Finding beauty in the mundane: April edition

An aspect of slow living that I like to practice is finding beauty in the mundane. I think we spend so much time pursuing a culture of busyness and countless hours of scrolling on social media, that we forget to look around us to appreciate the wonder and beauty that surrounds us. The ordinary things around us are so often overlooked and taken for granted, but perhaps we need to see them with new and open eyes. I often think of the fourteen-word Ezra Pound poem In a Station of the Metro: “The apparition of these faces in the crowd; Petals on a wet, black bough.” There are so many examples of beauty in the world around us, such as a moment captured while taking a train, but most of us are simply too busy “being busy” to pay any attention. Beauty doesn’t have to hit you on the head like the proverbial Road Runner anvil; it’s there is so many subtle ways, if only we pay attention. Recording some of these mundane examples of beauty helps me to keep attention focused on looking for them. To quote author Michael Pollen, “There is just wonder right in front of us, and we don’t spend enough time thinking about it.”

A favourite pastime of mine is visiting local coffee shop and settling in with a book and some people watching. The picture above features espresso, my favourite coffee beverage, and a vegan cardamom bun from the newly opened plant-based coffee shop Bramble Cafe. This picture makes me especially happy because I absolutely love cardamom buns (and most things Swedish), but vegan versions are hard to come by. Most importantly is the availability of a plant-based cafe, which makes my soul sing. I can’t think of a more perfect combination of elements.

I found this beautiful plum-coloured pair of Converse in a local consignment store. I needed to replace an older pair of nicer sneakers, so I was delighted when I found these shoes at less than half the retail price. These are my first pair of Converse and I didn’t realize how good they look on the foot, and especially in this colour. I kept looking down at my feet as I was walking in them to the Bramble Cafe on their first outing and couldn’t keep the smile off my face.

I visited Fisherman’s Cove, in Dartmouth, over the Easter Weekend. The shops were all closed because of the holiday, but I still enjoyed walking around the houses. The cove is a restored 200-year old fishing village, showing the traditional colourful homes for which Nova Scotia is famous. These houses contain shops and restaurants. I would like to visit the Cove during the summer, when it will be busier and, fortunately, it is accessible via public transit. The stores look at little kitschy for my taste, but it would be good fun to explore them. I very much enjoyed seeing McNab’s Island from the Cove perspective, rather than the Halifax Waterfront vista.

I’ll be heading to the UK in June, and this reminded me of the enamel coffee pot and mug that I bought from Liberty the last time I was there. They are part of the folklore series created by Ukrainian artist Nina Jarema. I’ve always loved enamel cups, likely because they remind me of the white mugs that my maternal grandfather used when he served with the RAF. I avoid collecting items, as it goes against my minimalist ethics, but I couldn’t pass this set when I saw it. I’ve had it for years, but I don’t often think to simply look at it just to appreciate its beauty.

New laundry routine

I’ve found a new laundry routine, given my concern about the environmental impact of the laundry strips I have previously been using. I’m now using the Canadian product Nellie’s, in the form of laundry soda and oxygen brightener. Both formulas are in concentrated powder form. I have the tins for both products, as shown in the image about. You need only one tablespoon of each product for a single load. You can buy refills in plastic pouches that can be recycled. Yes, this does create some plastic waste, but at least it’s not going directly into the water, as the plastic in laundry strips can. A bonus is that my laundry is coming out much cleaner, which does make me wonder about the cleaning power of those laundry strips. I can buy Nellie’s at Canadian Tire or Sobeys, so the products are very easily available; I’ve even come across some discounted Nellie’s at Home Sense. I’ve been using the products for about two months and am very pleased with how well they work.

