Rosh Hashanah 5785

Let’s be honest, I didn’t know if I was going to write this post. Honest. I didn’t know how to share the happiness, the joy, the celebration that is a new year while there is so much hatred, so much loss, so much heartbreak and anger. But, as I was sitting here getting ready for Chag (it’s currently 9:35 on October 2), I was just so overwhelmed, so moved and I wanted to get some of my words out. 

This year has undoubtedly been one of the hardest. Not to be Jewish- being Jewish is the easiest thing in the world, like breathing, but to exist in a world that wants to see Jews no longer. I know that sounds harsh, but that is the blunt honest reality we are living in. I have never in my life seen such vitriol, such pretzel twisting to make the Jewish people (and their state) the oppressors, such rewriting of history. It has been shocking. 

5784 was a tough one, probably one of the toughest we’ve experienced in a long time (and that is saying something), but it wasn’t all bad. 

Such unity, such embrace, such joy in simply existing, in being alive, in our blessings and protections from above in our faith and community. If it has been heartbreaking and horrifying to see outside the world, it has been heartwarming and comforting to see within our community. 

As we wander into these high holidays (some of the most important in our calendar) I know that we will be both celebrating, holding space for those no longer here, and also waiting with a small amount of bated breath- what next. But above all, we will be praying. Praying for ourselves, our families, our friends, our community, the hostages, the displaced, and our community as a whole. 

For me personally, 5784 was a tough one, but I am looking forward to 5785; to this fresh start, new beginning, and a lightness that I just feel is coming our way. I feel like it is going to be a bit of a transitional year on a personal level. I am doing a lot of looking, not necessarily just inward, but also at our larger community (and not even just the Jewish community). I am trying to once again find my place in it, find where I can do the best, and really strive to make an impact. 

There is a lot our world needs right now, but I believe at the core, we need to hold kindness in our hearts and in our words. I think we need to hold cooler heads, more abilities to listen and engage, and that these will allow for real meaningful change to happen. It’s a big ask, it’s a dreamer’s words, and sometimes it really seems impossible. To that, I think the best place to start is with kindness. Kindness opens doors, allows for cooler heads, and shows us a path forward. So, with that, my word this year is going to be Chesed (which is much much more than just kindness, but it embodies the feeling that I want to bring to this year).  

I hope this year brings peace, kindness, warmth, and joy to all of our lives. 

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The Wild Wild West – 2024

We went West- to the Wild Wild West. It was exactly as expected- gunfights in the street, saloons and drinks galore, and an experience to be had! Over Labor Day Weekend we went to Tombstone, AZ and spent the weekend reveling in the 1800’s. We saw 6 gunfights, ate at 2 saloons, and wandered back in time for 48 hours. 

***Quick note- if you do visit Arizona, please remember that they do not do Daylight Savings Time, so your hours will shift no matter where you travel from. We completely forgot about this! ***

We started our weekend in Bisbee- at the Copper Queen Mine. We initially tried to get lunch at Bisbee Breakfast Café (which looks absolutely delicious), but they were packed, and the wait was a little too long for us to make our tour time. It was a definite bummer as all the food options look delicious. It did give us a chance to wander up and down the main street of what was once upon a time Lowell, AZ. A street very much stopped in history- old cars, antique stores, and beyond. 

From there, we just grabbed a snack and headed to Copper Queen Mine for a tour. Copper was initially discovered in Bisbee in the 1820’s by a Lt. Dunn, however production at the mines didn’t begin until 1880. Copper Queen Consolidated Mining Company was a subsidiary of Phelps Dodge Corporation and became the dominant force in the mining of the area. Mining operations continued until 1975 when the mines closed, leading the mayor of Bisbee (Chuck Eads) to develop the idea of the mine tours. The Mine Tour opened to the public in February 1976.

On the tour, you get a vest, hard hat, and light before heading on the train down into the mine. You are walked through the history of mining in the region, the day to day of a miner, the different tools they would use, and finally you are able to see what they are actually looking for (i.e., what Copper looks like in rocks). It was really fun and educational for the boys. We walked away learning something new (this was our second mine tour). 

From there we headed to Tombstone, checking in to our AirBNB, and then headed to Allen St (which is like Main St of Tombstone) with the intention of getting dinner. Now, our AirBNB hosts gave us a heads up, but everything short of food closes at around 5PM. So, if you’re needing anything, wanting to check out any venues, or want to do a little shopping, you’ll need to do it before 5. Not a bad thing, just a warning. I think the only place that stays open “late” is Bird Cage Theatre as they do Ghost Tours a bit later on. 

We stopped for dinner at our first Saloon, Big Nose Kate’s Saloon. This is the exact vibe you’re going for in Tombstone. Everyone is in full costume, they’ve got a performer on stage, an old Wild West vibe to the décor and the ambiance and the food was good! A little history of the saloon and people (because everywhere has history)- Big Nose Kate was potentially the first prostitute in Tombstone AND Doc Holliday’s girlfriend. Prostitution was very much a thing (I think we all know that?!) and it happened to be one of the best ways for “single” women to make a living as “suitable” positions did not pay enough. Now, this saloon was once the location of the Grand Hotel. The Grand Hotel was THE place to be and has a long-storied history. While it was the Grand Hotel, there was an individual called “The Swamper”. Officially he was the janitor and handyman of the hotel, but he also had a penchant for siler and tunneled from his basement room to the entrance of a mine shaft to collect silver. 

After dinner we wandered up and down the street to get our bearings, then headed back to our cabin for the night. 

The next morning, we were up early and ready for a day in the Wild Wild West- and boy it was. After grabbing a quick breakfast at “O.K. Café” which was delicious, and then we headed back to Allen St. Our first stop of the day was getting tickets for the show at the O.K. Corral. You have to purchase tickets day of for one of the three showtimes, you cannot purchase in advance. The first showing was at 11, so after we got tickets at 9 AM, we decided to head over to the Saloon Theatre for their gunfight show. They reenact Billy the Kid’s first shoot out, a shoot-out with Frank Leslie, and then an Earp shoot out. This is an inside show, with very real guns, and they do give hearing protection. We enjoyed this one- it made those western shows feel a bit real-er to everyone. 

