Where the Boys Are

It's a red-letter day: the boys are back--and on our roof. After the disappointment of expecting them on Wednesday and their not showing up, we were relieved to see the crew arrive for work at 8 this morning. It's another gorgeous day, like yesterday. They are hard at work building out the new flat-roofed porch and entryway. I am doing my bit by taking them tea or coffee and sweet biscuits (cookies) at least twice a day. (It may be sunny but it's very cold.)

I haven't managed to get back to my wee wall quilt for a couple of days now because of other chores or appointments. But I will get back to it later this afternoon, if possible. If that's not possible, I'll have all day tomorrow. Marion has given me some ideas that I want to follow up on. I had the loveliest surprise on Tuesday when a parcel arrived from eQuilter, an online quiltshop. Daughter Shara had sent me a selection of 7 lovely batik fabrics, I'm assuming, for my birthday. I haven't decided how to use them yet but I adore working with batiks as they are always interesting and lively.

On Tuesday evening, we went to a special concert as part of the Strathearn Music Society's Extended 40th Anniversary Celebration Season. Two young ensembles (players were 19 and 20 years old) presented the program: the Amici Winds (flute, oboe, clarinet, french horn, and bassoon) played the first half and the Thistle Brass (2 trumpets, a French horn, a trombone, and a tuba) thoroughly entertained us in the second half. It isn't so much that the Amici Winds weren't worthy of note; it's that the Thistle Brass were simply the most entertaining in all respects. These cheeky young folks from Glasgow (or is that redundant?) not only played beautifully and expertly, but they took it in turns to introduce each selection with an amazingly polished patter that was informative as well as amusing. They were 4 young men and a petite and very attractive young woman who surprised us all by her virtuosity on the trombone. All in all it was a most enjoyable evening that left us all with smiles on our faces.

Today we went, as usual, to the Thursday Club Community Luncheon at the White Church Community Centre in "greater downtown Comrie." It is always so nice to meet and share a table with other Comrieites and enjoy the home-made soups and puddings made by volunteers in their homes. Last week was my turn to make a pudding. Instead of my usual Amish Knobby Apple Cake (which they list as Apple Pudding with Pecan Nuts), I made a Key Lime Tart. I'm not so sure that it was anywhere near as well-received as the apple pudding usually is, so I think I'll go back to the crowd-pleaser next time. The lunches are held for 10 weeks leading up to Christmas and 10 weeks following the Christmas-New Year break. Volunteers sign up to set up and break down tables and chairs, serve as waiters, butter rolls, apportion and serve up soup and puddings, make coffee and tea, and do the washing up and cleaning up. Each volunteer serves twice in each 10-week period. So you see, it truly is a community effort. Lunch costs only 2 pounds per person and for that you get a bowl of soup, a buttered or a cheesed bun, a dish of pudding, coffee or tea, and a sweet biscuit. Not bad for the level of service and quality of food. Add to that the comaraderie of meeting and greeting your fellow villagers and it's a real event.

Time for me to put my basket on my arm and walk to the shops. I need to pick up a few items for our tea (supper) before I get my hair cut.

Toodle-pip!