Granola
Best Granola Recipes
This Christmas my cousin gave us a big jar of homemade granola with a jar of honey. It was a fantastic present, and we gobbled it up so quickly!
And, it started us on a granola kick of our own and we’ve been experimenting with several recipes.
I love this recipe. When I was in grade 1 (over 30 years ago!) our class made this recipe, and I have held on to it ever since.
The great thing about granola is that you can modify any recipe, adding any seeds, or taking away the nuts.
Enjoy!
Crunchy Granola
In a large bowl mix
3 Cups rolled oats
1 Cup wheat germ
½ Cup coconut
3 Tbsp peanuts
3 Tbsp sunflower seeds
3 Tbsp sesame seeds
1 tsp cinnamon
3 Tbsp oil
2 tsp vanilla
¾ Cup honey
Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
Put in an electric frying pan over medium heat.
Stir for 5 minutes or until the oatmeal is golden brown.
Cool.
Store in a glass jar with a lid.
This is a recipe that we found on Pinterest that we loved, too!
Homemade Peanut Butter Granola
There is another great recipe for granola in Michael Smith’s new cookbook Family Meals.
Do you have another great recipe for granola we should try?
Wolfville Reservoir Trail
Wolfville Reservoir Trail
When Ryan Lindh messaged me offering to give us a guided tour of Wolfville Reservoir Park, we jumped at the chance.
Although, I am not sure if he realized what he was in for – we showed up with 6 kids, 3 adults, 1 dog, and were planning on taking the kids snowshoeing for (most of) their first time!
We were looking for an adventure, and we found a great one at the Wolfville Reservoir Trail!
Ryan and his partner Michelle own a company called Trail Flow Outdoor Adventures.
Based out of Wolfville, Nova Scotia, TrailFlow provides services in sustainable trail design, construction, mountain bike guiding, events and more.
And, Ryan is a lot of fun, with a great sense of adventure – of course!
The Wolfville Reservoir Park is Ryan’s baby. Over the past few years he has helped to develop and build the trails. He also designed and built the bike course at Burgher Hill in Kentville.
Because he knows the trail system so well, he hand-picked a route that would best suit our needs and the attention span of the kids.
About the Trail
The entrance to the park is located at the corner of Sherwood and Pleasant streets in Wolfville. See Map.
However, a series of trails, starting downtown at Willow Avenue will lead you up to the Wolfville Reservoir Park. Follow the trail printed on the map. This is called the Millenium Trail. At the top, there are beautiful views of the Minas Basin and look-off points with benches.
Once in the park, there are approximately 4 kilometres of trails, of which the majority travel around two former reservoir ponds.
In the summer, you can go swimming in the reservoir or stay for a picnic.
In the winter, it is fairly easy to figure out where you are going, because you can just follow the trails left by other.
The path is well tamped down, making it easy to walk on. There is a basic map at the trail’s entrance; however, this map, and the map on the Town of Wolfville’s site does not cover all the newly built (by Trail Flow) trails and loops. New signage will be coming in the spring.
Knowing how much I love and appreciate maps, Ryan did give me a copy of the “sneak peak” map, and I can tell you it’s amazing.
Snowshoeing
To go hiking we decided it would be easier to go snowshoeing so we wouldn’t sink so much in the snow.
I borrowed pairs for all the kids and one adult from Kentville Recreation – for free! This is a great service offered by many local recreation departments.
Most of the kids had never tried snowshoeing before, so it added to the excitement of the adventure. The shoes seemed to slip “around” a lot, and we constantly had to readjust them for the kids – but that could be because they were constantly running and jumping in them!
Our Hike
Ryan patched together a series of trails for us, so we could see all parts of the park. We walked along narrow paths, down hills, saw an eagles nest and ended up in a bike park.
Again, built by Trail Flow, there are a series of biking challenges – bridges, ramps, etc – to try out. All the challenges are labelled according to their level of difficulty. Green circles are the easiest, followed by blue squares and then black diamonds.
But, we had to take his word for this as most of it was covered in the snow!
We’ll definitely be back in the spring with our bikes!
Overall
We had a wonderful afternoon, and Ryan was a perfect tour guide and the kids loved him!
