At Home on the North Shore Spring 2019

Spring 2019

FOOD IN FULL BLOOM A SUCCULENT DIY WHAT’S ON THE GO WITH TAB + CO

ALL THINGS

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ON OUR COVER: ALLISON GAUDETT IS ONE OF THE NEWEST STYLE MAKERS ON OUR NORTH SHORE. WE STEP INSIDE ALLISON’S VALLEYWOODS HOME IN STELLARTON, NOVA SCOTIA. PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

athomeonthenorthshore.ca PUBLISHER: Fred Fiander EDITOR: Crystal Murray SALES MANAGER: Dave Wood ART DIRECTOR: Jamie Playfair GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Barbara Raymont PHOTO EDITOR: Steve Smith

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Northern Nova Scotia’s premier magazine for local lifestyle, information and insights at the heart of our communities.

From design ideas to food and wine, health and fitness to art and culture, you will find it all AT HOME.

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Inside this issue Vol. 4 Edition 2 Spring 2019

The Inside Story

Healthy at Home

10 Perennial Magic

48 Medaling with My Food

North Shore Potter Sara Bonnyman throws some creating to her garden

Cover Story 18 Where fun meets function

Introducing the fresh style maker Allison Gaudett

Tracy Stuart gets her Glo Bar on!

Departments

24 Beauty on a Budget A kitchen re-do between friends

30 Outside In

9

Field Notes The things Sara Jewell can do!

The creative haven of artist Louise Cloutier

12 Off the Wall Exhibiting Change with Janet Wallace

16 Thresholds

At Home with 38 On the go with Tabitha Co

Trendy knobs to pull at your heart strings

50 DIY

On the Table

A succulent spring project

42 Food in Full Bloom Bring the colours of spring to dinner

46 Kraving Kimchi Where to find it and how to make this fab fermented food

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editor’s

LETTER PHOTO BY TARA GILLIS, PURE IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHY.

I

wish Mother Nature could just flip the switch between winter and spring and just get on with things. But alas, we know that spring on the North Shore comes as a wonderful bundle of contradictions. Ice can still blow in the Strait as the lobster fishers prepare to set their first traps. We can set out for the day scraping our frosted windshields and by noon have a lunchtime stroll in our short sleeves. Tiny crocus show off their beautiful brute strength as they poke their heads up through the crusts of spring snow and rain puddles can quickly transform to mirrors of frozen glass to remind us not to pack up the winter gear too fast. In the words of Mark Twain, “In the spring I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.” He must have spent some time in Nova Scotia!

However, if there is one thing that is consistent with the leap to this new season it is hope. It is hope that fills the spaces that exist between these times of transition. It’s the force that keeps us all moving forward, even on our darkest days. It inspires us, strengthens us and empowers us. It’s such a gentle sounding word but it carriers a lot of clout. Hope means that you believe in change. It’s a potent and positive contagion that can cure a lot of ills. There is no coincidence that Cancer Awareness Month, World Health Day, Earth Day, and many spiritual celebrations find themselves in this new season. Spring and hope are as tied together as a healthy mind, body and spirit.

This spring I am calling in all of my reserves of hope for some very special people who are courageously battling cancer and I am channeling my hope towards a positive resolution to the pulp mill/ environment issues that have been polarizing families and friends.

I am also hopeful that this issue of At Home will find you at a time when you need a little colour and lightness in you life.

I laughed when I received Lindsay Cameron Wilson’s story “Food In Full Bloom.” Her feature resonated with the same theme. As we patiently await the first blush of the new season we need to be creative as to how we bring colour back into our lives and onto our plates. Her story will have you in the pink in no time!

I love photos of people laughing. If I could fill an entire magazine with people completely unfettered from the idea that there is a

camera pointed in their direction, I would. There is so much joy, so much fun, so much play, and so much laughter on these pages that you can’t help but feel happy. You can see a smile but if you capture a laugh at the right time you can hear the musicality of it lift right from the page. It starts right from the front cover to Steve Smith’s pictures of artist Louise Cloutier having a chuckle in her eclectically appointed kitchen in River Phillip, to the giggles between friends Amy MacInnis and Allison Gaudett celebrating their tag team kitchen makeover in MacLellans Brook, to the infectious laughter of Sara Bonnyman dancing amongst the day lilies in her splendid garden in Tatamagouche. It’s spring, well kind of, we all should be laughing!

I walked out of my office the other day for the first time in months without layers of down and smart wool. I felt like I might almost float away. It’s been a long winter with some heavy moments that have at times weighed me down. It’s time that we all unfetter ourselves from the heftiness of winter and start to warm up, lighten up, and let hope bubble up and spring us forward into this season synonymous with new beginnings. Enjoy!

I dedicate this issue of At Home on the North Shore to Robbie Davey, Jessica Smith, Jackie MacKean, and Rachael McLean – four incredible people who know the power of hope and positivity.

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CONTRIBUTORS

LORI BYRNE Spring means it’s time of refreshment! The world looks new with it’s bright, fresh greens, the lambs arrive with vigour and bounce, and it’s time to rearrange, clean and do some fun projects around the house. Spring leaves me with the urge to create out in the studio and I had the pleasure of painting the fun, ombre dresser – something I’ve been wanting to try. Happy Spring!

TRACY STUART says winter can be tough on our skin, but luckily there are a few natural secrets to rejuvenating our looks with a few spring “cleaning” tips for our skin. Tracy also holds a Master of Science, Bachelor of Physical Education; she is also a two-time World Champion & Olympic Bronze Medalist in rowing.

PHOTO: STEVE SMITH,VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

STEVE SMITH Spring at last! Another At Home on the North Shore is here, featuring the people and stories that make our region special.

Artists and artisans of food and design, crafts and decor. Best of all, I got to spend time with amazing people like Louise and Richard, Allison, Amy, Sarah and Tabitha. Each of them uniquely talented and interesting. And now you get to read their stories and hopefully enjoy the photographs! Have a great Spring here on the North Shore!

PHOTO: KATE INGLIS, SHED PHOTOGRAPHY

DEBBI HARVIE has been a writer for the past 10 years with Advocate Media publications. She is looking forward to spring when this dreaded cold weather goes away and she and her family can enjoy the outdoors again.

PHOTO: STEVE SMITH,VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

PHOTO: STEVE SMITH,VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

SARA JEWELL When she was a teenager, Sara Jewell drew floor plans for homes, usually around a circular main living space. Perhaps this is why she feels so at home in Louise Cloutier’s house profiled in the article “Outside In.” Sara is the author Field Notes: A City Girl’s Search for Heart and Home in Rural Nova Scotia, and her Field Notes column appears exclusively in At Home.

RACHAEL MCLEAN is a local Landscape Architect who loves jumping in puddles with her two little boys and finding the first shoots peaking through the awakening soil. This issue, the promise of Spring is delivered in her discussion with Potter Sara Bonnyman. In the coming days, feel the sun on your face and breath deep. Spring is upon us!

ALLISON GAUDETT As nature re-imagines itself once again come Spring, I find myself endlessly inspired with its fundamental beauty and diversity. The unique warm and cool pallets blending effortlessly in our raw Nova Scotia landscape implore creative change. Which for me, as a local design consultant, is a rejuvenating motivator. Bring on the reorganization, deep cleaning and purging, budget DIY projects, and full redesigns!

LINDSAY CAMERON WILSON is a food writer, recipe developer and host of The Food Podcast, a show where personal stories are shared through the lens of food. Lindsay spends her summers at her Toney River cottage surrounded by wild roses, wind blown evergreens and a tiny apple tree, just about to blossom.

BRUCE MURRAY has been creating food and lifestyle photography for more than 20 years in the Maritimes and in his original studio in Vancouver. He delivers compelling images to a diverse clientele.

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M

y husband won’t teach me to shoot a gun because he’s afraid I’ll shoot him (fair), and he won’t teach me to drive the tractor because he’s afraid I’ll break it (not fair).

