East Coast Living Spring 2020

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contents

SPRING 2020

Embroidery art chronicling women who make history

30

10

THE LIST

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

10 Décor: Go traditional with

14 Cover: Catch the mid-century

6

hooked rugs

Three Atlantic Canadian crafters share their love for this old-time technique

These Pictou homeowners invite you to step back in time A P.E.I. writer shares the joys and fears of raising pigeons

25 Break an egg

These simple nutritious breakfasts cook up quick to start your day right

eastcoastLIVING.ca

modern vibe

19 Hobbies: Coming home

EATING IN

4

Contemporary rug hookers elevate a time-honoured craft

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22 In depth: Everything about the

kitchen sink

From bowls to faucets, there’s plenty to consider before picking your next sink

SPRING 2020

Editor’s message

A new view on local hobbies

27 Plants: Amazing aloe vera

Learn to grow this useful succulent at home

29 Buying guide 30 Last look: By a thread

Halifax fabric artist Mindy Harris embroiders acclaimed women

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Mother’s Day Inspiration

Birds in flight Tell us about your hobbies

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t started with a tweet. “Hey Charlottetown! Keep an eye out for a white pigeon. Our youngest didn’t come home with the rest of our birds last evening.” In September, author Dave Atkinson lost one of his pigeons.

I followed Atkinson on Twitter from my days as editor of Atlantic Books Today. His middle-grade novels, the Wereduck Trilogy, chronicle Kate, a teenager from a family of werewolves who turns into a duck every full moon. Dave’s Twitter feed became a daily touch point for me when he started raising homing pigeons.

As tiny hatchings, they looked like hideous pink dinosaurs with shaggy yellow fuzz. As weeks passed, the pictures kept coming. The dinosaurs started to look like pigeons and eventually learned to fly. Clicking through Atkinson’s photos of the time his family spends with the pigeons offers a glimpse into something special: the simple joy of people and animals bonding. The pigeons nibble at the children’s ears and playfully light on Atkinson’s head while he cleans their loft.

When Bert went missing in September, Atkinson asked Charlottowners to keep an eye to the sky for the young pigeon. Those of us scattered across the Internet, who watched Bert hatch only a few months earlier, kept watch too. We waited for tweets about sightings and sent messages hoping for Bert’s safe return.

That first afternoon, Atkinson sent his older birds out to find Bert, but they came home alone.

I went to bed wondering when he’d turn up. Luckily, just before lunch the next day, a tired, but otherwise hale and healthy, Bert touched down in Atkinson’s yard. I’m a soft touch; I cheered at my desk when I saw his tweet.

Atkinson’s story (page 19) reminded me that we have so many varied and interesting hobbies in Atlantic Canada that I don’t know enough about and likely more I’ve never encountered. I’d love to see more stories about the hobbies and activities that inspire you. You’ll find my email address below if you have any ideas and you may see yours in an up-coming issue.

Also in this issue, we visit a new home with a retro vibe in Pictou, N.S. Crystal Murray, editor of our sister magazine, At Home on the North Shore, introduces us to the Blair family and offers tips on how to achieve mid-century modern style in your home (page 14). In The List, we meet Atlantic Canadian rug hookers (page 10). Quick-to-make, healthy breakfasts are on deck in Eating In (page 25).

We love to hear your feedback on this issue and your story ideas. Some of our favourite homes and artisan profiles arose out of tips from readers just like you. Get to know our contributors at eastcoastliving.ca/about-us/contributors. Message us on Facebook, tag us in a tweet, or email me at the address below. I look forward to hearing from you.

Kim Hart Macneill, Editor Email: ecl@metroguide.ca EastCoastLiving East Coast Living Magazine

SPRING 2020

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On our cover: Andrew and Cindy Blair’s home illustrates their dedication to mid-century modern style.

Read their story on page 14.

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These chicken-themed coasters by Mary Ploughman Jones add whimsy to any table setting.

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SPRING 2020

DÉCOR

Go traditional with

hooked rugs Three Atlantic Canadian crafters share their love for this old-time technique

BY ALISON JENKINS

DEANNE FITZPATRICK AMHERST, N.S. Donning a black work smock, Deanne Fitzpatrick sits down to a hooked rug in progress at her Amherst studio. Picking up a hook in one hand and a strip of woollen fabric in the other, she hooks as she talks.

“My grandmother hooked rugs,” she says. “It’s a traditional craft. It’s one of the few crafts that’s thought to be indigenous to North America.” Hooked rugs first appeared on the North American eastern seaboard in the 1840s and 1850s, using wool cloth and burlap backing. Derived from other needle techniques, it’s believed resourceful settlers used what was at hand like feed bags and the family’s old clothes.

Fitzpatrick founded her eponymous studio in her home 27 years ago, and grew it into a large shop, workspace, and studio downtown. She stocks her shelves with vibrant hues of wool cloth and yarns and decorates the walls with her own art rugs. Kits for sale feature some of her original designs, with everything you need to make your own rug.

“I’ve always felt like the most important thing that I do is hook rugs and write,” says Fitzpatrick, who released her seventh book, Making a Life: Twenty-five Years of Hooking Rugs (Nimbus Publishing), last year.

Rugs have an energy that livens up a room, she says. “I always say they’re good company. They add a little life to a room that doesn’t happen without them. You need textiles.” Large, lush landscapes conquer the walls of her shop. Smaller pieces warm tiny spaces.

Fitzpatrick prefers to pin her mats directly to the wall using map pins. Some of her work is mounted on a board in a custom narrow black wood frame.

