Tag: Nova Scotia

Easy Weekend Egg Muffins

Lifestyle, Recipes
maritime pride eggs 14

 

I love the versatility of eggs. There are numerous ways to prepare them and anything goes! From adding them raw in protein shakes, to a variety of cooked possibilities, they are the ultimate food that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, dinner and as snacks.

 

 

But, taking the time in the morning to prepare egg recipes that the whole family will enjoy can be challenging. So in an effort to simplify the morning chaos, I like making these egg muffins to accommodate everyone’s egg preferences.

Here’s how you can make them too.

 

Ingredients

♦ 6 eggs

♦ 1/2 cup frozen hashbrowns (cubed)

♦ 1/2 cup chopped green pepper

♦ 1/2 cup chopped ham

♦ Grated cheddar cheese

♦ Salt & pepper to taste

 

maritime pride eggs 7

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 325°F.

Spray bottom of tin muffin tray with cooking spray.

Add 4-5 hash browns in the bottom of each muffin cup.

maritime prime eggs 1

Crack one egg in each muffin cup or whisk eggs in a bowl and distribute the egg mixture evenly in the muffin cups.

maritime pride eggs

 

maritime pride eggs 3

Add chopped green pepper and ham on top.

Top with cheese.

maritime prime eggs 2

 

maritime pride eggs 4

Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Remove from muffin tray while still warm.

 

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maritime pride eggs 9

Whether your family members like their eggs runny or hard, plain or packed with vegetables, you can make large quantities of individualized egg muffins and keep everyone happy.

 

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You can also make extras to keep as leftovers. They can be easily microwaved on hectic weekday mornings for a quick healthy breakfast.

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Maritime Pride Egg Muffins pinterest

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Have You Tried Fiddleheads?

Recipes
fiddlehead recipes feature

I’ll be honest, I had never heard of fiddleheads until I moved to Nova Scotia. I would see them every spring in the produce aisle of the grocery store, but just kept on walking by and hadn’t purchased them, until now. I finally decided to try them and see what this seasonal delicacy is all about.

Quick Overview

Fiddleheads are edible ferns. They are immature fern fronds harvested in spring, during the early stage of their development when they are tightly coiled and resemble a fiddle’s scroll (the upper end of the instrument), hence the name fiddlehead.

scroll

Fiddlehead season is extremely short, usually April and May.wild fiddleheads

fiddlehead coiled

It only takes a few days before the fronds start to unravel and the plant develops into a mature fern.

fiddlehead unravelling

There are many varieties of ferns, but the ones harvested on the East coast are the ostrich ferns, which fan out to resemble ostrich feathers once fully grown.

mature fern

Nutritional Value

Fiddleheads offer a lot of nutritional value.

They are rich in

  • omega-3 fatty acids
  • omega-6 fatty acids
  • vitamin A
  • vitamin C
  • potassium
  • iron
  • fibre

fiddlehead clean

Safety Precautions

Not all wild ferns are edible. Some types are toxic. Although ostrich ferns can easily be spotted in woodlands, unless you can identify them with absolute certainty, best not to harvest them yourself.

Even edible fiddleheads can cause food poisoning when eaten raw or undercooked.

Always cut browned ends, remove the husk, rinse thoroughly and then boil or steam the fiddleheads for at least 10 minutes before using them in recipes!

Even if you plan on sautéing them, cooking them, frying them, incorporating them in a soup recipe, adding them in a salad or in a smoothie… ALWAYS boil or steam them first! And NEVER eat them raw!

fiddlehead prep

Fiddleheads can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks.

You can also freeze them and enjoy them year-round. Simply boil or steam first, then blanch, dry and place in freezer bags.

Some grocery stores carry them in the frozen section too.

frozen fiddleheads

Easy Recipes

1. Fiddlehead Salad

Fiddleheads have a unique taste. In order to enjoy their full flavour try eating them as a salad. Delicious!

