Tunes and Wooden Spoons

Friendship, a cup of tea, and some of Mary Janet MacDonald’s favourite Cape Breton places

BIGSTOCK/ TANACHA

BY SHELLEY CAMERON-MCCARRON

Mary Janet MacDonald

For more than a year now, Mary Janet MacDonald has been giving people joy—and recipes.

And the internet can’t get enough.

“It’s not just about the baking, I’m giving enjoyment to people, and I love that. It’s about the friendships, the cup of tea, and giving a sense of who we are in Cape Breton,” says Mary Janet, the Port Hood, NS woman behind “Tunes and Wooden Spoons”, a Facebook Live baking show that went viral from the moment she virtually invited folks into her western Cape Breton kitchen on March 22, 2020 for a tutorial on making cinnamon rolls, a family favorite.

Since then, truckloads of devoted fans tune in every Sunday at 2pm, joining this mom of seven, grandmother to 12, and renowned stepdance teacher, as she shares a recipe, with step-by-step instruction. She’s often joined by guests, including some of Cape Breton’s finest musical talent. The idea first originated with daughter Margie when quarantine began in March 2020. The two were chatting about COVID-19 and how people were going to cope with isolation. “We’ve got to find something to do,” Mary Janet remembers Margie saying. “You know how everyone loves your cinnamon rolls? Why don’t you do a livestream on Facebook?”

Mary Janet agreed. Wearing her now signature red apron, she hit live.

“Oh, Mom, that’s so fun. We have to do another one,” Margie said.

Others agreed. Response was so overwhelming, (she was getting completely swamped on her personal Facebook page) she created her own social media pages. Her son Brendan’s daughter, Anna, 14, dubbed it “Tunes and Wooden Spoons,” and everything soon took on that identity.

“I wouldn’t really be here without the kids’ input,” Mary Janet says.

Or the media, which she credits for helping propel the success. Soon after that first live show, a Cape Breton Post reporter called to do an article. More attention followed with provincial and national coverage. More followers came with each piece.

“Everything just gathered the moss,” says Mary Janet.

What resonates?

“People kept telling me, it’s the sound of your voice, it’s calming. It’s authentic. With all the bloopers and technical difficulties, it’s real.”

Mary Janet laughs as she says learning the technology has been at times a hilarious comedy of errors—like when she accidently recorded for 10 minutes with a filter that made her appear to be wearing sunglasses and top hat. “It’s been a ride.”

Week after week, people tune in for the baking, the music, and rapport. Viewers often write to tell her about their personal stories, about a connection that sparked, or how the show helped them forget their troubles for a bit. She’s had such beautiful messages, her children have told her, “Mom, you can’t quit.”

“I cannot get over it,” says Mary Janet, who grew up baking and at press time was in conversation with a publishing company for a recipe book.

“We’ve developed a friendship. It’s like one-on-one. It has given me purpose, to know you’re doing something people enjoy.”

Her trademark end to each show is a message to love one another. She also happily promotes the home she loves.

“I’m a simple baker, in little old Port Hood, in my little old kitchen. If I can use it as a platform to boost Cape Breton, the East Coast, and to give a little boost to our musicians, well, that’s what I’m here for,”

MARGIE MACDONALD

LEN WAGG says Mary Janet, who grew up in the culture (her first performance was at age four at the Mabou Hall, her hometown.) She taught step-dancing for more than 30 years, travelling to Scotland, Denmark and across North America. She’s also done two instructional videos.

Favourite Cape Breton experiences

Ask Mary Janet where people should travel in Cape Breton, and the reply is ready.

“I really want to promote the west side of Cape Breton, Canada’s musical coast. I want (people) to take the coastal drive through

Opposite: Mary Janet whips up another batch of her famous cinnamon rolls. Left: Mary Janet and husband Cecil surrounded by their seven children.

little villages dotting the ocean all the way north, to feel the presence of the small communities and the beautiful people, and to get a real sense of life, and the Gaelic influences that remained here, and are still living in many ways.

“I want to have them experience the beautiful beaches, all along the western coast. I want them to experience the entertainment, to learn how to square dance in West Mabou (home to a weekly dance), to travel the backroads to Glencoe Mills (another square dance), to go to the Red Shoe Pub (in Mabou) and the Judique Celtic Interpretive Centre, to go north and experience the Acadian communities, and go around the Cabot Trail that way.”

On Cape Breton, she says: “I love how we respect our culture and roots. It’s so important to the big picture of knowing who you are. The efforts we’ve put into place to retain the Gaelic language, fiddling, piping, dancing, it makes me so proud that that’s who we are, that the connection to the past is part of our lives.”

Thankfully, we have amazing views like this in our backyard.