SPRING 2020

Deanne Fitzpatrick.

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Fitzpatrick says rug hooking is a part of Atlantic Canadian culture.

“Culture is a very, very important thing. I think, it’s really easy now with everyone having access to the same ideas and the same materials online, that we do what we can to preserve what’s uniquely ours. I can’t tell you how important I think that is… Who we were is who we are.”

ANNE LOCKHART CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. On P.E.I., hooking remains a popular pastime for Anne Lockhart. The retired teacher won an artist’s grant and attended rug school in the United States, and completed the Rug Hooking Guild of Nova Scotia’s program at Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax.

Sipping tea in her off-grid summer cottage turned year-round home, Lockhart says, “Hooking is just pulling up a loop.” Throughout her cozy space, rugs decorate the wooden walls and floors.

A hooked vignette of her favourite Mexican beach fills one wall.

Above a teak, glass-front bookshelf is a more traditional Celtic design in navy and greens.

Lockhart continues to share her passion with other Maritime guilds and taught at P.E.I.’s community schools. All this from someone who was certain she didn’t want to make mats.

Her friends attended a workshop and encouraged her to join them, but Lockhart was happy with her family and other hobbies.

Then one day she visited her friend Patti. “Anne, you’re going to hook,” said Patti.

“Well, I didn’t really want to,” Lockhart says. Patti handed her a little maple leaf pattern on burlap and some variegated wool. “You’re going to hook.” Lockhart accepted the gift and finished the pattern.

“And I was hooked,” she says now.

That first leaf hangs in the stairway of her home. At the patio

Anne Lockhart.

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SPRING 2020

Mary Ploughman Jones.

doors is a door mat; Lockhart’s exception to her no high-traffic and no direct sunlight rule. Above the door is a long narrow landscape made especially for the space.

“I don’t really have a colour palette,” she says. “I’m eclectic. What’s nice about rug hooking is that you don’t have to be precise.”

Some hookers are very precise, hooking even loops in neat rows.

Others are more free-flowing, combining different sized strips and various materials into their fibre artwork.

“The rug has to be yours,” says Lockhart. “I don’t like teaching a pattern, I’d rather teach a process. They can take that process and do whatever they want with it.”

MARY PLOUGHMAN JONES BRACKLEY BEACH, P.E.I. A vivid, yellow flowered runner marks the landing outside Mary Ploughman Jones’ Brackley Beach condo. Inside the style is Scandinaviameets-Island farmhouse decor with white walls and slipcovers amid antique furniture. Rugs cover the floors and surfaces. Her partner Dave watches the football game with his feet resting on a rug-covered ottoman; chair pads cover nearly every seat.

“For me it’s the colour and texture that draw me in,” says Ploughman Jones. “It’s painting with wool.”

Ploughman Jones started hooking in 1989 and made a career of her art. After attending art school in Chicago, her creativity fuelled her career choices, landing in recent decades at the Dunes Gallery in Brackley Beach as curator and co-owner of Howe’s Hall Gallery in York, P.E.I. Wool cloth stacked in cabinets and shelves and organized by colour fills her studio. Reed baskets hold yet more cloth and extra worms, strips of fabric she cut for previous projects.

Ploughman Jones describes her palette as antique colours with “a few brights thrown in from time to time.” She prefers to use recycled wool gleaned from old clothes or blankets. “I find using recycled wool gives your work a patina of age,” she says.

A semicircle mat sits at the door to the back hall. “That’s an older one, my first cat rug,” she says. The rug is from 1994 and has stood the test of time and many feet.

Two small mats in the living room are antiques, picked up along her hooking journey. You can see the recycled wool and burlap on close inspection. “They’re probably the Bluenose patterns,” she says. “It’s nice to have a mix of old and new.” o

Middle: Deanne Fitzpatrick sells an array of kits at her studio. You can order online at hookingrugs.com.

Right: This rug by Anne Lockhart is still vibrant after more than 15 years.

WHERE TO PLACE YOUR RUG Floor rugs should be all the same material (traditionally wool). Different materials will wear at different rates.

Keep loops an even height or the rug will flatten out and lose dimension.

Wall rugs can be various materials and feature different length loops to create dimension. Some of Ploughman Jones’ work contains jewellery, seashells, and sea glass.

Fitzpatrick uses fluffy yarns and shiny fabrics alongside more traditional materials.

As with any textile, direct sunlight will fade the colour over time.

RUG CARE TIPS Never shake your rug as this breaks down the backing over time. Vacuum your rug with the brush head only, not motorized carpet heads.

To spot clean your rug, dab it with water and mild soap, but avoid rubbing.

To refresh the colours, tamp your rug face down into fresh, light snow and sweep it clean. “You’ll be amazed at how the colours pop and how clean your mat will look,” says Ploughman Jones.

Store rugs rolled up, right side out, in a breathable covering and a dry location.

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Catch the

MID-CENTURY

modern vibe These Pictou homeowners invite you to step back in time

BY CRYSTAL MURRAY PHOTOS BY STEVE SMITH/VISIONFIRE

C

indy and Andrew Blair put all of their effort into capturing an unmistakable vintage vibe for their new home in Pictou, N.S. Walking through the front door is like stepping back in time. The sleek ranch-style house they designed and built two years ago features modern efficiencies but is dialled in to the mid-century modern style.

“Someone told us that our oven looks like a 1950s Chev married a jukebox,” laughs Cindy. “I think that the greatest joy in this house is the way it makes people feel when they walk into it. It’s just so fun.”

