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Olympic Fever
Olympic fever has hit Nova Scotia as the Olympic Torch makes its way across the province. Last night, it stopped here in Truro and there was a HUGE celebration in Victoria Park. The festivities started at 5:30, but we didn’t get there until closer to six. Already, there were a few thousand people there. The event was so well planned & executed. The entertainment was awesome – athletes, drummers, musicians, choirs, speakers…
You can find the story from the local newspaper here: http://www.trurodaily.com//index.cfm?sid=303955&sc=68
We had a full house here at the B&B and our guests came and joined us to take in the activities! I managed to take a few photos of the excitement:
Drummers
Athletes
Oh, the things this athlete could do with her hula hoop!!
The crowd, watching for the Torch
Lighting the cauldron with the Olympic Flame
"Coach" Bob Piers lit the flame
With Gary & Fernando, our guests from Houston & Mexico
Putting the Flame "to bed" for the night
Fireworks for the finale
A day on the Bay of Fundy
Yesterday, I was lucky enough to get to take a day trip to Joggins to represent the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia at a presentation given by the Cumberland Wilderness Society as they unveiled their plan for a new Protected Wilderness area around and including the Chignecto Game Sanctuary. An article about the presentation can be found here: http://www.amherstdaily.com/index.cfm?sid=303455&sc=58
Because the trip along the Bay of Fundy is an easy and beautiful drive from Truro, we often recommend it to guests who are interested in a day trip. There are many interesting spots to stop and see and the scenery is spectacular.
Because I had a time line in which to get to the presentation, I drove the Trans Canada Highway to get there. The day wasn’t too promising as I started out, with thick fog making it hard to see. I took the old road through the Wentworth Valley rather than the Toll Highway. The drive is much more scenic and only adds about five minutes to your time. Not to mention you don’t have to pay the $4.50 toll! As I passed Ski Wentworth, the fog lifted and the sun started to shine.
I got to Joggins in about an hour-and-a-half.
The Joggins Fossil Center and Fossil Cliffs were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 and the Centre opened on Earth Day that year. This was my first chance to get there to see the new building and it is beautiful!! I would highly recommend this attraction to any guests who are visiting Northern Nova Scotia! I just wish I’d had more time to explore. Alas, business called…
When the presentation was over, I took the shore road along the Bay of Fundy to go home. The half-hour it takes to get from Joggins to Advocate is mostly trees, but the wild blueberry fields were glorious! I wish I’d been able to get a photo that did them justice. Although the colour of the trees is over now that the leaves have fallen, the blueberry fields are still in their splendor! As I turned a corner in Advocate, there was a cemetery on a hill which is covered in blueberry bushes and the sun was illuminating them. I wish I had stopped for a photo.
I did take the 5km side trip to go to Cape d’Or. It is one of my absolute favourite places in Nova Scotia! To get there, you travel on a very twisty and hilly dirt road, but the views when you get to the end are spectacular! The following photos were all taken from the top of the road. In the summer, from May – October, there is a restaurant that we highly recommend located in the lighthouse! The food and the service are wonderful and you just can’t beat the view!!
I traveled back to Truro, passing some favorites: Shaw’s Country Store in Port Greville, Ship’s Company Theater & The Fundy Geological Museum in Parrsboro, Mo’s at Five Islands, The Joy Laking Gallery in Portipique, the antique shop in Great Village, and of course Bass River Chairs in Bass River! I drove 355 km in total during the day and was home in time to make supper!
Lest We Forget…
Today is Remembrance Day and D’Arcy & Alex will be marching in the Parade to the Truro Cenotaph with the Scouts.
We are so thankful for those who have served to make Canada a country to be envied and pray that our own children will never have to experience war first-hand.
Lest We Forget…
The Strangest Dream
Last night I had the strangest dream
I’d never dreamed before,
I dreamed the world had all agreed
To put an end to war.
I dreamed I saw a mighty room
Filled with women and men
And the paper they were signing said
They’d never fight again.
And when the paper was all signed,
And a million copies made,
They all joined hands and bowed their head
And grateful prayers were prayed.
And the people in the streets below
Were dancing round and round,
While swords and guns and uniforms
Were scattered on the ground.
Last night I had the strangest dream
I’d never dreamed before,
I dreamed the world had all agreed
To put an end to war.