From there we went over to the O.K. Corral to watch the “Shootout at the O.K. Corral”- which, the shootout actually occurred behind the corral in an empty lot, but what is history after all. So, this shootout (if you didn’t know the history) is between the Earps/Doc Holliday and the McLaury’s/Clanton’s. The Cowboys (Mclaury’s and Clanton’s) were creating all sorts of trouble- drinking a lot, gambling a lot, shooting off guns where they shouldn’t have been, and the newly deputized Earp Family were not interested in that continuing. There were threats, rivalries, stealing of wives, and it all led to a (very short) shootout between the two rivals. In 30 seconds, 30 shots flew and three died. Tom McLaury, Frank McLaury, and Billy Clanton are all buried in Boothill Cemetery (more on that later). 

Fun fact- the gunfight occurred outside the office of THE photographer of Tombstone (C.S. Fly), however there were no photos as he was busy when the unplanned shootout occurred. 

This was a really fun one to attend- the actors were great, they play off the audience well, and once it is over you can wander through the entire property, which allows you to go through a couple different buildings to picture life in that time. Your ticket also includes a chance to watch the Historama (which we did- I would say if you’re interested then attend, but it isn’t necessary) and tickets to the Epitaph- which was the newspaper of Tombstone (we did this as well- it’s very small and it will take about 10 minutes to see everything within). 

Now we attended during Labor Day Weekend, which meant that they were going all out and there were two performing troupes that were performing gun fights in the streets throughout the weekend, as well as the casket/hanging booth. We watched several gunfights from Arizona Gunfighters, and all four of us were “hung” in the streets of Tombstone. It was an experience, that is for sure. 

We wandered down to the Tombstone Courthouse for a quick walk through. The courthouse was original built in 1882 and was once the offices of the sheriff, recorder, treasurer, courtrooms, jailhouse, and board of supervisors. It was a very active busy building! Now, as you walk through the rooms, you are treated to a history lesson of just about anything you could think of relating to the Wild Wild West- from cattle ranching to gun fights, to Mexican/American skirmishes and more. While this maybe doesn’t have the same amount of sensationalist history as some other locations, it’s still a really neat spot to stop at.  

We did two more things in Tombstone, the first was to visit the history Old Bird Cage Theatre. This was the most famous spot of its time- known as the “wildest, wickedest night spot” in the west.  The name pays homage to the Bird Cage crib compartments that overhang the gambling and dancing areas. These compartments were where the prostitutes would try to solicit the men below (think she’s a bird in a gilded cage)- and they are still in the theatre. In fact, this is the ONLY building in Tombstone that is as it was. This includes bullet holes, gambling tables (the one where the longest poker game in history occurred), the original curtain and painted stage, as well as the piano. When it was open, it was open, never shutting its’ doors, seeing 16 gunfights for a total of 140 bullet holes within the building. It is full of history, and it is basically locked in time. It closed in 1889, and then was boarded up for almost 50 years. Then in 1934 it became A Historic Landmark of the American West and was opened to the public to visit. 

This is a MUST SEE in my opinion, not only because of the history, but also because it is the ONLY historic landmark in its original state. It is a self-guided visit, though you are able to do a family tour, and if haunting/ghost things are your thing, you are able to do a ghost tour (as this is one of the most haunted buildings in the country). 

The final stop we made on our way out of town (ironically enough) was Boothill Graveyard. Originally “The Tombstone Cemetery”, this burial plot dates back to 1878 and was used until 1884. It holds the graves of the cowboys from the shootout (McLaury’s and Clanton’s), the men that were hung after the Bisbee Massacre as well as the man lynched from the same event, two marshals, and Lester Moore (of the no les, no more rhyme if you know it). There are many many more (a total of 265 graves), all for a variety of reasons. When you enter, they will give you a pamphlet that breaks down every grave as well as a reason for death if known. 

And that really tops off our time in Tombstone! We had a really fun time, and the kids were obsessed (and they have shockingly good reflexes). 

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August 2024 Reading Wrap Up

I feel like posting a reading wrap up is a sure sign that we are back! Back in action! August was quite the reading month- I introduced a new series on my social media (IG, Facebook, Tik Tok all- @acuppacosy) where I pair a couple of books with a cocktail of a sort and then you get my thoughts on the cocktail, the books and if it worked out. I’ve filmed two episodes so far (posted one, another is coming very soon!) and I truly am enjoying it. I’ve also posted a “silent review” video to pair with this post. So, shameless plug if you’re not following me on social media, you’re possibly missing out haha! 

 Ok. Let’s get into books and thoughts and reviews, shall we? A little stat breakdown for you- I read a total of 7 books (and DNF’d 1), with an average rating of 3.12. My favorite was The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst, and my least favorite was Quicksilver by Callie Hart. See all my thoughts below! 

Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin 4 Stars I really enjoyed this story- it is simply a coming-of-age story, with a minor climatic event, but ultimately it is a story of friendship. It ambles around a little bit, but in a way that works, and the writing is wonderful. 

 Quicksilver by Callie Hart 1 Star This was not my jam…at all. I found the trope redundant; I wasn’t a fan of the characters. Not sure what else, but it just did not work for me.  

Born of Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout 4 Stars I really enjoyed this concluding novel to the series- and make no mistake, this is the superior series in the world that Jennifer Armentrout has created.  

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst 5 Stars This was easily one of my favorite books of the month, maybe even of the year. This was just a wholesome cozy fantasy romance. Very low stakes, I would almost just consider this a cozy romance, but there are some fantasy elements within. 

 Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanaugh 3.5/4 Stars I’m not sure where this falls on the rating scale. I enjoyed this book, and the twist was spot on (both of them), but I also didn’t feel super strongly about “loving” it. It is a solid thriller.  

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay 2 Stars Boy was this a disappointment. I liked the script, that was where Tremblay really shined, but when we went into the narrative of the book it lost me. I can understand the reasoning and where the jarring can work for the story, but instead for me it just pulled me out in a different way.  

***Quick interjection- when it comes to romance, I don’t typically have a lot to say, so you might see the next two reviews (and future romance ones) being a bit shorter. And yes, I’m reading romance, I started sometime in the New Year, and it has stuck haha.  