  • Rinse a handful of fiddleheads thoroughly
  • Boil or steam for 10 minutes
  • Drain
  • Blanch for 2 minutes
  • Drizzle with 2 tbsp of olive oil
  • Add 1 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • Season with salt & pepper

Fiddlehead salad

2. Fiddlehead Omelette

You can really get creative when it comes to cooking with fiddleheads. For example, you can incorporate them in your breakfast.

  • Rinse a handful of fiddleheads thoroughly
  • Boil or steam for 10 minutes
  • Drain
  • Blanch for 2 minutes
  • Sauté fiddleheads in 1 tbsp butter, for 1 minute
  • Add 4 whisked eggs over top
  • Cook until ready
  • Top with bacon bits and cheese
  • Season with salt & pepper

fiddlehead omelette omelette bite

3. Fried Fiddleheads With Sweet Hummus Sauce

For picky eaters… this recipe is sure to please.

  • Rinse a handful of fiddleheads thoroughly
  • Boil or steam for 10 minutes
  • Drain
  • Blanch for 2 minutes
  • Beat 1 egg
  • Dip the fiddleheads in egg one by one
  • Coat them with breadcrumbs
  • Fry fiddleheads for 2 minutes in hot oil
  • Place on paper towel to remove excess oil
  • Serve with sweet hummus sauce

Sweet hummus sauce

  • 1/2 cup hummus
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • Mix hummus and honey together until smooth

fried fiddleheadsfried fiddleheads with sauce

If you haven’t tasted fiddleheads yet, then I hope these recipes will encourage you to try them out!

Happy cooking 😀

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DIY Canada Day Lighthouse

Lifestyle
DIY Canada Day Lighthouse

 

 

Canada Day is almost here!

With that in mind, why not make a simple craft to celebrate this wonderful occasion?

 

 

I’ve always admired lighthouses and there are so many beautiful lighthouses in the Maritimes. My inspiration for this DIY project was the Cape George Lighthouse.

Cape_George_lighthouse

Cape George Lighthouse, Antigonish, NS (image by Bardencj)

 

This lighthouse project is super easy to make, inexpensive and it’s functional. All the materials can be purchased from the dollar store.

The materials

  • v-shaped tin vase
  • small size red lantern that can fit inside the base of the vase
  • white nautical style rope
  • red ribbon or strip of red felt (or even red tape)
  • Canadian flag sticker
  • white spray paint
  • construction glue

materials

Instructions

Place the vase upside down.

Spray paint it white and let dry.

spray paint

Glue the red lantern to the top of the inverted vase.

glue at the top

adding the lantern

Glue the ribbon or felt at to the base of the light house and at the top rim too (below the base of the lantern). If you don’t have ribbon or felt or tape, but have red paint, you can paint a red strip along the base.

glue on felt

felt at base

Glue the nautical rope at around the bottom of the red circumference of the lighthouse.

glue around the base

rope at base

Add a second strip of red felt at the top of the vase, between the lantern and the top of the inverted vase.

top strip

Finally, add the Canadian flag sticker in the center of the lighthouse.

finished lighthouse

Place the lighthouse in your garden, on your porch, or keep it indoors and use it as a nightlight.

lighthouse in garden

I did look for a small solar lantern, but couldn’t find one that fit the bottom of my vase. However that would be a smarter choice and more economical.

lighthouse on porchHappy Canada Day!

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Looking for more fun crafts? Check out these ideas…

DIY Mason Bee Hotels

 

Does Your Family Use Vision Boards?

Deer Shed Makeover

 

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The smallest owls in our region

Lifestyle

by Randy Lauff

When most people think of owls, they think of the large, loud-hooting birds that can be a little bit eerie to hear at night. Seven kinds of owls nest in Nova Scotia and the smallest one, which can fit in the palm of your hand, is the Northern Saw-whet Owl. Unlike some of our owls, this one is not also found in Europe or Asia…it is exclusively found in Canada, the United States and in the mountains of Mexico, too.

