At Home on the North Shore Winter 2018

winter THE COOLEST SEASON ON THE NORTH SHORE

Winter 2018/19

TWO HOMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS A WINTER SALAD WARM UP

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ON OUR COVER: Friends Cathy MacRitchie and Jane Lundin are the muses for our cover story Winter, the Coolest Season on the North Shore.

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

Work, school, opportunities to see the world and all it has to offer.

Lots of things take you away, but after all that...

we’ll bring you home for the holidays.

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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.

At Home on the North Shore Published four times per year by: Advocate Media Inc., 2882 Gottingen Street Halifax, NS B3K 3E2 Printed by: Advocate Printing & Publishing, 181 Browns Point Rd. Pictou, NS B0K 1H0 902 485-1990

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Inside this issue Vol. 4 Edition 1 Winter 2018/19

The Inside Story

Healthy at Home

18 Outside Simplified

44 Medaling with My Food

Five ways to get to the fun fast

46 Sustainable Stockings

20 Woven not Frozen

Stuff a little eco-love

Weave your winter away

24 Date Night Heats Up Three ideas to spark some winter romance

Departments 9 The Library

26 Holiday Gift Guide

A giant of a story

ah! What a great idea

10 Off the Wall

33 Blue Christmas

Cover Story

14

Coolest Winter Fun

Tracy Stuart’s Killer Chili recipe

Christmas at Grathford Glen

Rings of fire

12 Thresholds

38 O’ Christmas Trees

A warming station for relaxation

Decorating with a little bit of everything

28 deCoste Performing Arts Centre Another blast of winter

On the Table 42 Your Winter Salad Warm Up Lindsay Cameron Wilson shares a recipe for Roasted Fennel Salad

30 Field Notes Address your Christmas cards with Sara Jewell

50 DIY Create an old-fashioned holiday greeting

At Home With…

48 Dr. Ed Hawkins Christmas cakes that will put a smile on your face

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editor’s

LETTER PHOTO BY TARA GILLIS, PURE IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHY.

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hey say a picture says a thousand words. Well our cover photo pretty much says it all for our entire holiday/winter issue. GET OUTSIDE AND HAVE SOME FUN! When my friend Cathy invited me over to see the swing that a family member had gifted her for Christmas last year it was love at first sight. I knew in that moment, a whole year ago, that I wanted to dedicate the Holiday 2018 edition of At Home on the North Shore to winter frolic. What’s more fun than having a Santa-suit-red ski lift swing in your back yard? Just looking at that swing makes you feel merry. I don’t think there could ever be a more perfect gift for my friend Cathy. She’s a bit of a ski bum but she is also a gal who loves to get outside and get moving no matter what the mercury is telling us. So she was totally game when I asked if we could use the swing for a cover shot and also plunk that ski bum down for the photo. But it is a swing for two and her daughters were away at school so one quick call to Jane Lundin, another woman who enjoys the wonders of winter, and we were almost ready to take our picture. We found some old snow shoes, tied a pretty bow on a wreath, and we were good to go…but wait…there was no snow. We can’t have a cover photo about winter fun without snow! Well the day finally came. We were well into winter but the snowflakes aligned, the sun was out and, with the help of Steve Smith who makes all of our photos magic, our cover shoot felt more like a play date with childhood friends. I love our cover photo, I hope you do too.

It doesn’t matter how old you are, getting outside to play in the winter is good for the soul and good for your immunity, your mood, your joints and pretty much

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what ever ails you. Most of us need more movement in our lives.

Especially during the winter months when the urge is to hibernate. Sally O’Neill’s story Winter, The Coolest Season for Fun will inspire you to get off the couch this winter and play. She has curated a great list of all of the hot spots where you can play with your kids, your significant other, or a group of good friends. Allison Gaudet, one of our newest contributors, has some great tips to make it a little easier to get out the door and, when you come back in, how to have a hot beverage station on the ready to warm you up.

It’s also time to trim those trees. We have two stories that will get you in the mood to pull your boxes of decorations down from the attic and start decking out your own halls. Don’t let the title Blue Christmas fool you. There is nothing maudlin about Carolyn and David McGrath’s home on the Gulf Shore Road near Pugwash. Author Sara Jewell writes about their home and decorating style that is “guided by the love of the ocean.”

I decided it was time that I took a turn and opened my home for a holiday tour. All of our homeowners are so gracious when they welcome us into their homes and share their stories. I have an elevated appreciation for all of their effort getting their personal spaces “camera ready.” But, like all of our special guests featured in At Home, I had a lot of fun with the process and it didn’t take too much armtwisting the get three of my children in a few photos. My husband Sean was out of town when we had to schedule the photos and one of my boys as still at university, however, he would have been the tough one to convince.

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There is a lot going on in our house at Christmas time and it comes out in my personal decorating style. I like things pretty traditional but with a little Cindy-Loo Who thrown in to keep things fun…there’s that word again.

This year will be the first in almost fifty years that I didn’t spend part of my holiday celebration in Westville. After my sister and I lost our wonderful Dad this spring, our Mum decided it was time to make a move and start the next chapter of her life in a cozy little home attached to my sister’s house outside of Pictou. As I write this editor’s note we are only a few days away from closing the door of the MacKinnon family home on North Main Street for the last time. I can still hear my Dad’s tone-deaf version of O’ Little Town of Westville echoing under the tall ceilings and smell my mum’s Christmas pudding steaming on the stove. I remember building snowmen families in the front yard and jumping off the roof of the outdoor cellar entry into piles of snow heaved there by my brother and his friends. I remember cuddling in my bed on Christmas Eve with my little sister, too excited to sleep, as we waited for Santa. I remember the first Christmas my parents became grandparents and I remember the last Christmas spent in their house before I got married and started my own family.

What I remember is a lot of fun!

From my house to yours, I am wishing you a most Merry Christmas and a Happy Winter that is filled with fun. Now go play!

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CONTRIBUTORS

LORI BYRNE Winters in Nova Scotia mean Christmas with loved ones, snowshoeing throught the woods, and hunkering down to ride out the snowstorms with a cozy blanket and warm cup of hot chocolate. You’ll find me designing homes, creating in the studio, and watching the kids sled down the hill out back. Merry Christmas from my home to yours!

SARA JEWELL There’s something about the giving and receiving of Christmas cards that keeps Sara Jewell writing and sending them every year. While writing this month’s Field Notes column, she discovered she’s not the only one. Sara is the author of Field Notes: A City Girl’s Search for Heart and Home in Rural Nova Scotia.

PHOTO: STEVE SMITH,VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

SARAH BUTLAND While busy reading, it was easy for Butland to overlook what her addiction was doing to her son; now it is difficult to tell who has more books on their shelves – Butland or her 8-year-old son. One thing is for certain, reviewing books by authors in our own province is bringing them closer together and, Butland can assure you, reading with your children has only great side effects!

Especially when you live in Pictou County where authors can be found around every corner! A Giant Man from a Tiny Town should be on your to read together list.

STEVE SMITH Enjoy our latest edition of At Home on the North Shore! Often photography is shot a year in advance, so it’s fun for me to see all the folks we met last year finally going into print! So, curl up somewhere warm and flip through these stories we’ve gathered over the last year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! There’s already lots more waiting for you to see in 2019!

HEATHER LAURA CLARKE is an award-winning journalist and columnist living in Truro, and in this issue she’s warming up to winter date ideas. She shares stories about living, working, and parenting creatively on her blog, HeathersHandmadeLife.com

SALLY O’NEILL is Coordinator of Active Pictou County, Highland Region Representative with the Nova Scotia Trails Federation, a certified Canadian Parks and Recreation Professional, and Outdoor Council of Canada Hike Leader. She is an expert snow fort builder, merciless snowball fighter, and always keeps a crazy carpet in her trunk, just in case.

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PHOTO: STEVE SMITH,VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

P.S. It was rough photographing those cakes and not cutting into them!

TRACY STUART embraces winter fun in the snow. In this issue she shares a story of winter training with her teammates in the Canadian Rockies and the Killer Chili that fuelled them on their adventure. Tracy also holds a Master of Science, Bachelor of Physical Education; she is also a two-time World Champion and Olympic Bronze Medalist in rowing.

RACHAEL MACLEAN Known to my friends as an obsessive recycler, it comes as no surprise that I’m gifting planet-friendly this Christmas. As a Landscape Architect, work goals are life goals – doing the best possible for the environment and our communities within. Check out these local goodies that check all of the boxes in my story Sustainable Stockings.

Less truly is more!

LINDSAY CAMERON WILSON I love to ski, hike, and skate on a frozen pond in the winter. But, who is kidding who? Every wintry activity I do comes with the promise of warm food afterwards. Yes, I love the carrot on the end of a stick, especially if roasted with lots of sea salt and a swirl of olive oil. It’s this contrast in life – the cold, the warmth, a frosty exhale, a sip of mulled wine – that generates the best stories. I share these stories as a writer, recipe developer, and host of The Food Podcast.

ALLISON GAUDETT Nova Scotia living offers up a true four course serving of seasons and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Once the closets are swapped and organized, to help ease that family transition to the outside chill, and the coffee station is properly stocked, I’m ready to take on winter. Bring on the snow-covered slopes, the pond hockey show downs, and the family-effort shovelling.

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THE LIBRARY

A Giant Man from a Tiny Town A Story of Angus MacAskill REVIEW BY SARAH BUTLAND

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hildren’s books are not always just for children and this is one of them. The story of Angus MacAskill, a man who called Cape Breton home, is written beautifully and the illustrations are vibrant and tell a story of Cape Breton.

Written by Tom Ryan and with art by Christopher Hoyt, the story is all Angus, a giant man who travelled the world only to re-discover home.

