Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Mama Cormier

…last weekend we celebrated our Thanksgiving with family and friends

On Saturday Kevin and I drove north to our daughters’ cottage where we enjoyed a delicious turkey dinner. Twelve of us sat around the table and consumed dishes that everyone shared in preparing. Of course there was more food than a person would normally consume in one sitting and the tryptophan from the turkey made us all sleepy.

To work off the meal half of us took a walk.

We stayed overnight and left around noon. It was a gorgeous autumn day and we decided to explore some of the farms in the neighbourhood.

We discovered Georgian Roots Flower Farm that is very close to our cottage on Christian Island. Andrea and Josie had heard about this place so we decided to check it out. It was established in 2018 as a cut flower farm.

After purchasing a bouquet of flowers to take home we continued with our autumn road trip. There were lots of pumpkins for sale along the roadside but we decided to stop at Harris Farm. It was very busy and clearly very popular with families. A new addition to the farm was a corn maze and the kids really seemed to enjoy it.

With an extra large pumpkin for carving and a few smaller ones for decorating we continued on our trip home. It was a perfect weekend.

Road Trip – Days 8 and 9

Posted on October 18, 2023 by Mama Cormier

…day 8 was Winnie’s birthday

After a full day, celebrating Winnie’s birthday (breakfast at Steve’s Diner, a trip to the Green Pig and a party with a piñata, sushi for dinner and birthday cupcakes) we packed our bags and bid farewell to Moncton and New Brunswick.

Our next destination was Halifax, Nova Scotia. In comparison to Moncton, Halifax had a much bigger city feel and was very hilly. Our hotel was right downtown near the water’s edge but navigating the hills and the construction aggravated the sciatic that I developed that morning when packing and moving my luggage.

I knew that I needed Naproxen but I only had Tylenol with me. Unfortunately the drug store right by the hotel was closed on the weekend so I made due with what I had. Not wanting to miss out on exploring the area close to the hotel I ventured out with Kevin. We headed over to Durty Nellie’s for an early dinner and to catch the World Rugby match between Ireland and New Zealand.

The food and drink were very good, the game was exciting but heartbreaking ( Ireland lost by one point) and the company was excellent.

I thought that the Guinness might have helped ease the pain in my back and legs but it became very evident on the walk back to the hotel that my condition was worsening.

In that short walk to and from the hotel I did manage to capture some of the interesting architecture.

Day10….relief (continued)

Monday Murals – Street Art from out East Coast Road Trip

Posted on October 16, 2023 by Mama Cormier

….thanks to Sami from Colourful World for hosting Monday Murals https://sami-colourfulworld.blogspot.com/2023/10/monday-murals-future-river-view.html?m=1

From Halifax

Day 7 – A Day of Rest

Posted on October 15, 2023 by Mama Cormier

….after 6 days of driving we decided to take it easy and explore Moncton and shop for birthday presents

We also decided to forgo the hotel breakfast and drove to a bakery that Gaelan introduced me to on my first visit to Moncton. At Copain we ordered coffee and some of the best croissants we’ve ever had.

Then we drove to Michael’s and bought two frames for art that we had gifted to Gaelan and Winnie and some art supplies for Winnie’s birthday.

After shopping I dropped Kevin back at the hotel and I went to Gaelan’s house to do some laundry. When Winnie came home from school we drove to Bulk Barn and picked up some candy and a piñata for her birthday.

That evening Kevin and I had a date night and went into downtown Moncton for a great meal. We went to the Tide and Boar where we shared a plate or Smokey wings. They were so delicious and so big that I had second thoughts about what I wanted for my main course. Our waitress suggested that we share the plate of seafood pasta, a T&B salad and the dessert. It was perfect.

The restaurant is actually a brew pub and the dessert we had was a deconstructed ‘beeramisu’. The topping was made with a reduced stout. Surprisingly delicious!

Road Trip – Day 5 continued

Posted on October 14, 2023 by Mama Cormier

….a walk along the sand dune in Bouctouche

Bouctouche Dunes is a 12 km sand dune that extends out into the ocean and surrounds Bouctouche Bay. From the Eco Centre there is a 2k boardwalk. On the way back we walked along the beach.

Road Trip – Days 5

Posted on October 13, 2023 by Mama Cormier

….driving through Shediac, Cormierville and Bouctouche

It was another beautiful day for a road trip.

On our way to Bouctouche we stopped by a roadside shop that specialized in antiques and wood carvings. The owner lovingly explained how all the objects that we were looking at were carved from one block of wood by her very talented husband who had passed six years ago.

Charles Bernard had a very colourful history and apparently learned how to carve wood when he was serving time in the penitentiary. He lived in Bouctouche with his wife for 15 years where they ran the wood carving shop and antiques store.

*He even carved his own coffin with his life story carved into the sides*

*All the books are carved from one block of wood*

*Even the tools on this bench are carved from wood*

The shop is located right on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean.

….to be cont

Road Trip – Day 2

Posted on October 10, 2023 by Mama Cormier

….from Cornwall to Sherbrooke

On Saturday morning we woke up to light rain. After a good breakfast we packed up the car and headed out for Sherbrooke in Quebec.

As you can see by the photos the rain was pretty steady but when we arrived in Sherbrooke the rain had stopped and we were able to get out of the car and navigate the very steep streets of the downtown.

We found a great art gallery, Beaux des Arts, and explored two floors of art from the 30’s and 40’s by four Montreal artists who introduced abstract art to the Quebec people.

Marion Dale Scott, *Anthuium, entre 1945 et 1948*

After a short break we climbed up the steep streets and made our way to a quaint bar where we ordered some refreshments and a plate of classic poutine. Sherbrooke is a very French community and you will always be greeted in French first but most people also speak English.

Road Trip – Day One

Posted on October 8, 2023 by Mama Cormier

…Toronto to Cornwall

We got a late start on Friday. Kevin’s appointment took longer than he planned on and consequently we didn’t leave Toronto till 1:00. Normally that time would have avoided rush hour but it is Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend and everyone was trying to get out of the city early. The first hour of our trip was just getting out of Toronto.

We arrived in Cornwall 5 1/2 hours later. The hotel had a nice restaurant attached to it so we decided to take advantage of this convenience. The weather was not advantageous for walking and it turned out that there was not a lot to see in Cornwall so we had an early night.

The next morning we had breakfast in the same restaurant and then packed the car for day two of our trip.

Silent Sunday – October 8, 2023

Posted on October 8, 2023 by Mama Cormier

….driving through northern Maine

Away on Vacation

Posted on October 6, 2023 by Mama Cormier

…for the next 2 1/2 weeks

Kevin and I are taking a road trip to the east coast of Canada and a quick drive through Maine (although we heard there might be flooding on the day we arrive in Bangor).

We’re spending five days with our daughter and her family in Moncton, NB and then we’re heading to Nova Scotia for another 5 days. I’m hoping to get lots of photos of the autumn colours in all the places we plan to visit. I’ve cleared some of my old photos from my media file so I’m I’ll be able to keep up with my blog from my phone. Wish us good weather. There is a tropical storm heading towards Moncton but our daughter isn’t too worried.

While we’re away we’re having the siding on our house painted. It should be done when we return.