Whisk and Ladle Niagara

I had a phone call this week letting me know that my driver's licence,

and  the insurance and ownership for the spy car, were at a Pelham golf club.

I don't play golf and, truth be known, didn't even know they were missing.

The explanation involved a gas station and cupcakes.

(You don't want to know.)

Anyway, on the up side,

it meant I had to go 'home to Pelham' if I wanted my stuff.

And I must say, trip down the 406 was worth it ...

***

I called up a former co-worker and we decided to meet for lunch at

The Whisk and Ladle

in downtown (downvillage?) Ridgeville.

I parked the spy car right in front and inspected the sidewalk sign.

Gourmet Lunches?

Happy news indeed. 

The interior, which used to sell kitchen utensils,

has been turned into a diner!

But 1957 never looked this good.

It was a nice day so we decided to step into the Knife and Fork Garden Café.

The menu was displayed neatly on chalk boards.

Placing an order was difficult.

The menu was full of fascinating choices

AND there were also three mouth watering specials to consider.

But there are times in her life

when a woman's gotta do what a woman's gotta do.

My friend, Janet, ordered #3 - the avocado and baby shrimp

with dill mayo on fresh focaccia bread.

She also ordered a side salad.

She said it was

excellent!

I decided on #2, the chicken salad sandwich with

grapes, walnuts, celery, scallions and fresh herb mayo,

also on homemade focaccia bread.

I ordered green tea and was so happy that it came in a pot

and the water was hot

AND the waitress brought me some honey when I asked for it.

I wish I could describe the delicate taste sensations.

Everything was light, fresh and savory! 

It was definitely a 5 YUM lunch.

We both ordered a half sandwich 

but I must say if I had known it was going to be so good

I would have ordered a whole sandwich and taken half home.

 

Lunch was less than $10!

I think one of the nicest parts of the lunch was the atmosphere.

This was our cheerful waitress.

This is Ruth, chef and owner of the

Whisk and Ladle.

I just love this picture!

One of the most charming portraits I've ever taken.

Even when I peeked into the gleaming kitchen,

the young woman working at the stove smiled at me.

The Whisk and Ladle

306 Canboro Rd.,

Ridgeville, Ont.,

is so much more than just a place to get a gourmet meal.

You can buy prepared meals,

have a party catered

and even  arrange a private cooking class party with some friends!

You can check out their website at

www.thewhiskandladle.ca

phone: 905-892-9262

fax: 905-892-1773

Trust me,

and I am the  one restaurant reviewer you can trust,

You need to eat here!

Laura's Bridge - Secnarf Speaks

English: Laura Secord warning Lieutenant James Fitzgibbon of an impending American attack, June 1813. Français : Rencontre entre Laura Secord et le lieutenant Fitzgibbon, juin 1813 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Part 2 - The Present

June 22 will be the 199th anniversary of Laura Secord's walk.

The big celebration is next year.

By 'big' celebration I mean big in an understated Canadian kind of way, i.e., there will be a commemorative walk.

But nobody can figure out how we are going to cross Twelve Mile Creek.

That's when I knew I had to find Secnarf.

Francie: Thanks for seeing me, Secnarf.  I know you don't usually dabble in municipal politics but we've got a serious problem.

Secnarf: The Rhinoceros Party is interested in serious problems at the local level.

Francie: Well good, because I'm afraid to say the move is afoot to build a bridge over the Twelve Mile Creek so the hikers commemorating Laura Secord's walk can cross safely.

Secnarf: Ridiculous! Laura Secord shinnied across the creek on a fallen log.

In the dark.

Without shoes.

Hungry.

And she had her period!

Francie: Laura Secord had her period?

Secnarf: It's Secnarf's Law.  Anytime a woman has to go somewhere where it would be totally inconvenient she gets her period.

Francie: Holy cow!

Secnarf: Yes, cow is the key word when we speak of Laura Secord. The people of Niagara don't need a permanent bridge.

Too expensive.  If you elect me

Secnarf,

the only politician who looks

like a cabinet minister,

The Rhinoceros Party of Canada promises to bring a herd of cows down to the creek and you ladies can swim across on their backs.

Totally Laura Secord.

And we'll throw in a box of those Laura Secord Chocolate Miniatures to anybody who makes it across alive.  

 Francie: Wow! Thanks, Secnarf!

Secnarf: No problem:  Don't forget -

Vote Secnarf,

the last remaining member

of the Rhinoceros Party of Canada

and the only politician who looks

like a cabinet minister.

***

Francie: When are you going to update your picture?

Secnarf:  When Bev Oda quits smoking.  Now get lost, will ya.  I gotta rent some cows.

Laura's Bridge

Laura Secord statue, Valiants Memorial, Ottawa (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Part 1 The Past

Laura Secord's husband James was wounded at the battle of Queenston Heights in 1812.

When he didn't turn up after the fighting was over she went to the battlefield and, as we say now - dragged his sorry ass home. 

He was still recovering in May of 1813 when the Americans pushed the British forces, their Indian allies and the Canadian militia to Stoney Creek, (near Hamilton) after the Battle of Fort George.

The Yankee scoundrels then proceeded to occupy Niagara!

In late June the Secords overhead several American officers talking about an upcoming attack.

James Secord had taken a musket ball to the knee at Queenston Heights and still couldn't walk.

 They decided that Laura would have to get the message to the British commander, Lieutenant James Fitzgibbon who was camped at Beaverdams, (near present day Thorold).

Early the next morning, June 22, 1813, Laura kissed her young children, (and probably her own ass), good-bye, pulled on a brown dress with an orange flower print and headed out. 

She stayed off the main roads.

She knew that if the Americans caught her out after curfew she would be shot.