The lessons behind this story and Angus’ life are long-lasting as we all feel singled out at some time in our life. With the clever way Hoyt depicts Angus after his growth spurt to the way Ryan makes the reader connect with the story, it’s a perfect combination for any curious mind.

Angus grew to be seven feet and nine inches tall and while his body was large his desire to help others in his community was even bigger. When he decided to try finding a world better fit for someone of his stature, Angus was able to find a group of friends within the P.T. Barnum’s circus and meet many others who stood out in the world for various reasons.

There was no place like home, however, and Angus returned to where he grew up and the community who knew him for more than the tall man. On Cape Breton Island Angus stood out for many years through his successful businesses and willingness to help.

A Giant Man from a Tiny Town is a must read for anyone who has ever felt they didn’t quite fit in.

Tom Ryan, born and raised in Inverness, NS currently calls Halifax home and has a long list of books to his name and Christopher Hoyt, known for A is for Adventure, from Halifax as well, make a stellar team and this book is the result!

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OFF the WALL

BY CRYSTAL MURRAY PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

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RINGS OF I am conjuring the perfect winter night.

Cool, cleansing breaths stave off weary yawns at the days end.

Frost glistens in the air and the Big Dipper lies low in the northeast sky.

The stars are all aligning. It’s an ideal night for a bonfire.

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A

fire

n outdoor winter fire is just another great reason to go outside and embrace the joy that can be found in winter. Light a fire to celebrate the Winter Solstice, blaze your way into a New Year, fan the flames of romance on Valentine’s Day or just celebrate an awesome day of outdoor wintery fun with the kids. It’s just another way to extend your day of winter play.

Randy Sutherland plays with fire for a living.

As a metal fabricator he is pretty comfortable with a welding torch. Recently, he has been stretching the limits of his day to day work with some after-hours creative pursuits building wood stoves and custom fire rings that will take your bonfire experience to a whole new level.

His foray into fire rings caught on a few years ago after he became involved in the fabrication of the sculpture that was designed to celebrate the opening of the Pictou County Wellness Centre. The piece was commissioned by Frank and Debbi Sobey and designed by visual artist Chris Morrison. The sculpture titled Brigh, a Gaelic word meaning commitment, direction and dedication set Randy on a new course to realize some of his more artistic aspirations.

“Randy is a thinker and problem solver,” says Chris Morrison who worked closely with Randy and his colleague Andy MacGregor during the fabrication of the sculpture. “I know that the project was inspiring for him and I am glad that he has continued to expend on the creative side of his metal work.”

While Randy professes that the wood stoves and fire rings boil down to mostly metal and

weld, there is a creative process of working with his clients to design signature patterns to make the pieces truly their own. The Stars and Moon design is still one of the most popular designs, and was actually a concept of his work colleague, but he has since worked on many different patterns from dragons to athletic logos.

“I am fascinated with architecture and can whittle away hours with design books.

I dream of a day when I can imagine and create something completely of my own, however, the relationship that I create with my clients is just as important to me.”

When a person pulls a heat shield over their face you don’t really expect to also hear them talk about Feng Shui but it is something that really drives Randy and has implications on many aspects of his life including his approach to his work. His business is a reflection of these connections. Five Elements Designs speaks to the balance of nature that exists in fire, water, metal, earth and wood. He says he wants to create things that bring all of these elements together.

“I love the idea of a family sitting around the fire and having a good time together. Making things that people enjoy and gives them comfort inspires me.”

I imagine a fire burning in Randy’s Stars and Moon Fire Ring. I can see all of these elements of Mother Earth working together.

There is a kaleidoscope of colours that change as the fire consumes the different organic compounds in the wood. I see myself drawing nearer because that’s what happens when you put a fire on.

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THRESHOLDS

BY ALLISON GAUDETT PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

Warming Up for Winter Nova Scotia winters have a special way about them. Their beauty pulls you out to play and explore, while a quick shift in weather can send you inside to warm up.

Add texture with a basket and seasonal greenery.

Encourage your guests to dress up their beverage themselves by having everything readily available in dishes that are candy for the eye.

Equipment: coffee maker or French Press, kettle, mugs, and stirring spoons Drinks: coffees, cider, teas, hot chocolate Mix-ins: Milk, cream, sugar, and local honey Toppings: cinnamon, nutmeg, marshmallows, crushed candy canes, whipped cream, chocolate shavings Extras: festive flavoured syrups, liquors for the adult get-togethers, coasters, fresh frozen baked good or doughs The North Shore

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Shop your home and local stores for creative items to display.

Frame your station with seasonal art and decor.

Mug charms are a great way to keep track of your drink.

Mix high- and low-priced art to create a collected focal point.

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eeping a well-stocked coffee (or any hot-beverage!) station is a simple, cozy way to take advantage of those indoor days, while eliminating the stress of hosting.

Whether your guests want to savour a mug of dark roast coffee, a velvety hot chocolate, a spicy cider, or steaming cup of tea, here are some easy ways to build your own winter beverage station: SET THE LOOK. The mugs you choose can help set the tone. An all-white scheme says simple, winter, classic. If you prefer a unique, mismatched set, consider choosing mugs with a similar colour scheme or pattern to keep an element of cohesiveness. If colour is more your style, amp up the display with bold personality.

Mug charms are a great way to keep track of your drink (and could make for a fun DIY craft for a get-together as well!).

STAGE YOUR STATION. Consider your space.

If your kitchen is on the smaller side, a tiered tray is a great way to minimize your footprint and can be picked up and moved around.

Embrace the opportunity to curate a seasonal display with a fully serviceable station stocked with all the bells and jingles.

ADD IN THE ART. Frame your station with seasonal art and decor. Shop your home and local stores for creative items to display. Mix high and low priced art to create a collected focal point – framing holiday cards, kids crafts, second hand pretties, antlers, and wreaths are simple affordable ways to layer in texture and interest.

TOP IT OFF. Clear canisters, collected pottery, seasonal sets, and cherished china.

Encourage your guests to dress up their beverage themselves by having everything readily available in dishes that are candy for the eye. Cinnamon sticks, spoons for stirring, mini marshmallows, shaved chocolate, sugar cubes, all beautifully gathered.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED. While the list is far from exhaustive, keep in mind that you can tailor your coffee station to suit your needs.

These items would also make a great hostess or Christmas gifts for the hot-beverage lovers in your life. (Be warned that proper execution of this station could lead to a never-ending stream of guests who won’t want to leave!)

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COVER STORY

winter FUN

PHOTO BY CRYSTAL MURRAY

COOLEST

Cheryl Veitch treks through Trenton Park.

BY SALLY O’NEILL

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here is something incredibly inviting about a clear winter morning, with wood smoke on the breeze, and new fallen snow glittering in an untouched blanket over forests and fields. The air smells cold, crisp and clean, and when you breathe deeply, somehow it feels as though it contains more oxygen.

Winter is a magic time, full of festivals and twinkling lights, woolly mittens and flushed cheeks, sledding hills and hot chocolate. It is alive with children’s laughter and snowball fights, frosty breath and cold noses, sweet kisses stolen while snowflakes swirl in the air.

We are so fortunate to live in a climate that changes. Nature will always switch things up for us, so we never have to be bored. If you truly want to learn to appreciate winter, just watch a child.

The day the first snowflakes fall, catching on clothes and melting on tongues, is a day of unbridled celebration. We can all catch a bit of that joy, and step outside into a world of frosty fun.

Crisp, fresh air is what inspires Cheryl Veitch to head outdoors when it’s snowy and cold. A Pictou County resident, and avid outdoor enthusiast, who has experienced the great outdoors on both Canadian coasts, and in the Arctic, Veitch insists that the right clothing makes a world of difference in enjoying cold weather recreation. “Being that I am

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from the West, and the North, as long as one bundles up, activities can be done!”

Veitch cycles year-round, and enjoys cross country skiing, Nordic walking, snowshoeing and snowshoe running.

“I tried snowshoe running last year and loved it! I am planning to purchase a pair of running snowshoes this year to head

“We live in four wonderful seasons.

If you don’t go out and experience all of them, then you’ll miss something big.”

– Paul Basile

out on Samson Trail, Trenton Park, or Powell Park trails.” For winter running and walking, she recommends ice cleats, which can be found at most sport stores or ordered online.

The Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines, released by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP), state that adults need a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous

physical activity per week, in bouts of 10 minutes or more. This level of activity reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, osteoporosis, obesity and weight issues, even premature death. The benefits of being active are improved strength and fitness, but also reduced stress, improved mental focus, better sleep, and greater overall wellbeing. These benefits come to us regardless of whether we carry extra weight, so don’t worry that you need to drop weight before becoming active, just start, and you’ll feel better. We sit still far too much, and it is hurting our bodies.

Risks of an overly sedentary lifestyle include heart disease, obesity, increased anxiety and depression, even diabetes and blood clots. Canada is a leader in researching the effects of inactivity.

CSEP’s Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines are the first systematic, evidencebased recommendations for sedentary behaviour in the world. Find out more about the Canadian 24-hour movement guidelines here: csep.ca There are many factors that determine whether we will be healthy, or unhealthy. These determinants include things like our genetic background, our employment and working conditions, our environment, even proximity of family and social networks. Some of these factors are not within our control, but

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PHOTO BY CRYSTAL MURRAY A sturdy pair of hikers and some warm socks will be all you need to hit the trails. Friends Jen Bethell, Laureen MacDonald and Laura Rowan hike Fitzpatrick Mountain year round.

there are significant aspects of our health that are within our ability to influence; things we can do to improve our overall wellness. Getting outside can boost our mood, through exposure to fresh air and sunlight, improve our physical health through exercise and movement, and create meaningful social bonds with neighbours, friends and family. For more information on the determinants of health check here: canada.ca/en/services/ health/determinants-health.html Outdoor activities are among the easiest and least expensive ways to be active, and most of them are social. So, grab a friend, get outside, and play in the snow!

