'Tis the Season

'Tis Elf On The Shelf season! You know, this guy...

I teach Grade 2/3, kiddies that are 7-8 years old. You would not believe the Elf On The Shelf stories they tell me every morning. Today one little guy was so excited. He told me that his elf decorated his Christmas tree and put his underwear on top ;)  All I can think of is how stressed out these parents are running around every night staging EOTS antics! I mean I had a hard enough time playing the tooth fairy, LOL. Probably most parents get their ideas off Pinterest but even so, it takes time to recreate these scenarios. 

I learned something tonight as I was doing some blog research. Did you know that the elves all return to the North Pole after the Yuletide season? True! This video explains everything about the elves. (I love the part where they are on the treadmill.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvmOKx5-wDw&feature=player_embedded&list=PL0AE14815201C29B0
News Flash:  Looks like we will be having Christmas at the cottage. Our house just sold, but guess what? That lovely, old farmhouse sold 10 days before we got an offer. Guess it wasn't meant to be...

False Holly Jackpot!

False holly grows in wet, swampy areas of Nova Scotia. That's what makes it so challenging to harvest. Confession here, I almost got a "soaker", LOL. But I persevered and cut some of the best holly that I have ever seen! Check it out...

Yes, that's a big bird's nest right in the middle of the branch. Surely that should bring some Christmas luck :).  I can hardly wait to get this in my urns with some fir boughs around it. Here's a close-up...

When I got back to the cottage to take these pictures I heard two gunshots! Good thing I had on my husband's red ski jacket and my hunter orange toque! Accidents do happen so you have to be pro-active. Who knew harvesting holly could be so dangerous?

100 Posts!!

I can't believe it! This is my 100th post on Summer Friends. It has taken me a while to reach this milestone, but Rome wasn't built a in a day, LOL. Lately I just haven't had much to write about. I never have any trouble talking, just trouble writing. Guess I'm not all that  different than the kiddies I teach, haha.
But I have been doing lots of "pinning". Oh yes, I (we) are still thinking about this old farmhouse. You know, the one that is so sweet but needs a TON of work. 

I have been obsessed with it for at least a month. I can picture the kitchen something like this...nice and bright with a big island and a farmhouse sink.

It all could happen. You just never know. It all depends on when our present house sells. But then again, this farmhouse could be gone by the time we sell. I guess that's when you say, "It just wasn't meant to be." :)

Confession # 8, I Love Old Houses

I have to say that I am a little disappointed that the cottage I featured last month sold, but it did. So, time to move on. We have been to look at another property :) Not a cottage this time, but an old farmhouse! Take a peek...

Tons of charm...hasn't had many renos over the years. There are four "outbuildings". Wouldn't this one make a cute little shop after you jacked it up and put it on a solid foundation?

And I'll leave you with the view to the south looking up the road with apple trees along the property line...

Wish I was 30 years younger. I have the desire but I don't think I have the stamina, LOL.

To Buy Or Not To Buy

I'm baaaaaacccccckkkkk! Yes, I am back from my five month blog-cation. Where did the time go?

But I want you to know I have been busy. Busy checking out this property, a cottage in the same area as our present cottage. I have to say, this style of home would not be my first choice if I were selecting a house plan, but once I'm inside I don't mind it. See this is why I love it...

Isn't that view amazing???? (Just 14 short miles across that body of water (the Northumberland Strait) is PEI, Canada's smallest province. But of course every property has pros and cons. The biggest thing is that we are looking for a place to live year round. Unfortunately when this cottage was built they put it on posts, so that means we would have to jack it up and put it on a proper foundation. Not easy and definitely not cheap. Also, there is the ever present worry of shoreline erosion as captured in this photo. 

But who knows, neither of these reasons may keep us from purchasing this spot. Oh, did I mention that I have been to the property 16 times? (Well technically only 14 visits because the other two visits were only to the beach in front of it.) Thank heavens no one is living there or I would be in jail by now ;-)

This Sums It Up Nicely...

