When life gives you lemons....

Lunenburg, NS

Sept. 16, 2013

Glad to see the 'plaza peelers' are making good use of the speed bumps installed in the Lunenburg Community Centre parking lot.  

Some people see a speed bump, others see a makeshift 'brake stand'. I'm sure they make a lovely smell as they get melted by spinning tiyahs. ;-)

What's on this weekend?

A small number of events this long weekend.  

A trip to Ross farm might be fun if you and your kin are interested in wood punching, quill pen writing, taffy pulling, candle dipping , cow milking, and blacksmithing.

Have a great and safe long weekend everyone!

Breakfasts

August 31, 

Royal Canadian Legion #23, Lunenburg, 

7:30-11:30 a.m. 

Adults $8; ages 5-12, $4. 

Takeout available for pick-up $8.50. 634-4215

Community Events

August 31, 

WALDEN SUMMER BASH 

3- 10 p.m. 

Games of Chance, Auction, Bake Table, Bingo, Canteen, Live Entertainment, Yard Sale and Food Pit. 

For more information contact Richard at 644-3460 or walden.firedepartment@gmail.com

Aug 31 - Sept. 2

Ross Farm Family Participation Days

Info on Ross Farm's site

What's on this weekend? Maple breakfast! Chowdah! Blueberries!!!!

A lighter selection this weekend.  Unless you live under a rock, you know that the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival is happening this weekend, right?!?

Have a good one, stay dry out there, folks!

Breakfasts

August 10

Parkdale/ Maplewood hall,

7- 10:30 a.m. 

Pancakes, local maple syrup, sausage, bacon, eggs, toast, juice, tea, coffee. 

Adults $7; youth $3.50; under 5 free. 

Proceeds for hall. Information: Joanne 644-2877

Teas/Luncheons

Sunday, August 11

St. Norberts Seafood Chowder/Soup Lunch. 

Central United Church hall, Lunenburg, 

11:30 - 2 p.m

$10, $8. 

Roll, dessert, beverage included.

Take out available.

Suppers

Sunday August 11th

Blueberry Supper

Forties Community Centre 1787 Forties Road, New Ross

4-6pm Doors open at 4 serving starts 4:30

Hodgepodge, Chicken & a variety of blueberry desserts  

Adults $11.00, 5-12 $5.50, Under 5 $2.50 

Call 689-2612 or 689-2000 Centre for information

St. Norbert's Big Breakfast Review

Central United Church Hall

Lunenburg, NS

April 6, 2013

This was my second visit to the 'big breakfast'.  I decided to limit myself to a normal size breakfast (for once).  It was a brisk and chilly Saturday, though that didn't stop the crocuses from popping up around the entrance to the church hall.  Hopefully a harbinger of Spring 'proper'.

The hall was 2/3 full when we arrived, unfortunately we arrived just after ~10 other hungry breakfast'ers so it took a while to work through all of their orders before our food finally arrived.  No matter, this is a fundraiser after all!  While we waited, I took a couple shots of the space when the sun decided to come out and made for some nice light, like this one:

 Central United Church Hall

Lunenburg, NS

April 6, 2013

Eventually, our plates arrived and we dug in.  For those who are unaware of the menu selections, there's a reason they call this the big breakfast.  I could have ordered every type of eggs and pancakes and sausage and an order of white toast.  I decided to stop at a rash of bacon, whole wheat toast, beans and 2 sunny side up eggs.  I really enjoyed the beans, though I should have ordered dry toast; it arrived sopping wet with margarine.  Oh well, lesson learned for the next time.

 Central United Church Hall

Lunenburg, NS

April 6, 2013

During our meal one of the volunteers announced that they were drawing tickets for the afghan raffle, just to make sure we were all witnesses.  I doubt there are many shenanigans when it comes to church breakfast raffles, maybe there is a story here that I'm missing.....

As the weather gets warmer, there will be more community suppers on offer.  Stay tuned for more church supper, fireman's breakfast and other community fundraiser food reviews!

Spellcheck, people!

Lunenburg, NS

Dec.11, 2012

Oh, folks do love to throw around apostrophes with wild abandon, don't they?  