While Cindy carried the retro vibe through the entire home, the kitchen is the real show-stopper. Mint green vintage-inspired appliances, a checkerboard chrome set, authentic Bakelite dishes, and pops of colour highlight hallmarks of the mid-century modern period, covering roughly 1933–1965.

Author Cara Greenberg coined the term mid-century modern, which quickly became part of the design lexicon. Her book, Mid-Century Modern: Furniture of the 1950s, says consumers who wanted function and style for their small post-war homes influenced the look.

Decorating an entire home in a period style would daunt many homeowners, but the Blairs ran with it. This is the third home Cindy and Andrew built and designed in 25 years of marriage. They furnished their previous homes with plans for a future sale.

“I decorated with what everyone else wanted,” says Cindy. “Always a white shaker-style kitchen and traditional elements. When we decided to make the move to Pictou, I knew that this was finally the house that I was going to decorate for me. I always loved retro and I wanted to take a big step in that direction.”

Cindy’s décor choices weren’t her only big step. Her new home is on a different coast. A British Columbia resident her entire life, Cindy met Andrew in Manitoba in 1994 when she worked as an RN and he was in the province doing aerial surveying. They married and started their life

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SPRING 2020

together on Vancouver Island. After Cindy retired, they looked east for that change. Andrew had ties to Pictou and always hoped to return. He lived his first decade around the corner from the home they now share in the harbour town’s west end.

Over the years, Cindy visited her husband’s family in Pictou, and says the local architecture charmed her. “We decided we wanted to start from scratch, but we wanted to be in the area where Andy grew up,” says Cindy.

“There is very little if any vacant land in town. Especially land that is

COVER STORY

Top: Cindy says the retro stove is the home’s biggest conversation piece.

Bottom: These mint green replica appliances are nostalgic and tick all the boxes for modern convenience and energy efficiency.

Sleek white cupboards, polished chrome, hexagon tiles, and vintage dishes pull the retro concept together.

This pencil leg turntable is a throw back to the 1950s with Bluetooth capabilities.

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Left: Cindy carried the classic black and white theme through parts of the house. Right: With the exception of a few décor pieces the couple were able to access almost all of the house’s building and finishing supplies in Pictou County.

zoned for a second structure.” Cindy’s older sister made the move with them and wanted her own space.

Discouraged that they couldn’t find the right piece of land, Cindy says they were ready to abandon their plan for a house in Pictou. One day while scanning online property listings from her home in British Columbia, a newly listed property popped up in her search.

“It was a piece of land on Cottage Street that I walked by every day on my way to school when I was a boy,” says Andrew.

Cindy and Andrew had a clear idea what they wanted and worked on the home’s concept with house designer Nigel Collinson of NC Designs in Bedford, N.S. “We gave Nigel the dimensions of our lot, our thoughts on farmhouse style with no basement, and he turned around a plan that we all loved. We also knew we wanted Andrew’s cousin to build the house and he had an opening, so we jumped,” she says.

“It’s very helpful when a client has a clear list of needs,” says Collinson.

Cindy wanted a 1,500-square-foot house with a two car garage. The ranchstyle home would feature board and batten exterior and a wide verandah with no rails. For Cindy’s sister, Collinson built a 600-square-foot structure to match the style of the main house. A “mini me,” he calls it.

“Creating a house in a different style so that it becomes contextual is something I often strive for by using existing elements like roof pitches and proportions to tie everything together,” says Collinson about the Blair home’s contrast with its Victorian neighbours.

The Blairs chose building materials that evoked a farmhouse style while remaining low maintenance and accessible. Cindy was diagnosed with MS a number of years ago. Their plan was mindful of their future and decided to keep the house all one level with wide porches for easy access. The Blairs were ahead of the curve with their anticipation for an accessible home. In September 2019, Nova Scotia added adaptable housing requirements to the building code, mandating that every newly built house have a provision for accessibility.

Although the house is small, the attached garage elongates it to give the effect of a much larger home. It’s set well back on the lot to create curb appeal and give depth to the property.

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Andrew says he happily leaves all decorating decisions up to Cindy.

They moved east with a clean slate after selling most of the contents of their Vancouver Island home to the new owners. “We left almost everything behind but my golf clubs,” he laughs. He had a hand in selecting the outdoor lighting system that comes on at dusk and goes off at dawn. Remembering his childhood winters in Pictou, he also purchased portable generators for both houses.

While few houses on Vancouver Island have deep foundations because of the dense bedrock, Andrew says they decided to add a heated, six-foot-high crawlspace with staircase access in the garage.

“It has the same dimension as the house and contains the furnace, hot water tank, and auxiliary water pump,” says Cindy. “I am happy that we did go for a bigger crawl space as the home does not have much storage.”

Inside Cindy wanted little rooms but, on her house designer’s advice, added a 16-foot vaulted ceiling in the living room to make space for a dramatic, tiled fireplace.

“Most of our tradespeople just shook their heads when I told them how I wanted things done,” Cindy says. “I told them just to trust me and when it was all done they all wanted to take people back and show them the result.”

Before building started, Cindy collected décor elements that tied into her vision. The Sputnik clock and mirror in the living room both nod to the era, as do authentic vintage finds and artwork.

“Some of the best and most timeless designs come from this era.

This was a happy time in the years after World War II. There was a lot of colour in the ‘50s. They used neutrals as the base but then added colour in way that we don’t today. It’s very cheerful,” says Cindy.

