At Home on the North Shore Winter 2020-21

WELCOME THE JOY!

LOVE AND LAUGHTER RESTORES THE SPIRIT OF BENT COTTAGE

GRAZE CRAZE Winter 2020-21 Vol. 6 Edition 1 / $4.95

SMALL BITES FOR YOUR HOLIDAY BUBBLE

WE’VE GOT THE GOODS

OUR 2020 ANNUAL GIFT GUIDE

Less winter, more comfort.

We are always here for you. Always Parkland.

A lot of things have changed, but not everything. Staying connected to friends, family and community is as important now as it has always been. Stay active and engaged with all-inclusive services and amenities at Parkland this winter.

Suites Available!

$1,000 move-in incentives*

Contact us today to arrange a tour and learn how we can move you in safely.

902-843-7275 or bpelly@shannex.com

356-378 Young Street, Truro experienceparkland.com/truro

Antigonish | Clayton Park | Dartmouth | Downtown Halifax | Sydney *Some conditions apply. Offer applies to select Lifestyle Options in Nova Scotia until January 31, 2021.

ON OUR COVER: There is no shortage of laughter at the historic Bent Cottage in Amherst. The “mini mansion” on Victoria Street has been returned to its original splendour with a few extra touches by new owners Dan Walker and Don Miller.

PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

athomeonthenorthshore.ca PUBLISHER: Fred Fiander EDITOR: Crystal Murray VP SALES AND MARKETING: Linda Gourlay ART DIRECTOR: Jamie Playfair GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Barbara Raymont PHOTO EDITOR: Steve Smith FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Nicole Fawcett, Sales, Strait Area 902 625-3300, ext. 1509 nicolefawcett@porthawkesburyreporter.com Lyndia Wellwood, Sales, Truro and Colchester County 902 893-0375 lyndiawellwood@advocatemediainc.com Michele White, Sales Tatamagouche/Colchester County 902 818-2904 mwhite@metroguide.ca Brendan Nichol, Sales Pictou County 902 396-8136 brendannichol@advocatemediainc.com

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY HOURS

NEW YEARS HOLIDAY HOURS

Thursday December 24th 8am to 5pm Friday December 25th CLOSED Saturday December 26th CLOSED Sunday December 27th 10am to 6pm

Thursday December 31st 8am to 6pm Friday January 1st CLOSED Saturday January 2nd 8am to 8pm

Tatamagouche 902 657 3099 | Stewiacke 902 639 2092 | Milford 902 758 3333

at home

is where our story begins.

Share your love for the North Shore with a gift subscription to ah!

FOR EDITORIAL INQUIRES CONTACT: Crystal Murray 902 485-1990 crystalmurray@advocateprinting.com At Home on the North Shore Published four times per year by: Advocate Media Inc., 2882 Gottingen Street, Halifax, NS B3K 3E2 Subscriptions: 833-600-2870 Effective January 1, 2021: Subscriptions are nonrefundable. If a subscription needs to be cancelled, where applicable, credits can be applied to other Metro Guide Publishing titles (East Coast Living, Halifax Magazine or Saltscapes). Please note that each circumstance is unique and election to make an offer in one instance does not create obligation to do so in another.

Printed by: Advocate Printing & Publishing, 181 Browns Point Rd., Pictou, NS B0K 1H0 902 485-1990

BUNDLE UP THE

Four seasonal issues for only

18.99

$

+HST

To subscribe, visit athomeonthenorthshore.ca/subscribe or phone 1-833-600-2870 Offer valid in Canada only. Please call for rates outside of Canada.

Vol. 6 Edition 1

Inside this issue

Winter 2020–21

Cover Story

The Inside Story

Departments

10 Berry Bright

6 Editor’s Letter 13 Field Notes

24

Welcome the Joy

The enduring charm of Christmas at Bent Cottage

A little Winterberry to spruce up your winter landscape and décor

32 It’s a Wonderful Life... on Broad Street

A Truro century home brings back the cheer to last all year

A cold seat is a warm reminder of those do-it-yourself days

14 Off the Wall

Ceramics artisit Denise Martin finds inspiration in things from long ago

At Home With...

16 Thresholds

18 Author Anne Simpson

Delivering words for all seasons

On the Table 44 Big Bites for Small Bubbles

Charcuterie boards are the new game in town

Healthy At Home 46 Medaling With My Food

10

Tracy Stuart gets warm and roasted with her favourite winter power bowl recipe

48 Hit the Beach One shore thing to beat

the winter blues

The happy glow of a blow mould

38 The Library

Sarah Butland gets her mitts on Don MacLean’s new book With These Hands

40 Holiday Gift Guide

Keep it local and give your favourite North Shore shop a little extra love this year

50 DIY – A Little Chunky and Kinda Funky

Make your own wooden candle holders

18

32

The North Shore

ah! Winter 2020–21 - 4

RBC Dominion Securities Inc.

Strength that you can count on in extraordinary times My team and I will help bring clarity to your financial situation by delivering personalized wealth management services and solutions.

We work with high-net-worth clients across Northern Nova Scotia to build, protect, and transfer their wealth.

To learn more about our team, and how we can help you gain peace of mind during these uncertain times, contact us today.

Blair Carter, CFP Vice-President and Wealth Advisor blair.carter@rbc.com 902-893-2518 Jon David Fitzpatrick Administrative Assistant jondavid.fitzpatrick@rbc.com 902-832-5722 Michelle Mills-Wood Associate michelle.mills-wood@rbc.com 902-421-8335

105A Walker St. Truro, Nova Scotia, B2N 4B1 blaircarter.ca

RBC Dominion Securities Inc.* and Royal Bank of Canada are separate corporate entities which are affiliated. *Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund. RBC Dominion Securities Inc. is a member company of RBC Wealth Management, a business segment of Royal Bank of Canada. Ž Registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. Š RBC Dominion Securities Inc. 2020. All rights reserved. 20_90270_AEC_002

editor’s

LETTER PHOTO BY NORTHOVER PHOTOGRAPHY

SHINE ON

B

efore I sit down to write my editor’s note, I like to wait for the most up-to-date version of the magazine layout just before it goes to press. While I see the pages develop along the way, it’s the big reveal at the end when my graphic designer Barbara sends through the last PDF that I can see all of the stories, photos, and ads coalesce. I love the energy and the sentiment

The North Shore

that resonates from each one of our carefully designed pages, and it’s usually in these moments that something gives me a nudge to say it’s time to get writing. This morning as I return to this practice, I am sitting in my living room. Outside my window, a blue jay lands on a naked branch of my cherry tree, its weight briefly waving it up and down as if to say hello. It’s a grey morning and the forecast calls for showers for most of the day.

It’s a pretty typical late-November day. But as I flip through the pages and give the copy another quick read, I turn to the ad on the inside back cover and the words at the top of the page remind me that today is not a typical November day nor have any of the other days since the calendar turned last year.

“History never looks like history when you are living through it.” The words of William Dawson, a thought leader born in Pictou 200 years ago and being celebrated by the McCulloch House Museum and Genealogy Centre. Outside of the early days of the pandemic last spring, when the world felt like it was spinning on a different axis, most of us have just kept our chins up, took a few punches, and did our best to live our lives as we always have.

As we wrap up the last issue of At Home on the North Shore in 2020, and I think back on our year and the enormity of our collective experiences, I can’t help but wonder how the historians of the future will look back at this time and how it will be viewed. I believe that when they dust off the volumes that tell the story of Nova Scotia’s response to the global pandemic, they will discover the finest example of how to live beautifully and compassionately in turbulent times. They will read chapters on our resolve to protect our communities from a virus that was out of control in other parts of the world, and global-health specialists will speak about how

ah! Winter 2020–21 - 6

bubbles flattened the curve. History will also reflect how, in the midst of what we thought were the toughest days as a province, an unspeakable tragedy took place within our protective borders that nothing could have prepared us for, but how we were able to come together in our sorrow even when we were physically apart.

These ideas must have been quietly percolating when my husband and I set about to decorate a tree for the annual Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia Festival of Trees. For the last few years, our company has sponsored the event and we have designed a Christmas tree to be auctioned off in support of the great work of the agency.

This year our “Shine On” tree symbolizes the strength and resiliency that we have demonstrated as a province. In our darkest days, we still find a way to shine on, to share our light, and to sparkle, even if it hurts. The tree is decorated with 44 Nova Scotia Crystal glass balls symbolizing our Atlantic bubbles.

Despite the appearance of fragility, blown glass can be resilient and strong. Twenty-two of the ornaments have been etched with a tiny heart and placed randomly on the tree, each one resonating with the love and memory of the beautiful lives we lost on a very tragic day in April. The year 2020 will be remembered for many reasons, but the most brilliant will be for the ways we continue to be Nova Scotia Strong.

As I turn my attention back to the pages of our holiday issue, I see how the last year has impacted the way we tell our stories. I am grateful that last January we were able to capture our cover story Welcome the Joy, the enduring charm of Amherst’s Bent Cottage, and Lori Byrne’s visit with the Denholm Family in Truro for her feature Christmas Cheer that

7-

ah! Winter 2020–21

Lasts All Year. It would have been a shame to have all of those gorgeous smiles and laughs stifled behind masks for most of the photo shoots. When I went to take photos in Erin Pettipas’ kitchen (see Graze Craze in our food section) Erin was very concerned about taking off her mask and gloves for the photos because she takes great care in her approach to food safety. I had the good fortune of taking that grazing board home to my own household and munched away while we watched the U.S. election results roll in (I am not going down that rabbit hole).

As we close in on the holiday season and plot our course for the new year, the path is still unclear. But there is one thing that I know will stay true: Nova Scotians will continue to be strong and shine on.

From my family to yours, I wish you moments of joy and peace, and however you are able to celebrate this season, may your new year begin with health and happiness.

The North Shore

ADVERTISEMENT

ABM leads IT solutions for today’s fast-paced businesses

F

or 30 years, ABM Integrated Solutions, a Halifax-based IT solutions provider and integrator, has been serving large and small organizations across a wide range of industries in Atlantic Canada.

Today, ABM Integrated Solutions has evolved beyond what it means to be a technology outsourcer into an organization dedicated to delivering technical excellence across the Atlantic region. “Our mission is to be a reliable and trusted partner for our customers, providing technology solutions and services to empower their success,” says Craig Lynk, President ABM Integrated Solutions.