It's as if people turn in to Oprah when they are unsure how to use a plural form of a noun.

YOU get an apostrophe...and YOU get an apostrophe!!! EVERYONE GETS AN APOSTROPHE!!!

St. Norbert's Big Breakfast Review

St. Norbert's Big Breakfast

United Church Hall

Lunenburg, NS

Oct. 6, 2012

Another first for me, this weekend was my first nosh at the infamous St. Norbert's Big Breakfast!  Even the people who sat near me couldn't believe it was my first one.  But I digress.

While this breakfast is hosted by the local Catholic church, in a demonstration of inter faith cooperation, it is held at the nearby United church hall.  Awww, group hug!

Similar fare as the Riverport fireman's breakfast.  You are presented with a choice of eggs (pick a style, they'l probably make 'em), pancakes, beans, sausage, bacon and toast.  I wasn't planning on a large amount of physical activity that day so i got a relatively 'small' plate.  My physician might disagree with that assessment.

Cheerful staff quickly attended to me with a platter of juice glasses.  The small kind that you'd imagine used in psych wards.  I went for the cranberry sugar nectar rather than the usual offerings of apple or orange juice.

I dutifully filled out my order with the supplied pencil and waited for my grub.

The man opposite me queried me on my county origins.  Once I established my Lun. County 'street cred', we traded notes about Simpson's Corner, home to his grandparents.  This was neither his first, nor his last Big Breakfast.  I could have been the only first timer in attendance that morning.

It was a who's who of Lunenburg, several entrepreneurs and 'mompreneurs' were spotted as well as mayoral candidate Ron Stockton and many other familiar faces about town.

The grub was hot and greasy, as advertised.  The beans had a nice touch of sweet to 'em and the bacon was crispy.  I could've handled a little more 'toast' to my toast, but the soft bread made it easy work to sop up my runny yolks.

I managed to get a shot of mission control, though in retrospect I wish I had taken some shots that showed more of the wood panelled wall that surrounded their cooking nook:

All in all, a respectable entry in the community grub category.  A welcome way to spend a Saturday...morning.

What's on this weekend? Breakfast, it's what's for dinner (and breakfast). Also, Turkey!

Start prepping your stomach for a Thanksgiving dinner with several Saturday morning breakfasts held all over this great county of ours.  

Do you loooove turkey?  Then head across the county line to Caledonia for a turkey supper (Saturday).

Sunday's lone event is a breakfast in Vogler's Cove, sounds like fun for the whole fam damily.

Breakfasts

Saturday, October 6, 

Italy Cross, Middlewood and district fire hall, 

7- 11 a.m. 

Adults $6; children 5-12, $3. 

Everyone welcome.

Saturday, October 6

Pinehurst hall,
7 - 11 a.m., 

Adults $7, 5-12 $3, under 5 free. 

Proceeds for the hall.

October 6

Chester Basin Fire Hall

7:30-10:30 a.m.

Various menu selections.

Saturday, October 6

St. Norbert's Big Breakfast

Central United Church Hall, Lincoln St, Lunenburg. \

Enjoy eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes and beans with beverage of your choice. 

$7, children $4

Sunday, October 7., 

Pumpkin Fest, 

Vogler's Cove hall/playground. Breakfast, 

8 -10. Hash browns, ham, eggs, toast, beverages, $6; 5-12, $3; under 5 free. 

Pumpkin weigh-off 10:30. 

Activities to follow

Suppers

Saturday, October 6

Turkey Supper, 

4:30-7 p.m

Caledonia United Church

All home-made food,

Adults $12; children $6; under 5 free.

There's a chill in the air

Lunenburg, NS

August 6, 2012

It's that time of year where piles of wood start showing up in the yard ;or in this case between houses, and the endless task of 'putting the wood in' begins.  

For those of us that grew up with a wood stove, handling (throwing, moving, stacking and splitting) wood is a core part of our upbringing.  My sister and I use to come up with various games when throwing wood in the basement.  We must have developed good hand/eye coordination, it's a wonder we didn't knock out our teeth while we threw pieces of wood to each other rather than carry it.  

