Thank you, Jack

Thank you, Jack for living your beliefs. Thank you for your commitment to helping people of every background, for caring. Thank you your inspiration. For reminding us that life is a gift, to be valued, and shared, everyday. For reminding us to live with love, hope, optimism, honesty and generosity.

 Perhaps we cannot always change the world, but hopefully we can try to make our world a better place for everyone.

Once the deep emotions of the past week have eased I’m hoping I can be true to Jack’s purpose and ideals.

 I want to remember to tell people I love them. To thank them, especially for cleaning up the mess I make in the kitchen. To listen. To hug people I care about when appropriate.  To help people, even if it takes more time than I had planned for.  To be generous. To be optimistic that I can achieve this.

Thank you, Jack. This is how we will remember you.

Down the Fundy Trail to Cape Enrage

Friday, finally it was sunny, blue skies, floating clouds, the perfect day to again drive the Fundy Trail. From Riverview to Alma the road is curving, the landscape scenic; many lovely old homes and fields scattered with goats, sheep and cattle.

Our destination Cape Enrage, one of my favourite locations in this area, where we picnic, find amazing driftwood sculpture and attractive beach stones.

Along this road there are many craft and artist’s studios. Stained glass; colourful birdhouses; contemporary, abstract pottery; raku pottery; many fine art paintings

Hand-blown glass; quilts and hand knits and ladies fashions.

A detour up Albert Mines Road, a heritage herb farm produces creams, essential oils and jellies; there is pottery made from local clay; Alpaca sheep and more art.

In Hillsborough there’s the New Brunswick Railway Museum and towards Riverside Albert horseback riding (plus skiing and snow shoeing in winter).

The Sawmill Creek Bridge, built in 1905, is the last covered bridge on Highway 114.

Just past Cape Enrage sample, and buy, wild blueberry wines. Down here the mist drifted in intermittently, atmospheric but clearing in time for our picnic.

For more than a day there are many places to stay; B&B’s, some in century homes; the Artisan’s Suite at Wendy Johnston’s Pottery; motels, inns and campgrounds. Lots of restaurants, cafes and pubs.

For me it’s an area to enjoy any day. With natural art to bring home.

Magnetic Hill Winery

Another of my favourite places

 Just a short drive from the mid–twentieth century concrete block architecture of much of Moncton you can find beautiful examples of unspoilt country side. Undisturbed acres of nothing but trees, grass, shrubs and fruit bushes restore your soul to believe in the ultimate basic goodness of the earth.

There is a place where you can let the pure taste of strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, even, and especially, rhubarb, distilled into a glass of amber liquid, linger on your tongue.

That place is Magnetic Hill Winery. Located in a restored historic property, built in 1867, it is one of New Brunswick’s major award-winning wineries. The enterprising and visionary entrepreneurs, Jeff and Janet Everett were once the frustrated owners of a fruit farm. In the late 1990’s the New Brunswick government opened to door to farm-based cottage wineries and the Everett’s found their way to stay in agriculture, and to develop a unique combination of practicality and hospitality.

With the latest 21^st century technology installed in the historic property the Everetts make delicious wines, just as pioneers traditionally did, from local fruit. They raised the house two feet, extended the porch to wrap around, moved the attached barn and dug out beneath to create the wine cellar and shop. The family now produces all wines on site. Fermenting, filtering and bottling the wines using their own hand-picked fruit.

There’s Bay of Fundy Blue, yes made with blueberries. Gold medal  Illusions, named for Magnetic Hill’s famous optical illusion, owes it’s crisp dry bodied taste to rhubarb. Evangeline resonates with strawberries and silver medal Mystique is full of healthy cranberries. The Everetts remind you that fruit wines contain antioxidants and  more vitamins and minerals than grape wine. Chocolate River dessert selection includes raspberry, strawberry and blueberry wines, all go well with chocolate.

Opened in 2005 Magnetic Hill Winery is a true family enterprise. Son Zach, winemaker, is proud of his 3,000 litre vats. The various fruit wines take six to 18 months to mature and all celebrate the area’s natural attractions.

Once the winery was established this energetic couple set about a Bed and Breakfast in the old former house. Much of the house was gutted but the essence of the 140-year-old residence was preserved and many parts used. Janet excitedly points out hand-made square head nails from the house, now used in the wine shop to hang the sun catchers. Lathes from interior walls are re-cycled to make attractive gift boxes. The distinctive mustard yellow exterior that catches your eye on arrival is a heritage colour, also found in the house’s kitchen.  She says the interior’s good state of preservation was largely due to the covering of birch bark on much of the house.

