Rita's Tea Room, Nova Scotia

Paul and I made a delightful stop in Big Pond, Nova Scotia to enjoy Rita's Tea Room.  It was also an emotional visit, as Cape Breton singer Rita MacNeil passed away on 16 April of this year.  Rita will be missed by all her fans.

 

 

 

I enjoyed looking up at all the tea cups decorating the Tea Room.

The centre tea cup has a "Lily of the Valley" design, which is the birth flower of the month of May.  My birthday is 28 May, and it was also the birthday of Rita MacNeil.

 

 

Memorabilia displayed in the Tea Room

 

I remember Rita wearing her red hat during one of her concerts I attended some years ago.

 

Photos of Rita and friends over the years

 

I enjoyed this wonderful meal of
quiche and a spinach salad with maple dressing.
It was the most decadent quiche I've ever eaten. 

 

Paul opted for the seafood chowder.
On a scale of 1 to 10, he rated it an "11"! 
There has been no other like it for him since...

  

Rita MacNeil was:
"A great Canadian performer and icon."






 

Nova Scotia...

My Nova Scotia Home (lyrics)
There's a place I'll always cherish, 'neath the blue Atlantic sky
Where the shores down in Cape Breton bid the golden sun to rise
And the fragrance of the apple blossoms sprays the dew-kissed lawns
Back in dear old Nova Scotia, a place where I was born.

The Scotian and the Ocean Limited, and the Maritime Express
Their mighty engines throbbing, make their way towards the west
And the sturdy fishin' schooners, sways so laz'ly to and fro'
Nova Scotia is my sanctuary, and I love her so.

For across the great Dominion, I have traveled far and wide
Where the shores out in Vancouver, kiss the blue Pacific tide
I have crossed the snow-capped Rockies,
saw the wheat fields' golden blaze
Headed back to Nova Scotia, where contented cattle graze.

Where the pretty robin red breast, seeks its' loved ones in the trees
And the French di'lect in old Quebec, keeps callin' out to me
It seems to say, be on your way, there's a welcome at the door
Where the kinfolks are a-waiting on that gay Atlantic shore.

Down through beautiful New Brunswick and across the P.E.I.
To the rock-bound coasts of Newfoundland, I'll love them till I die
But if God came here on Earth with us and asked if he could rest
I'd take him to my Nova Scotia home, the place that I love best
-----------------

 

Paul and I recently made a 10-day trip to Nova Scotia (Cape Breton Island and Northumberland Shore) and it was a wonderful adventure.  (Nova Scotia is one of the four Atlantic Provinces of eastern Canada.)

 

 

We started our trip with a weekend in Truro for the Dutch Mason Blues Festival and then headed out for Cape Breton Island.

 



 

We enjoyed many of the sights and sounds of the area: Five Island Park, Rita's Tearoom, Sydney, Fortress Louisburg, Lighthouse Point at Louisburg, Cabot Trail, Glenora Inn & Distillery, Inverness, Mabou, sunsets and coastal drives.

 



 

  

Driving the Cabot Trail

 

Inverness Beach

 

Amazing sunsets

 

My next few blog posts will share some of our memories while in Nova Scotia.




 

 

 

 

9 Years

ago on 7 February 2003, Paul and I met for the first time.  Since then we have shared many great adventures and have many wonderful memories. 

Here is a collage of some of our memories - travels to places such as the DR, Jamaica, Cuba, Mexico, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland; Canada Day in Ottawa; our first trip to Bathurst, New Brunswick together; the Ottawa Senators hockey team making the playoffs; retirement and our time in South Carolina, to name some.

We hope for many more years together and sharing many more special moments. 

Portraits of Honour Tour

The Portraits of Honour Tour was in Bathurst on 7 November. 

Dave Sopha has been airbrushing murals and paintings for the past 38 years. The Portraits of Honour mural stretches 10 feet tall by 40 feet wide and features the faces of the 158 Canadian soldiers, sailors and aircrew who have lost their lives in Afghanistan.
Originally started in artist Dave Sopha’s private studio, it quickly grew to require more space and was moved into the studio created at Kin Canada’s headquarters located in Cambridge, Ontario.
Since he began in December of 2008, Dave has painted an average of 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. Despite efforts to have him slow down, Dave cannot seem to tear himself away from his mural. He feels an overwhelming obligation to each soldier, sailor and aircrew, and to each of their families to make each portrait perfect.
Here Dave Sopha is chatting with local soldiers about their experiences with the Canadian Forces.

It is a remarkable tribute to our fallen soldiers.

 

 

 

 

 

The Ode of Remembrance

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.

Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted.

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

Lest we forget.

Remember.....

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning in Surfside Beach was a new experience for Paul and I. I awoke this morning to an awesome sunrise over the ocean (no photo though as I was too cozy), Christmas music playing in the bedroom and a cute guy. A perfect Christmas to me.

Although it was not as warm as we would have liked, the sun was shining and the wind was minimal, so we dressed warmly and had our omelettes and coffee on the deck. Watching the waves roll in to the sound of Christmas music was really nice.

The ocean was quite lovely to watch this morning with the rolling waves crashing on the beach.

Another treat this morning was seeing several blue birds flying about in the grasses on the dunes.

Although Paul and I feel that giving to the less fortunate is the best gift giving approach to Christmas for us, my friend Irm did gift me with this beautiful angel she made from shells. I will certainly treasure this thoughtful gift. Irm's art with shells is amazing.

Well, our table is set for our Christmas dinner this evening and our chicken will be stuffed and in the oven within the hour. I know one person who can hardly wait!

Merry Christmas from our home to yours.

Remember to Remember...

Once again, we approach the time when, for several minutes of our lives, we are urged to reflect on the lives lost and injured fighting for the cause.

Remembrance Day - also known as Poppy Day - commemorates the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and civilians in times of war.

Remember...wear a poppy proudly and take the time to attend a Remembrance Day Service where you live, on 11 November. Our Soldiers and their families have given up so much for us.

Say "thank you" to our soldiers, past and present, for keeping us safe.

Canada remembers...

Red Fridays

Red Friday is a way to raise awareness of supporting our Canadian Troops in order to show a non-partisan Canadian Citizen support of our men and women serving our country.

Last Friday the Moncton Military Family Resource Centre held a barbecue fundraising event in Bathurst and we went along. It was a nice day to be in the park enjoying hamburgers, hotdogs and friendship. There was a lot of red in sight.

A Special Day

23 July was the perfect day for a wedding. The Gowan Brae Golf Club was the perfect setting, at the first tee, overlooking the Bay of Chaleur.

Our friends, Jodie and Robert, exchanged their vows while Cadence, their daughter, looked on.

While the bride and groom were having their wedding pictures taken, we were entertained by these little cuties.

The bride's mom is getting help with her shoe from her sister-in-law. It was said the shoes were very fashionable, but boy did they hurt! I never really understand why we try to wear heels, but we do.....

The reception was also held at the Gowan Brae Golf Club. Here is the reception table showing a much younger groom (right) and daughter (left).

Their wedding cake was topped with a bride and groom that was used by the bride's grandmother.


Oh no, too many little people near the cake - it had to be rescued before the icing was full of fingerprints! Heather saved the day....

It was a lovely evening with lots of family. The happy couple have returned to Fort McMurray.