 

Being small (15 cm) means it’s going to eat only small prey, which it hunts for at night. Small rodents like mice and voles make up most of its diet, though shrews are important, too. Occasionally, small birds are found to be part of its diet.

All small owls, like our Saw-whet, make their nests inside trees, normally using old woodpecker nests. No owl makes its own nest, and the Saw-whet is no exception…it doesn’t even add grass, moss, or feathers to the cavity to make it more comfortable…some other cavity nesters, like Tree Swallows, do this.

 

swowl nestFairmont, Antigonish, NS.

 

If you have access to some forest, you can try putting up a nest box or three, and seeing if you can get an owl to nest in one. The owls are not common though, so don’t be disappointed if you don’t get one. If you do get a nest, do not visit more than once a week, and never disturb them by staying too long, or causing the mother to fly away.

 

swowls chicks

The author with a clutch of chicks. (Note that the author has a license to work closely with the birds. Do not try this yourselves!)

 

Many birds migrate south for the winter, but certainly not all. Do the Saw-whets migrate? Big owls don’t migrate, but some of our Saw-whets do…we think all of the young migrate, and the adult females do, too. The males stay behind and look for a new territory, so they’re ready to start a family again in the spring. Listen for the mating call of the Saw-whet starting in March…unlike the bigger owls, they don’t hoot, but they do toot, and toot, and toot and toot… The sound doesn’t carry too far, so if you hear one, you’re likely in its home range. Good luck at finding one!

 

Can you spot the owl in this picture?

swowl camo

 

If you have questions or comments about this post, send a message to rlauff@stfx.ca.

 

swowl and randy

Randy Lauff, M.Sc. Senior Lab Instructor, Ornithologist, Entomologist & Curator, StFX University, Biology Dept.

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Salmon and Haddock Fish Cakes

Lifestyle, Recipes
fish cakes feature

 

This is a wonderful weekend recipe that can be made with fresh or leftover fish in no time. A delicious alternative to crab cakes for those who suffer from seafood allergies.

 

 

 

Ingredients

♦ 1 cup smoked salmon
I like using pepper smoked Atlantic salmon

♦ 1 cup cooked haddock
(bought fresh-frozen and boiled for 5 minutes, or leftover cooked haddock)

♦ 1 cup breadcrumbs

♦ 2 eggs

♦ 1/4 cup chopped green onions

♦ 4 tbsp vegetable oil or margarine

 

fish cakes 11

 

Instructions

In a bowl, flake the fish with a fork (or fingers)

Add breadcrumbs, eggs and onions

Mix well together

Form small fish patties in the palm of your hand

Heat oil or melt butter in a frying pan

Fry fish cakes on medium heat for 2 minutes on each side, until golden brown

Remove from heat and place on paper towel to drain excess oil

Serve with creamy tartar sauce

 

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fish cakes 3

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fish cakes 12

Enjoy!

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salmon and haddock fish cakes pin

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Beeswax Wraps

Lifestyle, Most popular posts
beeswax wrap country parent

Recently, I came across reusable beeswax wraps at the Antigonish Winter Market. Sandra Swinkels, the owner of Swinkels Bee Products, started making them as a natural alternative to plastic wrap.

I was thrilled to find them locally and was looking forward to trying them out. So, in case you were wondering…

 

 

What are they made of?

The wraps are made out of 100% organic cotton infused with beeswax, pine resin and jojoba oil. All three substances are known to be natural preservatives and have antibacterial properties. The combination of the cotton fabric and the above ingredients result in a breathable storage solution.

beeswax wrap ingredients

 

How big are the wraps?

The general use wraps come in two sizes: 8″ x 8″ and 11″ x 11″. The sandwich wraps measure 14″ x 14″ unfolded and 5″ x7″ folded.

 

How do you use them?