Sorry for the blog-vacation...but big things are happening around here. We are making plans to renovate our cottage. It's exciting and scary all at the same time! So many decisions to make. Hope this marriage can stand it, LOL. So what is your best home building/renovating tip? I may be living in Betty full-time this summer when I need to escape...

Spring Cleaning...I Wish!

Just doing a little "spring cleaning" and getting Betty all ready for summer # 4. NOT! Oh my, even though it is officially SPRING, winter still has us in its grip! We had a few centimetres of snow last night which was beautiful depressing to look at this morning. In November I would have liked the way it looked on the trees. However it is March 23rd and I am ready for spring and spring-like weather, not fluffy snow! But it only gets better...a big blizzard is supposed to hit Nova Scotia on Wednesday! I may not get camping until June at this rate...

Baseball, Beaches and Bangor

It was hard to leave this little piece of paradise, but we had to come home to the frozen North. We flew from St. Pete's, Florida to Bangor, Maine on Thursday. Bangor had just received 18" of snow! Luckily I didn't have to walk too far in my flip-flops or my toes would have froze. I have to say that I always love to go south on March Break, but I love to get back home too. Thankfully Nova Scotia doesn't have as much snow as Bangor. In fact I can see bare patches on our front lawn :)

I'm Floored!

Source: Pinterest

Well, I'm not "floored" yet but I hope to be this spring. Thinking about changing up the flooring in my camper to something like this. I love how sharp this looks! (Does anyone even say sharp anymore, lol?) I have been thinking about this black and white checkerboard look for a while. In fact I have spoken for a remnant of this vinyl cushion floor (twice!) but it happened to get sold to another person each time. So this spring I think I will just get a box of peel and stick tiles and try laying them myself. But here's where this situation gets interesting. My DH is in the flooring business and I am buying peel and stick tiles to install myself. Reminds me of the cobbler's kids...running around with holes in their shoes :)

I'm Ready!

...ready for March Break! Never have I been so ready! Just a couple of more days...but who's counting?

O Canada!

Always proud to be Canadian, but extra proud today as Canada beat Sweden 3-0 to win Olympic hockey gold! Here's what our house looked like at 8:00am this morning. Love the red maple leaf flying with that beautiful blue sky above :)

Confession # 7, I Don't Like To Cook

This is what I look like in the kitchen. "Oh shoot, that was supposed to be a half cup of milk, not a cup!"
I really don't like to cook or bake. I just don't seem to derive any joy from it. You make a meal, a half hour later it's completely gone, then in a few hours you start all over again. So what's the point? I want someone to invent meals that look like gummy candies. You know, some are shaped like fish. A turkey dinner would be a little brown turkey; a lobster dinner would be a little red lobster. Just think how much time this would save! No more lugging in the groceries, putting them away, preparing the food, cleaning up afterwards, taking out the garbage...Just sayin'.

Just Scooting By...

source: Pinterest

Just scooting by to wish you a happy Valentine's Day!

Thought I had better post today in case we lose power tomorrow as we get hit with another winter storm. This time it will start as snow and then change over to rain. I guess they didn't get the message that I was tired of winter. But wherever you are, enjoy the day named for Saint Valentine. Any day that focuses on love and candy is a keeper!

Teeny Tiny Trailer Boxes

                         

I have been doing a little crafting lately. Nothing huge, just a couple of things for my trailer. Last week I recycled two tiny boxes. One was a Sucrets box and I'm not sure what came in the other, maybe screws? Covering these little boxes was a great way to use up some bits and pieces of scrapbook paper. For the tires I just glued on buttons from my stash. It's a little hard to see here but the doorknobs are tiny pearl gems. I haven't quite finished my other project but when I do I'll share that too. Stay tuned...

Trailer Trash Dream

Guess who stopped by my trailer today?  Matthew McConaughey and his cute dog, Foxy, came by to check out my little tin can. Foxy was really well behaved, she (?) didn't jump all over my bed (and 14 pillows) with her muddy little paws. Matthew didn't stay too long, about an hour or so. Mostly we chatted about vintage trailers and how much he loves his Airstream. Now if I didn't have my vintage trailer I probably never would have met Matthew. 

