A Whack of New Things

We're still learning new words here. The word for this week is "whack." A whack doesn't mean simply "to hit something." In Nova Scotia, a whack means "a lot" of something. As in, "I've got a whack of books to put away" or "She learned a whack of new words".  Thanks to our friends, Julie and Laura, for the Nova Scotian language lessons! I can now pronounce "about" and "house" properly - "aboat" and "hoase". If I can get "sorry" down and perfect the timing of "eh?", I'll practically be a Maritimer! 

We have been been learning and doing a whack of new things this spring. We've had a busy few weeks. After learning that we had to move out of our rental house, we put our new home search into high gear and have now moved into our new house in Wolfville. It's about 5 km from the church so Don can bike to work on nice days - although the ride back home is uphill! We're still getting settled, trying to finally unpack all our boxes and organize life. 

Yes, in answer to several questions, the snow is gone  - we hope! -(although Newfoundland and New Brunswick both had snow just last week!) Temps are usually in the 60's during the days. But to be truthful, it's been a cool spring with several frost and freeze warnings in the last couple of weeks. Many local vineyards experienced significant damage from the freeze. We had several days when the high didn't make it to 60! Current temp as I'm writing is 68°F (20C) at mid-afternoon but the breeze is still cool.  

Lupines above the Minas Basin near Kingsport, Nova Scotia

May and June are absolutely beautiful months in Nova Scotia. Everything is blooming - from the tulips early in the month, the apple orchards and cherry trees, to peonies and rhododendron blooming now. The lupines are my current favorite. 

I have spent most of the last month or so getting us moved in and organized. Well, the organized part is debatable. We have 2 guest rooms - so plan a visit to the Flowers B&B! I'll post some pics when I get a few more boxes out of the way - and that will be soon because our first guests arrive in 2 weeks! Yikes! 

But in the middle of all the moving in, we did make time for a whack of new outings. We took in the Apple Blossom Festival Parade in Kentville, made a trip to Lunenburg for an amazing concert by the Halifax Camerata Singers and our very own Christianne Rushton, had a personal tour of several apple orchards here in the Valley by a local organic apple farmer, and even made an appearance on our church float in the Port Williams Days Children's Parade. Oh, and there were fireworks! Click on the photos below to hear more of the story. 

St. John's Anglican Church in Lunenburg

St. John's Anglican Church was the first church established in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia (1754). It was the second Church of England built in Nova Scotia, and is also the second oldest remaining Protestant church in present-day Canada. St. John's church is a National Historic Site of Canada.

The Fish Shack in Lunenburg

Great place for fish and chips!

Lunenburg harbour

Old Town Lunenburg is one of only two urban communities in North America designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is considered to be the best surviving planned British colonial town in North America.

The Landscape of Grand Pre

The Landscape of Grand Pré is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a living agricultural landscape, claimed from the sea in the 17th century and still in use today applying the same technology and the same community-based management. Grand Pré is also the iconic place of remembrance of the Acadians who lived in harmony with the native Mi’Kmaq people before the Expulsion by the British which began in 1755.

Apple orchards

The Annapolis Valley is famous for its apple orchards and harvest. We had a tour of the local orchards and learned about a whack of apples we had never heard of. And I learned that Gravenstein or Northern Spy apples are the best for pies. Although, some will disagree.

LOBSTER

Enough said.

Cape Blomidon

Cape Blomidon is in the backdrop of many of our pictures here in the Annapolis Valley. It is a headland on the Bay of Fundy and borders the Minas Basin to the east. According to the Mi’kMaq people, Blomidon is home to Kluskap (Glooscap), legendary god and Creator of islands and of the Annapolis Valley.

Fireworks at Port Williams Days

Port Williams Day ends with fireworks on the over the Cornwallis River. Photo cred to Don Flowers