Cindy is still on the hunt for authentic period pieces that tell the story of this design era. She recently swapped out her headboard for a glamourous pink velvet that contrasts with the bedroom’s vertical black and white striped wall.

And if Cindy tires of retro? “It’s easy,” she says. “We built a great house. I will just sell the décor and start again.”

COVER STORY

GET THE LOOK Mid-century modern emerged in an era when the new atomic age was both fascinating and scary. While the Eames chair and Sputnik mirrors were all the rage, so were backyard bomb shelters.

Deb Nelson, a Halifax designer who collects original Canadian mid-century modern pieces says the style is easily incorporated with today’s décor. “It still looks great and stands the test of time, but it adds an original touch and a cool vibe to any room.”

While some period pieces can be pricey, midcentury finds can fit almost every budget. One option is replicas, which feature a lower price tag. Another is watching flea markets and household auctions.

Online research will help you become familiar with designers so you can look underneath each piece for an original logo or stamp.

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HERE’S WHAT TO LOOK FOR Colour Earthy tones like teal, brown, and orange were popular.

Incorporate this look simply by pairing stark white walls with furniture highlighting these colours.

Shape Furniture was sleek and curvaceous, and accent pieces presented open geometric designs. Look for curvy chairs and sofas, and coffee tables with slim legs.

Wall Treatment Bringing nature indoors resulted in the popularity of wood paneling. Look for wallpaper in groovy graphic designs and polka dot café curtains.

Light years ahead Nothing defines a design period like a light fixture. Midcentury modern lights are easy to spot. The Sputnik light was the most popular, named for the first satellite to orbit the earth in 1957.

Checkers and chrome Checkerboard tiled tabletops evoke vintage diners and a time when chrome details made appliances and cupboards gleam. Look for hardware in your favourite vintage stores. o

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HOBBIES

Coming

HOME A P.E.I. writer shares the joys and fears of raising pigeons WORDS AND PHOTOS BY DAVE ATKINSON

I

stood at my back door in Charlottetown, scanning the horizon. It was about an hour before sunset.

“Any sign of them yet?” asked my daughter Alice. She’s 11.

“Not yet,” I said. “They’ll be back soon. Just watch.”

“You’re sure?” she said. Her forehead was scrunched. She was worried.

“Of course I’m sure.” I put my arm around her. “They’re homing pigeons. They come home. It’s what they do.”

X

I’ve been interested in pigeons for years, but it wasn’t until last year I finally built a loft.

We brought in our first birds from a fellow in Bonshaw, P.E.I. The kids named them Hermes and Violet.

They’re racing homers specially bred for their ability to come home from a distance, even if they’ve never seen their starting point. In some races, birds travel up to 2,000 km.

“That’s the miracle of pigeons,” said Barry McPhee, a longtime pigeon fancier in Sussex, N.B. Barry has kept pigeons since 1967, after he met some on a school field trip to a local farm. By summer, he built his own loft. He’s been flying them ever since.

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“I’ve always loved a bird in flight,” he says.

“You open the door, and they’re free to fly wherever they want. They don’t have to come back, but they always do.”

When he started, McPhee says there were hundreds of fanciers across Atlantic Canada.

The numbers have dropped over the years.

He figures there are maybe 50–60 people who keep pigeons left and few of those actually fly their birds. Most keep them just for show.

“Most of the fellows I’ve shown or flown with over the years have retired or are gone,” he says. “Even the younger fanciers are in their 50s now. There aren’t a lot of young people picking up the stick.”

X

Violet and Hermes are lovely birds but we can’t let them fly free. Their homing instinct is so strong, they would head straight to the loft in Bonshaw where they were born. Their kids, however, are a different story.

“HATCHING!!!” read the text from my wife, the day our first egg pair began to crack. I sped home from work, just in time to see two alien dinosaur birds emerge from their shells.

We named them Poppy and Georgie and gushed over them for the next few weeks as white feathers replaced their sparse yellow down. Pigeon parents create a special “milk” in their crop (part of the digestive system) that they feed their babies. At four weeks, we weaned Poppy and Georgie and moved them to their own flight loft.

That’s when training began.

Before this, they ate freely from their food trough at all hours. I started feeding them smaller meals, twice daily, of grains, corn, seeds, and legumes. I made a big production of rattling the food in its can and whistling as I dished up supper.

Before they could fly, I taught them to enter their loft through a special pigeonsonly door called the trap. I placed them on a landing board just outside the trap and started whistling and rattling their food.

BE A GOOD NEIGHBOUR If your birds spend time on your neighbour’s roof, you’re doing something wrong. Fly your birds hungry so they’re keen to come home for dinner. Keep your loft clean and be mindful of the noise.

I squeezed their little shoulders through the trap, and they dropped into the loft, where their food waited.

I only had to show them once.

Poppy and Georgie soon discovered their wings were made for flying. I’ll always remember their first trip to the peak of the shed. They were flying from the picnic table to the roof of their loft and missed their landing. A few panic-flaps later, and they found themselves on the shed, looking down, wondering how they got there. They stayed there for more than an hour. I whistled for their supper, and they came right away. They hit the landing board on the first try and popped through the trap.

X

“It’s the best feeling in the world,” says Dave Blum. He invited me to see his loft in Belfast, P.E.I. Dave grew up with pigeons, but faded on the hobby as an adult and went 25 years without keeping pigeons. He toyed with the idea for a while and got back into it last year in a big way.

“I’m the kind of guy who always needs a challenge, other than work,” he says.

