“Don’t be afraid to try something new. It might be the best thing you ever do.”

Unknown

With travelling comes new experiences. I see some new things. But mostly Richard sees them first. Unfortunately more often than not I forget to take pictures or write them down. Wish I could say I’ve learned my lesson but I know I haven’t. I’ll still forget.

But in today’s post I noticed two out of the three new things. That’s pretty good for me. And I remembered to take photos. Imagine.

This sign was in a grocery store down here. Love how they list the apples in order from sweet to tart.

Lightbulb moment.

Try each of these apples and then write about them.

Brilliant idea.

So in January we started buying two of the same apples each week. One for me to try and one for Richard. To contrast and compare.

One slight problem. Mmmmm. More than slight.

They don’t sell all of the apples that are in the poster. What? Why?

We discovered that the third week into our project.

Scrapped that idea. What’s the point if they don’t have the apples. They only sold a few of the types in the poster.

Too bad. I was looking forward to it.

Then yesterday at the checkout of another grocery store I spotted these.

Caught me by surprise.

Pickle in a Pouch

Really?

How do people come up with these ideas?

Did I buy them?

No way.

I hate dill pickles.

But they certainly gave me a smile, a little laugh, and a shake of my head just seeing them.

A few weeks ago Richard saw this advertisement in a local paper.

https://foodcraftgsp.com/

Richard has been asking, begging, whining to go ever since he saw it. I may be exaggerating. Just a bit.

I wasn’t that keen.

Oh my.

Hands down the best meal we’ve had in a restaurant this winter.

Totally new to me having a fried green tomato in a BLT. But it didn’t disappoint. It was delicious. The tomato cooked like this added a really nice tangy crunch.

I called it a Southern BLT. Do you think it would catch on up north?

Hard to imagine I’ve reached this ripe old age and have never eaten tomato bisque. Or any type of bisque. One reason could be because I don’t eat shellfish and most traditional bisques are made with seafood or shellfish, including lobster, crab and shrimp.

So what is a bisque?

The first step in understanding the difference between bisque and soup is nailing down a definition of bisque. Bisque is a type of soup with a thick, rich and creamy base. It is much heavier than normal soups and packs a ton of flavor. 

https://www.cozymeal.com/magazine/bisque-vs-soup

Oh my. This tomato bisque fit the above description to a tee. It was so thick and creamy. Loved every slurp. Lol.

Green Tomatoes- Rick Braun

Take care and stay healthy.

As always, thanks for your interest and thank you for reading.

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A dream without ambition is like a car without gas… you’re not going anywhere.

Sean Hampton

Today we attended the 33rd Annual Orange Beach Seafood Fest and MAAAC Car Show at The Wharf in Orange Beach, Al.

The car show is the major fundraising event for MAAAC.

What is MAAAC? I had no idea. We’ve attended this event every year. About time I found out.

Makos Academics, Arts, and Athletics Club (MAAAC) raises money and then donates money to help support the education of area children in Orange Beach City Schools in Orange Beach, AL.

https://www.obmaaac.org/

Shame on me for not researching this before. Especially being a retired teacher.

The festival featured a full day of delicious food and not just seafood, 100 arts and crafts booths (handmade jewellery, metalwork, mixed media, painting, photography, leather, pottery, sculpture, specialty work, and woodwork. There was also live music, a Kid’s Zone with activities, and a huge car show – featuring antique, classic, and hot rod vehicles all along Main Street.

Strange place for me to be. Don’t eat seafood and not into old cars.

But

We had breakfast at Southern Grind.

https://thesoutherngrind.com/

And later ice cream at Kilwins.

https://www.kilwins.com/pages/about-us

Hey give me a break. I’ve only had one ice cream so far this trip and I only have one more week here so I don’t feel guilty having had another one today.

The cars were nice to look at. I’m not really a car person so the makes, models, years didn’t mean much to me but they were fun to look at and gave us a good walk. Of course I took pictures for my grandson. Thought he might enjoy them as he loves playing with his little cars and trucks.

A few cars. I sent more to him.

My favourite one because of the sign. The one I circled. Not the other one. Lol.

The arts and crafts were not outstanding. Nothing compared to what’s available at the PEI craft fairs. And the metalworks could not hold a candle to Malpeque Fine Iron Works on Prince Edward Island.

https://malpequefineiron.com/

I only took a few pictures.