He hasn’t even taught me how to use a chainsaw because he thinks I’ll cut my leg off.

Thankfully, when I took up residency in Nova Scotia twelve years ago, I did bring one useful skill; I know how to build a fire.

This spring marks the tenth anniversary of my father’s death. He had early onset dementia and one of the hardest things about losing him to that disease are the regrets and “should haves” that are my legacy as an adult daughter caregiver. Over the years, I’ve reminded myself there were things I did right, like taking the advice of a friend in the community care sector who said, “Don’t focus on what your father can’t do; focus on what he can do.”

Recently, I find my memories of him, and my gratitude for having him as my father, are focused again on what he could do all his life because I’m using what he taught me in my life in rural Nova Scotia.

Let’s be honest: I’m not a particularly competent country girl. I don’t know how to raise goats or ride a horse. I can’t drive a tractor or bale hay. I can’t gut a fish or cut the head off a chicken, and I’d rather watch the fox prowl around our property than shoot it. I’ve always been an observer of country life, rather than a full participant. But when I moved into the house at the edge of the field in March of 2007, I arrived knowing how to hang a flag, how to stack a woodpile, and how to build a fire.

Growing up, our houses were heated by electric baseboard heaters or a gas furnace, and to create “fire”, all one had to do was turn a knob on the wall.

Fortunately, we had cottages with wood stoves or fireplaces, and because my father explained what he was doing as he did it, I learned how to get a fire going with twisted newspaper, kindling, and small sticks.

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Heating a home with a wood furnace, however, was an entirely new experience for me, and a lot more work, so I was quite happy to let my husband maintain control over the acquiring and stacking of eight cord of wood in the basement, and keeping that home fire burning.

When a city girl marries a country boy, there’s a certain dynamic the two of you fall into, certain roles you play, and the longer you’re together, the more ingrained those roles become.

Until something changes. Until someone isn’t able to do what they used to do.

During the first years of our marriage, my husband left for work at six o’clock in the morning so he always “fixed the fire” before heading out. Since his shoulder injury, and more recently, a stroke, he sleeps later so now I’m the one getting up at six o’clock to fix the fire.

Every morning, as the cats prowl the woodpile, I squat in front of the open door of the wood furnace in my pajamas and slippers, and I build the fire. Every time the flames erupt from the remaining coals or from my match, I thank my father for teaching me this skill. I also think about how lucky my husband is to have a wife who is not only able to fix the fire, but also willing to keep this home fire burning.

My father never saw me at home in rural Nova Scotia (he died before our second wedding anniversary) but he’s still with me. I feel his spirit around me on this property where his ashes are buried, and every time I build a fire in the furnace exactly the way he taught me, I know he’s focused on the things I can do, not on the things I didn’t do.

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INSIDE STORY

The perennial

BY RACHAEL MCLEAN PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

magic

O

n a snowy day with sub-zero temperatures and grey skies I had the opportunity to chat with Sara Bonnyman. It was everything the current conditions outside of the window were not… warm, sunny and full of spring promise.

An accomplished and renown artist, Sara’s pottery has always been a personal favourite. Her functional, form-filled art have been gifts to family, friends, and just about anyone I could think to gift it to!

I now had the chance to speak with the maker of these beautiful pieces I have so lovingly given.

My curiosity always lies in the connections... between people and their craft, people and their environment.

What is it? How does it shape your life?

What can we learn from it? I always ask a lot of questions. Sara knew right away.

Just as a potters hands connects with their clay, Sara is just as connected to her environment. It’s a constant source

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of Sara Bonnyman’s garden of inspiration. You might even say her muse. Sara’s gardens are brimming with colour, texture and life. They are a physical reminder to take in the magic of it all. “Admittedly when people watch me throw pots,” she said, “there is a magic there as well.”

With humble beginnings (read: terrible subsoil), Sara built a series of boxes and filled them with the necessary materials.

Starting with some old favourites that promised to survive, the boxes grew and gave a punch of colour, a beacon for those traveling down the road past the studio.

“The real reason (for the garden boxes) was to attract them into the studio” Sara said modestly. As if! I thought the beautiful pieces of work within were enough to get people through the door! But then we dove a bit deeper and I understood.

“People often stop, take a breath and look closely at the blooms. They walk around the gardens first before coming into the studio… it awakens a sense of colour and texture, a sense of calm.”

The gardens act as a primer. A filter.

A precursor to what awaits inside.

Once through the doors people discover Sara sitting, connected to her craft, creating pieces that are reflective of the natural beauty they have just walked through.

That was the intention for those visiting the studio space but how did this inspiration translate to Sara?

“So... what do you see when you look out your window?” I asked. Solomon Seal was the immediate response (also a personal favourite of mine). But beyond that “Curves, calm, colour… detail. It’s hap-hazard but lovely” Looking out the window at the current conditions she said “its incredible that under all of that snow and ice, things survive…”

As we shift into spring, the wonderment of the season and the complexity and simplicity of the natural world swirls around the studio and transfers through Sara to her wheel. The magic of it all is simply beautiful.

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OFF the WALL

BY CRYSTAL MURRAY PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

voices from a canvas I

t was one of those nippy and nose numbing winter mornings when I spotted Janet Wallace displaying prints of her original artwork at the New Glasgow Farmers Market. It seemed a bit incongruous to her surroundings from only a few months ago when she still lived in the sunshine bathed city of Los Angeles, California. A change in life’s circumstances called her back to her old stomping grounds in the North End of New Glasgow. But Janet welcomes change. She seeks it, asks for it and responds to it in almost every aspect of her life. Change is the gesso of her artwork and the base layer of what is driving her current collection of paintings “Art For Change.”

Art and travel are authentic pieces of Janet’s being. She emerged from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in the early 70s when a second wave of women’s rights activism was washing over a new generation. She was a child of this new era. The issues driving the women’s movement had made their impact and she would eventually find her way to express her ideals. Her evolving perceptions of the world would soon be stamped into the ink of her passport. For a year Janet travelled around the world with a cohort of a dozen other

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Shared Humanity Acrylic and newspaper on raw canvas 32” H X 42” W The figure in the painting was influenced by an art work I did called

Sign of Peace; marker, oil pastel on paper 17” H X 13.5” W.

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There is a freedom and sense of abandon I find when working with markers and oil pastel on paper that is a worthy challenge to reinterpret and convey with paint.

This was the first piece I did in the “Covering The News” series and as such has the spirit and intent of the series. You can see traces of the articles showing through...such as...”Broad crackdown includes new rules on deportations and the

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targeting of sanctuary cities.” “President Trump’s executive order to immediately start construction of a border wall has widened his rift with Mexico and placed pressure on Mexican President...”

I like the rawness of working on unprimed canvas and the textures and effects that happen when paint is applied. The words added speak to the needs of the times...“protect civil liberties...justice for all... freedom...shared humanity.”

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Indomitable Anne Acrylic and newspaper on raw canvas 31” H X 32” W I am a huge fan of Anne Frank and this piece is inspired and influenced by two smaller pieces I did that were from my artwork series Change collages – colour pencil, marker, print on paper 17” H X 11” W.

As I started the painting of Anne I also wrote two quotes from Anne around the perimeter of the piece.

“I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe people are really good at heart.”

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

It amazes me that a young girl in such adverse circumstances could express so much wisdom, clarity, love and hope. Such inspiration.

Incredible words from a young girl that certainly are useful today! I always am inspired by the young Anne Frank who has uplifted countless people through her writings. If a young girl could make such a difference through her diary there is hope for change.

