At Home on the North Shore Summer 2019

Summer 2019

summer JUMP into

Wild Rose Gin & Tonic | Livin’ Large at the Lake | Books for the Beach

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ON OUR COVER: On three... Noah and Audra Lavers jump into summer fun at their family’s year round retreat at Shortt’s Lake

TABITHACO.CA NEW GLASGOW, NS

PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

902.759.7715 athomeonthenorthshore.ca PUBLISHER: Fred Fiander EDITOR: Crystal Murray SALES MANAGER: Dave Wood ART DIRECTOR: Jamie Playfair GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Barbara Raymont PHOTO EDITOR: Steve Smith FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: David Wood, Sales Manager, Halifax 902 422-4990, ext. 1819 davidwood@advocatemediainc.com Blake Ross, Sales, Pictou County Phone 902 759-5054 blakeross@advocatemediainc.com

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Inside this issue

Vol. 4 Edition 3 Summer 2019

The Inside Story

Departments

8

7 Editor’s Letter

Hanging Out Show us how you sway away your summer and win a hammock

40 The Way of the Labyrinth

Cover Story

Why walking in circles is good for you

16 Leaping In or Laying Back Two great lake houses to love

At Home With...

34 Jocelyn Dorrington Sharing her vision, values, and victory

On the Table 44 Wild Roses Garnish summer’s most gorgeous gin and tonic

When there’s meaning in the magazine

12 Off the Wall Tatamagouche sculptor Sydney Blum

14 Thresholds Take you om’s outdoors

24 deCoste Performing Arts Centre Come stay and play in Pictou

30 Book Review Books for the beach

39 Field Notes Across the river and around the bend, Sara Jewell finds a friend

50 DIY Lori Byrne’s serves up a summer project with true grit

Healthy at Home 46 Medaling with My Food Tracy Stuart is delighted with blueberries

44

The North Shore

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editor’s

LETTER PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

I

always love hearing from our readers. I often get notes about how they enjoy the way our team celebrates our special region of Nova Scotia, how they had loved a recipe and always accolades for the beautiful images captured by our photographer Steve Smith. Earlier this spring I received a very special note in my inbox. We haven’t run any ‘Letters to the Editor’ in the fourteen issues that we have published, however, this is one that really needs to be shared. It’s always been important to me that At Home on the North Shore dances a slightly different jig than other publications in the market. It’s a little in the way we tell your stories and a little at looking at things through a slightly different lens. Whatever it is, I hope that all of the people who contribute to At Home on the North Shore, from the writers, the designers, the advertisers, to the circulation department realize that our little magazine is full of purpose and is making a difference in the lives we touch. Here is a little story for all of you.

Every morning at 8:30 am Angie MacDonald in Braeshore, Pictou County would be on the phone with her mother Rowlena Coles. The calls happened like clock work. They would chat about everything that happened since they hung up the phone the day before and on some of those calls Rowlena would want to chat about the latest issue of what she affectionately referred to as ‘AH! HA! Magazine.’ At the end of all of their calls, regardless of their conversation, Rowlena would finish off saying “now get on with your day.” Rowlena was known for her gardening, her baking and her pickling. She adored her family and she loved her community. She felt that ‘AH! HA!’ had all of her favourite things wrapped up in one little bundle. On February 21 Rowlena passed away very suddenly. Angie still waits for the phone to ring at 8:30 every morning. As the last jars

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of her mother’s jams and pickles have been savoured or given away to close friends or family, Angie tries to grasp onto anything that connects her to her Mum. When Angie started to sort through her Mum’s belongings she found a few copies of At Home Magazine. Some of the pages had been dog-eared and as she flipped through the copies she started to recall many of the chats she had with her Mum. She sent me a note telling this story and asked if it was possible to have a complete set of the magazine as a way to honour those moments on the phone with her Mum. I was initially worried about not being able to pull a complete set together. What’s left over from our distribution gets used for promotions and trade shows.

Last night I tied a white ribbon around a little bundle of all 14 issues and went to visit Angie. She lives at the end of a long driveway with beautiful lawns. Inside, there were freshly baked oatmeal raisin cookies for sharing and a bottle of mustard pickles tied up with a pink ribbon. We both told a few stories. We had our picture taken. We exchanged gifts. We gave each other a hug and we got on with our day. Angie told me that they bonded over the magazine. This was such a lovely thing to say but it was so evident that she and her Mum bonded over so many things and as much as I love that At Home on the North Shore was small part of their rituals of love, the connection between this mother and daughter will last long after the ink has faded from our pages.

The North Shore

INSIDE STORY

hanging

OUT

“We hung one in our front window last year, and people just loved it. We sold one to a person who took it back to Germany with them,” says Toole.

These stylish hammocks are perfect for relaxing on a sheltered or enclosed porch where the fabric is protected from the elements. (They can’t be thrown in the washing machine, so you probably aren’t going to want them exposed to pouring rain and mud.)

“They’re very soft-looking, with just cotton and the natural wood,” says Toole. “They’re all handmade, so the detail is quite spectacular.”

BY HEATHER LAURA CLARKE

THE OUTDOOR ADVENTURER

W

hat could be sweeter than climbing into a cozy nest that gently rocks you in the breeze?

Hammock season is here, and we’re getting delightfully drowsy just thinking about those zen-like hammock naps.

Whether you’re looking for a rugged hammock to take along on camping adventures or a soft woven hammock for curling up to read a book, here’s what you might want to consider about your hammock style...

THE PORCH LOUNGER Have iced tea, will lounge. Liz Toole from Above and Beyond Home Decor in downtown Truro says they sell beautiful woven hammocks and hammock chairs handmade in India.

Why sleep on the hard ground in a leaky tent when you can gently sway back and forth under the stars?

The Trail Shop in downtown Truro sells colourful parachute-style hammocks made by Eagles Nest Outfitters (ENO) — like the DoubleNest hammock that’s big enough for two.

Trail Shop owner Sue Stanfield says ENO hammocks are popular with campers who want a portable option that works in a variety of settings.

“Lots of people buy them and use them with straps to make a bed in the woods,” says Stanfield. “They have so many accessories available, like bug nets, rain tarp covers, and gear slings to hang your gear below your hammock.”

Designed for adventure, ENO hammocks are breathable and fast-drying. They’re made with treefriendly straps so they don’t harm the environment, and you don’t need to tie knots to hang ’em — they use aluminum wiregate carabiners. They fold up into a travel bag you can hold in one hand, so they’re always

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a hammock, sunshine, ready to be packed up and moved onto the next spot.

Did we mention they come in brilliantly-patterned styles and colour combos?

and your best friend,

THE INDOOR SNUGGLER Nope, hammocks aren’t just for the great outdoors.

Woven, neutral Boho-style hammocks and hammock chairs are becoming the perfect Instagram-worthy seat to complete a room decorated with miniature cacti, macrame hangings, and fiddle-leaf figs.

“Hammocks and hammock chairs have been very trendy for the last couple of years, especially amongst young people,” says Toole.

She says younger girls are decorating their rooms more than ever, but they’re not just tacking up Tiger Beat posters — they’re watching HGTV to get ideas, following designers on Instagram, and “curating” lovely spaces.