Clothing – To quote Cheryl Veitch, “It’s not the weather, it’s how one dresses for the weather!” Warm clothing, worn in removable layers is the best way to stay comfortable in the cold.

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WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • A light, long sleeved base layer containing wool or silk fibres, to wick away moisture • A mid layer to trap heat, a soft wool such as merino is preferable to synthetic fabrics where possible • An outer layer with zippered vents so that heat and moisture can be released Try for natural fibres where possible, with the exception of cotton. Cotton absorbs moisture and holds it next to the skin, creating a layer of moisture that gets cold and stays cold. It is the worst material for cold, wet conditions. By contrast, merino wool is soft to the touch, not itchy, wicks away moisture and holds heat, even in a light, thin weave. It will keep the body much warmer. Outdoor wear does not need to be expensive to be useful, either. Look for the fabric, not the

brand, and don’t forget to check second hand and thrift shops for good quality gear at a fraction of the price.

WHAT TO DO: Winter Trails – The North Shore is home to some wonderful rails to trails projects. The Great Trail (Formerly known as the Trans Canada Trail) runs from the PEI Ferry through Pictou, all the way to Oxford on the abandoned Short Line railway. As well, The Old Guysborough Railway Trail runs for more than 65 km from Springville in rural Pictou County, through Guysborough.

These trails are kept groomed by local snowmobile clubs and are designated multi-use. That means they are meant for motorized (snowmobile, ATV, etc) and non-motorized (hiking, cross-country skiing, etc). Snowmobilers are required

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COVER STORY

to keep watch for skiers and snowshoe hikers, slow down, and pass with caution. The trails are built, managed and maintained by hard working community groups who are proud to share their trails and love to see a variety of users enjoying them. thegreattrail.ca

and it is in constant use, all winter long.

In Port Hawkesbury, informal sledding is popular at Prince Street Park. Many golf and country clubs also open their spaces in winter to invite sledding, and winter activity. Check with your local golf course to find out, and hit those hills!

Snowshoes – Snowshoeing is quickly

Outdoor Skating – There are so

becoming one of the most popular winter activities, and for good reason. It is an activity that requires very little skill to get started. If you can walk, you can use snowshoes. They are readily available to borrow, rent, or buy, and can be adjusted to suit a range of weights and sizes. Hike Nova Scotia works with community trail groups each year to create and publicize a series of guided snowshoe hikes in communities all over the province. Their website provides a wealth of information, including a listing of where to borrow free snowshoes in each region. Many municipal recreation departments, schools and community centres have sets of snowshoes, and Nordic poles available for loan to the public at no cost. See the list here: hikenovascotia.ca/ resources-snowshoeing/

many opportunities for outdoor skating in towns and communities across the North Shore. Here is a quick (noncomprehensive) list of outdoor rinks:

Sledding Hills – The Albion Ball field, in the heart of downtown Stellarton, is located at the bottom of a beautiful, long slope, perfect for sledding. The Town’s recreation and public works department make special effort each year to make sure this hill is safe and ready for sledding,

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Amherst Downtown Skating Rink – Located between Victoria and Electric Street with parking available off Maple Street. Also, Dickey Park Skating Rink, 132 East Pleasant Street.

Beaver Mountain Provincial Park in Antigonish County offers miles of Cross Country Ski and snowshoe trails, with beautiful views of Antigonish and Cape Breton Island. 472 Beaver Mountain Rd.

Port Hawkesbury – Informal sledding at Prince Street Park, and the trail systems are open for winter use.

Port Hawkesbury organizes an annual winter fun festival, which includes a “S’mores Walk” on the trail. Walkers gather ingredients at stops along the trail, and the walk ends with a bonfire where everyone can gather and toast their s’mores. As well, snowshoes can be borrowed free of charge from the community’s recreation department.

Cape to Cape Trail – The Cape to Springhill and Area Outdoor Skating Rink – At the site of an old arena, on Lisgar St near the Anne Murray Centre.

Wallace Outdoor Skating Rink – At the Wallace Community Centre, 13938 Route 6.

Westville Skating Pond – At Acadia Park, 1945 South Main St.

New Glasgow – Outdoor rinks are located at the West Side Community Centre, 181 Lavinia Street, and at the North End Recreation Centre, 534 High St.

Cape Trail is a hand-built, long-distance footpath, perfect for winter snowshoe hiking. It spans Colchester, Cumberland, Pictou and Antigonish Counties, and is a work in constant progress. Popular sections include the Rogart Mountain trail system at Sugar Moon Farm in Earltown, Fitzpatrick Mountain, and Six Mile Brook trails in Pictou County, and the trails at Cape Chignecto and Cape George. capetocapetrail.ca

Keppoch Mountain – “The Keppoch,” near Antigonish, encourages everyone to get outside and play year-round. The former site of a downhill ski resort, Keppoch is now a destination for

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PHOTO BY CRYSTAL MURRAY From gym shoes to snow shoes. Fun, fearless, females that have found their tribe at the Y and take it outside in all seasons.

These gals have so much fun they don’t even know it’s exercise. Taking a tumble is Sue Vokey, giving Sue a shove is Michelle Jeans along with Mary Jones and Sonya Henderson.

mountain biking, hiking, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. Fat tire bikers love the slopes in the snow, and families enjoy sledding and the popular annual Family Winter Fun Day. General admission to the park is $5 per person, or $20 for a family. (Annual memberships available) Snowshoes are available on-site for $5/day.

If the fun gets too frosty, visitors can retreat to the beautiful 2000 square foot lodge, with seating, a blazing fireplace and washroom facilities. General manager, Paul Basile is an avid fan of winter activity, and offers an encouraging perspective on getting outside year-round.

“We live in four wonderful seasons. If you don’t go out and experience all of them, then you’ll miss something big.” thekeppoch.ca

Need equipment? The Town of Antigonish offers loans of cross-country skis, and snowshoes, and Antigonish County Recreation offers snowshoes, skates, helmets and loans of adaptive equipment for mobility challenged users, such as Sledges, and Snow Coach sleds.

Active Pictou County has Sledges available for loan, as well as snowshoes, class sets of skates and helmets, and Nordic poles. townofantigonish.ca antigonishcounty.ns.ca facebook.com/ActivePictouCounty/

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Ski Wentworth – An alpine ski and snowboard facility in the Cobequid Hills.

Ski Wentworth is the largest alpine ski hill in Nova Scotia and features 23 alpine trails, a half-pipe, terrain parks and crosscountry ski trails. There is an equipment shop on-site, equipment can be rented, and Ski Wentworth hosts an annual gear swap and sale for budget conscious skiers and snowboarders. skiwentworth.ca

Trenton Park – Trenton Steeltown park is a wonderful place to walk and snowshoe in the winter, with more than six kilometres of trails, including newly built sections of Canada’s Great Trail: Founders Trail, and Smelt Brook/ Trenton Airport Trail. The park itself is a 565 acre, old-growth forest within town limits, and is a popular spot for families, hikers, mountain bikers and dog walkers. Trenton Recreation hosts an annual winter fun day called “Frostfest” with horse-drawn sleigh rides, snow play, treats and a cozy bonfire.

Nova Scotia Connect – A website database holding records on all the active living opportunities (outdoor and indoor) available in Nova Scotia. It is categorized by region, and searchable by keyword. If there is an outdoor activity you are looking for right now, it is probably listed in Nova Scotia Connect. novascotiaconnect.cioc.ca

Experience winter through new eyes – Many of our communities have seen an influx of new residents to Canada.

Through refugee settlement programs, corporate and student recruitment, foreign worker programs and more, rural Nova Scotia has welcomed many newcomers in recent years. Enjoying traditional winter activities with people who are experiencing them for the first time, is truly wonderful. Check out your local multicultural, or newcomer group, and find out how you can join an event, or volunteer to show a newcomer how amazing winter really is. For information on how to get connected, contact YMCA Newcomer Settlement Services in Cumberland and Pictou Counties, and Pictou Antigonish Regional Library Newcomer Welcome Centre, parl.ns.ca/ newcomers/index.php

Why go out in the cold?

To those who appreciate winter’s charms, the great white outdoors is an irresistible playland with free admission for all. There are things you can only do at this time of the year: skating on a frozen pond, building a snow fort, skiing and sledding.

Also, with snow and frozen ground, on snowshoes or skis, you can get to locations you otherwise would not be able to reach.

Winter opens doors to unique adventures.

Layer up, put on some wool, bring a friend, and let’s go outside!

The North Shore

INSIDE STORY

Five Ways to Simplify

BY ALLISON GAUDETT

In the thick of winter, amidst layers of ice and clothing, the feeling of transitional summer living – from indoor to out – can feel like a distant dream. In the summer warmth, last minute outings are simple and no fuss.

This winter, don’t let the cold keep you from spontaneous outdoor adventures!

When it comes to winter organization, there’s no cut and dry, one-size-fits-all solution.

There are, however, a few umbrella-style guidelines that can be interpreted to suit your home and the people that live within it’s walls.

Keep it Simple.

If your items are readily accessible, you’re more likely to put them to use. This is a fundamental concept in organization that works every time. What’s considered a logical place to store things can vary from person to person, but the overall concept, no matter the application, is the same.

Keeping only the necessary current seasonal items in an accessible area, such as a shelf or hooks in your primary closet, will limit clutter and make for smooth exits. Prioritize space for back-up items in a basket or wire bin to help avoid a mad dash around the house. When primary gear gets wet, think additional layers, socks, and other warm wear for those extra chilling days. Relocate transitional gear (lighter coats and footwear) to a secondary location or vertically out of primary storage real-estate.