Rats! I just remembered that I forgot to get him to sign my guest book :(

Halfway Through Winter

Well, we must be halfway through winter. Please tell me we are! My patience and love for this season is beginning to wane. But last Saturday I went on a little outing. Yup, to the RV Show in Halifax. It was actually my first time to attend an RV show and I must say I enjoyed it. There were five of us  on this little outing, all members of Girl Camp Canada.

Lots of RV's with all the amenities were crammed into Exhibition Park. I almost fell over when I entered one large fifth-wheel and it had an island in the kitchen.  Can you imagine? Another had an ensuite bath and a floor to ceiling fireplace! Oh my we had  a great time checking out all the latest they have to offer in recreational vehicles. Just by chance, when we were getting ready to leave the show we discovered some cute trailers made by a company in Quebec.  These beauties have a one piece fiberglass roof which should eliminate a lot of potential leak areas. Here's the link if you are interested in finding out more info. http://www.roulottesprolite.com/indexenglish.htm Happy dreaming :)

Confession # 6, I Stalk Vintage Trailers

I stalk vintage trailers... and one of my favourite tin cans of all time is this '54 Shasta! The first time I spotted it was about four or five years ago when I was checking out trailers for sale on eBay. I believe they were asking $10,500 for this particular trailer. I am not sure if it changed hands or not...something tells me the reserve bid was not met. It really captured my attention because they had great photos of the restoration process.  Every once in a while a photo of this Shasta will pop up on Pinterest and it makes me wonder where it is now.

                                 

I love the yellow and red color scheme! And how handy would that dolly-wheel thingy be? You could easily manoeuvre your mini-mansion around your driveway or campsite!

Here's an interior shot...gorgeous birch panelling, wall sconce and  banquette seat cushions. I have never come across a photo of the sleeping area, but I can only imagine  how sweet it is. 

Do you have a favourite tin can that you stalk? Do tell :)

NS Artist "Shout Out"

When I wrote my blog profile I asked myself the question, "what will I blog about?" I think this post falls under the "a little bit of everything" category. Recently I discovered the works of a local artist, Susan Sweet.  Susan has a studio in Maitland, NS, less than an hour's drive from where I live. She works mostly in acrylics, but I see from her blog that she also uses other mediums such as pastels. Many people commission Susan to paint their  four-legged friends. Scrolling through her blog you will find lots of horses and dog portraits. Tons of cows too...

Here's "Pink Hereford". Just look at those eyes!

But I think my favourite pieces are those depicting Cobequid Bay, part of the famous Bay of Fundy, home of the highest tides in the world! 

Check out Susan's blog if you would like to see more of her wonderful work. 

http://susannsweetartist.blogspot.ca/

Snowshoes, Skates & Sleighs

I  know Christmas was last week, but I just have to show you these photos. Nova Scotia got hit with a blizzard today and this is what my front porch looks like tonight...the North Pole!

Do you see that rocker?  I dragged that wicker chair home from the thrift shop a few years ago.  And it's really hard to see (because it's covered in snow) but the cushion on that chair is made from my dad's  red plaid hunting jacket. 

Those vintage snowshoes are special too. They belonged to my cottage neighbour. He used to wear them when he had to check on telephone poles in remote areas. When my neighbours were selling their cottage a few years ago  they put them out with their trash on garbage day.  I couldn't let them go to the landfill so I dragged them back to my cottage :)

I don't think I'll be sitting in my wicker rocker sipping coffee anytime soon, but I love my front porch all decked out for the holiday season!

                              

   

Old Days, Old Times, Old Friends

Can you believe that it is the beginning of another year? Another year to get it "right"! I cannot believe that it's almost been a year since I started this little blog. My first post was actually on Jan. 28th, 2013. But this morning when I woke to a lovely, sunny (but -22C) day, all I could think about was this little verse (where I substituted "New Year's" for "Christmas").

Never a New Year's morning,
Never the old year ends,
But someone thinks of someone,
Old days, old times, old friends.
                           ~Anonymous 

Happy 2014 to one and all!