We learned a lesson from last year. Today we arrived early. At 8:30. (Festival started at 10:00.) Thus the reason for eating our breakfast here. Last year we got here much later due to a soccer game and couldn’t get in. Parking lots were full.

To top off the day the sun came out and I could sit on the deck enjoying the sun plus the sights and sounds of the water from The Gulf of Mexico. It wasn’t especially hot but nice and warm. Even saw a fly.

And that’s our last Saturday here. The countdown is on.

This song, from his cassette Tear Down These Walls (aging myself), was in the car playing rotation years ago when my family travelled, along with Kim Mitchell, Genesis, Phil Collins, Huey Lewis and the News, etc. Who remembers having to take out the cassette and manually flipping it over and reinserting it to play the other side?

Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car – Billy Ocean

Take care and stay healthy.

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He shoots, he scores!

Foster Hewitt

And what a night it was.

Watch the winning goal.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/4nationsfaceoff/article/hockey-is-unbeatable-fans-react-to-thrilling-canada-u-s-4-nations-final/

Great article.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/feb/21/canada-usa-hockey-4-nations-face-off-final

I wish I could tell you I watched the game but I can’t. I’m not a hockey fan. I am immensely proud. Glad that Canada won. Bravo team. “…God keep our land glorious and free…”.

What also made the night wonderful? Our Michigan friends invited us to a Southern Food supper.

They’ve been loving these Themed Suppers as much as we have. Said they even have an idea for next year (if we make it down next year, rental prices are getting outrageous) but wouldn’t even give us a hint to what they’re thinking. Anticipation.

Like us, they enjoyed looking through recipes for the evening meal.

Oh my goodness. I just have to tell you every course was outstanding, from the appetizers to the dessert. Loved every bite. Bravo ladies.

Southern Food

Appetizers: Hillbilly AKA Redneck Caviar in Tortilla Scoops and Pimento Cheese on Rice Crackers

Entrée: BBQ Pulled Chicken, Whipped Sweet Potatoes, Almond Green Beans, Potato Salad, Croissants, Corn Bread, Baked Beans, Sweet Pickles.

Dessert: Banana Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream

FYI

Hillbilly Caviar

“There are many variations of Hillbilly Caviar, called many different things (Texas Caviar, redneck caviar, Carolina caviar, Cowboy Caviar, Kentucky caviar…Bean Salad Dip…etc.)…This corn and bean salad is filled with fresh veggies served cold with tortilla chips…

https://www.tastesoflizzyt.com/hillbilly-caviar/

Pimento Cheese

“Pimento cheese (or pimiento cheese) is a spread typically made of cheese, mayonnaise, and pimentos and is typically served on crackers and vegetables or in sandwiches…”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pimento_cheese

Banana Pudding

“While today you can make banana pudding easily using bananas and an instant pudding mix, the dessert was initially fashioned after the popular English trifle, which is a dessert of layered custard, fruit, sponge cake, and whipped cream. Banana pudding was traditionally made in the same way, using sliced bananas.

The very first record of a recipe for banana pudding didn’t come from the South, though. According to food historian Robert Moss, writing for Serious Eats, the first known mention of a recipe was found in the “Information Wanted” section of The New York Times in 1878, with an entry reading…

Before the Civil War, bananas were rare commodities in the United States. The few that were available were imported from the West Indies and brought to some ports on the Eastern seaboard. But after the Civil War in the 1860s, new traders and faster steam ships appeared on the scene, meaning that suddenly bananas became accessible and affordable as they arrived from the Caribbean and Central America. And with the simultaneous growth of the railroad system, bananas were being shipped to all parts of the country. With this influx of the fruit, it became a common addition to dishes and desserts.

With that in mind, there’s no other real reason that the South should be so closely associated with banana pudding. However, by the mid-20th century, newspapers were publishing recipes that associated the dessert with the South, with article headlines such as, “Deep South’s Banana Pudding Tasty Treat.” By that point, banana pudding was widely considered to be a southern dish through and through. According to speculation by food writers and historians like Robert Moss for Serious Eats, this may be because banana pudding was an easy, chilly treat that offered a respite from the South’s excruciating heat. It also made a wonderful crowd-pleaser for family reunions and large gatherings that were popular across the South. While we might never truly know how it came to be, at least we can all still enjoy this southern treat.”

https://www.foodrepublic.com/1288704/origin-history-southern-banana-pudding/

We Are The Champions – Queen

The Southern Food Song – MacAl

Take care and stay healthy.