There are hundreds of pigeon breeds, but Blum wanted to raise homers and race them in a club. He spent several years researching breeders before finally selecting one in Pennsylvania. The winter before his birds arrived, he got to work on his loft.

Top: Georgie and Poppy on Atkinson’s head.

Middle: Atkinson’s daughter Alice has a way with pigeons.

BUILD YOUR OWN LOFT Check your local bylaws first. Charlottetown’s nuisance bylaw prohibits livestock, but doesn’t count pigeons in its list of banned animals (I contacted them first to be sure).

I built my small loft for a few hundred dollars. It holds fewer than 12 birds. Blum’s loft is larger and more elaborate. It cost about $3,000. “It was the biggest cost in getting back into the hobby,” he says.

Unlike chickens, pigeons don’t need heat in the winter. The loft should be dry and free of drafts. Make sure to give them space to spend outside every day, like an enclosed aviary.

There are loads of resources online and in Facebook forums. It’s easy to find other bird people, once you become one yourself. Attend a bird show and chat someone up.

Bottom: Baby pigeons.

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HOBBIES

“I probably read every magazine and watched every YouTube video there is before I settled on my loft design.” He chuckles, “And I got to tell you, there are a lot of videos and magazines on the subject.”

Blum joined the Central Nova Racing Pigeon Club, which despite McPhee’s observation of a shrinking hobby, has grown in the last few years. Blum trained his young birds in the spring for a summer of races.

He started by letting them out every day about an hour before supper. They’d explore the immediate area around his farm and come home. After a few weeks, he carefully placed them in a special basket and released them about eight kilometres from his loft.

They beat him home.

Every day, Blum went a little further, expanding their range. One day, he realized to get much farther, he’d have to take them across the Confederation Bridge connecting P.E.I. and Nova Scotia.

“I released them right at the base of the bridge,” hey says. “They circled the base, getting their bearings. I thought they’d either not want to cross, or they’d follow the bridge

itself, but they took off across the Strait. Draw a line on a map, and it would have pointed right at my farm in Belfast. It was a great feeling.”

X

Like McPhee said, they don’t have to come home, but they always do.

I locked up the loft. They were safe for the night. Blum is right; when your birds come home, it’s the best feeling in the world. o

“They’re back!” shouted Alice. “Poppy and Georgie! They’re on the shed!”

“I told you they’d be back,” I said as we pulled on our boots and slipped out the back door.

I headed to the shed and grabbed a scoop of food. By the time I emerged, the birds were already on Alice’s shoulders, nipping at her ears. She’s the pigeon whisperer. They adore her. The other kids love the birds, but Alice has been a constant presence for Poppy and Georgie since they were eggs.

I let them play a minute before I shook the can and whistled for supper. They flew to the landing board and popped through the trap.

I only had to show them how to do that once.

X

It’s an act of faith every time I open the loft to let them out. It’s a great big world with predators and bad weather and any number of things that could stop them from coming home.

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Main: A farmhouse sink offers more bowl space for pots and pans.

From top: A undermount sink works well with stone countertops. Ceramic top-mount sinks are growing in popularity. Double-bowl stainless-steel sinks are still the most common style.

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IN DEPTH

Everything about the

kitchen sink From bowls to faucets, there’s plenty to consider before picking your next sink

BY ABBY CAMERON

T

he oft-overlooked workhorse of a kitchen, your sink deserves as much thought and consideration as the rest of the components in the heart of your home.

Jarred Dooley, owner of Kitchen Fashions by Home Fashions based in Fredericton, N.B., says picking the right sink for your space comes down to one thing and one thing only, lifestyle.

There are three main sink styles to consider.

A farmhouse, or apron sink, extends past the edge of your counter and offers a deep basin perfect for big families and large pots. While space is the benefit, smaller kitchens and counter spaces can feel dwarfed by a massive sink.

An undermount, as the name suggests fits in under the counter top, and is generally held in place with strong glue. Stainless steel sinks are

your best option here, because the glue can’t hold heavier materials like fire-clay or cast-iron.

Top mount sinks are the most common sink type, and usually made of light stainless steel. While they’re the most affordable option and easiest to replace, budget versions can dent or scratch easily in the first few years of use.

Your next choice is the number of bowls, the space that holds water and dishes.

“Our kitchen is designed and suited to us,” says Dooley of his own home. “We chose a single bowl over all other types of configurations because we utilize our dishwasher daily.” With his wide, single-bowl sink, cleaning big pots is a breeze and dishes can stay out of sight until he’s ready to wash. “The ability to lay that pan flat and allow it to soak is also

FIND YOUR FAUCET If a sink is akin to the classic little black dress, then consider the faucet your accessories.

Add personality to your kitchen with modern or decorative faucet designs. Most kitchen designers are moving away from the traditional two handle faucet in favour of a single lever that adjusts both temperature and water pressure. This style is user friendly because it’s easy to engage with dirty hands in the middle of food prep and accessible for people of all abilities.

Touch and smart faucet’s are growing in popularity, but their convenience comes with a much higher price tag than their traditional counterparts, starting at about $275.

Thinking about your future mobility? Consider a pulldown or pot-filler faucet. As the name suggests, a pulldown faucets head is mounted on a retractable hose inside the faucet and can be pulled down and out.

A pot filler faucet is attached to an articulated arm that can be extended out over your counter top so you can avoid lifting heavy pots of water out of the sink.

Pot filler faucet.

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great, that’s why a single bowl is becoming more popular.”

Double sinks remain the most common, and are handy for those who want to wash in one sink and keep a drying rack in the other.