Headlines and subhead of the underlying articles “CONFUSION REIGNS” “Trump calls travel ban a success as chaos mounts on many fronts” “Trump order sparks outcry” I like that one of the main things showing through from the underlying articles is a poster saying “IMMIGRANTS ARE WELCOME HERE.” ANNE FRANK “Annelies Marie Frank 12 June 1929 – February or March 1945[4]) was a German-born diarist and writer. One of the most discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust, she gained fame posthumously following the publication of her diary, The

Diary of a Young Girl (originally Het Achterhuis; English: The Secret Annex), which documents her life in hiding from 1942 to 1944, during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. It is one of the world’s most widely known books and has been the basis for several plays and films.”

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students selected to participate in a sponsored program through NSCAD called “World Encounter” allowing them to experience different cultures. It was a trip that would change Janet’s view of global cultural affairs for the rest of her life.

“One of my professors expressed that the trip would be a success if it evoked change in us,” says Janet reminiscing about her start in life. “I spent four months in India where I was introduced to the practice of connecting with ones inner self. This has become a core understanding and effort for me. A lot of my adult life has been tied into and influenced by this practice.”

After returning from her travels she started her life as a professional artist. She cultivated experiences in Halifax, Toronto and Vancouver making a mark in the world of fashion in the 80s and early 90s where bold style and colours were the hottest trends. Her company Art Marks, created original clothing and product designs with silkscreened and hand-painted surface images. Art Marks items were sold through high-end stores and boutiques in Vancouver, Los Angeles, and New York.

It was an exciting time in Janet’s life. Current affairs and issues about indigenous culture, environment and equality continually bubbled up in her work. She replanted herself in the beach city of Malibu, California and began working in South Central Los Angeles around the time of the riots and the civil unrest that stemmed from the acquittal of four white Los Angeles police officers after the beating of black motorist Rodney King.

“It was tumultuous a time both personally and collectively,” says Janet of her introduction to life in LA. “I was an immigrant speaking the same language but formed by a different culture.” But despite the unsettled political times, a few earthquakes and fires not far from her Malibu Canyon home Janet says that she found a magic and a charm to her life in California.

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ol atto try u have . I have

While her work in textiles brought her to LA she also began teaching art in Malibu and had an opportunity to do a large scale mural project in LA which led to her selfproducing grant-funded murals with statements and ties to community development, ethnic diversity and protection of the environment. She completed more than 40 murals during her time in LA including one on the Santa Monica Pier. “I enjoy projects that have significance to community and I love working with students. I have taught art for years and I have always loved the art that children produce,” says Janet.

Unbeknownst to her at the time, life in LA was coming full circle. She had arrived in the City of Angels at a time of turmoil and she would start to prepare for her departure in the maelstrom of the first few years of Trump’s presidency.

Janet was one of an estimated 750,000 people who gathered in a friendly protest in downtown LA to be part of a nationwide act of solidarity to send a message to newly elected Donald Trump. Hundreds and thousands of women and men packed the streets calling for equal rights and defending civil liberties. The voices in the Women’s March would echo across North America and European countries.

As marches unfolded in communities from Sandy Cove Nova Scotia to Versailles France and plans for consecutive years commenced, Janet embarked on her own response to the events and created a series of 27 paintings she titled “Covering the News.” The first piece, “Shared Humanity” perpetuates the themes and the spirit of the series. Using newspaper clippings in background citing the headlines of President Trump’s bold crackdowns Janet created a multitude of textures and effects. A primitive human form finds its shape in the middle of the canvas and is given a voice with the words, “civil liberties,” “justice for all,” “freedom,” and “shared humanity.”

While in LA Janet did three exhibits of her “Art For Change” series in part to support the Womens March,

ACLU and Indivisible. Two events included speakers from the action groups and music for change.

In 2018 Janet was one of a handful of artists invited to showcase and sell artwork and posters at the second Women’s March in LA. Many of the prints of her artwork ended up on the placards carried during the demonstrations. Janet appreciated the vantage point of seeing the flow of the half million attendees walk by with what felt like deeper commitment from the first year which was fuelled more by anger and frustration.

This year Janet and her paintings are starting to find their place in a community that will always be home. Again she finds herself re-adapting to a culture that was once so familiar but has evolved since her departure several decades ago. She is connecting to organizations that have synergies to her personal doctrine. Seven pieces of her recent artwork series are on display at the Museum of Industry in Stellarton and a special exhibit “Celebrating Women” in conjunction with International Day of Women is at Studio Lab Gallery in New Glasgow. Both exhibits close March 30th. She is now preparing a new exhibit of paintings at The Bistro in New Glasgow during April, May and June. There will be an opening on Sunday April 7th from 2-4 pm with artist talk at 3pm.

Janet believes that her artwork will continue to respond to what she feels needs to be adjusted and what needs attention.

“You have to be authentic to yourself and stand up for what you believe in.” My work is a response to the imbalance that continues to exist,” says Janet. “Each generation is getting a little better but there is still a great need for change and it’s important that we keep talking about these things that really matter and to evoke whatever change is necessary.”

To learn more about Janet’s work you can visit her websites: janetwallace-art.com and coverinthenewsart.com

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THRESHOLDS

BY LORI BYRNE PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

Get a grip on the trendiest knobs

T

here seems to be an abundance of stylish knobs on the market and the stores that carry them these days are just as plentiful. You’ve seen them, you’ve picked up a few of the ones that caught your eye. There’s glass, hand-painted, wood, antler, metal, concrete, retro, Victorian, the list could go on! But maybe you wonder what you can do with these knobs as they pull at your imagination?

The possibilities are endless but here’s a few ideas to get the wheels turning.

The most common idea would be to change up the hardware on your kitchen cabinets. Nothing adds spark and interest like new knobs to tired, dated cupboards.

This would be a quick, easy refresh that could be done in an hour but would make a big statement.

With a few simple changes, you can take an old piece of furniture from blah to wow! This dresser started out as a dated piece that was left behind, but now, it’s ready for a new life in the bedroom of a sweet girl.

Granted, this piece also got a fresh coat of paint. But even the simple act of changing out the knobs would still create quite a transformation. Whether it’s a dresser

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like this one, or an old, weathered armoire, or some new IKEA furniture, nothing can escape the power of a simple makeover.

Another idea if you can’t decide which of your favourites to take home, buy three or four of your favourite ones and add them to a board to create a fun, colourful jewelry hanger or coat rack. This would also make a great gift for a hostess, housewarming party or a gift for a teen-aged fashionista’s birthday party.

Adding different knobs to builder’s cabinets can help set the theme for kids’ bathrooms or bedrooms, too, whether it is adding them to bathroom cabinets or desk drawers, or even their closet doors. Little starfish or anchors for the little pirates or mermaids in your life, they’ll love it and it’ll make a boring builders space shine! Sometimes, something as little as their very own choice of knobs can give them the feeling that they helped make your house into their home, too.

No doubt there are lots of other fun ideas out there for all the fabulous knobs, I’ll leave that creativity up to you, just have fun hunting for the perfect knobs for your next project.

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This dresser started out as a dated piece that was left behind, but now, it’s ready for a new life in the bedroom of a sweet girl.

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The North Shore

COVER STORY

style

FUNCTION SPRINGS INTO

BY CRYSTAL MURRAY PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

“It takes time to curate a home to reflect the people who live in the spaces,” says Allison Gaudett, as she nestles into a corner of a sofa in her living room that is receiving a bath of happy spring sunshine.

T

he space and the objects around her are a mix of re-purposed and re-imagined with shiny and brand new. She has been curating her own home and a new life in the Valley Woods neighbourhood of Stellarton, Pictou County with her partner Rob MacDonald, their children Findley 6, Myléne 4, and yellow lab Moe. It has been about two and a half years since the couple purchased their new home that looks very different today from when they first walked through the door in 2016.

The house on Cedar Drive was one of the first builds in the friendly little subdivision back in the early 80s. It had great bones but it was showing its age. The layout and foundational décor had been on trend 30 years ago, however it didn’t take long for Allison to create a new vision for the property and they were sold.

“The house was dark and lacked flow,” says Allison.

