The countdown to the Blue Nose Marathon has begun, 72 days from today from May 21-23!  This year marks the sixth year for this ever-growing event!  The Blue Nose has become near and dear to my heart for many reasons.  The greatest reason of all, this is a people's marathon! A marathon for the inner athlete in everyone.

Our sweet friend Jaide moved away last year, but I know she longs to come back to run the Blue Nose Marathon again. I know this because she's truly got an athlete's soul, willful and determined.  I remember the first year she participated in the Blue Nose Marathon. She was 11 years old.  Jaide was born with cerebral palsy, and had endured many painful treatments year over year.  Her brevity and tenacity was truly inspiring and she was always ready to take on a new challenge.  So when she heard about the Blue Nose Youth Run, she was ready to run.  However, naturally her mother Connie was a little worried about her completing the race.  She worried if she might be in pain.  She worried if she would have trained enough.  But Jaide insisted "Mom, we trained at school!"  She worried if Jaide's shoes would have been good enough.  But Jaide took out a pair of her mother's running shoes and said, "See mom...they fit!"  Jaide was so determined!  And finally Connie ran out of reasons to worry.   When race day came, Jaide lined up amidst a sea of green shirts and blue noses.  Jaide saw some girls from school and waved.  They shot off from the start, but her dad Richard encouraged to keep her own pace.  Half way through the race, Jaide passed those girls and reached the finish line to the proud tears of her mom.  As for Jaide, you could not wipe the smile off her face.  And she went on to run again with her dad and little brother Reed the next year. 

Jaide's an inspiration to all that know her.  But there are many inspiring stories to come from the Blue Nose Marathon every year.  This year I've been asked to captain a group of women from the Elderobics program at my local YMCA to walk the 5K. These women inspire me everyday. Their camaraderie and laughter is infectious.  Their zest for life reminds me to remember to take the time to enjoy it!   That will be my Blue Nose story for this year.  But standing misty eyed at the finish line watching runners complete full marathons, while families and friends cheer from the sidelines, is enough to make me think.... one day that will be me.

The Blue Nose Marathon has a race for everyone, a Youth run, a 5K a 10K, a half marathon and a full marathon.  Not a runner?  There is also lots of room for volunteers and cheering sections all a long the route.  So, what will your Blue Nose story be? 

Have a story about running in the Blue Nose?  I would love to hear it! 

Jaide crosses the finish line!

Reed proudly shoes off his medal

A sea of green: youth runners getting refreshed after the race

Runners begin the trek over the bridge to Dartmouth

A few blessings along the way.  Maybe that's why the rain held off!

Absolutely nothing puts me more in the mood for the holidays than a Christmas classic.  And with all of the hustle and bustle of getting ready for the holidays, it is even more important to take a little time and do something special with your loved ones.  Shake off a little of that mall madness, and remember what it's all about.  So when I heard that Neptune Theatre was running a musical rendition of the holiday classic "A Christmas Carol", my toes curled up like a Christmas elf's and I danced a merry jig. Really...I did! It was off to Neptune, for my girl and me! 

Now let's see, how much do I tell you about this play without ruining the magic of Neptune's rendition.  It isn't, after all, as if you don't already know the famous story of Scrooge and his nightly visits from foreboding ghosts.  It isn't even as if you don't know how it all will end.  But you likely don't know yet, that Neptune's version is full of wonderful surprises. 

Starting with the music!  I'm not entirely convinced that the ghost of Dickens himself did not visit composer and lyricist Eric Hughes.   Each song is written as though Dickens has written it, careful not to stray from the language of the time.  Each song reflects the emotions of the characters, providing a deeper insight into the issues of the time, deep poverty, abandonment, joy and fulfillment despite it.

And when the ghost of Dickens came to inspire the good people of Neptune, he must have also brought along a few of his worldly belongings as well, for the set and costumes were truly inspired by the time, with a tinge of the Maritime scenery thrown in for good measure.   The stage is set in 1843, the year the book was written. Director George Pothitos had learned that Dickens had once visited Halifax and commented on the architecture.  Pothitos was inspired to include some of the famous Halifax buildings that were present during Dickens visit.  Set designer Geofrey Dinwiddie, costume designer D'Arcy Morris-Poultney, and Leigh Ann Vardy on lighting, ensured each piece reflected the time and each scene reflected the mood of its characters.

