Bay of Fundy and Acadia

Here we are on the last day of our vacation. I know this blog thing is published backward to the actual events of our vacation. If I was smart, I would have entered everything from the last day to the first,, anyhoo,, no comment. We enjoyed seeing many friends on our two days in Halifax. It was so neat to connect with them and share a few hours getting caught up, and seeing their lovely families. We were so blessed during our time living there to have so many wonderful friends.
On our last day we headed to the Anapolis Valley, to check out the low tides on the Bay of Fundy and the museum at Grand Pre. This again was quite a history lesson, that tied in with another "Our Canadian Girl" book, I just happened to bring along for reading to the kids. This one is about the resettlement of the lands by "planters" after the British explusion of the Acadians from Nova Scotia, around 1755. Another sad chapter of the treatment of a minority group, in the history of Nova Scotia.
It rained the whole time and Finn was in fine form, but nevertheless, we saw a neat film on the history of the Acadian explusion, and many other well done exhibits.
On our way home, we stopped at the Fort that the "planters" would have landed near and used, and which housed the Acadians who were trying to return to their homeland. The fort is mostly just a hill now with a look out and a few cannons, but we had a beautiful view of the Bay of Fundy which of course boasts the lowest tides in the world. Luke was particularly impressed and wanted to "walk" the ocean floor. We opted against this, but were glad the timing was right for him to see that!

What a Bluenoser eats for Lunch!

Luke had been looking forward to eating lobster on this trip. We talked it up real good before we left. "Oh yeah, we'll eat seafood every night,,, yada yada..." Well, lobster isn't cheaper there just because it is caught real close by. So... we finally broke down our second last day there, and took luke for a big lobster lunch right on the Halifax Harbour waterfront. It was the perfect day, we ate outside, Finn slept through the meal (smile)and Luke wrestled with a lobster! He enjoyed the claws, but basically gave up after that. Wasn't interested in the tail or all the work it took to get a tiny piece from the little leg parts! It was fun watching him though!

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

On our trip from the South shore to Halifax, we stopped at our favourite place in Nova Scotia, Lunenburg. When we lived there this was our favourite haunt! It is such a pretty town, and just loaded with character and history. It's very colourful and so much to see and do. This time we enjoyed the Maritime Museum. All the time we lived there, we never went in. It was really good. The kids toured a tall ship, a navy ship, and saw a ton of boat memorabilia, as well as local marine life. Luke has a thing for crabs, so he was engaged with a discussion with one of the museum operators about the crabs they had contained there. He learned a bit, but mostly was sharing his knowledge with them. They were impressed and I think they learned something too.

While there we went to our favourite ice cream shop, (Bethany's only request for hours!!) shopp[ed in my favourite sovenir shop, got our pic in the same spot we always did before, when anyone came to visit. Some of you might recognize it. Although the lady we stopped to take our pic, cut off the golf course across the Bay.

Oh yeah, the one pic is of Bethany, who was chosen to "launch" a replica of a tall ship!

These are just some beach pics of our vacation. One day we had a retriever follow us for hours on the beach. He just sallied on over and plopped himself down as if he belonged to us... and everyone there thought he did! He followed the kids when they played in the waves, or ran on the beach. It was hilarious. The kids were getting attached, and I was getting worried that the dog wasn't going to go home, wherver that might be. However we packed up and got in the car without the dog and he sallied on over to another family, not his, and that was that! Made me wish Lukey could have a dog like that. I know he really liked him. Luke has a very tender heart too. He was a bit worried for the dog. We assured him, he would go home when he was hungry. (He didn't have a collar, but looked well fed!)

The other pic of Liam and I was on our trip out to Bruce's Island. This was an island in front of our beach house, which was accessible during low tide. We enjoyed exploring that island, but it was tough going with Finn. Very rocky and a bit perilous trying to carry him over everything. At one point we exchanged carrying Finn, he protested and threw a hissy, and down both Finn and Nicole went. Ouch! Right on the rocks! Anyhoo, the older kids enjoyed the exploring and still swear they saw a cute little otter in amongst the kelp!

Birchtown

I can't believe I have no pics of the day we went to Birchtown. The little town a few km from Shelburne. This was the town where the "Black Loyalists" settled. They were promised land in Nova SCotia, if they could escape from their owners, fight for the British crown, and survive... however upon landing in Shelburne,,, they were sent to Birchtown to await the "awarding" of their land... well winter was on it's way, and winter in Nova Scotia is a little harsher than down south. They had no materials, money, shoes, very little food. No time, money or materials to build houses to survive the winter. So they made quick "pit houses." These were holes in the ground, not very deep or wide, with a log tent like covering. They "lived" in these "pits" for many months, with hardly any rations. The conditions were deplorable.
ONly 180 or so families, out of 680 or so were awarded land, and this after years of waiting. Eventually about 1500 people emigrated to Siera Leone. All this occured around 1784.
The history is fascinating, and we were right there! We had just read the "Rachel" books, Our Canadian Girl and we even saw the books in the Black Loyalist Heritage Society museum's gift shop!! That was cool! While there the kids learned and saw a lot more about slavery. We got to see a "pit house" too. I'm sure it made an impression on Luke. Bethany didn't appear to be able to grasp it all, but hopefully she is left with an impression of how horrible slavery was and how poorly these people were treated.

