DEERLY BELOVEDS

Every summer I bunk in for a couple of weeks with my old pal Anne Wood at her fabulous rural house in Maders Cove, Nova Scotia, which is so woodsy mossy it comes complete with deer. The house overlooks the ocean and there is nothing to do but consume vast quantities of sea food, go thrift shopping at Guy’s Frenchys, read books on the porch, drink wine and watch the hair on our legs grow.

A couple of the deer population mows the lawn at Anne’s rural retreat.

A sailboat at sunset -- the view from the porch. It doesn’t suck. We even saw the legendary Bluenose schooner, which is based in Lunenburg, sail by one afternoon.

Je t’adoor: A display of colourful doors at the Mahone Bay Sunday flea market.

An amazing antique Chinese kimono (for display only) at Peacocks Vintage on the main drag in Mahone Bay, my go-to shop in the town.

Anne at Risser’s Beach at low tide, one of our favourite walks.

A bush of berries found cliffside at the ocean fronting Anne’s place. They cry out for vodka but are so deadly even the deer won’t eat them.

One of the scallop dishes I devoured. By the time I left, they had to restock the province of scallops, lobster and mussels.

The residue from two orders of steamed mussels from the fabled Magnolia’s Grill in Lunenburg, which has been featured in a number of movies, one of which starred local celeb Tom Selleck.

An unretouched sunset over the ocean. We even saw the Milky Way one night.

The cut velvet Etro jacket I scored at the Liverpool location of Frenchy’s for $4.50. It was an incredible deal despite the $12 I shelled out for dry cleaning considering the entry level for the Italian label is Etro ranges a smidge under $1,000.

This leopard tutu with fuchsia ruffle is another Frenchy’s find destined for a friend’s newly-minted granddaughter.

Note how the remains of a bowl of pickled beets pick up the exact shade of fuchsia as the tutu. Talk about the ultimate accessory.