“Hammock chairs are especially luxe when you add a few throw pillows for extra cushioning,” says Toole. “These girls are cozying up in them in their rooms to read or do homework or go on social media.”

what could be better?

summer CONTEST

THE BACKYARD DREAMER If you’re looking for something long-term you can set up in the yard for a summer full of lounging, try a sturdy hammock with spreader bars and weatherproof polypropylene material like HamacTex. It looks and feels like cotton, but dries quickly and is designed to stand up to the elements.

Want a backyard hammock but lack the big strong trees to support it? No problem. You can buy steel or wood stands designed to hold a hammock when there’s not a tree trunk in sight. Happy swaying!

ol ato try u have . I have

Share your favourite “lazy summer spot” on our ah! instagram or facebook pages and you could win a new hammock from Above & Beyond and Take it Outside!

2 random winners to be drawn August 1st 2019.

TUNE IN ...to the latest news, sports, local programming and entertainment

INSIDE SPORTS Celebrating 75 Years

of quality news and entertainment 9-

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DARTMOUTH, NS 902-457-7468 | PICTOU, NS 902-485-1990 | HALIFAX, NS 902-455-2870 | BRIDGEWATER, NS 902-543-2457 DIEPPE, NB 506-857-8790 | SAINT JOHN, NB 506-654-1303 | ST. STEPHEN, NB 506-466-3220 | ST. JOHN’S, NL 709-597-2599

CONTRIBUTORS

PHOTO: KATE INGLIS, SHED PHOTOGRAPHY

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.

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HEATHER LAURA CLARKE is an award-winning journalist and columnist living in Truro.

In this issue, she’s dreaming of reading a book in a backyard hammock. She shares stories about living, working and parenting creatively on her blog, HeathersHandmadeLife.com.

LORI BYRNE Summertime means roadtrips to explore, late bedtimes and waking up smelling like a bonfire. And you can count me in for a s’more or two! Travelling to two very different lake houses makes me crave a little time at the water’s edge!

RAISSA TETANISH is an award-winning journalist and editor of The Light, covering the North Shore of Nova Scotia, and Hub Now, covering Truro and surrounding areas. She loves DIY projects, cooking, knitting, and crocheting, and can often be found teaching Zumba or sipping a delicious latte at her local coffee shop.

SARAH BUTLAND Hiking through the trails in Trenton park with her Dogo Argentino named Lumen, Butland clears her mind for the day before embracing the written word of Nova Scotian authors. When not hiking or reading, Butland has been volunteering her time at the A.G. Baillie Elementary School library to highlight the importance of reading at a young age.

TRACY STUART believes that the vibrancy and beauty of summer comes with the blossoms.

Preparing gorgeous summers meals for family & friends can be done in a snap by adding the color and beauty of edible flowers to any dish. 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

SARA JEWELL What Sara loves most about being a writer is learning new skills and trying them out for herself, whether it’s building her own labyrinth on her riverside lot, making her own cheese or growing salad fixings until Christmas. Her next challenge will be sour dough bread starter. Sara is the author of 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.

STEVE SMITH Finally, here comes summer 2019! Great stories and people abound in our latest At Home. Lakehouse living takes center stage. “Go jump in the lake” we said, so the kids did. With gusto!

(Shout out to the kids… that lake was chilly!) When we weren’t at a lakehouse, we were visiting Jocelyn Dorrington at home with her family and friends. They were as enthusiastic and charming as they look in the photos. Have a read and enjoy all the great people we have around us on the North Shore.

The North Shore

OFF the WALL

BY RAISSA TETANISH

breaking

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

free

The North Shore

Tatamagouche sculptor evolves from dark period through colourful series

E

nergy. Flow. Lift. Movement.

Those are words that all would describe the creations in Sydney Blum’s Icarus-Colour-Space series, works that now feature a grid of gradient colour within colour spaces.

“Icarus-Colour-Space arose out of a time of constriction,” says the artist who has called Tatamagouche home for the past decade. “I was able to break through – on spiritual and emotional levels. The period before the series was a dark, brittle period and this series evolved from that. It was a commitment to myself and future works.”

Sydney has been working on the series since she moved to the North Shore. She settled in Tatamagouche in December 2009, from New York State, a move she says wasn’t intentional.

She had visited the area a number of times in the years prior, and had visited a realtor with the hopes of finding a farm in the area. At the time, Sydney was told to visit Blue Sea Beach and she’d fall in love.

“And I did.”

She had become friends with a number of local businesspeople, and was happy to hear the Grace Jollymore Joyce Arts Centre would be built in the near future.

“I was really looking for a place to land at the time.”

For Icarus-Colour-Space, Sydney used Icarus, from Greek mythology, as inspiration – Icarus escaping imprisonment by flying toward the sun.

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Up until 2018, the pieces – which take about 250 hours each to create – featured a black or graphite grid within the colour spaces.

She uses paper chip board to create each piece, which she paints with acrylics, and affixes them together with wire. She mixes each colour until she gets the shade she’s happy with.

The wing-shaped pieces suggest a continuum of time and space, and viewers are often left feeling like they’re about to take off. Motion and the sensation are depicted by the pieces, and direction can be changed by a number of things – the way each piece is hung, turned, and even lit.

Sydney, who moved to the North Shore from New York State in December 2009, says the black or graphite grid was what was driving the contractions and the expansion of space.

“It was the overly to move the space, and in some ways it inspired me to form contractions,” she said.

With 13 pieces of the Icarus series done with the black grid, changing to the colour gradient has changed the dynamic of the pieces.

“It was a bit of a eureka moment for me,” said the artist, who has created a half-dozen pieces so far with the gradient. “(The grid and colour pieces) work with and against each other, allowing me to maximize colour. With the distortion of the grid, I can create movement in the flat plain and maximize the movement when I move into the colours.”

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While she’s still attached to some of the original pieces, Sydney admits the colour gradient is a different part, yet a continuation, of the process. She finds them more dynamic and vibrant.

When she starts out with a piece, Sydney never knows how it will turn out.

“So much can happen along the way. Sometimes I have to surrender to the piece itself. What it wants to do and what I want it to do are sometimes very different. Sometimes it’s a bit of a battle,” she said, admitting it takes more physical work the further along the piece gets.

Once formed, it’s still a bit of a struggle to have the piece hang right, and to find how she’s happy with lighting.

“It’s quite dynamic after it’s done, not just visually, but physically as well. The shadows are critical.”

Prior to the Icarus series, Sydney’s ‘Fuzzy Geometry’ also concentrated on dimensions, albeit in a more conceptual form.

“The doing of that work was so repetitive and so tight,” she said. “It was more interior focus – the eye moved into the space from layer to layer. Icarus is much freer and not encumbered in any way.”

To keep up-to-date on Sydney Blum and her artwork, follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ sydneyblum.art/.

The North Shore

THRESHOLDS

BY CRYSTAL MURRAY PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

Take Your Om’s Outside Let fresh air and open spaces elevate your meditation practice this summer. When the sun is shining and the birds are singing, grab that meditation cushion and find your own space to unwind, set intentions, and reconnect. Your meditation space can be as simple as a comfortable patch of green under your favourite tree or you can create your own “zen den” al fresco by taking your favourite calming objects with you.