ABM aligns strategically with small and medium-sized businesses (SMB), delivering technical integrations, solutions, and platforms. ABM understands the pace of change and the ongoing challenges organizations face within the new digital economy. Technological challenges and advances are constant, and to stay competitive, businesses today need to remain current. In many ways, organizations’ technical programs need to secure and drive a successful business strategy.

That’s why today, ABM considers itself more than just another technology company, but rather an organization that supports a wide range of SMB customers as a partner, delivering exceptional IT solutions tailored to the individual needs of their customers. “We help organizations be their best by doing what we do best,” says Mr. Hall-Hoffarth, “we provide inclusive programs designed to enable the organization and allow companies to focus on their business goals and objectives.”

But don’t just take his word for it.

Cortney Burns, the Director of Finance and Administration at the Greater Moncton International Airport, had this to say, “as with most organizations, cybersecurity is a critical focus for Greater Moncton International Airport (GMIA). ABM provides technical guidance and expertise, with a focus on ensuring our systems and information are protected from unauthorized access, both inside and outside of our organization. With the support of ABM, we implemented several security initiatives that have improved our technical readiness and increased our security posture to support key business initiatives. ABM continues to be a valuable resource in meeting the needs of GMIA.” One recent ABM client, Cherubini went further to say, “we had a complex system integration that required a high level of technical expertise and knowledge we couldn’t field in-house,” said Michael Gasparetto, the company’s Managing Director. “ABM not only solved our problem, but they also worked with us to greatly improve our overall IT infrastructure and service promise.”

To do what Mr. Hall-Hoffarth says, “we do our best to understand and support our customer’s needs.” ABM frequently works with world-class partners such as Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), the global edge-tocloud platform-as-a-service company that helps organizations accelerate outcomes by unlocking value from all of their data, everywhere. “We’ve found ABM’s particular ability to execute complicated infrastructure projects to be extremely beneficial,” said Paula Hodgins, President of HPE Canada. “The efficiencies are passed on to clients in reliability and valueadded functionalities. which, in the long run, means cost-competitiveness.”

Within all of this, Mr. Hall-Hoffarth says, “reliability and customercentricity are the keys to our success.” “We work with businesses to understand not only their immediate needs but also their long-term objectives. We continue this collaborative approach to find the best solutions within our partner networks, working closely with HPE, Aruba (a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company), and Fortinet (to name a few) to

“We are a reliable and trusted partner to our customers, we provide technology solutions and services to empower their success.”

deliver best-in-class, cost-effective solutions. Then, we apply an integrated, tailored approach to drive service excellence and bottom-line results for our customers.”

In fact, ABM’s Managed Services and Service Desk offerings are specifically designed for SMBs that require in-depth analyses and ongoing support for their growing technology needs, aligned with real-world outcomes.

But what does this mean?

ABM can bring efficient and accessible cloud computing solutions to businesses, providing secure, effective computing options that help reduce IT overhead, enhance security, and improve bottom-line profitability. As part of ABM’s suite of offerings is the ABM Advantage Basic Plan, which allows clients to focus on cost management while also providing them with options to choose from a large selection of IT products and services. To go a step further, ABM’s Advantage Plus Plan leverages the company’s technical expertise to eliminate distractions associated with selecting and managing products and services aligned with business outcomes. ABM also offers the Advantage CIO Program, which goes beyond software, hardware, and support services. The CIO works directly with a client’s leadership teams to forecast business change, create long-term IT roadmaps, and oversee large-scale development projects.

ABM also focuses on safeguarding valuable stakeholder relationships in a variety of ways by conducting comprehensive security assessments for their customers. Additionally, as a Fortinet partner, ABM can provide monitoring services to ensure a client’s environment remains secure. In fact, ABM’s Peace of Mind offers professional security assessments that help instill confidence for all stakeholders.

The bottom line is, regardless of the need or the scale of the solution – whether it be a large, complex project in a fast-paced environment or a smaller initiative with a tight timeline – ABM supports customers by providing effective solutions designed specifically for an individual business’ needs.

“Whether a business is expanding an office, taking its on-premise servers to the cloud, or requiring the expertise of a virtual CIO, we have integrated technology plans that will meet the need,” Mr. Hall-Hoffarth says.

“For SMBs, the accelerating pace of IT change is a fact of life. We know this from our experience, and we have the technical expertise and knowledge to help your organization prosper, both today and tomorrow.”

CONTRIBUTORS

MELANIE MOSHER is the author of three books for young readers. When she’s not writing she likes to Hit the Beach, regardless of the time of year. This holiday season she’s grateful to share her meeting with the writer and outdoor enthusiast, Anne Simpson.

Learn more about Melanie at melaniemosher.com

TRACY STUART Instead of being a world-traveling athlete and adventurer, Tracy takes comfort in the tastes of home this winter. During her time as an Olympian, Tracy would be living out of suitcase for the majority of the year.

So enjoying the dependable creature comforts of home has always been a delight. This winter Tracy shares a taste of one of her very favourite Winter Power Bowl recipes from one of her special haunts (ReBar Restaurant) while she was based at the training centre in Victoria, British Columbia.

JODI DELONG Metro Guide Publishing contributing editor and plant addict Jodi DeLong loves most plants in general and winterberry (aka Canada Holly) in particular. She is a long-time contributor to Saltscapes magazine as writer, photographer, editor, and social media whiz kid, as well as the author of two gardening books. When not writing, she’s gardening indoors and out, stalking bumblebees with her camera, herding cats and knitting for cat rescue fundraisers from her Wolfville, Nova Scotia home.

PHOTO: STEVE SMITH,VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

SARA JEWELL The cozy back room of Bent Cottage was the perfect place to interview the home owners for the cover story and Sara Jewell relaxed into the comfortable chair, assured that the extensive renovations took care of any resident ghosts in the oldest house in Amherst. She didn’t ask about an outhouse, but she expresses her appreciation for those long-ago outdoor toilets in her Field Notes column. sarajewell.ca

LORI BYRNE Holidays mean family, food, and fun, and for me, making lots of gifts to give to my loved ones, like the wooden candle holders I made for this issue’s DIY. And chatting with the Denholm’s about their home and holiday traditions makes me appreciate having family close by to celebrate with and carry on with our own traditions. From my home to yours, Merry Christmas.

9-

ah! Winter 2020–21

JANET WHITMAN Metro Guide contributing editor and staff reporter Janet Whitman is a city- and nature-loving journalist who divides her time between Halifax and her cottage on the Northumberland Shore. She’s written for allNovaScotia, the National Post, the New York Post, the Wall Street Journal, and Saturday Night magazine. She’s the happiest digging in the dirt, picking up a hammer, or messing around in the kitchen. In this issue, she pays a visit to Instagram food influencer Erin Pettipas.

STEVE SMITH 2020 has been a challenge for all of us. But the final season of the year is here, so another At Home on the North Shore is arriving with it.

And hopefully you find At Home to be a bright light in a dark year. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. As a photographer, when you’re the one who took the photo, each photo is worth a whole lot more than that. It transcends words and becomes a shared experience. Dan and Don on the cover, the Denholm family in Truro, and Anne Simpson in Antigonish all shared their stories in front of my camera, and I hope you’ll feel as connected to each of them as I do. Stay safe everyone.

Happy Holidays!

SARAH BUTLAND Making a connection has more challenges now than most of us have ever faced but Butland believes books and art can remedy that. Being creative can bring communities together quickly and long-lasting relationships can be formed. With These Hands by Don MacLean is a prime example of how tightly art can bind. In reading and reviewing a local book supporting local talent Butland felt the connections a lot.

The North Shore

INSIDE STORY

Winter

berry

is coming

BY JODI DELONG

When you’re out for a drive or a hike in late autumn and winter, your eyes may be caught by displays of shrubby growth bearing bright scarlet berries. This is probably winterberry or Canada holly, Ilex verticillata; also sometimes referred to as coralberry or sparkleberry.

The North Shore

A little botany

Use in seasonal décor

Regardless of what you call it, this is a deciduous native shrub that can be found growing wild throughout our region and is related to the so-called English holly (Ilex aquifolium) that many of us grow in our gardens. Unlike that species, winterberry drops its leaves every autumn, which is actually delightful because we’re left with the sights of grey branches festooned with those bright berries. Winterberry generally grows between three and 10 feet (one to three metres) in height, depending on the amount of sunlight it receives and the soil conditions it’s in.

Winterberry makes an excellent ornamental shrub and wildlife habitat for our gardens, being tolerant of so many soil conditions. It’s tough as nails in hardiness to zone three, meaning we can grow it anywhere in Nova Scotia and it’s quite happy with life along the North Shore. It prefers soils that are more acid in nature – similar to rhododendrons, blueberries, and heaths and heathers – and rich in organic matter.

Often people will cut branches of winterberry to use in their holiday décor, both inside the home and in planters outdoors. Those bright red berries seem to glow when massed in a planter or vase with assorted evergreen branches, the red twigs of dogwoods, and other festive offerings. The berries are pretty much tasteless and inedible to humans, but once they’ve softened up songbirds such as waxwings and robins find them quite irresistible.

You can create a striking indoor table piece using just a couple of stems of winterberry in a flower frog or kenzan; the simplicity of the arrangement is equally striking to an amassed arrangement, and if finding winterberry branches is a challenge, going with the less-is-more idea is always helpful.

There are also alternatives growing in the wild that can be used in lieu of or in complement to winterberry.

The invasive and introduced multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) which grows like wildfire along roadsides and in abandoned farmland produces sprays

ah! Winter 2020–21 - 10

of small red hips on mostly thornless branches. You can harvest all of this that you want. Other options include branches of bona fide wild roses with their larger rose hips, northern bayberry with its grey-blue, waxy berries, and of course, the various cones produced by evergreens like fir and pine.

In the wild, winterberry often grows in thickets along roadsides, in damp areas and near the coast; the shrub is salt tolerant and able to grow in boggy areas with a lot of standing water. If you’re going to harvest some branches, you might want to wear rubber boots or be prepared for wet feet.

If you do decide to harvest some winterberry for décor purposes, please make sure to ask permission before going on private land to cut branches.

On public lands such as roadsides, bring a pair of sharp pruners to clip, rather than break, branches; and remember to leave plenty of branches behind to help replenish the plants (and feed wildlife.)

