It's Christmas time ... Merry Christmas!

Celtic Christmas Concert, Quebec City, 8 December, 2018 at 7pm

Cassie and Maggie 
in a Celtic Christmas Concert

Vieux-Québec, Quebec City

Saturday, 8 December 2018 at 7:00pm

Tickets $25.00 adult,
$12.50 (under 16 years of age)

Doors open: 6.30pm
Tickets: cassieandmaggie.com
Enquiries: Sheryl 418 353 8243

Venue: St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
5 rue Cook, Vieux-Québec QC G1R 3X8 
(corner of Cook and rue St. Anne)

2018 Juno Nominee's and Nova Scotian sisters Cassie and Maggie have been lighting up the world with their unique blend of traditional and contemporary Celtic instrumentals and vocals. Appearing on stages across North America, the UK, and Europe the sisters have enchanted audiences far and wide with lively fiddle, piano and guitar arrangements, stunning sibling vocal harmonies in both English and Gaelic, all complemented by their intricate and percussive stepdancing style. 

Amazing Guitar playing by Tommy Emmanuel

Life is full of interesting anecdotes! 

The guy who cuts our cedar hedge knocked on our door today to say that he'd finished the job and would be back again next year.  As he was leaving, he happened to ask if I'd ever heard of Tommy Emmanuel (a fantastic guitar player, that had played a concert in Christchurch, NZ!).  "No, I said ... but I will look him up on google after your gone."  So, here he is ...Tommy Emmanuel a fascinating Australian guitar player that I learned about in Quebec!

Summer Reading 2018

Books I've particularly enjoyed reading this summer!

The Reserve, by Russell Banks



Twenty-One Days, by Anne Perry



Dragon Springs Road, by Janie Chang (this would make a particularly good Book Club read)



Hothouse Orchid, by Stuart Woods

Every Breath you Take, by Mary Higgins Clark

Night Watch, by Iris Johansen

Vinegar Girl, by Anne Tyler (a modern day retelling of a classic Shakespeare)

... updates to follow

Canadian Wilderness Experience

Club Triton Quebec

Peaceful views, breath-taking pine forest aromas, good trout fishing, canoeing and swimming for the whole family!

School Life

Note Rythme School visit

An interesting view on life at École L'Arbrisseau !

Night at the Acquarium

Stop! Geese have landed

April snow

we're still having snow in April!

Where is spring?

mid-March a slow thaw begins

Easter

Local Snow Festival 2018

fat biking...

baking bannock bread...

ice hockey playoff... and

a gold medal win + a $50 hockey voucher each!

Winter Photos January 2018

street view of our home

routine clearing snow off our temporary garage roof

keeping our garden path clear of snow

views of the St. Lawrence river from inside our favourite local restaurant 

Something Red

Pavlova (no fail recipe) from New Zealand

a traditional kiwi dessert often celebrated at Christmas

Ingredients
3 large egg whites
1 small cup of caster sugar
1 Tablespoon cornflour
1 teaspoon vinegar (malt or white)

Method
Heat over to 180 degrees celsius
Beat egg whites until stiff, then slowly add the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time (until half the sugar has been added).  When all the sugar is dissolved then sprinkle the cornflour and vinegar over the top of the egg whites and gently fold in.
Place meringue on parchment paper and put tray in oven
Immediately turn the oven down to 130 degrees
Bake 1 hour and then turn the oven off (leave the pavlova in the oven until cooled completely).

Topping
Whip 250ml cream with a little honey, and stir in greek yoghurt (if you wish)
Top with your favourite fruit (berries, slices of kiwifruit or grated chocolate)

this is a no fail recipe from Peter Gordon (NZ chef) published in the New Zealand Herald