Keep Things Visible.

If your space allows, allocate individual cubbies, baskets, or a bin within a hanging system to each individual family member.

This way, everyone is able to easily locate their own gear and get out the door in a timely manner. Keep in mind, hooks or hang bars should be hung at appropriate heights for each family member. If your space is limited, consider grouping similar items in shared bins rather than individually. Be sure to include clear labels (words as well

The North Shore

ah! Winter 2018 - 18

Getting Outside this Winter as pictures can be helpful for the younger members) for easy discovery and increased chance of replacement after use.

Turn Utility into Decor For example, hanging skates or snowshoes on hooks with a seasonal sign above makes for appropriate decor yet lends to a quick trip to the local pond or trek through the woods.

Skis, poles, snowboards, and hockey sticks gathered in a repurposed barrel might encourage an impromptu trip to the nearest hill, and makes for a smooth exit for an early morning ice time.

A beautiful basket or crate staged with seasonal blankets, a thermos, and picnic gear can inspire an evening coasting adventure fuelled by hot chocolate. Incorporating the functional elements of the season and embracing their beauty as decor certainly helps facilitate a smooth transition outside.

Think Ahead About your Return The thought of the chaos that accompanies a return home after any winter outing can be enough of a deterrent for some to stay in.

But being prepared with a plan of attack, that every family member and the neighbourhood kids can get on board with, can eliminate that stress and get you out that door.

A basket, bin, barrel - whatever is your style - can be a simple catch-all directly next to the door for wet gear, that transports easily and

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stylishly to the dryer for a fluff. Hooks - high and low - with family member names prompts everyone to put everything back where they found it and keep it off the floor. (Don’t forget to add extra for company!) A wall-mounted drying rack strategically placed in a mudroom or heated garage can be functional and decorative!

Safety First.

Safety should be the first priority once you step out that door. Salt for the walk ways, ample lighting for late night travellers, extra blankets and water for long drives: these are all winter staples that can be dressed up and readily available to make every outing that much safer.

To elevate the style of a yellow salt bag, consider storing your sand or salt in a labelled galvanized garbage bin or wooden box. Lanterns with battery-operated lights or additional holiday lights can brighten the darkest of spaces and add welcoming ambiance. A decorative bin of blankets can replace the spring umbrella holder as a last minute reminder as you walk out the door.

So, no matter the temperature outside, a little planning and organizing can go a long way to getting you outside this winter season! And, if you find yourself indoors during a blitz of colder weather, you can always read my tips on creating a welcoming coffee station to keep you and your guests warm and cozy all season!

The North Shore

weaving INSIDE STORY

THE

WINTER AWAY

STORY AND PHOTOS BY SARA JEWELL Loom and yarn.

Warp and weft.

Heddle and shuttle.

Reed and shed.

Claire and Dawn. The two instructors of this day-long weaving workshop were friendly and enthusiastic as six women gathered inside the Barrachois Community Centre near Tatamagouche to be introduced to the pleasure, possibly the addiction, of weaving.

Above: A table loom holds a completed warp, pulled tight and ready for the weft to be woven in.

Below: Weaving workshop instructors Claire Drinnan and Dawn Miller with Sisterhood Fibres wool shop owner Faith Drinnan.

Outside the Barrachois Community Centre, workshop participants show off their weavings.

The terms were strange, and until we were actually working with the yarn, they made little sense. But by early afternoon, when Claire beamed and declared, “You are weaving!” We didn’t really need to know the terms of the process and the equipment; we were simply following the back-and-forth rhythm of our simple designs, letting the yarn and fabric guide our hands and our imaginations.

Faith Drinnan, owner of Sisterhood Fibres of Sand Point Road in Brule, offered this workshop as part of her summertime “Woolstock” Fibre Festival and as she welcomed us, she warned, “This is addictive. And lots of fun.”

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Instructor Dawn Miller’s laughter attested to that. Dawn told us the story of how she got hooked on weaving. At a Sisterhood Fibres open house at Masstown just last year, she was waiting to talk to Faith when she sat down at a loom.

“I absolutely fell in love with weaving,” she said. “That experience convinced me I wanted to make the investment and I bought the loom I used that day.” After taking a workshop with Claire, she purchased a larger loom and now weaves tea towels and scarves, and is constantly trying new weaves and new fibres.

Apparently, Faith’s warning was not hyperbole.

Our other instructor (and Faith’s niece), Claire Drinnan, has been weaving since she was five years old. Born and raised on Cape Breton Island, she spent her summers studying weaving at The Gaelic College.

“I’m sure what attracted me from such a young age was the loom’s ability host your voice. You get to choose every thread, its

colours, textures, the design of finished cloth into garment, so at every step you are able to express your sense of self and self reliance,” she explained later in an email.

Like knitters and rug hookers, weavers are passionate about yarn and wool, and Claire currently is experimenting with locally grown fibres (including dog hair spun into yarn!).

According to the website, historyofclothing. com, flax weavings found in Egypt suggest humans have been weaving since around five thousand B.C. The first fibre was flax but wool came into use around two thousand B.C. Looms were in use by 700 A.D, and the industrial revolution in the 18th century saw weaving move from hands to machines and on a larger scale in factories.

For learning, however, our looms fit on the table in front of us and our balls of yarn rolled across the old wood floor as we concentrated on moving the shed forward and up or back and down in order to keep our warp threads going in the right direction.

A selection of yarns to use for the weft, which is the under-and-over weaving between the warp threads.

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“As relaxing as weaving is, everything is under a lot of tension,” Dawn pointed out to us. “Maintaining tension as we weave (but not too tight on the sides) allows us to create a fabric with the weave structure we are looking for, whether that is a firm, tightly woven fabric or one with more drape.”

Other than taking an introductory workshop, Faith Drinnan suggests watching “how to weave” and “how to make a loom out of a picture frame” videos online. Or, you can rent a tabletop loom for a month to try it out.

“There are a couple of reasons to rent,” she says. “One, you take a workshop and you’re all excited. Rather than spending hundreds of dollars on a loom, you’ve rented it for a month to see if it’s for you. The other thing is there are lots of different types of looms, so if you love to weave and want to continue, you might decide you need a wider loom or a floor loom.”

Even though the words were strange and the actions unfamiliar, as our looms revealed our first creations, there was a sense that we were simply half a dozen more weavers threading ourselves into the ancient fabric woven with time and tradition.

WEAVING WORDS Loom: the frame, often wooden, onto which the warp threads are stretched and attached at opposite sides Threads: any kind of fibre (like yarn) used for weaving a fabric Warp: strong, tight threads stretched vertically onto the loom Weft: the threads that are woven from side to side through the warp

Reed: resembles a comb and is part of a weaving loom used to separate and space the warp threads, guide the shuttle’s motion across the loom, and push the weft threads into place Heddle: one of a set of looped wires or cords in a loom, with an eye in the center through which a warp yarn is passed before going through the reed to control its movement and divide the threads Shuttle: a tool designed to carry the thread of the weft yarn while weaving

Shed: an opening created by raising some

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warp threads so that a weft thread can pass over some warp threads and under others

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The North Shore

INSIDE STORY

DATE NIGHTS

perfect FOR THE

HEART OF WINTER

The North Shore

BY HEATHER LAURA CLARKE

It’s easy to stay busy during summer evenings when there are patios to dine on, BBQs to attend, outdoor concerts to check out, and beach bonfires to snuggle around.

But when the weather turns frigid, it can be hard to want to leave the cosiness of home for a proper date after dark. There’s, like, snow and slush out there. *shudders* If your couch has a permanent dent, it’s time to hit pause before Netflix queues up that next episode, and get ready to take your sweetheart out amongst the three-dimensional people.

Here are three dates to try on the North Shore this winter, including creative ways to package them up as a surprise gift ...

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THE

THE CLASSIC

THE

“I Can’t Believe This Isn’t Real”

“Dinner and a Show”

“Try Something New”

DATE

DATE

DATE

WHO’LL LOVE IT:

WHO’LL LOVE IT:

Couples who like video games, couples who appreciate cool tech, couples who are young at heart.

Just about everybody enjoys going out for dinner, so no worries there. And even if someone hasn’t seen much in the way of live theatre, it’s almost always an experience they’ll enjoy.

WHAT IT INVOLVES: Spending an hour or two immersed in a virtual reality experience you won’t soon forget. While one of you is wearing the special VR headset and “walking through” an invisible world, the other person can watch what’s happening on a TV screen. It feels so darn realistic that even experienced gamers can get quite emotional.

PLANNING DETAILS: Call ahead to book your VR room so it’s waiting for you when you arrive. Levels Game Loft in Truro rents out VR rooms on an hourly basis, and you can jump between dozens of different games.

HOW TO PACKAGE YOUR GIFT: Go to the nearest craft store and buy a couple of cardboard or ceramic letters: a V and an R. Wrap them up and have your sweetie guess what they mean.

SIMILAR DATE IDEAS: Have you ever tried an Escape Room?

You get locked in (not really, don’t panic) for an hour and need to solve clues to get yourself out before time’s up.

Try Trap Door Escape in New Glasgow.

WHAT IT INVOLVES: A romantic dinner for two, complete with appetizers and a scrumptious dessert with two forks. Then it’s off to the theatre to see a fabulous play -- or maybe a live music performance.

PLANNING DETAILS: Start with buying tickets to a show.

Check out upcoming performances at The Marigold Centre in Truro, Theatre Antigonish at St. FX University in Antigonish, and the deCoste Entertainment Centre in Pictou.