The wraps can be used to cover bowls, jars, plates, etc. They are very malleable and simply require the warmth of your hands to adhere to the rim of containers.

beeswax wrap country parent x

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beeswax wrap country parent s

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They are very versatile too. You can turn them into snack bags by moulding them into a desired shape or simply use them to wrap leftover bread, fruits, vegetables, cheese, and more.

beeswax wrap bread

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beeswax wrap pepper

beeswax wrap country parent v

 

How well do they work?

I compared the two methods of food storage by wrapping two halves of an avocado, one with cling wrap and the other one with beeswax wrap.

beeswax wrap avocado

Cling wrap vs Beeswax wrap

 

Twenty four hours later…

beeswax wrap avocado 2

Not bad, eh?

 

As for the sandwich wraps, I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical at first… I wasn’t sure if my sandwich would remain fresh until the next day, but it did!

An added bonus was the sweet aroma of beeswax. A little aromatherapy during lunch break is always a good thing!

beeswax sandwich wrap 11

beeswax sandwich wrap 10

beeswax sandwich wrap 9

beeswax sandwich wrap 8

beeswax sandwich wrap 7 copy

beeswax sandwich wrap 6

 

What about care and storage?

The wrappers come with a sheet of instructions for use & care. It’s recommended to wash them with cool water and mild dish soap, otherwise the beeswax and resin might lose their adherence. And, since they cannot be cleaned with hot water, they should not to be used for storing meat.

beeswax wraps a

beeswax sandwich wrap 12

 

The large wrap can be stored flat, folded or rolled. I like to roll mine up and place it in a drawer to minimize storage space. The sandwich wrap can easily be stored as is.

beeswax wrap storage Kent building supplies island cart

 

How much do they cost?

The small wraps cost $7.00, the larger ones cost $9.00 and the sandwich wraps, $12.00. They are reusable and can last up to a year, so it’s well worth the investment.

And, although I love the bumble bee print, there are many other beautiful and colourful prints to choose from. Here are just a few:

beeswax wrap country parent y

 

 

You can find Sandra and her line of Swinkels Bee Products, including the beeswax wraps, every Saturday at the Antigonish Winter Market or you can purchase her products online.

beeswax wrap d

Eco-friendly • Sustainable • Reusable • Biodegradable

 

Food for thought…

If you use 1 sqft of plastic wrap for one sandwich per day, then this adds up to 260 sqft per year. For a family of 4, this number translates to 1040 sqft per year. Now say you were to switch to beeswax wraps only twice per week, this automatically cuts down your plastic wrap usage by at least 40%! Not bad, considering film plastics (which include plastic wraps) have such a negative impact on the environment and, now more then ever, we are strongly encouraged to reduce the amount of plastic we use; think of the recent plastic bags ban implemented in Montreal and possibly in Nova Scotia in the near future.

So, if you use plastic wrap daily for your sandwiches and snacks, why not try using beeswax wraps instead? Even once a week can make a huge difference!

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Sweet buzziness

DIY Mason Bee Hotels

 

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2nd Annual Snowman Contest 2018

Lifestyle
snowman-contest

 

Join in on the fun with the 2nd Annual Snowman Contest! A little something to keep your spirits up while looking ahead to all the snowmageddons and consequent snow days we will be getting this winter.

 

 

 

January 18 is the official World Day of the Snowman. So get your mitts ready and celebrate this day by making your own wonderful snowman, then enter the draw below for a chance to win great prizes!

…and have your snowman featured on the Snowman Wall of Fame 2018.

The snowmen will not be judged – because we believe that all snowmen are awesome in their own unique way. Instead, we will draw the names of 3 lucky winners.

via GIPHY

To Enter the Draw:

1. BUILD a snowman between January 18 and March 31, 2018. The THEME is Nova Scotia.
The snowman can be traditional (made with real snow) or of any variety (drawing, cookies, craft). Anything goes! The snowman can be built by individuals or groups. Make it a collective effort! Include your family, business, organizations, club, school, youth group, non-profit or sports team.