“I needed to brighten it up to live here.” Looking back at the “before” photos the transformation has been quite remarkable. In a little more than two years they have transformed dark and dated into light and breezy with the millennial trend for paired down simple elegance

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with a focus on function. To make the reno even more exceptional, Allison and Rob did the majority of the work themselves. Allison as the visionary and curator of their own story has captured much of the reno warrior journey in her blog and Instagram account Details Darlings and Daiquiris.

With two small children and Rob working out west for the 14/14 schedule that many Nova Scotia families will be familiar with, Allison knew that she had to remove the stress of a big reno from the family dynamic and make it fun and involved for everyone.

“The kids have turned into little decorating dynamos,” she laughs. “They know that Mummy likes white but they have had their say in some colour choices. Findley chose a very vibrant green for his room. I kept trying to “trick him into a more subtle shade but he knew what he wanted.”

Allison’s palette is very fresh and stays on the neutral side of the colour wheel. It speaks to her need for light and energy in her spaces and she says it also gives her ease and availability to change out decorative elements and seasonal expressions.

While you would think it would be easy to pin Allison down with a specific décor style, she believes that her

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The kitchen soaks up the spring sunlight while Yellow Lab Moe looks for a treat. When Allison and Rob purchased their Valleywoods home, one of their first projects was to open up the floor plan and extend the kitchen along the entire length of the house creating flow from all angles.

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The entryway is an immediate welcome and sets the tone for Allison’s welcoming but paired-down style. Attention to detail and geometry make an opening statement. The ceiling lantern was purchased locally and spray painted to fit the décor

natural style is more about creating functional spaces that work for today’s living than it is the colour of her walls and couch. This was always her approach to projects and she learned to expand on this knowledge of functional spaces when she was studying to become a Design Consultant through an on-line program offered by the New York Institute of Art and Design.

It was the redesign of the home’s functional space that consumed most of the family’s renovation budget.

Opening the main floor, replacing all of the windows, re-routing plumbing, exterior work and landscaping were major investments. The kitchen was the most extensive interior project after opening up the main floor plan when they elongated the space and moved a few doors and windows to create the flow that Allison was looking for. While most of the reno was their own sweat equity they did bring in local tradespeople for the construction of their kitchen cabinets and electrical.

Allison is just starting to build her design consulting business but for years she has helped family and friends with their own design projects.

“Helping friends and family was natural for me and it took me awhile to realize that while my design eye came naturally to me it didn’t necessarily come naturally to other people. That’s when I realized

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COVER STORY

Above: While all renovations come with a significant price tag, Allison and her partner Rob were able to keep a little money in their own pockets or splurge on items like their kitchen cabinetry by doing some of the work themselves.

The back splash tile, ceiling beams, and window installation are just a few of the projects they tackled on their own.

Right: Allison’s style is grounded in function and at times frugality. She has a knack for up-cycling furniture and items to give them a new purpose. The coffee table, living room chairs, and art over the fire place all had previous lives.

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COVER STORY In the bathroom, white walls, mirror frame, and window trim allow for the custom wood cabinetry and sink vanity to pop with warm tones.

that I had a marketable skill and decided to formalize some education around this part of my life.”

“My real passion is for people to understand the value in function. It is the foundation of everything else. Your final product can change with little décor changes but ultimately you have to be happy with how the space functions, create balance and scale.”

Give Allison and Rob a day to tidy up after two busy kids and you would think that you were walking into a Pinterest pop up house. They are prime examples of the new age of millennials that have been brought up on social media and endless access to DIY and home improvement programming. They are the generation that is smart, savvy and has an eye for design. They have choices for their décor that older generations never had. They are also the generation that believes that less is more and it is reflected in their design style. They live is an era where so much of the product of the market is disposable but they still have some of the penny wise DNA of their grandparents who were resourceful in the repurposing of “things” that might otherwise just go to the curb.

Allison has re-purposing down to science.

It’s another skill that just comes naturally for her and it’s here that her flair for the

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little touches really takes you by surprise.

The coffee table had a former life as a train play station for a friend’s pre-schooler.

The art piece over the fireplace is a vintage scarf that she picked up at a yard sale and then framed by Rob. Two rows of vintage botanical wall hangings that were hidden in her mother’s basement give warmth and a storied spin to her modern rustic dining room.

“I come from a family of collectors. What some people think of as trash become my treasures. It’s hereditary,” says Allison.

There are still a few more projects to tackle this spring. They intend to extend

the deck around the back of the house.

Then there is the mudroom that they believe needs some attention to bring it into the same theme as the rest of the house. The landscape will be an on-going project. It was the treed corner lot that attracted them to the home in the first place and they want to maximize the outdoor function as much as their interior.

“I love my house,” says Allison after thinking about the rest of her to-do list.

“I don’t think that what I have done here is what I would do in another space but this is what this house called for. I love it and I appreciate everything about it.”

Myléne’s bedroom is a sweet style that will grow with her.

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INSIDE STORY

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KITCHEN

BY ALLISON GAUDETT PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

It has been said that ‘time with friends is always well spent.’

That statement could not be more accurate – nail on head – when it comes to my friend Amy.

Left: Time with friends is always well spent. Especially

beauty ON A BUDGET

F

irst and foremost, Amy makes whipping up homemade anything look like a breeze. This nearly always means coffee at her house includes delicious fluffy biscuits, fresh granola bar squares, or when she’s really inspired, carrot cake with cream cheese icing. Who’s hungry? I’d have to be hard pressed to pass on an invitation because good food in great company is the key to this tired Momma’s heart. But more than that, our kids are similar in age and will gleefully spend hours exchanging silly squeals and imaginative play while allowing mothers to catch up in the kitchen – and from time to time, get up to a little renovation mischief.

Without fail, when the two of us get together there is endless chatter and contagious laughter that always turns to dreaming, alternatively deemed ‘scheming’ by our other halves. Coffee and biscuits turn cold as they tag out to hammers and pry bars – Amy’s tool/weapon of choice. Our key recipe for renovation success is team work, each bringing different but complimentary skills to the figurative table. A simple conversation between two friends - one a compulsive planner with a knack for foresight and interiors, the other an impulsive, endlessly energetic motivator who happens to be excellent at wielding a pry bar – led to this beautiful kitchen transformation, where all that baking magic now happens.

Talk It Out

if it includes a DIY kitchen overhaul and baked goods.

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There are seemingly endless possibilities when it comes to refreshing a space but generally budget, personal styles and timelines have a tendency to scale those back significantly. It is key to pinpoint upfront the problem areas in every space and compile a list of must haves and wants to help guide the project. This helps to pre-establish a vision with solutions that are within scope in order to produce an on-point end result worth the investment.

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INSIDE STORY

For Amy, the kitchen felt dark and lacked personality that related to the rest of her home she had so carefully curated.

By moving the placement of a few of her original cupboards, Amy was able to create a few more modernlooking nooks to break up the traditional style of her kitchen. She made her own floating shelves that opened up the space while still being functional and creating opportunity to display canisters and pretty dishes.

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For Amy, the kitchen felt dark and lacked personality that related to the rest of her home she had so carefully curated. There were problem areas that gathered junk which ultimately displayed a misuse of space which she wanted to maximize for her family’s benefit.

Think Outside the Box A full overhaul project with all new everything is not always the answer, or an option, in every situation. Budget can force creative alternatives which have a tendency to work out to be a happy, beautiful outcome with the proper planning and forethought.

By re-imagining what was already there we injected the space with new personality by re-jigging the existing cabinetry. Which expensed absolutely nothing beyond our time, joined muscle, and creativity.

• Eliminating the problematic desk area altogether allowed for better traffic flow.

• Removing all the upper cabinetry, with the exception of the two flanking the new range hood, opened up the space to feel bigger, creating an opportunity for DIY open shelving that can be injected with a blend of functional and decorative elements exuding personal style.