Shelburne 225th Anniversary of Loyalist Landing

On the Friday of our holiday, we went back to Shelburne for the big celebration! We saw a coast guard helicopter water rescue. They dropped a guy in the water right in the harbour and then eventually came back and rescued him. It was really neat. We got wet from the spray of the chopper coming close to the water. Right after that, they launched an authentic wooden longboat that was made in Shelburne. They launched it the "old fashioned way..." ( Oxen pulling it through the streets, followed by the British Calvary, who gave a gun salute once it was launched.) The kids were mildly impressed and learned something and we all had a good day together.

Shelburne

Shelburne is an historic seaside town on the south shore of Nova Scotia. An half hour from where we were staying. Coincidentally (maybe?) I picked up a "Our Canadian Girl" book from the library about a week before we left, about a young slave girl in the 1700's who lived in Nova Scotia. As I'm reading it, I discovered it was about Shelburne and Birchtown. I was shocked! I couldn't believe we would be visiting a place I was reading about in just a short time. It was so neat, and what an interesting story. I read it to the kids and we learned so much about the history of the loyalists who landed there 225 years ago! What was also fascinating was that we were visiting during the celebration of that landing! It was all very exciting for the kids to read about something and then experience it almost first hand, but I will go into that detail in the next post as Finn is clawing at me, and I don't know how to save my draft and then reedit itlater!! The pics are of our first visit to Shelburne. Notice the British "flags" around the fence of the outdoor cafe we ate at. Also notice the Dory building shop. More on that later (for Paul!) Luke is performing a "wooden" dance with the old fashioned "instrument." Bethany and LUke are reenacting preparing a meal in the basement kitchen of an historic home. There were a number of properties on the waterfront which were built the first year the loyalists landed. ie they were 225 years old! Very neat to tour all these homes and museums and also to see the trade of dory building and longboat building. We can back to Shelburne for the celebration... so more on that later.

Diggers Part B

Should have added this to the last post!

However it will appear first in the list.. Oh well. Enjoy.

The best part of Finn's vacation

Look what Finn found in Shelburne??! With all the quaintness and character around this beautiful little former seaport town, my son sniffed out the "diggers!" He's like a blood hound in search of machinery... he can hear the "beepbeep" a mile away...

Well this was his lucky day... the driver came by and offered Finn a ride! Well actually.. a sit.

The only trouble was getting him out of the drivers seat!

Another early Christmas present.

Nova Scotia Beach House

My dream vacation! It was everything I had hoped it would be. Peaceful, quiet, remote, hardly any electronics, fresh air, an ocean breeze, waves lapping, lazing around reading books,.... ok, it wasn't quite that relaxing, but it sure was close. As close as it can be with a two year old in tow... The kids actually loved it and never once said they were bored! Hard to believe given there was no x box, or wii,,, theme park, rides, etc... Just sand and surf... and each other! It was such a nice break for me... not jumping in the minivan every two hours to pick someone up or drop someone off... The only thing I had to worry about was meals,, a few dishes... and which book to read to the kids... Finn was a little hard to entertain indoors,, but we brought "Bob the builder" DVD and that pretty much kept his attention when he was climbing the walls..

We had beautiful weather for the most part... a real bonus considering the amazing view we had.... the few days it was socked in we really missed it! The kids had a private beach to dig on ... although it wasn't combed and was a little stinky,,, I thought it was near perfect! The water was too chilly, but Finn went for an unexpected swim and the kids splashed in a bit... We also visited other beaches nearby which were still very unpopulated and every bit as beautiful.

We visited nearby towns for history, culture, down east hospitality and good seafood dinners!

More about that in the next few posts... Look for Shelburne, Birchtown, and Halifax to follow.

Ps: Yes that is a crab leg Luke is sticking up his nose!

YEs we are playing croquet! Luke took an absolute shine to this game and was found playing it with one of us whenever he could!

The outcome!

Well, they got creamed! But they still got a medal for finishing second in the tournament. They learned a whole lot too! Since they had mercied two other teams, it was good for them to learn how it feels to be on the other end. They were just off that night. They couldn't make any plays hardly in the field. Luke pitched 75 pitches!! They had to pull him because of game rules about the number of pitches. He did a good job. Not his best I've seen him pitch, but I think he felt a lot of pressure to pitch in the championship game. He walked a few... struck out a few... but mostly his infield just didn't lend any help... Overall... they played a vvery good tournament. It was their first together as the "all stars.." they will have fun this season.

Finn, found the bob cat,,, so that was it for mommy watching the game....

Creations by Gel

"Gel" is short for "Angel". This is Bethany's hobby right now. Paper and tape!! She can make anything, and I mean anything.!!

Princess Leia hair!

A spur of the moment creation. She was too cute... had to take this pic....

BAseball tournament Canada Day weekend

A very long but exciting baseball tournament in Airdrie this weekend. The boys played two games Sat. two games Sun. and kept winning , so they kept advancing... they played in 30 degree weather... at the peak of the day... they played really well and learned lots. This was their first game together as the "all stars.." it was supposed to be a practice for the upcoming season.. well they just kept going on... then they played MOnday and weren't supposed to win,, but won by one run... it was very exciting!! One of those TV wins!!

Then that put us in the final game for the tournament... a half hour after we won the last one!! The boys were exhausted. and hot and so were the parents!! Then it started to lightning so they postponed it and we waited in our cars for two and a half hours!!! Then they called it off... So.. Luke plays tonight for the tournament championship.... He will most likely be pitching... a very high pressure situation... final game... hasn't pitched the whole tournament.. etc... I'm all jitter boxy right now.... !! Will keep you posted....