CelticCowpokes

Meet the CB GPs

 

Last week, we made the drive to Cape Breton to introduce Abigail to her Cape Breton grand parents.  It was a quiet trip, with most of our time spent in Brook Village, travelling between the store and home for our visits to Grampy.  Rebecca had her usual fun running about the back yard, checking out the cows and riding in the carts at the BVG.   We also made a little trek to St. Columba Falls near Little Narrows, about a 40 minute drive from Brook Village.  Rebecca and Laurena had a great time throwing rocks while I took a few pictures.  The drive to Little Narrows is beautiful, highly recommended!

Canada Day in Mabou

Rebec ca and I made a four day trip to Mabou for the Canada Day week.  While there, we walked the West Mabou beach, did some visiting and went for a hike in Cape Mabou.  The weather was great, but very hot especially during our hike.  Rebecca is just getting used to the backpack, but now that she can walk, she wants to spend most of the time on her feet.  It was a hot day, so we only went for a couple of hours making it to just before the summit of Beinn  Bhiorach.  I noticed that there are a few more trails cut over the past couple of years, the Beaton Trail and Valley Link (?).  Both look interesting and deserve a second trip.     It's nice being so close to home and just be able to pack up and go for a while.

Cape Breton revisited

Sheena, Rebecca and I made a long awaited trip to Cape Breton last week, the first for me since October last year.  It was great to be able to be with family again with the knowledge that we'll be able to do it much easier now that we've returned to the maritimes.  So, we spent the week just relaxing in Brook Village, giving Rebecca some good times with Grammy, Grampy and Great Nana, a game night with Brennan and Sandra and the highlight of the trip, trout fishing in the West Mabou area.  I was utterly amazed at the size of trout that Brennan and I caught, measuring about 18 inches and 3.5 lbs.  What was surprising was that we caught four fish of this size, making for a fun afternoon of catch and release for the smaller fish (and a few keepers of the big ones!).  I'll be sure to go back for some more afternoon reel action . : )

War story

While balancing Baby mac in one arm and moving a mouse in the other, I came across a great story from Afghanistan about a man from Halifax receiving the distinguished flying cross as a Brit pilot.  A great interview was recently posted on CBC.ca, and I feel deserves a mention here.   

Coming from Halifax and the maritimes, we all know military folks -- some are old military brats ourselves.  Two long-time friends of mine were military brats, turned professional and are currently hard at work for our  country.  One friend, in particular, is serving in Afghanistan with the other maritime regiments and working on the front lines.  Our prayers go out to him and to all our Canadian military brothers and sisters.  Stay safe my friends and come back soon.

Christmas surprise

Well, Sheena and Sabrina had it planned for two years...and finally executed Operation Moncton, with a shock and awe campaign at surprising their family with a last minute arrival at their home on Christmas Eve.  Most all were surprised at our arrival, but a few loose lips had given away the war plan (Janice's spies were working 20 hour days in the weeks leading up to Christmas!).  It was a good night of family events, dinner and some traditional gift opening.  It's great to be with family over Christmas.  So, revising our last post (a last ditch diversionary tactic),  Merry Christmas from Moncton!

Home for a Wedding

Last weekend, Sheena and I made a whirlwind trip back home to Nova Scotia for a good 'ol Cape Breton wedding.  Our flight was Thursday and direct(!) from Calgary to Halifax.  After landing at Halifax and driving the three and a half hour trip to Mabou, we went straight-away to the Red Shoe Pub for wings, Keiths and music with family & friends.

On Friday, my cousin was Stephanie married at Saint Mary's Parish in Mabou. Cape Breton weddings are quite an event, filled with tons of family, food and fiddle music.  As we've been living out west the past few years, we've missed a fair share of weddings in my family.  So, earlier this year, we said we'd get to this one.  It was great to see new babies, new and old boyfriends that we hadn't met yet and enjoy the company of cousins we hadn't seen in a while.

After a few more days of visiting, bbqing, trips to the beach and a square dance, Kris met up with us in Brook Village on Monday night.  The following day on our way back to the airport, we made a side trip to Cutie's Hollow Falls, located near Antigonish.  We were quick to enjoy the fresh cool water.  Overall, a short trip home, but a fulfilling one for sure!