And oh the characters!  The hard-hearted Mr. Scrooge, played Jon Osbaldeston, was a truly tortured soul.   The cast was well suited to each and every roll.  The acting and singing was a treat, from the beautiful voices of the Christmas choir to the weary and fearful voices of the ghosts in chains.  I especially enjoyed when the ghost of Jacob Marley came to visit Scrooge, a chilly sight indeed.

We admit to having our own soft spot for Tiny Tim, played by Benjamin Hussey, who goes to school with my daughter.  In real life he's also quite the character!   I wonder if he'll sign an autograph...I wonder if she'd take it!  

A Christmas Carol, The Musical is a true Christmas treat.  Don't walk, skip to Neptune Theatre!  A Christmas Carol, The Musical runs until January 3!

The spirit of Christmas comes at different times for everyone.  For some it comes as early as those last days in November, when folks scramble to put up Christmas lights while the weather is still slightly warm. For others it begins with midnight madness, as anxious shoppers fill the mall searching for the perfect gift for everyone on their list.  For others still it begins with the sweet fragrance that fills the air with that first batch of Christmas cookies.  

Now I confess, as I write this on December 7, that I've side stepped the malls thus far...dragging my heels before I make that inevitable trip.   I just wasn't quite in the mood yet.  But I finally found my spirit this weekend at the Wolfville Farmer's Market.

The friendly folks in Wolfville came up with a fabulous idea to help their shoppers get in the spirit.  Get Un-scrooged has become an annual event for the market.  The concept was simple, for a donation to the local food bank, the market suggested $5, you could create your own Christmas wish list from the goods of the artisans and purveyors of fine foods.

Fezziwig characters filled the market, inviting visitors to take part.  The smell of fresh baked goods filled the air, along with fresh veggies, local meats, wines and cheeses that would make any Christmas feast complete.  Jewelry, gift cards, lotions, soaps and balms, blankets, soft wooly mittens and warm cozy sweaters, unique and thoughtful gifts for everyone on your list. Now this put me in the spirit.  We snapped up a card and had a wonderful time scampering to all the different vendors and choosing items for our wish list. 

Of course, all this wishing is sure to help a couple girls work up an appetite.  So we headed to the upstairs portion of the market, where I was pleasantly surprised at the variety of food vendors, from authentic Asian, German and Indian foods to traditional pies and tortieres, to cook your own at home sauces and delicious samples from The Tempest Restaurant.  Their fragrant morsels filled the air along with the music from a fantastic jazz trio as they played.  We mixed it up with a sample of Indian Point mussels in a creamy red Thai sauce from The Tempest and some warm Indian samosas and sat down to enjoy a few tunes.

We hope that the Fezziwigs were able to raise a lot of money for the foodbank, but we couldn't help but feel that we were the ones who received a wonderful gift...a gift of good cheer!   

As many a parent can attest, a picky child can make dining out difficult, always ending up in the restaurant with the crayons, the all you can drink soda pop, the french fries and chicken nuggets on the menu.  Don't get me wrong, we enjoy these as well, these are important institutions of family dining!  But now that the Anti-V is 10, I'm gently nudging her to have new experiences.  Such was the case on a recent girls day out, when I ignored her request to go to Wendy's and chose a restaurant by another "girl's name"...the lovely Jane's.

Jane's on the Common is a darling of the Halifax restaurant world, as readers of The Coast will attest.  It has been chosen year after year in various categories of the best of the best in Halifax dining.  I'm a big fan of Jane's.  As I mentioned in my "Taste" blog, like many of the restaurants in Halifax, Jane's is dedicated to fresh local ingredients.  Creations are inspired and service is impeccable.  And while there is no children's menu, my previous visits to Jane sans Anti-V told me that Jane had something my girl couldn't resist...a classic made special...Jane's GRILLED CHEESE! 

So off we went.  As anticipated, Anti-V chose the grilled cheese made with aged white cheddar and provolone cheeses, Sweet William's smoked bacon and served with Jane's own Tomato Butter, which Jane herself told us was her mom's very special recipe for homemade ketchup!  She's so sweet, that Jane, and so was her tomato butter...yum!  In the absence of french fries, a caesar salad with aged parmesan and house made dressing quickly became a hit, as Anti-V exclaimed, "This is the best food I've ever eaten".  I couldn't agree more, as I enjoyed the Asian inspired haddock cakes with garlic ginger aioli with basmati rice, stir fried vegetables and a hint of wasabi circling the dish.   