Roll out the mat You can still feel grounded with a natural woven rug between your sitz bones and the earth.

Sit a little longer Meditation cushions can help stretch your focus. Besides comfort, they assist in better alignment, open your hips and keep you sitting tall.

Buddah Buddy Bring a little calming influence with you but remember, if you take your Buddah outside never place your statue directly on the ground as it is considered disrespectful. Your Buddah should also face east.

Prayer Beads Let your intuition guide you when you choose your own prayer beads.

You can take these with you wherever you go to guide your intentions.

The North Shore

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The North Shore

COVER STORY

Leaping in or Laying Back

lake The North Shore

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Looking up towards the north end of Lochiel Lake, you’ll spot Rob Wolf’s home perched on the banks, as if standing on guard to the peace and tranquility. And closer to the shoreline is the little cabin, the original living quarters on the land that has now become the guest suite and prime summer nap location.

BY LORI BYRNE PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

I

houses 17 -

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magine waking up each morning, walking down to the water with your cup of coffee in your hand.

Your view, well, it’s of the prettiest water stretched out, still and calm before your bare feet. You hear the call of a loon, or maybe the call of your neighbour’s morning greeting. Or it’s the end of the day, the summer sun is setting, making the shadows lengthen out. The laughter rings out from somewhere across the lake, the rhythmic splash of paddles as a kayak almost silently glides by. Two lakes, two families, two different points in life, two houses with different stories to tell.

The North Shore

COVER STORY

Top left: Rob gazes across the lake from the deck that skirts two sides of the house, giving ease to the optimum views of Lochiel Lake Bottom left: An old dresser gets a new life as the bathroom vanity, just one of the many pieces throughout that have a great background story. The pop of coral against the blue is a burst of fun in an unexpected nook.

Top right: The living room not only sports the best lake view but also a unique fireplace to cozy up

We’ll start on the quiet shores of Lochiel Lake, just a short drive from Antigonish, where you’ll find Rob Wolf puttering around his home perched at the end of the lake. On any given day, you might find Rob playing his guitar, writing a song, maybe out for a paddle on the lake or entertaining his sweet grandbabies. He’s been puttering around this land for the last 15 years but finally put a modular home on the property four years ago to replace the little cabin that has since been moved closer to the shore to become the ‘guest suite.’ Rob even lived on the edge of this lake prior to buying this land, so he knew

the cooler summer nights. Reclaimed wood adds warmth to a new build on both the top portion of the fireplace, and also the coffee table, both made by Lovely Nova Designs.

Bottom right: Rob stands behind the long island that separates the main living area from the kitchen. The kitchen was situated to take in the long view down the lake, even if you’re stuck inside doing the dishes.

the beauty of it before he purchased the perfect piece of land at the head of the lake.

After getting frustrated with trying to develop a design with architects and designers, he himself drew up a rough plan

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The North Shore

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with the essentials elements he wanted and laid it out to suit the lay of the land.

He ended up with his plan in hand at Stones Prestige Homes and he found them to be very accommodating in developing a home design that fit both him and lake living. And the best part? The custom plan they came up with was still less than going with a stick-built home. But going modular by no means is boring. In this case, Rob added some great features to make it a character-filled home.

The custom fireplace is topped with stunning reclaimed wood that Rob sourced for free long before he even had the house on the land. You never know just what an antiquing trip might unearth.

The other stunning custom piece is the coral vanity in the bathroom made from an old dresser. And the mantle beam came out of an old schoolhouse. Rob said, “New stuff is nice but it doesn’t have the character that the old pieces have.” Rob’s time working with Pidgeon’s Auctions taught him an appreciation for the old stuff.

When a home is filled with bits and pieces that have meaning and good stories, it is then that it truly becomes home.

Even though Rob’s children have grown and moved around the globe, and his wife, Corrie, is still working in the city, this place, this lake draws them all back here. Each child has picked out their piece of land that they’ll build on when the time is right. Until then, there’s always the little cabin, which is usually everyone’s go-to place.

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The North Shore

COVER STORY

Top: Matt and Amy grab a quick cup of coffee while Noah and Audra play a game of cards on the deck overlooking their backyard on Shortt’s Lake.

Middle: The guest house – aka the Wacky Shack – sits right at the water’s edge. It replaces an old structure that wasn’t worth renovating to accommodate out-of-town family.

Bottom: Noah flosses while Audra debates on a dip in the lake off the end of the wharf.

Now, we’re going to hop over to Shortt’s Lake, the hub of summer activity just outside of Truro.

And we’re visiting with a busy household of four, the Lavers family.

This modern family home on the banks of Shortt’s Lake didn’t start out that way. The first structure, which was only one storey, belonged to Matt Lavers grandparents, so he grew up spending the hot summer weekends here.

Way back then, it was red, like the business his grandfather ran, known as The Red Barn in North River, and it remains red to this day as a nod to that piece of family history.

Fast forward to 2003 when Matt and Amy moved here full-time. The cottage needed work, and as their family started growing, they needed room to expand. So before Noah was born, they did a major renovation to add the space they needed. Now this modern space is home to the four Lavers and is the perfect spot to just chill as a family or host a crowd.

Shortt’s Lake has the advantage of being close to the town of Truro, letting the Lavers family easily

The North Shore

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Top Left: A swing made from an old skateboard hangs in the backyard and gets well used by the siblings Top Right: The back lawn gives lots of room for summertime fun – Matt and Noah have a quick game of catch Bottom: Amy and Audra snuggle in and read together while lounging on the shoreline.

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The North Shore

COVER STORY

Well-tended flower beds and flower pots keep the yard looking good throughout the summer season.

The shelter of the upper deck provides a tidy place to keep everything from wood for the campfire to the kayaks close at hand and yet not in the way.

be involved in after-school activities and in the community, while still having the scenic, home-base to come to at the end of every day.

The summers are filled with memorymaking activities on the lake. When asked what their favourite summer activity was, everyone had a few different answers. In fact, a family meeting was

required to nail down all their favourites!

Amy’s reply, “Morning coffees on the boat are my favourite, the water is usually calm and the lake is quiet.” The answers included swimming between friends’ rafts, kayaking, and the kids thought that waterskiing and knee boarding were way up there on the list. The most appealing sounds like night cruises where the kids

bring sleeping bags and pillows on the boat to cozy up and watch the sunsets – this is lake living!

The house itself has a very modern feel to it. The long linear window that acts as a backsplash in the kitchen provides light while still masking the neighbours just beyond. As with any Maritime kitchen, it is the hub for the family. The kids grab a

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The North Shore

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snack after a quick dip and catch up on the day’s news with Amy. A large pantry just off the kitchen allows them to have a fully functioning kitchen but keeps the clutter at bay.

Modern doesn’t mean uncomfortable or unwelcoming – all the seating areas have large, sink-into sofas that are perfect for a quiet catch-up for Matt and Amy over wine or full-on family snuggle fests. The mixture of classic antiques and modern pieces keeps the house from feeling sterile and cold, but offer forgiving surfaces for kids to play Lego, do homework or goof off together as siblings tend to do.

