RMR: Rick and Jann Arden at the Donkey Sanctuary

 One of the best entertainers to come out of the East meets again with one of the best of the west.

Thanks to RMR.

01 - A Mhairi Bhoidheach

 Another great Cape Breton Nova Scotian singer, Mary Jane Lamond. Thanks to The SongsandSingers for posting this video.

I was given this CD as a gift from a good friend of mine, an fellow Nova Scotian English teacher who found it at Tower Records Shibuya in the International section on a sidewalk sale, as many Japanese wouldn't know her. It was a gem, and he knew I'd enjoy it.

Natalie MacMaster and her kids, 2013 Dublin Irish Festival

 This is Cape Breton Nova Scotia's own Natalie MacMaster with her children playing in Dublin, Ireland in 2013. This is the type of music which you can hear all over Nova Scotia, and when Maritimers get homesick, this is what many of us want to hear. Thanks to MrPeabodyPA2 for posting.

Just Passing Through - Episode 1 - Alberta Bound

 A little less then family friendly but right some good! Many a good spud islander has had to go down the road.

Canadian Living Cookies

This next recipie is Honey Oatmeal Cookies. I've decided to use honey nut cheerios to make the flour.


I used a granola cereal and a honey nut cheerios to make the flour mix.


My wife actually liked eating them! WOW, she usually doesn't like oatmeal. But then again, they really are not oatmeal at all.

Snommegeddon aftermath 2014

 A great experience for my children to actually go sledding in Japan. I have just heard as well, that Japan will have another snowfall tomorrow night! Nooooooooooooooooooooooo

More food from home, Peanut Butter Cookies

Many many years ago, while living in Nova Scotia, Petro-Canada, our local gas station had a series of cook books put out by Canadian Living.


The Canadian Living Cooking Collection was a series collection of 8 cookbooks. Their Muffins and Cookies book (1991, Madison Book Group, Toronto) has a Peanut Butter Cookies recipie. So today, with time on my hands, and a bit of a sweet tooth, I've decided to bake them.


Ten minutes in the oven, and they taste pretty darn good!

Snommegeddon in Chiba 2014

snowing just like home.
On the next day, a Sunday, my wife, children, in-laws and the neighbors then had to shovel the snow off our streets. In this part of Japan, there are no plows. I saw one front loader going up a main street when I was walking home Saturday afternoon.
I took my kids out sledding, and their friends have come over. Then, an announcement was made that due to the snow problem, the school lunch program is cancelled for Monday, so the children have an extremely rare day off from school! This is most unheard of here. But back in the Maritimes, many children greet a storm with the 99% chance of a day off from school.
Since my son's playmates want to come over tomorrow, I will watch them if I also am not called into work. As most of the train lines are still affected, I may also be of.

Pub food version one

When I visited Jack Astor's Bar and Grill last September, one of the dishes I tried was Pulled Pork Poutine. Basically bbq pork, on french fries, with cheese and gravy.


Well, it's a bit of a flight to Halifax from here, so I tried making my own.


Once I can upload pictures, I will do so


 The poutine we got from The Battered Fish, just in case the kids didnt like the fish and chips.


making my own poutine

My own chipolte mayonaise made with Tartar sauce and Blairs Sudden Death Sauce

The end result, with bbq pork on top. This was my version of pulled pork poutine. The beer is a non-alcoholic black made by Sapporo Beer. This was a good food to eat during the winter when I was home.

Toad in the Hole - In the Kitchen with Stefano Faita, some comfort food

Toad in the Hole - In the Kitchen with Stefano Faita




I decided to make this for my family tonight, as my kids love the sausage, and I wanted some home food. It's supposed to snow over here in Japan, so I thought I'd make something from home.