“Close” is relative. Life on the prairies has me about 4,200km away from where I grew up and where my parents continue to live, in Lower Sackville, NS. When work took me to Boston in November for a few days, that was close enough to loop in a quick visit back home to visit with my folks. And for November, I was treated to some beautiful late fall weather to take in a very familiar view from the back deck of my parent’s place.

When I wasn’t helping Dad with a few things around the house and getting his winter tires put on his car, I spent a lot of time on this visit with this cutie curled up on my lap. Tia, about five pounds of boundless poodle energy, is a lover of all people. Every time I walked through the door, she greeted me with more excitement than my own dog does back in Saskatoon.

While this was only a quick visit back to the Halifax area, there was plenty of time for some father-son bonding. First, over fish and chips (oh, how I miss good fish and chips in Saskatoon) and a pint in a downtown pub…

… and then, the next night, after dinner and a couple of pints at another favourite downtown pub, we were off to a Mooseheads hockey game.

On account of it being a Thursday night and early in the season, we were able to score some pretty sweet seats. One of the things I miss about Halifax is getting to a few hockey games each year with my Dad. I’ve been in Saskatoon for most of two winters now and still haven’t gotten out to a hockey game in my new hometown.

And last, but not least, on my last night in Nova Scotia, it was time for an old family favourite – dinner at Swiss Chalet (I can’t believe Saskatoon doesn’t have a Swiss Chalet – it seems a touch un-Canadian), with mom and dad hamming it up for the camera. I’m starting to plan for a return visit in April now, and we’ll likely be back in this same Swiss Chalet at least once, smiling ear to ear again.