Our Message Archive
April 2025
Monday April 21
Happy Easter!!
Easter dinner
Yesterday being Easter Sunday, Ann and I had planned to attend the short 8am service on the Dartmouth waterfront but we had trouble getting out of the house on time, so we missed it. Instead, we went to the church basement early for the Easter breakfast where we were put in charge of scrambling eggs for the masses. Ann stayed on after breakfast for the main service while I went back home to start preparing for eight guests for dinner: Ingrid, Mike, Alex and Petrus (a Latvian graduate student who Ingrid has taken under her wing), Carl and Roxanne, Erika and Connie. I made rolls and leeks au gratin, Ann cooked a ham, scalloped potatoes, squash and a carrot cake, while our guests brought carrots and parsnips, asparagus, hot cross buns, a black forest cake, wine and chocolates. I used the ham bone to make pea soup this afternoon and we had plenty left over for dinner this evening.
A week ago Thursday, we went for dinner at Le Bistro by Liz with Ingrid, Mike, Kim, Glen and Lynn followed by Little Shop of Horrors at Neptune. We saw it there quite a long time ago but both Ann and I had forgotten much of the plot except that there is a giant man-eating plant. Ann had got it into her mind that she didn't like it so she was pleasantly surprised to enjoy it this time around.
The following Sunday, Ann and I went with Roxanne and Carl to see an artist's talk at Viewpoint Gallery. It was entitled Pollinator Garden and featured photos of bugs on flowers, a subject after my own heart.
Walking with the Roadents in Shubie Park
The week before last we had a late season snow storm that brought us about 10 cms of snow, closing schools and causing many traffic disruptions; we just stayed home. The temperatures stayed low so it took a few days for it all to melt away. On Wednesday, we went for a walk in Shubie Park with the Roadents. It was very pretty with all the snow clinging to the trees.
The biking season has now been fully established. I have almost 700 kms logged, including about 275 kms on my new e-bike. I led the first Rambler ride around the Cow Bay Loop two Saturdays ago with Ann acting as sweep (the person at the back who makes sure everyone is OK). Ann went to the Ramblers Book Club after the ride. Ann and I also rode the route on the Thursday before and the following Friday rode my usual route through Dartmouth and Cole Harbour while Ann was playing Mahjong.
The second Rambler ride, scheduled for last Saturday, was changed to Friday because of rain forecast for Saturday; it was also changed from the Valley to the BLT, the trail just west of Halifax that connects with other trails to extend all the way to Yarmouth. We went as far as the Train Station Bike & Bean in Tantallon. I joined the ride but Ann was busy singing in the choir at the Good Friday service.
Today we rode on the first Railers ride of the season, from the start of the Salt Marsh Trail on Bissett Rd. to the end of the Atlantic View Trail, stopping for a snack at Dougie's Diner (a shelter at the side of the trail) on the way back. It was a beautiful day but very windy. I would normally have taken my Trek bike, which I usually use on trails, but decided to take my e-bike because of the wind. I was glad I did because it was tough going across the Salt Marsh and at Lawrencetown Beach. I also went out to Lawrencetown on Thursday while Ann was out with Ingrid, Marg and Kim celebrating Marg's birthday.
Last Wednesday, I went to a lunch to honour the retirement from DRDC of my ex-colleague and friend Kevin. A lot of the people I used to work with were there so there was a lot of catching up and reminiscing. Meanwhile, Ann went to see a free showing of Conclave (a timely choice given the today's news of the pope's death) at the Woodlawn Library with Roxanne, Lorna and Pat followed by coffee afterwards at The Second Cup.
Sunday April 6
The Ramblers at Pilot's Pub
(photo by Bob White)
Halifax Burger Bash started on Wednesday. It is an annual event in which restaurants all over town add a gourmet hamburger to their menu a portion of the proceeds from which goes to Feed Nova Scotia. On Friday evening, we ordered three take-out Tapri-Jack burgers from Tilted Tap Bar & Grill near the old bridge.
The first Rambler ride of the season is next Saturday but, at our last meeting, the Executive decided that it would be a good idea to have a pre-season gathering so everyone could say hello after emerging from hibernation. That means that next week we can get down to riding right away instead of socializing endlessly at the beginning of the ride. The gathering was at lunchtime yesterday at Pilot's Pub near the Woodside Ferry Terminal. There was an excellent turn-out of about 55 Ramblers. Ann and I rode our bikes down.
Though we've had our fair share of rain and snow over the past week (none of the snow lasting more than a few hours, thankfully), we've also managed to get out on our bikes. I have tried out my new e-bike on our hilly loop through Dartmouth and Cole Harbour twice. The extra power certainly makes going up the steeper and longer hills much more pleasant but it's also a nice bike to ride without any power at all. Ann came with me on one of the rides and we stopped at Cottage Café on the way back.