Terry and I decided a week ago that we couldn't make our annual trip
to Nova Scotia over the August long weekend in Canada.
There is just too much going on here at home in Colorado.
Typically, my extended family members try to visit Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia
over the weekend followed by the first Monday in August.
In Canada, this Monday is formally called the Civic Holiday.
The Civic Holiday is not a federally-mandated statutory holiday,
but it is a day off for employees in many provinces and territories.
Different places have different names for it.
For example, in Nova Scotia it is called Natal Day.
My family, like many, considers Civic Holiday part of the August long weekend.
For my family the holiday weekend is a time for getting together
and enjoying games, great food and drink, and giant bonfires.
It's a happy time!
Watching Jake Play Baseball for Nova Scotia on TV
Me (Louise), Krista, Olivia, Bertie, Natalie (Jake's Partner), Peter, Dean, and Martin (sitting by me)
Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
August 4, 2018
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
Roy Makes a Game-Winning Move
Sue, Barb, Terry, and Roy
Barb and Pat's House, Smith's Cove
July 23, 2024
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
Where There's Family, There's Often a Bonfire
Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
July 29, 2023
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
Every Family Has One! 😂
The Life of the Party, Our Cousin Pat!
Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
August 4, 2024
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
I thought that I would share a few funny Canadian Memes,
just because they make me smile and think of "home."
No Timmy's here in Colorado! ☕️😭
Love This Photo of Roy with His Special Latte
Made by Sister Barista Bertie
Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
August 4, 2024
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
We all take our hockey seriously! 🏒
We love our fires, campfires, bonfires! 🔥
Sane Master Fire Maker and Engineer Martin Gets to Work
Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
July 27, 2024
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
Insane Master Fire Makers aka Cousins and Friends
Additives: Frozen Yogurt, A Can of Beer, and Some Diesel Fuel
Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
August 1, 2015
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
We love our lobster dinners! 🦞
Meanwhile in Smith's Cove, Sara Cracks Lobster Claws
Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
August 7, 2019
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
Actually Our Family Has More Than One! 😂
Sisters Natalie and Sara with Terry and Krista in the Background
Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
August 7, 2019
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
Actually Our Family Has More Than Two! 😂
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada
July 28, 2014
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
And always the hardest part is saying "Goodbye." 👋🏻
We're too busy saying "Goodbye" to take pictures.
But we're always up for snapping hugs and squeezes!
A Squeeze from My Favorite Brother
Beautiful Cove, Long Island, Nova Scotia, Canada
August 2, 2016
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
I'm linking to Tom's Aloha Friday, Nicole's Friday Face Off, and Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date.
For Tom: Aloha! ~ Aloha is a complex concept, but certainly love of family is aloha.
We've Been Taking Family Group Shots Forever!
Front: Roy, Great Grammie Sara, Baby Barb or Joanie, Me (Louise), Mom Sara, Donnie
Back: Great Aunt Vera (?), Grammie Ella, Great Aunt Mary (?)
I've asked the extended family detectives to help me out.
Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
Circa Summer 1956
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
For Nicole: Happy Family Faces! ~ The August Long Weekend Last Year.
Happy Family Faces!
Back: Pat, Barb, Terry, Roy
Front: Martin, Me (Louise), Donnie, and Sue
Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
August 1, 2024
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
For Rain: Owls ~ This "family"owl now hangs out in the Smith's Cove Museum. Mom's first cousin Kelsey Raymond bought it in a sale from the Jaggar Estate after a fire in 1950 for 50 cents. It had been shot off the Methodist Church sometime in the past. Most of my life it sat in the front parlor of my Great Grammie Sara Cossett Cossaboom. The Jaggar Estate belonged to Louise Jaggar (my Mom's mentor ~ who persuaded Mom that she was smart enough to go to university) and her brother Thomas who founded the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
The "Family" Owl
Smith's Cove Museum
Smith's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada
July 21, 2023
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
I thought this would be an easy post! Ha!
When I was working on it a couple of days ago, my sister Donnie FaceTimed me,
and she found me crying because I missed my family and was distressed
that I wouldn't be in Nova Scotia for the August long weekend this year.
Why would I answer a FaceTime then?
Because Donnie is one of my lucky stars!
She managed to bring me round to laughs with a reminder
that I could come in September and baby Elsie and brother Jackson would be there.
Elsie and Jackson
Outside London, United Kingdom
May 2025
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue. All Rights Reserved
I'm doing fine now!
I wasn't even bothered when I learned today that our renovation
is now scheduled to finish the week of July 28. 😵💫 🤞 😂
Have a great weekend!