2. SUBMIT your snowman photo* by email to by March 31, 2018 at 4:00 pm.  Email must include “Snowman Contest” in the subject line. You and your family, or friends can be in the picture too! NOTE: Photos might be features in the SNOWMAN WALL OF FAME 2018. Participants names will not be included in photo descriptions if requested.

3. LIKE & FOLLOW the Country Parent FACEBOOK PAGE !

 

And to increase your chances for winning…

Get up to 6 additional entries!

Here’s how:

1. Comment on this post, below.
2. Share this post (through Facebook and/or Tweet)
3. Follow @countryparent on INSTAGRAM
4. Follow @countryparent on TWITTER
 5. Follow @countryparent on PINTEREST
6. Sign up with Country Parent for a weekly blog post – this also helps us contact you directly if you win, especially if you do not use social media

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This draw is open to Nova Scotia residents only and will take place March 31 at 5:00pm EST.

The lucky winners will be announced on the Country Parent Facebook page and contacted by email (with 24 hours to respond).

 

Draw Prizes Include:

♦ $25 gift card for Tim Horton’s

♦ $25 gift card for Cineplex

♦ $25 gift card for Subway

 

Good Luck!

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Click HERE to view the Snowman Wall of Fame 2018, where all the participating snowmen are featured!

The 2nd Annual Snowman Contest 2018 is supported by

 

101.5_the_Hawk

 

*Disclaimer: By entering the contest, you hereby authorize and consent to the use of your photographs, in connection with this website and other websites, newspaper stories, social media, and other types of publicity through Country Parent and its affiliates.
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Snowman Wall of Fame 2018

Lifestyle
Snowman NS Country Parent

Welcome to the Snowman Wall of Fame 2018!

 

Grab some hot chocolate and browse through the wonderful creations submitted to the 2nd Annual Snowman Contest.

 

 

Click on the images below to get the full pictures and the details on the snowmen.

Click HERE to find out how to submit your own snowman picture for a chance to win prizes!

 

The 2nd Annual Snowman Contest is supported by

101.5_the_Hawk

To browse through more pictures scroll down the post!

 

snowman 1

Maleigha made this upside down snowman. Got flipped over by the strong Nova Scotia winds!

 

Snowman 2 Country Parent

Mama Snowman and her baby

 

Johnny Miles snowman

Johnny Miles running snowman

 

Chillin’ Highland Snowman

 

snowman 4 country parent

Donna made a melted beads snowman, Guysborough

 

snowman 3 Country Parent

Cohen and Sherry made a Tartan proud snow-person representing Cape Breton!

 

snowman 7 country parent

Bridget’s NS version of Scotland’s “Nessie”, a snow Loch Ness Monster

 

snowman 5b country parent

Paris, Sophia, Julia and Sophie. Julia is an international student visiting from Brazil. This was her first time building a snowman!

 

snowman 8 country parent

Finlay and Ronald with their happy family snowman.

 

snowman 9 country parent

Samantha & Sabrina built this snowman: Mary, with her baby Patti snuggled in a toque.

 

 

snowman 10 country parent

Madeline built this adorable little snowman in Sydney.

 

snowman 11 country parent

The Blais’ family “little” snowman

 

St Joseph's 4H snowman 12 country parent

St. Joseph’s 4H Club members with their beautiful snowmen masks!

 

snowman 13 country parent 3D yarn snowman

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Frosty the illuminated 3D yarn snowman!

 

snowman 15 country parent

Catherine and Emily (pictured) built their family! The youngest is sitting on her Daddy’s head 😊

 

snowman 14 country parent

Ellie and Jack with their snowman!

 

snowman contest 16 country parent

Lillian’s and her grand daughter’s adorable snowman, Hants County

 

snowman 17 country parent

Madison and her beautiful snowman Gregg!

 

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snowman 19c country parent

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Jacqueline’s adorable tin snowmen from Cape Breton.