I use other Nellie’s products, namely their dish butter soap, and Ninety-Nine, which uses electrolyzed water (water and salt) to deodorize surfaces, which helps when you live with cats. I use it on furniture and carpets, the litter box, etc. It’s much better than what I used before, which was a combination of water and essential oils, since the latter can be harmful to cats and can have a high environmental impact. The production of essential oils is very resource intensive; for example, it takes about 50 roses to make a single drop of rose essential oil, and 50 lemons to produce a 15 ml bottle of lemon essential oil. Ninety-Nine uses tap water and a very small scoop of regular salt.

Low-buy check-in: Reducing choices

It’s been six-months since I started my low-buy journey, and I’m pleased to report that it’s going very well. I haven’t bought any of the items on my no-buy list, with the exception of two tea towels, which were on sale and perfectly matched the colour scheme of my kitchen. This was a moment of weakness, but at least these are items that I will use, and I do need to replace some older tea towels soon. Still, one small slip over six months is something I can live with.

I’m continuing to focus on paring down my choices. A common problem that many of us use is what is commonly referred to as choice, or decision, paralysis, which is defined as “a psychological phenomenon where an individual feels overwhelmed by the number of options available, leading to difficulty in making any decision. This can occur in various situations, from everyday choices like selecting a meal to more significant life decisions. The abundance of choices can lead to anxiety, stress, and, ultimately, a delay or complete avoidance of decision-making” Source. In our highly consumerist society, I think many of us believe that “more is better” when it comes to having options from which to choose. I think we equate having an abundance of things and choices as a reflection of status and accomplishment. Online vendors such as Shein, Amazon, and Temu of the world certainly contribute to our obsession with having more of everything. Restaurant menus provide pages of food options; although this rarely is a problem for me, as in most cases, my food options in restaurants is limited to one or two items. Still, it’s amusing to watch dinner companions spend several minutes trying to select from the large array of offerings, and often hearing “I can’t decide. Everything looks good.”

Over the years, I’ve learned that reducing choices, while seemingly boring and limited to some, makes my life so much easier. I’ve reduced the size of my wardrobe, and have also limited my colour scheme to no more than three options. In the morning, for example, it’s so easy to get ready for the day if I have access to only one eyeshadow, one blush, one powder, one mascara. I’m still working on reducing lip products, but I’ve pared them down to three.

True to my nature, I’ve spent a lot of time musing over why “variety is the spice of life” doesn’t work well for me in some areas. I think that in many ways it comes down to sensory overload. Since childhood, I’ve been easily overwhelmed by certain triggers, such as loud voices, noisy environments, and bright lights. I become irritable, experience difficulty concentrating, and am driven by a desire to leave the environment. I also have some tactile triggers: I cannot stand the feeling of items such as microfibre, wood (think of the sticks used in ice cream), cotton wool, cardboard, chalk, etc: I find them so raspy against the skin and they actually set my teeth on edge. I hate the feeling of dirt, dust, or soil on my hand and always wear rubber gloves when I do any dusting. I think that being faced with too many choices causes another aspect of overstimulation for me; a cluttered environment for example, makes me feel very overwhelmed and uncomfortable. Reducing my choices in my home and, where possible, my work environment, is not just about sustainable consumption, but a way of helping me find equilibrium and reducing the noise around me. The world around us is getting noisier and busier. While I’m not about to go live on an isolated island, paring down choices is one way to keep that noise at bay.

Low buy check-in: Paring down choices

My low-buy journey is going well so far. I’ve not bought any new or used items from my low-list, unless it was to replace an item that ran out , e.g., sunscreen. I want to add another layer to this journey by trying to reduce some of my decision-making processes and to make smarter choices. This new layer involves having only one item for a specific set of products, wherever this is possible. I already keep my possessions as pared down as possible, but I’m trying to go a step further by sticking to products that I know work, rather than trying new items.

