bigugli

I've celebrated a couple of Italian Christmases up in the Soo. On the Eve there is no meat. Lots of Bacala, shrimp and lobster tails and a hearty serving of Polenta, washed down with copious amounts of wine. A Christmas day feast of a roast pig and side dishes beyond counting. I think it took us 2 hours to get through the dinner. To help with the digestion we would go for a caminata with a couple of bottles of wine. Then we would settle down to the desserts

No matter how hard I try, I find myself swamped through the month of December. The very last batch of cookies is made with all the grand kids taking part. I just fished cleaning up. At the end of it all, there is a mountain of cakes, cookies, pies and Christmas bread. Enough to feed a ship's company. Tomorrow, I get down to working on the meals for 3 days of feasting

From my family to all here at the extended OFC family, Hyyvaa Joulua ja Onnea Udele.

Mine already arrived in the mail.

As I am already blessed with a large, beautiful and healthy family, I can't really hope for more. We have a nice warm home and a well stocked larder. We want for little. I don't usually ask for stuff myself. It's stuff for the family. Like the big family size ice pop-up that is supposed to be going under the tree. If I were to self indulge... Maybe a flasher for the ice. A fishing charter somewhere. A lakeside cabin for a weekend?

Nothing ready in Niagara. I''l be hunting open water for perch this week.

Works for me and the Mrs.

We usually pack enough snacks to fit in the pocket

Any good dried sausage or salami

Great read.

TSC stores will have all sorts of in house sales. Not advertised, and ending when convenient for the store ( as in when inventory levels are acceptable) We do purchase farm supplies there, and know that you grab the deal the day you see it. The local manager told us that many of the sales are at the discretion of head office. Stuff moves too quickly, they just take the item off the floor.

Got to love the Christmas season. The sweet aromas of breads, candies and cookies as they're being baked. Put up a couple of mounds of shortbreads and butterscotch snaps tonight. The exact same cookies my Gram and my mother always made. Good recipes always stand the test of time. Sorry for the lack of pics. Me and p--bucket aren't getting along too well.

Afternoon works for me, unless the bite is on.

Nothing special here tonight. Sunday dinner with the clan was simple. Dry coated fresh perch in the fryer with mounds of chips. Side dish of nachos smothered in salsa and melted cheese.

That's a great deal. Ordered mine.

Time to break out the violin

4 fillet pike

We'll be in.

Had a few hours this afternoon. Just enough time to catch me a dozen more.

Got ourselves a good 2 dozen and some. Nothing like lake jumbos, but respectable 9-10" inland fish. In the end, the fish stay here at the house. We will have a nice big fry with all the kids and grandkids under one roof later this week. One of Grampa"s rule is everyone shares a meal together every week. Everybody but the Mrs. loves fish.

Sounds good

Was a beautiful morning to be out fishing. Roped the son and daughter in for a perch hunt, and we were well rewarded fishing both the Welland canal and the Welland river from shore. The only problem is that I get stuck cleaning all the fish ( Funny. I vaguely remember my Gramma complaining about the exact same thing many years ago).

That's what happens when you live in the far north Cabin fever comes early

Once you start finding those 8-10" gills on ultralite, it's a blast.

The Ugli bunch is in.