The 2009 Nova Scotia Bed & Breakfast Association Annual General Meeting
This weekend the Annual General Meeting of the Nova Scotia Bed & Breakfast Association was held here in Truro. What a fun weekend!!
www.nsbedandbreakfast.com
We woke up Friday morning to snow & slush, so unfortunately some of the Board of Directors weren’t able to make it to our meeting & potluck lunch. However, we still had enough in attendance that we had a quorum so our meeting took place regardless. After that was over, the B&B’s in town held house tours for anyone who was here from outside the area. So often, we are asked to recommend B&B’s in other parts of the province, so it is helpful to know what different areas have to offer. In the evening, we all went over to Tulips & Thistle B&B for a wine & cheese party. It was such a great opportunity to network with other operators from around the province and share some really funny stories!
Maarten & Nelly from Baker's Chest with hosts Ann & Larry at Tulips & Thistle
Gerry (Suncatcher B&B) and myself
Shelly from Stuart House by the Bay with Jennifer from TIANS
Some of the Truro B&B owners - D'Arcy & myself along with Janice, Ann & Gerry
Bill & Ann Marie Monk of A Seafaring Maiden B&B in Granville Ferry, outside of Annapolis Royal
A fun chance to network together
Donnie & Janice from Eagle's Landing B&B always have a hilarious story or two!!
Jill from bbcanada.com, Jennifer from TIANS, Anne from Belgravia B&B & Ruth from Suncatcher B&B!
Ruth from Suncatcher, Dora from Jonah By the Sea, Connie from A Paradise Found and Mary Pat from Azalea Farmhouse B&B's
The AGM itself took place at First United Church Hall on Saturday and the UCW had prepared lunch for 75 people. Unfortunately, we did have a few members send regrets at the last-minute due to weather conditions and/or illness. Regardless, we were pleased with the turnout. The morning program started off with information sessions by Tom Wilson who spoke about online & social marketing and its importance these days. Next, Jill MacIntosh from www.bbcanada.com spoke to us about maximizing our web presence and taking full advantage of offers made to us through the bbcanada website. Just before lunch, Kieu Lam from TIANS along with Doug Matthews from the Department of Tourism, Culture & Heritage came to speak with us about the new Nova Scotia Approved Program for accommodation operators.
We enjoyed a wonderful lunch provided by the UCW and then got down to the business of our AGM. Our Board of Directors is undergoing a tremendous change with eight new directors this year, including a new President & Vice President. We’re hoping to take the Association in a positive new direction and I’m really looking forward to working with this new group of people.
Tom Wilson, presenting information on Social Media and Marketing
Jill MacIntosh from www.bbcanada.com
Kieu Lam from TIANS, presenting the new "Nova Scotia Approved" program to members
Door prizes of bags filled with "Items a B&B owner might use" (soap, toilet paper, paper towels, shampoo, hand sanitizer, etc.) generously donated by MacQuarries Pharmasave in Truro
Jill, presenting a free year's membership to bbcanada.com to Bruce Fulton's B&B
D'Arcy, making sure all the presentations would show up on the screen
Ruth, presenting outgoing NSBBA President John Meehan with a plaque of appreciation
Gerry Mailloux new NSBBA President, drawing raffle prize winners
Jill had suggested that we, along with Ruth & Gerry, Ann & Larry & Jennifer all go out to dinner Saturday night to celebrate the successful weekend. We toasted our successes with some Prost, a sparkling wine made by Jost Vineyards, a local winery. We then all went out for supper at a restaurant close by called “The Lovin Spoonful“. Not only was the company so much fun, but the meal and the service were amazing!! We will all be recommending that restaurant to our guests from now on!! After three hours at the restaurant, laughing & telling stories, we came back here to Belgravia for coffee and ended the weekend on a high note!
TTM, ready to celebrate a successful weekend!
November Special
We are pleased to offer a rate of $88.50 + 13% HST per room per night ($100) for the month of November. This includes full breakfast in the morning. Please call, toll-free: 1-866-877-9900 or email us at: belgravia@ eastlink.ca to make a reservation. We can’t wait to host you!
So much to be Thankful for!
This past weekend was Thanksgiving here in Nova Scotia, and were fortunate enough to be able to host 35 (including us) of the McDonahs, representing four generations, for Dinner! We closed out the B&B for the night so that we could get everything ready. It was a pretty special sight to see that many of us sitting at one table. We went around the table, one-by-one, revealing what we were thankful for. Although the sentiments varied, I know we were all thankful to be part of such a large, fun & loving family!
Preparing to make the dressing...
A photo while setting the table
"Turporken" - a de-boned turkey, stuffed with a pork roast, stuffed with a de-boned chicken which has been stuffed! This one turporken would serve 25 people. We also barbecued an 8lb pork roast.
Some family, chatting before Dinner
The only photo of the day with both D'Arcy & I...
Everyone finding their seats...
D'Arcy's sister, Kathleen, started off the "What I'm Thankful For" Circle
Sarah, presenting her grandfather with an "ear" of corn she'd grown just for him - it was about 5 cm long!
