When the two of us went to visit my sister & her husband for 5 weeks back early in 2009, she insisted we come to choir practice. They love their choir so they wanted to share that with us. Okay, so we tag along knowing of course that Lawrie has a nice voice, but mine isn’t worth opening my mouth for, but humour my sister we will. Gospel choirs we have all seen and heard in any number of movies and it looks like they are having a good time, so maybe we will too.

Well, the choir director – nice looking, hat wearing, black American – sits down at the piano and immediately you know he has a command of the instrument that makes it as easy as breathing. And he sings, teaches and directs four parts, plays the piano and tells stories effortlessly. And yes, it is fun! Lots of fun when you add clapping and swaying into the mix and find yourself slightly challenged. A bit like chewing gum, patting your head and making circular motions on your front all at once!

Lawrie isn’t a tenor … I am though. He sings bass and really does have a nice voice. I’m just a voice, nothing special or soloist material at all. But I know how to participate and that is what singin’ in the choir is all about. Getting out there and meeting people who like the idea of “changing the world, one song at a time”

So to continue my story, we went to choir practice in Vancouver several times and also participated in a weekend workshop in Victoria. Meet more nice people, sing more songs … did a concert at the end of the workshop and had a very good time. Then we went home and back to sort of normal life. But another opportunity presents itself for a weekend workshop in November, this time in Seattle. Well, we haven’t ever been to Seattle, so why not? More nice people, and great visiting with those we have met previously. All good, all the time. Well actually that isn’t the way it is said … the first thing Eric, the choir director, teaches is this – whenever he says ‘God is good’ you (the choir) reply with ‘All the time’ Then he says ‘All the time’ and you reply ‘God is good’. This may seem a little hokey, but it is fun and you find yourself looking for opportunity to start the sequence. But is this a ‘church’ or ‘Christian’ gospel choir? No, if anything it is very non-denominational. Anybody can participate no matter what your belief system. The songs (which you learn quickly and easily without words or music scores) are all styled out of the ‘Gospel’ tradition with the words coming from many different sources.

Okay, so there is the background … we loved participating in the workshops we attended, so we thought why not bring the workshop to Saskatoon? Why not provide interested people here with the same opportunity? I must stress you don’t need to belong to or have participated in a choir ever before. It is all about blending many voices together to make a joyful song. Eric’s choirs are called ‘One Human Family Gospel Choirs” and that name reflects the purpose. “Changing the world, one song at a time”

God is good … All the time!

If you want to come, click here, or on the link at the very top of the page. Eric’s website is here!

At the last two Folk Fests here in Saskatoon Kimberley purchased 3 lovely ladies from Janet Williams Art. These paintings have vibrant colours and are titled: Sunshades and Polka Dot Blossoms, Sunday Stroll, and Sashay. Information about the artist, Janet Williams, can be found at her website here.
So the reason to say this is because the art work inspired the colour. As you can see it is very purple! Very beautiful to be sure. Now comes the decisions about framing, soft furnishings, and which lampshade gets picked!

Vegebeanarian Chili

¼ cup (or more as need) stock for sauteing
2 onions, diced
6 carrots, diced
6 stalks celery, diced
1 each yellow, orange and red peppers, diced
2 zucchinis, diced
1 to 2 jalapeno peppers, minced finely
1 tbsp garlic, minced
¼ cup chili powder
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp basil
2 tsp oregano
2 bay leaves
2 – 28 fl oz cans diced tomatoes
1 – 19 oz can chickpeas, drained/rinsed
2 cans black beans, drained/rinsed
1 – 19 oz can red kidney beans
2 cups corn (frozen or fresh)
1 tsp chipotle in adobo paste (in a can)
water or stock
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
2-3 limes

In a large pot, sauté onions, through garlic in stock until soft. Add chili powder through bay leaves. Saute 2-3 minutes more, (adding small amounts of stock if seasoning sticks to pot) then add chickpeas through chipotle paste. Add water or stock to cover and let simmer for an hour, stirring often. Add 1 bunch cilantro, juice and zest of limes and salt and pepper to taste.

Frosting
1 1/4 c. icing sugar
2 tbsp. butter
2-3 tbsp. dark rum (for those of us without rum around I’m sure the following substitutions are acceptable: 1/2 to 1 tsp. non-alcoholic vanilla or rum extract OR 2 tbsp. pineapple juice or syrup flavored with almond extract)
extra freshly grated nutmeg to baker’s taste

Method
In small bowl sift flour and nutmeg, set aside. In large bowl, cream together butter & sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg & vanilla extract. Gradually stir in flour. Form pieces of dough into long 1/2″ thick ropes. Cut ropes into 3″ pieces. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake 12 to 15 minutes at 350 degrees F. until just brown on bottom.

Icing is made by creaming butter and icing sugar, then stirring in flavouring until creamy smooth. Spread on top of cooled logs, drag with fork tines and sprinkle with nutmeg. Optional decoration is red and green cherries.

Lynn’s version of Sabina’s Aush
1 tablespoon oil
2 diced onions
3 cups water
1 cup dry brown lentils
5 cloves garlic mashed
1 to 2 tsp. tumeric
1 tsp. ginger paste
1 tsp. curry paste
10 cups water approximately
2 boullion cubes (vegan preferred)
1 19 oz can chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
1 19 oz can red kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
1 cup cooked white beetroot roughly chopped
4 cups chopped fresh or frozen spinach
1 cup broken spaghetti (cooked)
2 tsp. dried mint
1/4 c. chopped cilantro
1 c. chopped parsley

Directions: In a soup pot or large Dutch oven, saute onion in oil briefly, then add next four ingredients and continue stirring for about 3 minutes. Add 3 cups water and brown lentils, stir then cover pot and cook for about 20 minutes or until lentils are almost done. Add remaining ingredients, bring to a boil and then simmer for a further 10 to 20 minutes or until lentils are soft and flavours have developed. This did make for a very full pot!

Oh, and I haven’t done very much food photography so this is just a starting point for me!

Could be next summer we build a tent platform and spend some weekends camping out there. Living on, and walking about the land would help us decide where exactly we want to build ‘Stoneview’, a small octagonal cordwood/masonry cottage. We can dream! We can also build an outhouse for starters …

Click here to go to a Google map!!! This link may give you an idea of where we are. The lake in the middle with the little penninsula is ours. I would say it looks like polar bear that is upside down?

1 pkg extra-firm tofu

3 tbsp Bragg Liquid Aminos

3 tbsp Toasted sesame oil

3 tbsp Sesame seeds

1 tsp Cumin, ground

1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 350F. Slice tofu into sticks and toss with remaining ingredients. Allow to marinate 30 minutes or overnight. Place tofu on a baking tray and bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and enjoy hot or cool. Yields 24 sticks.

]]> http://www.l2o2.com/2008/11/12/saskatchewan-barns/feed/ 1 http://www.l2o2.com/2008/10/04/zane-alexander/ http://www.l2o2.com/2008/10/04/zane-alexander/#comments Sun, 05 Oct 2008 04:11:11 +0000 Lynn http://www.l2o2.com/?p=237 Last May 7th our soon to be daughter-in-law, Geneva, gave birth to our grandson Zane, and what a happy occasion that was. With just a few glitches, but a successful outcome, Zane was born at 7:30 am, weight 6 lbs, 12 oz and 20 inches long. Here are photos to show him off. Thanks Geneva and Chris, we are so happy for you both. Okay, we are happy for us too:)