• Splitting the full height pantry cabinets and relocating to either side of the refrigerator created visual balance. *And allowed for an upgrade that otherwise would not have fit.

• Repurposing the corner upper cabinets as an island base added needed closed storage, increased counter space, and allowed for subtle colour and textural variation creating interest in the overall space.

Colour Palette The power of paint is a real thing.

By saying goodbye to the dark stain, this light creamy cabinet colour brings the bright warmth to this space Amy was originally after.

A few gallons of paint and endless patience created this traditional yet fresh neutral backdrop that enhances each detail that has been layered in.

Down to the Details Each decision along the way, big or small, affects the overall outcome and mood the space evokes. Reference the original vision list, keep the budget in check, and anticipate how each decision will play into the next.

For this project the details ranged in scope: • Bulk head removal was a homeowner must, which allowed for a simple finish moulding to add interest.

• DIY white subway tile applied with large spacers filled with dark grout catches the eye.

• Incorporating a variation of wood elements, grey tones in the island, sink, and countertops, and glass in the lights and dishware relate to the rest of the house and customize the space.

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Selected Shows

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INSIDE STORY

When she built her saltbox-style home, Louise Cloutier wanted as little maintenance to do as possible.

Putting unpainted steel on the exterior gave her one more thing to love about her home: “It reflects the sky,” she says. “I like how the house fits into its environment.”

The North Shore

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OUTSIDE An Artist Designs A Small House With A Big Impact

IN

BY SARA JEWELL PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

W

hen her marriage ended in 1999, Louise Cloutier left her home on the Northumberland Strait near Pugwash and rented a house along the River Philip, a move that healed her broken heart.

“I fell in the love with the river,” says Louise, who moved to Nova Scotia from Quebec in 1989. “You don’t play on the ocean in the winter time but on the river, you can snowshoe and do other activities. The river was where I wanted to be.”

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INSIDE STORY

A friend suggested a property down the road that might be for sale, and on the day Louise knocked on the owner’s door to inquire, she returned to the rented house knowing the four-acre mix of woods and fields that extends right to the river was hers.

There was an old barn on the property and Louise thought she’d renovate it to live in but an engineer told her it wasn’t worth saving.

“But the barn had all this metal on the roof so before demolishing it, I saved the metal,” she says.

Louise wanted to use that old steel on the outside of her new house but her carpenter told her it wasn’t usable; there were too many holes. Undeterred, Louise told him to put it on the inside walls, while new steel went on the exterior.

“As a single woman, I wanted my home as maintenance-free as possible so I never have to paint the outside of the house,” explains the now-retired high school art teacher. “There’s steel on the outside and steel on the inside; it’s the kind of house that you can huff and puff but never blow it down!” she laughs. She also lined an interior wall with natural wood shingles and finished her downstairs bathroom with raw lumber in order to minimize maintenance inside as well.

Beginning with a basic saltbox house, Louise designed the interior space of her home with architect Frank Lloyd Wright and her travels in Europe as inspiration.

“His idea was to get away from the box room and have a free-flowing space,” she says. “And in Europe, I enjoyed the narrow alleyways where you look up and see the sky above.”

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Left: It’s not enough to feel like the outside comes into the house; Richard and Louise want to be outside, too. The couple spends as much time as they can on the river, kayaking, swimming, pontoon boating, swinging in the hammock, and having cookouts.

Right: The smaller of the two bedrooms upstairs is used as a guest room, and provides a writing space for Richard, a poet.

Below: Louise and Richard play cards at the kitchen table, which came from Switzerland.

The painting above the table works as a “faux” window in the centre of the house.

A central circling staircase provides the interior walls and gives the impression of the house spiralling upwards.

When it came time to do the kitchen, Louise didn’t have enough money for cupboards. Rather than go into debt for the kitchen she’d designed, she asked her carpenter to build her a workbench to go along the shorter wall under a window. He then lined it with metal and cut a hole in it for the old farmhouse sink Louise had found in the old barn and refurbished. That sink is the ultimate contrast with the industrial kitchen she ended up with thanks to a long steel countertop and steel shelving found at a second-hand restaurant equipment store in Truro.

Although the kitchen has two windows, Louise wanted to make an even bigger impact so above the long kitchen table hangs a large painting of the Confederation Bridge against a blue sky.

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INSIDE STORY

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Left: Louise wanted her space to have a feeling of movement and flow. A painting of the Confederation Bridge floats on the wall of corrugated steel that was salvaged from the demolition of her old barn prior to building.

Below left: While it’s not what she first designed, Louise loves the simplicity of her low-cost industrialstyle kitchen. The farmhouse sink is an original and what it lacks in shiny white enamel it makes up for in charm and contrast.

“You don’t see a wall when you walk in and that painting is there,” explains the realist painter. “I learned that when you have a small space, you don’t go with little things. You go big and it gives a bigger impression.”

In 2011, Louise fell in love again, this time with a poet named Richard. She says going from living alone to having another person in the house was “quite an adjustment” but at least he didn’t have much to move in.

“He had his suitcases full of poetry,” she says with a smile. Upstairs are two bedrooms, a bathroom and a space she uses for yoga, so the guest room became Richard’s writing room and the closet was enlarged into her yoga room.

It’s a fair trade considering Richard allowed Louise to take over the main floor of his house in Pugwash so she could fulfil her retirement plan of opening her own art studio.

An American citizen, Richard must return to the States every six months and since retiring in 2015, Louise goes down south with him. After spending the winter on the ocean under a vast sky, she loves returning home to her house along the river with its large windows and light-filled rooms.

“Here, it’s the woods. The woods are in the house; every window frames the woods. And it’s quiet and private.”

Blending in to her beloved property was an unexpected bonus of her lowmaintenance design.

“I like the fact that the outside comes in,” she says. “I also like that when you stand back and look at the unpainted stainless steel on the outside, it reflects the sky. I like how the house fits into the environment.”

Hand Spinning Weaving Left: Several “Tree Sprites” created

by Louise can be found throughout the riverside property she now shares with partner, Richard Dittami.

Louise created the first of them several years ago for a friend whose

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driftwood collected from the river and ocean beaches. They are gowned and some of them have lights underneath their gowns; Louise uses one as a Christmas tree.

There is a Sprite nestled between the cedars on the front lawn who welcomes visitors fortunate enough to notice, while another one is visible from the dining room window and helps forecast the weather. Louise says when it is windy, her skirt ripples, and in winter, the depth of snow is easily gauged by the five-

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INSIDE STORY

Originally, Louise planned to have a painting studio upstairs but realized she wanted to be close to the coffee pot. Working in her living room, she prefers to paint in the morning when her workspace is saturated in direct light.

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Right: It took more than eleven years to find the right sofa for this small space! The rich blue velvet couch in the living room is an invitation to lounge and relax. Its luxuriousness is a sharp contrast to the unfinished wood and weathered steel on the walls of the house, the perfect combination for an artist who loves colour and texture.

Below: Louise’s partner, Richard Dittami, stands on what she calls “the lookout landing” at the top of the stairs. It serves as both a viewing station for the stairwell art gallery and a balcony that looks down over the kitchen and main entrance.

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AT HOME WITH...

Eco-conscious bag designer Tabitha Co has business well in hand

TAB-ON-THEThe North Shore

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BY CRYSTAL MURRAY PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

Y Sustainability and purpose are the fabrics of Tabitha’s life and designs. Her ecoconscious brand is finding a place in the growing Atlantic Canadian fashion industry.

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ou have to admire her pluck. Breaking into the fashion manufacturing industry in Atlantic Canada from a little studio in her home on the Westside of New Glasgow takes some moxie. However, the timing might just be perfect for Tabitha Co and her signature handbag brand TABITHA+ CO. With greater awareness of the fashion industries growing reputation for being one of the biggest global polluters, more people, even the most fashion conscious are on the hunt for responsibly and ethically produced garments and accessories.