Grow your own Winterberry is a popular shrub for gardeners, offering food and habitat for songbirds as well as winter interest with that colourful fruit. But it’s also useful in stabilizing a sloped yard area or along the edges of a pond or stream, because of its suckering tendencies. It doesn’t spread as quickly as alder or sumac, and in drier conditions it tends to form tighter clumps than in wet areas.

The most important thing to know about this shrub is that it is dioecious, meaning there are separate male and female plants. As with English holly, you need both male and female plants to get the colourful fruit. Here’s where a trip to your local nursery is in order, because unless you’re very handy with a magnifying glass, digging up wild plants can be frustrating. Both genders bloom, of course, but the small white flowers are not showy, and it takes a bit of a skilled eye to tell the difference

This native plant is delightful for seasonal décor.

TABITHACO.CA PICTOU, NS

902.759.7715 Visit our website athomeonthenorthshore.ca 11 -

ah! Winter 2020–21

HELLO@TABITHACO.CA VALÉRIE LEDUC PHOTOGRAPHY

The North Shore

INSIDE STORY

between male and female flowers. Your local nursery carries both genders, and there are some cultivated varieties which are improvements on the native species, having larger and more profuse berries.

As yet, however, there are no plants produced with both male and female flowers, and winterberry is not self-pollinating, so you need the male – and a generous helping hand from native bees and other pollinators.

If you already have berry-producing English holly in your garden, you know you have both male and female plants, and the male will fertilize winterberry too, although not as profusely as a male of the same species.

There are a couple of excellent varieties of “improved” winterberry available at nurseries including the scarletberried Berry Heavy and the even more alluring (at least to this gardener) Berry Heavy Gold. A compact male form, Mr. Poppins, is recommended as the pollinator plant. The general rule of thumb is that one male plant will fertilize at least five females if planted within 15 metres (50 feet) of the female shrubs.

The North Shore

We can grow it anywhere in Nova Scotia and it’s quite happy with life along the North Shore. It prefers soils that are more acid in nature – similar to rhododendrons, blueberries, and heaths and heathers.

ah! Winter 2020–21 - 12

I

n the winter, when the wind is out of the north and blowing hard, when the fire in the wood furnace burns down overnight, there are mornings when the toilet seat in the bathroom of our bedroom is freezing. City girl that I am,

I complained, and demanded a heated toilet seat, until my husband said, “We used an outhouse until 1969.”

Whenever my husband plays the growing-up-inrural-Nova-Scotia card, I shut up and listen because I’m fascinated by his stories of life before cell phones, indoor plumbing, and paved roads. Perhaps it’s an awareness that, like the veterans of World War Two who are our only link to the realities and brutalities of war, we are losing those who remember what life was like “back then”, before globalization, before the Internet, even before television.

My husband grew up in rural Cumberland County in the late ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s, in a farmhouse heated by a woodstove, which his mother cooked on year-round.

They used an outhouse and got their water with a pump at the well.

“There was no insulation in the house and on winter mornings, I could write my name in the frost on the wall next to my bed,” Dwayne tells me.

He doesn’t remember it being that cold. “We were tough,” he grins. “It didn’t bother me.”

Growing up in Ontario, outhouses were merely characters in the stories my mother told about her childhood summers at family cottages. In fact, the only time I actually used an outhouse was when we visited Nova Scotia in the 1970s, and stayed at our friends’ camp on the backshore. They also pumped their water from a well next to the cabin. Just a hint of how my husband lived for the first thirteen years of his life.

The older I get and the longer I live in rural Nova Scotia, the more I appreciate “the way things were”.

Every time the power goes out, instead of panicking and complaining, I now embrace the opportunity to experience how we used to live before urbanization drew many of us to towns and cities. In fact,

13 -

ah! Winter 2020–21

storm-related power outages in rural Nova Scotia make having an outhouse as backup a pretty good idea.

After Hurricane Dorian, an older friend of mine decided she wanted a generator that will power the entire house so she won’t even notice that the electricity isn’t flowing through the wires. There’s something jarring about that, about our increasing reliance on machines rather than ourselves and our neighbours and our own resources.

While our pre-computer days weren’t always “the good old days”, there was a certain aspect of DIY, of taking care of ourselves with what we made with our hands, that was sensible and prudent. Just watch any advertisement for “virtual assistants” and you’ll understand how little we want to do things for ourselves these days. We don’t even want to look at a clock or flip a light switch!

“Alexa, turn on the heated toilet seat, please,” I might one day say as I’m lying in bed early in the morning.

Not likely.

A cold toilet seat first thing in the morning is a not-sogentle reminder that no matter how we try to control the world, the natural world of winter freeze and summer heat, of droughts and hurricanes, of clay soil and black soil, of high and low tides, will always exert the greatest influence over our lives.

Perhaps it’s the threat of catastrophic climate change that makes me feel like we might soon return to those “do it yourself” days of growing our own food, using candlelight after the sunset, maintaining a functioning outhouse, and we won’t have the ‘veterans’ of the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s to show us how to survive.

There’s nothing nobler than the humble outhouse, and honestly, there’s nothing I long for more when the power goes out, cold toilet seat included.

The North Shore

OFF the WALL

BY CRYSTAL MURRAY PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

Turning to the past

The North Shore

D

enise Martin’s pottery wheel occupies a corner of her studio that soaks up the natural light. There is a small shelf to her right that is within reach to place objects fresh from her turning. Another shelf creates an open divide to a table where a row of hand-built butter dishes dry and wait for their time in the kiln. When she takes her head up from her wheel, she looks towards a newly curated showroom with display cabinets she found at a local antique store. There is an earthiness to the air inside her backyard studio in New Glasgow. It’s both grounding and romantic, creating a connection to her work as a modern ceramics artist who finds her inspiration in things from long ago.

Connection and process overlap in Denise’s personal, professional, and creative life. In 2012 Denise, who grew up in Black Point, Pictou County, returned to her roots after working four years in the US. A career in Human Resource Management Systems would be considered an unusual training ground for her new pursuit as a ceramics artist but what she says she learned about in design, testing, functionality, and user experience was invaluable. She applies the science of this knowledge into the art she creates today.

In the eight years since Denise, her husband, and children returned to Pictou County she has immersed herself in her studio practice and the local community arts sector. Before officially launching Martin Ceramic in 2016 she invested her time in learning the various elements of her craft.

ah! Winter 2020–21 - 14

Ceramic Artist Denise Martin honours time and connection

“It took time to explore materials, to understand form, explore techniques and decorating, and experiment with glaze chemistry as well as learning how to operate a kiln,” explains Denise.

As linear as the system process goes, Denise’s style is anything but. The objects that comprise her current collection are mostly utilitarian in purpose with a medieval twist. Her goblets, vases, and bowls patinaed like timeless treasures have a heftiness to them. Their grander scale is a departure from trendy minimalism but still finds simplicity in their origins comprised from water, earth, and fire. But there is also a sense of fragility that you experience when you pick up one of her creations. It’s not because a simple slip of the hand and her work would shatter on the floor but a sense that time is fleeting, one era melds into the next and what we hold dear has an opportunity to live on if we honour it.

Lifting one of two small oval and ornate picture frames from her studio wall she tells me that they used to belong to her grandmother. “I have made moulds out of the carvings on the frame. From there I make a casting that I use to embellish some of my pieces. There may be an edging on a vase, a foot on a plate, or an accent on a tumbler. It’s a continuation of the conversation,” says Denise who finds comfort in this connection to someone she loved and has passed on.

While some of her studio time is spent at the wheel, it’s the hand-building that she says she is really drawn to. Rolling out the clay as if you were making cookies, she says the clay can drape over a rounded 15 -

ah! Winter 2020–21

surface to make a bowl or wrapped to make a vase.

“Hand-building allows the clay to move naturally and participate in the creation,” she adds.

Inspired by historic themes, she says that she is pulled towards techniques using metallics, patinas, and lusters.

During the early days of the pandemic last spring when Nova Scotians were told to “stay the blazes home,” Denise spent her time firing up the kiln to experiment with different glazes with particular attention to the ancient treatment of terra sigillata to see how it would react to varying degrees of heat.

“When the technology of more modern glazes evolved this particular treatment, which translates to mean earth seal, was abandoned. It is interesting to take an ancient technique and see how it reacts to modern firing. A piece coated with terra sigillata will feel very smooth, almost waxy and the colours will be almost translucent.”

The pandemic afforded Denise time for extra experimentation but like other artists of many different disciplines, she lost her audience. Craft shows and art markets, her usual conduit to buyers were gone.

Again, it was connection that Denise relied on to make it through a difficult time. As she was growing as an artist, she was also expanding her network with like-minded people in the region.

A member of the group Creative Pictou County since her return to the region, Denise quickly set to work with other members of the association to create Art

Fest, a virtual platform with now more than 750 members sharing various forms of creative expression.

Just as a potter gives the clay what it needs to withstand the heat of the kiln, Denise and her fellow artists were giving each other what they needed to survive the intense pressure to sustain their businesses when the economy was suffering.

Working from home was not new to Denise, she and her husband both operated home offices when they returned from the US. “The rest of the world was just joining us,” she laughs.

Taking to her studio each morning, she says that one day just melts into the next and she says there are a lot of pluses to the new pace even though there are challenges. As a ceramic artist, she is always exploring new ways of doing things but also reflecting on old methods. The pandemic has perhaps nudged along artists like herself to embrace new technologies but to have more time to spend with the things that matter most. While the world seems to be spinning out of control, when she sets to work she feels the pressures of the day-to-day lift away. “At the wheel, there is no sense of pressure. While you are working you are one with the wheel.

There is an energy that happens between you and the clay. In those moments it’s fire and earth and the object you are creating that only seems to matter. Everything turns back to connections.”

The North Shore

THRESHOLDS

BY LORI BYRNE

The happy glow of a blow mould never gets old

A

s a child, I remember driving at night, admiring the glow of the Christmas lights during the holiday season. All the colours, some people going all out, while others only added a string of lights here and there. But I especially remember the tall, bright candles that would sit at the edge of stair railings, beckoning guests into a warm, inviting home. Or maybe a wooden barn set up with Mary and Joseph glowing from within as they gazed loving at their wee baby in the manger. If the homeowners went all out, the shepherds and the wise men gathered around, as well. Maybe the display was Santa being pulled in his sleigh by a team of glowing reindeer, Rudolph looking exceptionally sharp with his shiny red nose. Perhaps it was Frosty, standing smartly in his top hat or a nutcracker on guard in the front yard.