As always, thanks for your interest and thank you for reading.

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How do you know, unless you open the door?

Casey Rislov

We keep saying we need to try new places. Trouble is we get so used to our usual haunts it’s difficult to branch out. We get stuck in a rut, going to the same old, same old. Hard to give up places where you know the food is good for an unknown entity.

But we’re trying that this week.

Monday it was Hog Wild and today was The Sloop.

https://thesloopgulfshores.com/

The Sloop Galley and Spirits began as an idea from two local restauranteurs with over 40 years of restaurant experience. The location and timing came together in the summer of 2019. The Sloop prides itself on fresh quality foods made in house and exceptional service. One of the partners, James Gallen, from the Philadelphia area decided to incorporate original Philly cheesesteaks on the menus as they are not offered in the south. The other partner, BR Mock, decorated the establishment with authentic sailing tools, pictures, and memorabilia from his days sailing.

https://www.thesloop.biz/our-story

So off we went. With our friends from Minnesota.

I read online that The Sloop is loved by locals! They flock there for delicious food, great bartenders, and a chill atmosphere. That’s a good sign.

Unbelievable what happened in the parking lot. Got out of the car and at the same time three guys out of their truck saying to Richard. “Is that license plate from Prince Edward Island?” (Yes.) “Every year we go tuna fishing in Souris. PEI is so beautiful. When flying in it looks like a patchwork quilt.” So true. My thoughts exactly. Small world isn’t it. Certainly never expected this today.

Continuing with The Sloop.

The place was packed. Guess it is loved by both locals and visitors.

The Sloop is small inside but if the weather had been nicer theres a great outside eating area.

Unique spot. Rustic. And it is a sports bar. Lots of TVs.

Inside:

Outside:

Folk Art:

Great service. Nice to not feel rushed even though they were packed.

Our meals:

Sausage and Peppers: She loved it.

Saucy Meatball: He loved it. Just difficult to eat. But meatball sandwiches usually are.

Nachos: They were ok. The queso (melted cheese and chili peppers) poured over the tortilla chips made a lot of them soggy. I wasn’t a fan of the ground chicken topping either. I usually have mine meatless.

Sizzlin’ Shrimp: He looooooved it. Said it was the best meal he’d had down here. Now that’s something.

So three out of four isn’t bad.

Looking at our meals and the other’s around us I can certainly say they don’t skimp. Servings were substantial. You didn’t leave wanting.

Had to take a pic of the IPA beer. Cute bottle.

Glad we went. It goes on our ‘to return’ list.

Cold here but at least no snow. Tonight there’s a Wind Chill Advisory so we may have to run the taps again.

Sloop John B – The Beach Boys

Take care and stay healthy.

As always, thanks for your interest and thank you for reading.

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Again playing catch-up. Both in my posting and in getting some final things checked off our to-do list.

Sunday breakfast.

Richard really wanted to return to Another Broken Egg this year so as we’re winding down off we went.

https://www.anotherbrokenegg.com/

We’d been here three times in various past years and the breakfasts were delicious.

The main reason for returning was the coffee. Richard says it’s the best coffee down here. And he’s particular about his coffee. Me? No thanks. I hate coffee. So if he says it’s good I’ll take his word for it.

Wish I could say the meals were good.

Richard liked his Deep South Chicken Sandwich – Fried chicken tenders, pimento cheese, over-medium egg, bacon jam on an over-sized biscuit. With a pickle & country potatoes. It was difficult to eat as a sandwich though. Tenders we’re falling out and eggs were very runny. Knife and fork did the trick.

Wish I’d been that happy with my Traditional Day Starter – Two eggs any style with bacon. Served with an English muffin. First, no English Muffins. Not a big deal. They substituted a biscuit. I added fresh fruit. Sadly I couldn’t eat the eggs. I asked for over medium but a lot of the white wasn’t cooked. Server never even asked if anything was wrong. I know. I know. I should have mentioned it but he was young so I didn’t.

Won’t be returning. Worst breakfast I’ve had down here and by far the most expensive.

Monday’s Lunch

Friends go to Hog Wild every year so we went yesterday.

https://www.hogwildgs.com/

Now we’ve driven by it almost everyday and it never appealed to us. From a distance it sure didn’t look like much. But since they love it we had to go. Great BBQ.

Unique inside.

