Christmas Dinner with Friends

My Christmas Dinner with Friends is over for 2009.

Yes, it's early, but we had to jockey schedules, etc. to make this happen.
For a change this year we had a Rosemary Tree.
Very fragrant & very different!


Miss Tiggy Winkles checked it out.

Our candlelit centerpiece consisted of Holly directly
from British Columbia surrounded
by Sumi (Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Mascot)
and Gingerbread People.

Julia Child's Boeuf Bourguignon, pictured below, turned out
splendid and was the 'hit of the dinner'.

The Tomato Aspic garnished with green olives
was perfect, as you can see.

Of course, we had to wash this all down
with some seasonal liquid refreshments!

One of the desserts, as if we needed any, was Baclava.

Baclava on Pepermint Ice cream

Hungry, anyone?
Having left-overs to-night to re-enjoy & savour the tastes.

Miss Tiggy Winkles had the 'right idea' after the big meal.
'Nite all

Preparing My Early Christmas Dinner

Seen the movie Julie and Julia? I really enjoyed Julia Child as she's played by Meryl Streep.
Since it's the Christmas Season, I'm thinking about cooking and eating delicious gourmet food and Mastering the Art of French Cooking, linked below, just in case you need a copy.

To-day, I'm making wonderful Boeuf Bourguignon? Just like they ate in the movie?
Am also making Tomato Aspic..yummy!
Bon appetit!

Olympic Torch-flame Relay Arrives in Ottawa

Olympic-torch Flame

This has been a very exciting weekend in Ottawa, Canada. The Olympic Torch-flame headed for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games arrived in our nation's Capital. What excitement on the streets as numerous runners bravely carried the Olympic Torch-flame throughout our community. What a surprise when I learned that the Olympic Torch-flame was passing right by my home!

Choristers on Canadian Parliament Hill

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Olympic Torch bearer

Fireworks & Celebrations on Parliament Hill

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays to all.
Recently I had a chance to visit Amblecote Estate Ltd,
a Holly farm, in Duncan, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island.
Holly is probably the oldest Christmas symbol
It has been used to decorate for nearly 2,000 years
Enjoy the pics of holly and berries below (click to enlarge)

This fresh Christmas holly will be in
my centrepiece during the festive season.

Thanksgiving in Canada-Fall Rhapsody

This is Thanksgiving Weekend in Canada. We celebrate and give thanks for all the goodness and blessings that we've received during the year.

Fall Rhapsody is celebrated in Gatineau Park. The magical fall colours are always at their best during this weekend as thousands visit the Park to admire the splendour. Below are some examples of this beauty.(Double click to enlarge) I hope that you enjoy these pics and I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

NACO 40th Anniversary

Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra (NACO) is celebrating 40 years of music making! Where has all the time gone? I wasn't in attendance on Opening Night 40 years ago, but I was there last night for a great concert that celebrated this special occasion. And what a night it was!

Music from the 18th, 19th and 20th century was performed. Bach's Violin Concerto in A opened the program featuring violinist Pinchas Zukerman. The NAC's only composer-in-residence, Linda Bouchard's Songs for an Acrobat was included in the program. Baritone Russel Braun executed a pleasing rendition of the eight poems of love, loss and transformation. Of particular interest was CBCs Richard Dick's interview of both Bouchard and Braun during the Intermission. Mahler's grand Symphony No. 1 in D major with its challenging score for all NACO musicians and others - large percussion section and six horns - concluded the evening.

Pictured below is the majestic National Arts Centre opened in Ottawa in 1969.


Through the NAC Musicbox below, you can listen to the NACO performing 150 recordings. Go to their website www.nac-cna.ca to discover this amazing gift of music. After you listen to a few selections, I'm sure that you will decide to attend some of their live concerts at the NAC..maybe you'll become a season subscriber to one or more of their concert series! They hope so!

All the Sumacs on the Hill

When I was growing up in Ontario, we memorized poetry! Imagine that! The line about 'all the sumacs on the hills have turned their green to red' has stuck in my memory all these years.

Here's the complete poem below. It's in the public domaine.

William Wilfred Campbell's (1858?-1918) Indian Summer

Along the line of smoky hills

The crimson forest stands,

And all the day the blue-jay calls

Throughout the autumn lands.

Now by the brook the maple leans

With all his glory spread,
And all the sumacs on the hills

Have turned their green to red.

Now by great marshes wrapt in mist,

Or past some river's mouth,

Throughout the long, still autumn day

Wild birds are flying south.

This poetry particularly resonates with me during the fall as
I admire the colourful landscapes all around me.

The pictures below, taken on my walks, capture the 'turning' of the
beautiful sumacs on the hills from green to red.
I hope you enjoy them. (double click to enlarge)

A carpet of red maple and sumac leaves covers the pathway above on this 'long still autumn day'.