Drive Me Crazy by Carley Robyn 3 Stars This was a solid romance- a racing romance that I quite enjoyed. The spice level wasn’t the highest I’ve ever read, but it was a cute one that I enjoyed.  

The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson 3 Stars This was another solid romance- I might have preferred this one above Drive Me Crazy. A bit more spice and the third act was a bit more…a fight (?) rather than a miscommunication.   

That wraps up August! I will say- I am excited to get into the ‘Ber months, the more atmospheric reads, the darker novels. Happy Reading!

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Initial Thoughts on Texas

We’ve been in Texas now for a little over a month and it’s…surprised us. I figured I’d round up some of our initial…thoughts as well as some of the things we’ve done. We are only here (maybe) for a year, so we’re in a “hit the ground running” headspace, but also trying to make sure we don’t burn out with everything else going on. 

Initial Thought #1: The Heat

We are in the very southwest edge of Texas, which basically means we are in the desert, and yes, it is very hot here. And yes, it can definitely be miserable (that afternoon walk to pick the boys up from school is BRUTAL), but it’s also not as bad as we thought it would be. Since it’s the desert it’s a dry heat, aka no humidity, which means that you’re baking, but you’re not in a sauna. You don’t feel all the wetness and stickiness in the air combined with your own sweat. The good news is I’m making great use of all the sundresses! They’re one of the few things that are bearable to wear in the heat- loose & flowy & breezy.

Now, while the heat isn’t that bad, the bigger problem is that bright orange ball in the sky that provides the heat. There is very little in the form of cloud cover here. In fact, on the way home we take the route with the most tree shade- just for the half a second relief it provides. There is very little relief from the sun, and while there can be a breeze it’s very much a come and go situation. It’s enough to tease you but leave you and remind you just how hot it can be. 

Initial Thought #2: Things to Do

We’ve found no shortage of things to do here- from hiking, to shopping, to dining, and more! Not to mention, it’s not too far for us to travel (we’ve already got a trip planned and booked out, with a second in the works). I’m starting to possibly find my little community here; between a book club and a couple social clubs it’s keeping me busy and I’m hoping to start volunteering within our community soon! Um, also (not quite in the things to do category, but still) the people here are so nice?! I don’t think I’ve ever gotten so many compliments in such a short period of time before (and no…ahem I’m trying to not let it go to my head haha). 

We’ve already done two hikes here (and another walk), attended a baseball game (we’ve got Triple A Baseball here), as well as driven around quite a bit. We’ve had true hole in the wall Mexican food (which was what I was looking forward to) and have so many plans at this point it’s going to be fun pinpointing what we do next! Our own personal activity levels for the whole family have already increased just to walking to/from school (riding the bike for my husband) several times a day. That and the fact that the location makes it easy to do hikes and bike rides (other than having to get up before the sun to beat the heat). 

Overall Thoughts: 

I’ve always approached every move trying to find the positive, the good things about each spot. I find that it helps make the daunting task of moving so frequently be a little easier. I’m not going to lie, while I was never truly dreading this move, I was always a little apprehensive. I was worried about the heat, the length of time we would be here, the schools, etc. But what I’ve found has truly surprised me and my husband. The fact that we’ve already really enjoyed our time here says a lot (not to mention our personal fitness and health will be trending very positively here haha). I’m truly looking forward to what the next 10-11 months will bring us, rather than wondering what will come next after we leave here. 

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Hello? Is anyone out there? It’s me, Mia…

Man, this is feels weird, but we’re going to just try and roll with it? I haven’t been here on the blog in a minute- or like a year. To be honest, we were in a “don’t add anything extra to our plate” patch of life. A lot of things happened at once- I started a contract job, my husband deployed, the kids were in the start of school (and I mean beyond just Kindergarten, but when things really start to click and things require a bit more attention and conversation), we were inundated with some up in the air life changes, lots of sports and, honestly, just general life. I went from having my partner, my love, to juggling a lot more on my own than originally anticipated.

But it’s ok! We made it through, we could almost consider the idea that we thrived, and we are on the other side. The kids handled the deployment (and mommy suddenly working) like the champs they are, and they’ve handled all the subsequent changes post deployment and working mom life incredibly well. 

We’ve relocated. As with the military, we move every three years or so. This year we are in Texas for the year as my husband attends a school (which should hopefully mean lots of family time and some traveling), and as for what’s next? Well, that’s anyone’s guess (though not really- we’ll start to have some ideas, but nothing set in stone for a long while yet). 

I mentioned that I headed back to work the past year- which was so good for me in so many ways. I took a contract position (though I could debate that for a long while) in the same unit my husband works in. I had a long list of things I did and what fell into my purview, but it could be summed up as helping soldiers and families with information and resources. (That makes it neat and tidy, right?). I learned so much, both in terms of the job and in terms of myself and I’m not a bit…adrift maybe? I won’t be working while we are here in Texas, but in the future, I want to find a way to do the same sort of work that I did for the past year. This job was so fulfilling for me in so many ways because at its core it was identifying issues, assisting families and soldiers, and trying to make a difference on a small scale. While I would love to make a difference on a much larger scale, I truly believe in those small acts, those small things having a larger impact. 

What else to share? What else to talk about? I feel so rusty at this…

My reading has picked back up now that life has slowed back down a bit- during our move vacation I managed to read 12 books! It definitely kicks started my reading back in high gear as things had stalled a bit when we were looking at reunion and initial move stuff. Of those books, I found a new favorite Fantasy series- The Kindred Curse Saga, the first book being Spark of the Everflame. These books are incredible- they suck you in and once you start you won’t want to stop. Seriously- I joined the midnight reading club several nights (in a row) and I quite literally did not read anything else in that time.  

I’ve also managed to pick up the camera and film some things- short form content for the most part, but I’m enjoying that as well! I’ve found that it’s something that I enjoy both creating and consuming. You can find me on Instagram as always at @acuppacosy, but I’ve also recently decided to get into the TikTok game (after lurking for literal years). 

I’m not sure what this blog is going to look like or turn into as I feel settled but also in limbo, so we’ll take it one week, on post at a time. In the meantime, Shabbat Shalom and have a great weekend! 