What do all these typical Christmas characters have in common? Their plastic bodies and inner lights, of course. Vintage blow mould Christmas decorations are all the rage once again as we seek out the nostalgic things of our former years.

Blow moulds became popular way back in the 1950s and 60s when Union Products and the Empire Plastic Corporation and others began to manufacture various blow mould characters, including the classic pink flamingo, Halloween and Christmas decorations, along with some of our most loved cartoon characters like Snoopy and Winnie the Pooh.

Blow mould sales are always good leading up to Christmas, but a lot of dealers of vintage goodies find that blow moulds sell well throughout the year. They can be spotted at yard sales and antique shops, I know I’ve seen my fair share over the years wandering the aisles of our various treasure troves.

Whether you set up some vintage blow moulds in your own front yard this season, or give a nostalgic nod to those who do, you can’t deny the charm, and memories they invoke over the holidays.

The North Shore

ah! Winter 2020–21 - 16

17 -

ah! Winter 2020–21

The North Shore

AT HOME WITH

ANNE SIMPSON

BY MELANIE MOSHER

PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

Winter, Words, and Wonder Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail shall keep Anne Simpson indoors. And let’s face it, here in Nova Scotia, all this can happen in a single day. No, Anne Simpson is not a postman as the saying goes, but she does deliver. Words. Lots of words.

The North Shore

ah! Winter 2020–21 - 18

A

n Antigonish resident, Anne Simpson is an award-winning poet, novelist, essayist, and an outdoor enthusiast, even during inclement weather.

“I love a good storm in winter,” says Anne.

“Sometimes I’ll go walking in it just to experience the wildness of the wind and snow. But the clear days are so great for skiing or snowshoeing. The best thing about winter is getting out in it, taking part in it.”

She’s not alone on her snowy treks. Her family loves dogs and has had many over the years.

Currently, it’s Bruce. “He’s a golden retriever with a sweet disposition. He hikes all over the place with me.” They often walk early enough to catch the gorgeous sunrise as it peeks over the horizon.

But it’s not all outdoor play for Anne. Her work is her words and, although it might not be a nineto-five job, she spends the better part of each day working. “I try to write a certain amount each weekday,” Anne explains. “It’s not a great deal, but it does add up.”

Natural light permeates the loft where she writes and, when sitting at her desk, Anne faces several pieces of artwork. “I was an artist before I was a writer and I painted landscapes more than anything else. As a writer, I need to think about the setting in my fiction. Or I depend upon imagery in my poetry.

19 -

ah! Winter 2020–21

The North Shore

AT HOME WITH

It’s very helpful for me to think of fiction as if it were a film or a poem as if it were a photograph.” Her own paintings, both oils, and watercolours, adorn the walls on the main floor adding to the warm feeling of home.

Her house is nestled on an estuary with a breathtaking view of the Northumberland Strait where Anne has the opportunity to rejoice in the splendour of colours the sunset offers. And watch the water glint through branches or spy an eagle perched in the willow tree by the shore. When it comes time to work, she turns away.

“I’m so distractable! The view from here is wonderful, but when I write, I don’t look out a window.” There was even a time when Anne, a young mother beginning her writing career, read of another writer who eliminated distractions to help maintain focus. Anne took the advice to heart and went so far as to get rid of the television.

Now, with the holidays upon us, Anne can take time to enjoy the diversions.

“I love getting together with family and with friends: that is what makes the time special for me. This year will be different, but we will still celebrate,” says Anne. Her two children, David and Sarah have grown and live away. Even though they may not make it home for the holidays they are in her thoughts.

“I like having a tree in the house, hung with decorations that the kids made years ago, and spending time enjoying a fire in the evening.”

Anne studied at Queen’s University and the Ontario College of Art and Design (now OCAD University), travelled, and lived in France and Italy before coming to Antigonish. Years ago, she taught at St. Francis Xavier University and began the writing centre there. She still likes to teach, but in a less formal way, hosting workshops.

Books nine and 10 hit the shelves this year, yet she still experiences self-doubt.

“I think that my work consists of about three parts fear and one part courage,”

“...not only have we connected, but we also continue to yearn for art and music and writing to help us make sense of the world.”

The North Shore

she says. She refers to the words of the Australian novelist Peter Carey, “Every day you’re making up the earth you’re going to stand on.” In her own words, she adds, “It is not clear that a writer can accomplish this extraordinarily difficult task of inventing something that will be the earth to stand on, but he or she has to try to do it.”

Writing in different genres means taking different approaches. “With a novel, I’m in it for the long haul, so the idea has to be one that stays with me and doesn’t lose its fascination over time,” says Anne.

“Poems are shorter, and the inspiration can come from the smallest of things, or the largest of things, or a combination of the two.” And lastly, “Essays often have to do with questions I have that don’t easily resolve themselves in poems or stories.” Anne has tackled tons of topics in her work ranging from birth, illness, dementia, death, relationships, having children, to beekeeping, trees, chairs, snow, and winter. Most in a way the reader has not considered before, showing a new perspective, begging one to question themself and the world around them. Providing a chance to think and to wonder.

Anne has lived and worked as a writerin-residence in many places in Canada.

She has also lived in Europe and Africa.

It is here in Antigonish she finds home.

“Nova Scotia is my beloved place, my touchstone. Like so many people, I hike and cycle and kayak here: it’s my way of communing with this place.”

In all forms of her writing, whether poetry, essays, or novels, Anne has included Nova Scotia. In her novel, Falling (2008), this passage is included in chapter one, “A roll of waves fell gently and retreated, leaving the sand darkened, velvety brown, as they drew away.

The tides of the Northumberland Strait weren’t as high as those on the Fundy and seemed almost lazy in comparison, and although the water was as warm as that off the coast of the Carolinas, the jellyfish had already come and gone.”

ah! Winter 2020–21 - 20

In Experiments in Distant Influence (2020), a book of essays, Anne talks of Nova Scotian people, beaches, flowers, and seasons. Also tucked within the pages are her line drawings including Ice-Northumberland Strait, Dunes of Pomquet Beach, Snow on Wild Apples, and Pomquet-Mark’s Head.

In Strange Attractor (2019), her fifth collection of poetry, she includes several poems about winter which are surely influenced by being a resident of Nova Scotia. One she deliberately wrote without using the word “snow.” After being encouraged to investigate the etymology of words by a friend, she was fascinated by the word and discovered several variations, seven of which appear in her poem Cloudboat. Snãw, sneo, snjór, snihyati, schnee, snaygis, nieg.

Her latest novel, Speechless, is the story of a young Nova Scotian reporter who writes an article about a Nigerian teenager facing trial for adultery. This book was many years in the making. Anne recalled her time living in Nigeria as a CUSO volunteer teacher and admits, “It changed my worldview completely. Being in Nigeria for two years was probably the most important time of my life.” Speechless

explores two vastly different cultures and asks the question, “Who has the right to tell someone else’s story?”

Two of Anne’s books, Speechless, and Experiments in Distant Influence, were launched during the Covid-19 pandemic and like many artists, she has turned to social media to reach her audience. And Anne, who claims, “There is much to be said for living off the beaten path,” doesn’t shy away from this increased visibility any more than she shies away from wintery wild weather. “We write in order that people can hear our words,” she says. “I didn’t know that would happen during the pandemic. But this is one of the things that people have found during this time: we have connected, and not only have we connected, but we also continue to yearn for art and music and writing to help us make sense of the world.”

AVAILABLE ONLINE AT

TATABREW.COM FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $95 /TATABREW

21 -

ah! Winter 2020–21

The North Shore

Logan’s Daily Catch introduces the ultimate Seafood chowder pack just in time for holiday entertaining. The pack contains 4 oz each of Lobster, Shrimp, Haddock, Scallops and Rock Crab. Seafood chowder made with our chowder pack is an absolute delicacy.

“I particularly like this chowder because it’s not thickened with flour, potatoes are used instead. Finishing it with Brie just puts it over the top!”

– The Kilted Chef, Chef Alain Bossé

the ultimate Seafood

chowder pack

Seafood Chowder Serves 6 to 8

2 lb yellow flesh potatoes skin on, diced, divided 2 shallots, diced, divided ½ cup diced double smoked bacon 6 ears corn, kernels removed ½ cup celery diced 2 tbsp butter 1 tbsp Dijon mustard ½ cup dry white wine 3 tbsp fresh basil, chopped 2 bays leaves 4 cups seafood broth 1 Logan’s Chowder Pack thawed 1 small wheel double cream brie, rind removed, sliced Salt, to taste Freshly ground pepper, to taste 2 cups heavy cream (35%) • In a large pot, cook half of the potatoes and half of the shallots in water until tender, puree and set aside.

• In a large pot sauté the bacon, remaining shallots, corn and the celery in the butter until transparent, add the Dijon mustard and deglaze the pot with the white wine. Allow wine to reduce add the remainder of the diced potatoes, the basil and the bay leaves and the seafood broth. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to a gentle simmer until the potatoes are just fork tender.

• When potatoes are cooked, add the Logan’s Chowder Pack with brine, brie and the pureed potato then cook for a further five minutes. Season with salt and pepper, stir in the cream allow to heat through. Adjust the seasoning to taste.

This recipe is inspired by Chef Alain, aka “The Kilted Chef”

2578 Westville Rd., New Glasgow, call 902-485-4633 All locally caught and processed seafood.

COVER STORY

Welcome the

joy

BY SARA JEWELL PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

I

n 1770, John Bent, a Loyalist, built a small cottage in the middle of 500 acres in what is now the east end of Amherst, Nova Scotia.

It survived the rush of money into the town in the late 19th century that saw most of the small homes torn down and massive Victorian and Edwardian homes built in their place. Those houses still dominate Victoria Street, but 250 years later, Bent Cottage endures, sitting pretty in the middle of its double lot.

Back in 2004, however, it was eye-catching for another reason.

“It was the worst house on the best street,” says Don Miller, the youth pastor with First Baptist Church downtown. “It was in bad shape.”

