Another birthday (fascinator-style)

Who wouldn't want their 37th cake decorated with gummy bears and smarties?

Well, folks, I'm going to be honest.  I don't have much for you this week.  Other than pulling off a very small but heartfelt (and homemade) birthday party for Clark (and a shoutout to my sister Andrea, who shares the same birthday, just from all the way across the country), this week has been spent preparing for my very imminent trip to Newfoundland.

No, really - that is a hanging succulent in the background, not a jaunty fascinator. But I hope that in years hence, we'll somehow assume it is a fascinator.  

 It is not that things didn't happen, but rather that I either wasn't involved, or wasn't cognizant enough to bring a camera and document things.  For instance, on Sunday, Clark and kids met up with Zsofi and the girls for some Scarecrow Festival Fun in Mahone Bay, and I stayed home.  Clark wasn't *ahem* as on ball with the camera as I might have been, but what are you going to do?

Sylvie and Spiderman making scarecrow crafts

Anyway,  I will end this scanty little post now to start my day and try not to panic.  I leave on Wednesday, and defend on Friday, so by next week I'll have some news to share, one way or the other.  If you think of it on Friday, try sending some positive energy my way at about... 1pm Newfoundland time, OK? Thanks!  And with that, I'll leave you with this gorgeous mushroom that greeted me on a lake loop last week.

I can never resist a good mushroom picture.

around here

Yukking it up on a hike around Penhorn Lake

This morning, I am writing to the sound of a symphony of fog horns, and placing myself directly under the humidity-dispersing ceiling fan in our sun room.  I am also breathing in air from our wide-open windows that can, I think, best be described as "ocean-fresh": sweet, and laced with salt. It is the kind of air that reminds me to breathe deeply. I know from experience that these are all aspects of Maritime living that will soon become so routine that they will fade quietly into the background of our everyday lives.  But for now they are still novel, and new, and lovely.

This is also true of our new surroundings. This past week, I took it upon myself to spend each day exploring our more immediate neighbourhood on foot, to try and get a sense of where we are situated, how it all fits together, and the best/easiest ways to get in a good dose of nature. That often means, I discovered, finding paths around one of the many, many lakes in and around Dartmouth.  Or, if there is the time and means to go just a little bit further, there is the option of Shubie Park, which I am quickly growing to love.  This weekend, it also meant a slightly more involved trip to Crowbar Lake with Will and the twins (though Linden and I stayed home due to a bit of classic headache/congestion/fatigue on Linden's part). Awesome trails may not be available right out of our doorstep, but they are here!  And there is quite a bit a bit to discover, even, in our very own backyard.  And with that, I'll leave you with some pictures from the week.  Enjoy!

Carefully trying to avoid a rather large patch of poison ivy

Linden opted to go nowhere near the leaves - a very smart decision, I'd say!

Lake scenes

The joys of an old, bizarrely-located  walking bridge over the Circumferential Highway

Face painting and fish-and-chips at the Alderny Market

Harvesting "hay", and wearing what can only be described as a cacophony of different patterns

"Mom! Mom!  Look what I found growing by the side of the house!"

Looks like we've got a pretty good harvest of grapes! Who knew?

Crowbar lake hike with Sylvie and Eva

Some serious hiking! (photo credit: Will)

first days

Finally!  Both kids the same school, and on the same bus. These are their excited, *slightly* trepidatious first day smiles

Ahhhh... Monday morning.  Not just any Monday morning, either - the first Monday of the first full week of school.  That must mean that life is starting to settle into routine, which is, of course, bittersweet.  But in this case, I think it is mostly sweet.  It means that we have jumped through and over a very large percentage of the metaphorical hoops and hurdles that presented themselves as part of this move, and landed mostly unscathed on the other side.

The kids have now competed two full days in their new school, and reports are so far unanimously positive.  Juniper is in a 2/3 split (which means she is making friends with both kids her own age, AND cooler, older ones as well), and the one friend she already knew before starting school is in her class.  You couldn't ask for much better than that!  Linden has his own desk, thinks he might have made some friends (but can't remember their names yet), and proudly announced that he hadn't gotten in trouble.  Bug thumbs up all around, I'd say.

