Lunenburg County Sojourn

Are you yearning for the arrival of the softer days of spring so you can ramble in the countryside? Early last summer we spent a couple of days based in Lunenburg town and noticed many little things, but at the time it felt like there was no need to post them because folks didn't want… Read More

Could Art Save Mabou?

It's exhausting. Another golf course merchant imagines that we the people could be persuaded (with a little money) to give up a chunk of West Mabou Provincial Park, so some folks can propel a small ball  through an incredibly beautiful landscape. You can probably guess that I have no enthusiasm for giving away parks. Also,… Read More

Bank holiday

A few years back there were regular news stories when banks closed branches in towns around the province. It was just another indignity for these communities, like losing their schools, churches, and service stations. As we travelled about this summer, I took notice of several banks that still operated in smaller communities and were looking… Read More

On the Streets Again

At the end of October, just before the time changed for the last time (fingers crossed), Sheila was getting a haircut and I had about an hour to ramble in the central north of Halifax. The low sun provided a particular light quality. You'll see. On the corner of Agricola at West, sunlight fell through… Read More

Visiting the last century

Have you been bold enough to travel since the plague descended upon us? In September we made our first and only venture outside of Nova Scotia, to attend a wedding in New York State (congratulations, Hannah and Nick). An extra treat was visiting three special sites with similar themes: all are located on large tracts… Read More

Long to Reign Over Us.

It hadn't occurred to me that maybe I might have something to say on the occasion of the passing of our Queen. But as I listened to commentators marvel at how the world had changed over her long reign I realized that some of my earliest memories are associated with the monarchy. They are not… Read More

Annapolis Variety

Every summer we like to spend a moment or two in Annapolis Royal and renew our acquaintance with that very special cultural landscape. Like the store says, there's lots of variety. This year views of the Annapolis Basin were looking particularly sublime. It is a vista that has not changed much since the area was… Read More

Italianate Palazzos on Hollis

In the 1860s the commercial gentry of Halifax filled the downtown with palaces of business constructed in a style reminiscent of the palazzos of merchant princes of renaissance Florence, Rome or Venice. This flamboyant Italianate style of architecture was a display of wealth and power at a moment of prosperity in the city.  In early… Read More

Howe Now

Sheila and I keep a soft-sided mental list of areas around town that would be good to walk. Many of these are districts we drive through but have no reason to experience on foot. Here are notes from one of those rambles. On a sunny Sunday morning we started with brunch at the atmospheric Armview.… Read More

Noticed: Good News & Triggers

On Sunday I wandered downtown for the first time in a while. The city was surprisingly busy and everything felt somehow bigger. Can't explain that. Here's some other things noticed. The Granville Street side of the Dennis Building is trussed with a giant steel structure that reminds us of a time when engineering could be… Read More