In the end, nothing beats the warm glow of a wood fire which must explain why we put up with all the extra work that comes along with wood heat.

Zach is not modest

Lunenburg, NS

Sept. 14, 2012

Man, poor Charlie can't catch a break....

What's on this weekend? Breakfasts! Local food supper! Roast Beef!

Some old favourites this weekend and something new as well.  If you are looking for a breakfast, Saturday is the morning to scout one out.

Saturday evening, the Close to Home dinner at Wile's Lake Farm Market sounds really interesting.  If local food, sourced within 100 km intrigues you, check 'er out!  It's a part of the sustainability festival which starts today and takes place all weekend.  Check their website for more info.

Breakfasts

August 25 

Royal Canadian Legion #23, Lunenburg,

7:30-11:30 a.m. 

Adults $7; ages 5-12, $3. 

Takeout available for pick-up $7.50. 634-4215

Saturday, August 25

Newfie Breakfast,

7:30-10:30, 

Chester Basin Legion. 

Menu selections and take-out available.

Saturday, August 25. 

Firemen's Breakfast, 

United Communities fire hall, Cherry Hill, 

8 - 11 a.m. 

Adults $7, children 5 -12 $3.25, under 5 free.

Sunday, August 26 

Brunch, 

Mahone Bay Legion,

10 a.m.-1 p.m. 

Adults $7; children $3; under 5 free.

Suppers

Saturday, August 25

"Close to Home" Local Food Dinner (part of the Growing Green Sustainability Festival) 

Wile's Lake Farm Market, 3254 Hwy 325, Wileville

5:00 pm dinner guests arrive
5:30 pm – four course local food “incredible picnic” starts
Appetizer * soup * main course * dessert
All ingredients sourced within 100km
Vegetarian option available
Entertainment by local musicians
Tickets are $20, and can be purchased on the Community Sustainability Network website, or may be bought in person at Wile’s Lake Farm Market.

August 26 

Lunenburg & District Fire Department Fundraiser Roast Beef Dinner, 

Lunenburg Fire Hall, 

4:30- 6 p.m. 

Adults $12, children 6- 12 $7, 5 and under free.

What's on this weekend? Pork! Blueberry Grunt! Lobstah roll! Planked Halibut! East/West Breakfasts!

I've lapsed in my community grub scraping/reposting, I picked a good week to pick up the torch again!

Saturday morning, pick a side of the Lahave river and go git yerself some breakfast.  Saturday evening..I hope you like blueberries!

Sunday has a head to head seafood battle on the west side of the river.  I wish these folks would coordinate so they didn't schedule two awesome dinners at the same time.  Take your pick of a lobster roll supper or my perennial fave, the Conquerall Bank Planked Halibut Supper!  Check out my previous posts about the planked halibut supper if you are curious.

Have a great weekend one and all!

Breakfasts

August 18
Central United Church hall, Lincoln St., Lunenburg,

7:30- 11:30 a.m. 

Adults $7, children (6-12), $3.50, children (5 and under) free. 

Menu: Eggs, hash browns, bologna, bacon, juice, sausages, beans, tea, coffee and toast. 

Come enjoy a good breakfast with your family and friends.

(Take-outs are available)

Saturday, August 18

Fireman's Breakfast. 

Petite Riviere fire hall,

8- 11 a.m. 

Full menu, 

Adults $7, under 12 $3, under 5 free. 

Information 688-2117

Suppers

August 18

Pork Supper with Blueberry Grunt Dessert. 

Midville Fire Hall,

4- 6 p.m. 

$10 person, $5 children under 12. 

Advance sale tickets call Alice 543-7225. 

Limited number available at the door.

Saturday, August 18

Blueberry Supper, 

St. Jerome's Church Hall, West Caledonia,

4:30- 7 p.m. 

Adults $10; under 12 $5; under 5 free.

Sunday, August 19

Lobster Roll Supper,

4-6 p.m. 

West Side United Church, 2702 Highway 331, Pentz. 