The outside areas are just as inviting.

The Lavers have created lots of places to be together as a family whether they want to lounge in the sun, eat together in the shade or play on the skateboardturned-swing under the tree. Amy’s green thumb keeps the yard looking amazing. The window boxes spill over along the front of the house to welcome guests and lots of flowerpots and flower beds keep the back of the house, which is seen from the lake, looking lively and colourful. There’s enough lawn for a quick game of catch between father and son, too. Not to mention the back yard that is the lake itself!

Since our North Shore summers are so short, we need to make the most of them and lake living on the banks of any Nova Scotia lake seems to be the perfect way to spend those lazy, fleeting days of summer.

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What to look for in a lakehouse With rapid climate change, purchasing waterfront property becomes more of a gamble for your investment. Shoreline erosion along our coastlines is increasing at an alarming rate. If you dream of owning that waterfront property but don’t want to see it vanish into the ocean inch-by-inch or foot-by-foot every season then maybe a lakefront property is for you.

There are still a few things to consider when building or purchasing an existing cottage or home at the lake. Here are a few tips from Truro Real Estate Broker and lake cottage owner Ken Warren.

Location Location Location – whether you are building or buying, make sure it’s the right place for you. Think about how much sun you will get during the day and what your view will be.

Deep Thoughts – many people love the lake because of boating. But what lies beneath that glistening veneer of still water can be surprising. Just as tides go in and out, water levels at the lake can go up and down during the season.

You have to get to know your water and learn where the obstacles are that can wreak havoc on an outboard motor and cause a safety hazard for boat passengers.

Take the Test. Make sure that the water coming into the cottage or lake house is tested regularly. When the temperatures rise so does the risk of bacteria growth.

The Road to Relaxation. Make sure you know who is responsible for road maintenance. Is it a public road, is there a cottage association that shares the expense or are you solely responsible for the maintenance?

QUICK CHECK LIST • A view of the lake • Room for each family member to sleep comfortably • A secure location to keep all the water toys • Short-term accommodations for company to stay • Comfortable spots to sit and lounge while taking in the view • Room for kids to play safely • Well-equipped kitchen for easy meal prep • An outdoor dining area

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ah! Summer 2019

The North Shore

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BOOK REVIEW

books for the beach

BY SARAH BUTLAND

SUMMER READING LIST

The North Shore

Historic House Names of Nova Scotia

by Joseph M.A. Ballard What’s in a name? So much thought goes into the names of our children but what about a house? Ballard did extensive research for his edition of Images of our Past, a book filled with photos, names and their history which has been organized in a beautiful manner.

Whether or not you are a history buff, this book will be one you want to read as it’s probable you have driven past a dozen or so houses discussed in this collection. While the author admits to primarily including houses in our neighbouring Colchester County, several named homes profiled are from Pictou as well as Stellarton, Pictou County.

Can you find your way to Mount Rundell or Sherbrooke Cottage? They are close by and have intriguing histories you’ll be sure to embrace. This book can easily be used as a treasure map for the historian in your family as it takes you not only through the past but to unique places that have a lot to say.

As part of our culture, house names not only help us with directions, they help us understand the history of the home and can tell us a lot about its original owners.

Ballard concludes that naming your house has less to do with being pretentious and more about your own character and reviving a custom before it is forgotten.

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Making It Home

Phantom of Fire

The Big Dig

by Alison DeLory

by Shane Peacock

by Lisa Harrington

As the cliché states: home is where the heart is but it is also about perspective.

Halifax-based author Alison DeLory’s first novel has a beautiful way of teaching us all a bit more about the place we call home.

Starting with a heart breaking scene Maritimers have heard so much about, if they haven’t directly experienced it, of beached whales and the effort it takes to save even one. Being quickly introduced to Tinker we soon discover him to be a hard-working older man who comes by his name honestly, and onto his friends and family members of the close-knit, fictitious community of Falkirk Cove.

DeLory has a way to make each character relatable and in a situation we can all appreciate. As the small community deals with the heartache of their own people having to move out west for work they work together to invite refugees to their community.

This novel tells the story of what is considered to be the struggles of daily life in Nova Scotia alongside the devastating struggles in Syria. While Cape Bretoner’s leave family and friends to find employment out west, families like Sami and Amira work to find cover from constant bombs and flying shrapnel. When the decision is finally made by Doctor Sami to leave their Middle Eastern community, the walk proves taxing on their asthmatic daughter and young son.

While the stories were hard to stomach in parts, the transition from Cape Breton to Syria and Turkey throughout the novel was easy and the transition of time was seamless.

Another great beach read for your middle-grader to young adult, and admittedly I loved it as an adult, too!

Shane Peacock is the author of the Dylan Maples Adventure series and Phantom of Fire will be released officially in July.

While Peacock is living in Toronto, his descriptions of our neighbouring province of New Brunswick made me feel like he was overlooking a beautiful beach in the Maritimes. A simple dedication to the Humboldt Broncos started this book off on a sweet note.

Dylan, the main character, feels lost after losing a friend and hockey teammate in a car accident. Even though it’s the beginning of school, and a new one for him, his parents decide to travel to New Brunswick as a family to help the fifteen-year-old get back to his old self, or at least discover his new self. After losing one of the three friends he grew up with, quitting hockey and not feeling like he was fitting into a new school, the last thing Dylan wanted was to spend some time in the uneventful province of New Brunswick with friends of his parents.

Soon after the arrival following the long drive from Toronto, Dylan sneaks out to the nearby beach where the real adventure and healing begin. An interesting look at The Bathurst Ghost Ship, it was evident Peacock did his research as he captured the mystery within the story tremendously well.

Lucy hasn’t had an easy life in Lisa Harrington’s young adult novel The Big Dig. With the loss of her mother, life just doesn’t feel right and then her father tells her she’ll be spending the summer with her Great Aunt in Cape John! What teenager wants to spend their summer in Cape John, Lucy thinks.

The complications do not end there as she barely knows her great aunt who is deaf, her aunt who has been fighting with her mother as long as Lucy has been alive and there just isn’t anything to do in the small community hours away from her best friend and city life.

A few days into her stay, Lucy meets Colin. A boy a few years older than her who is sweaty, gross and persistent on digging a hole. Being asked to bring him a cup of juice by her Great Aunt Josie seems like an impossible task but it does lead to a bond no one expected, even the reader.

Harrington touches on a lot of emotionally difficult topics but in a way that intrigues the reader while highlighting all that is magical about the small community and beauty of Cape John. This story proves you don’t need to live in a big city to find something to do, even if you are almost a teenager.

Living in Bedford, Nova Scotia, it’s clear that this Nimbus author has a love for our county. A perfect summer read you can take to the beach. Look for it at your favourite book store after it’s launched on May 31, 2019!

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The North Shore

ADVERTISING

AT THE HEART OF THE

PHOTO BY PERRY JACKSON

Speaking to Alain Bossé, lovingly known as “The Kilted Chef”, takes on a sense excitement when he speaks about all things barbecue, with most of the attention put on one of his favourite sources, The Pork Shop.