We will definitely go back to explore more of the Wolfville Reservoir Park on our own, and certainly in all seasons!
Trail Flow Workshops
Keep an eye out on Trail Flow’s website or Facebook page as they offer a series of workshops on many different outdoor activities from snowshoeing to clinics on how to bike the trail at Burgher Hill and the course at the Reservoir Park. These are for many different age groups from young children to adult.
I know we’ll be keeping an eye out, because the kids can’t wait for their next adventure with Ryan.
Next time you need an afternoon activity for the family, head to the Wolfville Reservoir Park!
Paper Snowflakes
How to Make Paper Snowflake Decorations
My son Thomas, 6, came home from school one day with these beautiful paper snowflakes.
I had often seen them but never knew how to make them.
Thomas taught me!
Watch his instructional video. Below, we wrote out step-by-step instructions.
Step by Step
Take a plain white piece of paper.
Fold it into a triangle and cut off the bottom strip. This will make the paper a perfect square.
Fold the paper again to make a smaller triangle.
On the side with the “edge” make cuts. Near the bottom make 3 cuts. Above that, make 1 cut.
Unfold the paper. It will look like this.
Fold in the inner pieces like this. Tape them together.
Flip the paper over and fold in the next corners and tape them together.
Make about 8-10 of these.
When you have enough, staple them together at the top.
It will look like this
Staple the “bunches” together to create a full snowflake.
Hang from the ceiling for a beautiful decoration!
Thanks for the lesson, Thomas!
Ross Farm Museum
Ross Farm Museum
Since the kids were little, Ross Farm Museum has been one of our all-time favourite places to visit.
We always buy a season’s pass and try to go at least once a season. It is the perfect example of family fun!
Here’s what the website says:
Experience Hands-on Heritage!
At Ross Farm Museum step back in time and experience life as it once was in rural Nova Scotia. Using heritage skills, animals and tools we continue to operate the farm of Captain William Ross who settled in New Ross in 1816 with his family, and 172 disbanded soldiers.
Our knowledgeable interpreters can be seen performing the same daily tasks that was once a way of life for many folks in rural Nova Scotia. On any given day you can witness farmers working in the fields with oxen, the blacksmith hammering on glowing hot steel and the ladies in Rosebank Cottage preparing delicious biscuits, just to name a few. Visit us today and immerse yourself into the history of rural Nova Scotia!
Ross Farm Museum meets all of our family’s needs.
1. We like to take educational adventures. Here, the kids get to have a hands-on experience trying everything from quill writing to black smithing. They can get a great sense of how life was over 150 years ago. It is always a great learning experience.
2. The boys need to run around. Between buildings, and around the farm, there is plenty of space for burning off energy.
3. There are always interesting events. From tapping maple syrup, to family participation days, or cooking over the open hearth, there is always something new to explore, try and learn.
Our favourite days to visit are the Family Participation days on Labour Day weekend and the Christmas Festival (where you make a different craft in each of the buildings) on the first weekend in December.
4. Wagon rides. This, and seeing the kittens and animals in the barn, is the boys’ favourite part of the visit. They love going around the farm either in the wagon or on the sleigh, being pulled by the horses! This ride is included in the price of admission.
5. It is accessible. Ross Farm is only a 45 minute drive from Kentville, making it an easy and accessible trip from the Valley. Sometimes we go with a picnic lunch, or we have lunch in the diner across the street. Most times we just go for a half day.
Hours and Admission
During the winter, Ross Farm Museum is only open on the weekends from 9:30-4:30 but daily during the rest of the year.
Ross Farm is open year round.
Prices can be found here.
Head to Ross Farm for a perfect day of family fun!
There are lots of hands-on activities, often scavenger hunts for the kids to complete, and it’s the perfect open-aired place for the kids to burn off energy.
Check their events schedule, and visit lots. You will always learn something new! Over March Break they have a daily schedule of great events! And, don’t forget wagon rides!
Hennigars’ Farm Market Trails
Tannery Hollow Nature Trail, Greenwich
Hennigar’s Farm Market
The Tannery Hollow Nature Trail is a wonderful trail that can easily be done in all seasons.