It’s a mutli-billion dollar a year industry. Every season there is the hunt for the latest trend, that perfect workbag or clutch for a night out on the town. Handbags can take up as much or even more space in most women’s closets as their shoe collection. Each one of those bags is part of an endless consumer demand for goods that are updated more often than suggestions to your Netflix account.

The call for a more sustainable fashion industry is being heard and responded to, but even products like vegan leather come with an environmental price tag and footprint. Tabitha believes that by creating something new out of materials that are already in stream she is finding her place in the solution and the growing number of small manufacturers that are finding their tribe and getting praise for their fashion forward, mindfully produced designs.

Sustainability, timelessness and eco-awareness are all part of Tabitha’s personal fabric, woven into her life story and now engrained into her leather products that not only carry her name but her philosophy.

“The environment comes into play personally and professionally.

Creating mindfully made products that are timeless to ensure clients gain longevity from their investments. From up cycling to sourcing ethical materials that follow my values is very important. I continue to explore this as my company grows and evolves,” says Tabitha.

Creating something beautiful from something that already exists was not a new idea for Tabitha. She laughs but cautiously tells the tale of a time when she was a young girl growing up on the South Shore of Nova Scotia and she got her hands on a much admired blouse belonging to her Mum. “I completely took it apart. I really needed to see how it was made but I felt so guilty about doing this to my Mum’s blouse.” It’s apparent that all has been forgiven. Her Mum Wendy was her first customer after she launched her business in February 2018.

Forays into fashion design, educational and manufacturing have all been part of Tabitha’s journey. She created her own fashion line for a project in college that made the runway during an Atlantic Festival of Fashion. Her studies in design and manufacturing at several academic and trade schools set her on the right trajectory to learn the business from several different angles. She used her talents as a designer at WearWell Garments in Stellarton and when life took her to Halifax she did design work for a small sports wear company.

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AT HOME WITH...

WITH

Tabitha designs for people on the go. From her current show room in her home in New Glasgow, she displays her multifunctional bags. While she showcased her line at Atlantic Fashion Week, she reaches the majority of her clients at markets and traffic to her web site.

Below. It is attention to tiny details that are appreciated by Tabitha’s clients.

Studying with her mentor Paul Marcella, she learned a few tricks that will make her bags timeless companions.

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When Tabitha returned to Pictou County when her children were still very young she channeled her energy for environmental consciousness and became involved with the Green Schools movement that works to enhance environmental sustainability at schools.

Creativity is constantly tapping on Tabitha’s door.

Even when she was not actively engaged in design and manufacturing work it was always present. She says that when her kids were little they didn’t know about her work but they knew that their Mum was pretty handy with the sewing machine. “I would often hear, Mum can you make this and the answer was always yes.”

Tabitha will say that her children, Ben and Abby, have always been her greatest inspiration but she also found a confidence and a passion while working with her mentor Paul Marcella, a master craftsman from Boylston, Guysborough County, well known in the trade for his attention to detail and beautiful, enduring products. She spent 10 months with Paul and still maintains a connection and looks for feedback on her work and pursuits for exceptional quality.

Tabitha’s client list continues to grow with her brand awareness. Last fall she was invited to participate in Atlantic Fashion Week. She was one of 32 east coast designers, including Caribou Island’s Carrie Lamb and her dazzling jewelry line Frida, showcasing the very best of the industry and demonstrating the strength and innovation that can place Atlantic fashion arts on the national level.

Less than a year out of the gate since the launch of her line Tabitha says that she felt a huge sense off accomplishment when her creations hit the runway at the fashion showcase.

“I was back stage prepping models with my friend volunteers so I didn’t get to see my creations in the same way that the audience did but I will tell you that I felt a huge sense of accomplishment when I heard my company name being introduced and to see my company logo projected onto the screen.”

From her studio and showroom in New Glasgow Tabitha continues to work on new design ideas, research hand source ecologically sourced materials and refine her skills.

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She takes pride in her attention to the tiniest of details From tying and burning of tiny fragments of threads to the positioning of buckles and straps so the bags not only look beautiful but they can stand up to the wear and tear of a woman on the go and feel fantastic when you are wearing them.

Her mindfulness extends to the reduction of waste that is often object of criticism in the fashion industry. She finds ways to use the remnants from her pattern cuttings to make key chains or stamp with her company name to brand her products. From there, anything left is gathered and Tabitha sends them a little farther upstream to her friend and artist Kim Danio who up cycles shoes and handbags into whimsical pieces of art. “It’s important to me to be respectful and support other designers along the way throughout this ever-evolving industry,” says Tabitha thinking of her expanding network.

There is a familiar, almost soothing scent from the leather that lingers in the air in Tabitha’s studio. There is a rack that holds layers of hides of different colours and textures, several shelves displaying her products and a framed sign on the wall that says, “I made your bag.” There is modesty to Tabitha as she shares her story and speaks about her talents. Like the leather she works with there is a softness to her exterior but

you know that this gentleness gives way to something quite resilient and strong. As is the experience of most entrepreneurs and creative deployments she has taken her knocks. Balancing her aspirations with family life is an on-going challenge and sometimes deflecting the naysayers.

“Starting a company takes courage. It comes with many changes and risk. I have learned that I am a lot stronger than I give myself credit for. It’s important for me to show my two children to find what brings them joy, pursue it passionately and to make mistakes. This is all part of the process. If you work hard, doing something that you love, that in itself is a life success.”

She believes that she is just scratching the surface of the fashion industry and has endless exploration and excitement ahead of her.

She doesn’t get caught up on what top fashion houses are producing.

Her joy is in creating products with purpose and giving her clients long lasting joy. She’s not sure what will be next in her product evolution.

But there is one thing for sure.

Tabitha Co-is-on-the-go!

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ON THE TABLE

FOOD IN

FULL

bloom

BY LINDSAY CAMERON WILSON PHOTOS BY BRUCE MURRAY, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

W

e moved into our Halifax home in late May a few years ago, just in time for the cherry tree to blossom outside our bedroom window. I have to admit, I didn’t know we had a cherry tree; the beautiful bones of the house, streaked with water damage, were top of mind when we bought the house earlier that winter. But that first morning, when I opened the wooden shutters of our unpacked bedroom, there it was, a few feet from my eyes: cherry branches coated in the palest pink blossoms, just about to burst. Beside the cherry tree, reaching toward me from the neighbour’s yard, was a magenta flowering crabapple tree. The two together made a gorgeous bouquet, right outside my window. A harbinger of spring.

Nova Scotians deserve these blossoms. We wait, patiently, as the country blooms from west to east, eventually reaching us after what feels like (a frozen, wet) forever. But deprivation breeds gratitude, I’d say. When your winter stretches into May, when the ice on the Northumberland Strait melts so slowly you wonder how the lobster season can ever begin, when the ground is wet with melting snow, we appreciate the tiniest signs of new life most.

We planted a flowering apple tree last fall behind our cottage, protected from the winter winds. The soil was hard and thick with clay. But we dug a hole big enough for the roots to stretch and grow, and filled it with rich soil. As of last week, our little tree is still there, its slender trunk standing tall, smiling smugly at the exposed tilted and windswept evergreens.

When the waiting gets too long, bring spring inside. Find some flowering branches and put them in water. The blossoms will come, a few weeks later, filling your space with the touch of pink we all need this time of year. Or bring a touch of pink to the table. The humble beet makes the most vibrant hummus, magenta-stained devilled eggs, and a natural dye for Easter eggs. This spread is the best sign of new life while we’re waiting for those blossoms to arrive.