For the last 12 years, The Kilted Chef has been travelling the world, providing tips, tricks and flavourful recipes, all with a flair for the east coast. Always packed are his kilt and sporran, along with a healthy provision of delectable Pork Shop products.

“Before beginning my evolution as The Kilted Chef, I was a successful manager of The Pictou Lodge Resort. This is where I discovered the Pork Shop products and included them into my expanding repertoire of east coast cuisine.”

Alain adds, “These days, we work with restaurants, explaining why using high-quality ingredients is crucial to their success. We discuss how sourcing those ingredients locally is equally important. What Darlene and David have achieved with this small home-grown company is remarkable! We’re so fortunate to have a business like The Pork Shop in our community – built on quality, dedication and hard work”.

One of The Kilted Chef’s favourite recipes is a modern spin on a classic – the BBQ burger. Bringing double smoked bacon to this summer sensation infuses a savoury flavour with a combination of pork and beef that melts delightfully in your mouth!

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1 pound (500 g) fresh local medium-ground pork and beef 1/2 shallot, minced 1 Tbsp. (15 ml) Montreal steak spice 1 egg Few sprigs of parsley, chopped 2 Tbsp. (30 ml) flour

TEA ONIONS 2 medium onions, julienned 2 Tbsp. (30 ml) butter 1 cup (250 ml) steeped tea In a sauté pan, melt butter then sauté the onions until they are translucent. Add 1 cup of strong tea and let simmer until the liquid is almost gone. The onions will turn a nice golden brown with a unique flavour.

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INSTRUCTIONS In a medium-size bowl, mix the ground pork and beef, shallots, parsley, egg and spices together. Form in 4 patties and let rest.

When you are ready to serve, roll your burger in a little bit of flour on all sides and grill for approx. 3 minutes on each side. For the best result, resist the urge to press down on the burger – this way the flour will keep all the juices in and you will have a nice moist burger.

Serve on your favorite bun. In this case, a homemade white bread topped with chipotle mayo, bacon, arugula, sliced fresh tomato, tea onions and a fried quail egg finished with old cheddar cheese.

I like to serve this bad boy with a mustardy potato and radish salad.

Cheers!

AT HOME WITH...

THE ONE AND THE ONLY

Dorri

The North Shore

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BY CRYSTAL MURRAY PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

Values, Vision and What Real Diversity Should Look Like

ington

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“I

am used to being the only,” says Jocelyn Dorrington about her recent success as the first African Nova Scotian woman elected to a municipal council seat in the town of New Glasgow. “I was the only African Nova Scotian woman working in the school board office and I have been the only in other places. I don’t mind being the only for now but I want to inspire other young women in our community to become leaders and for the young men to understand that their mothers, their sisters, their aunts and their girlfriends all have the potential to be leaders too.”

Jocelyn Dorrington may be the only black woman sitting in the council chambers on Provost Street in New Glasgow in 2019 but that’s where the solo act stops. She is now part of a group of trailblazing African Canadian women engendering the political landscape, who are challenging the establishment and starting to put a crack in the glass ceiling that continues to be an obstacle for women but especially women of colour trying to find the top step of the ladder. It’s a small but powerful co-hort that she belongs to. Racialized politics on all levels is idealized but rarely, if ever realized. In a country where diversity is celebrated the decision-making is still left in the hands of predominately white male governing bodies. This lack of diversity is finally being identified as a risk to our municipalities.

Even in areas of our country with a strong percentage of cultural differentiation, diversity in leadership is almost non-existent. While it is an issue at the top of the agenda for the Federation of Municipalities, Jocelyn believes that real change is in the hands of the people who have been traditionally left out of the political arena.

“Real diversity looks like people coming together and having a sense that we are different but we bring the best of what we have to offer. We bring all our different skills and opportunities to the table or wherever we find ourselves.

We need to take what everyone has to offer and we weave it into a tapestry that is ours,” says Jocelyn of her own vision for change.

African Nova Scotians represent a little less than 10 percent of the population in the town of New Glasgow. For many years most of this population was concentrated in Ward One. Its catchment is the south side of the town and includes the Hospital, Aberdeen Business Centre and the newish North Nova Education Centre. It also bundles one of Nova Scotia’s historic black communities along the Vale Road. It’s where Jocelyn grew up with her five brothers and sisters in the community she now represents since winning the Ward One by-election this past May.

The North Shore

AT HOME WITH...

Jocelyn came of age in a house where lively discourse was the norm. She says that community and talking were the family hobbies. Their dinner table was the soapbox for each family member to share their opinions and question the rigor of political systems, the principles of social justice and whose sports teams were number one. She remembers that the chatter could become heated at times and for a new friend or colleague not used to the Dorrington debates, a visit to their house when the volume was dialed up could cause a person to question whether the big happy family was happy at all.

“I had to tell a few friends that were scared away not to worry. That’s just the way we talk. We all love each other but we all also really love to get our own point across.” She says that even today when the family reunites from lives transplanted to other parts

of Canada and the US that her siblings quickly disperse with the niceties and jump right in where they left off the last time.

Today, Jocelyn lives on Morris Street, a short lane that nips in off the Vale Road and neatly tucked in behind the monument in the Africentric Heritage Park. The slice of green space was opened in 2000 to commemorate the past, present and cultural future of Nova Scotians of African descent. It seems appropriate that the park is her front yard. Like so many other families the park pays homage to the Dorrington’s personal story where they can trace back the migration of their ancestors to the province and generational changes that gradually shifted away from the systemic racism that isolated black families.

Since she was a girl, Jocelyn witnessed the layers of discrimination slowly peeling away. She saw people in

Jocelyn credits her win in Ward One to the support of her campaign team.

Life long friends Crystal States (left) and Elizabeth Paris encouraged her run in the recent by-election.

The North Shore

ah! Summer 2019 - 36

her community taking bold steps and creating their own opportunities. She was both an observer and participant in the changing mindset in society where cultural differences were starting to be celebrated and an awareness that inclusion and diversity were the secrets to everyone’s success.

Jocelyn and her siblings had a front row seat as change started to be played out in their own community. Her father Francis was knocking over historical prejudices and obstacles left and right.

While she is the first black woman to hold a council seat in New Glasgow, her father was the first African Nova Scotian in Pictou County municipal politics. She learned about being the “only” from him as he went on being the “first” and the “only” or “of a few” on many different boards and organizations for over 20 years.

“We have to continue to celebrate the ones and the twos as they happen,” says Jocelyn.

We need people to understand that we have the same hopes and aspirations as everyone else.

We want to contribute and help shape our communities but we need the opportunities. Because we are small in numbers we can’t rely on us voting for us because it’s not going to happen that way.” says Jocelyn.

Mentored by her parents, strong community members and her colleagues during her career in education, Jocelyn has curated a healthy list of values that she says will define her approach to municipal issues. She believes that her own values will align with the good work already being done by the current slate of councillors.

“I will rely heavily on the advice given to me by my father. You have to be available for people. You have to communicate and reach out to people in their own neighbourshoods. You can’t rely solely on email and social media to get your message out. You need to pick up the phone, you need to knock on doors and you need to talk to and with people.”

