...and the Cat came back....

Remember this blogpost back in October? Susan was giving her shed a facelift, but her new artwork left something to be desired. What was it? There's something important missing. Ah yes.... the cat!

Can you spot the addition?

Here he is, a little closer.

He doesn't look very happy to be shut in the shed.

Cedar Fence

How long has this old split-rail fence been here? It looks like it's seen many winters.

Metal fences were expensive, and wood was cheap and plentiful in Ontario, so many pioneer farmers used the split-rail fence to enclose their property. Cedar logs are weather resistant and easy to split and last for many years.

Puppysitting

I've been puppysitting 5 month old Tessa while YoungerSon and The Bride enjoyed a skiing weekend.

I didn't know a puppy required so much equipment. The list included:
1. Padded Bed (for snoozing in the kitchen during the day)
2. Blanket for the Bed
3. Cage (for sleeping in the hall during the night)
4. One blanket inside the cage and another one to cover the cage
5. Folding puppy gates
6. Juicy beef knuckle bone for a special treat
7. Packet of lamb flavour doggy biscuits
8. Tupperware container of special Puppy dog food
9. Collar and leash
10. Generous handful of chew stix
11. Rawhide bone (she didn't like this much)
12. Tennis ball
13. Squeaky toy
14. Food dish and water dish
15. Bitter apple spray (to discourage chewing on the furniture)
16. Carpet cleaner spray (in case of accidents)
17. Puppy handling guide book

WOW. Worse than having a rambunctious toddler come to stay. But we had a great time. Lots of long energetic walks in the forest.

She ate all my plastic flower pots. The back yard closely resembles a Bill and Ben battle ground.

But she's so cute, how can anyone resist her???

Colours of Winter

Winter landscape can be dull and monotone, almost a black and white world.... until you look a little closer.

The Burns Supper

As with every Burns Supper, the Haggis is piped in, and paraded around the room, closely followed by three glasses of Scotch for drinking the health of Robbie Burns, even though he's been dead for over 200 years. (In this case it was apple juice, not Scotch... church function, y'know.)


Before the meal can begin, it is traditional to quote Burns' famous poem, Address To A Haggis, you can find the words and the translation here, followed by "The Selkirk Grace".

"Some hae meat, and canna eat,

An' some wad eat that want it,

But we hae meat, and we can eat,

And sae the Lord be thankit"

Let the serving of the feast begin.

On the Bill of Fare: Haggis, Roast Beef, Mashed Tatties, Peas, Champit Neeps, Coleslaw, Gravy, Killer Horseradish that takes the top of your head off, and makes your eyes water.

Make sure you leave room for the pies and the shortbread.

An evening of entertainment with a Scottish flavour follows the dinner. Lots of singing the old Scottish songs, many of them with words written by Burns, bagpipe music and Highland dancing.

Two of our young dancers.

And the Scottish Country Dance emsemble. We danced "The Minister on the Loch" and " The White Cockade".

Back row: Wilma, Jean, The Space Cadet, Moi.

Front row: Bernice, Helen, Beth, Jean.

I'm the only one without even the tiniest drop of Scottish blood running through my veins. Eating haggis probably makes up for it.

Piper picture "borrowed" from the Stouffville Tribune - thanks Jim.

Preparing for Robbie

On January 25th every year, faithful Albannachs (and some misguided Sassenachs, I'm one of them) celebrate the birthday of Scotland's National Poet, Robert Burns.
This year is the 249th anniversary of his birth in Alloway, South Ayrshire, Scotland. Quite the handsome devil, methinks.

St. James Presbyterian Church celebrated a little early by feeding 160 people a traditional Burns Supper.
This included 25 huge turnips boiled to perfection...

... mashed with some salt and pepper, generous dollops of sour cream and cream cheese....

.... and then baked in the oven with a cheesey topping.

70 pounds of potatoes, peeled, cooked, seasoned and mashed...

... and of course, the HAGGIS, 5 of them, please don't tell me what it reminds you of, I don't want to know!

Wrap all 5 haggises (should the plural be haggi?) in foil, heat at 300F for about 2-1/2 to 3 hours, remember to put about an inch of hot water in the pan. Believe me, there's nothing worse than the smell of burnt haggis. It stinks the place out for days. (If you're wondering about the brick wrapped in foil, it was the only way to get both pans in the oven at the same time.)

Then wrap the haggis in towels to keep warm, put in the cooler and deliver to the dinner venue.... stay tuned to this blog for more pictures of the dinner and entertainment in the next post!

Going to Church tomorrow?

Church authorities removed this sign after they received complaints from the community. A little bit of bad judgement , I think.
Photo "borrowed" from the Toronto Star.