Spring 2021 list

Another season is coming up so I've got another fun list of things I would like to do. While spring isn't these exact days, I wanted to do it a little earlier to fit the weather around here a bit more. I haven't done a spring list before because I find it really hard to do much in the spring, with the rainy weather and it seems like there aren't as many events. However, I have even more family living close to me now and I also want to make 2021 a year of spending more time outside so I've come up with some activities I would like to do. 

Spring 2021 (March 1-June 6)
Visit OnTree Fun & Adventure Park
Spend the day at the zoo
Have a yard-sale
Eat strawberry shortcake
Try two new recipes
Read a new book
Watch the sunrise
Shop at a farmer's market
Play mini-golf
Hang memorabilia in apartment
Grill outside
Cheer on Team Canada during the Women's Worlds
Eat at 3 new restaurants
Try sugar-on-snow
Visit a waterfall
Have some ice cream with my cousins
Do a nature themed scavenger hunt
Walk in a 5K event
Spring cleaning

Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens Aug. 2017

I will update this post after the season is over and let you know how I did. Keep checking back on my blog the next few months too as I will make individual posts for some of the activities once I complete them. 

Food Friday: A new feature

Welcome to Food Friday, a new feature on my blog I thought I would do. I am no expert on food and really, I wish we could live without having to eat. However, there are some dishes that I do enjoy eating and there are so many restaurants in the city that I wanted to share them. This blog is all about sharing my opinion and adventures and food is part of that. 

So like I sorta mentioned above, these posts will be about anything food including recipe ideas, food events, restaurant suggestions, etc. I'm not sure how often I will post but like the name suggests, they will be done on Fridays. 

For the first one, I wanted to share a recipe that has been dubbed as my speciality. I will point out that I did not create the original recipe, Clubhouse used to sell recipe cards that came with already measured spices and this was one of them. 

Rosemary roasted chicken with potatoes
Preheat: 425 F    Serves: 4-6    Total time: 45 minutes

Ingredients 
2tsp paprika
1 1/2tsp crushed rosemary leaves
1tsp dehydrated minced garlic
1/2tsp ground black pepper
1tsp salt
2tbsp olive oil
1 1/2lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs (12 pieces)
1 1/2lbs small red potatoes

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 F
2. Mix oil, all of the spices and salt in a large mixing bowl
3. Add chicken and potatoes to bowl, toss to coat well in oil mixture
4. Arrange chicken and potatoes in a single layer on foil-lined baking pan
5. Roast in oven for 30 minutes (or until fully cooked)
6. Dish and serve 2-3 thighs each 

Notes

You can eat with a side of vegetables or a salad. I normally change out the potatoes with a bag of green beans because I can't eat a lot of potatoes so I just don't add them if it's just for me. If you'd like, add green beans and/or asparagus along with potatoes during Step 3. 

Christmas lights at Evergreen Festival

This past December, a new festival came to Halifax called the Evergreen Festival. The Facebook page about says 'Community comes alive with music, light and joy. Evergreen Festival is a new holiday festival on the Halifax waterfront, throughout downtown, and online.' Just like almost everything in 2020, the event planners were forced to put a portion of the festival online so I didn't experience as much of it as I wanted to. 

There was a virtual market with local businesses, a virtual screen with musical performances on Facebook live each weekend, Evergreen Bright, and a food portion. 

I checked out Evergreen Bright which showcased different Christmas light displays around the city. It was nice to see so many lights be put up on government buildings and watch some of the projection shows. On December 4, my mom and I went down to the Halifax waterfront and walked the length of it before going back up to Grand Parade. The park across from the Westin Hotel lit up the tree in the middle of the park and put some decorations on the light posts surrounding it so that was our first stop. Small Christmas trees were in amongst the drunken light posts while the Waterfront Warehouse had a projection of snowflakes. The Salt Yard was sparkling with decorations. City Hall had a light show on the front of the building containing holiday images including a toy train, presents, snowflakes and turning it into a gingerbread house. 

A similar light show was projected on the front of the old post office in Dartmouth which I visited on a different night. It wasn't as interesting as City Hall. While there was no official tree lighting this year in Dartmouth, the tree by Sullivan's Pond was lit up so I checked that out and the bridge across the salmon ladder even had lights on it. 

Many other displays were around including at Bishops Landing, the Citadel signal mast, Killam Brewery Market and the Historic Properties. I really enjoyed the part of the festival that I did participate in and hope they can have the 2021 version not online at all so I can check out more.