Unintentional twins, out for supper at the Wooden Monkey to celebrate the first day of school

Apart from all the craziness and newness of school, we've also been taking full advantage of the opportunity to explore our new (old) surroundings, and reacquaint ourselves with the goodness of living in Nova Scotia.  The day before school started, for instance, we met our friend Tawnya and her crew for some new adventures at the Natural Resources Education Centre in Middle Musquodobit.  This is a seriously cool outdoor adventure park for kids, complete with mud pits, frog-catching ponds, climbing trees, and any number of imagination-inspiring nature-themed areas to play and explore. I had to pull Linden away kicking and screaming when it was time to go, as  you might well imagine.

Calla and Juniper on two very tall stumps

In the back of a truck!! (Calla, Juniper, Aven, Austin, Linden)

Sifting for frogs

Well hello there, little guy!

 We also took a weekend day to soak in the goodness that is Crystal Crescent Beach.  Oh, Atlantic Ocean, how we've missed you!  When Linden's toes hit the sand, I swear to you it it was like seeing a formerly captive animal released into his natural habitat.  He actually started frolicking on all fours.  As an added bonus, the waves were active enough to provide some pretty fun water play.  And I got to go for a solo hike on the big, beautiful rocks.  AND we stopped at Mishoo's convenience for popsicles on the way home even though it was right before dinner.  So, win-win-win, as far as we were all concerned.

Real beach sand and waves and salty water

On our way to try and find some tidal pools and hidden ocean creatures

Inukshuks on the big, beautiful boulders

Seaweed-laden rocks

Apart from some of these grander outings, we've also been starting to do a lot of what will surely become our more routine endeavours, such playing in the yard, taking the ferry over to Halifax, and checking out the local libraries.  All three of these "routine" activities are, as it turns out, pretty awesome.  Our yard is relatively big, and often full of friends (and will have some even greater attractions when we get around to it), the fact that we can take a ferry as easily as taking a bus kind of speaks for itself, and while there are some great little libraries on our side of the harbour, there is a brand new, AMAZING library in Halifax where we are all more than happy to spend some quality time. As Juniper said reverently (as she plopped down with a stack of books in a comfy chair), "I think libraries are my very favourite type of building.  If you love books, how can you not love libraries?"  True enough.

Flower activities on the front lawn

A Theodore Tugboat sighting from the deck of the ferry 

Lounging in the reading doughnut at the brilliant new Halifax Library.

And with that, my friends, I bid you adieu.  Of all the members of our family, I am the only one who has not yet sorted herself out.  I don't think it is making me anxious, per se, but it would be nice to have some clue as to what my next phase of life is going to look like.  One step at a time, I suppose.  My defense first, of course, and then - who knows?  Please let me know if you have thought of the perfect next adventure, OK?

We're baaaccckkkk!

The crazy Simmonds family, all in one place at the same time!

Honestly, I'm not sure how to even begin this post.  Not only has it been three whole weeks since my last update, it has been the most ridiculous, jam-packed three weeks in recent memory.  This was, of course, almost entirely due one very epic move from Kanata ON, to Dartmouth NS.  I remember distinctly when we made the move from Woods Hole to Kanata  (only a little over a year ago, mind you) that I made it VERY clear we would never, ever do a move as crazy as that one. That I would rather poke my eyes out with burning hot coals than go through that nonsense again.  HA.  Famous last words, let me assure you.  

I won't bore you with all the logistical hi-jinx that were involved - I'm not sure I actually want to relive them, to be honest.  I can tell you, however, that it was one of the most complicated, labour intensive endeavours we've ever executed.  I can also tell you that this move never would have happened if not for some pretty freaking amazing friends and family, who helped with their braun, their child-minding abilities, their generosity, and any other number of attributes.  This was a large, multi-faceted team effort. 

While Clark and our dear friend Will were finishing up the packing, loading, and cleaning on the Kanata end of things, and I had made my way to our new house in Dartmouth to take care of pre-move-in logistics, the kids spent time first with their Fredericton grandparents, and then with grandma, grandpa and Theresa at the farm.  They even took pictures of some of the farm adventures, which looked like a LOAD of fun:

Juniper the mermaid

Exploring the shore after a boat ride

Hard at work, hauling hay

King of the hay loft

Bill and Barb (grandma and grandpa), even hand-delivered the kids to us after we had finished unloading and unpacking enough to make the place habitable:

Entering the border of their new home!

Meanwhile, it was around the clock work over here.  Clark and Will arrived with the truck pretty exhausted, but in good spirits:

Look at those handsome young whipper-snappers!