The North Shore

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After a winter of running to the ski hills we are ready for a return to our shared family beach house in Toney River and for an Easter Brunch that will be “pretty in pink.�

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The North Shore

Beetroot-Stained Deviled Eggs Makes 16 devilled eggs INGREDIENTS 1 medium-sized beet, peeled and roughly chopped 750 ml (3 cups) water 250 ml (1 cup) apple cider vinegar 8 hard boiled eggs, peeled 4 Tbsp mayonnaise 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard Cracked black pepper to taste Microgreens to garnish (radish microgreens have a touch of pink)

INSTRUCTIONS Combine chopped beet, water and vinegar in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Let simmer gently for 5 minutes, then remove from heat and leave to cool. When cool, transfer liquid, with chopped beets, to a bowl or large jar. Carefully drop peeled, hard-boiled eggs into liquid and place in the refrigerator for 3 hours, or overnight for a deeper colour.

When ready to serve, take eggs from liquid and gently pat dry with paper towel. Slice eggs in half lengthwise with a sharp knife, wiping the knife after slicing each egg. Carefully remove yolks with a small spoon and place in a mixing bowl.

This is where the recipe can be adapted to suit you - everyone has their own devilled egg recipe. But the basic route is to mash yolks with a fork, then add mayonnaise, mustard and pepper and mix well until everything is smooth. Spoon (or pipe) mixture back into the egg whites.

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The North Shore

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

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

ah! Spring 2019 - 44

ON THE TABLE

Beet Hummus Makes approximately 500ml (2 cups) hummus INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

1 medium cooled, roasted beet (leftover from last night’s dinner is ideal!)

Roughly chop beet and blend in a food processor until only small bits

1 x 398 ml (14oz) can chickpeas, drained

remain. Add remaining ingredients, except olive oil, and blend until

Juice and zest of 1 lemon (zest first, juice after)

smooth. With the motor running, add olive oil, more if necessary, until

Pinch sea salt

desired consistency. Taste, adding more salt and pepper if you’d like.

Cracked black pepper to taste

Serve with chopped vegetables, in sandwiches, mix with yolks for pink

½ tsp ground cumin

centered devilled eggs or serve with crackers. Hummus will keep in an

2 cloves garlic, chopped

airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.

3 Tbsp tahini, stirred in jar before measuring 60 ml (¼ cup) olive oil

Beet-dyed Easter Eggs Different vegetables, from onion skins to red cabbage, will create beautifully subtle, dyed eggs.

Red beets will dye white-shelled eggs and gentle blush colour.

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

1 litre (4 cups) water

Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add

For a textured effect, wrap eggs in fennel or dill fronds then carefully wrap again with panty

6 medium beets, roughly chopped

chopped beets and vinegar and simmer for

hose, tie tightly to secure the greens inside and

2 Tbsp white vinegar

30 minutes. Remove beets from liquid using a

cut off any excess. The ‘toe’ is easiest to work

12 white-shelled, hard boiled eggs

strainer or a slotted spoon, discard, and leave

with, as you only have to tie once, but use what

liquid to cool slightly.

you have. Lower tied parcels into liquid and

For textured, dyed eggs you’ll need:

For smooth, evenly dyed eggs, lower eggs

proceed as above.

Remove eggs from the dye after desired time

Dill and or fennel fronds

into liquid and leave to soak until desired colour

Several pairs of drug-store panty hose

is reached – anywhere from ten minutes or

and discard hose and greens, if using. Leave

overnight in the refrigerator for a richer tone.

eggs to dry in an egg carton.

Beer Wine Spirits Ciders

For Every Taste!

Ferment your wine & beer instore!

Monday–Saturday 9–5 | Thursday 9–7

21 Heritage Ave., Stellarton | 902.755.9463 | waternwine.ca 45 -

ah! Spring 2019

The North Shore

ON THE TABLE

kravingKIMCHI

BY DEBBI HARVIE

K

imchi. By now you have most definitely heard this word, but what it is? Why has it become so popular? What are its benefits?

It’s easy to become confused by health trends as they change so rapidly and drastically, but Kimchi has been a staple in Korean diets for hundreds of years. The word Kimchi may only be about 200 years old, but the product that is Kimchi as we now know it, has been around since the 1600s.

So what is Kimchi? Simply put, it’s fermented vegetables. I know, it doesn’t sound overly appealing, however, if you can get past the idea, it is not only delicious, but holds so many possible health benefits.

Kimchi most often is made from fermented cabbage preserved with salt, chili powder for that little “kick”, and fish sauce, as well as radish and other vegetables, with sweet rice flour used in the fermentation process.

Fermentation is a naturally occurring process that preserves food in a raw, cultured and living state.

It is a staple in Korean diets because of the fermentation aspect. This is typically a dish served in the winter months, when fresh vegetables were less prevalent, because it provides vitamins and minerals, probiotics, and anti-oxidants required during the colder, winter months.

Jeff Chung, co-owner of the Pictou Lunch Box, notes that on average Koreans eat 37 kilograms each per year of Kimchi, as it is a side dish with most meals.

But what’s really interesting about Kimchi are the health benefits that come along with eating this rich delicacy.

According to Teresa Flynn, Sobeys dietitian in the New Glasgow region, fermented foods are made by adding beneficial bacteria or yeast and allowing time for rest. This process may change the texture, flavour, colour, and in the end may promote a healthy gut, balancing acidity within your stomach.

The North Shore

What that means is things like fermented foods including Kimchi, Sauerkraut, Kombucha, miso, tempeh, and Keifer or yogurt help the gut to produce more of the good bacteria we need for healthy living and the more good bacteria we have, the more difficult it is for the negative or “bad” bacteria to grow, and less likely that we will succumb to sickness. It has been determined that 80 per cent of your immune system is in your digestive system so a healthy and balanced gut is essential and very achievable with fermented foods..

Kimchi has also been known to help add a variety of textures and flavours to our diet that we may not typically ingest allowing us to get more nutrients and fibre in our diet. And it can help with better digestion, meaning less bloating.

Alex Currie of Pyramid Ferments notes there are 200 types of recognized Kimchi recipes.

Currie is a native of Pictou, and he and his wife have had a passion for fermented foods for a number of years, with their Pyramid Ferments growing exponentially through central and western Canada.

Although traditionally served in the winter, Kimchi can be enjoyed any time of the year with any meal. In fact, it is great with cheesy toast, eggs, added to a cheese tray, or even just mixed into some hot rice.

The combinations are endless, as are the Kimchi recipes.

Try it, if not for your health, then for your taste buds!

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Simple Vegan Kimchi from Pyramid Ferments INGREDIENTS:

1 Tbsp grated ginger

1 large head of nappa cabbage

2 Tbsp chopped garlic

2 carrots

2 Tbsp Gochugaru or substitute with a

1 smaller daikon radish (optional) 1 bunch green onions

hot red pepper powder of your choice 1 tsp sea salt

INSTRUCTIONS:

47 -

Wash the nappa cabbage and cut length

become juicy as the salt draws out the water in

wise into quarters. Chop into strips or pieces

the vegetables. Do not over mix as it will become

approximately 1�x1�.

too mushy.

In a large bowl add the chopped nappa cabbage.

Pack into a clean, glass mason jar and push the

Grate the carrots and the radish and add to

vegetables down until you see the brine begin to

the bowl.

rise up. Clean the sides and mouth of the jar and

Add in chopped green onions, ginger and garlic

apply a plastic lid. Push the mixture down with

and gochugaru (a Korean hot pepper powder

a fork daily. Leave on your counter for 5-7 days

used for Kimchi).

and when it begins to taste sour and delicious,

Add in sea salt.

enjoy and refrigerate after. Kimchi will keep

With your hands, mix ingredients together and

several months in the refrigerator.

massage and squeeze the mixture until well

Enjoy Kimchi with eggs at breakfast, in a grilled

blended. You should begin to see the mixture

cheese sandwich or on its own.

ah! Spring 2019

The North Shore

HEALTHY AT HOME

SECRET SNACKS FOR

luminous LOOKS

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.