The North Shore

ah! Winter 2020–21 - 24

The enduring charm of Bent Cottage reveals the wonder of the season

The kitchen and backroom of Bent Cottage is a favourite place to hang out for Dan Walker and Don Miller and their friends and family. The tree in the corner is decorated with antique Christmas-themed postcards.

25 -

ah! Winter 2020–21

The North Shore

COVER STORY

The master bedroom boasts original floorboards and a custom-made bed. Dan carved the vines into the headboard, and his own painting above the bed inspired the nautical colours of the room, and the glass antique buoys under the tree.

Yet Bent Cottage was a dream house for Don and painter Dan Walker. “It was exactly the kind of house we’d always wanted to have,” Dan says. “We never dreamed this one would actually come up for sale.”

Dan had just sold the house he used as a painting studio when Bent Cottage came on the market. When he bought it, Bent Cottage was divided into two apartments, and Dan thought he’d rent the back apartment and use the front as

a studio. He realized how much work needed to be done – and could be done – when a simple spike shoved through the back wall of an upstairs closet didn’t hit anything on the other side; that’s when Dan realized it wasn’t two apartments – it was once one whole house.

Bent Cottage wasn’t the only Cape-style home built along Victoria Street, but it was the only that survived because it remained in the Bent family until 1903.

There were only three other owners until

Don and Dan came along, and one of those previous owners had a son named Alex Colville. Talk about destiny: Painter Dan Walker now lives in the house renowned Canadian artist Alex Colville grew up in.

Sometimes the right house finds you at the right time.

Sometimes the right people find the right house just in time.

“There was a sense we were sort of saving history,” Don says of the decision

Experience Matters Buying, selling or mortgaging property. Residential, commercial or corporate. It’s often your single largest investment. You can’t afford to be caught by surprise.

Whether it’s your residence or your business, our Real Estate Group will protect your interests.

Jesse MacLean 902.485.4347 The North Shore

www.macmacmac.ns.ca

Joel Sellers 902.752.8441

ah! Winter 2020–21 - 26

ABOVE: Don’s angel-hooked rug heralds the holiday season in the master bathroom upstairs.

LEFT: The hand-carved angels by Amelda George of Arichat, NS, sit on the 150-year-old kitchen table that came from Lunenburg.

to restore and live in Bent Cottage. “You have to be practical, but we love it.”

“I love wrecking stuff and the whole house was a bunch of tiny little rooms so I started ripping walls apart,” says Dan, who retired from Canada Post in 2011. “I filled thirteen of those huge dumpsters; it took me two months. The more we did, the more exciting it became because we were opening up walls. The living room was two rooms so we made it one. The back room was once used to park a car.”

In fact, the back room – which is now the kitchen and sitting room – started as a blacksmith’s shop that was added to the cottage.

Dan shakes his head as he remembers.

“Someone had even cut off all the eaves with a chain saw so there wasn’t a lick of trim on the house and the whole house was covered in vinyl.”

Dan hired a contractor and they gutted the house from the outside in, and then from the inside out. They rebuilt the eaves

Warmest thoughts and best wishes for a wonderful Holiday and a very Happy New Year.

David C. Whittemore

Investment Advisor

BA, CIM

Let’s Talk: 902-752-5750

and trim and put cedar shakes on the outside. Inside, they had to remove both fireplaces, including a massive one that sat in the middle of the back room, because they were caving in. Those stones were repurposed in the garden.

Before they could do any more work inside, however, the house needed a new foundation.

“I say we are the oldest house in Amherst, but in some ways, we’re one of the newest,” Don says. “Everything had

Full Service Investment Office: • TFSA Strategies • Portfolio Reviews • Retirement Planning • Estate Planning • RESP Planning 156 Provost St., New Glasgow, NS, B2H 2P7 www.davidwhittemore.ca

Manulife Securities Incorporated is a Member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Manulife, Manulife & Stylized M Design, Stylized M Design and Manulife Securities are trademarks of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and are used by it, and by its affiliates under license.

Manulife Securities Incorporated 27 -

ah! Winter 2020–21

The North Shore

COVER STORY

EXTERIOR: A small cottage with a big heart, 250-year-old Bent Cottage overlooks East Victoria Street in Amherst.

BELOW: In the light cast from a reproduction of a traditional whaler’s light, Dan and Don play dominoes at their kitchen table. The lift-top desk behind Don, from Shediac, is an eye-catcher with its original blue paint.

MIDDLE TOP: Don’s parents, Ralph and Faye Miller, drive up from Bedford for Christmas at Bent Cottage.

MIDDLE BOTTOM: A sample of the handmade bird houses Don creates out of whatever recycled material – like pianos, chairs and knick-knacks – he finds or is offered by others.

to be redone. We went right down to the walls. There are no ghosts in this house – we would have met them!”

In many ways, Bent Cottage is all-new, but in many ways, it’s not.

Take the red boards on the walls of the backroom, for instance. Dan bought those ten years before he purchased Bent Cottage. “They came out of a 200-year-old house someone tore down. I stored them in a friend’s garage and they were perfect for here. That’s the colour they were.”

The island in the kitchen came from the train station in Summerside, PEI, while the

The North Shore

beams came out of a 150-year-old parish hall in downtown Amherst.

“We tried to keep things but it was hard,” Don says. “Do you rip out 100-year-old stuff to get to the 200-yearold stuff? Or do you leave it alone?

So when we walk through this house, we’re walking on floors that were put in 100 years ago but there are also 200-year-old floors that you’re walking on – the originals. It’s a mix.”

And Bent Cottage is bigger than it looks.

It feels cozy like a cottage but also roomy like a (small) mansion. There’s a living

room, den and dining room, a kitchen with a harvest table and sitting area on the main floor, plus four bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs.

Of the personal touches in the house, Dan’s paintings of ships are the most meaningful because his father and grandfather were in the navy. When he was a child, he would draw Pegasus (the winged horse) and the ship on his father’s Old Spice bottle. Ships were the first images he began painting and selling.

“This painting behind me,” Dan says, pointing to the wall above his chaise in

ah! Winter 2020–21 - 28

the backroom. “If the house catches on fire, this is the one thing I will save. It’s the most simple, primitive thing, but it’s from Rockport, New Brunswick, and it was painted around 1790 on muslin.”

The back room, which has several very comfortable chairs in front of windows overlooking the garden, is the main gathering space in the house. But not just for Don’s youth group and other parishioners; living in Bent Cottage meant Don no longer had to rush to the family home in

Bedford after the Christmas Eve service but instead now he can relax while hosting his family of six in his own home.

Don laughs. “After we restored the house, Dad said, ‘It wasn’t a bad house until you put all your old crap in it’.”

All that ‘old crap’ Don and Dan had collected over the years had been put into storage during the renovation, and Dan says when they finally moved into Bent Cottage, “It was like Christmas, opening all the boxes!”

TOP: The collection of wooden rolling pins hold special meaning to Dan and Don because they once belonged to grandmothers, mothers, sisters, and friends.

MIDDLE: In the dining room, the finger-painted crocks, which Dan says are “as old as time”, were bought one at a time.

BOTTOM: Santa and the dory come out at Christmas, enhancing Bent Cottage’s subtle nautical theme. The PEI Stepback cupboard has its original green paint.

29 -

ah! Winter 2020–21

The North Shore

COVER STORY

It’s those unique items and special touches that make Christmas at Bent Cottage so special. When Don decorates, he uses the age and style of the house as his inspiration so the tree in the living room has beeswax tapers hanging on it, mantels are sprigged with pine bows, and fruit and berries are the predominant accents. There is a delightful nod to snowmen on the mantel in the den, and white lights to represent candle flames.

“I love the character of this house,” Don admits. “I love the presence it has on Victoria Street.”

At 250 years of age, Bent Cottage has witnessed a lot of history, watched Victoria

Home of the original X ring est. 1922 fine jewellery | watches | giftware Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9 - 5PM and Sat. 9 - 4PM

239 Main St., Antigonish | (902) 863-1283 | cameronsjewellery.ca The North Shore

ah! Winter 2020–21 - 30

Street change again and again, and heard a lot of stories in its rooms.

“I wouldn’t mind having its original 500 acres back, to be honest,” Don quips.

LEFT: Don says the formal dining room isn’t used much during the year so it’s very special for 12 people to gather around the table on Christmas Day. The pewter plates and goblets are a nod to the long history of the cottage.

MIDDLE: Don and his mother listen as Ralph plays Silent Night on the fiddle.

RIGHT: A nine-and-a-half-foot ceiling allows for an ample tree in the large, sprawling living room. In keeping with the age of the house, and their love of antiques, Don and Dan decorate their largest tree as the original owners might have in the late 1700s.

Your Pool And Spa Experts • Inground, Onground and Above Ground Pools • Spas • • Gift Certificates • Pool Openings and Closings • • Pool and Spa Accessories • Water Testing •

Vacation in your own backyard Turn your backyard into a private oasis.

Extend your swimming season by 2 or 3 months with a new energy efficient heat pump.

31 -

ah! Winter 2020–21

4687 Highway #4, RR#1, Westville, Nova Scotia B0K 2A0

suntime@eastlink.ca | www.suntime.ca | (902) 396-3387 The North Shore

BY LORI BYRNE PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

The North Shore

K

ids dart around the yard, coming from the surrounding streets to play and skate on the backyard rink. Footwear and warm layers get peeled off in the back porch and a parade to the playroom ensues. Meaghan and Mark Denholm have dreamed and planned for a life like this. Life on Broad Street in the hub town of Truro has come full circle for Meaghan, having grown up across the street and Mark is thrilled to have the house where all the kids end up, recreating his own childhood experience for their two boys, Rory and Finn.

The Christmas season is exceptionally fun in the Denholm household. When it comes to decorating for the season, Meaghan said, “I enlist the help of my mother and sister, and they help out a lot.” There is no set day on the yearly calendar, it just depends on when the schedules of the busy households align, then they will get together and make the house look and feel festive. Gnomes tuck into greenery on windowsills, the tree graces the living room, and the four stockings get hung with care on the mantel of the wood-burning fireplace.

ah! Winter 2020–21 - 32

that lasts all year

INSIDE STORY

FAR LEFT: The Denholm family pose outside of their hubtown home, ready to greet the holiday season in their newly renovated space.

LEFT: Meaghan and Mark sit by the tree, sipping on a little holiday cheer while taking a wee break after the stockings are hung, the gifts are wrapped, and the tree is all decorated.

