My Brunswick

If you ask DJ where he went for his holidays he'll tell you Cape Breton. Ask him where his other holiday was and you will get the answer "My Brunswick" - our neighbouring province known to most as New Brunswick!

We returned to a place called Murray Corner which I have been to many times as a child and again in recent years. If it were not for the fact that it is a 2 & 1/2 hour drive (4 last Friday with road works and holiday weekend traffic), I would convince Jonathan that it would be a great place for a cottage of our own. Anyways, the purpose of the visit was to hook up with Cousin Deb, her 6 year old who is a regular visit to the East Coast and Deb's 8-week old daughter - and some extended family namely the Decarie-Milanovic clan. Unfortunately we missed the other DJ, Christina and Baby Oona as they had been & gone by the time we got there.

As we were driving along Hardy Road, I was reminded of a similar journey around the backroads to Killough - heading for Mum's place as I did many times before leaving Ireland (note to self: parallel lives) and also driving that same road many years ago with Mum & Dad, thinking as the road stretched endlessly in front that we were almost there because that long stretch of road ends at Lake Stores and from there it is only a short walk back to what was our Grandmother's cottage.

Back to present day - a new generation of kids now enjoys the Shore, including DJ and for him it was all about the beach this year - I couldn't get him away from it. He spent more time in the water than out, throwing rocks, collecting sand, looking for hermit crabs and even wanted to go out in the 'banoo' (canoe which is really a kayak).

And it was a delight to see him playing with his (2nd) cousins and their cousins - well he just calls them 'my friends' - 'Randa, Evi, Mei Mei & Kate. And chasing the Milanovic cats - and dogs that were visiting next door. It was quite a menagerie, especially if you include the animals at the farm too - Mr Snuggles and the rooster who was heard many times but never seen.

Three days of beachcombing, chasing crabs and searching for sandbars was just what the sould needed and all that fresh air certainly did wonders for sleeping - bonus since we got home DJ has decided to sleep back in his own bed. Thanks to a bit of rain we also go to see the "Bird Musuem" (Jouriman Centre) - great views of the Confederation Bridge and definitely worth a visit of you are ever in the area.

Monday afternoon saw me packing up the car and organising 3 car seats for the little ones. Deb had her last swim in the Atlantic for this year and we enjoyed a Tea Party at Janie's cottage before hitting the road and heading back to Fall River, where Deb & the girls enjoyed a bit of a rest before heading to Ottawa.

A great big Thanks to Catherine & Nick for the hospitality; Deb for coming all the way East and Janie for the great Tea party - see you all next year at "The Shore".