Then decide where you’ll take them for the meal, and make a reservation if they’re required. Maybe pick a place you’ve never tried? There are SO many wonderful restaurants in Truro, New Glasgow, Antigonish and the surrounding areas.

HOW TO PACKAGE YOUR GIFT: Gifted tickets should never just be handed over in a plain ol’ envelope. Too obvious (and boring). Fill a large box with tissue or crinkle-cut shredded paper, and then start layering in the following items: a bottle of the wine you might order at the restaurant, a printed copy of the menu, a gift card for their favourite clothing store so they can buy something new to wear, and -- of course -- the tickets, tied with a ribbon.

SIMILAR DATE IDEAS: Not into live theatre? What about a special dinner-and-a-movie date? Or maybe an evening trying out interesting craft beer varieties and pairing them with yummy appetizers. The point is to plan an evening out you can share together.

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WHO’LL LOVE IT: Couples who are always saying “We should find a hobby,” couples who like trying new things, couples who find themselves sitting around Netflix-ing (without the “and chill” part).

WHAT IT INVOLVES: Pickleball is a fairly new (hilariously-named) game that’s usually described as a combination of tennis and badminton. You play with a ball and paddles on a badminton-sized court with a low net.

It’s said to be easier than tennis, but still a great workout. How could it NOT be fun when it’s called Pickleball?

PLANNING DETAILS: Call up your local Rec department to find out where you can learn to play.

Try Douglas Street Rec Centre in Truro, the Cougar Dome Multi-Sport Facility in Truro, Arisaig Parish Community Centre in Antigonish County, St. FX University in Antigonish, and St. Andrew Junior School in Antigonish.

HOW TO PACKAGE YOUR GIFT: Buy a jar of pickles and a ball – any ball – and wrap them up together inside a box.

When your special someone opens it up, tell them to guess what the clues mean.

They might laugh and think it’s silly, but... well, it is! But we bet you’ll have a great time learning how to play Pickleball together.

SIMILAR DATE IDEAS: Not feeling Pickleball? There are tons of activities you could learn to do together.

What about a yoga class? Or something creative, like pottery or painting? It’s always fun to learn something new, and it’s a great way to bond as a couple.

The North Shore

AT HOME

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MAR

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March 2 | 7:30 PM | $43.

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E

very year, as soon as Christmas cards are out in the stores, I buy several boxes and take them home where I stack them in plain sight and place my address book on top of them.

Every year, I intend to have those cards written in, the envelopes addressed and stamped, and in the mail by December first. And every year, I end up counting the days until Christmas Eve to make sure the cards I’m just getting around to doing in midDecember will make it just in time. I don’t even get to use holiday stamps because by then, they’re sold out.

Maybe it’s time to give this up. In this age of instant messaging and constant posting, I still send out cards at Christmas, but more and more, as seasonal greetings arrive via email and Facebook, I wonder if the sixty or seventy dollars I spend on those boxes of cards could be better spent by the animal shelter or the food bank.

To that, my friend Amanda Cashin of East Lawrencetown says, “Christmas has its challenges but one of the things I love is sending and receiving cards. I love choosing the right card for each person on my list and appreciate the opportunity to support some local artists. I love the trip to the post office, too. I will always send cards. Always.”

Amanda sends around sixty or so cards every year so she does buy some boxed cards. “I save the special local ones for people who I know will truly appreciate them,” she says. “I also buy them over the course of several visits to the market so I don’t notice the cost as much.”

Like Amanda, former Pugwash resident Laura Lee Bustin upholds the tradition of sending and receiving cards because it’s a memory from her childhood, particularly of her grandmother coming up with different ways to display them. Now living with her husband in Rwanda as part of a ministry team, Laura Lee appreciates the letters from home and the updated family photos.

The North Shore

“One of my cousins does a painting every year which she then makes into her Christmas card – we are always on the lookout for that envelope!” she says.

Yet I have noticed the number of cards arriving at my house is dropping off even as I recommit every November to sending them.

In a very unscientific study, I asked the friends of my Facebook author page who still sends cards, and if they stopped, why. Although the cost of cards and stamps, and the amount of work involved concerns many of the women who responded, everyone acknowledges the special connection that is created by sending and receiving Christmas cards.

Edith O’Brien of Amherst commented, “Social media is easy but I feel good friends are worth the time of an old-fashioned, handwritten note in a card.”

Amanda points out that many cards reflect the personality of the sender, and she particularly loves to see the handwritten signatures. “I received a card from a high school friend once, after we hadn’t connected for years, and her hand-writing took me right back to Grade Nine and the notes we would pass back and forth in class.”

That personal touch is hard to beat. When author Marjorie Simmins’ card arrives from Cape Breton (one of the 50 to 75 she sends each year), I know it will have horses or dogs on it, and I know the card I send Marjorie will end up on one of her strings of cards around a doorway or across her fireplace mantel.

We add the expectations and activities of Christmas on top of our already busy lives but somehow, I think of all the traditions we try to uphold every year, sending cards is worth the effort.

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INSIDE STORY

Christmas cheer: Carolyn McGrath pours a glass of wine in the kitchen of her Gulf Shore Road home, near Pugwash. With an open concept kitchen, dining room, and living room, Carolyn can look out her floor-to-ceiling windows to the Northumberland Strait.

BY SARA JEWELL PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

When Christmas comes to Grathford Glen on the Gulf Shore Road near Pugwash, it comes in waves of silver and turquoise and soft white.

Stepping into Carolyn and David McGrath’s home overlooking the Northumberland Strait, one enters an oasis of simple elegance that flows from one season to the next, with a decorating style guided by a love of the ocean.

The North Shore

D

uring an unplanned visit with a friend’s “aunties” on the Gulf Shore in the mid-1980s, the McGraths, then living in Dartmouth, chanced upon the property. As Carolyn gazed at the just-over-two acre property undulating down to the water, she had one thought: “I’m home.”

It would take another twenty years and two retirements before it was truly home but in April 2006, Carolyn and Dave moved into their newly-built one-storey home with a walk-out basement.

“My bedroom window looks out on the ocean the same as it did when I grew up,” Carolyn says with a happy sigh.

They share their home with eleven-yearold Lucy Furr, a black cat who showed up at Grathford Glen in the middle of the

following winter, very ill, and found a welcoming home that now includes her own turquoise-coloured cat bed.

The name of their home is a combination of their two surnames, a blending whose origins date back to 1970 when Carolyn Peckford met Dave McGrath, a new RCMP officer recently posted in Botwood, Newfoundland.

“I had this briefcase because I went to the post office every day to get the mail for the company,” says Carolyn who worked in the shipping office at a pulp and paper mill at the time. “Dave was sitting in the police car at the post office and saw me go in with the briefcase. He probably thought I was somebody important!”

They met on her birthday, married two years later, then in 1979, moved to

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Decorating for Christmas at the McGrath house is simple and understated: bows, boughs, and sparkle are added, reflecting Dave and Carolyn’s love of the sea and the outdoors, while favourite knick-knacks are dressed up.

blue

CHRISTMAS

Dartmouth, Carolyn’s first time away from Newfoundland where she was born and raised. Living in Dartmouth but working in downtown Halifax allowed Carolyn to satisfy her lifelong need to be on the water. “I rode the ferry to work every day. I was in heaven doing that.”

Moving into a brand new home allowed Carolyn to create a living space that reflects her love of the sea. Her palette consists of creamy whites and dreamy blues, particularly turquoise, with gold accents thrown in to reflect the sun, as well as the siding of the house, an unexpected, and delightful, find called “Newfie Gold.”

At Christmas time, Carolyn decorates the open-concept main floor simply by adding more turquoise accents, sparkling

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Blue bird of happiness: The bird cage that sits in the sunroom receives an unusual “nest” for Christmas, with added sparkle from white lights and ornaments in the pine boughs.

white lights, and outdoor greenery. She also moves around the carefully curated knick knacks in her home, many of them souvenirs of her post-retirement travels with Dave, to repurpose them for the holiday season.

On her living room table, she places an olive wood plate and the olive wood carving of Mary and Jesus brought home from their trip to Israel, while a photo of her then-eighty-year-old mother standing next to Santa Claus moves up from the guest room in the basement to the “Newfoundland Corner” in the kitchen.

Tiny clusters of pine needles and cones are tucked into bowls, onto tables, in display cabinets, and around candles throughout the house, while larger bows grace the table and the mirror in the front foyer.

The North Shore

Carolyn mixes in white lights, blue and green baubles, and even some fake snow.

“I bring in anything from the garden that I think will go but very little changes,” Carolyn says. “That way I can appreciate each thing for what it is.”

The decoration in the centre of her dining room table is perhaps her most treasured one, dating back to the 1950s.

Known as “the Christmas log”, Carolyn says it was on her family’s table at Christmas with three red candles in it since she was old enough to remember.

“Mum moved away to Ontario and the log moved with her. For some reason, I ended up with it, and it was in pretty bad shape,” she says. “I didn’t take it out of the box the first Christmas I had it here but I like doing crafts and DIY things so I thought it would be nice to take it to Ottawa and show Mum that I appreciate the things she’s given me over the years.”

It turns out the much-cherished Christmas log was just a smooth cardboard cylinder with flat sparkles on it, and by the time Carolyn took possession

of it, most of the sparkles had fallen off.

But Carolyn wanted to fix it up “because it’s a memory from my childhood” so she cleaned the old glue and sparkles off then glued fluffy snow on it and, of course, added new sparkles.

For her table, Carolyn adds three white candles and cedar sprigs, along with some of the blue and green sparkly baubles that are scattered throughout her living room, dining room and kitchen.