Kitchen design plays a role in dictating which sink offers the best fit for your space.

“So many more people are installing stone surface tops now,” says kitchen designer Shelley Jackson, who has more than 20 years experience in the industry with

Pull-down faucet.

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Prestige Kitchens in Charlottetown. “When you have that option, you can go with an undermount sink.” A notable benefit of this style’s placement under the counter is that it makes clean up a breeze. You can sweep crumbs and wet spills directly into the bowl.

Jackson says new cabinet-design trends are changing the sinks that homeowners choose too. As square cabinet doors and drawers grow in popularity, designers gravitate to matching sinks with squared off edges, she says.

Your sink should last the lifetime of your kitchen, so consider quality over price before buying. “We’re doing kitchens that are there for 30 years,” said Karl DeCoste, owner of DeCoste Kitchens Ltd. based in Kingston, N.S. “You don’t want a sink that’s not going to stand up. It’s going to be there forever.” Dooley agrees, “The old adage goes that you often time get what you paid for.”

Stainless steel remains one of the most popular materials, but Dooley reminds his clients that not all steel is made equal. Look for 304 grade which offers a heavy stainless, often called machine finish, that’s resistant to scratches and denting. “Some sinks have polished finishes and some have a machine finish,” he says. “When you start with a polish finish, it starts polished but what happens over the years? It scratches. You’re not able to repolish a stainless-steel sink the same way you could the [chrome] bumper of a car.”

For those seeking a coloured sink, firedclay and acrylic are the most popular materials. Jackson suggests considering how you use your kitchen before choosing these. If you do a lot of cooking and baking, foods like beets and curry can stain a light coloured sink. “If you have and use a dishwasher, you want to keep your sink for just soaking objects,” says Dooley.

If you’re renovating your kitchen, existing space will determine your sink size. “A standard sink-base cabinet in most kitchens is 36 inches and anytime someone has a 36-inch cabinet, they’re going to put a double sink,” says Jackson.

Avoid overpowering small cupboards with a large sink, and instead consider adding a bar or prep sink nearby. This style features a smaller, more shallow bowl than your typical kitchen sink. You can use it to rinse hands and vegetables, or fill pots in a pinch.

“It’s about the zone, what are you doing and where are you doing it? It’s a task type of model. The prep or bar sink fits a need where you find yourself preparing food in an area of your kitchen that’s far away from your kitchen clean-up sink.” o

EATING IN

Break an egg These simple nutritious breakfasts cook up quick to start your day right

BY KEN KELLEY

I

t’s “the most important meal of the day” but breakfast remains one of the most consistently overlooked meals in our daily routines. While there’s no shortage of reasons people skip it, Claire Johnson, a registered dietitian in Moncton, N.B., wants people to start their days on the right foot.

“Breakfast is absolutely the most important meal of the day, but despite all the talk around how important it is, it seems to be the meal people are willing to drop the fastest,” Johnson says. “Research shows people who eat breakfast have better and more consistent energy levels all day. People who don’t eat breakfast tend to eat more at lunch and at suppertime, which can lead to making poor food choices along the way.”

Johnson says research shows we get key nutrients such as potassium, fibre, and vitamin D through breakfast foods, and all are harder to come by in other meals. “Whole foods tend to be a good way to start the day, including fruit and vegetables, whole grains and high protein foods,” she says. “Oatmeal is a wonderful breakfast option because it can be a vehicle for additional foods like yogurt, fruit, extra fibre, and milk.”

If you’re pressed for time, Johnson emphasizes that breakfast need not be complicated. Something as simple as a piece of fruit with toast, boiled eggs, or fruit and a handful of nuts can lead to better dietary choices all day. “And on the contrary, things like sugary cereals, Eggo waffles, and Nutella should be considered treats, and not breakfast staples,” she says.

Jennifer Hamm, a registered dietitian in Halifax, says breakfast can and should boast the same variety of food types that we routinely eat during lunch and supper. “With a lot of clients, I often suggest a breakfast parfait, with Greek yogurt or a different source of protein, a choice of fruit, and a sprinkle of nuts or seeds on top,” she says. “That way, you’re getting fibre, healthy fat, and protein all in one meal. And likewise, those same ingredients, using a liquid base other than juice, could be used in a smoothie with almond or peanut butter.”

If a cold breakfast isn’t for you, Hamm suggests starting the day with a hot bowl of oatmeal. “Instant oatmeal is something that has come a long way as there are some

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brands that add in fibre and protein to help make it more balanced,” she says. Or try steel-cut oats with fruit, seeds, nuts, and spices like cinnamon to add extra flavour.

The oats’ rough texture means you digest them more slowly, and stay satisfied longer.

When picking an oatmeal, Hamm suggests choosing a brand offering four to six grams of fibre and an equal, or almost equal, amount of protein per serving. Ideally, that same oatmeal will include less than six grams of sugar per serving.

Despite the overall importance of a healthy, balanced breakfast, Johnson says many parents needlessly stress about whether or not their child eats breakfast. “I believe that kids are more in tune with their bodies than adults sometimes. Sometimes they’ll be hungry and sometimes they won’t be. At the end of the day, don’t stress too much if your kids skip a meal, but also remember that if you want to be sure they’re eating breakfast, the best way to ensure that is modelling good behaviour.” o

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VISIT eastcoastliving.ca for more easy breakfast recipes.

Raspberry-spinach twist smoothie Get your greens in when you’re on the go. Most small smoothie blenders feature a cup that you can mix and drink your breakfast in.

