Concrete Houses!

Charles Macdonald Concrete House Museum

Charles Macdonald was quite the artist with an interesting way of seeing life. 

He firmly believed in the virtues of cement as a building material. 

At the time it was cheap, and nearly anyone could purchase it. 

This home in Centreville was originally part of his cement plant, 

then the second floor was added and it was turned into a home. 

It now serves as a museum, which unfortunately, needs an awful lot of love and attention. 

The cement was reinforced with iron and driftwood. This included the portico over the front door, the staircases, counters and in one of his homes, even the bathtub. 

I read that the bathtub was very smooth. If not, I suppose you would never need a loofah. 

The stairway was curving and carpet has been added to each level. 

He did a lot of color. 

He had built his own table, umbrella stand and many other items in the house. 

 Yard Art was not forgotten~
He created animals, birdbaths, furniture, flower pots, mushrooms and all kinds of work for the yard.

Mr. Macdonald was a Socialist in his political thinking. During the great depression he had his workers build 5 summer cottages at Huntington Point as a make work project. Four of them still remain. The fifth one was torn down to make way for a more modern structure in 1985.

 One thing for sure.....
there is no lack of color.
Gorgeous location right
on the Bay of Fundy.

The Bay of Fundy

If you were to turn right around from where I was standing to take the last picture you would be looking at the Bay of Fundy at low tide.

 Who can resist a walk on the beach? Not I!!

This was a very rocky, yet beautiful beach!

I found two pieces of glass on this entire beach. 

One was a clear piece and the other was this marble. 

There are basically 4 schools of thought as to why so many marbles end up in the sea~

1. Marbles were used as ballast for ships, but were dumped in harbours before coming to dock.     
2. Children played with marbles on the beach years ago. I know my dad played a lot of marbles....
3. Painters added marbles to their paint to mix it. Throw the paint can in the dump/ocean..............
4. In the 1800's a bottle was invented using a marble as a stopper. Drink liquid, toss bottle.

I didn't think I'd ever find a marble. They are rare. 

I found one this day on the Bay of Fundy and I found one the day before on the Eastern Shore. 

I'm a lucky duck!!   

Our Last Day Exploring

Halifax Seaport Farmers' Market

The oldest Farmer's Market in North America

Sadly, this does not do the crowds justice. 

This is such a fun place to wander. 

We ate a yummy breakfast there. 

Saw all kinds of products, some we were familiar with, some we weren't. 

Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

After a fun time at the Farmer's Market, Aisling and I headed to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. 

What a great museum. 

Halifax should be proud of their museums!

The Titanic sank not far from Nova Scotia, many of the casualties from the ship are buried in the Halifax area. 

Lots of interesting material about ships and such through the years. 

Bluenose was a fishing boat/racing schooner, built in 1921. 

You will find the Bluenose on the back of the Canadian dime. 

The locals are very proud of the Bluenose.

I would love to sail on the Bluenose II. 

It sails out of Lunenburg and Halifax on sight seeing tours

throughout the summer. 

Halifax has a lot of sad history. 

The Halifax Explosion has to be one of the saddest. 

Before I came here, I'd never heard of it.

For Christmas I received a book about the explosion. 

Reading that along with visiting the museum and other reading has really broadened my understanding. 

Aisling can be the Captain of the ship anytime!!

Such a fun time we had together!!

At the museum we attended a workshop to make Sailor's Valentine's. 

Sailor's Valentine's were originally thought to be the handiwork of 

sailors as they spent weeks and months at sea. 

It is now known that they were usually made in Barbados and sold to the sailors to take home to their loved ones. 

The top left one is Aisling's

The top right is Sidney's.

The bottom ones were real ones on display in the museum. 

Occasionally I get to be the captain. 

Alas, the time of her departure arrived. 
We miss her a lot, and look forward to her next visit!

May our "little girl" be kept in the hollow of His hand. 

What more can I say? 

We love our life! 

We love serving our Father in Heaven.

We love being in Nova Scotia. 

We love the people here.

We love our family at home. 

Life is good!

Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum

Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum

Monday we grabbed the sisters next door and went to the Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum.

It is right in the middle of Cole Harbour, but you surely don't feel it when you're there. 

This is the remainder of a farm that was here since the 1800's and perhaps earlier. 

It is one hectacre in size and has this farmhouse in addition to other outbuildings 

and another home that was moved in. In 1976 it was designated as Provincial Heritage Property 

in recognition of the fact that it represents surviving examples of a way of life that has all 

but disappeared in this area. 

Inside the farm house is a cute little tea room and gift shop. 

We are so fortunate to live next door to the sisters. 

We have new neighbors now.

Sister Tait and Sister Smith, are both from Utah. 

Sister Tait is brand new and Sister Smith goes home next transfer. 

 They grow quite a few of the veggies that they serve in their own gardens. 

We had rhubarb pie that was divine. 

The gardens are delightful to walk through and enjoy a bit of nature.

 This made me smile. There was this hive and then another that you can barely see that is two boxes high. 

Not just veggies grow here! 

 There were loads and loads of very pretty flowers. 

