A Concrete House with a Soft Heart.

While taking your great aunt for a lobster supper in Halls Harbour, have you ever been surprised by a small herd of concrete lawn deer, as you speed through Centreville, just north of Kentville? And then perhaps, did you realize the deer share the yard with a naked concrete lady washing her hair? This is… Read More

A Chester Snippet

It's been so long since I've been out noticing, it feels like the training wheels need to be reinstalled. Here are some wobbly observations from a little test drive. Are you getting out and about? It feels like lots of folks are out sampling the region, although people we know are sticking close to home… Read More

Guide me

When Sheila and I travel in the province, looking for adventure and discovery, there is always a basket of maps and guidebooks stowed on the backseat, ready for action. They help us understand what we are seeing, and often allow us to conjure up stories about the extraordinary cultural and natural landscapes of our province.… Read More

Spring in the Cove: Eight

In the nineteenth century many people gave their houses names. For example, Clifton, Rosebank Cottage, and Renova Cottage are names of houses at various Nova Scotia Museum sites. It amused us to name our property Rockburn, because it is rock rich and has sort of a brook (burn), and Sheila grew up near a community… Read More

When this you see, remember me

Every Wednesday, since the outside world shrank, we have a Zoom happy hour with a group of friends. In one of the gatherings we were all mourning cancelled trips, and wondering if we could ever feel comfortable travelling again. Then we started talking about little things brought back from trips in the past. Carol disappeared… Read More

Spring in the Cove: Seven

At the best of times, I have a short little span of attention, and THESE times are not helping. So while we isolate here at home, maybe I can show you what I’m noticing in the spring landscape, and around the site, cause that is mostly what I’m doing anyway. So, our landscape has evolved… Read More

Spring in the Cove: Six

At the best of times, I have a short little span of attention, and THESE times are not helping. So while we isolate here at home, maybe I can show you what I’m noticing in the spring landscape, and around the site, cause that is mostly what I’m doing anyway. So what has happened since… Read More

Contagion at Sea, c1875

My grandmother experienced an infectious disease outbreak 150 years ago. Her little story used to sound antiquated, but now we all know how it feels to have an invisible threat suddenly arrive, and how it changes our lives. Mary Davis Armstrong was encouraged by her son (uncle Maurice) to record stories from her interesting childhood.… Read More

Spring in the Cove: Five

At the best of times, I have a short little span of attention, and THESE times are not helping. So while we isolate here at home, maybe I can show you what I’m noticing in the spring landscape, and around the site, cause that is mostly what I’m doing anyway. Being able to shelter in… Read More