Tall Ships 2012

This year Tall Ships is commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812.  (Why anyone would want to make a big deal of a war that was a waste and ended in a tie, I don't know, but I believe because my gr gr grandfather was a soldier in this war, he gained his land in Brock Township, Ontario.  He didn't have anything to do with the naval part of the war.)

This morning we went down to the Halifax waterfront with hoards of other people (okay not hoards as in China, but a huge number anyway) and spent a couple of hours walking around and going on tours of the various tall ships.

The highlight was touring the Bounty, the actual ship that appeared in the movie "Mutiny on the Bounty". The original Bounty, of course, was burned and sunk in the 1700's.

There are many activities going on this week-end.  There is a concert Saturday evening which features the 1812 Overture and one of the temple workers, Chris Palmer, has composed a 2012 Overture which will debut at the concert.

 The Unicorn

The Unicorn is a ship whose crew is entirely female.  The have a program called "Sisters Under Sail" for teen-age girls to learn all about sailing and gain practical experience.

 The Roseway

 The Bounty

Bob and the Captain of the Bounty

 The British

 The Americans

 The Baltimore

 The Glengarys (from Scotland)

The Larinda

The Larinda sank in the Halifax Harbour during hurricane Juan.  This is the first outing since it has been refurbished.

 

 Acrobat on the Mast

Do you See Her?

Upside Down

George's Island

On Sunday there will be tours of George's Island (of Evangeline, a Tale of Acadia fame).

Bob was ill for about  five days.  He had an ear  problem, so we didn't do much this week.  This is our first day out other than to the Drs. and to the Temple.  He is doing fine now.

Courtney in Dartmouth

Our granddaughter came to Dartmouth to tend Nathan and Tara's children for a week so Nathan and Tara could spend a week in Calgary.  Courtney took an overnight flight from Calgary and we picked her up at the airport at seven a.m. on July 2nd and drove straight to Pugwash for the Canada Day celebration.  We had a beautiful day in Pugwash.

We arrived back in Dartmouth  Monday evening and the Baines left Tuesday morning.  Bob and I
moved in as backup for the week.

Courtney had a busy few days - especially Friday as we had Zone Conference all day and then the Temple from five p.m. until ten p.m. - but she did very well and the children loved her.  On Sunday I took the easy way out and stayed home with the two youngest children while everyone else attended church in the Dartmouth ward and then I attended in the Cole Harbour ward in the afternoon.

Monday was Orson's fourteenth birthday.  Bob and Courtney drove him to the paddling club and then Courtney and Bob went to Halifax to see what they could see.

Orson and Courtney Near the Clubhouse at Banook Lake

 Ferry Ride Across the Harbour to Halifax

 The Town Hall

 The City Clock

 The Building where the Halifax Tatoo is Held  

(We had planned on going to the Tatoo, but it didn't happen either year.)

 Canon at the Citadel

(It goes off every day at noon and we often hear it in Dartmouth.)

It was Orson's birthday so we celebrated by having pizza, pop and birthday cake for supper.

 All Candles Blown Out - Good, No Girlfriends Yet

On Tuesday morning Orson left for Youth Conference and the rest of us piled in the van and drove to Martinique Beach for the day.

 One Way to Keep a Boy from Running into the Waves

That evening Nathan and Tara returned about 6:25 p.m. and we went out the door at 6:27 p.m. to take Courtney to the airport.  She must be back in Taber by now - or is she at the Calgary Stampede?

We have been experiencing very warm weather lately.  Many people swim in the lake behind our house in this weather.  At night there have been parties going on and Wednesday night there was a loud one still going well after the ten p.m. closing of the public areas.  Bob heard on the news that a party at the lake was raided by the police that night and someone was arrested for carrying a gun and for drugs.  Oh, dear!

Pugwash - Again

On July 2nd we celebrated Canada Day by traveling to Pugwash where Orson and Liam marched in the Parade and competed at the Highland games.

It was much a repeat of last year.  The parade had fire engines, old tractors, old cars, a few floats and a few pipe bands.

 Canada Day Hair

 Tatamagouche Fire Truck for My Cousin, Maggie

 War of 1812

 Stagecoach for Langley

 Shrine Pictures for my Shriner Brothers

 Another Stagecoach

 View from the Competition Field

Orson earned two second place medals and Liam received a second for his drumming.  Liam competed with the Darmouth band in a drum fanfare which was excellent.  Both the Dartmouth bands received first place.

 Liam Competing on Drums

 Bob Saw a Durant for the First Time

Finale - The Pipe Bands United for an Amazing Performance

Out of the Past

Bob was surprised on Tuesday to be called out of district meeting (I had stayed home so Keaton and Lachlan could come over while Tara took a couple of the boys to the Dr.).  Earl Wyman, who had been one of Bob's room-mates the eight months previous to our marriage was touring Nova Scotia and had looked us up.  On the first date I had with Bob, Earl double dated with us.  We have corresponded sporadically at Christmas over the past 46 years, but have never gotten together before.

Earl came to the Temple on Wednesday and then we went down to the Halifax Waterfront and had dinner and wondered around and reminisced.

 A Large Container Ship Passing By

 Beautiful Weather to Eat Outside

 Pirate Ship Sailing Down the Harbour

On the Boardwalk

Crossing to Dartmouth on the Ferry

Last Sunday was Father's Day and we had supper with Nathan and Tara & Family.

Monday evening we went to Liam's soccer game and then got him to the Oakland Terrace (a Senior's home) in time to play his drums in a program that a couple of families were putting on for the residents.

June is Half Gone

We don't live a very exciting life here in Nova Scotia.  The only thing that I can think to write about is the second crop of dandelions that are again colouring the lawns yellow.

Yesterday was a busy day at the Temple.  A group of new missionaries arrived in the Halifax mission and they all came to the Temple in the morning.  One of the missionaries is a Thompson from Mountainview (one of Oakley Thompson's great grandsons).  The missionaries who have finished their mission and are heading home will attend the temple tonight.

The Dartmouth Pipe Band has started their summer practices in the outdoors.  This year they are practicing at the Dartmouth Common over near the harbour close to the McDonald Bridge.  Yesterday Bob drove the boys to their practice and took a few pictures while he was there.

Liam is on the far left and Orson is wearing a red shirt.

 

It was a good evening for sailboats.

 An icebreaker was in the harbour.

 Downtown Halifax

The Citadel can be seen up on the hill.