On Vacation

Over the next few weeks posts may be sporadic. While the family is visiting we'd rather spend time with them than blogging, so no post this week.

Love 'em all!

Grandkids, Round 1

We crammed a lot into a few days while Stan and Melanie were in town with their kids, seeing things

Blomidon Lookoff

we haven't seen in the 9 months we've been here (we arrived 9 months ago today--time flies when you're busy!)

Saturday morning we headed to Blomidon Lookoff. It's a fantastic view over part of the Bay of Fundy. As usual, the picture doesn't do it justice. There's a sharp drop off on the other side of the guardrail down to the flat land below and into the Bay of Fundy.

From there we went to the other side of the peninsula where we could walk the ocean floor since the tide was nearly out.

At high tide the water laps just below the fence posts on the left and  ...

And this isn't even the part of the Bay where the tide changes are the most dramatic! The Bay has some of the most extreme tides in the world--in some places the difference can be as much as over 40 feet approximately every 6 hours. That's high tide to low tide and 6 more hours back to high tide.

... covers these rocks almost to the porch on the house

Cute Heidi

Elder Holbrook saw this waterfall. He couldn't figure out how the moss grows so well when it's covered by salt water much of the time, but it was in several places, like

this rock, surrounded by other rocks without moss. Go figure!









We saw several lighthouses, of course. They're around almost every corner and all different. So fun!

Lots of pretty flowers and green vegetation

Another day we went to the Citadel in Halifax. It was double walled and designed for maximum protection, both inside and out, but was never invaded. It also protected the harbour. At various times it was manned by different regiments. Today it is restored to represent when Scottish troops were there.

Complete with a school house, a black powder room, bagpipers, cannons, and even a rifle demonstration

(the earplugs are a modern addition)

Ryan in the guardhouse (instead of the doghouse)

After the Citadel, we spent some time wandering along the Wharf area, enjoying the Farmer's Market and strolling along the Boardwalk. Nice day

A sculpture along the Boardwalk--at least that's what we assume it is, and not real damage

We loved seeing our grandkids (and parents too). You can't get a good hug on Skype! Thanks for visiting!


We're glad that the wings we gave our children bring them back to their roots.

More Canada Day

After the parade, we picked up and started sightseeing. The weather was beautiful, probably the warmest since we got here! And that made Peggy's Cove a great place to visit.

That's not a backdrop--it was for real!

The clouds looked like they had been painted across the sky,
and we were there to enjoy it all!!

The waves just keep on pounding the rocks. The rocks must be very hard to withstand the forces of the water beating on them all the time.

There are warnings all over the place telling visitors to stay off the black rocks,
because the waves are so forceful and people have been swept out to sea.

There were several musicians playing in spots around the lighthouse--this
bagpiper, someone on the accordion, and even a band in one area.

Then we went to Mahone Bay and Lunenburg. Such delightful towns with fun architecture!

In Lunenburg the kids loved climbing all over The Bluenose ...

... and the playground

And we loved having the grandkids around! 

David

Ryan

Heidi

More to come on the rest of their visit--we saw and did SO much!



(The river or the ocean or whatever is beating against you!)

O Canada

These pictures are all from Melanie's camera since we forgot ours. Thanks for sharing, Melanie!

Heidi, David, Ryan

It was fun to be here on Canada Day. Stan, Melanie, and their kids flew in the night before so they could be a part of the festivities. We started the day at a parade in Sackville. Fortunately, we were able to find a nice, shady spot in an area that wasn't overrun with other spectators. As we were walking to find a spot, we collected the first of our parade souvenirs when a Mountie gave the kids flags and stickers.

In honor of Canada, we all wore red. We were among a few loyal Canadians--most people didn't dress in red, and some even wore T-shirts with US logos (like universities).

It was a fairly typical parade, with a few Nova Scotian twists, like a big bagpipe band.

Lots of goodies were passed out, from candy to pencils, candy to small Otter Pops (very nice on a hot day), candy to coupons, candy to ads, candy to balloons, and candy to more flags.

The kids with some of their loot

And THE reason we picked the Sackville Parade to watch:

Our entire zone (minus us) marched in the parade--this is just the beginning of the group

We thought it was nice of the mission to have planned ahead and bought a red van and a white van for the parade!

Happy birthday, Canada!