I first discovered this trail 2 years ago and walked it in the spring with my then 4-year old son. On that adventure, we followed one butterfly almost the length of the trail!
To get to the trail head, head towards the area where the animals are, and back towards the play area.
The entrance is at the back, well signposted.
The trail is 2.5KM and passes through a wooded ravine, over a stream, and around a farmer’s field. Parts of the trail are close to the edge or require that you use a rope to climb the hillside.
Because of this, the trail is NOT stroller friendly, or easy for small children (under 4) to manoeuvre.
However, if you can, it is worth the walk! The scenery is beautiful, and it is hard to believe that this hidden gem is tucked away behind the farm.
The trail is extremely well signposted. It meanders through the woods until you come to the field. You walk most of the perimeter of the field before cutting back into the woods onto the same trail that took you there.
However, we decided to keep following the farmer’s road, and we ended up near the starting point of the trail.
In winter, with more snow, this would be a great trail to snowshoe!
Dogs should be kept on a leash.
A donation box is at the entrance to help with trail maintenance.
This is a wonderful trail, a good length, with great scenery to do with children aged 4+.
Yarmouth and the French Shore Family Fun
Yarmouth and the French Shore Family Fun
I got tired of seeing everyone’s pictures of going down south this summer so our family decided to go south, too. To Yarmouth, that is!
We decided to have a family mini-break to Yarmouth to have a change of scenery. We chose Yarmouth for a couple of reasons.
First, we have a Nova Scotia Museum pass, and other than the museums in Halifax and Ross Farm, nothing else was opened at this time of year.
My family has strong connections to Yarmouth. The Churchill branch all came from Yarmouth and operated a saw mill in the region. We’d spent many a time driving around looking at the old homesteads and I had heard lots of stories from my Grandmother.
So, we decided to find family fun in Yarmouth.
The drive
It took us about 2.5 hours to drive to Yarmouth from Kentville.
The car was well stocked with snacks, drinks, and audio stories to keep everyone happy.
North America’s Largest Wooden Church
En route, we stopped in Church Point at Église Sainte-Marie – which is the largest the largest wooden church in North America. Its steeple rises 56.4 m (185 feet) above the ground. There is a museum inside that is open from May to October.
We just made a quick stop to take a picture.
First Frenchys
The original Frenchy’s Store opened in Meteghan River, Digby Co along the French Shore. This makes for another great pit stop.
Mavillette Beach Provincial Park
Supervised swimming on Saturdays and Sundays in the months of July and August, the park facilities include change houses, vault toilets, freshwater taps, bird watching platforms, interpretive panels, and a parking area and boardwalks to access the beach.
It has a gorgeous sandy beach and is a great place to stop for a swim or a walk along the shore!
And, just up the road is the Cape View Restaurant.
And the accompanying boat where you can get an ice cream!
Fire Fighters Museum
We spent the afternoon at the Firefighter’s Museum in Yarmouth.
For the month of February, admittance is free because it is Heritage Month!
Here’s what the museum is about:
See the types of fire engines used from the 1800s to the 1930s. Marvel at antique hand-drawn and operated engines such as Canada’s oldest horse-drawn steam engine, an 1863 Amoskeag Steamer. Take the wheel of a 1933 Chev Bickle pumper and see collections of antique toy fire engines, shoulder crests, patches and badges from fire departments around the world.
We had a lovely afternoon looking at all the different fire equipment that has been used in Nova Scotia. It was amazing to see how quickly the technology changed from the original steam and coal engines to a motorized vehicle!
The boys loved playing on the 1933 fire truck!
There wasn’t much for the kids to touch, but there were a lot of visuals for them to understand how much hard work went into fire fighting!
The kids also had a nice rest in a reading corner fit with books all about fire fighters!
We spent about 1.5 hours in the museum and covered everything. We learned a lot, and the people running were able to answer our many questions!
The most interesting part for us, was learning about a ship that capsized in Yarmouth in the 1960s carrying a circus and all its animals. You have to see the pictures to believe it and understand the difficult rescue the fire fighters had to do!
The Firefighter’s Museum is opened year round.