W

e’ve all heard someone utter the phrase, “she is glowing” when referring to a women who is expecting. But pregnant women aren’t the only ones who can fetch such lovely compliments. I truly believe that everyone can put their best face forward simply by choosing wholesome health supportive foods, drinking adequate amounts of life giving water, getting a great night sleep (it’s not called your beauty sleep for no reason), protecting your skin with amazing products and ensuring that you get your heart pumping with some energizing exercise for at least 30 minutes every day. This may seem like a tall order to some, but it really is as easy as deciding that these pillars are a MUST. The words of guru motivational speaker Tony Robbins come to mind when he talks about our “shoulds”…“yes, I should focus on eating better; yes, I know I should drink more water; yes, I should go to bed earlier; yes, I should wear sunscreen; yes, I should exercise more, and before you know it we “should all over ourselves!” Well enough is enough, it’s time to glow, turn your should into a must!!

If I were to give you advice on the three best things you can do to achieve you healthy luminous look I would focus on three (OKAY, maybe four):

1

You must ensure you eat a variety of superfoods, particularly Vitamin C, which What you is a powerful antioxidant. It’s needed to EAT maintain strong immunity and it’s the key ingredient to giving you healthy radiant skin. If you ensure you are eating a variety of fruits and veggies, living foods as they say, you’ll have your skin glowing in no time. Also, healthy fats such as avocado, plant based oils, seeds and nuts are essential for keeping those skin cells happy.

2

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Water is free and (in first world countries) it’s readily assessable to all. Nature also gives us what What you DRINK we need. In the tropics you’ll find the best natural hydrating liquid on the planet, coconut water. It’s an amazing source of vitamin C, potassium, calcium, and magnesium which are incredible for maintaining equilibrium and hydration within your cells. Nature also gives us living (hydrating) foods that are comprised of 75+% water. Think of a juicy watermelon or orange; increasing your hydration levels can be as easy as reaching for one of these little babies.

Make it fun by whizzing them up into a fresh juice along with some ice and a few of your favourite spices.

The North Shore

ah! Spring 2019 - 48

Present Glo Bar Adapted from the oh she glows cookbook by Angela Liddon Makes 12 bars • Prep time: 10 mins • Chill time: 10 mins Gluten-free, oil-free, soy-free, refined sugar-free

3

Your skin is your largest organ and must be protected from the outside as well. There are many options that exist from dermatological solutions, to over the What you put counter solutions, to natural solutions for protecting on your your skin from the harsh elements that we are exposed SKIN to everyday. The bottom line is that regardless of age, gender, or lifestyle, the elements can certainly take their toll on our outermost barrier. So making a conscious effort to lending your skin a hand by using reputable product is essential. You should also make sure that sunscreen is part of your daily year-round regimen. I’ve spent most of my adult life on the water and sunscreen has been very important but I have recently learned firsthand that even sun-damaged skin can be reversed. It’s never too late to begin!

Bonus…and my personal favourite…exercise!

I found this discussion around the topic on WebMD, and I couldn’t have said it better myself: “By increasing blood flow, exercise helps nourish EXERCISE skin cells and keep them vital. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to working cells throughout the body, including the skin. In addition to providing oxygen, blood flow also helps carry away waste products, including free radicals, from working cells. Contrary to some claims, exercise doesn’t detoxify the skin. The job of neutralizing toxins belongs mostly to the liver. But by increasing blood flow, a bout of exercise helps flush cellular debris out of the system, you can think of it as cleansing your skin from the inside. Exercise has also been shown to ease stress. “And by decreasing stress, some conditions that can be exacerbated by stress can show some improvement,” says Brian B. Adams, MD, associate professor and director of the Sports Dermatology Clinic at the University of Cincinnati. Conditions that can improve when stress is reduced include acne and eczema…

Regular exercise helps tone muscles, of course. That doesn’t have a direct affect on skin, dermatologists say. But firmer muscles definitely help you look better overall.”

4

Without further ado, let’s get you on your way to healthy, happy skin. These present glo bars (and other energy bar recipes) have been part of my life as long as I can remember. As a busy athlete and mom I often reach for over the counter bars such as Lara or Elevate Me but nothing compares to these lovely nuggets. I hope your family enjoys them as much as mine; now get your glo on!

INGREDIENTS: ½ cup (125ml) pecans, finely chopped 1 ½ cups (375 ml) gluten-free rolled oats 1 ¼ cups (300 ml) rice crisp cereal ¼ cup pumpkin seeds ¼ cup dried cranberries 1 tsp (5 ml) ground cinnamon ¼ tsp (1 ml) sea salt ¼ cup (60 ml) maple syrup ¼ cup (60 ml) honey ¼ cup (60 ml) peanut butter or almond butter 1 tsp (5 ml) pure vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a 9-inch (2.5 L) square cake pan with two pieces of parchment paper (one going each way).

2. Spread the pecans in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet and toast them in the oven for 10-12 mins, until lightly golden and fragrant. Set aside to cool.

3. In a large bowl, combine the oats, rice crisp cereal, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, cinnamon, and salt.

Stir in the cool toasted pecans.

4. In a small saucepan, stir together the maple syrup, honey, and almond butter until well combined. Cook over medium to high heat until the mixture softens and bubbles slightly, then remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla.

5. Pour the almond butter mixture over the oat mixture, using a spatula to scrape every last bit out of the pan.

Stir well until all the oats and cereal are coated in the wet mixture. (The resulting mixture will be very thick and difficult to stir) 6. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan, spreading it out into an even layer. Lightly wet your hands and press down on the mixture to even it out. Use a pastry roller to compact the mixture firmly and evenly. This helps the bars hold together better. Press down the edges with your fingers to even out the mixture.

7. Place the pan in the freezer, uncovered, and chill for 10 minutes, or until firm.

8. Lift the oat squares out of the pan, using the parchment paper as handles, and place it on the cutting board. Slice the squares into six rows and then slice them in half to make 12 bars total.

9. Wrap the bars individually in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Alternatively, you can store them in the freezer for up to one month.

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ah! Spring 2019

The North Shore

DIY There’s no better way to greet the spring weather then with a new wreath on your front door. Succulents seem to be all the rage right now and if you are anything like me, you can’t keep the real ones alive, so this Modern Faux Succulent wreath is a happy solution. Stylish and durable, it’s the perfect addition to your entryway this spring.

SUPPLIES: Selection of faux succulents (purchased at the local craft supply store) Round Metal Hoop Floral wire and cutters Twine (if needed)

HELPFUL HINT: 3M makes a clear Command Hook made especially for glass – this is the perfect way to hang a wreath on your door.

The North Shore

Modern Faux Succulent Wreath PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

DIRECTIONS: STEP 1. Layout your arrangement

STEP 4. Continue this until all your

of succulents. I had some going up the side then some hanging off the bottom with a few larger ones in the centre.

succulents are wired onto the hoop and stay in place. Clip your floral wire and tuck the sharp end in.

STEP 2. Start at the top and tightly wrap the succulent stem onto the wire hoop with the floral wire. You’ll want to wrap the wire very tightly so they stay in place on the wire hoop.

STEP 5. If you have spots where the succulents don’t overlay and the stems and wire are exposed, wrap with twine to cover the gaps.

STEP 3. Lay your next succulent in

your front door as a warm welcome to both your guests and the warm spring weather.

so that it covers the stem of the first one and wire it tightly onto the hoop.

STEP 6. Hang your wreath on

ah! Spring 2019 - 50

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Forester Premier with Eyesight CV T (KJ2PE) with an MSRP of $ 39,495. Vehicle shown solely for purposes of illustration and may not be equipped exactly as shown. *EyeSight® is a driver-assist system which may not operate optimally under all driving conditions. The driver is always responsible for safe and attentitve driving. System effectiveness depends on many factors such as vehicle maintenance, weather and road conditions. See Owner’s Manual for complete details on system operation and limitations. **Ratings are awarded by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Please visit www.iihs.org for testing methods See your local Subaru dealer for details. Forester and Subaru are registered trademarks.