The man at the counter was so nice and helpful. Seems like they take their food and service seriously. Good way to be.

Orders.

We chose to eat outside as the weather wasn’t too bad. Only one other family outside. With three boys. Ages 4, 2, and 1. Sweet kids and we’ll behaved. Busy parents. I remember those days.

Food was great. Sweet potato fries were crispy. Score. At home we can never seem to make them crispy.

Wouldn’t you know my very last bite somehow got stuck going down. I wasn’t chocking but it felt like something got lodged part way down my esophagus. What a heavy feeling. Yuck. Coughed a few times, relaxed, took small drinks of water, and finally it went down. Thank goodness. Note to self – drink more when eating. Lesson learned.

Funny side note. The total came to $30.80. I gave him two twenties and a one ($41) as I didn’t want a lot of small bills back. (I already had too many in my wallet) Bad move. I totally confused him. I mean I really confused him. He looked at me, held up my money, and kept saying, “It’s $30.80.”. So I politely said (even though I just wanted to shake my head in disbelief), “I know. I don’t want small bills back.” Him as he punched it into the register? “Oh right. I never was good at math.”.

And lastly I loved seeing this today at Starbucks.

Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – Eurythmics

Take care and stay healthy.

As always, thanks for your interest and thank you for reading.

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I’m gradually getting caught up with my posts.

Yesterday was the annual FitFair at the Bodenhamer Recreation Centre that we join when we’re here for the winter.

https://www.gulfshoresal.gov/1162/David-L-Bodenhamer-Recreation-Center

Although the fair has decreased in size since our first year it is still helpful and informative with various health and wellness booths.

A positive is that the fair is open to everyone, not just members.

On this day they offer a variety of free classes so people can try them out.

Our usual yoga class was held in the gym to allow for the extra people. It was strange having it in such a large space especially since the instructor had to use a microphone. But it went well. There were some newbies and most stayed for the full class. A woman in front of me was really struggling and left after about ten minutes. It’s hard if it’s your first time. Everything is so foreign. I hope she gives yoga another chance.

We walked around the exhibits. Did our other workouts. And then enjoyed the nutritious food samples.

I love that they offer the recipe cards to take home.

And after this I’m almost caught up with my posts. Yay.

Get On Your Feet – Gloria Estefan

Take care and stay healthy.

As always, thanks for your interest and thank you for reading.

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Amen to that.

A few weeks ago Richard saw this in our local snowbirds’ paper The Mullet Wrapper.

Who Hoo. How exciting. Love the music of both Louis and Ella.

The band was terrific. Five pieces: trumpet, trombone, double bass, piano, and drums. All superb musicians.

This is a long post but I’m including this info for you musicians and music lovers out there who enjoy knowing the musicians’ backgrounds.

Trumpet

Longineu Warren Parsons II is a classically trained trumpeter who plays in a wide variety of styles including jazz, blues, jazz fusion and classical. He is currently an Associate Professor of Music at Florida A&M University(FAMU).^[1]

Parsons played for Nat Adderley, Cab Calloway, Doc Severinsen, Herbie Mann, Archie Shepp, Sun Ra, Branford Marsalis and many more. He appeared in the national production of Satchmo. He was a featured soloist in the Great Performances special “Three Mo’ Tenors.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longineu_Parsons_II

Drums

Longineu Warren “LP” Parsons III is a French-born American rock musician. He is best known as the former drummer of the American rock band Yellowcard.

Parsons has been playing the drums since he was five; he played with his father, Longineu W. Parsons II, in his band The Longineu Parsons Ensemble.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longineu_W._Parsons_III

Trombone

Robert U. Griffin is an American jazz trombonist and an assistant professor of music at Florida A&M University. As a musician, Griffin performed with jazz, rock and funk bands at shows and festivals across the United States and at French and Italian jazz festivals. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_U._Griffin

Double Bass

Brian Hall is a bassist and composer with a deep knowledge of and passion for diverse styles of music spanning jazz, classical, and world musics. His active performing and touring calendar sees him collaborating with international artists and regional symphonies. As Associate Professor of Music at Florida A&M University since 2014, he brings his wealth of knowledge and performance experience to his teaching practice. Mr. Hall holds an MM in Jazz Studies from Florida State University and a BM in Jazz Studies from Georgia State University.

Based in Tallahassee, FL, Mr. Hall has toured as a performer and educator up and down the East Coast for over 25 years and played with other renowned artists, including Nat Adderley Jr., Marcus Printup, Charles Davis, Longineu Parsons, Michael Bakan, Carmen Bradford, Scotty Barnhart, and Winard Harper.

https://cssah.famu.edu/departments-and-centers/music/choral-studies-and-activities/applied_faculty.php

Piano

Dr. Joanna Sobkowska graduated from the Fryderyk Chopin National Conservatory in Warsaw and earned a Master’s and a Doctoral Degree at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida…Joanna has performed on the concert series of the Warsaw Philharmonic, Poland, at the Festival Internacional del Piano in Bucaramanga, Columbia, the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, the FSU Festival of New Music in Tallahassee, Florida, and CASMI International Summer Program in Prague, Czech Republic…Joanna is half of Duo Paloma with her husband, trumpeter Longineu Parsons II and they perform frequently in the United States and in Paris, France. Currently, Dr. Sobkowska is Associate Professor of Music at Florida A&M University.

https://www.javacyaarts.com/joanna

First half of the concert was the band. They were fine. Tight group. Loved their improvisational solos (most of them). Trumpeter was also the vocalist as it should be. He was a real showman. Great rapport with the audience.

BUT

Where was the female vocalist they advertised?

Not there.

And no mention of her. No apology for appearing without her.

Disappointed doesn’t even half cover how I felt.

Being a singer myself she was of course the main reason we wanted to go to the concert.

Here’s who we missed.

Tina Fabrique

From growing up in Harlem to midtown recording studios and New York City Cabarets, Tina has built a career as an actress and singer respected by her peers and in demand by playwrights, producers and directors alike.

Equally at home in musicals on Broadway:  ” Gospel at Colonus”, “Bring In The Noise Bring In The Funk”, “Ragtime”, and others…or straight dramatic roles such as: “Trouble In Mind”, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and  “Glass Menagerie”. She was honored to have received the Kevin KlienAward and Florida’s, Carbonell Award for her performance as Ella Fitzgerald in “ELLA”…

Tina’s television experience is just as varied; from the drama of “BLUE BLOODS” and “NEW AMSTERDAM”, to singing the original theme for “READING RAINBOW”, and much in between. She is also pleased to have been chosen to sing the title song for the Award Winning film “Mad Hot Ballroom.”

https://tinafabrique.com/

I feel we missed out on hearing quite a performance. What a shame.

Two music selections today.

Reading Rainbow Theme – Tina Fabrique

I’m sure lots of you remember that PBS children’s television series. (1983-2006)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading_Rainbow

Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off – Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong

Take care and stay healthy

As always, thanks for your interest and thank you for reading.

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“All you need is love.”

John Lennon

Bought for New Year’s Eve.

Too tired after my long day of flying from PEI.

Today was the day. Delicious.

Had with leftovers. But who cares. .

It was still very special.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone. ❤️

All You Need is Love – The Beatles (John Lennon)

Take care and stay healthy.

As always, thanks for your interest and thank you for reading.

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So many great quotes. Here are a few.

Everything about American politics makes me proud to be Canadian.

Neve Campbell

I’m so proud to be Canadian. I’ve been to 58 countries, and they’re wonderful countries, but Canada is the best.

Paul Henderson (former hockey player)

When I’m in Canada, I feel this is what the world should be like.

Jane Fonda

I believe the world needs more Canada.

Bono

So far our country themed dinners have included British, Mexican, Mediterranean, and Polish meals.

What was I thinking. Why did I wait so long. But now more than ever it’s a perfect time to celebrate Canada. 🇨🇦

This week we celebrated Canadian cuisine.

I’m proud to be Canadian. 🍁 Especially more than ever in these trying times. Nothing else needs to be said.

As I’ve written previously I love researching for these meals. And I spend lots of time doing just that. Such fun. But so many choices.

So here was our menu.

Appetizer: Bannock with toppings. (Butter, strawberry jam, maple syrup, chutney, and cinnamon sugar)

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/bannock

I preface this by stating this is what I found online. Hopefully it is correct.

Bannock, an unleavened bread, was originally brought to North America by Scottish explorers and traders. Indigenous peoples in particular Métis adopted bannock in their cuisine in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries probably after their encounters with Scottish fur traders.

As a result, even today many Métis and aboriginal western Canadians often prepare this dish. In western Canada, bannock is much more associated with native and Métis culture than with its Scottish roots.