In the winery’s retail store you can enjoy tastings of these exceptional wines and find an array of wine-related gift items.

Visitors can choose the Oak Room or the Pine Room, both reminiscent of bygone days, each now with its en-suite bathroom, and enjoy a home-made country breakfast on the patio on sunny mornings. A private living room provides space to relax and read.

Sunny afternoons you can enjoy a glass of wine and a selection of cheese on the patio with its stunning panoramic views.

Other articles about more of My Favourite Places can be found at knowmoncton.com/favorite-places/

Saint John. People. Places. Pets.

Last week I spent a few days in Saint John. An attractive, historic city, the first in Canada to be incorporated in 1785.

It was my introduction to the Maritimes; my husband and I lived there for a year until we were moved to Moncton. During that brief time I came to appreciate its history, architecture and culture, and made many friends with whom I still maintain contact.

I arrived in heavy rain just in time to enjoy one of the ‘Summer Sounds’ concerts at the Church of Saint Andrew and Saint David. Performed by the Saint John String Quartet it included music by Bach, Mozart, Harry Somers and Gershwin.

A lovely beginning to my visit. As we left I met one of my former yoga students; an added pleasure to catch up with her. One day I met this sweet cat sitting in front of the church. This church was one where I rented space for my yoga classes when I lived there. As was Trinity Anglican Church just a little further down Germain Street.

A short drive across town I visited Harvey, the amiable partner of my late friend Wendy, in whose honour I offer my current series of Yoga for Breast Cancer classes. Harvey is always fun to talk with, humorous, occasionally controversial, and takes great photographs. He stayed behind the camera but Simba, Ginger and Comet were happy to be photographed.

A detour to Cedarcrest Garden Centre where I bought more plants for our garden.

In the old part of the city Germain Street is special, not just because of the gracious old houses, but because many of my friends are close. I stayed with my good friends, Haleen and Jonathan Franklin in their century home. One friend lives across the street, another a couple of blocks away and two others work nearby.

Within an easy walk are several of my favourite shops, art galleries and fine craft stores. Anne McShane at The Feel Good Store always gives me a warm return welcome. 

Trinity Galleries shows an eclectic mix of art, Handworks has some of the most innovative and exquisite silver jewellery. Its window was swimming with fish made from recycled tin by Alanna Baird in St Andrews. The Peter Buckland Gallery for me is one of the two best art galleries between Saint John and Portland, Maine. The other is in Blue Hill, Maine.

Debra, another yoga teacher, and I met for a chai latte at Java Moose, a favoured Saint John bistro. We’re planning a special event, which I’ll tell about later.

Since going to El Salvador with Beth Kelly-Hatt, also a former yoga student, on a Habitat for Humanity build she led, we’ve kept in touch and met this time at Magnolia Café  a recent addition to the downtown bistro scene. Beth owns Aquila, a tour company that advocates responsible travel and that also brings many cruise ships to visit Saint John every year.

Leaving Magnolia I found at Scheherazade  a book based on the life and loves of Hector Berlioz, just one dollar. Then stocked up on Indian food from Chilli and Olive Grocers.

 Happily my friend Judith lives opposite the Franklins; we spent an evening chatting, tea cups in hand, while Wags supervised us.

Saint John City Market is a must. Built in 1876 its hand- hewn roof resembles the inverted keel of a ship. I always buy the wonderful Middle Eastern bread made by Habib Kilisli who also sells home-made delights such as Baklava, hummus and stuffed vine leaves; all of which he presses you to sample. The market is open six days a week, but Habib is only there on Saturdays.

Haleen and Jonathan are keen gardeners and very involved with one of the city’s four Community gardens. This one by Lily Lake has 96 plots plus three raised beds for wheelchair gardeners.

Their own small but very lovely home garden, actually a flourishing courtyard, brims with plants, shrubs and ground cover.

During my visit they celebrated a wedding anniversary. So we celebrated together at Taco Pica, a Guatemalan restaurant, also located on Germain Street. You can understand why I enjoy this downtown area so much.

 All too soon time to pack plants and belongings in the car, drive to Moncton, and create a new garden bed.