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A Cuppa Cosy Summer Holiday 2023 – Halifax, Nova Scotia

I know I said that we really loved everywhere that we stopped on this year’s Summer Holiday, but I feel like Halifax might…just might have topped the list? I don’t know, so many good stops, but this one was just…stuck with me. Maybe it’s because of timing and what we did, maybe it’s the vibe of where we were, maybe it’s just a magical thing that Halifax has. Regardless, I am so excited to talk about the few days we spent in Halifax. 

We arrived in Halifax on Canada Day. And everyone has asked (especially with our timelines of summer travel), what Canada Day is like in Canada. Is it similar to America’s Independence Day? Is it wildly different? What is it like?

And I am here to say- it’s by and large probably about the same. You have some people who are loudly pro Canada and choose Canada Day to proclaim it, but honestly, for the most part people…calmly celebrated? I don’t know how to explain it. For us in Halifax, everyone was wearing red/white, there was a massive block party on the pier, but it was also just chill. Some of that was possibly due to weather- it was overcast day with low hanging clouds (so no plane show or fireworks), but I do also wonder if this is just the way the people of Canada celebrate. 

So, we had a delightful first afternoon/evening in Halifax. After checking in, we headed over to the Halifax Citadel. But let’s talk a little history first. 

Halifax is the capital, and largest city, in Nova Scotia. Originally known as Mi ’ kma ’ ki it is the ancestral home of the Mi ‘ kmaq people- something they acknowledge and honor very well. The “Town of Halifax” was established in 1749 and marked the beginning of Father Le Loutre’s War. The establishment of Halifax the British violated their treaties with the Mi’kmaq. To bolster the town defenses, the British built the Citadel in Halifax, along with several other fortifications in neighboring areas. 

Halifax Citadel was initially fortified in 1749 intended to not only serve Halifax defensively, but also as a counterbalance to the French Louisbourg. It was small, part of a western perimeter wall and was protected by five stockaded forts. The city of Halifax was raided four times during that initial war; however, the Citadel was taken care of, and by 1761 it had deteriorated so much that the British built a new one…in 1776 (thanks to the Seven Years War). This second fort was a permanent fortification. There were redans, a blockhouse, and 72 mounted guns. This Citadel gave the Royal Navy the most secure and strategic base in North America. Halifax became known as the “Warden of the North”. It is also thought that this presence is why Nova Scotia stayed loyal to the British during the Revolutionary War. However, permanent these fortifications were intended, by 1784 they were once again in ruins and with the French Revolutionary War coming (and parts of Canada very much French), a new Citadel was designed and built. With the Third Citadel, they levelled and lowered the ground to allow for a larger fortification. We see the initial signs of the current set up, with four bastions surrounding the barracks and magazine. In 1803 the Halifax Town Clock was opened to keep time for the soldiers (this was a real issue then). This third Citadel is also where we see the system of flag communications come into play. While it didn’t fall into complete disrepair, it did need a new magazine and a slew of repairs when the War of 1812 came around. However, in 1825 they decided to scrap most of the citadel (due to disrepair) and rebuild. After 28 long years of construction, the Citadel as we see it today opened in 1856. The overall history of the military AT the Citadel has been quite varied. It’s seen a fair number of soldiers, but never an attack. The British Army pulled out in 1906, with Canada taking over. 

While the hill and fortifications were designated historic sites in 1935, there was still quite a bit of talk about tearing it down. Thankfully that was struck down, and in 1956 it opened some of its’ doors to the public. Over time it has been repaired and in the 1990’s it became fully restored to the Fourth Citadel appearance. Nowadays it is fully open to the public, with it transforming into a living history museum during the spring/summer months. There is a noon-time canon firing, a war museum, ghost tours in October, and reenactments throughout the year. We always enjoy walking through military history- especially if it’s from another country, with a different insight. And in this case, it was a defensive fort that never really got attacked. 

While in town we also wandered over to the Old Burying Ground. The cemetery was founded in 1749- with its’ first burial taking place the same year. Intended as a common burial ground it remained open for burials until 1844, when Camp Hill Cemetery was established. If you’ve read enough of my travel blog posts, you’ll know we find it interesting and cool and just a piece of history to wander through older cemeteries. In the 1980’s the site was restored by the Old Burying Ground Foundation, who now not only maintain the cemetery, but also work to restore the grave markers. This particular cemetery is said to hold 12,000 graves, to include the British Major General who burned the White House during the War of 1812. The monument at the front of the cemetery is the Welsford-Parker Monument. This is the first public monument in Nova Scotia, and the fourth oldest in all of Canada (and the only monument to the Crimean War in North America). Built after the cemetery closed, it commemorates British Victory in Crimea and serves as the last grave marker in the cemetery. 

I would say the real highlight of our entire Summer Holiday occurred on our second night in Halifax. We were able to attend the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo. And honestly, before I go any further, if you are ever able to make it to an International Tattoo- go. It is incredible to watch.

The Tattoo is intended to serve as a theatrical experience where military bands and display teams are able to showcase their abilities. The Halifax one has been taking place since 1979- ever year. Aside from being able to showcase a variety of military bands across the world, there is also a theme of friendship and bonds between countries in each year’s performances. The Halifax Tattoo was given the “Royal” designation from Queen Elizabeth II in 2006. This past year we were able to watch acts not just from the United Kingdom, America, and Canada, but also from Germany and South Korea- which was really cool! Germany was a hilarious performance, and the boys loved the Sweet Caroline singalong as well as the bagpipe rock n roll. My personal favorite was the Switzerland Drummers. For a little insight into the performance- check out my Instagram where I’ve posted a video. It was incredible- a real highlight. 

Our last day in Halifax we started off back at the Marina and checking out the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Located at the HMC Dockyard, this is the first known maritime museum in Canada and also includes a visit to the CSS Acadia.  The Museum has a large number of artifacts and photos, but also charts and rare books. You can see everything from the artifacts to replica’s that are being worked on (and the workshop where they get worked on!). You can wander through numerous exhibits, and the boys got to learn how to spell their name in Morse Code. There are actually two truly notable exhibits in the museum- one on the RMS Titanic and one on the Halifax Explosion. 

