Day Two in New Brunswick…Walking on the Ocean Floor, Lobster Roll, Bay of Fundy National Park and Cape Enrage

Sunday was a very busy day. We started out at 9:00 in the morning and drove to Hopewell Rocks. When we got there the tide was out and we were able to walk on the ocean floor and explore the caves.

Alma’s Lobster Shop
Lobster Roll

After walking 8000 steps we were in need of some nourishment so be we drove to the town of Alma. We stopped at the Lobster Store and I ordered a lobster roll. It was on my bucket list of one of the things I wanted to eat while out here. Unfortunately, I have discovered that some of my tastebuds are not working as they should since I had COVID. As a result I am not able to give a fair review of the meals that I’ve eaten.

After our meal we drove to Fundy National Park. This was one of the few places in New Brunswick that was actually opened to the public, Most places are closed after Thanksgiving but it doesn’t stop people from visiting. You have to park outside the entrance and walk to get in. All the information centres and refreshment facilities are closed. The upside is that you can see these places for free.

Lookout over the Bay of Fundy

Our last stop on our way home was the lighthouse at Cape Enrage.

Cape Enrage derives its name from the large reef that extends south into Chignecto Bay, which causes the water off the point to become extremely violent, particularly at half tide when the reef is partially exposed and the water is moving quickly.

After being on the road for seven hours it was good to get back to my room and relax for an hour before dinner.

RDP – Finish

….thanks to RDP for today’s prompthttps://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2022/10/16/rdp-sunday-finish-2/

Last year I was working on Christmas presents that I didn’t show on my blog because I didn’t want the recipients of these to see them. They have long been received so I can now share them with you.

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My rooster tea cozy

DoBoy – grandson’s creation. I designed the pattern and sewed him up.

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Christmas baking with Winnie
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Finished creations

The Simple Things in Life

….are often free or cost very little

My granddaughter and daughter are leaving today and flying back to New Brunswick. We’ve had a wonderful time going to the CNE, buying new clothes for school and Gaelan and I went to the theatre to see the show, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. All of these things were fun to do but when I asked Winnie what her favourite activity was, she said she loved swimming in the city pool and my neighbour’s pool. She also enjoyed our picnic lunch in High Park, walking through the High Park Zoo and climbing on the huge tree stump in the park. Twice she was treated to ice-cream from the ice-cream truck, once from me and then again from her aunt Andrea. You can see from the look on her face how special that was.

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The Infamous Capybara
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Standing inside the hollowed out trunk

Miss you already, Winnie! Love Oma

Whatsoever Is Lovely Challenge – July 17, 2022

….thanks to Xingfu Mama for hosting the Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge https://xingfumama.blog/2022/07/17/whatsoever-is-lovely-challenge-2022-week-28/

This weekend I finally opened my cottage. It is truly my special place. I normally open sooner but I was so busy with my art show that this was the first opportunity I had to go up with my daughter. Opening up is always a big job and I knew that I couldn’t do it on my own so having Andrea with me made the whole process so much easier and more fun. Here are a few images from the north shore at Big Sand Bay and from the dock.

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Happy Mother’s Day Everyone

…..to all women who are mothers at heart to their families, friends and colleagues

What a beautiful day. A day to be celebrated by anyone who is a mother, has a mother or knows a mother. I am blessed to have known my mother for 40 years, been a mother for 42 years and have so many friends who are mothers, step moms, godmothers, sisters, cousins, nieces and aunties.

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To all those family and friends who did make it into this collage please know it’s only because I ran out of space. You are all loved and I’m thinking of you on this special day.

Castles in the Loire Valley

…..as of today we managed to take in two castles, the Amboise Châteaux Royal and the Château Royal de Blois

Visiting both castles required taking trains from Tours. The actual trips took about 30 to 40 minutes unless the train was delayed because there were too many bicycles on board. Yes that’s a thing apparently. The conductor refused to let the train continue until some of the bikes were removed or properly stored. Our last trip back to Tours took an hour. I’ve never seen so many people run as they left the train trying to catch their connecting train.

We have been very lucky with the weather since arriving in Tours. Our first castle trip was to Amboise and it felt like summer. We started out in an outdoor café got a bite to eat and then made our way through the old town to the entrance of the Château Royal.

The caste’s foundation was started in the 4th century by the Celts and over the medieval period the rights to the fortress was disputed between the counts of Anjou and Blois. In the 1400s the château was confiscated by the crown and became a place for all the Valois and Bourbon Kings to live, play and raise their families.

The style of the castle was greatly inspired by the artistic vitality of the Italian artists of the period. They were invited to Amboise and together with French tastes the Early French Renaissance was created.

Queen’s bedroom and nursery
Sitting at the top
View of the Loire from the top of the castle
Making our way to the gardens

One of my favourite parts of the Château Royal in Amboise was the garden.

Looking down from the top of the château

The Gardens of Amboise…..to be continue

Christmas Baking in March

….I finally got to use all the icing and decorations that I bought in December

Last Christmas our granddaughter from New Brunswick was suppose to come and visit with her Mom and Dad. With the emergence of the new Omicron strain they decided to play it safe and stayed home. In the meantime I went to Bulk Barn and loaded up on icing pouches, sprinkles, mini candies and peanut butter chips because Winnie had requested that we make cookies together.

Last week they finally found some time to visit and they flew to Toronto for four days. Out came the cookie mix, the cookie cutters and all the icing and decorations. It was so much fun until Oma, that’s me, ate the broken hand that fell off the Santa cookie. I was in so much trouble but luckily the trauma passed quickly but I’m not sure that I’ve been completely forgiven. Ouch!

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We also got to finally celebrate Gaelan’s 40th birthday in style.

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Whatever is so Lovely Challenge – Week 2

just discovered this challenge ….thanks to XingFu Mama for hosting https://xingfumama.blog/2022/01/16/whatsoever-is-lovely-challenge-2022-week-2/

Seeing I missed the first week of this challenge I’m going to post photos from the last two weeks. I met my youngest granddaughter for the first time over the Christmas holidays. On January 8th our son, daughter-in-law and Sevin returned to London, England after spending two weeks with us. The first two photos show Sevin just before she left for the airport and sleeping on the plane.

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Winnie showing off the outfit that Oma and Papa sent her for Christmas. Sadly they didn’t make it to Toronto this Christmas
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An exceptional meal that Kevin prepared for me on Saturday. I’m such a lucky girl.