Nova Scotian Cèilidh

Published July 21, 2017

cei·lidh

noun: social event at which there is Scottish or Irish folk music and singing, traditional dancing, and storytelling.

On long, dark winter nights it is still the custom in small villages for friends to collect in a house and hold what they call a “ceilidh” (pronounced kay’lee). Young and old are entertained by the reciters of old poems and legendary stories which deal with ancient beliefs, the doings of traditional heroes and heroines, and so on. Some sing old and new songs set to old music or new music composed in the manner of the old.

It bears mention that ceilidhs are common throughout Nova Scotia. The tradition and the spirit of these gatherings are carried on in most small communities of these maritime provinces.

I’ve always been an ‘old soul’.

Not sure if it’s an ‘oldest’ child trait or maybe I simply spent too much time ‘round my grandparents as a child (miss those times). BUT…seat me at a table on a cruise & I’ll saddle next to Esther, whose deaf mother endured the Holocaust. (No joke – years later, we still exchange Chanukah/Christmas cards.)

Black-n-white flics, 1930’s blues singers & museums (ya’ll know I can find one in every town).

Tonite Lynne would be hosting a Nova Scotian Cèilidh for her American cousins. What a treat! ‘Cèilidh’ or ‘Kitchen Party’? (Heard both terms being used.) Per our hostess: Cèilidhs must include both guitar & a fiddle. In luck tonite – we’ve got both 🙂

No musicians in my family, picked this up [this love] later in life. Remember being invited to Harding & Donna’s home in northern New Hampshire. Upright piano, spoons, washboard, harmonica, surrounded by Trudy & the Pioneers. Really good memories ❤

Add games, sandwiches & 2 fast-talkin’ monologues – & you’ve got a Cèilidh. Super FUN evening!

: Americans tested on their Cape Breton/Maritime knowledge

: guitar & a fiddle – in luck tonite, we’ve got both 🙂

: Super FUN evening!

Nova Scotian Cèilidh

Cape Split, NS

Published July 21, 2017

Marathon all 10 Canadian provinces in 5 years — that’s the plan. Opportunity knocked. Got to tagalong Stephen & Sheila’s family gathering in Nova Scotia. They arrived the weekend prior, sight-seeing the easternmost portion of the province, Cape Breton.

I landed Thursday evening: (Air Canada) Denver to Toronto, Toronto to Halifax. What a greeting – welcomed by the entire Cavanaugh clan! Easy dinner nearby then an hour north to Wolfville. Stayed with Lynne & Andy; beautiful home, gracious people.

Early to bed, early to rise. Andy had coordinated a 15K trail run with his daughter Kyla, a 2018 Boston Marathon qualifier. Super personality – a mile downtown, past Acadia University, left at the ice rink (home of hockey’s Axemen), then the next hour entirely on trail. Rolling farmland levied from the Bay, 2 centuries ago by the island’s French Acadians.

Quick pace – this gal wasn’t even breathing hard. Ran alongside Minas Basin ’til we hit our target distance, then turned back toward town. 15K, sub-9/minute pace. Whew – welcome to Canada! GREAT 6 a.m. morning run! 🙂

: my 4th Canadian province

: trail run along farmland dredged from the Bay, 2 centuries ago by the island’s French Acadians

: MATCHING uniforms 🙂

Shower, 2 packets of instant oatmeal – back to adventuring. Hiking the outer tip past Scots Bay, to Cape Split on the Bay of Fundy. 4 miles out-n-back. Lynne’s sister Jade volunteered today’s hike. Cool misty morning, had the trail almost entirely to ourselves. Green, leafy trees completely canopied our trek. Few ups-n-downs, steady even trail, near PERFECT conditions – (skill level) overrated as moderate…absolutely stunning views. Landscape reminiscent of ‘Last of the Mohicans’, similar to our East Coast Alleghenies.

Hike end: tip of the island, Cape Split – completely obscured by dense fog. ARGH! Sea gull cries pierced the all consuming cloud, their bodies darting in & out as they plunged off nearby cliffs, riding the Bay’s blustery current.

Backpack lunch, then the skies opened. 20 minutes of sunshine. What once was shrouded by thick clinging fog, now exposed multi-coloured rock, high canyon walls & a shark-fin island – Cape Split – pounded by ocean waves in the Bay of Fundy. WOW, WOW, WOW!

Drove home via Scots Bay. Stopped at the [Blomidon] Look Off, soaked in a scenic/panoramic view of Annapolis Valley. “On a clear day you can see five counties.” Fail – Kings County, the only one [of 5] I can remember (sorry Jade).

Sandwich & an hour nap, more than enough. Attending my first Cèilidh tonite!

: ‘Last of the Mohicans’ reminiscent, like our Alleghenies

: thanks Jade — BEAUTIFUL hike!

: LONG LONG way down!

: sea gull cries pierced the all consuming cloud

: eerie, yet MAGICAL

: SUNSHINE!

: jutting UP from the Bay of Fundy

: FAAANNNTASTIC!

: 4 mile out-n-back

: scenic/panoramic view of Annapolis Valley

Cape Split, NS

Posted in Canada | Tagged beachcombing, hiking | Leave a comment

National Ice Cream Day

Published July 16, 2017

National Ice Cream Day is observed each year on the 3rd Sunday in July and is a part of National Ice Cream Month. This day is a fun celebration enjoyed with a bowl, cup or cone filled with your favorite flavor of ice cream.

It is believed that ice cream was first introduced into the United States by Quaker colonists who brought their ice cream recipes with them. Their ice cream was sold at shops in New York and other cities during the colonial era.

1813 – First Lady Dolly Madison served ice cream at the Inaugural Ball.

1832 – African American confectioner, Augustus Jackson, created multiple ice cream recipes as well as a superior technique to manufacture ice cream.

1843 – Philadelphian, Nancy Johnson, received the first U.S. patent for a small-scale hand-cranked ice cream freezer.

1920 – Harry Burt puts the first ice cream trucks on the streets.

1984 – President Ronald Reagan proclaimed July as National Ice Cream Month and established National Ice Cream Day as the third Sunday in the month of July.