$15/person. Lobster roll, potato salad, coleslaw, dessert, tea/coffee. 

Alternate meal available and take-out available. 

For advance tickets/information: 688-1580 or 688-2631

Sunday, August 19

30th Annual Planked Halibut Supper 

Conquerall Bank fire hall,

4:30-6:30 p.m. 

Halibut baked on an open fire. 

Served with mashed potatoes, tomato, cucumber, coleslaw, pie and tea/coffee. 

Adults $12; children $5; under 5 free. 

Proceeds for Conquerall Bank Fire Department.

Friggin' in the riggin'

Last night, I was fortunate to attend the final artist talk by the NSCAD Lunenburg Artist Residents aboard the tall ship Providence.  It was an amazing setting, as you can see by this shot taken of a flag atop a nearby tall ship.


The occasional cannon blast from adjacent ships punctuated the talk, not unlike those in  Tchaikovsky 's 1812 Overture.  It sure kept us on our toes, who needs coffee when there is  a cannon blasting away?!


Good luck to Nadia, Lynette and Jason with their future endeavours!

Dem Clouds

Shot in my friend's back yard last Friday.  What a great way to end the day!

This was shot back in the middle of June, on an sunny day not unlike today.


Head on down to your local chip truck/dairy bar and go and fill up on soft serve and grease!

What lies beneath: Illex illecebrosus

So, I managed to land my first squid last night!  Turns out it is a Northern shortfin squid; aka Illex illecebrosus.


I think it was just in the wrong place, at the wrong time.  Getting it in the boat happened rather quickly so I can't recall exactly 'where' I got it with my mackerel jig.  I think it was likely in the non tentacle end (is that the head or tail?  Neither?).


Once it was over the gunwhale, it squirted ink all over the inside of the boat and in the bucket where we stuck it to try to contain that black self defence liquid.


After I arrived home, with the help of a youtube 'how to clean a squid' video, I managed to clean and cut up the tube.  Then, I tossed it in flour and quickly fried it in some hot olive oil.  You'd be hard pressed to find squid fresher than that!

Welcome to Flavour Country!

It was a wee bit chilly last night, but never too cold for some charcoal grilling!  Kurt Wentzell (of Wooly Mountain Farm fame) has started selling pork 'grilling chops' at the Lunenburg Farmers' Market.  As you may have noticed, they are niiice and thick.  Why anyone would grill anything under 1" thick is beyond me.


Grilling pro-tips (courtesy of America's Test Kitchen):  
~30 minutes before the meat hits the fire, immerse chops in brine consisting of 2 tbsp. salt dissolved in 4 cups water.  
Rinse chops and thoroughly pat dry, apply a little olive oil, season with salt and pepper.  
Grill over direct heat, ~4 minutes per side.  
Remove from direct heat, check internal meat temp.  
When chops have reached ~135 F, they are ready to pull. 
Let meat rest for ~ 5 minutes, internal temp. should rise to ~140F by the time it's ready to eat.  
To keep chops warm, loosely tent with foil while resting.


SOFA KING GOOD!

What's on this weekend? 5 breakfasts & 1 brunch! Horse/Ox Pull! Variety Supper! Turkey!!!

Well, well, well....how many wells does it take to fill a lake?  Lots going on this weekend, especially for breakfast.  See for yourself!

First horse/ox pull of the season (that I've noticed) in Lake Centre.  Stop by Village Nursery on your way there and pick up some plants, why dont'cha?

Turkey supper in New Germany is usually good, though the last time I went the folks in line were loading up their plates like it was their last meal....stand your ground!

Also, check out Gloria's big, jeezly 'ole yard sale in LaHave on Saturday (next to the post office).  Chances are, it will be hard to miss....

Have a great weeekend, ya'll.

Breakfasts

May 26 

Royal Canadian Legion #23, Lunenburg

7:30-11:30 a.m. 

Adults $7; ages 5-12, $3. 

Takeout available for pick-up $7.50. 634-4215

Saturday, May 26

Newfie Breakfast, 

Chester Basin Legion. 

7:30-10:30

Menu selections and take-out available.