It was knocking on doors during her campaign that Jocelyn heard a lot of what she already knew. Her

constituents were feeling a loss. There is always a price to pay for progress and when the people living in Ward One lost both the YMCA of Pictou County on South Frederick Street and the John Brother MacDonald stadium she says that a little piece of the community went missing. Understanding the process that led to the change in infrastructure and the reality of fiscal restraints, she hopes that she can work towards other ways of elevating the south side of town that will benefit the wellbeing of all of her constituents. She says that her hope is that by looking at things a little differently there can be real solutions and giving her constituency a lift that will reverberate to other parts of town.

“I will be looking at things through a lot of different lenses.

I will be looking through the lens of gender. I will be looking through the lens of social justice. I will be looking through the lens of race. I will be looking thought the lens of equity. I bring those things and I speak those things because these are the values I carry.”

Jocelyn entered politics at a time where she felt that she could give it her all but she says the system can’t wait for women to retire to step into politics. With a national appetite in all levels of government to create more diversity and see more women enter politics she believes that they system needs to change to allow for real change.

“Women need to feel like they will be supported.

We need to make a few changes to the way the system works. Even the scheduling of meetings and having support for young and middle aged women with children to have the supports in place so they can engage,” she says.

Last winter Jocelyn felt that support. It was after a conversation from her childhood friend Crystal States that she really took a pause to consider all that she had to offer. She had sat on a few town committees and had the knowledge of her father’s political careers as a foundation to build on. It took a few days for her to

Since she was a girl, Jocelyn witnessed the layers of discrimination slowly peeling away.

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The North Shore

AT HOME WITH...

pause and consider, part of her own natural style and then she said yes.

“I had the most incredible campaign team,” says Jocelyn, sitting in a cozy chair in a newly renovated space in her home. “They were mostly women and my mother was over the moon with my decision.”

Because she won her council seat during a byelection, Jocelyn doesn’t have a lot of time before the next municipal election. She feels that while there is a lot of positive work to be done she also

is aware that she really needs to open her ears to the needs of her entire community. She sees the good things that are happening that are continuing to attract new people to her town and a growing entrepreneurial culture that will continue to contribute to the prosperity of the region.

“People ask me what I want. I see so much potential. I want to continue to create that tapestry where different races and generations come together with a vision for our town that is inclusive and accepting. That’s what I want.”

Jocelyn’s values were shaped at home with her parents Frances and Francis Dorrington. She grew up in a house where questions and conversations challenged the status quo.

She learned that

I want to continue to create that tapestry where different races and generations come together with a vision for our town that is inclusive and accepting.

That’s what I want.

being “the only” was ok but not forever.

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ah! Summer 2019 - 38

I

t all started with a message sent to my Instagram account: “Hi there! My name is Shannon. I’m reading your book and I am certain I live almost right across the river from you!”

She’s right but the turns in the river prevent us from standing on our respective shorelines and waving at each other.

Shannon went on to write, “We’ve lived in NS for eight years now, but many of the thoughts and feelings you share about living in rural Nova Scotia have only become a reality to me since we moved to this property in Rockley a year and a half ago.”

Curious about the photos she posts on Instagram, I headed across the river. Shannon is a homesteader, which means she grows and makes all her own food, including cheese and tea. Raised in Quebec by parents who lived “pioneer-style,” Shannon grew up with gardens and animals that provided sustenance for the family. When she hit her teens, however, she wanted to stay inside to read and be online. She also wanted to travel, and that’s how she met her husband in Belgium.

When her brother joined the navy and her parents moved to Cumberland County, Shannon and her new husband bought an old farmhouse near Amherst. She soon realized it wasn’t the right property for her goals.

Her early upbringing had come home to roost: she wanted to be self-sufficient.

“When I was ten, there was a huge ice storm in Quebec and the power was out for several weeks.

People were freezing, they had no food,” Shannon recalled as we sat at her kitchen table. “The first morning it happened, my mom got me up for school and only thought to check the radio to see if there would be school after we stepped outside and saw how slippery it was. The storm didn’t impact us at all because we were off-grid and we always had a full pantry of preserves and a root cellar filled with veggies.

So that is my ultimate goal.”

But first, she wants to “grow pizza”. Shannon said that started as a joke, “but now I have two varieties of grains growing in the garden, a ton of tomato plants, and

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goats for cheese. That goal may be achieved this fall!”

When she and her husband and now three-yearold daughter moved into an even older farmhouse in Rockley in August 2017, they started from scratch, building the chicken coop, the garden and the goat enclosure (which also now contains a pony). They also had to renovate the house, rewiring it and putting in new windows.

The old windows? Repurposed as cold frames to grow cold-hardy greens from April to December because Shannon sees no need to spend $500 a year on salad.

“There’s obviously a secondary benefit to growing or raising everything ourselves,” Shannon said as she showed me where she’d just planted four blueberry bushes. “We aren’t buying so our cost of living is very low and that allows us to live on part-time jobs.”

Shannon has no plans to become a market farmer, but she would like to encourage people to grow at least some of their own food. “We can grow all sorts of things here in Canada that we just assume come from hot climates, like peaches, plums, apricots. There are so many native berries that you never hear about but that grow here. I think there could be a lot fewer hungry people if it was common knowledge you can easily grow two or three berry bushes in the backyard that will produce enough healthy, fresh eating and some freezing or jam. For $15 upfront, you can have years of blueberries.”

Meeting Shannon just as she’s starting out on her path to self-sufficiency means she’s more inspiring than intimidating. It also means that if she hosts a Friday Night Pizza Night this fall, I won’t be ashamed to bring the Caesar salad because, thankfully, I have a garden and I grow romaine lettuce.

The North Shore

INSIDE STORY

THE WAY OF THE

LABYRINTH

STORY AND ABOVE PHOTO

BY SARA JEWELL

P

ast the purple house and down the hill, over the gravel bridge and across the shallow, swampy gully there is a flat space. A pair of apple trees mark the passageway to a winding, circular path outlined by rocks laid out in the middle of the small, green field.

It’s not a fairy ring or some other magical creation; it is the work of one man and the dream of one woman.

“About two weeks after my son Dustin died, the word popped into my consciousness,” explains author and bookseller Sheree Fitch. “It was in the middle of the night and it wasn’t even a thought. It was just ‘labyrinth!’”

Fitch had been introduced to the practice of walking the labyrinth while living in Washington, DC. She worked at the Washington National Cathedral which rolls out a huge 11-circuit labyrinth printed on cloth every Tuesday evening. When she and her husband, Gilles Plante, moved to River John in 2010, Fitch forgot about labyrinths until that night in March of 2018.

“I realized we could build a memorial labyrinth to Dustin. First of all, I loved the practice of labyrinth walking; it was very soothing to me. Secondly, Dustin was a landscaper, and I wanted something very simple for him: earth and rocks.”

The North Shore

The right spot existed on the couple’s 99-acre property along the River John River (the same property where Mabel Murple’s Book Shoppe is located). By the end of last summer, Plante had built a five-circuit labyrinth using rock the couple picked out at the quarry in Wallace.