Dinner Time!
"Great" Auntie Anne with the youngest family member, Phinn
What a wonderful day we had – we are truly blessed!
Winding Down
Fall is definitely here and our main “tourist” season is winding down.
The last bouquet of glads for this year
We have bookings though until the end of next weekend, but after that we will switch and get mostly business people throughout the winter and spring. We’ve already started getting calls for Christmas parties.
The garden is mostly harvested, the trees are turning, and it will soon be time to rake.
And rake.
And rake some more…
The driveway was lonely & bare yesterday afternoon since last week was our final Salad Bowl Gardens delivery of the season. What fun it was to be able to serve local, organic produce & eggs all summer! It was also a treat to see all of our neighbours each week as they came to pick up their haul, but getting to play with Oliver was always a highlight! Oliver certainly has a fan club at this house, although we’ll see what happens next year when he’s on the move and can get away from his fans!
Roxanne & Oliver - who could resist those cheeks?!
This week the house is full with the smells of bread and pies and cleaning supplies. We’re having our (D’Arcy’s side) family here for Thanksgiving Dinner on Sunday. We’re expecting to host between 30-40 people, so there’s lots of preparation to do! I’m trying to get as much done ahead as possible so that I can relax and visit when the time comes. The weather is supposed to be beautiful on Sunday, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed.
DRUM!
We had a chance to get to Halifax on Saturday for a performance of DRUM! I am having a hard time putting into words just how much we enjoyed it! The show is explained in the program by the following:
“Before the Tall Ships came, there were the drums of the Mi’Kmaq, the rhythm of the rugged, beautiful lands of Nova Scotia. For thousands of years, their songs and those of the other ancient native peoples were the only music accompanying Nova Scotia’s crashing waves.
Then came the others, displaced people all, carrying their faith and their music as precious reminders of the homes they had left behind.
First the French, who settled and farmed, transforming the ways of the old country into a new culture – the Acadian culture – as vital and rich as the new land they ploughed.
Then the Celts, the Scots and the Irish, who coloured the landscape, so like that of their homeland, with swirling tartan and the airs of the pipes, the harp and fiddle.
And north from the Thirteen Colonies and the Caribbean, the black settlers, twice dispossessed, the weavers of rhythms rooted in their African heritage and fired by hard times.
Each nation born of a timeless culture, dancing to their own rhythm, their own unique beat.
DRUM! is a gathering of all these rhythms. It is the musical heartbeat of Nova Scotia. A spectacle of sounds, styles and traditions, ultimately coming together in a world beat grand finale.
DRUM! communicates a message to the world: we can hold on to who we are and still share a song, a stage, a country, a world.”
The show especially captured the imaginations of our own drummer, performer, and highland dancer.
The show is over for this year, but we highly recommend for anyone planning a trip to Nova Scotia at this time next year that you try to get tickets!! We’ll definitely go again!
Afterwards, we went to the Henry House for dinner. The Henry House was formerly the home of the Granite Brewery, where D’Arcy & I first met while working there together. The menu and the beer remain mainly the same, and we were happy to see Mel, who is still working there on Saturday nights after all these years!
It was a fun night out, as Halifax is such an easy trip from here for the day. We will definitely put up a reminder for guests when DRUM! comes to town next year!
Fall
I’m embarrassed that it’s been so long since I put an updated post on here. I guess that it’s a good thing that we’ve been so busy lately I’m having a hard time keeping up! D’Arcy & the kids are back to school and it is definitely starting to feel like fall – our burning bush has started to “burn” and our Maples have a touch of red; we even have a frost warning again for tonight!
We’ve been harvesting our garden, using the tomatoes for Eggs Florentine and freezing those we can’t keep up with for winter. The other day, I grated 16 cups of zucchini to freeze and use in muffins this winter. I’ve also made pickles & jams, and this weekend I intend to make some salsa.
D’Arcy has been busily working at jobs around the house that need doing before winter, like replacing the basement door including the sill & casing and rebuilding the steps. When he took off one of the boards, we were interested to find the name “Randall” written on the back. It obviously was an original, there since the house was built by Dr. Ambrose Randall in 1904! We love finding these little pieces of history!
We expect to be steadily busy for the next few weeks until the Fall Colours start to peak in late October. It’s the perfect time to be traveling in Nova Scotia, now that our days tend to be sunny & warm(ish) and our nights cool. The air is clear, the bugs are few, and the foliage is beautiful.
Neat Video from the Peggy’s Cove Webcam during Hurricane Bill
I’m glad I was tucked up warm, cozy & safe here at home while this was going on!!
The following is a series of images taken from the Peggy’s Cove Webcam during the height of the storm:
