Good morning, friends—it’s Tracy from Nova Scotia Living, and this one is a cozy January catch-up with a whole lot of real life mixed in. We had school cancelled because of the storm, the power went off in the night, and I was stumbling around in the dark trying to get through to Nova Scotia Power. I kept the wood stove going so the house wouldn’t get cold, even warmed up a Tim Hortons coffee on the stove before I headed out with the pups. It was that heavy, wet snow that just weighs everything down, and once the power finally came back on, I swear the whole area could breathe again. Then it’s birthday mode—Messiah’s 16th! Her request was cabbage rolls and carrot cake, so I’m in the kitchen early getting it all going. I boil my cabbage a good 45 minutes because I like the leaves soft (not disintegrating, but cooked, you know what I mean). I mix up a big batch with hamburger, eggs, rice, and seasonings, and I’ll even do a little “casserole” with the bits and bobs that won’t roll nicely. While I’m rolling, I’m also chatting about appointments, hockey, reading lately, and the behind-the-scenes life stuff—because that’s just how our days go around here. Peace, love and happiness, friends.