Saturday, May 26

Conquerall Bank Fire Hall, 

Pancake and Sausage Breakfast. 

8- 11 a.m. 

Donation to Muscular Dystrophy.

Saturday, May 26. 

Firemen's Breakfast, 

United Communities fire hall, Cherry Hill, 

8 - 11 a.m. 

Adults $7, children 5 -12 $3.25, under 5 free.

May 26- 

Blandford Community Centre, 

9- 11 a.m. 

Adults $6, children $3.

Sunday, May 27 

Brunch, 

Mahone Bay Legion

10 a.m.-1 p.m. 

Adults $7; children $3; under 5 free.

Community Events

Saturday, May 26 

30th Annual Horse and Ox Pull,

Lake Centre/ New Cumberland Hall. 

Pull starts at 12:30, there will be a canteen.

Raindate: May 27. 

Suppers

Saturday, May 26 
30th Annual Horse and Ox Pull Variety Supper

Variety supper, 4-6 p.m. 

Adults $10; 12 and under $5; under 5 free. 

May 26,  

Turkey Supper, 

Epworth United Church, New Germany, 

4- 6 p.m. 

Adults $10; children under 12 years $5; and under 5 years free.

The dandelions are taking over

I'm cool with that, especially when they grow beside big, blue blocks of colour!

In case you live under a rock and don't talk to your mom that often...this Sunday is Mother's Day (you already sent her a card, RIGHT?!?).  There are a couple of options on Sunday, if that's how you roll....the suppers at the Forties hall won't leave you hungry!

The Daffodil Tea in Petite is always great, reports say the same about the breakfasts held at the Lunenburg United Church hall.

Have a great weekend everybody, and don't forget to call yer ma'!

Breakfasts

May 12 

Hebbs Cross Fire Department, 

7- 11 a.m

Homemade baked beans, eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausage, toast, tea, coffee, juice.

Price $7, children $3.

Saturday, May 12 

Central United Church Hall, Lincoln Street, Lunenburg,

7:30- 11:30 a.m. 

Menu: Eggs, bacon, sausages, balogna, hash browns, beans, toast, juice, tea and coffee. Takeouts available. 

Adults $7, children 6- 12 $3.50, under 6 free.  

There will also be a Bake Sale Table. 

Start your Saturday off right with a delicious breakfast and some sociable fellowship. 

Saturday May 12 

Pancake Breakfast

Bridgewater fire hall

7:30- 11 a.m.,

Includes: pancakes, bacon or sausage, tea, coffee, juice. 

$6. 

Support First Steps Early Intervention a home based program for young children with developmental challenges.

May 13. 

Mother's Day Breakfast. 

Chelsea Fire Hall, 

7:30- 11 a.m. 

Adults $7, children $3.50, 5 and under free.

May 13 

Mother's Day Champagne Brunch,

Chester Basin Legion. 

12:30-2:30, 

Tickets, by May 8, 275-2577

Teas/Luncheons

May 12 

Springtime Luncheon and Sale,

Bridgewater United Church, 87 Hillcrest Street. 

11 a.m.-1 p.m. 

Craft & plant table, trinkets & treasures table, Wee Wisdom Cookie Sale. 

Adults $8, children $4.

Saturday, May 12, 

Daffodil Tea and Sale, 

Wesley United Church, Petite Riviere, 

2-4 p.m. 

Bake, plant and white elephant tables. Silent auction. 

Menu of sandwiches and little cakes. 

Adults $8; children $4; under 5 free. Proceeds for UCW.

Suppers

Sunday, May 13 

Mother's Day Supper.

Forties Community Centre, 1787 Forties Road, New Ross.

4:30- 6 p.m. Doors open at 4, serving starts 4:30. 

Chicken, potatoes, vegetables, dessert, tea, coffee. 

Adults $10, 5- 12 $5, under 5 $2.50. 

Call 902-689-2612 for information. 

Home and Shrubbery: Forsythia & Flowering Quince

Spotted on the Mason's Beach Rd, just outside of Lunenburg.  Loving all the flowering quince bushes that are starting to bloom!