The glass sunroom off the dining room is decorated for the festive season, as

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ah! Winter 2018 - 34

INSIDE STORY

Far left: Christmas treasure: Carolyn remembers this “log” from her childhood in Newfoundland. When it came into her possession. When her mother moved to Ottawa, she refurbished it to sit in the centre of her own dining room table.

Left: Sea and sky: A mirror in the living room reflects the view of the Gulf Shore Road property that captivated the McGraths the first time they saw it.

well. The Buddha statue, with his turquoise holiday necklace, and the little metal bird that sits in his lap spend the summer in Carolyn’s gardens but overwinter inside. The handmade bird came from South Africa and Carolyn’s only regret is that she didn’t buy more of the colourful birds from the man selling them along the side of the road.

It’s those little touches that create the warmth of a seaside Christmas: the tree made of blue and silver balls sitting in a large antique birdcage, a glass snowman with a turquoise scarf, the handknit gnome who sits under the tree with its glass starfish ornaments, and a big teddy bear on the sofa with a sign that says ‘I’m dreaming of a white Christmas’.

Of course, this is Grathford Glen so it’s a blue Christmas dream come true, where everything sparkles with meaning and memory.

The First Gift: When the McGraths finally began building their dream retirement home in December 2005, Dave spent the winter living in the already-built two-car garage so his wife could move in that spring.

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The North Shore

PULL APART CUPCAKE ARRANGEMENT

Cupcakes are a great choice for family gatherings, workplace parties or a lovely hostess gift. Order this pretty Christmas Wreath or a Friendly Snowman arrangement of delectable chocolate or vanilla cupcakes from the award-winning Birkinshaw’s Tea Room and Coffee House. 2 Ratchford St., Amherst. 902-661-9300. Order online at www.birkinshaws.ca

Gingerbread Greetings Bouquet

This jolly gingerbread man mug can't wait to serve up this festive mix of Christmas blooms, and years of hot cocoa sipping fun! Send a hug with Bordertown Flowers & Frills at 60 South Albion St, Amherst. 902-667-3811.

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Sleep Soundly Holiday PacK Dairy-free advent calendar

Yummy milk chocolate advent calendars that are dairy free, gluten free, soya free and vegan!

Made with rice, cocoa, and sugar. Get yours at Candy Craze. 147 South Albion St., Amherst.

902-661-1751.

Give the gift of a great night’s sleep with a contour CPAP pillow, a pack of pollen filters, a non-heated tubing and a canister of mask wipes. The Snore Shop.

109-4 Robert Angus Dr., Amherst.

902-660-5340.

Cozy, casual & pretty cool

Designed in Canada, this Taxi Delray tall boot is all about the fusion of function and fashion. It’s made of vegan leather and is one of the dozens of new styles you’ll find this season at The Copper Tree Boutique in the historic Dayle’s Grand Market building.

129 Victoria St. E., Amherst. 902-694-2511.

woodland tin tea set

Perfectly sized for little hands, this 15-piece Woodland Tin Tea Set includes a lidded teapot, four plates, four cups and saucers, and a serving tray. Everything packs neatly into an illustrated, heavy-duty cardboard carrying case for tea parties on the go. You’ll find them at Beans & Cocoa Toys and Gifts, at Dayle’s Grand Market, 129 Victoria St. E., Amherst. 902-660-2078.

Holiday

handcrafted beeswax candles

Margie Allen makes her fragrant beeswax candles by hand in her Spencer’s Island studio on the spectacular Bay of Fundy.

Maritime Mosaic at Dayle’s Grand Market, 129 Victoria St. E., Amherst.

902-661-2137

original fibre art landscape

Fibre artist of the year Brenda Clarke captures local landscapes by “painting” with wool! She dyes her own wool by hand and her husband makes the beautiful frames. Maritime Mosaic at Dayle’s Grand Market, 129 Victoria St. E., Amherst.

902-661-2137.

Nina the yoga spirit

Ann Dunlap’s one-of-a-kind textile sculptures add a weather-resistant touch of whimsy to any home or garden.

Maritime Mosaic at Dayle’s Grand Market, 129 Victoria St. E., Amherst.

902-661-2137.

mansour’s menswear

The Green Coast sweater is made in Italy of the most excellent materials, and this popular popcorn knit style is available in more than a dozen colours at Atlantic Canada’s oldest menswear store. Sold in-store and online at Mansour’s Menswear, 27 Church St., Amherst. www.mansoursmenswear.ca 1-800-929-3992.

blundstone boots

Blundstone Women’s Series in Shiraz are comfortable, stylish, high quality and make a perfect gift! Choose from a selection of gorgeous colours. Your feet will thank you!

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Holiday shopping passport: Nov. 19-25

Collect stamps in a special holiday passport to qualify for a $750 shopping spree grand prize draw!

students’ day on the town: dec. 1

Mount Allison University and NSCC Cumberland students get a free ride from campus to Amherst, special gifts, “tax-free” shopping and free lunch!

cheers to the season: Dec. 8-9

Mix holiday shopping with a fun day out and enjoy food and beverage tastings, trunk shows, mini spa treatments and live music.

Cookie crawl: friday, dec. 14, 4:00-8:00 pm

Buy a ticket and exchange it for a cookie tin to fill with cookies you pick up at stores all over Amherst. A limited number of tickets are available, and can be purchased online at www.amherstcookiecrawl.eventbrite.ca

victorian christmas: Dec. 15-16

Enjoy the sounds, sights, and scents of a traditional Christmas with costumed carollers, horse-drawn wagon tours, and a Victorian photo booth.

For details about all of these events, visit www.amherst.ca/shopping.html

INSIDE STORY

BY CRYSTAL MURRAY

PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

O’ Christm T

here is really not much that I don’t love about Christmas. I love the whole hustle and bustle of the season. I love the ritual of gift gifting and creating pretty packages. I love sending and receiving Christmas cards. I love the mixing and mingling of friends and family, good food and even better champagne. I love being able to extend some help and happiness where it’s needed. I love the nostalgia that it stirs and the memories that bubble up in me as soon as we drag the Christmas tree through the front door, the house filling with the fragrance of the forest. Our family Christmas tree or should I say Christmas Trees are more than just the historical icons where we place our gifts.

Every thing that I love about the holiday

winks back at me. The trip to the attic to retrieve the boxes of ornaments that have been silenced since the last season are greeted with the anticipation that comes with opening a time capsule. The ornaments for the “memory” tree are the most treasured. Baby’s First Christmas, an ornament from our honeymoon, Crayola scribbled angels and pipe cleaner reindeer.

There are MacKinnon and Murray tartan Scottie dogs and stockings and dozens of carefully crocheted snowflakes that have yellowed over the years. There are miniature picture frame ornaments. One from when each of our four children were babies, one of my husband and me dancing at our wedding, another of my daughters first communion and of Dad and his boys

LEFT: A mischievous elf (inset) watches over the collection of Nova Scotian Crystal ornaments in the library.

RIGHT: Fresh flowers and white polka dot ribbons keep things cheerful and bright.

Sprigs of fresh cedar and pine get tucked into an artificial garland and can be refreshed throughout the holiday.

TOP RIGHT: Georgia adds a ribbon to a gift she will pop under the tree for one of her siblings.

The North Shore

ah! Winter 2018 - 38

in their tuxes from a New Year’s Eve Cruise a dozen years ago. This year I will be adding a few more snapshots of time to our tree to honour the special people in our family who now celebrate with us in spirit. A few years ago we added a collection of brilliant starfish to the tree to pay homage to our love of the beach. I love the way the white pops on the deep evergreen. There was one big starfish that was to make its way to the top of the tree but the course of its destiny was altered when our Irish Setter decided it was a festive treat. I am still looking for a replacement that I love as much.

We all know putting up Christmas trees is not always picture perfect. There is the annual matrimonial squabble that

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happens trying to “get it straight” and deciding on “the perfect side.” The last few years as the kids have gotten older, it’s finding a night that we all can be together to decorate and the twinge of heartache when a mother hears from one of her boys, “that’s okay Mum you can do it without me.” There have also been the moments when disaster strikes and the second tree in the “good” living room adorned with dozens of pastel glass balls crashes to the floor in the middle of the night. The thick white shag carpet cushioned many from their death, but those that didn’t make it, their glistening shards were lost in the fibres forever. All of the trees have additional anchorage now.

PHOTO BY CRYSTAL MURRAY

mas Trees

The North Shore

INSIDE STORY

The memory tree is definitely the family favourite but there is also “Mum’s Tree” with my collection of gorgeous glass globes and in recent years the “Crystal Tree” a double entendre I guess because it is specifically for our cache of NS Crystal ornaments that my

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husband started to pick up every year.

The design etched in the crystal changes every Christmas and each one is stamped with the year. We have been gifting an ornament to a close group of friends for over 10 years. They each have a pretty good collection by now too!

When the four kids were small they each had their own tree in their bedrooms but in the last couple of years my youngest only retains the desire. They used to always be “real” trees but now she has an obvious artificial tree with gold tinsel branches where she displays her collection of ballerina ornaments.

Since our kids had their first Christmas they have been gifted their own ornaments. Some day they will have them for their own trees. They are usually themed to their personal passions; fishing and hockey for Ben, soccer for Mac, figure skates for Georgia and ballerinas for Tess.

There is sometimes a fourth tree in our basement rec room. This is the snowman tree with a toy train whirling around the tracks. A gift to my husband years ago and a nod to the Nana Muskori song Old Toy Trains that was the holiday soundtrack of his childhood.