According to the website, labyrinthsociety.org, a labyrinth is a meandering, circular path leading to a centre. Labyrinths date back more than 4,000 years and their most common purpose is to provide a space for a walking meditation. The most famous labyrinth is the 11-circuit one set into the ancient stones inside the cathedral at Chartres, France. A circuit is a path; an 11-circuit labyrinth is made up of 11 paths within 12 concentric circles leading to the centre.

Known as a contemplative practice, a labyrinth has a way of turning any space into a sacred, meaningful space.

Adrian Martinkiw was first introduced to a labyrinth while living in Vancouver, when he came across a labyrinth painted on the parking lot of a church. After moving to another part of the city, he discovered a rock labyrinth and began studying how they are made.

He started to make his own, using sidewalk chalk

ah! Summer 2019 - 40

on concrete because “it took off the pressure because it rains every day in Vancouver so if I got it wrong, I knew the rain would wash it away.”

After spending an entire night building a stone labyrinth in a public park, only to have the city send in a truck and bulldozer the very next day to remove it, Martinkiw learned a lesson about sacred space he carries with him to this day: “It impressed upon me that, since I have the pattern memorized, there is an opportunity to build these out whatever materials I want in whatever space I want, and turn that space into something significant.”

He has created labyrinths out of dead grass, bricks, sand, and flagging tape.

After moving to Nova Scotia nine years ago and buying a house and a woodlot in West New Annan, south of Tatamagouche, he now works as a forest technician and continues his practice of creating temporary labyrinths whenever he feels drawn to a space.

Along Route 6 in Linden, Alice Dionne has been walking a seven-circuit labyrinth in her rural backyard for over 15 years. She used ballpark lime and her own two feet to create the circular path.

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INSIDE STORY

How NOT To Be Self-Conscious Walking a Labyrinth “I just walked it almost every day that summer and because it rained so much, it killed all the grass,” she says. “I walk it whenever something bothers me, but my husband Joe is more faithful about maintaining it than I’ve been walking it.”

Like Martinkiw, Dionne practiced drawing the labyrinth (on paper) before laying it out on the ground. It starts with a simple cross in the centre, a right angle in each quadrant and a dot in each outer corner. From there, concentric circles are drawn linking lines and dots (labyrinths can be drawn clockwise or counter-clockwise).

The more right angles, the more circles.

Over the years, Dionne and her best friend, Wanda, have drawn labyrinths in different sizes in many places, including the beach where the tide always washes it away.

Whether the labyrinth is temporary or permanent, both Martinkiw and Fitch emphasize that the practice of contemplative walking requires minimal explanation.

“Let your feet do the walking and don’t try and figure it out,” Martinkiw advises. “It will have its own effect on you.”

Fitch plans on offering the labyrinth to those visiting her book shoppe but she is clear that it is not a game or a maze. “The labyrinth is way over there so my hope is people who need it will find it,” she says.

LABYRINTH The North Shore

The Tatamagouche Centre offers an 11-circuit laybrinth modelled after the one in the Chartres Cathedral in France. It can take at least thirty minutes to walk it.

According to Josie Baker, the centre’s Executive Director, both the centre and the labyrinth sit on ground that is sacred to the centre and to the Mi’kmaw people so “the practice of walking the labyrinth outdoors, and on our land, provides an entry point to conversation with the land,” she says.

Baker emphasizes there is no wrong way to walk a labyrinth. “On a surface level, all you’re doing is walking. But it’s helpful to have some kind of focus, whether it’s a short song-like chant or a piece of scripture to provide thoughtful guidance. It will keep your mind from doing other things as you’re walking.”

You also can choose a question or a problem to focus on during your walk.

“Also, be willing to forgive yourself when you realize you’ve spent part of your walk thinking about something else,” Baker adds. “It’s about the journey, not the destination. Walk with an open heart and use the labyrinth as a meditative tool.”

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Seven-circuit Classic Labyrinth

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The North Shore

ON THE TABLE

WILD ROSES A courtship and one to sip

BY LINDSAY CAMERON WILSON

W

hen I was little, there was a clay tennis court at the far edge of our cottage community. Every summer one of the cottage owners, Dr. Rasmussen, took it upon himself to bring the court back to life after a wild Northumberland Strait winter. He began by weeding the court fastidiously in his signature blue cotton shorts and golf shirt. Then he’d attach an old metal bed frame to the back of a ride-on lawnmower and grade the court by dragging the bed frame up and down the clay surface, flattening and kicking up dust as he puttered along. A big barrel roller came along next to smooth the surface, followed by fresh new white lines. He’d fill a little machine that looked something like a metal granny cart with lyme and walk the boundaries of the court, leaving a perfect white line in his trail.

By now his shirt was off, and his bare shoulders were brown. I know these steps because my cousin and I used to watch Dr. Rassmussen work from the front steps of our cottage as we spun around the metal handrail –­ our own little jungle gym. When he wasn’t working on the court, he would snorkel in the ocean, spying on crabs and rockweed and other seaweeds swirling with the tide.

I remember thinking it was a much deserved break from what looked like a huge job. But people said he liked the ritual of the tennis court maintenance.

It transitioned him into holiday mode, one white line at a time.

By mid July the court was in action. We’d sit on the steps, licking popsicles and watching the parents and grandparents, wooden rackets in hand, whacking

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the ball back and forth. Every so often a tennis ball would fly beyond the court. Eventually, a fishing net was erected at the far end to catch rogue balls from soaring into the hay fields, but if they went east into the prickly wild roses they were lost forever.

The tennis court is now full of wild roses. After Dr. Rasmussen was no longer able to keep up with the maintenance, other parents tried to pitch in. But it was a big job, a labour of love, and besides, the love for tennis was fading away. People were now spending their holidays kayaking, road biking along the Sunrise Trail, and of course, playing horseshoes or washer toss.

There’s talk of reviving that court, perhaps for basketball. But in the meantime, I’m using it as a wild rose sanctuary. They seem to thrive along the Northumberland strait. You’ll see them lining beaches, cottages and the roadside. First, as soft pink flowers in July and August, followed by the fruit – the rosehip – in the fall.

A few summers ago I learned the petals are edible. Just before the petals begin to fall, wrestle up a kid whose only preoccupation is playing on make-shift jungle-gyms or eating popsicles, and get him or her to help you pick the petals. Soon you’ll have a container filled with petals to pop into your mouth, to sprinkle on salads, or use as confetti at a wedding. You can also dry the petals on a plate in the sun and store them for the winter.

They’re delicious folded into homemade granola, sprinkled on cakes, ice cream or even garnishing a warm, turmeric latte.

I like to make a wild rose gin and tonic. I imagine Dr. Rasmussen would appreciate this drink, toes up on his deck, soaking up the sunset with his family while inhaling the scent of roses, an aroma that kept him company all those summers working on the court.

ah! Summer 2019 - 44

Wild Rose Gin and Tonic INGREDIENTS ½ cup dried wild rose petals (you can find these in most bulk stores if you don’t have a supply) 1 cup gin Tonic water Lime wedges Rose petals, fresh or dried, to garnish

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Combine petals and gin in a jar fitted with a lid.