And, when you head to Yarmouth, you should definitely add this to your list!
Coincidentally, later that weekend I watched a Charlie Chaplin movie called The Fireman that featured the older fire equipment, and we were able to understand and explain it all! It was fun to see it in action!
World’s Smallest Wooden Drawbridge
The community of Sandford is about a 15-minute drive from the town of Yarmouth. Here in Sandford is a unique little fishing community, and one of the main reasons that people like to visit here is to see what is noted to be the smallest drawbridge. This small drawbridge was built so that the fisherman and visitors can cross from one side of the Sandford wharf system to the other without having to travel out to the road and around.
The males all ventured across it.
Cape Forchu
The lighthouse at Cape Forchu outside of Yarmouth is very famous –and very well known for its huge Adirondack chair.
While we were there it was so cold and blustery, but we made it!
While in the parking lot, I remembered that there is a webcam on the lighthouse!
I quickly called my sister and my mother to have them look it up on the internet so we could wave to them.
My sister even took a screen shot of us there. Here is her picture.
And here is the picture that we were taking when she took her picture!
This was the definite trip highlight for me!
There is a walking trail around the cape, but it was too cold and icy for us to try it. Just means we’ll need to come back for another visit!
Deep Sky Eye Observatory
Are you into astronomy or want to learn more about the night sky? Book an incredible night sky tour with Tim Doucette. This amateur astronomer has a 14″ telescope and observatory in his back yard! It’s about 30 minutes outside Yarmouth, and worth the drive!
Forchu River Trail
The next morning we headed out into nature to the Forchu River Trail.
This is about 10 minutes outside of Yarmouth on Route 340 in Hebron.
We found the Hebron Recreation site, but could not find the trail head at all. Having everything covered in snow did not make it any easier, and nothing was sign posted.
Just as we were about to give up, a truck drove by, and we stopped to ask him where the trail was. He pointed it out, and I’m glad he did. It was beautiful!
Although snow covered, it was passable. It would have been much easier had we brought our snowshoes!
But, what I loved about it was that the trail was covered in animal tracks. There were deer and rabbit footprints everywhere! We had a great time imagining the party those animals must have had early this morning!
The trail is about 1km through the woods, and loops back up to the top by the playground and you walk back along the drive way (making it 1.8km).
The trail head is in between the cemetery and the storage building.
It was absolutely beautiful!
Shag Harbour UFO Incident Centre
Just south of Yarmouth, take time to visit the Shag Harbour UFO Incident Centre where it chronicles the UFO siting off the coast in 1967!
Staying and Eating in Yarmouth
We ate out a couple of times in Yarmouth. The first was at Pizza Delight on Starrs Street. I love heading up here because it’s on the street where my great-grandfather used to live (before it turned completely commercial).
In the evening we went to Rudder’s Pub, which is fantastic. You must add this to your Yarmouth list.
The building dates back to the 18th century where they used to build ships. Now it is a fantastic pub with great food, live music, and a great atmosphere.
My favourite place to eat in Yarmouth, by far!
On our next trip to Yarmouth, we found a great restaurant called the Dinner Plate (2 Cann Street) which is down on the waterfront. 
Really, from the outside, it looks like a complete dive, but the food is delicious and the staff are incredible!
We had some awesome fish and chips!
We stayed at the Lakelawn Motel on Main Street, Yarmouth.
This is a great, basic motel with all your amenities, run by an extremely helpful and friendly man, Matthew.
The Lakelawn is the longest surviving hotel in the area.
There is a café on site and it is just minutes from downtown.
And according to the boys, the best part was the non-stop tv watching (since we don’t have one at home!) It was the perfect relaxing evening!
OR
The next time we stayed in Yarmouth, we stayed in the Comfort Inn on Starrs Road. They allow dogs so we could have a full-family trip!
Much to do and See in Yarmouth
There is so much to do and see in Yarmouth and we just got the tip of the iceberg. Although we went in the winter, there was still plenty to do and see to make it a great get-away.
I would love to go back again and explore it in more seasons, do more of the walking trails, walk along the boardwalk, and hit some more museums.
We’ll see you again, Yarmouth!
