Beautiful Nova Scotia Screen Savers and Wallpapers

If you're like me, you are always changing your desktop background. I like to change things up according to the season and for inspiring images I go to novascotia.com's wallpaper section to see images like this lighthouse Christmas one.



Here's where to look for more nice pictures like the photo above:

Winter Screensaver

Winter Wallpaper

3 Ways to Help a Snowtruck Get Unstuck

Last weekend we got about 30 centimeters of snow in Halifax. Not a lot of snow considering some parts of Canada but it's plenty for here. Enough, in fact, for the snow plough to get stuck on our street for 30 minutes.



Here are 3 ways to help a tired snow plough driver get out of a frustrating situation:

1. Resist the urge to take a picture (oops)
2. Offer him a coffee
3. Grab your shovel and join your neighbours

Grohmann Knives, Pictou, Nova Scotia

On a recent visit to Pictou, I just had to take a picture of the knife jutting out of the building at the Grohmann Knives Outlet. Whenever I visit the town of Pictou and drive by this location, my question always is, "who threw this knife?"

Grohmann Knives Limited is a small family-owned business in Nova Scotia. To these guys, making knives is as much an art as a trade. Their top quality knives are produced with as many as 53 steps between starting point & finished product.

When my sister got married and received a set of Grohmann knives as a present, I grew to realize that these are superior knives. In fact, they are the only knives I use in my kitchen. Nothing cuts my homemade bread better.

I often take advantage of the blade sharpening clinics that take place in various parts of the province.

Next time in Pictou, take a free factory tour. It's a "cut above the rest" (okay, I couldn't resist!)

Snowflakes in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Are you a snow lover? Chances are you either love it or hate it - just like sushi.

Well, I get giddy when it snows.

So today, a snowflake landed on my deck.

I can prove it.

Yes.

It's indeed a snowflake.

Not a present from a sea gull.


This winter, keeping regular tabs on the NS highway cameras is a good way to know how driving conditions are before you head out. BTW, I don't like snow on highways :)

Making Nautical Wreaths

A few years ago, I took a nautical rope wreath workshop at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. The museum holds these workshops every November and if you're interested, you'd better sign up early. This rope wreath is really known as the "Turk's Head Knot".

So, this past weekend, with a good set of instructions in hand and 100 feet of 1/2 inch Manila rope, my sister and I made rope wreaths. I had the rope cut into 25 foot lengths (to make 4 wreaths). This rope smells wonderful but it can give you splinters that's why many people wear garden gloves. Manila rope is relatively easy to find, after a couple phone calls I found it at the Army Navy Store on Agricola St. in Halifax. It was a whopping 26 cents per foot :)

Once you stumble through the first steps of weaving the wreath starts to take shape. These step by step instructions guided us and working on the floor is best so you can spread out. Your knees will likely complain.

After about 15 minutes, here is the end product. I quickly moved on to finish the other three wreaths and then started looking around my fathers garage. I was on a roll. Interestingly enough, my father is sweet on collecting rope. Eureka! I made three more wreaths made from rope that, at one time, was tied to lobster traps. To me, this only adds more character.

Check out this video on You Tube for step by step instruction on how to tie a Turk's Head Knot:


If you live in Halifax, you can sign up for a workshop at the Maritime Museum.

What moves you while driving to work?

While many of you will reply "my car." I mean, what do you see along your daily commute that wows you?

For me, it's the Northwest Arm. Part of Halifax Harbour, the Northwest Arm (or "the Arm" to locals) measures approximately 3.5 km in length and 0.5 km in width and defines the western side of the Halifax Peninsula.
With the Dingle Tower in the distance and the Armdale Yacht Club to the right, while creeping in traffic along Quinpool Rd, my gaze often veers to the right. It's a good thing I'm the passenger because I'd have my share of fender benders.

Every day is different. In the morning, the tide may be very high or a kayaker will be out for a paddle or you'll see storm clouds blowing out to sea. A couple days last week, a duck has been spotted standing on the sidewalk, people nervously drive by hoping he doesn't decide to make a waddle/run for it and cross the street to get to water. On the way home, and coming from the opposite direction, it's refreshing to see the water as you round the turn going down the hill toward the roundabout (formerly known as the rotary).

What is your "wow" that you drive by every day?