NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER...

I have lived in Nova Scotia for two years and found it to be a place of hidden treasures. For such a small province the beauty and awe-inspiring qualities of the landscape and the people are impressive. This past week I experienced one of these hidden treasures - her name is Mrs. G.

First impressions can sometimes be deceiving and Mrs. G. is a perfect example of this adage. At the onset of our meeting, as I sat in the covered porch watching Mrs. G. cradle Jak (the baby we brought with us), I could never have imagined the story and abilities this woman possesses.

Her beautiful lakeside home had been a small waterfront cottage obscured by brush and trees from both the main road and the lake when she moved in over forty years earlier. Now the home has beautiful grounds and modern, comfortable rooms including two covered porches, a workshop, and a garage. The house is filled with art and handicrafts which she created. I'm assured she cooks up a storm and provides petit fours to a caterer for events. So far nothing too unusual but keep going...

Here's where her story becomes really interesting... she is responsible for most of the renovations and I don't mean she envisioned them. She is as comfortable with a power tool in her hand as she is with a mix-master. This incredible woman replaced the electrical wiring in the house which passed official inspection. She rips out walls, installs windows and doors, and for her 25th wedding anniversary gift from her husband, she requested a drill press which he lovingly bought her (accompanied by a mink coat because he thought she deserved it). She is pictured below explaining how the framing of this window had been destroyed by ants and so she replaced it.

She enjoys her yard and has created quite a haven with built up planters, arches of luscious foliage, and layered decks.

Presently she is replacing some of the siding on her house with cedar shakes and I watched as she cut and shaped them for installation. She insists that she is "nothing special or out of the ordinary" but I would have to disagree.

This is Mrs. G. a woman to look up to.

If you know of someone or somewhere which should be featured in this blog please contact me and let me know.