Things that make us smile.....

This journey we've been on has had lots of fun, new adventures.
We are looking forward to more.
We thought we'd share a couple of them with you.
 

 

This yummy dish is called poutine. It has numerous different spellings.
This seems to be the most common. Take French fries, top them with fresh cheese curds
and a light brown gravy type sauce and you have a delicious dish!
This originated in Quebec in the 1950's.

 

 

Many of you know that I love a good thrift store, garage sale, salvage yard etc.

One day we were looking for a desk for our apartment. I was also in need of a container

for Laurence's walking sticks, canes etc. I found all kinds of boring umbrella stands etc.

This however is what caught my eye. It is made of metal and is perfect for our needs.

 

 

 For Christmas this year, my niece Adrienne gave me this fun spinny thingy.
We brought it with us and finally this week we were able to get out on the patio
where we could put a cup hook into the roof. It is so relaxing to watch,
and it has a design that has a Celtic feel to it.

 
A shower head you say..... why in the world does a shower head make you smile??
When we moved in the shower didn't know it's own strength. 
The water pressure was so strong that it would blow the shower curtain out of the tub
and the wash cloths off the hooks at the end of the tub.
You could either have it full speed like that or nothing. 
This was one of our very first purchases!! So glad we did!

  

 

We have enjoyed the winter here, we are even more thrilled with the prospect of spring and summer.

This is the back of the temple. I think the snow will all be gone around the temple by Wednesday,

as long as Mother Nature doesn't throw us a curve ball.

 

 

We have a tiny patio in front of our apartment.

It's going to be perfect to enjoy a few moments here and there.

Today we got chairs for it.

I found them on kijiji a site like Craigs list here in Canada.

The lady lived about 6 blocks from us.

They're hardly used at all!!

 

Monday evening means Family Home Evening. This is our Family Home Evening group tonight.
There are a few missing. We had a lovely dinner followed by a great lesson.
These people are really wonderful, we are blessed to be able to be with them every week.

 

 



The Voice of the Sea Speaks to the Soul

 

Today was our Preparation day. The morning was spent with Laurence clearing out the

last of our ice so we can now use our front door. YAY!! Life is easier now!!

 

 

The snow is melting so quickly! It is shocking to me.
I love finding out what is under this white wonderland!!

After this we took Elder & Sister Wood shopping. Followed by a trip to a thrift store for me.
I didn't find anything, but sure enjoy the search!!
 

A trip to the harbour followed the thrift store.

I'm thinking the sign should read more like,

no parking here..... haha!!
 

We went to Eastern Passage. It is located at the southeastern edge of Halifax Harbour,
fronting the Atlantic Ocean, Eastern Passage derives its name from the narrow strait
separating the mainland from McNabs Island and Lawlor Island, both of which lie
several hundred metres west of the community. This "Eastern Passage" into the
harbour is not the main shipping channel due to its shallow depths;
the main shipping channel lies west of McNabs Island.
The Eastern Passage is largely used by small recreational boats and fishing vessels
during inclement weather as the island affords shelter from prevailing winds.

Fisherman's Cove at Eastern Passage.
The smell of the salt water, the colorful boats, the lobster traps....

St. Andrew's "By the Sea" Roman Catholic Church. It was built in 1926,
replacing an already existing smaller church that was about 80-85 years old.

 

 

Called to Serve Together

 

We have met so many amazing people since we came here just a little over a month ago.

Everyone of them has added more sweetness to our lives and our mission!

 

 

This is our temple President and his wife. President and Sister Fox. From England originally, 

they have lived in Canada and the states for many years. They have a beautiful home

just outside Dartmouth. Both have beautiful English accents.

Both are retired medical doctors. What amazing people! Their humility, love, devotion

and willingness to serve is monumental. We have come to really love and respect them!

We are so blessed to work with such people. We will be working with them our entire mission.

We will be released about 2 months before they are released.

 

 

Elder and Sister Wood are senior missionaries from Burley, Idaho. They have served many missions.

This will be their last. We feel fortunate to have them as a part of our mission.

They live upstairs from us. They will go home in about 2 1/2 months. We will miss them.

They are such a great couple!! We blessed to be able to spend quite a bit of time with them.

 

 

 

Beautiful. Gorgeous Snow!!

 

The rest of the month of March and the first part of April have been filled with

snowstorms and blizzards. I took a lot of pictures because it was so, so gorgeous.

I'm going to share a few of them in one post. Just know that these cover about a 3 week period.

 

 

 Church was cancelled on Sunday March 15. This is what our parking lot looked like.
We are so blessed that the people here get right on snow removal.
It wasn't possible for most people to even get out of their driveways, the buses didn't run etc.

 

 

This was shortly before the plow came in on Monday morning. All schools were cancelled.

 

 

 



 

 

By 6:30 is was being cleared. That is our pickup on the left front.

 

 

 

10:00 Monday morning. It just kept snowing and snowing.....

I was so grateful that it was not my responsibility to shovel!!

After they had cleared a bit, Laurence went and finished digging out the pickup

and then moved it so they would have more room to work with in clearing the lot.

 

 

The main door to our apartment building. It leads out to the parking lot in back.

 

This is our bedroom window right before the snow storms....

 

Our bedroom window. Although it looks like there is space at the top, it really is just an air pocket.

 

 

This is how Laurence deals with a snow day with the temple closed and most of the city shut down...

 

 

 

This is how I deal with a snow day.....

I LOVE MY SCARF THAT AISLING GAVE ME FOR CHRISTMAS!!

Laurence was still kind enough to brave the crazy roads to take me to Tim Horton's for my wifi fix.

 

 

We still didn't have internet or telephone. Tim Horton's is a fast food place that has

great donuts and free wifi! They were the only place open.

We were supposed to get that on Monday the 16th.

The storm made it so we didn't get it for another week.

 

 

It continued snowing that week. This is our main door (shown above) on Thursday

when they were able to get to it. They cleared it with a back hoe.

The operator was amazing. He was able to get right against the building without scraping it.

They also cleared this one with a back hoe.

Laurence did the finishing up on the steps with his snow shovel.

It made it nicer for everyone going in and out.

 

 

The street behind our apartment.

It really is a two lane street....

 

 

We arrived early for church on Sunday March 22nd. Laurence backs  in toward the temple

instead of the church so he stays out of the way of other smaller vehicles.

 

 

It was so incredibly beautiful!!

 

From our bedroom window at midnight on March 28.

Just missing the Christmas lights!!

 

 

I almost missed getting a picture at all of the snow this Sunday morning (March 29).

A lot was gone by the time we had driven to the church and church was out.

 

 

The streetlight outside our apartment. Love the ice on it!

 

 

This was taken  when we first got here,

when there was less snow.

 

 

Taken yesterday, Saturday April 11. Just a wee bit more to go. 

Soon we'll be able to use our front door and walk.

SPRING IS ON IT'S WAY!!