Happy little snowmen pop up in a variety of places in my seasonal décor. I like to keep them up for the winter. I don’t believe they have to go away at the first of January. What does have a shorter life span is the greenery I use in most of my decorating. I love to be decorated by the first weekend of December so it’s a little

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tricky to keep it all fresh. There is lots of spritzing and often some replacing before the big day. One year I experimented with a fresh boxwood garland for my staircase but the delay in hanging it for it to be fresh was too much for me. I since resorted back to my artificial garland that I will often pop a few sprigs of fresh cedar in and some white Fuji mums if we are having company to give it a little more festive flair.

I find that little elements of greenery spruce up any space, especially if you opt for an artificial tree. Touches in the powder rooms, a window ledge or a little spring at the base of a picture frame are all you need for a little touch of the season. As much as I love the look of fresh greenery the sensory experience brings me as much joy. You just can’t get the same experience from a scented candle.

This year I am exploring the idea of a live Christmas tree that can then be planted in the spring. I need to do a little more research to make sure that I can keep the tree viable until planting season but I love the idea of its branches holding my memories and then rooting itself in a special place surrounded by its own tree family because family is what Christmas trees are really all about.

Left: I like to think that at Christmas the house is in full bloom. The pastel colours on what the kids call “Mum’s Tree” brings together all of the colours in the artwork in the living room. Ben is home from the city and takes a peek to see if there is a present with his name on it.

Above: A few years ago, we relocated the dining room to the front of the house. This allowed for a bigger table that can easily be set for celebrations or the rare Sunday supper when everyone is home. The room used to be the family room. We decided to keep the “Memory Tree” in the same space next to the fireplace where the kids still hang their stockings for Santa. Tess sets the table for a holiday dinner with friends.

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The North Shore

ON THE TABLE

KNIVES, CROCKS & A WINTER SALAD PHOTO: LINDSAY CAMERON WILSON

BY LINDSAY CAMERON WILSON

I

have a big crock in the centre of my kitchen island that holds all my tools too big to fit in a drawer. I picked the crock up at the Buy & Sell in Tatamagouche. It’s the gorgeous bone-coloured kind that once had a lid and was probably used to ferment cabbage. I’ve also found mini versions of the crock hiding on the Buy & Sell’s crowded shelves - a mini crock I use for tiny spoons, a bigger one for pens by the phone, a huge version I fill with road salt and a scooper that I keep by the front door ready and waiting for icy mornings. Then there’s the pride and joy, this big beauty on the kitchen counter.

My favourite tool jutting from the crock is my knife honing steel. I like to think its smooth wooden handle looks like the grip of a sword, and the metal ring swinging off the end could hang from a holster. I draw it from the crock in an en garde fashion and

run my knives along the steel swiftly from top to bottom, alternating sides, again and again, until the knives feel sharper.

I bought the honing steel with a set of Grohmann chef knives when I set out for cooking school way back when. The set came from the Grohmann Knives HQ in Pictou – you know, that building with the massive knife piercing through the bricks?

There was no question where my knives would come from; my whole extended family are Grohmann devotees thanks to my grandfather who was a Grohmann knife salesman. He knew all the chefs in every hotel, restaurant and greasy spoon throughout Nova Scotia, and whenever they needed a knife, he was their man. The same went for his friends, daughters and granddaughters. My grandfather died before I went to cooking school, but I know he’d be thrilled with my knife set choice.

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ROASTED FENNEL SALAD WITH ORANGE, OLIVES AND A HINT OF SPICE

PHOTO: LINDSAY CAMERON WILSON

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE DRESSING:

1 Tbsp olive oil

2 Tbsp orange juice

Sea salt 1 fennel bulb, stalks removed but save the fronds for garnish 2-3 oranges

(from the oranges, left - see method) 2 Tbsp olive oil 1-2 tsp Harissa paste, or any spicy chilli paste

½ cup black olives

1 Tbsp red wine vinegar

1 x 540 ml (19 oz) can chickpeas,

sea salt and pepper to taste

drained and rinsed

Fennel fronds to garnish

½ cup crumbled feta

I wasn’t always a smooth knife honer. A few weeks into cooking school our chef instructor faced the class like a conductor, steel in the left hand, chef knife in the right, fine tuning like a samurai. We stood there in our steel-toed boots and flame retardant whites, completely intimidated. But slowly, one knife stroke at a time, those slicing sounds got faster.

I always pull out the steel when I make this wintry salad. I want to slice through the fennel, separating the tops from the bulb, in one, smooth motion. I want to work through the fennel bulb until I have a pile of white, crunchy ribbons. I want to segment the oranges without losing all the juice.

I want precision.

Who would have thought all of this – precision, sharpness, sword skills and a well sliced salad, exist in that old crock from the Tatamagouche Buy & Sell.

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METHOD Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Roughly chop the feathery fronds

from the flesh. Remove any remaining pith as well.

Cut between the membranes to segment

from the fennel and set aside. Using a

the orange, reserving the juices in a small

vegetable peeler or paring knife, remove

bowl as you go. Scoop segments in a

any imperfections from the outside of the

salad bowl.

fennel bulb. Remove core, as you would a

Remove pits from olives. Or maybe

cauliflower, then slice the bulb. Toss sliced

they’ve come pitted. Even better. Add them

fennel on lined cookie sheet with olive oil

to the salad bowl along with the chickpeas

and about ½ tsp sea salt. Roast for 12-14

and the crumbled feta. Add cooled fennel

minutes, checking as you go. Roasting

and stir everything together.

time will depend on thickness of the slices.

Whisk dressing ingredients together in a

Remove from the oven when fennel is soft

small bowl, using 2 Tbsp of the reserved

and golden. Set aside to cool.

juice from the oranges. Taste – add more

Using a sharp knife, carefully slice off

paste if it’s not spicy enough, or salt if not

the top and bottom of the orange so the

salty enough… it’s flexible. Toss together

orange sits flat on the cutting board. Using

with salad ingredients and garnish with

downward strokes, carefully remove peel

fennel fronds.

The North Shore

HEALTHY AT HOME

W 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.

ith the chilly days upon us, my natural instinct is to snuggle up with a nice book in front of the fireplace, with a steamy cup of chai beside me and to stay tucked in as far away from the elements as possible. However, instead of hibernating with the bears over the winter there is something to be said for embracing the elements and playing in our Canadian winter wonderland! Your body and your spirit will love you for it; yes it’s a tiny bit of work to get bundled up and hit the trail but I’ll admit that I have never regretted my time spent playing in the snow.

I have very fond memories of winter training with my team. Being a summer Olympian didn’t preclude us from training in the winter. In fact, we had a saying that, “medals were won in the summer but earned in the winter”.

That’s really when the tough work (volume) was done and it was

Chili FOR KILLER

definitely the hardest time to stay mentally tough as there was no race in sight.

To keep spirits up we would always plan a fun training camp somewhere (typically in the Canadian Rockies) where there was no shortage of snow and an abundance of trails where we could exercise our heart, lungs, and keep the momentum of training high!

My favourite camp of all times was a back-country ski trip into Elk Lake Lodge, nestled in Kananaskis Country, in the heart of the Rockies. It was a ten kilometre ski into the hut which became our base for the duration of the camp. From there the possibilities of trails and loops were endless, the beauty of the mountains were spectacular, and best of all training didn’t feel like a slug fest.

Menu planning for these trips was of course part of the fun. After a big day outdoors you didn’t want to spend hours on meal prep, so we’d divvy up the meals and have everything mise en place (chopped, sliced, and diced)

CHILLY DAYS

BY TRACY STUART

The North Shore

ah! Winter 2018 - 44

before heading into the hut. On this particular trip, a big pot of chili was agreed upon to be the meal of the day to kick off the camp. My mother had been making an awesome Killer Chili recipe from The Skoki Cookbook for our family for years; knowing this recipe was always a crowd pleaser I assigned everyone their ingredients to contribute in advance so that it was not so much of a lift for any one person. Before heading out for the first afternoon ski we all brought our ingredients to the pot and within 25-minutes the chili was simmering and we were heading out the door.

After a great 90-minute ski we returned to the hut, legs spent, heart pounding, and bellies hungry.

The smells of the spicy cumin and sweet cinnamon wafted through the air as we piled into the kitchen.

I can still see the looks on the faces around the table as we tasted those first bites, it was the look of pure enjoyment … and the words, “BEST chili ever”, being uttered in between slurps.

So this winter even though I understand the feeling of wanting to hibernate, I urge you to get out there and have some fun in the snow. And remember, if you have that pot of chili all prepped (and simmering on low) in advance, you’ll delight in the flavours and the enjoyment that it will bring when you return for this scrumptious meal!

Killer Chili Recipe Adapted from The Skoki Cookbook by Katie Mitzel

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: 1 pound of spicy chorizo sausage 2 pounds lean ground beef 1 white onion, chopped 3 tablespoons olive oil 4 garlic cloves, minced 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped 2 cups sliced mushrooms 2 jalapeño peppers, ribs and seeds removed, diced 4 tablespoons red chili powder 1 ½ teaspoons chipotle chili pepper 1 tablespoon each cinnamon and cumin 1 teaspoon thyme flakes 2 teaspoons each salt and freshly ground pepper ½ cup packed brown sugar 2 tablespoons molasses 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard ½ cup white vinegar ½ cup ketchup 2 cans plum tomatoes (14ozs each), drained and chopped 2 can kidney beans (14 oz), drained and rinsed

SOME EXTRAS 1 cup grated old cheddar cheese 1 cup sour cream

HOW IT’S DONE Cut the casings off the chorizo sausage. In a large deep skillet sauté the ground beef with the sausage until well browned and cooked throughout. Break the chunks of meat up well using a wooden spoon. Drain excess fat and set aside.

In a great big stockpot, sauté the onion in some olive oil until tender. Add the garlic, red and yellow pepper, mushrooms and diced jalapeño. Soften on medium heat.