Let me use my hair as an example. I am prone to wanting to try new hair care products to see how well they work, but this often leads to disappointment and a waste of money. It can take time to find products that work, especially if you have curly hair, but I’m trying to stop looking once I find products that work. So, this means having only one of: Shampoo, conditioner, curl styler, and gel. My magpie tendencies often lead me to try new products; while this is an important step in finding the right product that works for me, I tend to keep looking even after I’ve found that product. Case in point: Although I found the holy grail of gels this past year, I still bought two other types to see how they worked which, as it turns out, they did not. I’m focusing now on sticking to the products I know work and not experimenting; and, wherever possible, to simply use one product. Here is an example of the “only one of” products that I’ve settled on.

Hair Care

• Shampoo: Everist
• Condition: Everist
• Styler: Curl Keeper
• Gel: Curlsmith In Shower Gel

Like many other “curlies,” I’ve tried so many different products, often at the same time. It’s so easy to be influenced by other curlies in the various pages I follow. This latter point also suggests that I should stop following these accounts. I also want to repurpose products, if I can; so, for example, rather than use a separate leave-in conditioner for in-between wash days, I can simply use a small amount of my regular conditioner, emulsify it with water, and apply it over my dry hair before I go to bed in my sleep bonnet. One less product.

I’m using this approach in other areas, such as face and body care, and makeup. I’ve pared down kitchen items to “only one” in many cases, such as wooden spoon, ladle, saucepan, etc. I don’t apply this principle to areas that some people find easier; for example, while there are some items of jewellery that I never remove, namely a gold necklace and three delicate gold bracelets, I like to switch my rings and watches every day. I don’t wear earrings. Jewellery brings me a lot of joy. I’ve pared down my jewellery collection by removing all my fashion pieces and non-gold pieces, and I am not buying any new pieces, but I flatly refuse to have only one of any jewellery item. I feel the same way about handbags: I’ve pared down my collection, and I won’t be buying any more bags, but I don’t want to have only one, as I like some variety. I still have more than I need, as I’ve had a love affair with handbags for decades, but I have made significant progress over the years. I am so lucky and privileged in my lifestyle, so I am working on being content with, and grateful for, the products I already have and to acknowledge that I have more than enough.

A low-buy journey

I rather quietly started a low-buy challenge last October, joining an Instagram person I follow. I had noticed that my shopping habits in 2023 had started to climb again and that I had purchased a few “mistake” items. Rather than wait until the new year, I simply took the plunge last October. I’m classifying my shopping into these categories:

No buy

• Clothes, whether new or thrifted
• Handbags, whether new or thrifted
• Shoes and boots
• Luggage
• New beauty or skincare items
• New cleaning and laundry products
• Books
• Kitchen gadgets or appliances
• Kitchen linens
• Bathroom linens
• Jewellery

I am a bit of magpie when it comes to trying new products, such as makeup, skincare, etc. My focus is year is to stick to what I have that works and not fall into the trap of trying new and shiny products, which often turn out to be mistakes. With regard to books, I’m an avid reader and go through about 2-3 books a week. I borrow a lot of ebooks from the public library, and I have a monthly Kobo Plus subscription where I can read as many books as I like for about $10 a month. I don’t like to buy physical books anyway, as they take up too much space.

Replace only as needed

• Beauty or skincare products
• Cleaning and laundry products

I have a small set of products that works well for me and I want to stick with them and replace them only as needed.

Buy

• Stick to the essentials, such as groceries, medication, pet food, cat litter, etc.
• Coffee when I do one of my “urban hikes,” as sitting in cafes with a good book brings me a lot of joy.
• Take out maybe once a month. I prepare all my meals on a daily basis, but it’s nice to get something different sometimes. I like to support locally-owned restaurants, and particularly those that specialize in vegan food.

I’ve managed to follow this plan well since last October, with one exception, which is a small handbag that my mother wanted to buy me over the Christmas holidays. I know this doesn’t technically count, as I didn’t buy it, but the point is to avoid bringing new (or used) items into my home. I have unsubscribed from shopping newsletters, and avoid browsing either physical or virtual shops. My focus is to be happy with, and grateful for, the things that I already have. I really do have everything that I could possibly need, so why add to it?