Store in a cool dark place at room temperature for five days, shaking occasionally to infuse flavours.

2. When ready to drink, strain gin and discard the petals. Add ice to a glass, add gin to taste and top up with tonic water. Finish with a wedge of lime and rose petals, either fresh or dried.

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ah! Summer 2019

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902-662-2815 The North Shore

HEALTHY AT HOME

BLUEBERRY

delight

BY TRACY STUART

A

h, the much-anticipated warmth of summer has finally arrived.

The time has come to enjoy the beauty of our gardens and the bounty of nature’s scrumptious offerings. If you are born and raised in Nova Scotia then there is little doubt that you have picked (and eaten) our world famous delectable tiny blue globes, the wild blueberry.

Those who know me well know that I am constantly on the hunt for nutrientdense foods; I aim to ensure that I am giving my family and myself the best health supportive foods possible. The wild blueberry is one of those all-stars! As a kid I remember picking blueberries and eating them on the spot. I associate that sweet taste with the easy breezy, carefree days of summer. Little did I know then just how beneficial blueberries are for us. “Scientists from around the world are investigating the disease-fighting potential of blueberries… it turns out that these anti-oxidant rich super berries and the bioactive phytonutrients that give them their deep-blue color reveal a wide range of potential health benefits.

From brain health, gut and heart health to cancer prevention, improved urinary tract function and reduction in diabetes risk, blueberry research is changing the way we look at these tiny, potent berries”

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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.

all according to the health research articles found on wildblueberries.com.

It’s even been found that primary school children could show better attention by consuming flavonoid-rich blueberries following a study conducted by the University of Reading.

This year I’ve had the pleasure of meeting the Kong family, whose children attend the same school as our children. Wei Yu Kong an his wife Huijing, have made great strides in Nova Scotia for the Canadian blueberry industry. They came to Nova Scotia in 2013 looking for an agri-food opportunity and it was clear to them that the blueberries found here would be well-received internationally and in their home country of China. Since putting down roots here, they bought a wild berry farm in Caledonia and

have been converting their berries into dried fruit, juice and even wine.

They have been working hand-in-hand with the government to promote our beautiful Nova Scotia berries on trade missions and also in the promotion and education of the health benefits of our homegrown gems.

I asked Huijing if she would share one of their families favourite blueberry summer treats with us; I was delighted by the flavours and eye appeal of this fruity blueberry popsicle. This is a treat that is sure to please guests of all ages and, in one bite, it will bring you back to memories of childhood with that sweet lingering taste of blueberries.

If you are interested in their other products you can find their offerings on their website jusnova.ca!

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Fruity Blueberry Popsicles INGREDIENTS Blueberry juice Kiwi Mango Strawberries Sparkling water

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Prepare a mold.

2. Wash the fruit.

3. Add slices or diced fruit to the bottom of the mold.

4. Stir blueberry juice and sparkling water evenly and then pour into the mold. Layering the juices takes a little more time during the freezing process but the presentation is totally worth it in my opinion.

5. If you choose to layer, fill Âź of the mold with blueberry juice, freezer for 20 mins, fill the next Âź with sparkling water, freeze for 20 mins and repeat until full adding fruit where you wish.

6. Place in the freezer until hardened. Enjoy.

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ADVERTISING

Your Trailer Decked

By Allison Gaudett Photos by Steve Smith, VisionFire Studios As the warm summer season engulfs us, getting outside to enjoy our diverse Canadian landscape is a way of life.

For many locals that means a change of scenery, and pace, by making home base a local seasonal campground. Maximizing the season has never been so fun for the entire family – or luxurious, as there is no need to sacrifice any comforts of home:

five steps to getting your trailer decked out for summer

5

1. Double Your Living Space It’s never been so easy, or stylish. Create ‘rooms’ in your available exterior space that suit your needs for living and entertaining – dining, lounging, conversational, BBQ, bar/hosting, storage, etc.

2. Make that space feel like an extension of your Interior Think best seat in the campground! Just because you are setting up an outdoor space doesn’t mean it has to be basic. Rather, with the wide range of styles, sizes, and items available there is something for everyone. Start you summer planning at Canadian Tire. You will find everything from throw pillow to trailer hitches, wine glasses to wrenches. Whatever you need to make you summer sensational Canadian Tire has what you are looking for.

3. Think in Layers – Like any other “room.”

Ground your spaces with area rugs, build up with comfortable stylish furnishings, think functional surfaces for a single book/ drink or a spread when entertaining. To ensure an extended stay layer in mood and task lighting, accessories, and florals.

4. Keep Multifunctional in Mind When planning and investing in exterior items you’ll want the most bang for your buck and the space available. Select furnishings that could be enjoyed year-long in a basement or bonus area. Think gardening or outdoor play station by day turned drink cart by night.

Comfortable seating for dining can swing into the lounge area as the fun extends into the evening or attractive folding systems.

5. Don’t Forget to Have Fun. A simple swap of accessories or floral for a new pop of colour fuses an instant change in mood.

Out!

ADVERTISING

Your Best Summer Starts with Canadian Tire New Glasgow

DIY LIFE of the

PARTY

BY LORI BYRNE PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

If you’re anything like me, finding the perfect serving tray that not only gets the job done but looks fabulous too isn’t the easiest task out there. Give me something with character, something that isn’t run of the mill to serve my guests with, they deserve only the best. And if I can’t find it, I’ll make it!

Nothing has character like live-edge wood. With texture, depth and, if you’re lucky, some history. But maybe, if the tree didn’t grow on the family property, you could raid Grandpa’s closet for an old leather belt to make the handles – I’m sure he won’t miss just one belt, right?

Live-edge Serving Tray SUPPLIES: • Piece of live-edge hardwood (mine is 18” by 10” and 1 ½” thick)

• Hemp Oil or an alternate product made for cutting boards

• Various grits of sandpaper (I used 60 down to 220)

• Old leather belt

• Felt pads

• Leather punch • Brass screws

DIRECTIONS: STEP 1 Sand your piece of live-edge so it’s soft and

STEP 2 STEP 3 STEP 4

STEP 5 STEP 6

buttery, I started with 60-grit and worked down to 220-grit Oil it, rubbing the oil in with a 220-grit sandpaper, and let cure the recommended time Cut the belt into two equal pieces, roughly 12 inches each Mark your spots where you will be attaching the belt to the sides of the tray and pre-drill your holes in the wood and cut holes in the leather with a punch to align with your pre-drilled holes Screw the leather pieces onto the board, brass screws add a bold bit of gold tones Invite your bestie over for a cup of coffee and yummy sweets and serve them on your new serving tray

A hardwood species is the best for this project so that you don’t have the sticky sap of a soft wood to deal with.

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Model shown is 2019 Outback 3.6R Premier with Eyesight CVT (KD2PE6). 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 attentive driving. System effectiveness depends on many factors such as vehicle maintenance, and 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. ALG is the industry benchmark for residual values and depreciation data. www.alg.com. See your local Subaru dealer for details. Outback and Subaru are registered trademarks.