Entrees: Poutine and Hawaiian Pizza

Poutine is a Canadian dish made of french fries topped with cheesecurds and gravy. It first appeared in 1950s rural Québec snack bars and was widely popularized across Canada and beyond in the 1990s. Poutine may be found everywhere from fine dining menus at top restaurants to fast-food chains. It has become a symbol of Québécois and Canadian cuisine and culture.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/poutine#:~:text=poutine%2C%20a%20Canadian%20dish%20made,restaurants%20to%20fast%2Dfood%20chains.

Hawaiian pizza is a pizza originating in Canada, traditionally topped with pineapple, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and either ham or bacon. Sam Panopoulos, a Greek-born Canadian, created the first Hawaiian pizza at the Satellite Restaurant in Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Canada, in 1962.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiian_pizza

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z2vftrd

Mine followed the original with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, ham, and pineapple.

Dessert: Butter Tarts

These were a must for me to include as they were a favourite of my mum and she made them every Christmas. My daughter carries on the tradition also making superb butter tarts.

…one of the few pastries with a genuinely Canadian origin. A butter tart is a small pastry tart, which generally consists of butter, sugar, syrup, and egg, filled into a flaky pastry and baked until the filling is semi-solid with a crunchy top. The first published recipe came in 1900 with The Women’s Auxiliary of the Royal Victoria Hospital Cookbook. However, the origin is believed to be much older, most likely the result of the filles du roi(King’s Daughters), in which approximately 800 young women were sent to Québec from France between 1663 and 1673 to help colonize. These young ladies brought with them their traditional European recipes but were forced to adapt them according to what was available. The sugar pie, a single-crust pie with a filling made from flour, butter, salt, vanilla, and cream, is a likely precursor to the butter tart.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/butter-tarts

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butter_tart

To offer variety I added pecans to some and raisins to others. Both were yummy. Of course I tried both. Three of us enjoyed them. They were too sweet for Richard.

I was happy. Everything turned out really well and was enjoyed by all.

Honestly I was worried.

Issues.

1. I tried a practice bannock run in the morning as I’d never made it. It was awful. Dry. Hard. I even messaged Richard while he was at the gym and asked if he had any alternatives. And I texted my daughter for her suggestions. Although I was given some great alternatives I decided not to give up and searched for a different recipe. Well. No wonder my first was so awful. Not enough liquid in the recipe. The second effort? Success. 😅

2. Timing. Bannock? Ready on time. Poutine? Fries took much longer to cook crispy that the instructions said. Hawaiian Pizza? Again it took much longer. That would be because apparently when I increased the oven temp I had inadvertently turned it of. Oops. Both tasted good, just took longer to serve. But great conversation passed the time.

3. Forgot to take photos of Poutine and Pizza. When will I ever learn.

This is my Home, O Canada – composed by Robert Buckley

I directed children’s choirs for over 37 years.

This was not my choir.

But in 1989 when the U-18 Men’s Softball World Cup was held in Summerside, PEI I directed a 166 member Children’s School Choir and they sang We Are The World at the opening ceremony and then the Summerside Community Choir joined us in performing This is my Home, O Canada. What an experience. Powerful. Listen to the lyrics. You’ll understand.

What are some of your favourite Canadian songs? I’d love to hear them. Comment and let me know.

Take care and stay healthy.

As always, thanks for your interest and thank you for reading.

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“Time doesn’t take away from friendship, nor does separation.”

Tennessee Williams

And that’s the truth.

My only change would be to have also included family. Family and friends. Lucky to have both. I value my family dearly.

I also value my friendships, those at home and those here during the winter.

Living down here for the winter I miss my family and friends from home but I’m extremely grateful over the past years to have met two wonderful couples, one from Michigan and the other from Minnesota. Our times together here in Alabama are valued. Blessed to spend time with them.

This past week one couple, as I mentioned in a previous post, prepared a tasty Polish meal for us. Lovely.

Yesterday the other couple invited us over for a delicious meal of various Mediterranean dishes.

How lucky are we. Another fabulous evening with friends.

Who could ask for more.

Great evening, great food with great friends.

Both couples certainly spoiled us.

Forever grateful for friendships, old and new.

Friendship- Lucille Ball and Red Skelton (from Anything Goes by Cole Porter)

Take care and stay healthy.

As always, thanks for your interest and thank you for reading.

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