 

snowman 18 country parent

snowman 18 country parent

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This magnificent snowdragon was built by the Pinch family: Matthew, Stacey, Sylar and Dalton. The snow creature, built in three days, was inspired by Autism Nova Scotia who set up a program for Dungeons & Dragons to help people with autism work on their social skills.

 

snowman 20 country parent

Lucas and his two wonderful snowman friends!

 

snowman 21 country parent

Gina’s adorable spare sock snowman.

 

snowman 22 country parent

Nora’s take on a traditional summer treat with a snowman twist: the Snowsmore!

 

snowman 23 country parent

A worried snowman and an angry snowman made by Donavan and Keagan Gillis in their Lapland 4-H club!

 

snowman 24 country parent

A Nova Scotia snowduck

 

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snowman 25b country parent

A Nova Scotia snowshark

 

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snowman 26c country parent

snowman 26b country parent

Bridget (from Bayfield) and Buckie (from Afton) made a colourful snowman family!

 

snowman 27 country parent

Ronda Boudreau who loves snow made these two snowmen!

 

snowman 28 country parent

A beautiful Nova Scotia snowman dreaming of sand and sun!

 

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Lauchie, Duncan and Adrienne with their happy hockey player snowman!

 

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A lovely tall snowman and his friends.

 

snowman 33 country parent

Sheila’s beautiful tartan snowman!

 

 

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Abby’s colourful SnowFish!

 

 

snowman 32 country parent

Lauchlin, Jack and Sophie from Afton built a StFX Xmen Snowman. They’re cheering for the XmenHockey team who are in Fredericton competing for the AUS cup. Go X Go!

 

 

Dani and the snowman she made in her backyard.

 

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Snowsisters built by Isla and Harrison.

 

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Lucy’s Easter snowbunny hopping over to wish you a hoppy day!

 

snowman country parent

Matthew with his lovely colorful snowman!

 

snowman b country parent

Lucille’s ‘Upside down kinda day in Antigonish’ snowman!

 

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Owen’s little snowmen – small but mighty!

 

snowman 38 country parent

Daniel and Thomas’ beautiful snowmen “Edith and Marjorie”!

 

snowman 39 country parent

Cecy’s beautiful snowman!

 

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Happy tall snowman and his friends 🙂

 

snowman 41 country parent

Scarlett’s 1st Snowman!

 

snowman 43 country parent

A wonderful recycled tire snowman!

 

snowman 42 country parent

Livia’s mini-snowman built with very limited amount of snow!

 

snowman 44 country parent

Jeff and Kylee made this snowman. The snowman is sad cause he will be leaving soon (but will be back next year).

 

snowman 46 country parent

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snowman 45b country parent

snowman 46b country parent

Havre Boucher 4-H Club had a great time building 3 snowmen and a fire!

 

snowman 47 country parent

Huggable snowman and his friends.

 

 

Click HERE to find out how you can submit your snowman picture for a chance to win prizes!

 

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Alleviate Your Winter Blues With Aromatic Blends

Lifestyle
blend

Starting to be affected by the winter blues? Try infusing your home with natural revitalizing aromatic blends over the holidays.

Here are 3 simple mood-boosting recipes that will surely lift your spirits. All you need is a few inexpensive spices.

 

 

1. Revitalizing Citrus Blend

Boil 2 cups of water in a saucepan, then add

1 orange slice

1 lemon slice

1 lime slice

1 tablespoon pomegranate seeds

1 tablespoon lavender or 2 lavender sprigs

1 crystallized ginger piece

Simmer on low heat for 15 min

 

blend-1-final

 

2. Calming Autumn Blend

Boil 2 cups of water in a saucepan, then add

3 cinnamon sticks

3-4 whole star anise

1 tablespoon chamomile

1 teaspoon whole cloves

1 teaspoon allspice

1 tablespoon licorice mulch

Simmer on low heat for 15 min

 

blend-2-final

 

3. Rejuvenating Winter Breeze Blend

Boil 2 cups of water in a saucepan, then add

1 fir or pine twig

1 tablespoon licorice mulch

2 bay leaves

10 fresh mint or peppermint leaves

4 nutmeg seeds

Simmer on low heat for 15 min

 

blend-3-final

 

Alternatives

These uplifting blends will infuse your home for hours. Experiment… try making your own blends. They make great gift toppers and stocking stuffers too.

blend-gift-and-topper

 

You can purchase a variety of spices from any health food store. I purchased mine from the Sunflower Natural Health Food store.