Smiling sweetly...don't let her fool you, it's Claire the Anti-V.

We finished with some carrot cake as I enjoyed a fresh cup of coffee.  I wondered if Anti-V thought about what was in the cake, because I barely got a morsel and she doesn't eat "cooked carrots". 

We had a delightful lunch, but as you can see, the table manners need some work!

Jane's is a small and very busy restaurant, especially loved for its brunch.  If you plan a visit, you may sometimes have a wait, but it's always well worth it!  

Need a place to play, especially on those cold wet days?  Pack up the kids and head off to the Discovery Centre. They will love it!  And you just might learn a thing or two yourself and about yourself! 

That was the case when my daughter and I set out last Friday to spend the day together. When we walked in we discovered an exhibit on personality called "Who Am I"?.  So off we went to find ourselves ourselves.  Following a path and answering questions about ourselves was actually really fun! And by the end me and my mini-me discovered we were almost carbon copies...outgoing, extroverts, a little scatterbrained, her with a little less anxiety than me...we had a great laugh about ourselves.  I told her the anxiety would come...as would taking care of the house, bills, car repairs, and work deadlines.  And then we just laughed and let her be a kid again.  I loved the fact that Dove had a part to play in the exhibit, providing information about self esteem and how we see ourselves. All in all we really enjoyed the exhibit. 

Then we took our personalities up to play.  Even though we have seen many of the experiments before, it is great to see them with a new set of eyes.  As my daughter is now 10, she understands the experiments a little better but still loves to play!  Favourites are the Bubble Room, the Centrifugal Chair, the spinning wheels, the running track and the radio bike (don't know if these are the official names)!   All in all, we had a great time exploring and learned a few things too!

Of course as my daughter was quick to remind me that no trip to the Discover Centre is complete without a trip to the Freak Lunch Box!  Although I caution, with so many sugary treats to choose from, you might want to stop in before so they can run it all off!

I never LOVED history as a child.  Like many children, I grew up as a child with a father who enjoyed many a documentary when I wanted to watch cartoons, which I found B-0-R-I-N-G, and moved on through grade and high school, memorizing important dates.  Everyone tells you the importance of history.  No one tells you history can be fun!  It's fraught with mystery and to really understand it, you need to use flex your imagination.  Who were these people, what were their lives like?   Fortunately, we have many unique, historical sites in Nova Scotia, where history lives and breathes.  One of my favourites... The Fortress of Louisbourg!

On a cold and windy day in March, when the weather was not cooperating with our ferry to Newfoundland, we ended up with some time on our hands.  A drive towards Sydney to spend some time at the mall turned into a little adventure.  While I knew the Fortress would not be yet be open, I thought we could at least drive by it to look and that is just what we did!  We pulled up to a gate where a commissionaire was stationed and I asked permission to go inside.  He kindly permitted with a few rules about staying away from the walls and not going inside any of the buildings.

The Fortress was like a magnificent ghost town!  The wind was whipping around us and the windows were all frosted, so we wrapped ourselves in blankets over our coats and scurried from building to building, putting our camera up to the window panes trying to get a glimpse of something interesting inside.  Exploring for a short time on that day certainly gave us an appreciation for how they must have lived in the past, without the warmth and comfort of our modern amenities.  Back in the warmth of our car, I found a website from my blackberry to show my daughter what it would look like in the summer.  We then made our plans to return...when it was much, much warmer!

If you plan to visit the Fortress, definitely go in the open season so you can experience the hustle and the bustle of life in the 1740's!  I would also recommend taking a full day to explore.  You'll need this to experience the re-enactments, eat an authentic meal at one of the restaurants, and to talk to all of the characters you'll meet. 

The Fortress of Louisbourg is a reconstruction of one quarter of the town as it would have been in the 1740's.  I found it incredible that this town could be rebuilt to this degree, all based on archeological and historical records, using original stone and French masonry techniques where possible.  The first siege of the Fortress occurred in 1745 by the British. Many of the citizens you will meet will be checking to see if you are a British Soldier, best polish up your "Bonjours" before you get to the gate!   The citizens themselves were most impressive.  Friendly and informative, they stayed in character at all times.  Many were not merely actors or characters, but historians.