Till next time ~
Fundy Blue
Standing Into Danger https://selkiegrey4.blogspot.com
Copyright ©2025 – All rights reserved.
My next post will be
Friday, July 25, 2025 🤞
On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Beautiful photos, Louise!!! Thank 😊 you for adding the laughs as well. Looks like a wonderful time. Sending you much love ❤️ and warm 🫂 🤗 hugs.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda! For your kind words, love, and hugs! ❤️
Delete...frow where I'm sitting, Canada looks like a wonderful place. Let's hope that our relationship can return to normal. Be well this weekend.
ReplyDeleteCanada is wonderful, but I love my new country too, despite our current discord. Enjoy your weekend! ❤️
DeleteLove the Canuckian LOLs and your Family Owl! Glad you'll be seeing everyone over the Labour Day long weekend, even if you must skip the August long weekend this year.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debra! I found so many Canuckian LOLs. 😂 I spent a couple of hours laughing as I compiled them. Canadians take themselves far less seriously than Americans. I think my favorite is when God drops the hockey puck. I'm saving them for future use. Have a fun weekend. ❤️
DeleteSorry you have to cancel your trip. I love the Tim Horton meme. That one made me laugh. I'm actually heading to Nova Scotia in September (I've never been there) and I hope that pronunciation doesn't happen to me-grin. Have a super weekend and good luck with the construction.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Erica. I, of course, love Tim Hortons. Have a lovely trip to Nova Scotia. It's gorgeous in September. ❤️
DeleteFunny, but I was just in your neck of the woods and thought of you! (Quick trip to Parker, Black Forest and Franktown) I loved the comment about Tim Hortons....when we were touring the Maritimes our tour guide always pointed out Tim Hortons stops! And now...we have Tim Hortons coffee at Publix in FL. I hope you do get to go NS!
ReplyDeleteHello Dreaming!!! It's so good to see you! I'm glad you had a chance to visit your old stomping grounds. I'm sure you saw many changes. It has been developing rapidly in our area, but I really love it here. Yes, Tim Hortons is a Canadian icon, even though it is now partly owned by American and Brazilian interests. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Timmy's and Timbits! Take care! ❤️
DeleteIt’s clear that the August long weekend holds a special place as a time for connection, celebration, and cherished memories
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you're going to miss out on all that fun this year.
ReplyDeleteSorry the trip has to be canceled. This is such a fun and funny post. The gatherings are a time of making memories. Thank you for joining FFO and have a day. I put your link in FFO.
ReplyDeleteSometimes schedules and things just throw a wrench in plans, but at least you can still come in September and get to see the kiddos too. Hopefully weather cooperates and is nice. Still up for an island hop here. Not so tiny humans will be in school, if it was summer I was going to try and sneak them up too. The tim Hortons one got a laugh out of me. I still haven't taken the kiddos to shubenacadie. May have to do that at some point. Hopefully renos are truly done on the 28th.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun post. Seems I learned a lot about Canada in this post. Sorry to read you won't be heading to NS in August. I really loved reading about your family, too, Louise.
ReplyDeleteI'm so very sorry you can't be home with your family for the August weekend. It's so frustrating and sometimes heartbreaking with life in one spot interferes with our plans for another. I'd love to believe that since the reno will be finished next week you could perhaps still go -- but probably not so likely with resettling. But I loved seeing the photos and I hope you can do a bit of FTime with them. Love the Canada memes!
ReplyDeleteHey Louise, it!s Barb. Another great post - just wanted to let you know you dipped Aunt Mary and Aunt Vera. I am sure they don’t mind seeing they are sisters ☺️
ReplyDeleteThose campfire colors are the same basic principles for fireworks 🎇
ReplyDeletePretty neat
Adam
NEKORANDOM.COM
I felt sorry throughout the post for you were unable to get in family reunion this August dear Louise but end made me smile eventually. Thank you for mentioning the face time with your sister who could make you feel better by the grace of God🥰🙏
ReplyDeleteBig heartfelt thanks for sharing these treasured photos of previous get to gather dear friend 🥹🥰♥️
They are your strength indeed,a powerful and beautiful reminder of blissful times and hope for coming reunion 🤗🥰🙏
They just filled my day with deep pleasure my friend, you are blessed to have family who thinks alike which makes such happy meetings possible and creates lots of beautiful memories 🥰♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
Hope your renovation is done so far and you are free to thrive and visit anywhere you want to 🙏🙏🙏♥️
Thinking of you with love, prayers and best wishes ♥️🙏♥️