 

sunflower-store

 

Happy Winter!

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4-H is Back!

Lifestyle, Most popular posts

By Jennifer Van Den Heuvel and Regina Cozzi

 

“I PLEDGE
My HEAD to clearer thinking,
My HEART to greater loyalty,
My HANDS to larger service,
My HEALTH to better living,
For my club, my community, and my country.”

 

These are the core values of 4-H and what the four Hs represent.

 

What is 4-H?

4-H is a non-profit youth organization. It exists in over 80 countries, and has over 25,000 members Canada wide1.

 

How does it work?

Although 4-H is governed nationally by 4-H Canada, each province contains and supports multiple clubs. 4-H clubs are divided by region throughout the counties (e.g. West-River club, Heatherton club, St-Andrews club, Landing club, Goshen club, etc.). Each 4-H club organizes meetings and activities for their members, and has volunteer leaders for various projects.

The number of projects has flourished over the years. What originally started with agricultural competitions in the early 1900s1, has now evolved into an array of projects2. Here are a just a few:

projects-1If a club does not offer a project your child is interested in, then arrangements can be made to join the project meetings of another club that offers the project of interest.

Younger children (ages 7 & 8) known as Cloverbuds, can also become 4-H members. This non-competitive group can still take on a project, or simply join the Exploring 4-H program, which encourages them to explore more than one interest, yet allows them to complete 3-4 smaller projects within their capabilities (e.g. crafts, cake decorating, photography & woodworking)

 

Time commitment?

Usually, each club holds a General meeting once a month. Later in the season, each project leader holds sessions with the members to complete certain projects. For example, in Woodworking, members can meet once a week to work on their projects from December to April. In waterfowl, weekly meetings only start once the ducklings are hatched, and take place from May to August. In general, project work occurs over a six-month period.

In March, each club holds a Club Rally Day. Members, including Cloverbuds, can either give a short speech or do a demonstration on a topic of their choice (they can talk about their pet, an experience, demonstrate a recipe, DIY project, etc.). Selected club members move on to the Regional Rally (in April), and then to the Provincial 4-H weekend competitions a month later.

Judging Day takes place in May. During this event, members become judges! They compare and evaluate four items (or animals) within their project category and rate them. For example, ‘Foods’ members might have to compare four cakes, rank them based on their appearance (and taste!), and give reasons to support their decision.

This is a great opportunity for members to develop their reasoning skills and be able to effectively communicate their reasons for making a given choice. This exercise also gives them a perspective on the standards and quality expected for their own projects.

Achievement Day.  Once all projects are completed, they are evaluated, by the 4-H local staff members, based on their quality (this is also based by age and years of experience in the project). All members need to participate in this event in order take part in the local Exhibition or 4-H Day, at the end of summer.

Run-offs. This is a county level competition, where one junior and one senior member, for each project, is chosen by the project leader to represent their club. Subsequently, run-off winners can compete at the provincial show.

Exhibition Day! (also known as 4-H Day). At the end of August-early September, 4-H members can take part in the Eastern Nova Scotia Exhibition, ENSE. This is when members finally get to showcase their project work or show their animals (livestock showmanship), and get ranked against other members of their club and county.

4h-collageSome of the projects displayed in the ENSE.
The 2016 4-H theme was: “Let’s be Green in 2016!”

 

Winning members move on to the 4-H Provincial Show. Provincial competitions usually take place at the end of September. This is quite an event!

4h22

Antigonish County project display (NS Provincial Exhibition, Truro)

 

What are the benefits of 4-H?

