That Dutchman's Cheese Farm

Charlie starts preschool on Monday, so I'm trying to take advantage of what's left of the summer with the kids, so this morning we head out to a town called Five Islands. We've never been there and heard it's nice, but we get a little distracted on the way...

I think it might be a brief stop for a mid-morning snack but there's a lot more to this cheese shop than the obvious. 

First though, we learn about the cheese making process. 

This picture-board gives detailed instructions (down to the minute and degree) on how to make cheese curds and cheese. If anyone wants to try this at home, let me know how it turns out!

Next we have our snack. 

No, not a duck-snack, though some lady (not pictured) just told us her mom used to farm these particular types of ducks and that "they're delicious. Like turkey because they don't have a lot of fat." I think maybe we'll just stick with our cheese-snack for now. Except Oliver, who wants to feed his to this duck. 

Either ducks don't like cheese or this one doesn't like Gouda. My guess is he's had his fill of Gouda based on the over-supply in the cheese shop, they have an abundance of it. (Hmm, I should have asked the lady what cheese these ducks prefer.)

Part of the distraction is an animal/nature walking tour. 

 

A pathway of flowers. 

These are Jacob Sheep. If you look close enough, you can see they have four horns. Jacob Sheep can have anywhere from 2-6 horns, but like these, most commonly have four horns. 

Next, we find some potbellied pigs. 

Charlie decides to name them: (not all pictured) Cokuh, Cutie, Foofa, Foe-fuh, And, Ann, Shoofa, Keeka, Pope-uh, Shirley, Early, and Ian. (And a later addition: Mouse.)

We also find some Emus. 

Charlie decides their names too: Ostrich, Fuffy, Cheecha, Choofa, Cheesa, and Offy. (When later asked about pronunciation of Offy, Charlie said it sounds like "coffee," his Lego giraffe.)

We run into some Naked Neck Chickens and Charlie decides that while their necks are bare, their names shall not be. 

Starting from the left: Tinky tinky, Shoofa, Toofa, Foofa, and Coofa. 

After a morning of cheese and animal-naming...

And mosquito bites... 

It's time to head home so we can have lunch with Tim. Maybe tomorrow we'll make it to Five Islands. I'll keep you posted!

http://www.thatdutchmansfarm.com

If you have any questions or comments about Canada or things in general or have a suggestion on where to visit next, feel free to leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you!

Gay Pride

Yep, Nova Scotia has it. 

We happen to be in downtown Halifax on a random July Saturday, and it's the day of the Gay-Pride Parade, so we decide to spectate. 

I've never been to any gay-pride parades, so I'm not sure what to expect. I'm a little hesitant because we have our 1 and (very-inquisitive) 3.5 year-old (Isn't there nudity at the one in San Francisco?), but as we approach, we can see other people with kids. I figure, well, if their kids see naked-folk, so will mine. We'll all be in it together.

What's the gay-pride parade about? Well, it's actually gay-pride-festival week in Halifax and the Pride-parade is the second largest parade in Halifax and is just one of many festival events. I thought maybe the pride-parade was the last of the week-long events, but silly me, the festival actually ends with a drag show the following day. (I suppose we won't be bringing the kids to that one.)

The festival is meant to promote, well, you know, the usual gay-pride issues, like equal rights...

Really? We're not accepting blood from gay people? That's silly, yes, please ban homophobia, not blood!

Where's your rainbow flag, Superman?? It's okay, we don't have one either, but I bet you want one as much as we do! 

Oliver enjoying his gay-pride pencil (and bracelet). Maybe next year he'll face the other way and see the parade! (We'll surely have a rainbow flag then too!)

Even the church made an appearance. 

I was wrong. There was no nakedness, a simultaneous disappointment and relief. Just kidding. 

If you have any questions or comments about Canada or things in general or have a suggestion on where to visit next, feel free to leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you!

Pictou Lobster Carnival

Pictou is considered the birthplace of New Scotland because in 1773 Highland Scots began the wave of Scottish immigration into Nova Scotia, through Pictou. For decades Scots immigrated to Nova Scotia, hence the Scottish translation of the province's name ~ New Scotland. 

Today, Pictou is a focal point for the Scotish heritage in Nova Scotia. 

And also today, July 13, 2014, is the 80th annual Lobster Carnival. 

Here are some photos during our visit....

This ship, named Hector, is a replica of the Highland ships taken from Scotland to New Scotland. It was the first ship to directly transport passengers from Scotland to Nova Scotia. http://shiphector.com/history/

Outside the Hector Heritage Quay - inside, they retell the story of those first Nova Scotia settlers. 

We stopped by a pub for lunch, Carver's. The lobster roll and nachos were amazing!

The old-timey cars up front are part of the car show that was lined up on the street during the Carnival. The three flags are, starting from the left, Nova Scotia's flag (looks like Scotland's flag, sans coat-of-arms, but with the blue and white colors reversed), the Canadian flag is in the middle, and Pictou's flag is on the right. 

Charlie the Scot. 

Tim the Scot. 

Here's a link to the Pictou Lobster Carnival website. http://www.pictoulobstercarnival.ca

Here's the town of Pictou's website. http://www.townofpictou.ca

If you have any questions or comments about Canada or things in general or have a suggestion on where to visit next, feel free to leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you!

The Clouds, May 2014

Maybe it seems like my head is in the clouds, but today I'm confirming that assumption. 

Since moving up to Truro, Nova Scotia, the clouds have been wispy and unformed. (A mix of cirrus and stratus clouds, I believe.) 

Today is different. They're cumulus, like the ones you can see on most days in Florida. 