Add the beef and chorizo to the pot and slowly stir in all your spices: chili powders, cinnamon, cumin, thyme, salt and pepper.

Now add the plum tomatoes and kidney beans. Cook over low heat for 1-2 hours, allowing to gently simmer.

If you find it too acidic, adjust the sweetness by adding a couple of tablespoons of white sugar for balance.

Serve with grated cheddar and a dollop of sour cream.

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The North Shore

HEALTHY AT HOME

1

Sustainable stockings Stuff a little eco-love in that sock!

9

BY RACHAEL MCLEAN PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

3

T

his year, I’ve really tried to step up my game in the REDUCE, REUSE + RECYCLE department.

I’m dedicated to cutting plastic bags out of my grocery experience. Even when I forget my bins, I pack everything back into my cart and load my trunk with the loose items. When I get home I load them into the bins for the trek in. It’s a pain but I am remembering more and more.

Reducing plastic in other areas of my family life has been a relatively easy task. We just had to commit. Straws are a big one.

Anytime we would go through a drive-thru, I would decline straws and there was a collective whine from the back seat but that too is becoming easier. I remind them that straws aren’t good for the environment and they seem to be content with that! At home we have purchased stainless steel straws that are still fun and easy to clean with the little brush.

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The following collection of locally sourced items are all planet happy and conversation starters that make great stocking stuffers.

It’s a conversation that we need to be having! Going into the festive season see what you can do to spread the eco-love.

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1 Beezy Wrap, reusable food wrap 2 Produce Bags 3 Choice Laundry Powder 4 Stainless Steel Straws + Pottery Stir Stick 5 Lip Balm 6 Fabric Napkins 7 Bamboo Utensil 8 JarWare (Drink Cover + Soap Pump for Mason Jars)

9 Velcro plant ties 10 Bio Degradable Scrub brush with 10

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interchangeable head

11 Wool Laundry Balls 12 Buncha Farmers Stain Remover Stick 13 Reusable paper towel with print 14 Bees Wax Candle Be creative and look to your local vendors for eco-friendly stuffers.

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ah! Winter 2018

The North Shore

AT HOME WITH...

cakes

Dr. Ed Hawkins

to put a smile on your face

BY CRYSTAL MURRAY PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

H

e can leap tall buildings with a single bound…wait wrong guy.

However, if you know anything about Ed Hawkins he really is a super guy and he tackles everything with Herculean efforts. It was still a bit of a surprise when decadent desserts started to pop up on the social media accounts of this Dad, dentist and fitness zealot. But you can add another layer to this already interesting fella and while you’re at it, slather on some butter cream icing, cut out some festive fondant and add a few sprinkles because it’s Christmas and this guy just wants to make sure you have your cake and eat it too!

If there isn’t a little fun or if there isn’t at least a smidgen of challenge then Ed’s not really interested. He likes to keep mixing things up and as a result he can sometimes be a bit of an enigma. In the culinary world I think they call this they call this fusion.

After all, how many dentists out there are flaunting sweet treats and sugar coated confections? Isn’t the road to perdition paved with pastry? But Ed will say that it all makes sense and all of these different ingredients of his life actually make the perfect recipe.

While he is likely best known in his community for his profession and his goosebumps on steroids Halloween house in Pictou that becomes a local attraction for a few days every year, he also loves food.

He admits that it is as much the preparation and the process of food that he enjoys more than the actual consumption. He baked a lot when he was in Dentistry School at Dalhousie where he also met his wife and The North Shore

professional partner Kora Hanrahan. He baked Kora an elaborate chocolate cake the first year they were dating. She says she told him at the time that she would expect a homemade cake every year. I don’t think he’s let her down yet.

For a while after moving to Pictou to set up their practice Ed was very focused on nutrition, competing in dozens of triathlons and completing a half iron man when his two youngest children Chase and Reese were small. He did some on-line fitness coaching and developed a faithful following encouraging healthy active

life style. It seems like the perfect fit for a health professional. Once his kids hit school he caught the baking bug again.

He became Pictou Elementary School famous for his cookies and his weekend posts turned from burpee challenges to buttermilk pancake butterflies. Cookies moved to cakes and cakes became little masterpieces that could go up against many a professional decorator. He’s not in for the biz and gives most of his creations away to friends and family.

In his kitchen on Welsford Street in Pictou, Ed puts the finishing touches on one of three cakes that he made for the ah! Holiday issue. He tries to keep his fingers clean from the green food colouring that he massaged into a ball of fondant that will be rolled out and cut to shape. After experimenting with different cake recipes he landed on his two tried and true recipes for chocolate and vanilla that are the base for most of the cakes that he makes. But it’s the details that are the icing on the cake for Ed. He loves the precision and his hands are well practiced from years of dental work when your work field is approximately 20 mm wide, the size of the average tooth.

He’s not the first dentist to dabble in decorating. In fact he has a good friend who is a professor at Dal Dentistry who is currently a contestant on the Great Canadian Baking Show and proclaimed in his show bio “walking contradiction.” Ed does not really think that it is that much of a stretch between baking and dentistry. I guess you could say that both baking and dentistry can put a smile on your face.

ah! Winter 2018 - 48

MAKE MINE CHOCOLATE

INGREDIENTS

1 cup cocoa powder and stir until smooth.

1 ¾ cups of boiling water

Cream 1 ¼ cups of butter with 1 ¾ cups

6oz chocolate

of packed brown sugar Add 4 eggs one

1 cup cocoa powder 1 ¼ cup softened butter 1 ¾ cup packed brown sugar 4 eggs 2 tsp vanilla 2 cups flour 2 tsp baking soda ¼ tsp salt

INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two

at a time, beating well after each addition.

Beat in 2 tsp vanilla. Add 2 cups flour, 2 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt and half of the chocolate mixture. Beat on low to combine, then on high for 1-2 minutes.

Add the remaining chocolate mixture and beat on low until mixed. Pour batter into pans and bake 25-30 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the middle comes out clean with a few moist crumbs attached. Cool for 10-15 minutes; remove

9-inch round cake pans with waxed or

from pans. Wrap in double layers of plastic

parchment paper. Spray the pans and

wrap while still warm and freeze. Double

parchment with cooking oil. In a heat safe

recipe makes two 10” layers plus two 8”

medium bowl add 1 ¾ cups of boiling

layers or four 9” layers. Never fill pans

water and 6 oz chocolate, stir to melt. Add

more than ⅔ full.

INGREDIENTS

LAYER IT UP Makes 8 inch vanilla cake with 4 thick layers

5 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 2 cups unsalted butter 2 ¾ cups white granulated sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 8 large eggs 2 cups whole milk

INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease the bottom of

RECIPE NOTES: If you don’t have an 8x4 pan add parchment

two 8x 4 round pans, then line with parchment

paper sleeve to the pan so it will not overflow.

paper. Prepare the dry ingredients. In a bowl,

To do this start by preparing a long strip of

sift all the dry ingredients together: flour, baking

parchment paper, long enough to wrap around

powder, and salt. Set aside. In a stand mixer

the pan. Then fold it into thirds, fold up the

bowl, cream butter, sugar, and vanilla on

bottom, then fold down the top. Grease or

medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5-8

spray a bit of baking spray onto the bottom

minutes. Add eggs to the mixture two at a time.

corners of the pan to help hold the bottom

Blend until incorporated and scrape the sides

circle and sides. To prepare it for the pan, curl

as needed. Add the flour mixture in four parts

the folded parchment paper then put it into

alternating with the milk in three parts, starting

the pan and let it uncurl. This is quite a tall

and ending with the flour mixture. Remember

cake. After torting and levelling, you’ll get four

to add the next flour or milk until just

thick layers. Half the recipe if you wish to have

incorporated; be careful not to overmix! Pour

thinner cake layers.

the cake batter into prepared pans and spread it so that it is smooth and flat in the pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 60 minutes.

49 -

ah! Winter 2018

The North Shore

DIY

Lino Print Christmas Card

BY LORI BYRNE PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH, VISIONFIRE STUDIOS

In this digital day and age, getting ‘real’ mail that

This project took me back to my elementary years

isn’t a bill or junk mail, seems like such a treat. And a

of art class, I loved the nostalgic experience of this

handmade Christmas card from a dear friend or family

project, paired with the imperfect artistic element to

member would be even better. These lino print cards

carving the lino block. Handmade Christmas cards

are a great way to do just that, you can make your

speak to that old-fashioned holiday feeling, too, a great

design and print it as many times as you’d like. And you

way to spend the chilly nights by the fire, making and

can go as basic or detailed as your artistic talents allow.

handwriting personal messages to those you hold dear.

 Supplies Carving Knives Lino block Roller Ink Cardstock Design Marker to write on lino block

NOTE: I ordered a kit that had everything I needed to do this project except the paper, but you may be able to source it without having to order online. Ordering a complete kit allows a beginner to try it out without purchasing individual items at a higher price point to try your hand at it before really committing to high quality products.

 Directions: Step 1. Plan your design on paper, then transfer it to your block but remember it’ll be reversed once it is printed. It won’t matter so much for images but any lettering will need to be carved in reverse.

Step 2. Cut the areas you want left blank on the finished product.

Step 3. Ink your roller, being sure to get a good even coat over the roller.

Step 4. Apply ink to the lino block.

Step 5. Lay your card stock over the block and press the paper onto the block, be sure not to move the paper or you’ll smudge your design.

Step 6. Carefully remove the card stock and let it dry.

Step 7. You can dress up your card more by layering your image over a contrasting coloured paper or by adding some ribbon or twine.

Step 8. Write your greeting inside the card and tuck it in an envelope and send it on its merry way!!

The North Shore

ah! Winter 2018 - 50

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