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Grab your skates, sleds, mitts and toques, we're headed outside for some fresh air and fun! I'm digging into the best sledding hills around (though there are way too many to include in one newsletter), giving you the buzz on backyard rinks, topping it off with a quick, easy chicken curry recipe to warm you up after your day outdoors and an amazing, simple tip for folding your tortillas.
~ Jill, SaltWire Audience Team
Weekend weather
A small area of energy intensifying over the state of Maine will drop 5 to 10 cm of snow over western New Brunswick and parts of southwestern Nova Scotia tonight. As the system tracks east of the region, much colder air will funnel down behind it. You'll need a winter coat on Friday; wind chill values will range from -10 C to -18 C. Get Cindy's latest forecast here.
Chicken curry in a hurry
Warm yourself up from the inside with this recipe for chicken and rice curry that doesn't need a long time simmering on the stove — which means more time for sledding! Perfect for a busy evening, and more satisfying than a frozen pizza. You can have dinner on the table in 30 minutes flat!
There's a better way to fold your wrap
Shoutout to Erin Sulley for sharing this tortilla-folding trick! Gone are the days of trying to fold in the bottom of the wrap before rolling it, praying the end doesn't pop open and all your delicious toppings fall to the plate — or worse, in your lap! There's a new way (to me at least) to fold your tortillas and it helps ensure you get a little bit of everything in every bite — without the mess!
The buzz on backyard rinks
Backyard rinks are all the rage this winter, giving families easy access to one of our most popular winter activities. Now that the temps are dipping, it's prime rink-building time! Not sure where or how to get started? Don't fret, we've got plenty of tips from DIY pros here and here.
If you don't have your own rink, there are community rinks popping up for all to enjoy:
- The City of Mount Pearl, N.L., will build four outdoor rinks in the coming weeks.
- The RCMP helped to construct this outdoor rink in Hopedale, N.L.
- Wayne Getson's backyard rink in Knutsford, P.E.I., is free for the community to visit and use.
- The City of Charlottetown, P.E.I has named the new outdoor rink in Hillsborough Park after a member of the community.
- The Annapolis Valley, N.S., has a slew of outdoor rinks to choose from.
- Truro, N.S., has opened a skating oval.
- The Emera Oval in Halifax, N.S., is up and running.
There are more, so I suggest a quick Google search for outdoor rinks in your area!
Hittin' the hills
How many hours of my childhood winters were spent whipping down Burgher Hill in Kentville, N.S., on a crazy carpet? Too many to count, that's for sure. Now that I'm grown, my husband and I have been known to use our sloped driveway for a few good runs before digging out the shovels after a fresh snowfall. It's really the quintessential winter activity: it's inexpensive, requires minimal equipment and can keep you and your family entertained for hours. Here are some of the best hills around to hit up with your toboggan.
Chances are you have a favourite that's not on this list. Let me know your go-to hill!
- Best sledding in Truro, N.S.
- Top hills in Halifax, N.S.
- The only hill for me in Kentville, N.S.
- The Mark Arendz Provinicial Ski Park at Brookvale, P.E.I.
- Victoria Park, St. John's, N.L.
- Pippy Park, St. John's, N.L.
- Bowring Park, St. John's, N.L.
- Margaret Bowater Park, Corner Brook, N.L.
Again, if you're looking for a new hill to try, a quick Google search should provide ample options!
Local reads
In his new memoir, Harry Thurston meditates on the curious and beautiful ways that fishing, rivers and the people he has fished with have shaped his seven decades of life.
Lost River: The Waters of Remembrance, A Memoir tells the overarching story of Thurston’s life — encompassing both loss (that of his childhood home, rivers and some of the closest people in his life) but also love (of his family, his writing and nature).
Thanks for reading!