It's still in the 60's here in May, so jeans and sweatshirt weather for me and the kids, but the clouds are what are reminding me of home today, so I'll be keeping my head in them for a bit longer. 

Our backyard view of the clouds. 

This photo is taken at the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park. (Post on that park to follow.)

If you have any questions or comments about moving or about Canada or things in general or have a suggestion on where to visit next, feel free to leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you!

Shubenacadie Wildlife Park, June 2014

The Subenacadie Wildlife Park is located about halfway between Halifax and Truro, NS. (Maybe a few miles/kilometers closer to Truro.) 

Shubie is a family favorite, especially on weekdays when next to no one's around to scare off the wildlife. No one, except for me and the kids. ;) 

Every other visit these bears have been sleeping, so we're glad to see them up and... alive. :)

These guys are called Dall Sheep (also known as Rams). During mating season, they get into ramming fights with other males. The crack from each impact can be heard for a mile or more. Fortunately, it was not mating season, which is in November/December.

Okay, this photo wasn't taken in "June," like the title of this post may make you believe. I just thought it was cute how close the (female) moose and Oliver got to each other. I was afraid he might get his fingers bitten (more on that later) but Oliver was just mesmerized by the closeness of the beast. It was taken during our first visit to the park, sometime in April, 2014. 

There's a few machines filled with animal food scattered throughout the park to feed the wildlife. 

Geese and ducks waiting for us to throw some cracked corn their way. The geese always seem to make it up to the front row. Think it has to do with their size and the way they throw around their weight to get to the front/where they want to be. 

The peacocks get to roam free throughout the park. They like the cracked corn too. 

Oliver chases them around and Charlie tells him not to because they might bite (his fingers)! Moose and peacocks and wildlife, oh my!

Trails throughout the park are mostly shaded, so it makes for an enjoyable visit during the summer months. 

Since kids under 5 are free and season passes are just $15/adult, this location will continue to be a frequent visit for us. 

Here's a link to the park. http://wildlifepark.novascotia.ca

If you have any questions or comments about moving or about Canada or things in general or have a suggestion on where to visit next, feel free to leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you!

Cape Breton > North Sydney

By Easter weekend, the snow in Truro has melted so we think, "Great, time to explore!" 

Nope! Just because there isn't any snow in Truro, doesn't mean squat when you head further north. Who knew? (Whispers: everyone else in Canada knows this...)

With our information gap, we head to North Sydney. North Sydney is in Cape Breton, NS. 

Cape Breton is a huge island at the north east of Nova Scotia. It looks like a lobster eating poutine. (See McDonald's post for more on poutine.)

(Drawing courtesy of Tim White.)

North Sydney is just between the poutine and the claw. 

We're still able to get out a bit to see what's around. 

Oliver wearing grey blends in with the rocks! You can see the Fortress of Louisbourg above Tim's head: closed for Easter weekend. :(

Fortunately the lighthouse is always accessible so we make a stop. 

It's a short trip because it's cold and everything is closed. We'll be back, lobster. Save us some of that poutine!

If you have any questions or comments about Canada or things in general or have a suggestion on where to visit next, feel free to leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you!

McDonald's

Ah, McDonald's...

If the red maple leaf wasn't a dead give away, then I'll just say that there are indeed McDonald's' in all of the Canadian provinces and territories, except for Nunavut. (Unfortunately, they'll have none-of-it in Nunavut!)

Okay, I'm probably not supposed to like McDonald's but, I'll go ahead and confess my upmost love for those Golden Arches, anyway. They're especially nice looking this far from home. 

And there are a few subtle differences here in Canada. (Truro, Nova Scotia, compared to Sarasota, FL, of course.) 

Enjoyable differences, I might add. 

For one, the lobster roll. 

It's pretty much just lobster, mayo, lettuce, and onion, on a bun. You could put lobster anywhere and I'd like it, so McDonald's did and I do!

This beauty makes appearances during the summer in Canada, lobster season.

Next, is the poutine. 

Pronounced two ways depending on where you are in Canada. Poo-teen, as I like to say it like the locals, and Poo-tin, which is how they pronounce it in Quebec, or so I'm told, since we haven't yet been. Poutine is originally a Quebec thing, and according to the locals, the only place that has the real deal. (More on that after our Quebec visit.)

Poutine at McDonald's: their french fries (which are already so good. How can you make them better? Just wait...) plus brown gravy topped with cheese curds. If you wait to eat them, the cheese melts all over. Most of the time I can't wait, so with somewhat-melted cheese it's still so very delicious. Maybe we don't need to visit Quebec. ;)

The third enjoyable difference is the vegetarian wraps. 

Canada-McDonald's has a Mediterranean and Southwest veggie wrap. 

This is the Mediterranean wrap (and is much better than the Southwest, IMHO). It's filled with veggies (tomato, cucumber, red onion, and lettuce), feta cheese, French fried onions, and Greek dressing; all wrapped up in a whole wheat soft-shell tortilla. So good! I don't ever recall seeing a vegetarian item on the lunch/dinner menu in the states. (Maybe I'm mistaken?)

Here's what makes up the Southwest wrap: Also wrapped in a whole wheat soft-shell tortilla, it holds, tomatoes, red onion, shredded lettuce, fire roasted corn and black beans, crispy tortilla strips, cheddar cheese, a chili lime glaze, and southwest sauce. It's also McDelicious. 

Did you know? The McFlurry was a Canadian invention by a franchisee named Ron McLellan in Bathurst, New Brunswick. 

If you have any questions or comments about Canada or things in general or have a suggestion on where to visit next, feel free to leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you!