I was in Toronto for the Christmas holidays, and it’s a shopping paradise there. There are so many options that I don’t have access to in Halifax, yet I wasn’t in the least bit tempted to buy anything. I enjoyed looking at products just to see what’s available, especially in the high-end luxury stores such as Chanel, Gucci, and Prada, but I simply walked away once I finished looking. I treat these shops as museums or art galleries, i.e., I look at the beautiful objects as though they were simply exhibits.

Rethinking the impact of laundry sheets

I’ve been using laundry sheets for over two years. I was excited when I first discovered them, as they seemed like a viable low-waste laundry option. They have the added advantage of taking up very little space. There have been increasing questions raised, however, about the environmental impact of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA), which is used in all laundry sheets, as well as several laundry and dishwasher pods that are wrapped in what is supposed to be a biodegradable film. There is a lot of hype and biased information about laundry sheets, so I’m taking everything with a grain of salt. This article discusses the campaign by Blueland, which makes several low-waste products, including laundry detergent that does not contain PVA, urging the Environmental Protection Agency to remove the compound from its Safer Choice and Safer Chemical Ingredients lists until the tests are conducted and PVA is proved safe. I won’t duplicate the content of this article, which links to some studies that suggest that PVA breaks down only if water treatment plants contain certain microorganisms, which may not be the case for several locations in North America.

The safety of PVA has become an increasingly contentious topic in the zero waste community, especially since laundry sheets have been so heavily promoted by zero waste influencers and companies. There has been a lot of misleading marketing, as well, as the term “plastic free” has often been used to describe these products, even though this is not strictly true. The scientific evidence pertaining to the long-term impact of PVA is still limited, but I have to admit that I do have concerns about how “green” laundry sheets are, so I’ve decided to play it safe and consider other alternatives.

It’s difficult to find better alternatives, to be honest. There are laundry tabs that do not use PVAs, but I’ve found that they don’t dissolve well in cold water. I wash all my laundry with cold water, as this is a way to reduce my carbon footprint, as well as not using the clothes dryer. Most laundry detergents are either PVA-wrapped pods, or liquid that come in large plastic bottles. After some exploring, I’ve found an alternative that works really well, which is powdered detergent made by Canadian company Nellie’s. The detergent comes in a tin, which you can refill. Refills do come in a plastic bag, but the detergent is a very concentrated formula, so you don’t go through many bags. The bags are recyclable. Nellie’s has become a favourite of mine, and I also use their dish butter, and their Ninety-Nine deodorizing device. The laundry detergent works well in cold water and in my HE washer, and I can buy it from my local supermarket.

Summer 2023 update on some low-waste products I’m using

I’m always looking for low-waste products that I can use every day to reduce my environmental footprint. These products change over time as I try them out and if I find new or better alternatives. I’ll categorize by room to keep these organized.

Kitchen

I continue to use a big block of Savon de Marseille to hand wash dishes. I’ve been buying them from Quebec company Au Savon de Marseille for several years now. The 600g size bar is too awkward to use for hand washing, and because I don’t want to have two bar soaps on the counter, I’m using a low-waste liquid hand soap from Montreal company Myni. I have the glass foaming pump bottle from the company, which I fill with water then add one of the Myni hand soap tabs. One of the many things I like about Myni products is that the tabs are not encased in any film. I use a loofah from Annapolis Valley Luffa, to wash the dishes, and a compostable Swedish dish cloth to wipe counters, etc. I use Myni’s all-purpose cleaning tabs for all the counters, and the Myni dishwashing tabs when I use the dishwasher which is not that often.

Bathroom

I use the Myni all-purpose cleaning tabs, mentioned above, as well as their glass cleaner tabs for the mirror and glass shower door. I use Swedish dish cloths in the bathroom, as well. I clean the toilet with Borax, which I buy in bulk from local company Luminate. I use Vancouver-based Tru Earth laundry strips for washing clothes. I would love to use Myni’s laundry tabs, as they are completely plastic free, but they don’t dissolve well in cold water, and this is the only temperature I use for all my laundry. I dilute the Myni all-purpose cleaner even further to clean the floors.

For personal hygiene, I still use a tube toothpaste in the morning and evening, as I do find this is the best way to keep my teeth and gums healthy. For after lunch and dinner, I use Calgary-based Change toothpaste tabs with fluoride. I’m so happy to have found these tabs, as I am on team fluoride. I’m not ready to give up my tubed toothpaste, however, as I need a product with ingredients for sensitive gums. The tabs cut down my use of the tube in half, so it’s a good compromise. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not a fan of bamboo toothbrushes, as I hate their texture, so I use Canadian Nada aluminium toothbrush with replaceable heads, which the company recycles. I use Canadian No-Pong deodorant (baking soda free version), which comes in an aluminium tin. I would prefer a deodorant that comes in a compostable tube, but I’ve yet to find one that works sufficiently well. For travel, I use solid shampoo and conditioner bars from Montreal-based Attitude. I find shampoo bars can be a little harsh on my hair, and that conditioner bars don’t always condition enough, so I alternate them with refillable Shea shampoo and conditioner from The Body Shop.

For makeup, I use Vancouver-based Elate Beauty’s eye shadows (only two shades) and pencil eyeliner. The products come in compostable containers. I use Jane Iredale’s refillable powder foundation (very sparingly) and refillable SPF powder, which is an excellent way to top up my SPF 60 face cream when I’m not home.

Low-waste living is a never-ending journey, and I’m pleased to see the growth of so many sustainable Canadian products and companies.

Low-waste Phox water filter

I’ve been using the Phox water filter pitcher for over two years and thought I would share my thoughts with you about it. When my last Brita pitcher developed a crack in the plastic casing, I looked around for a more eco-friendly water filtration system. My concern with most standard water filtration pitchers was with the wasteful filters encased in plastic. I know that Brita can take the filters back for recycling but, as I’ve said many times, recycling is not a very green option. I had tried Kishu carbon filter sticks, but didn’t find them very effective.

I came across a recently launched UK product, Phox, which intrigued me; fortunately, it was available via a Canadian website. As you can see from the picture above, the main body of the pitcher is made of glass. The pitcher has a refillable cartridge; you fill it with filter granules every 45 days, which come in a compostable package. The filters come in a cardboard box (I buy a year’s supply). You do need to throw the granules in the garbage, but it’s a lot better than an entire plastic-encased filter. The water tastes very good and clean. My local tap water is certainly safe and drinkable, but I prefer to filter it. You choose between two types of filter granules: the Clean Refill, which is what I use, or the Alkaline Refill, which has added magnesium. The cardboard box with the filters fits into my regular mailbox and comes via Canada Post. You can download an App to remind you to change your filter every 45 days. A nice bonus is that the pitcher has a clean, minimalist look, which I love. If you’re looking for an alternative to plastic filters, Phox might be a good option for you. The main caveat is that the pitcher doesn’t fit on regular fridge shelves. I don’t refrigerate my water, so it’s not a problem for me. As I discuss below, Phox has released an other option for fridges.

The Phox UK site has added a new plastic water filter jug that is designed to fit in the fridge shelf. This version also comes with a refillable cartridge that uses the same filter granules as the glass pitcher. The plastic pitcher isn’t yet available on the Canadian site, but I’m sure it will be soon. I prefer my glass version, but for those who like to refrigerate their pitchers, the new plastic version might be a better choice.