Nothing too over-the-top, simple and classic tie in very well with the design of the century home.

Now, the stockings need to be hung in a specific order, make no mistake – the boys’ stockings are on the outer edges of the mantel so Santa can leave their gifts in and under their stockings.

I wonder what he’ll leave them this year?

Over the years, the Christmas season has become considerably busier since the boys came along and now there is a little niece that joins in the holiday fun. Every Christmas while the kids open their gifts and play with their new toys, Meaghan and Mark host the family for brunch. Breakfast Bake, a family favourite recipe has become part of the tradition, from across the street Meaghan’s mom brings a fruit salad, and there’s lots of coffee to go around.

Meaghan’s sister and her family join in every year, and about every 33 -

ah! Winter 2020–21

other year or so, Mark’s family comes from Scotland to celebrate the holiday in Canada and they get front row seats to the joy of being a kid at Christmas.

After the chaos of the gift opening settles down, the family disperses for a little while, but all come back together for a large, traditional Christmas dinner. Again, parts of the meal come from across-the-way, and once again they continue to celebrate.

In November of 2009, when Meaghan and Mark bought their home, they realized that it had once been a two-family dwelling. The exterior lacked balance due to a past addition that didn’t tie in with the rest of the historic structure. But, if you love the neighbourhood and have the vision, then you jump on the chance when it comes along. When Meaghan and Mark heard this particular house was coming on the market they made The North Shore

RIGHT: The newly expanded

BROAD STREET BREAKFAST BAKE Savoury Prosciutto and Cheese Bread Pudding Make-ahead, easy and delicious, this crusty casserole is perfect for a morning or evening festive meal.

3 Tbsp butter 2 leeks, sliced (white and light green parts) 3 cups mushrooms, thinly sliced 6 oz prosciutto, chopped 1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped 1 tsp dried thyme 13 baguette (French stick), diagonally sliced 2 cups Gruyère cheese, shredded 6 eggs 3 cups milk 1 tsp dry mustard 1/4 tsp pepper 1. In large, deep skillet, melt butter over medium heat; cook leeks, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 8 minutes.

Add mushrooms; cook for five minutes. Add prosciutto; cook for two minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup of the parsley and thyme; set aside.

2. In a greased 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish, arrange baguette slices in single layer, cutting to fit. Top with three quarters of the cheese; spread leek mixture over the top.

3. In a blender or bowl, mix together eggs, milk, mustard and pepper; pour over leek mixture. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover and refrigerate for 12 hours.

(Make ahead: Refrigerate for up to 24 hours)

kitchen is bright and geared toward family life. The island provides lots of room for baking and prepping meals, doing homework, or just chatting throughout the day. White cabinets were on Meaghan’s wishlist, but the kitchen certainly doesn’t lack character and charm.

The large picture of the Highland cow is a nod to Mark’s roots.

FAR RIGHT: The built-in cabinet in the corner of the dining room offers both display space and hidden storage.

arrangements to see it as soon as they returned from a weekend away hoping no one would snatch it up before them. This was the beginning of a new chapter for the Broad Street home with the Denholm family writing this part of the story.

After living in the home for about a year, they started a renovation with contractor Victor Mingo at the helm. The plan that would see an addition to the second storey added over the previous owner’s flat roofline. They incorporated a lovely master suite in this space which included an ensuite bathroom and walk-in closets. The exterior received a facelift with new siding, windows, doors, and roof, vastly improving the curb appeal of the house that had started to look tired. The existing master bedroom became what would eventually be the well-used playroom on the main level when their boys came on the scene. To help tie the new and the old, they

4. Uncover and bake at 325° F (160° C) until golden and the center is set, about 1 hour.

Sprinkle with remaining parsley.

Cut into squares.

Makes 8-10 servings.

The North Shore

ah! Winter 2020–21 - 34

INSIDE STORY

Thank you for making a difference.

aberdeenhealthfoundation.ca  

35 -

ah! Winter 2020–21

Every donation to the Aberdeen Health Foundation directly impacts health care in Pictou County. Last year, thanks to donor generosity the Foundation directed $750,000 for a new CT Scanner, and over $350,000 to mental health, oncology, the women and children’s unit, continuing education for health care providers, community-based health programs and physician recruitment.

The North Shore

INSIDE STORY

mimicked the front door arch on the streetside window of the master bedroom.

The main level bathroom also got what would be the first of two upgrades, and the laundry facilities were moved from the second floor to the basement after a water leak met Meaghan partway down the staircase. This meant the sweet feature of a clothesline door out the back of the house became redundant and was filled in with a window.

Busy with two little boys they decided to take a break from renovations. In 2018 they enlisted the help of Robyn Manning, owner and designer of Bricks & Birches, to tackle the galley kitchen, which was no longer working for the family of four.

The kitchen space was enlarged to take over the existing kitchen and dining room, and the morning room became their new dining room.

Meaghan and Mark had a list of musthave features for their new kitchen.

They wanted a huge island, which was definitely the right choice as it gets wellused in their day-to-day living. Also, since their previous kitchen lacked storage, pantry space was on the list, too, as was a wine fridge. Meaghan also knew she wanted a white kitchen, to keep things

fresh and bright, but the navy island provides some nice contrast.

The back porch got some attention creating a functional space for the family’s primary entrance. Boots, book bags, and coats all have a spot in the attractive porch. And the main level bathroom received its second renovation, bringing it up to par with the rest of the house.

When I asked about why they opted to buy an older home as opposed to building a new one, Meaghan and Mark shared a look and chuckled, saying they might as well have bulldozed this one and started fresh, but they certainly were only kidding. You can see the pride they have in the home they have created with the guided help of both contractor and designer. They find that it is difficult to replicate the character of the older homes in a new build. The trim work alone speaks to the keeping of the old but making it fresh and new. The walls may have been brought back to the studs but the trim work was built back up to marry with parts of the house where not much had to be changed.

BELOW: Meaghan and Mark have put in the work and saw their vision through for what this house could be. The once dark galley kitchen is now a light-filled, roomy area for the family of four.

RIGHT: Rory (left) and Finn (right) slip into their warm boots by the original wooden staircase, festooned in Christmas garland.

FAR RIGHT: High wainscotting and a window bench are just a few beautiful features of the Denholm dining room. The character of the home was honoured in the renovations, with the perfect balance of new and old throughout.

The couple also loves where the house sits, located in the heart of the town, they can walk downtown for a meal, Mark can walk to the golf course and there are lots of friends nearby for the boys. I witnessed exactly that when I was there, the backyard was full of boys running around and then a stream of kids filed into the playroom where you could hear conversation and giggles. Their backyard rink is a big hit with all the kids, too. Having grown up on Broad Street, Meaghan recalls that it was filled with young kids, but when they bought this house, they were the youngest couple in the neighbourhood. But as time goes on, the street is becoming filled with the laughter and play of children again and the Denholm’s are part of a new generation that brings the smile of holiday cheer that lasts all year to this family-friendly street.

The North Shore

ah! Winter 2020–21 - 36

Home cooking starts here.

Our holiday

PORK ROAST giveaway contest!

Holidays are for family.

It’s that time of year, when nothing warms the tummy quite like a Pork Shop apple stuffed pork roast. So what’s a better way for us to celebrate with you? We’re giving one away!

Fill out a ballot at: 2578 Westville Road or Denmark

We love being part of yours!

Contest ends Wednesday, December 16, 2020. Upon purchase at the Pork Shop, you will receive a ballot to fill out your contact info and be submitted to our ballot box. Contest draws for prizes will occur Thursday, December 17, 2020.

37 -

ah! Winter 2020–21

www.theporkshop.ca

The North Shore

THE LIBRARY

A REVIEW BY SARAH BUTLAND A fascinating book that merges the past with the present through the craft and art of many passions. Don MacLean, a resident of Pictou, Nova Scotia, collected conversations of artists in a catalogue of genius and respect which links history, the future, and fine handiwork.

Broken into six chapters including crafts from nature, wood, folk art, and what seems his personal favourite, sporting crafts based on his love of fishing, MacLean travelled throughout Atlantic Canada to bring us, his readers, a craft in itself. A fine collection of people, including some from away who have settled in Eastern Canada, as they share their love for bringing old methods into this generation.

One constant throughout With These Hands is the question of the difference between a craft and an art. To everyone MacLean talked to the answer was different but equally as beautiful, much like the unique product they all offer the world, through what they make, the stories they share, and the teachings they offer. With almost everyone eager to hand down their knowledge, and also learn while they teach, it’s evident what was once old is becoming new again.

Featuring familiar names like Laurie Swim who, while living in Lunenburg, displayed an exhibit at our Museum of Industry featuring a moving tribute to the Halifax Explosion aptly named Hope and Survival. This exhibit included a Scroll of Remembrance which listed, in Braille, the names of the 1946 victims of the explosion, including the help of her community and four years of dedication.

Ruben Irons is another name that seems familiar as this Artistic Blacksmith spent years as the resident Blacksmith at the Hector Heritage Quay. Now living in Mount Thom after time out west and in the United States, Irons has settled and

has big dreams for Pictou County in hopes that a communal forge is created where others like him can meet and work on their craft.

From rug hooking to stained glass and fishing rods, MacLean collected an extensive wishbook-style look at the ways we can support local and celebrate our province and its people. Along with craft, art, beauty, and history, one constant in this book is the idea of being as busy as a maker wants to be. The wonder of slowing down, doing what you love for as long as you want to, and rejuvenating history while being about to source material as locally as possible is what makes this book a magical piece of literature.

It is also terrific that MacLean includes a directory which lists all of the interviewed artists’ social media sites while leaving the debate of craft versus art up to the reader to ponder.

Hearing Care is Health Care YES NO

You’ve noticed a change in your ability to remember People seem to mumble in noise or groups You have difficulty hearing the TV You need others to repeat what they are saying You strain to hear soft voices

If you have answered “YES” to any of these questions, call us today to take advantage of our free hearing consultation.

Call to book your spot or book online at maritimehearing.ca Holly King B.C. – H.I.S.