The Halifax Explosion was one of the largest artificial non-nuclear explosions (and is actually a standard of measurement for other large blasts). In December of 1917 a French Cargo Ship collided with a Norwegian Ship in the harbor. This is actually quite a tragic, but fascinating event in their history. The Mont-Blanc was carrying quite a high number of explosives (unannounced too so only those on board knew), which upon the crash caught fire and exploded. The explosion destroyed almost all the immediate radios buildings, and anything that wasn’t immediately destroyed by the explosion was then destroyed by the pressure wave and tsunami.  1600 people were killed instantly and 300 of the 9000 injured succumbed to those injuries. A good amount of the city ended up burning due to the gas stoves and lamps, and if you had been watching the fire? You surely lost your sight when the explosion blew your windows out. In fact- there is an exhibit of replacement eyeballs. 

To make matters worse- the day after a blizzard dropped 16 inches of snow on Halifax the next day. Not only stalling recovery efforts and supply deliveries, but also making it incredibly difficult for those trying to find shelter. 

While it was a horrifying event, it did lead to some good- quite a few medical advances came from the months post explosion- specifically in eye care, public sanitation, and maternity care. It also helped deepen the bond between Boston and Halifax (which dated back to the founding of Halifax). Boston was such a help that every year Halifax sends a Christmas Tree to Boston- which is the official Christmas Tree of Boston and is on the Boston Commons every year. 

The Titanic Exhibit is equally fascinating as it has the foremost collection of wooden artifacts from the Titanic (including one of those infamous deck chairs). Nova Scotia and Halifax in particular played a large part in the collection of bodies from the Titanic. As the only unfrozen port, they were dispatched to help provide assistance. I’ve already mentioned the deck chair, but they’ve also got the shoes that were used to identify the “unknown child” of Titanic, an original copy of the senate hearings/testimony from after the sinking, and so much more. We were at the museum not long after the situation with the Titan, which made it all the more real and sobering for the kids (who followed what was happening with the submersible). 

We did two more things during our time in Halifax, one being a wander through the Halifax Public Gardens. This is a Victorian-era public gardens dating back to 1867. The Public Gardens are 16 acres, landscaped in the Victorian style, with all the standard garden fare, but also three fountains, two stone bridges, three ponds and a concession stand. There is a public bandstand that allows for concerts in the summer, and we spent a lovely hour or so wandering through the gardens. 

And how did we find the gardens? Well, yes, it’s on Trip Advisor and such, but also by taking a Duck Boat tour of the city. Yep, we finally did a ride along tour of a city. The boys saw these vehicles that would drive around on land, but also head into the water and they were obsessed. Since the weather wasn’t entirely cooperative during our stay (though we still loved it), we decided why not. It was actually a really interesting time, and we enjoyed learning a little bit more about city and some little bits and pieces we probably wouldn’t have learned. And of course- the boys loved when the truck turned into a boat, and they got to ride along the harbor in the water. 

And that basically sums up our time in Halifax! In just looking at the length of this post, I think you could probably tell how much I enjoyed our time there, but in case you can’t- we really did like it. There’s only one more post coming about our Summer Holiday- I’m sad to say a farewell to it, but it was a good one. 

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A Cuppa Cosy Summer Holiday 2023 – Prince Edward Island

Ah an island is a sure-fire way to spend a little time relaxing while you are on a holiday. And that is exactly what we intended when we booked a few nights on Prince Edward Island. A slower pace, surrounded by water, what more could you ask? We decided to stay in a little cabin (it’s a hotel, cabins with 2 bedrooms, a kitchen and living room) right outside of Cavendish. This spot allowed us to see most of the Island one way or the other and still allowed us to be in an inlet on the island. It was also very close to the home of L.M. Montgomery…yes Anne of Green Gables. Which is where we’ll begin…

Lucy Maud Montgomery was born in what is now called New London on Prince Edward Island. Her mother died when she was just under 2 and her father placed her in her grandparents’ care who raised her in the Cavendish community. She spent much of her childhood alone and that fueled her creativity. She spent a single year with her father in Prince Albert, but it was not a time she enjoyed, having not liked her stepmother. She later attended college for her teacher’s license- completing her requirements in half the time allotted for the degree.  She did continue to study in Halifax in the following years. Teaching was not her passion, but it did allow her to write freely- and write she did. 

Now, L.M. Montgomery is most known for her Anne of Green Gables series, but she published a total of 20 novels, 530 short stories, 500 poems, and 30 essays in her lifetime. She also had a fair amount of suitors before marrying Ewan MacDonald in 1911. Now they were quite a mismatch, and they had their own struggles throughout their marriage, at one point they did in fact consider divorce, but in the end tried to work through it. They had three children, though the second was stillborn. She suffered a very serious depression after her third child, dealt with migraines, as well as almost succumbed to the Spanish Flu in 1918. She is the most successful Canadian author of all time, though many in her time dismissed her works. She died in 1942, her cause of death was listed as due to a blood clot, however this was disputed by a family member who said she may have overdosed after years of battling depression. 

We spent our first afternoon in Cavendish visiting the Green Gables Heritage Place. This is a National Historic Site that, while isn’t the actual farmhouse of her childhood (that was torn down by her family due to tourists), this is a replica of the Green Gables of her books. When I say it was like walking through a fairytale- I’m not joking. You can wander through the farmhouse, see the homestead, walk along Lover’s Lane, or go back to the Haunted Woods and Balsam Hollow. You are also able to see the remains of L.M. Montgomery’s home as well if you want to. It was raining off and on while we were there, so we stuck to the farmhouse, the Lover’s Lane, and the museum. 

Fun fact- the land was purchased by the Government of Canada and was initially set aside to become a clubhouse for the golf course right down the road. However, the public would not stand for this and after her death it was turned into a historic house. The interpretative center was added in 2017 to make it what it is today. It was quite the property to visit and a truly special way to spend an afternoon! We loved it- there was something for everyone. 

Now let’s talk about Prince Edward Island in general. One of the three maritime provinces, it was originally the traditional lands of the Mi’kmaq. The French landed and colonized in 1604 and held on to it until the end of the French and Indian War- where it was ceded to the British. Most of the island is devoted to farming- in fact a quarter of Canada’s potatoes comes from Prince Edward Island. Another fun fact- they used to have quite a large population of large game- moose, bear, caribou, etc.- but due to over hunting and other factors, they are no longer found on the island. You can see small game, foxes, coyotes and several bird’s species. 

