A friend just put together this video about “The Story of Maple Syrup”. I contributed a particular photo at the end of the video. A note: the light amber grade of maple syrup may be considered the finest, but I prefer the darker stuff – more flavour, and no doubt more of those nutritious minerals they mention.
Maypole Dance at South Shore Waldorf School
It’s the only Waldorf school in Nova Scotia, and every year it hosts a Mayfair – a one-day event to celebrate the coming of spring. Naturally, a maypole dance is part of the festivities. This year, the students, grade 1-6, actually learned a maypole dance, creating quite a different spectacle from the usual mayhem. I filmed it from where I was sitting and created this little video.
The school also has a wonderful kindergarten program. Here’s the link to its website: South Shore Waldorf School and Kindergarten, Blockhouse, Nova Scotia.
Songs and poems about the ocean
My husband has just posted a video list of his favourite music and poetry about the sea on his French sailing blog, “Voile pour tous”. The videos are in both French and English, but his introduction is in French. Here’s my translation:
Sea, winds and boats weave a symphony of poems, music and popular song
Here is a collection of videos in French and English about the ocean, the winds and boats. I welcome you to suggest others in different genres.
I am very grateful to YouTube for enabling me to post this modest collection.
Isn’t our planet amazing? A big “thank you” to the artists, poets, composers and singers who have found ways to express their sense of wonder.
He has included a favourite of mine, “Je voudrais voir la mer” by Michel Rivard which Linda Morrison arranged for us in the Yellow Door Tabernacle Choir when I lived in Montreal. Even if you don’t understand the words, you can feel the rhythm of the ocean in the music.
Here’s the link to his blog post. Enjoy!
MERS, VENTS ET BATEAUX s’entrelacent dans une symphonie de poèmes, musique et chansons populaires
Video: Frosty Morning – Winter Ice on Mahone Bay
Hot off the press: our first Nova Scotia Photo Album video. It won’t be the last!
This one shows how tide and temperature create an ever-changing landscape on Mahone Bay’s shoreline, from first frost to spring breakup.
The music is an Appalachian tune called Frosty Morning, played by Dennis Robinson on fiddle and Heather Holm (that’s me) on accordion.
First sign of spring: maple syrup!
Just about the most authentic, old-fashioned maple syrup operation you could ever find is Mountain Maple in the Annapolis Valley, just outside of Wolfville. Perry and Judi Munro are typical of Nova Scotian back-to-the-landers in that they decide first that they want to live here, and then figure out how they’re going to make a living, and they don’t get too specialized. Besides the maple syrup operation, they make art, sculpture, baskets, they guide hunters and fishers and have a vacation rental on the lake. Check out this video, then visit Perry Munro’s website to see what all they’re up to.