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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.

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.

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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!

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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!