Recipe provided by Dairy Farmers of Canada, reprinted with permission from Dietitians of Canada One serving

INGREDIENTS 1 cup spinach, raw 1 ½ cups fresh or frozen raspberries ½ tsp vanilla extract 1 cup milk 1 cup raspberry yogurt

DIRECTIONS 1. In a blender, add ingredients in this order: spinach, berries, vanilla, milk, and yogurt. Purée to desired consistency. Serve immediately.

TIP: Smoothies offer a simple way to add nutritional supplements to your breakfast like flaxseed oil or a fibre supplement.

Crustless spinach and feta quiche Quiche looks fancy, but it’s simple to cook the day before and reheat in the morning. Recipe from Melissa Cormier, Codroy Valley, N.L., reprinted with permission from Dietitians of Canada Serves six DIRECTIONS 1. Heat oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add spinach, sauté for 3–4 minutes or until wilted.

3. Spread spinach in a 9-inch (23 cm) ceramic or glass quiche dish or pie plate. Sprinkle with feta.

4. In a medium bowl, whisk eggs until blended; whisk in milk and pepper until frothy. Pour over the spinach mixture. Using a spoon, stir gently, just enough to make sure the egg mixture covers most of the spinach mixture.

5. Bake 35–40 min or until a knife inserted into centre comes out clean.

Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

PHOTO: DIETICIANS OF CANADA

INGREDIENTS 1 tsp butter 7 cups baby spinach ½ cup crumbled feta cheese 4 eggs 2 cups milk ½ tsp pepper

Peach, strawberry, and almond muesli An easy breakfast that takes just 10 minutes to prepare the night before.

The magic happens in your fridge overnight. Recipe provided by Dairy Farmers of Canada, reprinted with permission from Dietitians of Canada Serves four

PHOTO: DIETICIANS OF CANADA

INGREDIENTS 1 ½ cups rolled oats 1 ½ cups plain yogurt ½ cup milk ¼ cup maple syrup ¼ cup wheat germ 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 peaches, sliced 8–10 strawberries, quartered 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds 1/3 cup whole almonds

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DIRECTIONS 1. In a bowl, mix oats, yogurt, and milk.

Cover and refrigerate overnight.

2. In the morning, add maple syrup, wheat germ, and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.

3. Garnish with peaches, strawberries, pumpkin seeds, and almonds.

PLANTS

Amazing

aloe vera Learn to grow this useful succulent at home

BY MICHAEL BIGELOW

A

loe vera is a hearty succulent long known for its ability to soothe a sunburn. This storied herbaceous plant originates from the Arabian Peninsula, but due to its ability to survive dry climates, flourishes in regions such as North Africa, Sudan, and the Canary Islands.

Today, the white-flecked leaves of the aloe vera have become a regular fixture in almost any nursery or garden centre. It’s widely available but Christina McKenna, an employee at Lakeland Plant World in Dartmouth, N.S., recommends buying from a store that specializes in plants rather than a big box store.

“Their health is so important,” she says.

“I wouldn’t direct people to buy this plant just anywhere. Aloe vera can easily attract mites, something we pay very close attention to in our locations.”

Consistency is key for these plants known for enduring lengthy periods without much water and light. “You give it more water than a cactus but not as much as a regular plant,” McKenna says. “I give it a good watering every two weeks and then let it dry down, kind of like how it exists naturally in the desert. When thinking of light, you wouldn’t want the plant

to go from a really sunny spot to a really dark spot in your house too often.”

Amanda Foy, works at Scott’s Nursery in Lincoln, N.B. She says aloe vera holds such a great deal of moisture within its leaves that it depends on minimal water from the soil. The plant’s innermost layers are 99% water.

“Overwatering is the most common problem we see,” she says. “It causes the roots to rot and, in turn, the rest of the plant.

As for light, I would say put the plant in the brightest, sunniest spot in the house.”

While harvesting aloe vera leaves is common practice, work carefully when you do to protect your plant’s health. “Only cut off what you want to use immediately,” says Foy. “Cut a couple inches from one of the leaves rather than detaching from the stem. When you cut from the stem, it will not regrow.”

Ensure leaves are healthy and free of mold. Wash and dry the cut leaves, and trim the pointy edges with a knife. Using a knife, remove the green skin from the interior gel and discard the skin. Save the sap (aloe vera latex) and gel.

When storing the sap or gel for future use, Foy and McKenna agree that the freezer is your best bet. “I put the leaves in the

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How to use your aloe plants around the house Soothe a sunburn Aloe contains sugars that contribute to healing. Simply split open an aloe leaf and rub it on the burn to take advantage of its anti-inflammatory properties. It works for bug bites too, though it may take a few days to feel the effects.

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freezer in a plastic bag or wrapped in cellophane,” says McKenna. “I even tried to store them in jars in the fridge but it just doesn’t work.”

Another option is to split open the leaf and scoop out the flesh with a spoon, and then freeze it in an ice tray to use as needed, says Foy. Although evidence varies, the plant’s extract has long been heralded for its medicinal and beautification use, for anything from topical skin application to digestive health, but scientific studies are mixed on its status as a super food.

“It’s widely accepted that you can use it for not only sunburns but general skin heath as well,” says Foy. “I’ve also heard of people scooping out the flesh from the leaves and mixing it with water to create a drink.” o

EGG FARMERS of NOVA SCOTIA EGG FARMERS DID YOU KNOW? of NOVA SCOTIA Eggs aren’t just delicious, they’re nutritous too! Eggs are an excellent source of protein and essential nutrients.