Committed to nding the best solutions for your hearing care needs. d ds TRURO 92A WILLOW ST

902-897-4243 www.maritimehearing.ca

The North Shore

ELMSDALE

902-883-3277

TATAMAGOUCHE SATELLITE CLINIC 100 BLAIR AVE

902-897-4243

Visit our website athomeonthenorthshore.ca

ah! Winter 2020–21 - 38

Truro Colchester Delivers Thanks to a new delivery service, folks from across Colchester County, Hants County, Pictou County, and Halifax County can support small businesses from the comfort of their homes — and have everything delivered to them, free, within a week.

It’s a concept that was tested during the spring when everyone was “staying the blazes home” due to COVID-19 restrictions. Small businesses were hurting, the Downtown Truro Partnership partnered with the Town of Truro to introduce a free delivery service. You could purchase just about anything from a local shop, over the phone or online, and it would be delivered — for free — to customers across Colchester, Pictou County, and Hants County.

The program lasted for 13 weeks and Downtown Truro Executive Director Jenn Mantin says it was “extremely successful.” With holiday shopping underway, they’ve brought back the Town of Truro as a partner, and added partnerships with the Municipality of Colchester and the Truro & Colchester Partnership for Economic Prosperity (TCPEP) in order to relaunch and grow the program and make it even more inclusive.

Mantin says Downtown Truro has always been a popular holiday shopping destination for people from across the province, so it’s great to be able to offer these shoppers a free, convenient way to continue that tradition even if they’re not able to shop in person.

Now through Dec. 23, you can purchase just about anything from a retailer in Truro or Colchester County and choose free doorstep delivery anywhere within Colchester, Pictou, East Hants counties. The program even includes a curbside pickup option for the Halifax market.

Orders can be placed directly with the participating business, through their website, via email, or over the phone, and customers spending at least $25 just need to specify they want to take advantage of the free delivery program. Check out participating businesses at trurocolchester.ca/delivers For customers selecting free curbside pickup in the Halifax market, their items will be brought to Take It Outside in Dartmouth Crossing. Sue Stanfield owns both stores (Truro and Dartmouth Crossing) and has graciously agreed to hold onto any packages delivered through the program, so customers can pick them up at their convenience on Fridays between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Shop at

ADVERTISING

Orders must be placed by Wednesdays at 4 p.m. in order to receive free delivery on Thursday or Friday.

Mantin says the free delivery service has already been a “lifeline” for many businesses in Truro and Colchester County because it’s opening them up to potential new customers without needing to oversee shipping or delivery.

“Our local business owners are juggling so many balls and wearing a million different hats, trying to manage their storefronts as well as field online orders and inquiries — often with leaner staffing and reduced hours because of COVID-19 regulations,” says Mantin. “They really appreciate that we’re able to alleviate the pressure of having to staff deliveries, but they can still offer free delivery to their customers. It’s a win/win.”

The new free delivery service has a few exclusions — like alcohol, tobacco products, frozen/prepared foods, hazardous materials, or items weighing more than 30 lbs. — but for the most part, Mantin says shoppers are encouraged to place big orders (over the phone or online) with local businesses to show their support.

Then, like magic, their items will be delivered within a week.

Written by Heather Laura Clark

HOME

and get FREE delivery!

Get FREE delivery from locally owned Truro and Colchester small businesses. We service as far South as Halifax, north to Tatamagouche, west to Five Islands and east to Pictou County!

Place an order of at least $25 with participating businesses, and receive free delivery within one week!

Visit trurocolchester.ca/delivers for more information!

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

ADVERTISING

At homE

Great gifts finds on the North Shore

HolidaY Gift guidE

Your Christmas shopping just got a whole lot merrier with our annual gift guide that has been hand-picked from some of our finest local retailers.

Everyone on your list will say ah!

2020

FORGE HOME AND GARDEN Cavallini puzzles 1,000 pieces, vintage images, beautifully gift packaged.

NOVA SCOTIA FISHERMAN

SUNTIME ENTERPRISES

The perfect family gift this holiday season.

Relax, rejuvenate and revive in the The Constellation s103 Relieve Hot Tub by Inspiration. Two tone jets, LED and cabinet lighting, available in 5 or 7 seating and choice of color and finishes.

Candy Cane Soap and Lip Balms!

Perfect stocking stuffers made in Nova Scotia with powerful sea kelp, therapeutic peppermint, and soothing cinnamon (all natural ingredients).

Free shipping over $50.

See it in store or online at www.suntime.ca

WATER N WINE

Thinking of making wine at home but don’t want to invest in all the equipment? Why not try a DIY My Wine Co. Kit. It makes 4L of wine in 3 weeks.

No additional equipment needed.

Everything you need to brew is in the box!

Retail Price: $6.99 - $9.99

ADVERTISING

HIPPIE CHIKS

TAKE IT OUTSIDE

Blundstones These boots are the perfect addition to any outfit. They transition with ease from a day at the office to a night on the town. Dress up any outfit with classic Blundstone comfort.

Mens and Womens $240-260+tax

Old Soul Soap Company Canadian, women-made.

Eight different Gift Boxes available.

All-natural, hand-crafted, vegan, and plastic free.

Boxes are $33.99

THE PORK SHOP

PICTOU LODGE BEACH RESORT

The perfect gift for your favourite foodie – a Pork Shop gift card!

With a wide variety of meats and specialty products, this gift will surely bring a satisfied tummy over the holidays.

Give the gift of a Nova Scotia Experience with a Sundown Fishing Package at Pictou Lodge Beach Resort! Great for a beginner or experienced fisher! pictoulodge.com/packages

TABITHA + CO™ TABITHA + CO™ Offers a unique, handcrafted, multi-functional, timeless leather collection that is ‘Mindfully Made™’ with passion in Canada. Taking you from a morning ‘On The Go’ and everything in between.

FORGE HOME AND GARDEN Singing Bird moisture meter, sings to let you know when your plant needs water, light sensor so it doesn’t sing at night, a great gift for the plant lovers in your life.

ADVERTISING

At homE

HolidaY Gift guidE 2020

WHITE POINT BEACH RESORT Wrap up a winter getaway at White Point Beach Resort. Enjoy ocean views, soak in the indoor pool, and relax knowing their Atlantic Bubble Policy is in play, all winter.

FORGE HOME AND GARDEN TAKE IT OUTSIDE

Honey Candles, premium pure beeswax candles, long burn time, cotton wick, made in Canada.

Canada Goose

The Men’s Expedition Parka is the original extreme weather parka, developed for scientists working in Antarctica. $1,395+tax The Women’s Sherbrooke Parka has a clean, streamlined aesthetic – but with plenty of hidden functional elements. $1,250+tax

HIPPIE CHIKS Mad Hippie Skincare Packs each bottle full of chemical-free, anti-aging actives such as antioxidants, peptides, bioavailable vitamins, and alpha hydroxy acids to combat skin discoloration and wrinkles.

Price range $16.99-$37.99

THE GREEN THUMB FARMERS MARKET We have some great gift ideas for that special someone on your Christmas list, and if you would like us to help with your baking needs, just call and place your order for Christmas baking or stock up your freezer for the winter. We are closing for the season on December 13th. Thank you for supporting us throughout this 2020 season.

ADVERTISING

Vendor directorY FORGE HOME AND GARDEN 199 Provost St., New Glasgow, NS 902 755-6140 THE GREEN THUMB FARMER’S MARKET 4681 NS-4, Westville, NS 902 396-3263

HIPPIE CHIKS

MINERS APPAREL FOR MEN

Anointment Made in Sackville New Brunswick. Best known for award-winning pregnancy, postpartum and new baby products. Locally grown and wildcrafted ingredients. Small batches. Natural aromatic plant extracts and essential oils.

Miners is big-city style in the heart of New Glasgow. Drop by and ask Krista for help with styling those hard-to-shop-for men in your life.

Unearth your look with Miners.

HIPPIE CHIKS NATURAL HEALTH SHOP 199 Provost St., New Glasgow, NS 902 695-6080 facebook.com/ChiksHealth/ Miners Apparel for Men 145 Provost St., New Glasgow, NS 902 800-5019 minersclothing.ca NOVA SCOTIA FISHERMAN 15 Jones Road, New Minas, NS (888) 681-1362 NovaScotiaFisherman.com PICTOU LODGE BEACH RESORT 172 Lodge Rd., Pictou, NS 902 485-4322 pictoulodge.com THE PORK SHOP - SPECIALTY MARKET & DELI 2578 Westville Rd., New Glasgow, NS 902 755-3260 theporkshop.ca SUNTIME ENTERPRISES 4687 Highway #4, RR#1, Westville, NS (902) 396-3387 suntime@eastlink.ca suntime.ca TABITHA + CO™ 13 Water Street, Pictou, NS 902 759-7715 tabithaco.ca

TAKE IT OUTSIDE

Hydroflask Whether your first sip is in the kitchen, car, or campsite, the 16 oz Coffee with Flex Sip™ Lid lets you enjoy your favourite brew leak-free.

So go ahead, start your day with confidence and know that your favourite beverage will be by your side. $40+tax

TAKE IT OUTSIDE 65 Inglis Pl, Truro, NS 902 843-8688 196 Hector Gate, Dartmouth, NS 902 405-8688 takeitoutside.ca WATER ‘N’ WINE 21 Heritage Ave., PO Box 2530, Stellarton, NS 902 755-9463 waternwine.ca WHITE POINT BEACH RESORT 75 White Point Beach Resort Rd, Hunts Point, NS (902) 354-2711 whitepoint.com

ON THE TABLE

charcuterie GRAZE CRAZE

THERE’S A NEW BOARD GAME IN TOWN

BY JANET WHITMAN | PHOTOS BY CRYSTAL MURRAY

Instagram influencer Erin Pettipas is bringing the graze craze to Pictou County.

Posting under the punny handle Pastasalt, the millennial foodie is turning her gorgeous charcuterie and cheese board pics into “more than just an Instagram page” through word-of-mouth and lots of “likes.”

Orders for the creations started coming in August when a friend’s birthday was coming up and her boyfriend wanted to celebrate with a special sharing platter.

The Mediterranean-inspired board, piled with homemade roasted red pepper hummus, tzatziki, sundried tomato pesto, charred lemon, and other delectables, was a huge hit with the birthday gathering, as were pictures of the feast they posted online.

The North Shore

A growing following caught the attention of gourmet grocer Pete’s, which enlisted Pettipas to partner on some promotional pictures for its products.

The unexpected whirlwind left Pettipas with a lot on her plate.

