TUGs

Montreal

A few weeks ago I spent time in Montreal.  The juxtapositions of old and new, English and French were striking to me. 

   

 

  

  

   

 

Bombay Peggy's in Dawson City in October

A visit to Dawson would not be complete if a stop was not made to Bombay Peggy's.  It is currently an Inn and Pub, although during the gold rush of the late 1800's it was a brothel.  The restoration has been beautifully done, the artwork inside is incredible, and the ambiance is lovely.  Check out their website at Bombay Peggy's.

The signage photographs were taken back when I was there in February with some friends.  We stayed in a gorgous room (every room is unique and incredible) above the pub.  The martini photographs were taken two nights ago. 

 

 

 

Sometimes...

 

Thai Cooking Class

About two weeks ago my good friend, her Mom and her best friend took an evening cooking class.  We learned what ingredients to consider, chop, slice, heat, spice, wash... all sorts of familiar and new veggies and spices and cooking tools.  The experience was beautiful. 

Truly though, isn't good food just pure beauty?  I think so.  And an experience with good people is bound to help make the learning and cooking even more wonderful. 

 

Egg Appetizers

Last weekend I enjoyed the first taste of the bounty provided by my chickens.  I had been saving the gems for an occasion with friends for the first taste.  This gathering was especially perfect because it was at the home where the small egg-laying coup was built. 

Each person at dinner chose their egg and decided how they wanted it cooked.  Fun!

The appetizer was followed by a WONDERFUL meal... Greek salad and home made ravioli (? I think)...

Friends, Food, Music, Dancing, PongPong...

I have the good fortune to be involved with a group of very good people.  We get together weekly for home made dinner, wine, and good fun. Sometimes the fun is so fun that we also get to enjoy breakfast together.  ha. 

Each one of these friends is special to me and the group together has as much, or even more magic.  Before 'them' it had been a while since I had laughed and felt so happy.  

Fortunes

About a week ago I met up with my Dad at our shop just around lunch time.  We frequent a very small Chinese food restaurant called the Green Garden, which is found in Porter Creek - a subdivision in Whitehorse.

The Green Garden is one of those quaint, 'nothing special' little places... all those little non-details make it a good place to go.  There is a squeeky wooden screen door that opens to an older, not very clean looking metal door.  The inside space is quite small but manages to fit about four or five tables that each seat four and another two tables that each seat two.  The big west facing windows have some spindly live plants along with some plastic flowers for balance. 

On the other side, the outdoors side of the two big picture windows, is a dining deck.  There are two white plastic picnic tables with umbrellas sitting askew on fake green turf.  The area is surrounded on each side by original wrought iron railings that remind me of our entry way where I grew up.  The railings have Christmas lights originally from some far gone previous year.

Beyond the deck is a dusty area that in other places would be concrete or pavement.  Next to that is the sidewalk, then Centennial Street, then a weed filled boulevard that buffers onto the Alaska Highway.

If you take a seat inside the restaurant you can see the menu that was long ago written on faded bristol board that is now faded.  You can see the Chinese writing that the cooks to read if they must, to fill the orders. You also notice that the counter which houses the till is small, sometimes barely holding all the brown paper take-out bags.  There is usually room just large enough to pay for the meal.

And again, if you eat-in, you are treated with the traditional paper placemat that gives what year we are in, including the ceremonial animal, your birth year and what animal you are associated with.  To drink, I always have green tea along with a glass of water.  The meal comes with wooden chop sticks that are still fused together and are presented in a sealed paper packet. As you sit relaxing, drinking your tea and reading the placemat, you hear the Asian people speak loudly at each other in a language I don't understand. 

I love this 'normal' 'nothing special' 'hard working' place. 

I think my Dad knew I was on my way in from Laberge and was kind enough to save me some chow mein, 2 chicken balls, (no prawns left), and the fortune cookie from his take-out lunch.  We both always order this Combo # 3.    My fortune:

I carried this fortune around in my pocket for the rest of the week.  It is a pretty inspiring little piece of paper, not to mention one that brings me hope considering some events of these past months.  Then when I was helping my folks out in the lobby of our family business I found yet another fortune.  Originally I thought I had dropped mine, but discovered it was different.

Equally as 'feel good' I decided to put it too in my pocket.  At first I wondered if it was bad luck to pick up the fortune of another... but decided that it is worth 2x the original value.  :) 

Best Stove

The other night I enjoyed the best dinner using the loveliest of stoves in a relaxing atmosphere.

These pictures do no justice to the beauty of the creek in front of my house.  As I took the photos I was wishing I could squeeze in some of the bird-song music along with fresh scents of local flora and fauna. I'll shortly work on at least including some more poetic creek pictures... 

Gone is the winter supply of bison and moose steaks, burger, and smokies.  All last years chickens have also been enjoyed til no more... When I fired up the creek-side fire-pit I realized how spoiled I have been.  It has been more than a year since I have eaten 'big box' beef or poultry. This night I enjoyed turkey/chicken smokies from the 'grocery store'!  :)  They hit the spot.

Thank goodness for the fancy fare-ware of a rose platter/ plate, light bottled beverage, and bottle opener.  The meal was enjoyed while using my outdoor patio furniture gifted to me by friends when I moved out to my little cabin a few years ago.  It is the details that make up these moments.