The 4-H motto is:

4h_logo_en_2x
Besides acquiring skills in a specific project, 4-H members develop numerous life skills, such as:

  • Public speaking skills
  • Judging skills
  • Communication skills
  • Entrepreneurial skills
  • Leadership skills (which could count towards High School Personal Development credits)

Last, but not least, 4-H offers many opportunities for scholarships, awards, mentorship from project leaders, leadership development conferences (e.g. StFX 4-H Society), national trips and exchange trips!

Group activities
 4-H members take part in many fun group activities too. Each club organizes get-togethers like BBQs, entertainment, recreational activities (bowling, swimming, Christmas Bake-off, etc.), team competitions (4-H woodsmen, tug of war) and let’s not forget the famous Camp Rankin, a week-long summer camp based in Cape Breton. Loads of fun and a great way to develop lasting friendships.

Community service
 4-H clubs actively contribute to their community. Whether it’s a community clean-up, ticket sales for charity, or caroling at Christmas time at the hospital, 4-H members learn at a young age the importance of helping others and how they can make a difference in their community.

 

How can my child join 4-H?

November is 4-H month! Registration is open. The deadline is Dec. 1st.
If you would like to register your child in 4-H, contact your regional Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture, NSDA office, to find your nearest club. If you reside in the Antigonish or Guysborough County, click on the 4-H promotional brochure and visit the Antigonish County 4-H Council Facebook page for updates. For additional information visit 4-H Nova Scotia.

Testimonials from 4-H members

We asked 4-H members to complete this sentence: “I love 4-H because…”

Here is what they had to say:

“I’m always learning new things and having fun!”-Olivia

“I get to try new things, meet new people and go to new places.”-Nora

“my brother was in it.”-Cameryn

“I can be with my friends and make things.”-Brennan

“they always welcome me and I get to try new things.”-Marley

“you learn how to do all kinds of cool things.”-Percy

“it is lots of fun and way to stay busy.”-David

“I love animals and because it’s a really good program.”-Sydney

“of the life-long friends I have made and skills I have learned.”-Danya (parent and previous 4-H member)

“of all the different things I can do.”-Mallory

“I get to meet new people and get to hang out around the farm and cows.“-Mark

“there are so many opportunities to become an active member and get involved in your community. 4-H allows you and challenges you to be a critical thinker and always learn, develop and better yourself on so many platforms.”-Iain

“you get to learn new skills.”-Ava

“I get to do new things that I can’t do at other places.”-Tony

“it is fun.”-Jacob

“you get to go outside.”-Ben

“I get to do a lot of different things that I like.”-Gabriel

“you learn lots of new stuff throughout the year.”-Baileigh

“I like showing calves.”-Ryan

“it is a really nice program and I love animals.”-Cassidy

“I like the variety of projects 4-H has to offer.”-Leah

“it encourages me to try and do new things.”-Casey

“it’s a great way to make you feel a part of a community.”-Emily

“they accept me for who I am. They help me accomplish things faster and they are always kind and cheerful. They challenge me to do my best.”-Maddison

“I love going to camp Rankin.”-Jaelynn

“it broadens my job options for the future.”-Angus

“it encourages learning and self development.”-Elliot

“they have free food and it’s a great experience.”-Hayden

“I get to go to camp Rankin every year and it’s always the highlight of my summer.”-Shannyn

“The projects are a lot of fun and the trips are great.”-Alex

 

Exhibition Day projects 2017

4H West River4H St Joseph

4H St Andrews

4H Landing

4H Heatherton

4H Havre Boucher

Hope you join us!

 

Acknowledgements:
Thank you to Sheri Lambourne and Dawn Barrington-Hodgson for helping with this post.

Sources:
1 http://novascotia4h.ca/
2 http://www.novascotia.ca/agri/programs-and-services/educational-resources/4h/

 

You might also like:

4H Day!

Annual 4-H Christmas Cookie Bake

 

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