Thanks Nana!

While I was down in Cape Breton, I was able to pick up the afgan blanket that Nana had made for Sheena and I.  It's beautiful!  To think that she's averaging about one afgan knitted every two weeks.  She's making one for each member of our extended family, which is quite a few (probably over 40 afgans).

Three Provinces, Family, Friends and Cape Breton Music = Great Vacation

Sheena and I have returned from our three week vacation in the east, our first trip home together since we were married.   We had an excellent time and it was by and large a big recharge session for both of us.   What did we do? Well, it was more like, what didn't we do.  Let see: in New Brunswick, we went visited Sheena's family, went to a few markets and enjoyed a feed of lobster with Kris.  Later on, we built a HUGE fire on a familiar beach in the area.  That was a great night.  Sheena had her birthday and a big bash at her Mom's place.  Also during our New Brunswick trip, we visited PEI for a day.  We walked downtown Charlottetown including Province house.    Sheena and I were also able to see Green Gables and some friends on the island.  PEI is so beautiful!  It had been my first time on the Confederation Bridge (Sheena is an old-pro), I see now why they call it the 8th wonder of the world.

After a week and a bit in New Brunswick, Sheena and I traveled back to Cape Breton.  It was a whirlwind trip, filled with  many good times, including a square dance,  a night at the Red Shoe Pub,  a hike at Cape Mabou, a Piper's concert, beach walks, visits with family and friends and a great time hauling wood  with Brennan, Sandra, Kyle and Johnny.   (Btw:  Kyle if you have those pics, send them to us please!).   Oh, also during our time in Cape Breton, we made a  24hr trip to Halifax -- where I defended my  Master's thesis at Saint Mary's.  It all went well,  including the party  afterwards!  We had a bite to eat at the Old Triangle, then Sheena and the girls (including my mom) went out for  music and beverages at the Lower Deck Pub on the Halifax Waterfront.  What made it really interesting that night was Alexander Keiths  210th birthday -- and needless to say, the beer was flowing (and free!).   On the other hand, I skipped the bar night and opted for a late night donair with Kris and Matt.   

We've posted more pictures on Flickr, hope you enjoy them.  Thanks to everyone for their hospitality, visits and friendship -- we had a great time back home!  Now, it's back to work in Calgary. 

Cape Breton, live.

If you're wondering where we've been for the past while,  it's easy...we're in Cape Breton!  Visiting for a long while in New Brunswick and Cape Breton -- we're enjoying our first trip home together.   Our posts have been kept to a minimum (just one) , but we'll be sure to post photos when we return to Calgary.

For now though, I wanted to share an excellent website and broadcast that I came across while going to a few of the Celtic Colours events while in Cape Breton.  It's called Cape Breton Live and is an excellent opportunity to listen to quality recordings of celtic music played at live performances in Cape Breton.  They feature one 'live' performance a week, generally at events and activities that showcase East coast music artists.  Next week's performance should be great (we watched it live in the Strathspey Place Theatre in Mabou).  It was  a collection of bagpipers from a variety of traditions, including Ryan MacNeil whom I had known in High School.  I believe this week features a cousin of mine, Andrea Beaton, playing at the West Mabou Dance.  Anyway, see their site for some great music every week:   http://www.capebretonlive.com.

Kitchen Party!

One thing Sheena and I have been missing is a good 'ol east coast kitchen party.   It's interesting, out west, when people hear that we're from the East Coast -- they always relate a story of their own visit to the maritimes, usually  involving  a kitchen party, a good time at a bar in Halifax,  St. John's or elsewhere, or a simple statement: 'you guys know how to party'.   Kitchen parties or table slapping, foot stomping good times are hard to come by in the West Coast, and well we miss them and we're still looking.

To bring back the memories, I wanted to post a song that embodies what a good party's like by a now defunct Nova Scotian celtic band, Kilt.  Hope you enjoy it, its something that will have to tide us over until our next visit at  home.  Here ya go: Download raise_up_your_glass__kilt.wma

Speaking about tiding us over, if anyone figures out how to send one of these in the mail without spoiling, I'm all ears.