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Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Come and Hook!

This weekend I will be at the 5th Annual Peterborough Fibre Arts Festival. This is my third year attending this festival and I love it more every year. It is so nice to chat with other fibre artists and organizations, and share my love of rug-hooking with the event visitors! I always have a demo table set-up where anyone can sit down and try their hand at hooking, and I will of course have a variety of rug-hooking kits and some others supplies.

 
Hope to see you there!
xox
Margot

Monday, March 2, 2015

Winter Fun for Everyone

This weekend we packed the family up and headed North. I know, some of you are thinking 'don't they already live North?'. Well friends, we went further North.

It all started with an idea. We heard about the ice trail at Arrowhead Provincial Park, and thought it would make a fun winter destination. So we found a place to stay near-by and made a weekend of it. We bribed the boys with the promise of ice-fishing, and off we went.
Photo Credit: Nicole
We arrive at the cabin around supper time, on Friday. Moved in, had some food and the boys headed out to set-up the ice-hut for the weekend. The first night proved to be difficult to convince the pre-schooler to go to bed. Pip was just too excited about everything we had planned and refused to go to bed until almost midnight (yawn). In the morning we relaxed, ate some food, the boys did a little more fishing, and we headed out to Arrowhead in the afternoon.
Pip is still just learning how to skate, and in the beginning he wanted Daddy to carry him. Finally, dad decided on tough love. He put Pip on the ice trail and stood to the side. After a minute or two Pip was standing on his own, and trying to move forward. One of the cutest things I have seen since becoming a parent!
The ice trail is 1.3km loop, on an ice covered road through a campground. It has only been open for the last three years, and has become quite the popular winter destination. We went on a Saturday, which (after a little late research) is the busiest day! If you are thinking about heading up there perhaps try for a Sunday afternoon. Even though it was very busy, it was a lot of fun. I would love to go back sometime, but I think we will wait until the kidlets are a little bigger.
Emi rode in the chariot (thank goodness for that invention). And after skating like mad to lull her to sleep, she slept the entire time! She also had a great time snuggling with everyone during our cottage time. On our way out, our friends noticed that Arrowhead also has tubing, and decided to return the next morning for some more outdoor fun. I figured our little guys were too small for that, so we stayed behind and had a lazy time at the cottage.

Snuggling with Daddy and smiling at Pip.
We ended the entire weekend with an awesome fish fry once we got back home. All the time the boys spent in the ice-hut resulted in a big pile of fish to clean, fry and eat! And then everyone in this house had a big sleep. It was an awesome, but extremely exhausting weekend. I understand why some people choose to stay close to home with babes, but I think the fresh air was good for everyone!

Here's to our next outdoor adventure! Spend time in nature, you will feel better :)
xox
Margot

Monday, February 9, 2015

Life Lately...

Things are busy around the NaH household. Pip is getting closer to 3 than 2, and just never stops. He even decided that afternoon naps are no longer a necessity, which sometimes makes for a cranky afternoon. And Emi is 3.5months already! I'm just not sure how the time is passing so quickly, but I better hang onto my hat, because it is going amp up even more.

I just found out recently that I am headed back to work early this year. Towards the end of March I will be back to work full time, and Emi will only be 5months old. This is proving to be a lot of work as she has absolutely no interest in a bottle, and without one she will be one little grump. But I am trying to have a positive outlook and hope that things will get easier.
 
The other business in this household revolves around outdoor play, crafting and teaching. I organized an outdoor play group for Pip and other children around his age. The first one was a pretty big hit. We all bundled up, and went into the back yard to learn about some of the animals that are awake and active this time of the year. It is so amazing to watch children exploring the great outdoors. I am hoping to run some more in the future, and keep these kids learning about the world around them.

I am also gearing up for some rug-hooking activities, as well as a baby food workshop I will be instructing. More on those activities later.

How are things in your neck of the woods? Have any fun outside lately?
xox
Margot

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Sustainability Through the Eyes of a Meat Eater

Today I am sharing a little of my life experience over on Oh So Nourished

I tried vegetarianism years ago, but it wasn't for me, I was unable to maintain my busy extra-curricular activities without meat in my diet. So, I went back to eating meat. But I was never very excited about it, I didn't like the idea that animals were kept in unfavourable conditions and treated poorly throughout their lives, not to mention the hormones and antibiotics which are passed on to the consumers. I tried to find healthier, organic, free-range options but something still didn't feel quite right. 
Crab and Lobster Pots. Early morning on Bonne Bay, Gros Morne Mountain in the background.
Then I had the chance to live in Newfoundland, with a local family, and see how they practice traditional activities and self-sufficient living (for a little more on that subject click here). From small scale farming (beef, chicken/eggs, pork and veggies), to harvesting local abundant animals like moose, ptarmigan and trout, animals are an important part of their life and diet...

For the rest of the article hop on over to Oh So Nourished

xox
Margot

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Getting Back in the Swing

I know I have said this a few times now, but now it is actually happening. I was asked recently to share some of my experiences  and lifestyle choices over at a lovely space called Oh So Nourished. I couldn't be more excited to contribute, and I think it is going to help me get back into blogging, which I have missed.

On a happy home note: Pip started gymnastics today, he needed a little energy consuming activity with some other little people to help him burn through his energizer batteries. And Emi is getting huge! She is over 15lbs, has three chins, smiles constantly and is sleeping unbelievably well for a babe of not quite 3 months.

I will share some photos soon. :)

xox
Margot