Tag Archives: nova scotia

Traveling With Kids: Cape Breton Island

23 May

I’ve finally managed to write a little post about one of our favourite places in the world, Cape Breton Island (in Nova Scotia, Canada).  I have many fond memories of visiting the island as a kid and teenager and was so happy I could finally take my own family there last summer.  Cape Bretoners are some of the kindest people in the world and will go out of their way to make sure your time visiting their island is the best it can be. Click over to Classic Play to hear more about what the island has to offer.  And if you’ve already visited the island I’d love to hear what you enjoyed the most while there.capebretonisland1-2

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Traveling With Kids: South Shore, Nova Scotia

13 Sep

My newest Traveling With Kids column is over on Classic Play today.  And this one hits home for me.  Literally.  I write all about our time spent on the South Shore of my hometown province of Nova Scotia. I don’t want to sound biased but it really is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

The South Shore of Nova Scotia is all about the simple life.  Great beaches, picturesque fishing villages, cozy little cafes and bakeries and lots of hikes and walks along the beautiful coastlines and in the local forests.  In other words, the perfect destination for a summer family vacation.

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Il Rientro

2 Sep

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(photo taken in Nova Scotia this summer)

Whoa.  We’re back.  It’s September.  And school starts tomorrow.  All pretty hard to believe at the moment.  These past two months have been so full of amazing new experiences and memories for our family.  We spent time in Umbria, Verona, Liguria and Canada and really took advantage of every moment together and with our friends and family.  Wholly satisfied would explain the way I’m feeling at the moment.

IMG_0667(never dare your kid to put his fingers in the pincers of a crawfish – they’ll do it and it hurts)

I have my girls who start secondary school tomorrow.  And they’re pretty much freaking out.  Every few minutes they come to me in a panic with questions of where they have to go after the bus arrives at school, where their classroom is, where the toilets are, how to avoid the areas where all the older kids make-out and so on.  Only problem is that I know less than them so it has been a challenge to keep them calm.  They’re actually starting to freak me out about the whole thing.

IMG_0908(entering the 13 degree Atlantic Ocean – evidence that they are indeed half Canadian)

Since we’re just back from Canada we’re still trying to adjust to the time change.  Lots of late nights and sleeping in late the last few days (see an example of the state of my kids at midnight here).  I think we’ll have a bit of a rough time getting up at 6:30am tomorrow morning in order to catch the school bus on time.   And I can’t even fathom what it will be like to be in my home alone for the day after two months of constant kid-companionship .  I know it will feel too empty and quiet.

IMG_1684(visiting the year 1744 at Louisbourg in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia)

But I’ll be so glad to be back here sharing some of my creative endeavors, trips, recipes and even some projects that I have been working on for other blogs and sites.  I’ve really taken a breather this summer and am so ready to start again!

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(enjoying a little trip on a lobster fishing boat on the South Shore of Nova Scotia)

So, cheers to a new school year!  I know it’s going to be a great one.

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Jillian In Italy (In Canada)

15 Aug

Things have been pretty quiet around here the last week.  And for good reason.  I’m currently enjoying a much needed trip to Canada to spend time with my family, smell the salty Atlantic Ocean air, eat the best fish and chips in the world and even learn the traditional Nova Scotian art of rug hooking.  So far it has been nothing short of wonderful with many trips to the beach, outings in the sea kayaks and bike rides along the country roads lined with colourful wooden houses.  I’ll be back here in a few weeks with lots of new content and creative energy.  In the meantime you can follow me on Instagram where I’ve been posting some photos of this amazingly beautiful province that I grew up in.

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