Guaranteed to be a favourite, this easy anytime pizza topped with eggs and fresh arugula is healthy and decadent!

For this tasty recipe and more please visit eggs.ca

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Spread some aloe gel on a cotton ball and wipe away the day. Before putting anything on your face, do a skin patch test somewhere less sensitive, like your arm or leg, to ensure you don’t have a reaction.

Exfoliate Combine ½ cup aloe with brown sugar, oatmeal (if you want extra moisture), or Himalayan sea salt (for an extra gritty mix). Rub it on your arms, elbows, heels, or anywhere else you have dry skin.

Make a conditioning hair mask Apply aloe gel to hair and let it sit for several minutes before getting in the shower. Rinse.

BUYING GUIDE

Buying guide Now that you’ve seen all the quality products and services available in Atlantic Canada, here’s a guide to help you access these products for your own home.

Advocate (p. 5) 902-455-2870 advocateprinting.com Attica (p. 21) 902-423-2557 attica.ca Amos Pewter (p. 6) amospewter.com East Coast Living Subscriptions (p. 2) eastcoastliving.ca Egg Farmers of Nova Scotia (p. 28) eggs.ca

Glubes Audio Video (p. 31) glubes.ca Girliture (p. 8) girliture.ca Halifax Magazine Subscriptions (p. 18) halifamag.com Ideal Home Show (p. 24) springideal.ca

Metro Home (p. 9) 902-894-5536 metropei.com

Thermador/BOSCH (p. 7) 1-800-567-3855 venmar.ca

Nimbus Publishing (p. 8) 902-455-4286 nimbus.ca

The Stone Depot (p. 9) 902-835-0741 thestonedepot.ca

Prince Edward Island Lobster Festival (p. 29) peilobsterfestival.com

Red Door Realty (p. 6) 902-499-1323 reddoorrealty.ca

Kamado Joe (p. 32) kamadojoe.com

Sunspace Sunrooms (p. 3) 1-800-755-3365 sunspacesunrooms.com

LakeCity Woodworkers (p. 3) 902-465-5000 lakecitywoodworkers.com

Terra Verde (p. 13) 506-389-1898 terraverdehome.com

Sunday June 28th, 2020 12pm - 8pm 4th Annual

Prince Edward Island Lobster Festival June is PEI lobster season! Come getaway to beautiful Souris “By the Sea” Prince Edward Island on Sunday June 28th for the 4th Annual PEI Lobster Festival. Enjoy the lobster roll challenge, lobster eating competition, watch demonstrations, enjoy traditional Island music and take part in our other events that celebrate PEI lobster. Join us that evening for a traditional delicious PEI lobster supper hosted by Island Food Ambassador Chef Michael Smith.

For tickets, schedule and information please visit PEILobsterFestival.com peilobster

Hope to see you there!

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LAST LOOK

By a thread

BY TARA THORNE

PHOTOS: ARGYLE FINE ART

Halifax fabric artist Mindy Harris embroiders acclaimed women

A

fter a major surgery left her on bedrest, Mindy Harris traded in her paintbrush for a needle. She found inspiration in Frida Kahlo, who painted from bed in her final years. “It’s actually a lot more messy than it sounds,” Harris laughs. “It’s just not practical.”

Harris studied painting and sculpture at NSCAD University in Halifax, graduating in 2006. “I had no exposure to fibre arts in school,” she says. “The crafts were in a totally different building from fine arts, it was something you never even crossed paths with.”

She finds many similarities between her familiar practice of painting and her new outlet, embroidery.

“I draw in the sketch with thin black thread, the same way I would if I was going to start a painting,” Harris says. “It’s all the same colour theory, and composition, and proportions, all of the same drawing and painting principles, just transcribed in a different way.”

Since taking up embroidery in 2018, Harris sewed portraits of historical and

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contemporary feminist figures. “I was thinking a lot about gender disparity in the art world, specifically the hierarchy of painting and sculpture over things like craftwork,” she says.

Her debut series Women’s Work depicted “women who excelled in male-dominated professions.” The series is comprised of 14” x 11” portraits featuring primatologist Jane Goodall, singer-songwriter Björk, teen activists Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai, and software engineer, Margaret Hamilton, and of course, Wonder Woman. It took Harris 50 hours to make each one.

Her latest exhibition, Girls Rule, was part of Argyle Fine Art’s annual Pre-Shrunk show. It featured six queens including Marie Antoinette and both Elizabeths. “I usually try and pick subjects that speak to something that’s current, whether they are a current person or not,” she says.

She points at the portrait of entertainer and civil rights activist Josephine Baker, midpose in her flapper’s skirt, playful and strong.

“One of the reasons I picked her was because

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From left: Primatologist Jane Goodall, a young Queen Elizabeth, and climate activist Greta Thunberg.

of the work she did with racial segregation, that’s an issue that is still a hot topic,” Harris says. “I hope when people look at that and think about her life and what she did, they realize, ‘Hey, this was a while ago and we’re still trying to sort this out now.’”

Through her art, and especially with her embroidery, Harris comments on the place of women in history and in culture, hoping to educate while entertaining.

“One of the things I like about embroidery is the accessibility of it,” she says. “There’s obviously a socio-economic divide in the art world, where there’s a lot of art people don’t feel they can relate to, and I think with the embroidery it’s a medium a lot more people can be comfortable with. Trying to present that in a new way in a gallery context, I hope will help bridge that divide.” o

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FIRE IT UP. SLOW IT DOWN.

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