When life gives you lemons...just squeeze! Part 2

So here's the thing! My husband works really hard, as do most husbands I'm sure, and sometimes he doesn't even get a day off. Well, miracles of all miracles happened the other day. He managed to get a 4-day weekend off over the thanksgiving holidays and because it could have changed any minute, we didn't really plan specifically what we were going to do. We had some ideas but nothing in stone. Well we decided at the last minute, as in 2 days before that we were going to go to New York and visit my brother and his family in Syracuse for the heck of it. My mom was also visiting them for a few months so we would have gotten to see her as well, not to mention pick up all the loot I know she has bought for us already. My mom loves to buy us stuff when she goes away. I worry about her sometimes. I would have even been able to pick up Karen's soap that I had bought her in Miami and is now sitting in New York. Now I ask you, wasn't that a neat and tidy plan? Here's where the lemons came in. Being thegood mother that I try to be, I went to put the last load of laundry in before we drove off and 'lo and behold, my washing machine died. I tried everything to get it working but to no avail. I guess I could have just said to $%#% with it and left because this was our time together but I couldn't do that to my kids. However let me tell you, when they heard we weren't going anywhere, they were outraged at the idea of us spending time with them when we were suppose to be gone. Where is the love? anyway to make a long story short, we decided to do all the things people say they're going to do but never get around to doing it...we played tourist in our own backyard with a 2-night stay at my mother's apartment(the kids were thrilled with that part).

The guilty party...it almost looks as if it's enjoying it's new position on the curb!

So here's what we squeezed out. My husband started off our day with a trip to the farmer's market. I love this place but be prepared to spend some moolah! It's such a land mark for us Haligonians, that it's always a treat to get there.

Did I say the treat was going to the farmer's market? The real treat is the eating. I was treated to homemade waffles with butter, syrup and icing sugar. These waffles were big and thick. There were other toppings but since this was the beginning of the day, I didn't want to walk around with stuff all over my shirt.

After we left the market we went for a walk around town and came onto this building, 5442 Morris St. This building was my first home when I came to Canada in 1975. It was in April and there had been a snow storm. I had never seen snow before and I thought it was sugar at first.

There was a candy store right across the street. This building is now under order to be demolished. I'm so glad we were able to see it one last time.

Right around the corner from our apt. was this little park.

I used to come here with my friends on Saturday mornings and play for hours.

After our stroll down memory lane we hopped in the car and decided to take walk down Spring Garden Rd., something I never get to do.

Of course what's a trip down that street without a visit to a friend at Roots.

You'll never guess what question my husband asked our sweet friend, Karen Bing. He wanted to know if they sell water bottles made out of buffalo scrotum...yes, you read correctly. I think Karen blushed a bit at that one. The worse was, he was serious about it. Apparently they are great water bottles. Who knew!

For those of you who don't recognize this "piece de resistance", this is a favorite maritime treat for most...a donair. Please do not turn your nose up at it until you have sampled this tasty treat. Once you leave Nova Scotia, you're hard press to find one of these babies and if you do, it may not be as good. In other areas, they call it a gyro, which I've had and it does not taste like a donair. Darren and I feel it's our duty to share this wonder with any relatives or friends who come to visit and have never had it before.

After indulging our appetites we decided to stroll around a bit since it was such a beautiful day. How many of you out there, besides fellow Nova Scotians of course, can brag about having a horse jumping facility right smack-dab in their city?



It was wonderful to watch and with the wind blowing the other way, the odor was quite mild.


We even had a chance football game on our way to the beautiful Public Gardens. I haven't been back here since Hurricane Juan. It seems so open with so many trees gone.This little shop in the gardens holds bittersweet memories for me.


I use to go across the street to my grandmother's nursing home and visit with her. Whenever it was a beautiful day out and she was feeling up to it, I would take her out in


her wheelchair and come for an ice-cream. she loved rum and raisin or grapenut. Unfortunately, the place was closed for the day.


I love this park! It gives you a sense of peace and tranquility walking through it. There were 7 wedding parties that day. who woldn't want their pictures taken here? Those 7 brides chose a really beautiful fall day to begin their new lives.


P.S. This was just the first day!