THE SWEET LIFE

THE SWEET LIFE

I suppose you thought you would see us in our new camp site didn’t you? We are in a ‘new’ camping location but not where we had expected to be this week.  Camp grounds, federal, provincial as well as private are still closed because of our current COVID situation.  But that’s OK with us.  We are nothing if not resourceful.  Locality improvement…more privacy…better WiFi coverage…new view…and we haven’t even left home yet.

New Spot

We’ve also kind of moved into the camper….on a semi-permanent basis…until the end of the summer that is.  My daughter who moved into a small apartment after selling their home has been finding it increasingly difficult with the lock-down.  Masking up a couple of wildlings every time they open the apartment door.  Limited places to find recreational activities. Because of the new restrictions they are not allowed to cross municipal boundaries  except for essential services.  They live within Halifax area and we, on the south shore.  School has been cancelled until the fall so home schooling has added to their stress. Small apartment, both parents working from home, two active monkeys…you get the picture.

So F suggested a solution for them.  He reasoned that it’s unlikely friends or family from away will be able to visit in the next couple of months at least, so he’s offered them to stay in RED by the SEA while we get better acquainted with RED II.  And we’re loving the solution.  We have everything we need within our twenty five feet of luxurious camper living and the parents and kids have space to roam.

On a Mission

Every once in a while we create a grandparent adventure or two.  The other day we piled the kids into Papa’s new garden cart and headed down the shore road to meet up with our lobster guy.  The season is coming to a close at the end of the month so we caught him pulling into the dock on one of his last outings for this season before fishing jurisdiction moves to the north shore.

Catch of the Day

It was the kids’ first time getting lobster all live and thrashing about straight off the boat. Squeals of joy, two bags full and we were back in the cart heading up the road to cook us a delicious feast.

Outdoor Toys

This sort of quality outdoor recreation is difficult in an urban setting but here where we live with miles of trails and beaches within walking distance, it’s easy to get out in the fresh sea air and still comply with the rules.

Harvest time

Galley Time

We don’t feel cheated or cramped at all and the feeling of making someone’s life just a little bit easier through these trying times warms our hearts.  Visits from away will come in time when it’s safe to travel but for now we’re the happy happy campers on the south shore of Nova Scotia.

The Sweet Life

Thanks for stopping by for our one sided chat.  We hope you are all well in your part of the world and know that someday all will be back to some form of normal.

Peace and love….

FIRST CAMP-OUT

FIRST CAMP-OUT

This isn’t what I thought it would.  No not at all. But there you have it.  We, in our little home on the east coast in the province that everyone was calling the ‘safest place’ in North America (if not the whole world…although I think New Zealand can claim that title), are now in a province-wide lock down.  It’s all for the best though. We were never promised a quick resolution and with science evolving in real time we should never have expected it to be anything other that what it is. People from away are entering and not self-isolating as required and there are a few just generally not behaving.

F and I now have our first dose of vaccine , with the second scheduled a bit down the road… which doesn’t really change much for us.  Our first reserved camping trip is coming up soon…but I’m not sure that will happen when expected.  We’ll see.  But hey! it’s spring and what beautiful weather we have been having!  Usually the boat would have been in the water at this point so definitely time to de-winterize RED II, our little land trawler.

Several days ago, my daughter asked if they could visit this weekend…a family sleep-over. They (2 adults/2 monkeys) are presently living in a one-bedroom 750 sq ft apartment  while they wait for their house to be built…because, as she said…she wants really nice appliances for their home so some sacrifices are necessary.  But then the lock-down struck.  We’ve come up with what I feel is a reasonable solution.  They will take over our house for the weekend and we will move into RED II and get acquainted.  It didn’t take F much convincing

Room with a View

Friday night was move-in time.  We dined on camper pizza, sipped a little red wine and watched the stars come out.  Honestly, we could have been a hundred miles from home or a hundred feet…it really didn’t matter.  It all felt very luxurious compared to our times on R.E.D.  Even if we ignored having running water and a real flush toilet it seemed so fancy. An oven for the pizza.  Ice cubes for our happy hour cocktails with a lovely view of Duck Pond.

Camper Dining

During this latest lock-down we are allowed a bubble of two consistent social encounters. We have our Hooligan cohorts but they each have there own bubbles and cross contaminating (couldn’t think of another term) is not encouraged.  My daughter, her husband and two kids have been our consistent family bubble since last year so we chose the two monkeys to be our ‘plus two’.  Two parents working from home since last year  and two little ones  now ‘enjoying’ online schooling, so we thought this would be the least of the worst case risks.  The kidlings are allowed to visit us in the camper and when things go sideways we can happily send them back to Mom and Dad.

Breakfast with the Monkeys

We haven’t quite come to terms with having ‘guest’ sleepovers but dropping the couch into a bed as a demonstration of what could be, brought squeals of delight.

Super Cool Bed

So that’s it folks.  Camping without having gone anywhere was a complete and absolute success.  As my little family packed up to vacate RED by the SEA, amazingly leaving it cleaner then when they had arrived, my son-in-law asked if I have a new list of ‘wants’ or ‘needs’ after this weekend. Nope, we are deemed complete.  Nothing more needed.

Update as of this writing: numbers of COVID cases continue to creep up so I expect our first scheduled away camping trip might be postponed yet again with an extension of the current two-week locked down a possibility.  We enjoyed this weekend so much in our cosy little cabin on wheels that it’s doubtful it will matter much.

During our weekend of isolation, F continued to ‘work’ in the Crow’s Nest caring for his special plants. We did some outdoor gardening and even took a walk to Gramma Beach…all to keep within Public Health protocol.  Life goes on as usual.  We remain safe and don’t feel cheated at all.  F even suggested moving RED II to another spot in our yard so maybe our next camp-out will come with a new view.

Thanks for stopping by.  Sending virtual hugs to you all. Be safe and well.

Peace and love!

SPRING BREAK

SPRING BREAK

Well!  If the kids can have their spring break than so can we…even if it was just an over-nighter.  An offer to join friends at a cabin right on the ocean’s edge was far too good to decline. There’s still the dreaded virus among us but our friends are part of our consistent ten-person bubble and we felt good supporting a local sea-side resort.

Seaside Paradise 2021

We have so many treasures to explore  near by and this one was no exception.  Last time we had visitors from away, what now seems like a life-time ago, we drove here for a bite, a sip of wine and a tour of a local sculpture garden.  Even on the edge of winter it was spectacular.

Sculpture Garden 2019

We lounged in the ‘bunny’ chairs and soaked up the warm sunshine for a brief while  then walked the expanse of white sandy beach.

#greatday 2019

This time we stayed in a seaside cottage and at night I opened the bedroom window and the soothing sounds of waves lulled us to sleep.

Room with a View 2021

And of course the bunnies were ever present following us and begging for treats.

Easter Bunny 2021

A warm  afternoon sunset and chilled bubbly on the balcony of our cabin with our friends was the perfect way to welcome spring.

Cheers 2021

Thanks for stopping by. We have our first camping expedition coming in a few weeks so check back with us to see how we transition from time away on the water to time away by the water.  How hard could it be?

Peace and love….