We spent one day exploring a variety of beaches and cliff sides of the island. Most of these were actually red dirt, which, made for a very pretty site against the backdrop of the green grasses and blue waters. It was actually so pretty! The second day we drove over to Charlottetown to wander the capital city. Named for Queen Charlotte, it was selected to be the county seat of Queens County. It was also the location of a raid during the American Revolution. Charlottetown became a city in 1855 and in 1874 a railway opened a main line between Charlottetown and Summerside. One of my favorite spots was to walk along the marina in Charlottetown and then up through some of the areas that still hold on to the Victorian era architecture. 

And that really sums up our time on Prince Edward Island. It was slow, it was easy, it was beautiful. It was somewhere we would go back to- happily. 

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A Cuppa Cosy Summer Holiday 2023 – Quebec City

It is finally time to start breaking down our Summer Holiday. It’s a bit late in the posting lineup, but we had a truly fantastic trip, and I can’t wait to share all the details! We did a bit of an East Canada tour de force- starting in Quebec City and ending back in New York. I think this was one of our top trips in that we loved everywhere we went. We found some real gems in these cities and really fell in love with some of these spots. So, here we go with where we started…

We spent three nights in Quebec City and the bulk of our time was spent wandering the city. We stopped in places from time to time, but we really just walked the streets of the city and enjoyed our time. I’ll highlight a couple of the spots we did go to and the history, but I highly recommend just wandering the city streets of both upper and lower downtown. The days that we were there we did (and you’ll see) have some air quality issues, with the wildfires raging out of control. 

A real quick note on the “Upper Town”/” Lower Town” designations. I’m not making these up- this is very much how they are referred to. Upper Town is the location of the military and civic/admin district. Most buildings in this area are 19th century, though there are some 17th/18th century ones. Lower Town is at the “bottom” of the cape. This is the site that Samuel de Champlain built a settlement. The Church Notre-Dame-des-Victoires is located in Lower Town (dated back to 1723) as well as the Musee de la civilization.

Quebec City dates back to 1608 when the French, specifically Samuel de Champlain, settled the area- making it one of the oldest European settlements in North America. The ramparts (which we walked) are the only remaining fortified city walls remaining in the North Americas (north of Mexico). The “Historic District of Old Quebec” is a World Heritage Site (as of 1985) and honestly one of the coolest spots to walk around. Now, while the French “founded” the city, it was actually an abandoned Iroquoian settlement called Stadacona. The city itself has quite the history, specifically during the French and Indian War where it served as the headquarters for raids against New England. However, Quebec was captured by the British in 1759 and held by them until the end of the war. It was then officially ceded to Britain, though Quebec is still heavily French and both French and English are spoken interchangeably (which gave our boys a chance to learn a couple phrases in a new language!). 

To get a little ahead of myself on our time in Quebec, but stick with the history, we spent an afternoon wandering and touring the Citadelle of Quebec. The Citadelle was initially built due to concerns of an American attack post the American Revolution and the War of 1812 (as America did try to “liberate” Canada from her Sovereign- unsuccessfully). Now, the Citadelle is an active military installation and a secondary (official) residence of the Canadian Monarch and governor general. The Citadelle does join the original fortifications, which is really cool when you think about the history of it all. The entire city itself is surrounded by fortifications. 

When Samuel de Champlain was initially building up the settlement of Quebec, he immediately noted that the Cap Diamant would be of importance and value to any fortifications of the region. When he built up the settlement, he built it in the way that the city would be at the base of the cape, thus allowing the landscape to provide a natural defense. The French initially built up the walls but determined that a fort would cost too much, and it wasn’t until Louisbourg fell that they felt a true need for a fort. The British saw the need for a full fort, but, similar to the French, didn’t want to pay the cost for a full fort. It wasn’t until the late 18th century that they fully committed to building the fort. The present star fort was built from 1820-1850, with the British remaining within the Citadelle until 1871. 

It was really neat to walk through the Citadelle, seeing and learning the history, as well as hearing about their mascot- a goat (affectionally named Batisse)! Even though it is a fully functioning military base, you are able to see quite a bit of the buildings and museums. It is well worth the visit.

Now once you pass through the Old Fortifications to wander through downtown you can head through the streets and up towards the Promenade. This includes the cite of the Chateau Frontenac- one of the most photographed spots in Quebec City. Located in the Upper Town, it dates back to 1893 and was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway company. It is a National Historic Site of Canada and is one of the first completed grand railway hotels. These hotels are hotels that are built as an attachment to the major railways within Canada and were designed to serve railway passengers. A lot of these hotels then became landmarks and are linked to the history of the country itself. And I can definitely understand why- it is just as stunning in person as it is in photos.

Once you walk through the Promenade- called Terrasse Dufferin (and feel like you’ve stepped back into another era- just imagine it!), you can wander down to Lower Town. There are two ways to head down, by funicular or by stair. We chose the stair option because we have a thing for stairs (this is a long running theme from our European Travels). Lower Town has a very definitely different feeling to Upper Town. As you descend you can definitely feel a different vibe- in a way that…might even live up to the names. Upper Town is very…. business like, very prim and proper almost. Where Lower Town can have a bit of a frenetic feeling, a bit of a lighthearted, let loose, kind of feeling. Rue du Petit-Champlain in particular is very neat. We wandered through tight streets, picked up some ice cream, and sat riverside looking up at the Old City. 

Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Quebec was THE church we wandered through during our walks. And let me tell you…it lives up to that name. This is the oldest church in Canada and the first to gain the rank of minor basilica- which happened in 1874. However, this massive cathedral started off as a chapel- the Notre Dame de la Recouvrance- dating back to 1633. In 1647 construction of the actual Cathedral began under the name of Notre-Dame de la Paix. It was destroyed in 1759, rebuilt, and then destroyed again in 1922. Upon its 350th anniversary, a holy door was constructed, the second only to exist outside of Europe, only the eight in existence in the world. It was opened in 2013, for a little over a year, then opened again in 2015. It is not to be opened again until 2025. This particular Cathedral is absolutely incredible- it is pretty high up on my list of Cathedrals and churches, and I’ve seen my fair share. 