She was in the midst of moving back to Linacy. Things were getting a little stale after four years in Halifax as a server at a friend’s restaurant, where she was making enough money to buy groceries to feed her real passion – “all things home cooking.”

Her new home needed a makeover, including the addition of an all-important kitchen island.

COVID-19 social-distancing dictates are enabling her to start small.

One of her small boards serves between four to eight people and a large from eight to 12. That’s about the size people feel comfortable bubbling in, while they’re also hungry for ways to make social gatherings special.

Once the pandemic passes, Pettipas figures her fledgling business will be geared up enough to add corporate customers and grazing event tables to the menu.

“I like that every board is a bit of a challenge,” she says. “Each one is different. People love the look of them.”

Even kids like the taste, she adds.

ah! Winter 2020–21 - 44

Biggest challenge Finding a decent baguette east of Halifax, where LF Bakery was a go-to

Early inspiration Sunday grocery delivery from her mom to St. FX, cable-TV with a steady stream of the Food Network and six roommates to feed

Added boost A Jamie Oliver food-creation Instagram challenge when she worked summers at Sobeys head office

Her chops She’s self-taught, but has a food safety certificate and is taking an online Academy of Cheese course

A family affair Her dad is helping out with renos to get her

Instagram influencer Erin Pettipas

kitchen whipped into shape, her grandfather is building hard-to-come-by large serving boards and her chef aunt is helping make platters for the Christmas rush

The crowd-pleaser Goat cheese with honey and thyme.

“The feedback is amazing,” says Pettipas.

Caution Picky people, this isn’t for you. She advised a finicky cousin, who asked for no exotic cheeses or fatty meats, to buy a party tray from the grocery store

Confession Despite her St. FX science degree, Pettipas isn’t a baker. “I like to improvise and throw in

SHEEPSKINS, WOOL BLANKETS, YARN AND MUCH MORE. Wool, a natural, warm, long-lasting gift for anyone to enjoy.

Shop open daily 10 am to 4 pm until Dec. 23 Visit us Saturdays at the New Glasgow Farmers’ Market or the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market Shop anytime by visiting our website

a little of this and a little of that.”

The ultimate Opening a restaurant with a city feel, small plates for sharing and creative cocktails

Shop Locally, Shop Safely

1389 Louisville Road, River John 902 351 2594 lismoresheepfarmwoolshop.com

45 -

ah! Winter 2020–21

The North Shore

HEALTHY AT HOME

WARM AND ROASTED

Power WINTER

BOWL

BY TRACY STUART

MEDALING WITH MY FOOD Tracy is an Olympic medalist and has a Chef’s Diploma from the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts.

D

o you have a certain dish at your favourite restaurant that you just can’t help but order every time? Even when that little voice inside your head says, “Oh come on, try something new”? In my case, this happened at a fabulous little vegetarian restaurant in Victoria that I would frequent called ReBar. Every visit without fail I’d vow to try something new, but when it came time to order, sure enough I’d crack, “I’ll have the ReBar salad please.”

Fast forward eight years and my family is in the midst of a move. I typically prepare my own lunches, but as we get closer to moving day, meal prep has become frustrating to say the least. I’ve honestly packed and unpacked the same kitchen box five times looking for something that I need. I’ve gotten to the point where I’ve thrown in the towel and have accepted the fact that it’s going to be take-out meals for the next few days. It has been a delight! During this past week I feel like I’ve been awakened to the culinary bliss that is in our own backyard that I have somehow completely overlooked. The best part is I have found a close replica to my beloved ReBar salad. We discovered Copper Branch and the power bowls there are to die for; one bite into my first power bowl I was transported back in time.

It amazes me how food can do that. Instantly, I was in Victoria enjoying my go-to salad.

This rediscovery, in a sense, lead me to search for the ReBar recipe. I have a copy of their cookbook, so I thought I might find it there (yes, I unpacked yet another box).

No such luck, even after an extensive internet search I came up empty handed.

The actual ReBar salad recipe is apparently under lock and key, top secret for kitchen staff only. I did stumble across several bloggers who have recreated the salad and have added their flare, so I decided to take a stab at it myself, taking a little inspiration from my new-found power bowl too.

The salad that I have created is a great example of how I love my salads (or power bowls) in the winter: warm, hearty, bursting with flavour and nutrition. I don’t know about you, but my desire for a cold salad in the winter is next to nil. Keeping all of these comforts in mind, my take on the ReBar Salad with an east coast winter twist has been born.

The North Shore

ah! Winter 2020–21 - 46

47 -

ah! Winter 2020–21

The North Shore

HEALTHY AT HOME

Susan Farrell branches out her winter walks with a trip to the beaches and shore lines of Pictou.

HIT THE BEACH THIS

T

his year winter is different for everyone, especially the snowbirds who usually travel south. Due to Covid-19, many are staying home which means they will face the cold temperatures and snowy days they’d typically avoid. But there’s no need for travellers or those who don’t trek beyond the border, to avoid the beach. Even though one can’t wiggle bare toes in the warm sand or splash in the waves, the seaside is a great place to be during the coldest months of the year.

The North Shore

The decision to change flip flops and bathing suits into boots, toques, and layers of sweaters, or jackets is simple. The choice of which beach to enjoy is not so easy. Pomquet, Melmberby, Rushton’s, Northport, Tidnish, or any of the spots in between? The north shore offers a coast lined with possibilities. This is the winter to explore them all.

A morning stroll by yourself along the Northumberland Strait is soothing and peaceful. It’s a chance to enjoy your first cup of coffee, uninterrupted. A time to

relax and reflect on your blessings. Most people are elsewhere, so it’s quiet. Solitude and stillness ensue. Whether it’s footprints in the sand or boot prints in the snow, the evidence of your walk provides comfort.

Take the time to slow down and breathe in the salty air. Admire the view.

Notice the extra seaweed on the beach, and the ice along the shoreline left behind by the tide only to be added to during the next ebb and flow. The blue of the ocean is darker, almost black. The gulls are gone but New Brunswick and

ah! Winter 2020–21 - 48

Ice floats become temporary art installations along the beach near Pictou.

RIGHT: Retired physican and avid photogragher Gerry Farrell, with daughter Susan and her husband Fahim Rajabali, on the beach near Pictou Lodge last winter.

Twelve Choices for a Winter Beachcomber’s Thermos 1.

Favourite herbal tea mix

2. Hot buttered rum 3. Hot chocolate 4. Spicy chai tea 5. Coffee 6. Hot lemonade 7. Consommé 8. Blended soup 9. Warm apple cider 10. Mulled wine 11. Hot toddy 12. Latte

WINTER Prince Edward Island are still there, tiny blips of land in the distance.

Afternoons are ideal for heading out to the beach with the family and the dog.

Pack a picnic. Yes, a picnic in the middle of winter. Skip the cool watermelon and crunchy cucumbers. Bring a thermos of rich creamy tomato soup and spicy muffins infused with warming ginger and cinnamon. It’s an opportunity for the children to run and play, building castles of snow instead of sand. Regardless of the season, the shore is always a great place

49 -

ah! Winter 2020–21

BY MELANIE MOSHER | PHOTOS BY GERRY FARRELL

for treasure hunting for shiny shells, pretty rocks, driftwood creatures, and sea glass.

During the winter, it can be the perfect spot for a snowball fight. Bright-coloured hats and mitts contrast the pale blue sky and the clear white of freshly fallen snow.

Rosy cheeks and thermoses filled with hot chocolate spread good cheer.

Invite neighbours and friends for a beach party and bonfire. There’s plenty of room for social distancing while singing and sharing stories. Tell a joke, then listen as laughter begins and spreads through

the crowd like a wave. Watch puffs of frosty breath float upward to dance with the golden flickering flames and salty air.

Outdoor gatherings are safe, fun, and the shorter days mean one can be home, warm and cozy, well before bedtime.

The warmth of the fire and good company push thoughts of thermometer dips and poor weather away. Right here, right now, home is on the beach in the middle of the winter. The benefits of exercise, fresh air, and outdoor social time make it the perfect place to be.

The North Shore

WOODEN CANDLE HOLDERS

BY LORI BYRNE | PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

The days are short, we find ourselves tucked in our homes, and there is nothing better than the soft glow of candles to add some cozy ambience.

These chunky candle holders would be just as at home on a festive mantle as tucked into a centrepiece on the Christmas table or your holiday coffee table.

If you didn’t want to paint them,

SUPPLIES • Square lumber stock These are 4" x 4" Cut to 3", 4.5" and 6" high • Saw and safety glasses • Spade bit to fit your candle holder I used a 1.5" bit for tea lights • White and red paint • Paint brushes • Sandpaper

you could use a sealer that let the

• Twine and/or ribbon

natural character of the wood shine

• Tea lights or glass candle holders

through and they would be equally as stunning. The bonus is that you could use them year-round.

Another alternative would be to use an old hand-hewn beam for

INSTRUCTIONS STEP 1. Cut square stock into the three heights STEP 2. Mark off the centre of the top of each block and drill the hole for the candle STEP 3. Sand edges STEP 4. Paint the short one white, medium height in red, and the tallest in stripes and let dry STEP 5. Sand the paint back to show off the texture of the wood STEP 6. Wrap your ribbon or twine around the medium one.

STEP 7. Place your candles in each chunky candle holder, cluster together and light. A cozy blanket, good company and a hot cuppa are all snuggly additions.

even more age and charm.

The North Shore

ah! Winter 2020–21 - 50

“History never looks like history when you are living through it.�

J. William Dawson 1820-2020 Geologist, palaeontologist, author, educator, McGill University Principal, publisher, editor, Superintendent of Education, Knight, Pictou Academy Graduate, and proud Pictonian of Scottish descent.

Genealogy centre open all winter for research

Visit the Museum gift shop for unique, distinctive products

Membership and Gift Certificates available

86 Haliburton Road, Pictou NS B0K 1H0

902-485-4563

www.mccullochcentre.ca

JACK FROST? MEET THE JACK OF ALL TRADES.

NEW

Tackle your property’s every icy task, with the allnew Kubota LX Series tractor. With its 4-point hitch and K-Connect, you can quickly and easily switch out any attachment—snow shovels and pushers, snowblowers, loaders, sweepers, or just about any other tool. The proven Kubota diesel engine (with a turbocharge option) puts big power and torque where you need it most; under your precise control.

LX

CAB SERIES

kubota.ca |