I think we're ready...

 

Conditions at 5:20 am: 11' and a little wet
Expected later: 17' and sunny

...for round two of the fall session of the Donagh Community School cooking class.  We have everything ready for our first class.
Last night Brenda came over for supper and we put together the folders for everyone and I have everything all set to go (I think). Tonight we are going to spend some time talking about food safety, working on a few knife skills and then we are going to make some salad dressings - French, Ranch and Caesar.  This year we have a bit of a theme going so that may make it easier to plan each week. Our "title" is 'Think outside the box' - in other words, we plan to make things from scratch that many people buy already made. The salad dressings is just the start. I plan to bring in some bottled dressings so we can compare the ingredients on the label with the ingredients in the recipe. My goal is to try to get away from the added preservatives and unnatural ingredients that we don't need to consume. There are so many things in a lot of prepackaged foods that even if we can get away from some of them, it would be a start. We'll see how it goes.

It was quite cool and damp in the house when I got home last night, and I had gotten chilled  so I started a fire in the wood stove. Brenda went to the fitness class at the park and came over after so it was very warm and cozy when she got here for supper - and a gourmet meal it truly was - a dozen ears of fresh corn on the cob and a glass of wine, finished off with a cup of tea and some cake and ice cream.

Bernie and James made it to St. Anthony and have had their first day of hunting. They saw some moose yesterday but if they shoot one on the first day, they are done - what will they do with the rest of the week?  So they are pacing themselves.

Two other things of note this morning:

1) We have an artiste in our midst! Richard Anderson has one of his pieces of furniture on display at an exhibition  in Summerside. He makes these amazing chairs and other items out of branches and assorted natural objects. Each one is truly unique and there was a photo of various pieces of work in the paper on Saturday. I recognized the chair as one of Richards before I even read the article to tell me it was his. So congratulations to Richard on the first step of having his art recognized.

2) Meghan (1) has a new job within her company. Congratulations Meghan! She will be doing training and apparently there will be some travel involved as well so she'll get to see some of the country along with it! Well done Meghan, you're the perfect candidate for that position and you'll do well.