We spent a little bit of time exploring the Parliament Building of Quebec, which houses the National Assembly of Quebec. This present building was started in 1877, the first assembly met there in 1884, and the building was completed in 1886. The original building that housed the government was built in in 1648, rebuilt in 1694, and then destroyed in a fire in 1834. The clock tower was installed in 1888, the first addition was completed in 1915, and several more throughout it’s time. The new entrance was completed in 2019. We were able to walk through the halls, see where the government conducts business and learn a little about how it functions. 

One of the final things I want to talk about in Quebec City is the Morrin Centre. This is a 200-year-old building that was initially one of the first jails in the city, turned school, and now is the leading English-language cultural centre and library. A little history, because this building has a LONG one. Initially this space was called the Redoute Royale and served as a military barracks, with the occasional prisoner of war. The original building was demolished in 1808, with the intention of building a new building to serve as the public prison. The new prison was completed and opened in 1813- though it housed prisoners starting in 1812. The prison was quickly put to full use and became overcrowded quickly. In fact, our tour guide told us that it was a common occurrence to get in light in trouble in order to go to the prison and get a meal. There was a total of 16 men hanged in front of the prison and you are able to walk the very same steps those men would have walked. You are also able to see a variety of markings in the basement cells from the prisoners. The prison was officially closed in 1867. 

However, the building history doesn’t end there- it is quickly turned from a prison to a college. Morrin College is the first English language higher education institute. The college partnered with McGill University to allow students to earn Arts degrees, and starting in 1885, the college admitted woman into the program. In 1868 the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec (dated back to 1824) moved into a wing of the College. This Society has played quite the role in preserving the history of Canada- not only gathering and preserving historical documents, but also creating the National Archives, creating a lending library focusing heavily on English-language books, and republishing rare manuscripts. 

The building presently serves as a museum, a cultural centre, as well as a fully functioning library. But also, I mean look at this library- is it not dreamy?

The final stop on our time in Quebec City was the Artillery Park, which is part of the Fortifications of Quebec. This is a “living history” museum that combines actors and artifacts to give a hands-on experience of life under the different rulers of Quebec. We got to experience the British, the French, and the Canadians. The “tour” starts in the arsenal foundry which gives you a full history of the City and its’ fortifications, then a model of Quebec City before you head down to the Dauphine Redoubt- one of the oldest military buildings in North America. Again, you experience life during different military rules. Finally, you stop in the Officer’s Quarters and see how they would have lived in the military area of the city. This building was actually originally a bakery but was repurposed to hold and officer and family. Definitely worth a stop!

And that really wraps up some of the highlights of our time in Quebec City. I will say- we really enjoyed our time. I always note what cities we like to be in (as we aren’t really a city family) and it’s always these Older European or full-on history spots that we prefer. Somewhere we can walk everywhere, see some architectural variety, and surround ourselves with history on every corner. 

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A Cuppa Cosy Reads – June & July 2023

Am I in my romance era??? I’ve always been a proclaimed…romance belongs in movies not the sole plot of a book, girl, but I feel like maybe that’s changing? Or maybe it’s just these dog days of summer getting to me. Regardless, I think I’ve figured out what I like in romance (yes it only took a handful of books to do that) and I’m excited to start intermingling this genre more into my monthly reading. Also- I’ve entered my rereading era- I’ve decided to dive back into a couple of my favorites and mark the living…pages out of them. It’s a fun activity and I am finding all sorts of little tidbits I didn’t get the first time around. 

(The whole era thing has rubbed off on me…sorry not sorry?)

It’s a double header today (a sports- specifically baseball- metaphor today, the boys are also rubbing off on me)- summing up 2 months of books in one post. When June started, I wasn’t doing a lot of reading (I was doing a lot of stressing and anxiety moments, and A LOT of disassociating/scrolling on social media), so when my reading finally took off it was almost halfway into the month. I figured I wouldn’t get too much read as we were headed on holiday…6 books later I realized my mistake haha. Then July was a bit of a hit and miss- the first full week back home from holiday I struggled, but then got back into the swing of reading and haven’t stopped since. 

Over the two months I read a total of 16 books and gave an average rating of 3.46. 

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas 5 Stars – Welcome to my re read era, where I am re reading certain…fantasy romance novels ahead of releases and just for the sheer delight of it. As I’m going, I am marking up my books (I purchased copies specifically for this purpose) and, it’s just been a really fun addition to my reading. A delight. I really think that this particular one is her best in this series objectively. The world expands, we see character growth, and the romance is top notch. 

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren 4 Stars – I want to say this opened the romance era can of worms. I picked it up because I love a good science experiment tells you something about mankind, and this gave me The One by John Marrs but not killer=y vibes. And that’s exactly what it was, and I loved it. Color me shocked (no seriously- romance was the only plot of this book and I loved it). 

The Measure by Nikki Erlick 5 Stars – I have to say, I was not disappointed by this book. In fact, I was crying at the end. This is one of those books that really makes you think, what would I do? I enjoyed seeing a variety of perspectives that fell…real (my biggest gripe- as someone who sees every side- is when an author is clearly one sided but trying to write multiple sides). I highly recommend this one- it is worth it. 

Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman 4 Stars – This solidified my romance era as, like The Soulmate Equation, I really enjoyed this solely romance novel. The subtle Jewishness of it all, the Hollywood commentary, the female writer commentary- this was beyond just a romance but also just a romance. 

Royally Not Read by Meghan Quinn .5 stars/No Rating – Boy was this a miss for me. To be honest, I’m not going to talk too much about this one as I don’t want to bash it- it just…was not the book for me. And we’ll leave it at that. 

A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chamber 3.5 Stars – I really liked this one. It’s just soft and cozy and introspective and gentle. It allows the reader to follow on one person’s journey inwards, while journeying outwards. And a robot who is just trying to understand humanity. Together there is magic, and I loved it. I will say- it did get a bit too slow at points, but only in a mild detract. 

