I took ZERO photos. I have no excuse. Though they asked for no cameras in the church, “so we could be present with the couple during the ceremony,” I certainly could have taken some before, after, or during the reception! Oh well, the day will have to live on in our memories. We only knew the groom, and it was great to see him after so many years, and to meet his wife. He exuded joy and we feel fortunate to have been able to celebrate the day with him. We ate, chatted with the misfits at the miscellaneous friends table, and we danced.

I volunteered to serve food for the community dinner during the night market Pugwash Farmers Market’s Salty Dog Festival on Thanksgiving weekend. Two +1 performed on Saturday afternoon, but the weather wasn’t very cooperative and we had to cut it short due to rain. It could have been worse, I suppose – the festival was originally scheduled for weekend Fiona hit! I think that will be our last gig for while. My folks are heading south for a few months after Christmas, so there may not be any more shows until next summer.

Our first Indigenous Box arrived this month and we were absolutely delighted!

The Airbnb is officially off the market now until next summer. The owners decided to offer it as a 6 month rental for the winter, and a local young couple is moving in. I can’t imagine having the sunset suite as my first apartment! I remember the crappy 2-bdrm on Bellamy Hill I shared with a good friend from high school (and her boyfriend) when I first moved to Edmonton from Peace River. Worlds apart!

I’m trying something new with the format of the love letter this month. What did you think?

And are you getting up to anything for Hallowe’en this year? Aldon and I will probably be hanging out at home with the lights off! 🤣 🎃

If you dressed up, I’d love to see your costume. Send pics!