She passed through 30 km filled with wolves, rattlesnakes, disgruntled beavers and a variety of other interesting critters.

Somehow,  she crossed Twelve Mile Creek which, although it isn't the mighty St. Lawrence River, isn't exactly a babbling brook either .

Eventually, tired, dirty and shoeless, she stumbled into an Indian camp.

She spoke enough Iroquois to make herself understood and the surprised warriors led her to Lieutenant Fitzgibbon.

Thanks to her, Fitzgibbon and his men were ready when the attack came.

 The Americans retreated to their side of the Niagara River.

But they didn't take it well.

In retaliation they spent the next 200 years building really cool shopping malls all along the border.

 Next: Part 2 The Present

Related articles

• Battle of Queenston Heights

  ---

• Been there, won that: Inglorious battles of 1812

  ---

• Brock and Tecumseh reunited on 1812 commemorative stamps

  ---

• New Exhibit Opening at Huronia Museum

  ---

Untitled

There is a path in the North End that is tucked away right against the shores of Lake Ontario.


 There are no road signs that will lead you to it.

It is very peaceful.

A place for trees.

And water.

A place to walk quietly or rest on a bench that looks out over the Lake.

A place to relax

and count your blessings.


***

Note: Twenty-seven trees were planted here.

June 6, 1944

This post card depicting Canadians heading to Europe for the defense
of Britain was sent by my father to his mother. 
He managed to scribble a few lines on the back
telling her not to worry about him.

My father told me that in the days before D Day the masses of men and equipment that were to cross the channel were confined to camp.

But my twenty year old father and his buddy, the same one he got caught in a fox hole with months later, (The Weapon That Won the War in Europe), managed to sneak out to meet up with a few girls they liked. 

They were caught when they returned and given KP duty.

The  British Officer in charge still wasn't pleased with their shenanigans though.


He inspected the potatoes they were working on and declared the peels too thick.

"Wasting the King's rations" he called it according to Dad who was still offended sixty years later.

They were sentenced to 10 more days of KP duty.

Dad said they didn't care because they knew they would never serve their sentence.

And he was right. 

It was D Day.

The Canadians landed on Juno Beach. 

There is a Memorial Centre there now.

This is one of the cairns outside the centre. 

Dad's name is on it. 

The picture was taken by his great nephew Kory Howe.

Dad never went back.

Related articles

• Garth Webb, D-Day veteran, Juno Beach Centre founder, dies

  ---

• D Day service June 6 at Spencer Smith Park

  ---

• At ease, soldier

  ---

• Burlington's Garth Webb was father of Juno Beach Centre

  ---

The Cleaning Blog

Most Thursday nights my friend Kim and I go for a dog walk.

We talk about a lot of things - people, world events, kids etc.

but we DON'T EVER talk about housework.

I mean

Never.

So I was quite shocked when she told me about a new

chemical free

way of cleaning that she is using.

She said her friend Angie is selling it from her home.

I know Angie slightly because I taught her son

so I called her and made an appointment.

You know -

 save the environment and all that.

Angie came over yesterday.

This is what happened:

My stove top.

 

I have been trying so hard to keep the black top nice.

Bought the recommended cleaner and the special sponge.

I was surprised at the difference when

 Angie cleaned the front burner on the right.

The one on the left isn't been done yet.

Here's the close up. 

*

I decided to clean the left burner.

First  I tried the recommended cleaner but as usual I couldn't get all of the marks off.

Then I tried Angie's product.

Check out the burner on the left after I had finished!

 Angie is cleaning my kettle while I take a picture of my beautiful stove.

In the past I've had to use magic eraser to remove tea stains from my cups

but here I am removing the stains with only a cloth. 

No chemical cleanser!


There's a scientific reason for this, but I'm not a scientist

and who the frig cares anyway. 

It works and it's safe.

My sink with just a few swipes of the cloth.

And here is Angie doing my kitchen window

without vinegar and newspaper which is my preferred window/mirror cleaner.

 

Not a streak and not an iota of dirt.

*

Now I have to tell you I am impressed.

The only thing I  didn't like was that although the products originated in Norway,

they are now made in

SURPRISE

China.

Anyway, the company is called

Norwex  

 so if you would like to have a few less

chemicals in your life

check them out at

www.norwex.com

PS  Remember the tire blog? 

I promised I would never blog about tires again.

Well I never have.

And now I give you my solemn word that

I will never blog about house cleaning again!

:)

Get Your Pots and Pans Ready, Canada

Québec student protest (Photo credit: Pedro fait de la Photo)

I don't think the Quebec protests are about tuition hikes.

They might have been at first, but not anymore.

I think that the Quebec government is the first of many North American governments that are powered by big business to finally hear the sound of the people.

And right now thousands of people all over the province are taking their pots and pans to the streets every night. 

The clanging can just barely be heard in Ontario but it is sending shivers down a few spines at Queen's Park and in Ottawa, I'm sure.

This week Andrew Coyne, a reporter with the Montreal Gazette complained that, " a democratically elected government may be prevented by force and intimidation from enacting laws in the public interest...;

I'm guessing the protesters would say the laws are only in the interest of the wealthy.

Telling people that true change will happen at the ballot box is a lie.

When we vote we trade Tweedle Dum for Tweedle Dee.

To say I'm worried about the future would be an understatement.

Related articles

• Quebec tuition talks fall apart

  ---

• Quebec student protest reaches 40 days in a row

  ---

• Quebec's largest student group vows defiance of emergency law - Globe and Mail

  ---

Top Dog

Sometimes somebody not only takes your spot,

they bring armed back up.

But if you are patient,

sooner or later

the universe begins

once again

to unfold as it should.