Episode Thirteen by Craig DeLouie 3.5 Stars – I enjoyed this, but I wasn’t freaked out by it, nor do I really know entirely the point of it. I enjoyed that it was all written in transcripts and journal entries, I do feel like that added something and I did enjoy the very last entry of the book, BUT I think that something about this…missed the mark it was trying to hit?

The Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman 3 Stars – This was fine! A short story for Kindle and I didn’t feel strongly one way or the other- a cute coming home story. 

The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison 5 Stars – The last time I felt so conflicted about giving 5 Stars was Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter…but as I said then, I really loved the book, not the content and it was done so well. This was GOOD, from the writing to the story, to the ending. I enjoyed the reading experience, even if the contact is twisted. 

SpyxFamily 3 by Tatsuya Endo NR – This is the next volume, and this was heavily focused on the family life of this little Spy Family. There wasn’t a lot of content, but I feel like it is really setting the story up to move forward in future volumes. 

Everything the Darkness Eats by Eric LaRocca 3 Stars – Boy Eric LaRocca writes some dark stuff. Stories that you don’t really understand while you’re reading, or when you finish it, but is just dark overall. I don’t know how I really feel about this one, other than uneasy. 

Forever Never by Lucy Score 4 Stars – This was a romance that had just enough for me. There was enough outside the romance to move the story forward, the romance was believable and enjoyable (a very will they won’t they set up). This is, I think, the kind of romance that I would read more of. 

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas – 4 Stars Another reread to round out this trilogy and again, I’m loving everything that I am picking up on on this reread. It has me excited to pick up the next couple of books as I know I’ve missed more, and Sarah has a new book coming out soon!

A Soul of Ash and Blood by Jennifer L Armentrout – 2 Stars Let’s talk about books that don’t need to exist and maybe how sometimes giving your readers what they want isn’t the…greatest idea. Because I didn’t need to read the entirety of the first book just retold through someone else’s eyes. Nope. Didn’t need to happen. And we didn’t get any…true insight into the present circumstances of our character that couldn’t have been handled in the next book, or as a novella to bridge books. 

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang – 4 Stars I’m not sure how I want to talk about this book. I really enjoyed it, R.F. Kuang is a truly incredible writer. BUT the topic of conversation in this book is one that we are actively working on within the public and the industry. While publishing is not truly changing anytime soon, there are various bodies within the industry that are working hard to change it and are aware. I think it’s important to read and absorb, but it is difficult to read from this perspective. 

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace – 1.5 Stars Ok- hear me out. I stay far away from figure skating books – unless they are written by actual figure skaters (and sometimes even then too). They are typically quite far-fetched, and I just can’t help but side eye them. But everyone has been raving about this book, its all-over social media, and I do enjoy hockey (despite my better instincts…side eye). And…I mean this ended up being a hate read by the end of it. Not only was the figure skating aspect unbelievably far-fetched to absolutely anyone who is either in the sport or follows it, but the hockey player was a piece of cardboard, and the figure skater had her head stuck so far up her own behind (so maybe spot on?) and was just “so emotionally mature” yet missed the signs of emotional abuse and manipulation by her partner…ok I’ll stop. 

And that wraps the past two months of reading up! Anything stick out to you? What’s been a favorite of your Summer Reading? Overall, I’m glad I’m starting to reach out genre wise once again and it’s paying off- for the most part. 

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A Hearty Hello…Again

A fun fact to start your day off that I’ve just learned this week. Melvil Dewey, of the great Dewey Decimal system, was born in raised in this (where we live) region of the country. He loved education but found the library system lacking in organization- thus the Dewey Decimal System. He came up with it while in his 20’s (but none of us are behind the curve if we haven’t done something incredible yet…) and he was actually the person who created the American Library Association, Library Bureau, Library Cards, and the first library school. But it wasn’t all great (because let’s be honest…it was a certain time in the world), he was also antisemitic, racist, and a serial sexual harasser. 

It’s been a minute, hasn’t it? I didn’t mean to wholly just take such a big break, but there was so much going on that blogging just didn’t feel right. My brain was full of so many open tabs (yep, I’m about to use that analogy) and I couldn’t look at a blank word document and turn it into a full, well rounded, and thought-out blog post. So, I took a step back (though if you follow me on social media, I still updated and posted there). It was partly because I had a lot of moving plates – some I couldn’t share about; some I didn’t want to share about and honestly partly because I went through a little…introspection.

There’s a lot of noise on social media. There’s a lot of noise in our everyday world. And I’ve always been a person that didn’t want to contribute to the noise if it wasn’t…helpful. If I wasn’t sharing something of value, I’d rather not share at all. And to be honest, for a minute there I didn’t really know what was or would be of value. And I don’t mean this in any self-pitying way, or like I don’t think I hold value (or my words hold value) more so I felt like there was a lot changing in our life and I needed to figure out how blogging and sharing was going to fit into it. 

I’ve been blogging for 8-10 years now, and regularly on here for 6 years now. I’ve seen a lot of changes to both myself and my posts and I think I hit a bit of a wall. A bit of…what now, where next, how am I fitting this into my vision. What do I want to talk about? What do I find value in? How do I not just be…noise?

I can’t say that the past couple months have provided any…clarity in that. However, I’ve been reading other “newsletters”, other blogs. I’ve been listening to podcasts. I’ve been handling things and changes and staying open. 

It would be easy to say, oh I’m back because I want to share about our Summer Holiday. And that would be partially true. I do want to share about our Summer Holiday. Talking and sharing about traveling to new places, learning new things- it lights me up. It’s something I love. But I also just feel like we’re entering a new chapter over here (one I WILL talk about at some point), and life is about to get a whole lot more hectic and…I kinda want to talk about the juggle of it all. Because…well I’m a sucker for being over busy (as spring sports season very much reminded me of). 

So…here’s what’s coming your way to start with- a reading wrap up, because we have a lot of books to discuss, 4 travel posts detailing our Summer Holiday, and a little update to my Jewish Reading Project. I want to infuse a little more of the bare and raw Mia into my posts, so don’t be surprised if the voice of the post’s changes ever so slightly. Also, don’t be surprised if those Round the Kettle posts come back at some point. They were fun and didn’t quite translate to a podcast as easily or as well as I’d hoped. 

Fin :)

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