It was the vending machine for cheese that confirmed we had arrived in a special place. This was our first evening in the Bregenzerwald, and the vending machine was outside a small village dairy, because local people get nervous if they can't get cheese at all hours. Over the next three days, many more cheesy… Read More

To grow as a noticer you need to be challenged so your understanding of materials, and design, and technique is constantly expanding. Recently three people, whose work helped to train my eye, died. I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge them and their creativity. Hal Forbes If you live in Halifax you have seen… Read More

At the end of summer there are usually a few choice beach cobbles rattling around in the trunk of our car. They were selected during walks on the shore, because humans are wired to search for the perfect stone out of the billions spread along our coast. … Read More

All the chaos around back to school reminded me that I've been noticing the entrances to older school buildings in Halifax. An example of what gives me joy is the robust entrance to the 1930s Oxford School. Dinosaurs get this view from their cars, waiting on North Street for the lights at Oxford. [caption id="attachment_8266"… Read More

Have you been following all the fun people are having with Halifax Transit's announcement of a new BIG ticket? Fun and outrage. The new ticket will be the size of a $20 bill. Suddenly folks are interested in ticket design, so it seems like the perfect moment to share my little collection of, and my… Read More

So are you panicking because summer is speeding past? We know the feeling and are trying to do slightly more than wave as the season burns on through. As proof of concept, here is some noticing that happened last weekend. First thing every morning I take a short stroll in our garden. As the days… Read More

Don't you love summer news (when there is little real news to report)? One of the stories that's received a lot of press locally is about a concrete chair that may (or maybe not) incorporate a piece of Halifax Explosion debris. When a picture of the chair surfaced I was surprised at how good it… Read More

When these tumultuous times feel like more than we can endure, folks with a long memory remind us there have been other bad times. Often they mention the turmoil of 1968: the assassinations of MLK and RFK, the subsequent riots, Prague Spring and the Warsaw Pact invasion, and the Vietnam War entering its bloodiest chapter. But… Read More

Summer is the time to get out and about in the province and we started with a visit to the beautiful landscapes of Lunenburg County. Our three days away were filled with all the experiences that bring us joy: friends, food, and eye candy. The fun started with lunch beside the LaHave River, entertained by our friends' new chickens.… Read More

Traditional summer tourist destinations in these parts are 18th or 19th century fortifications, like the Citadel in Halifax or, my favourite, Fort Anne in Annapolis Royal. A drive-by fortification, that you may never have stopped to enjoy, is Fort Beausejour, symbolically defending the New Brunswick border at Aulac. … Read More