Egg and Couscous Salad

While Richard was covering a St. Jean Batiste parade some weeks back, the Egg Farmers of Ontario were throwing these recipe cards from their float to the crowd. Attached to the card was a little packet of herbs.

The other night we decided to give the recipe a try. If you want to try it and see the recipe, click to enlarge. 

Many of the veggies came from my garden. I replaced chick peas (which I don't eat) with pea pods because I had a ton of 'em!

You add beaten egg to a hot chicken broth and swirl it around and then add the couscous and cover for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, you take the packet of herbs (its ingredients are listed with the recipe so you can make it again) and add olive oil and lemon juice to make a tangy dressing.

 And after the couscous has been fluffed up, you add the vinaigrette and all the veggies.

It even turned out almost exactly as the photo on the recipe card.

Rainbow Trout on the Barbie

I love summer eating, especially since we started barbecuing whole fish in a special fish cage thingie. And I'm learning to fillet a fish a bit better too, this time a rainbow trout with very few bones left. The side was a veggie coucous dish which was yummy and made enough for eating all week. Recipe for that in tomorrow's post.

New Ceramics

A few friends have asked for some painted china for their grand kids over the winter and I finally got to it. 

While I was at it I painted a few other pieces for a group show at the Martintown Mill next month. I don't seem to have very much time to paint anymore, but when I do, it sure is fun!

Photo Album: Horse & Buggy Parade

Last Sunday was the Horse & Buggy Parade in Vankleek Hill...an annual summer event on a beautiful sunny day. Enjoy!

Cliff Swallows

Yes, this really is a blog post about birds. But first, I'll show you the speed boats we went to see at the Poker Run on the Ottawa River on Saturday.

I'm really not a fan of loud speed boats flying by. But when the got to the Long Sault Bridge between Hawkesbury, Ont. and Grenville, Que., I noticed something under the bridge.

Under the lip of the bridge were tons of swallows. Cliff Swallows

Cliff swallows live in colonies and make jug-like nests out of mud.

I was lucky enough to be there as Mom was feeding one of her babies.

Is that cool or what?

Their little condos are works of art. One book I have says that the nests are built by building up tiny pellets made of mud. A typical nest takes 900-1200 pellets. Now that's devotion -- and great architecture too!

As I was pointing upwards with the camera, this poor misbegotten gull was hanging around me with a look of "What am I, chopped liver?" I had to take his photo too!

Picnic on the Road

Last weekend as we headed to the cottage, we stopped at a rest stop by the road for a picnic. I think this was near a place called Lake Tooey.

The province of Ontario seems to have some very well-marked, lovely and clean spots at which to have a quick lunch.

Picnics. The best tasting food in the world, eh?

Working Cat

I've always loved a cat with a job. This one, Spooky, greeted me as I was about to post a letter. Sweet!

Watercolour Sketches

 It seems the only time I ever pull out my watercolours is when I'm away on vacation.

A short weekend away was enough for me to sit down and grab some inspiration from the sights around me. Not hard to do when sitting at a lake in the brilliant sunshine.

Canada Day Weekend

 We had a very Canadian weekend on Canada Day. An Adirondack chair made of hockey sticks.

 Time spent on a fresh water lake in cottage country.

 Time sitting in the hot sun drinking beer.

 Views of gorgeous trees and the lake from inside a cottage.

 Visiting outside in the setting sun.

 Travelling by boat to get to a supper invitation.

 Montreal bagels en plein air.

 Jumping in the lake and staying there for the better part of the afternoon.

 A piper arriving from the other side of the lake playing O Canada.

The same piper as he left at the end of the day playing a bit of Canadian rock 'n' roll.
A wonderful and memorable Canada Day weekend fer sure!