Plastic-free products from Attitude

I’ve fallen off the wagon when it comes to posting my monthly reviews; I will do my best to return to these posts at the end of May. In the meantime, I thought I would share some new plastic-free options that I have been enjoying made by the Montreal company Attitude. I have been using Attitude products since the company launched in 2006; their products have always been vegan and cruelty-free, and manufactured in Montreal. They have recently launched a growing number of products that are packaged in compostable cardboard. I’ll list below the products that I am using, as well as others that might be of interest and that I will likely use. I try to buy as many of these products as I can from local stores; what I can’t find there I order either directly from Attitude, or from Well.

Hair Care

I’ve had very mixed results from using solid shampoo and conditioner bars in the past; I’ve often found them to be too waxy. I’ve been using these two Attitude products for two months now and am very pleased with the results: Nourishing shampoo bar and Nourishing conditioner bar. I normally prefer unscented products, but they don’t yet have any in their hair bars. The Nourishing line has a subtle Sandalwood scent that doesn’t linger in the hair. The shampoo bar cleans my hair without either stripping it, or leaving a waxy residue, which has often happened with other bars. The conditioner bar has good slip and provides good moisture. My hair is curly and dry, so I sometimes use a leave-in conditioner, but this is normal for those of us with textured hair.

Body Care

I’ve been looking for a low-waste deodorant for a long time and, of crucial importance, that it be scent free and baking soda free. Most “natural” deodorants contain baking soda, which irritates my skin very much. The few baking-soda free options I’ve found have usually been scented, and I refuse to use scented deodorants. I used No Pong baking soda free for two years; while it’s a very good product, I was concerned about all the aluminium tins that I needed to recycle. People in the zero-waste community are often obsessed with “plastic free,” but are OK with products that come in other materials that still need to be recycled. I want to avoid recycling processes as much as I can, as they carry their own carbon footprints. I am so glad I found the baking-soda and scent free deodorant from Attitude, which comes in a compostable container. The container is large and the tube is easy to push up. Most importantly, the product works very well and does not irritate my skin at all.

The Sandalwood body butter comes in a compostable tube; it’s very generous in size and easy to push up. The body bar is very smooth; I’ve used other brands that were rather crumbly in texture. They don’t yet have an unscented option, but this Sandalwood scent is very subtle and dissipates quickly.

Facial Care

I use the unscented lip balm in a compostable tube, which is big enough to allow you to insert a finger to push up the tube. I’ve used compostable lip balms below that were too narrow to push up properly. The lip balm works well, although I find the Toronto-based More Than Lips compostable lip balms to be more moisturizing. This latter company makes only lip balms and is woman owned and operated.

I was absolutely thrilled to find solid face moisturizers in compostable tubes. My skin is very dry and requires the layering of two products. I always need to use a moisturizer under my sunscreen, even though the latter is moisturizing as well. At night, I need to layer a moisturizer under the barrier-repair cream by local company SkinFix. I have been using the Attitude solid Night Cream in a compostable tube for two months and love it. I layer this under my sunscreen and at night under my SkinFix. You need to apply it lightly, as it can be waxy otherwise. My dry skin loves the product, but it could be a little heavy for those with normal, combination or oily skin (there are other tubes for different skin types). The company has just launched its solid sunscreens in compostable containers for both body and face. They have unscented versions that I would like to try. It’s a shame that the sunscreens are only 30 SPF, as I prefer to wear 60+, especially on my face. They use zinc oxide, which could potentially leave a white cast on the skin, so it may not be suitable for all skin types. I also don’t know how well the product works under makeup and whether it pills, as this can be a common problem with mineral sunscreens. I plan on buying one stick to see how it works. I will continue to use the higher SPF facial cream for the spring and summer months, and will use the solid 30 SPF in the Fall and winter months, assuming it works well.

I am so very pleased that a Canadian company is producing such high-quality products in compostable containers and I look forward to seeing their continued expansion into more low-waste products.

