Elva's Gardens, Nova Scotia: Cottage Life (GECA Part 6)

Oh Hello!  (Ps.  How did this happen that my little darling baby grew up and is now a little girl???)

We've finally made it to Nova Scotia and to the summer home we like to call "Elva's Gardens" right on the ocean.  It took a lot of driving to get here--2400 kms and roughly 28 hours of driving.  But for now we've anchored ourselves in the harbour and settled into the rugged beach life of Nova Scotia's Eastern shore and Jordan has joined us (Hooray!!)

The Summer Home at Elva's Gardens has been miraculously restored/overhauled by ChouChou and Fizey into a very comfortable and beautifully updated home set back on the hill overlooking the ocean.  We are loving being here so much that we don't want to think about ever going home.  Somehow we have had the most beautiful stretch of gorgeous weather--warm sunny days which we spend walking down to the rocky beach.

We spent a day at the Mushaboom (yes, Mushaboom) Mackerel Derby where the boys went out in a boat for a couple of hours and fished for mackerel which we later had for supper--a great opportunity to experience the local colour.  Being in Toronto, I've forgotten just how friendly being in the East Coast is.  Everyone makes eye contact and says Hello, even if they don't know you.  And it isn't creepy.  In fact, if you don't then you sort of feel like a big city snob.  I guess I've sort of gotten used to living in a big city and have to remind myself that being friendly is just want we do here.  That and driving UNDER the speed limit, at least 10 km/hr for more.

We've spent every day down at the shore where we have been clearing rocks to make a more gentle beach, and rock steps.  (Not a small feat moving those gargantuan rocks the ocean has navigated into place over a century of harsh storms). We've managed to clear a nice walkway and tiny stretch of small rocks to launch a small boat.

Maggie was so upset when Gabriel left her behind for a canoe trip so Jordan took her for her very own first boat ride this week.  

We finished each hard-working day with a fancy drink and dinner on the big new sundeck.  

 

Most gorgeous moon and star sightings here.  Something those bright city lights won't let us see.   We are very much looking forward to making this a regular summer landing spot.

Our Family Photographs: Behind the Scenes

Over the past couple of months, I have been working and collaborating with my dear (and long-lost) cousin, Ginger who recently moved to Toronto and we have since rekindled our friendship.  We have always loved spending time together, but you know, life just gets crazy and before you know it, it's been 10 years since you've seen each other! 

Now living in the same city, babies the same age and a shared passion for art and photography, it was sort of a no-brainer we would be messaging every single day and driving all the way across the city to see each other on a regular basis.  I feel so grateful to have a kindred spirit as we go through this journey of motherhood and stay-at-home-career-business-women/photographers. 

So the Saturday before Mother's Day, Ginger met us in the crowded High Park area in the early hours of the morning to beat the crowds and catch the best light of the day.  After several weeks of hunts to find the perfect Magnolia tree, we decided on High Park.  But it became obvious (with the full parking lot at 7:00am) that we'd have to find a quieter spot.  It was sort of ridiculous there with so many people and their cameras.  And the funniest thing was that we had perfect strangers standing around watching, holding a reflector and several even taking our pictures!!!  We sort of felt like celebrities....

The pictures are amazing, my cousin is truly an artist far beyond me.  She just has such an incredible gift.  When she sent them to me the other night, I was just bursting with gratitude while simultaneously laughing out loud.  Our children are hilarious and charming and mischievous and I feel like she really captured all that.  I had to stop part way through the gallery viewing and send her a glowing message.  I was so thankful.  We've never had family pictures like these.  Ever. 

The pictures really do look idyllic, but I have to be honest.  On Saturday, after a few hours of photographing, we left the park, covered, COVERED in dirt, soaked to the bone and sweaty.  Magdalene (and the stroller where we had strapped her in) were covered in yogurt.   Here's a few funny tidbits from "behind the scenes:"

1) The very first two minutes of being in the park, Gabriel laid down in the dirt under the Magnolia tree and started rolling around in it.  It was then a shuffling game of how to avoid getting dirt on his white shirt, my white dress or Jordan's tan pants.  By the way, his shirt is now officially destroyed after face-planting on the sidewalk only minutes after the photo shoot was over.  And my dress... will never be the same.

2) About 10 minutes in, it started raining and we had to hide under the reflector.  A good reason to bring one I guess.

3) There were no less than 5000 people in the park that morning, crowding every single tree, although not so much the magnolia.

4) We got down to the lake, away from the crowds but "the paparazzi" with their telephoto lenses found us, again, snapping pictures while Ginger worked.  Who are these people???

5) I was sweating, sweating...  Had to keep taking off my scarf, jacket etc.

6) The children ran for the water immediately, the last shots of us as a family are there, after that, we were really all too wet to take more. 

7) Except it started raining.  Again.  This time, we were officially done. 

Can you believe that?  My cousin is amazing.  I cannot believe she got the shots she did with all the craziness going on, the kids running around, the water, the crowds. 

Thank you cousin, for capturing the moments and giving them back to us so beautifully!!

xo

Sibling Love.

There is nothing quite like newborn cuddles.  And Gabriel has figured this out too.  You can tell already that he is completely enamored by Magdalene--wanting to help take care of her and hold her.  As he barrels past her bassinet, he skids to a halt, leans in, says 'hi' with a soft voice and a wave. He gently pats her or rests his head softly on her tummy before speeding off helter-skelter in any direction.

And Abe, well, he's just an old hat at this.  He didn't bat an eye when Magdalene came through the door.  At this point, there isn't a jealous moment over her.  Of course, maybe he's already spotted those delicate fingers and knows she won't give him any trouble. 

Of course, there are moments of chaos and angst as we juggle between the littles and there is fierce love that need to be tamed or redirected, but amongst this are beautiful moments of tenderness, like the one above when Magdalene lay on the rug and Gabriel, of his own accord, cuddled up beside her, resting his head on hers and put his protective brotherly arm around her.

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