"From 1860 - 1940 over 100,000 children were emigrated right across Canada 

to be used as indentured farm workers and domestics. Canadians 

thought these children to be orphans, when in fact only two percent were. 

They were sent by families who had fallen on hard times and because there was no social system

to help the families get over the difficult times, they surrendered their children. 

My father was a British Home Child. He arrived In Quebec on 26 April 1928 as a 15 year old 

with another 9 children. They all went to various destinations. 

My father ended up as a farm labourer in St John - not a happy time for him. 

He managed to run away and lying about his age, got various jobs, one being a lumberjack. 

After 3 years he got himself back home to England."

This was written by my friend Diane who served her mission in the Ireland Dublin Mission after me. 

Diane was born and raised in England, and still lives there. 

This was a very hard time for all the families!

Stuart Harris, the last person to farm the site of what is now the farm museum was a British Home Child.

The NS branch of the British Home Children and Descendants Association

 occasionally meet here and last year donated this bench to the farm.

Some of the barns and other outbuildings. The building on the far right is the Giles home.

 The Giles House is one of the oldest buildings in Cole Harbour. 

The house was originally built in ca 1780 on one hundred acres of land purchased by Joseph Giles in 1789. 

Giles moved to Cole Harbour from the United States in 1786. 

He was one of the earliest settlers of Cole Harbour. 

The modest farm house was moved to the Cole Harbour Farm in 1976 to save it from demolition.

This scraper is like one that my neighbor in Colstrip gave me, 

except mine doesn't have the additional bar attached. 

A Bit of Heaven in Lunenburg and beyond........

 Good morning Elder & Sis Pitt:    We formally extend our invite for a tour of the South Shore of Nova Scotia.   Please come for Brunch Monday June 29th at 11 am at the home of Wayne and Dianne Hunt. I know that you have GPS and can find us easily.  You will see a pile of gravel at the end of our laneway.  Following our brunch we will visit a couple of spots in Mahone Bay-  then on to Lunenburg to meet up with the Jewers.  In that area we hope to visit Blue Rocks and Lunenburg – Riverport, Rose Bay, lower Kingsburg then off to our little Ferry that crosses the Lahave River to take in the view of our drive on Cresent Beach-  we will circle through Riverport and Italy Cross and then stop for 5pm supper at Hebbville at the Blarney Stone for supper.   All of this is no cost to you as you are our invited guests.  We will return you to your vechile left at our home and wish you a wonderful and safe drive back to the city.

Looking forward to your excellent company

 Hunts

The day was everything promised and much, much more!! 
The Hunt's are such wonderful examples of Christ-like love. We surely do love them!!

The Hunt's live in a beautiful 200+ year old farmhouse. 

It is beautiful! With gardens to match!!

Many of the people here fly the Canadian flag. 

That is a custom that I love!! 

We flew ours in Montana. 

They have a multitude of beautiful gardens

One of the fun gardens. 

They do such great things!

Love this garden and the hay rake at the edge. 

I took this thinking of Jamie Steen. I believe it's one of her favorites.... :)

The edge of the parking area. Next to the house. 

There were so many other gardens that I didn't capture.

I love the neat, tidy wood pile with the great roof to keep the wood burnable.

Fun shop in Lunenburg. Love the bright, coordinating colors!
Right across the street is a cute store in an old house. 
It has a beautiful staircase, stained glass window, fireplace... and me without a picture. :(

The Lunenburg Academy
Built 1893-1895 it is one of the few large scale wooden buildings still surviving from the 19th Century. 
It sits atop a hill and visible for miles(or kilometers).

This old home is up on the hill close to the Academy.
Homes like this are fun for the imagination.

St. John's Anglican Church of Canada in Lunenburg
This is the second oldest church of English origin in Canada, as well as a Canadian National Historic Site. 
It is recognized as one of North America's best examples of Carpenter Gothic architecture. 

Following a major fire in 2001, St. John's was fully restored and re-opened in June of 2005.

Three Churches of Mahone Bay in Lunenburg 

These three churches are frequently photographed and used on postcards etc.

Mahone Bay is a gorgeous bay. It is a reminder of times past.

Wouldn't it be fun to have a sail boat..... and be able to sail? 

There is no doubt, Lunenburg is gorgeous and fun. Here on Mahone Bay is phenomenal. 

The majority of the churches in Nova Scotia are painted white with black trim and black roofs. 

Lunenburg is packed with fun painted buildings. 
The dormer extending out over the eaves is called the "Lunenburg Bump". It is very popular in Lunenburg.

One of my favorite shots. Mahone Bay and Lunenburg from the golf course. 
It is such a picturesque area!

Wayne Hunt, Elder Pitt, Wayne Jewers
The three patient men we spent the day with!! 
My picture of the three ladies didn't turn out. 
If I get one from Dianne or Pat I will add it in. 

Am I a lucky girl or what!!!
This plus several more arrived in my email tonight.
Pat Jewers, Dianne Hunt, Sister Pitt

We are enjoying the best days ever; whether we're busy serving in the temple or out enjoying God's creations in Nova Scotia. 

This is about one-half of our day. The next half will be posted later. There was so much to see and enjoy!