February in review

Films and television shows

1. Born Yesterday: This classic 1950 comedy stars the wonderful Judy Holliday and William Holden, one of my favourite actors. William Holden is impossibly gorgeous. Broderick Crawford chews scenery as only he could. But this film is all about the brilliant Judy Holliday, who deservedly won an Oscar for her performance. Holliday perfected the “dumb blonde” portrayal, even though she was an extremely intelligent woman. She left the world far too soon. I own the digital version of the film and have watched it many times.
2. All Quiet on the Western Front: This 2022 film version of this story is particularly moving, since it features German actors. The original 1930 film, which I watched when I was a about 12 or 13 and it made a lasting impression on me, as did the book by Remarque. This 2022 version does the legacy of this story proud. It’s a very tough film to watch because of its unflinching look at trench warfare. Watched on Netflix
3. Wonder Woman: This was my second viewing of the 2017 film. I thought the director did a very good job of portraying the heroic characteristics of Diana, while showing also her vulnerability and naivety. What I liked best about the film is that all the male characters were fully aware that Diana was in charge and were happy to defer to her. Watched on Netflix
4. Wonder Woman 1984: I had put off watching this 2020 sequel of the 2017 film because the reviews had been negative; I can well understand why. Although the two primary characters and the director are the same, the magic of the 2020 film is nowhere to be seen. Pedro Pascal overacts as the archvillain, and not in a funny or ironic way. Chris Pine is just there for the added scenery, and the storyline is plodding. The only bright feature of the film was the all-too-brief cameo by Lynda Carter.

Books

1. The extraordinary live of an ordinary man: A memoir. This 2022 biography provides a fascinating insight into the life and mind of Paul Newman. This posthumous autobiography is the result of a project Newman did with his friend, screenwriter Stewart Stern, to record an oral history of Newman’s life. It’s an often brutal look at Newman’s life, his personality, and his attitude towards the film industry. Newman on the screen and in real life was a fascinating combination of toughness and cynicism in the body and face of a beautiful angel. Borrowed from Halifax Public Library.
2. Silence in the library: This is the second entry in the Lily Adler mystery series written by Katharine Schellman. This series is set in Regency England and features recently-widowed Lily Adler and her involvement in solving mysteries. The series is utterly charming, and the period is always so compelling. Borrowed from Halifax Public Library.
3. Bleeding heart yard: This mystery series, by Elly Griffiths, is new to me. I came across this entry, which is the third in the series. I prefer to read series chronologically, but I hadn’t actually realized it was a series until I received it from document delivery. I knew Griffiths from her excellent Ruth Galloway series. This book is the third entry in the Harbinder Kaur series, which features a Met Detective Inspector. I’m definitely going to read the rest of this series. Borrowed from Halifax Public Library.
4. The last Templar: I came across this book in my Kobo Plus subscription feed. The book is the first entry in the Michael Jecks’ Knights Templar series. There are 32 books in the series, which features bailiff Simon Puttock and Sir Baldwin Furnshill, a former Templar. These mysteries are set in 14th Century Devon. This first book was a little weak in its plotline and story development, so it will be interesting to see what the second book will be like. Read via my Kobo Plus subscription.

Clothing and food

1. Another Shop: I had been wanting to visit this shop for a while. It’s located near the Queen’s Marque on the Halifax waterfront. This shop is owned by Sarah Andrews, and is the sister store to Sattva, on Agricola Street. Both shops carry sustainably-made clothing. I was very pleased to find a few pieces from Indi & Cold, one of my favourite brands.
2. Terra Cafe: One of my favourite slow-living activities is to visit locally-owned coffee shops and enjoy an Americano while I read my book and people watch. This cafe is on Lower Water street and in the premises that have been occupied previously by two other coffee shops. I hope that this cafe will survive a little longer. They have a breakfast and lunch menu, as well as beer and wine.
3. East Cup Cafe: This cafe is located in one of the new residential buildings on Robie street, next to Quinpool. The cafe was packed when I visited it on a Saturday afternoon. My double espresso was excellent. They have a nice selection of sandwiches and pastries.