Summer is starting to show up here 🌿

Published 26 days ago • 2 min read

Hey Reader

It’s been quiet here since February, but not still, just building.

We’re stepping into that part of Nova Scotia where everything starts to feel more open again. Markets return, roads get more interesting, and even familiar places start to feel different if you’re paying attention.

Recently, I had one of those simple but enjoyable adventures, taking my grandmother, my mom, and my 5-month-old son to the Historic Gardens in Annapolis Royal.

We wandered slowly through the paths and ended up doing something I had forgotten from previous visits. A kind of quiet scavenger hunt without meaning to. Fairy houses tucked into corners you’d miss if you were rushing. Ceramic birds placed high in trees and low near the ground, little details scattered to slow you down and create wonder and curiosity.

It reminded me how much changes when you stop “visiting” a place and start noticing it.

And that’s really where everything here comes from.

🌿 A small idea for your next outing

If you’re heading anywhere this week—familiar or new—try this:

Pick one thing to “collect” with your attention.
Not physically. Just notice it.

doors
colours
small handmade things
boats / fences / windows / signs
anything repeated more than once

You’ll be surprised how quickly a place starts to feel like it’s speaking back to you.

🎪 What’s coming up

I’ll be at a few vendor markets this summer, starting this weekend at the North Mountain Tapestry Market (9:30 a–1 p). Located in Harbourville, so if you are headed to the Apple Blossom Festival, pop up for a great view of the Bay of Fundy and say hi at the vendor market up the hill from the fish market and Trading Company.

These markets are where everything starts to become real for me again—meeting people, hearing stories, and seeing what actually connects in person.

I’ll also be debuting two new pieces there:

an Adventure Journal Notebook — for people who want something closer to a notebook than prompts, with subtle design touches and optional personalization so it still feels like their story
an expanded Adventure Deck — building on the mini version, designed for quick prompts that help you turn an ordinary moment into something worth remembering

🌱 If you’re new here or just catching up

This newsletter is where I share the real-world side of exploring Nova Scotia—small adventures, places worth slowing down for, and the ideas behind what I’m building.

If you want more:

I share full adventure stories + details on the blog
New products + releases go live here
And I’ll be sharing bits of market life all summer as it unfolds on the socials

Thanks for being here.
It makes this feel less like documenting and more like building a shared map of small moments worth noticing.

See you out there,
Nancy

🌿 Field Notes (for turning small trips into bigger adventures)

A few things that help make outdoor outings feel a little easier — especially with family, changing weather, or longer wandering days:

I don’t always stay overnight when I’m out exploring, but I like having a few options saved for anyone who wants to stretch a small adventure into a weekend away.

Some of these are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you book or purchase through them — at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.