Coming back and housekeeping the blog

Wow, no posts in almost a year!  I want to start back to blogging again, and hope to work on changing the look of my blog to more reflect  me and what is on my heart.  This will be a challenge I am sure on my dinosaur of a desktop, but I will give it a go.  I would like to spend less time on Facebook and more on writing.  Whether anyone reads or not, it doesn't matter, it is just a good way for me to journal and have fun!

A beautiful Monday

Today was just a beautiful day. Especially for a Monday!  After sending dh off to work, I finished my quiet time and took our dog out for a walk down our trail.  She is getting older and can't walk far, but she still loves her walk through the forest.  She is quite deaf and can't even hear the squirrels swearing at her anymore. They seem to know that she is not able to hear them, and go to great lenghts to get her attention! She loves to be off leash, and since she doesn't wander far off, as long as we are in the forest on our property she can have a little wander around without being attached to me.  We arrived home, and I drove our daughter to work while instructing the boys to be ready for breakfast and school when I got back.  The sun started to peek out and the clouds disappeared, and it was just one of those golden, sunny, and bright winter days.  While the boys were finishing off school, I made some oatmeal raisin cookies ( which will be mostly gone when I get back upstairs from typing this, I am sure!)

Since it was such a nice day today, we decided it would be our hike day, and we decided to take a stroll around the Dingle Park and Frog Pond.  God has placed it on my heart to encourage.  Not just those people I have in my regular circle of friends, but those that cross my path that may need to know that someone out there in this cold, dark world really cares.  Today, I thought I would write out a few notes using a Sharpie marker.  I rolled them up and secured them with a seal and some ribbon.  The trail we walk on is well travelled and busy, with many benches and stopping points along the way.  We grabbed lunch and ventured off on our mission.

This boy has got to slow down, he is growing much, much too fast!

Dappled sunlight with a peek at the Frog Pond through the trees.

I love these boys! 

There may be ice, but it is in not even close to being ready to skate on yet.

Having a competition to see who can slide their rock the farthest.

This is unusual...he is usually making a face! 

My poor little guy has had a loose front tooth with his permanent tooth just ready to pop into place for a month now. He looked like Nanny McPhee!  As of this writing, said tooth is now out, after many tears - on his part and mine!!  All is well with the world now, and hopefully the dentist is right and his new tooth just moves on into place.

 We encountered some ducks along the way. They were seemingly very hungry, but we have a bylaw that says we cannot feed them, though some people have left corn and bird seed along the path. I love ducks, despite the fact that no on in my house will let me live it down that I ran over and yes, killed a momma duck last summer.  She was right in the road as I came around a bend, and there was a car coming from the other direction.  I chose to avoid the head on collision.   And momma duck lost, but she her babies had all grown and left.  And yes, I did cry all the way home.

Mr. Duck was anxious to get a move on and get out of here, maybe my reputation had already gotten around...

Three tiny messages, tucked away in three benches, each one prayed for and written sincerely from my pen, but from God's heart.  Take the time to let someone know how beautiful, loved and special they are - even if you don't know them.  Share a smile.  Share a prayer.  Share a Scripture.  Tell someone, "It's okay".  You may never know the impact it has, but just reach out.  Everyone needs to know they matter to someone.

 

The most amazing prim shop EVER

First of all.......HAPPY NEW YEAR !  I am really hoping to be back to blogging more regularly, as I have been missing it.  I thought my first post of 2012 should be about something that has absolutely become my favourite little daytrip, and that is this shop, called Nest For Your Home.  Oh my gosh!  It is amazing!   I love anything primitive, antique and vintage, anything with a bit of history attached, and have only ever dreamed of finding a spot like this.  In fact, I have seen similar shops in American magazines, and always secretly dreamed about being about to go to one.  I kept seeing an ad on Kijiji for this new primitive store, and one day this past fall, my darling husband and I decided to go off on a daytrip to the Valley on our own, and so though a stop in here first would be fun.

This is what we were greeted by as we headed for the entrance ( see photo above as well)  I am already excited and thinking, this has potential! 

I walked in the front door with my darling husband walking in behind me, and there I stood.  Speechless.  Not knowing where to begin.  Wishing I had won the lottery before we arrived. 

I could barely stop from squealing in delight!  Ryan and his wife, Nat own the shop.  Ryan was holding down the fort this day, and I think he was surpised at my reaction.  Mike, my darling hubby, would have rather been looking at fishing tackle, so I left him there to talk with Ryan, while I plotted on how to get Mike to buy me one of everything in the store.  ( I am still working on that!)

I have been in to dream an embarassing number of times since, and this store is doing so well!  Many of these lamps are sold, and there are more empty spots waiting to be filled with new treasures.  I just wander around sighing and oblivious to the world around me...

To quote their info page from their website and their Facebook page

"Our store was designed to feel warm and inviting; not a typical retail store but an experience of taking your time and searching for your treasure. Nest is filled with warm colors, rustic wood floors and wall paneling. We offer product that is not found in our area, we have travelled extensively to meet the people we buy from, we have been in their workshops, homes and have spent time with their families. Our products have stories, they have a life and are made with care and a true love of the craft.

The majority of our products are made from reclaimed material to respect the environment and to have a true rustic vintage feel."  How can you not love that!? 

I love all the candles they carry!  One can never have enough candles. Especially in Nova Scotia where power outages are common.

See that raggedy doll?  I love her.  my birthday is coming up, Michael.  hint hint.  That doesn't help my case, I make rag dolls, ( photos on those to come once I get some more made!) therefore he doesn't think I need anymore.  I can still wish!

Nest is 35 minutes from my home.  I need to be careful I don't break the sound barrier driving there.  There is something in every corner, nook and cranny!!

See that shelf in the middle?  I now own one just like it, I keep all my teas in it. 

In addition to this, which is the lower level, they have since added rooms on an upper level which has been used so far for their Christmas stock.  I didn't get photos of it, but it was incredible!

This is an overview of the shop, looking towards the cash area.  Sorry to the innocent bystander who became part of my photo!  The stairs now go up just to the left of where she is standing.   I am so delirious with glee over this whole picture! 

So, if you come to Nova Scotia, this is at the top of the must see list.  Never mind Peggy's Cove!  Never mind the Tall Ships.  Forget about Cape Breton.  Save your money on the lobster, and you must get to this shop!! ( okay, you can do the Peggy's Cove etc, right after you stop in here!  It is called Nest For Your Home.  You can also look them up on Facebook.  If you are visiting Nova Scotia, the address is 3124 Highway #2, Fall River, Nova Scotia B2T 1K6