And almost everything made the move unscathed, except for about half of my plants.  That was a sad scene to discover.

R.I.P., my pretties.

And here we are, having everything unloaded and completely chaotic inside, but being elated to be at that point in the process:

Home owners!!

When the kids arrived, the balance shifted considerably.  At that point, there was still a large drive to get this place set up, and to spend as much time as possible unpacking and organizing.  There was also, however, the very important task of letting everyone just start to live and experience our new home.  Though Linden was quick to express how disappointed he was that our new house wasn't as "tall" as our old one, I think the benefits quickly started to outweigh the "shortness".  We have a pretty amazing yard (with big plans to add some fun play structures), next door neighbours with kids almost the same age, and, perhaps most importantly, the same beloved city and dear friends that we left behind four years ago.  

Clark and Linden running up Citadel Hill

On the first of what will be many, many ferry rides between Dartmouth and Halifax

Ahhh... Reunited with reading chair and books 

Look!  Juniper's room matches her glasses, her glasses and her new dress! She couldn't have been more pleased.

Linden quickly found the necessary dirt for his outdoor endeavours

I bought this new hammock swing as a little present to myself, but I haven't been able to spend more than two minutes in it!

A huge juniper bush in the front yard serves as perfect spy headquarters

In full spy gear.  This is specifically Juniper's "spy outfit"

Our first of many trips to Lunenburg to visit the Koller/Martins!

Enjoying a delicious Will-crafted taco dinner with Eva and Sylvie

Making friends with Piper

You can't be a true Nova Scotian until you've boarded the Bluenose!

Reunited with the Sharps! 

You'd think that after finally having everyone here and somewhat settled, we'd stay put, right?  Not so!  This past Friday, there was a huge shindig in celebration of my dad's 80th birthday, and friends and family came from near and far to celebrate - over 100 people filtered in and out of my parent's house over the course of the day.  There was no way we could miss it. Not only did we get to hang out with some people we almost never get to see, we also got a taste of how close we now live to home, and how relatively easy it is going to be to just pop over for a weekend whenever we so choose.  A 4-hour drive is NOTHING compared to the epic day-long journey it used to be.

Here are some pics from our whirlwind visit:

All 6 Simmonds siblings in once place.  This basically never happens anymore!

Juniper and the birthday boy

My cousin Andrew fell at  the top Linden's list of favourite things from this day, even above cake. That is a true compliment.

Linden and his VERY dapper (and grown-up) cousins.

Andrea demonstrates how to use the stethoscope she got Juniper for her birthday

Linden being a monkey with his aunt Faye

Playing with uncle Dinesh

Juniper had the task of passing out Ferrero Rochers in return for signing the guest book.  She took her job VERY seriously.

A group pic of all the family left at the end of the evening. 

We also took advantage of hang-outs and relaxing time on the weekend:

Mike, Jamie and me at the Eddy's

laughing it up with uncle Mike

Linden sustained only one injury during the course of his many trips up and down this tree

Hanging with Ethan

Added bonus:  a tent set up in the Eddy's back yard

Group shot with Mike and Steve

Awwww... the Eddys

Sawyer helping mini-Sawyer make a basket

Juniper meets the newest member of the Eddy household: Tyga (or Taiga)

Two mornings in a row, Clark took the PJ-clad kids to Tim Hortons for breakfast, and then to the river while the rest of us slept in. 

Nothing like relaxing with a good book in my parents' sunroom

Perusing some exciting new books from Paul and Linda on the inglenook

Mary and Juniper harvest some tomatoes

Linden meets Jane and Mike's little Lillian for the first time 

 Whew.  That, my friends, was the last few weeks in a nutshell.  It is now the last remaining day of the long weekend, and we are about to truly start settling into this new life.  Clark begins work in earnest tomorrow, the kids have their first day of school on Thursday, and I will start to prepare for my PhD defense, which has finally been scheduled for the 30th of September.  And while there are moments where this all feels a little overwhelming, it just mostly feels.... right.  In many respects, we are finally coming home.  Apart from Fredericton, Halifax is where Clark and I have spent the longest period of time.  Both kids were born here. And it is the East Coast, complete with salty sea breezes, and ocean as far as the eye can see.  In other respects, this is a brand new adventure.  I suppose one never truly ever comes back home per se - even if it is in a general region that you know and love.  You always make a new home, and a new life.  But it is one that feels as though it is going to be very, very good.