We walked around the grounds, exploring all the buildings and meeting various characters.  The children were told there was going to be a prisoner, and not to be caught speaking to him or they would also be thrown in jail.  Of course they set about looking for this prisoner.  After we witnessed the cannon firing at noon, they brought the prisoner out, marched him down to the square and sentenced him.  We followed along to bare witness.  It wasn't long before the ever sympathetic children, had soon moved on to being hungry for lunch!

As luck would have it, the prisoner was located across the way from the restaurant, where we shared mussels, a chicken pot pie, a delicious pea soup! The menu featured authentic cuisine, no french fries or burgers to be found, much to the chagrin of my daughter, who turned her nose up at all but a giant piece of "French toast" with real maple syrup.  All were eaten with spoons, as we were told that the paupers didn't have an assortment of cutlery. 

Our bellies full, it was time for more exploring! We met characters from all walks of life, the soldiers and fishermen, the servants, the blacksmith, the Friar, the prisoner, each with an interesting story to tell.  And the children were anything but B-O-R-E-D! 

Take a look at some of the interesting folks we met! 

A soldier at the gate with our friend Che and my daughter Claire, the new recruits!

A demonstration about fishing and making salt cod!

A fishermen who likes to whistle while he walks!

A view of the Fortress from down the hill!

We're with the band!

A prisoner is sentenced

Our lovely server, playing with Gabriela!

The authentic costume...no buttons back then!

French Toast, C'est si bon!

Mmmmm!  Fresh Bread for Sale



A Friar, a gentleman and a historian.

The Blacksmith making ammunition

Planning your visit? 

The Fortress is open from May 16 to October 31.  Note, the bakery and restaurants are open from June 1 to September 30.

I love the ocean and we're so fortunate to be surrounded by it.  There are so many places to explore and I'd been longing to get out on the water.   So on a recent Sunday trip along the Lighthouse Route, when we decided to explore the South Shore, we started our day with a nature tour on Four Winds Charters.

You never know what you'll see our Captain, Kenny, tells us of our cruise around St. Margaret's Bay.   The cruise we chose was a nature cruise and our host tells us they can see anything from birds and seals to dolphins and whales.  While I can't deny we were hoping for a few whales, there were none around on this day! However, we were fortunate to see some white-sided dolphins and a seal out for a swim.  We loved the dolphins.  We followed them for a while.  I wish I had a great picture, but I couldn't catch them jumping up long enough to have them say cheese!  You can see them on this little video if you have some patience but I'll warn you, it's quite choppy as we did a little bouncing on the waves. 

St. Margaret's Bay is beautiful, with all its many little islands nestled in amongst. Our guide identified Clam Island, the first one we approached, as a place frequented by locals for the occasional "social gathering".  We were kind enough to blow the horn as we went by!  Good morning to all, no rest for the wicked!

We enjoyed the scenery and as my daughter Claire can attest, it's great to let the wind blow through your hair.  Until you get of the boat that is!

When we came back, we decided we would see where the day would take us.  We followed the Lighthouse Route to the town of Chester, where our grumbling stomachs could hold no longer.  Chester is a lovely little village on Mahone Bay. We headed down to the waterfront there and came upon The Rope Loft, where we sat seaside on the patio and enjoyed the daily special of clams and chips.

We then continued on the Lighthouse Route, through the Town of  Mahone Bay to the brightly coloured Town of Lunenburg where I fell in love instantly.

There were many galleries, shops, restaurants and of course the Fisheries Museum, I wanted to explore them all more fully but on a Sunday at nearly 5:00, we were running out of time. 

I had a pop around to a couple of galleries while mom and Claire popped in Large Marge's for an old fashioned milk shake before a ride back into the city.

It was a lovely day and we enjoyed the drive.  The next time I plan to explore Chester, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg more thoroughly. These towns are so beautiful and there is much more to explore.  And if you follow the Lighthouse Route, there are antique shops and yard sales all along the route.  If you enjoy a little treasure hunt, be sure to plan for lots of stops along the away!