William Hogg and Hoggs Falls

Someone I know is doing research on William Hogg. He had a sawmill at Hoggs Falls, then later at Eugenia Falls he built a power generating station. Does anyone have a picture of William Hogg or the sawmill at Hoggs Falls. Please click the title of this post and e-mail me if you do have a photo or know someone who does. Thanks in advance.

Award winning film made in Flesherton

I found this on the internet during one of those nights when no matter what you do you just can't sleep.

This is on Current TV where there are interesting short films made by people with a story to tell.

Recognize this street corner?

Made by Jeff Pitcher a former Flesherton resident.

As seen in Flesherton on Saturday

I can't wait for Aggies to open again. It was always a great place to eat. Great food, atmosphere, friends, art on the walls and cool.

Update.
Now open as Donabie's Restaurant. See pictures posted Feb 16 2007.

Living off the Land

Travelling by car or on foot, it seems to me, there's plenty of stuff out there to keep us fed and alive if we want to actually scrape it up off the ground and eat it.

While driving the backroads of Markdale, I came across three small pumpkins along the side of a road where they'd obviously fallen from a wagon, so I took them home and made a delicious pie out of one of them. I still have the other two which will yield me a couple of equally tasty desserts.

On a walking trail through the woods, my wife and I stumbled upon a giant puffball -- about 5 of them, actually -- and all in plain view. Never having seen one in person before, I'd only heard about them as a very large and edible member of the mushroom family.

They are quite strange. They feel like a big rubber ball and when you cut through them, they are like a solid mushroom -- all flesh, pristine and white. They are covered with a skin that peels like latex.

Not knowing what to do with this enormous fungus, I searched the internet to find a recipe that could use up a few pounds of this stuff. I found directions for a potato puffball soup, "Perfect," I thought, as my wife had just harvested some fresh potatoes from the garden.

Puffball and Potato Soup

3 tablespoons olive oil -- (45 mL)
2 tablespoons butter -- (30 mL)
4 medium potatoes -- diced
1 large onion -- roughly chopped
4 cups diced giant puffball mushroom -- (1 liter) diced
1 teaspoon kosher salt -- (5 mL)
Milled pepper to taste
2 sprigs fresh tarragon -- leaves only, minced
3 dashes Jalapeno pepper sauce -- or to taste
3 garlic cloves -- minced
1/2 cup all-purpose flour -- (125 mL)
4 cups chicken stock -- (1 liter)
3 cups 2% milk -- (750 mL)
1/2 cup canned milk -- (125 mL)
[not sweetened]
1/4 cup dry sherry -- (60 mL)

Please note that all quantities are approximate and to taste - this is
just a soup, not rocket science.

Heat a large pot; add the oil and butter. When sizzling toss in the diced
potatoes. Cook, stirring, until the potatoes are partially cooked then add
the chopped onions and diced mushrooms. Cook, stirring frequently, until
the onions are translucent and the potatoes test just cooked. Add the
salt, pepper, tarragon (optional), jalapeno sauce and garlic. Stir in the
flour until everything is coated then add the chicken stock. Bring back to
the simmer for a few minutes and cook until it thickens up. Add the milk;
stir. Bring back to just starting to simmer and add the sherry. Give it a
final stir and remove from the heat.

Serve in bowls with a garnish of minced green onion or chives and some
parsley if desired.

Serves 4 generously.

You can also slice them like steaks and grill them with butter, salt and garlic or use them like I did in any recipe that uses mushrooms as an ingredient. They don't have much taste but they are full of nutrients and take on the flavor of whatever you cook them with.

The potato puffball soup I made was delicious and we didn't have any psychadellic reaction to it at all. You have to eat them when they're immature like the one we found. When they mature, they get a little brown and crusty and contain millions of spores inside them. If you see one like this, you can run up and kick it like a football causing it to explode and all the spores to be released. (I've never done this, of course, but I read about it on the internet and you must believe everything you read on the internet.)

If you're not sure about it, you shouldn't eat it but there's something very organic about getting your sustenance from the land and you gotta love free food! I feel like some kind of mountain man, living off the scavenges of the trails and roadways near my home. The next step for me is to get more proactive about it and not rely on accidentally finding my food. I don't own a gun so I'll have to go out and catch a deer with my bare hands, club it to death with my shoe and drag it home for supper. Or maybe that's a little beyond me just yet.

The New Flesherton Blog Debuts

The Flesherton & District web site has been redesigned! One feature that has been missing from the new site is the blog that featured a dedicated writer from the area. Here's some commentary from the past archives. Interesting reading! Rats.... I missed the Art Garden event in 2002, it sounded great.

New to the blog is the abitity to comment. It is moderated.

From July 2002,
Who's Who in the Garden
The opening of the Art Garden at Local Colour ~ Flesherton Art Gallery was enjoyed by art lovers from near and far this past Friday evening. Canadian entertainment and media celebrities Dinah Christie, Patrick Watson and Peter Goddard mingled with garden party guests including many of the artists who display their works at the gallery. Flesherton Park House residents Harold Klunder and Catherine Carmichael, just home from Montreal, caught up with friends and contemporaries Gordon Rayner, Lorne Wagman and Rae Johnson. Taking in the beauty of David and Carol's garden out in the night air, too, were artists Mel Earle, Louise Moore, Cynthia Ann Porter and Francis Thomas. The evening was enlivened by artist Charles Meanwell, doubling as a piper. Presenting the art of poetry for the evening, four minstrels performed their spoken works in the garden. Paul Scott, Judy Lowry, Barbara MacKay and Daniel Kolos shared their compositions with the revelers. Complete with the soothing rhythm of the drums, the evening was a success under the stars.

From June 02, 2002
Jim Harrold now focuses his community involvement in Flesherton as President of the Flesherton Community Foundation. As a steward of the trust established with proceeds of the hydro utility sale, Jim is helping to ensure the community will continue to benefit from the endowment of the hydro dollars. Over the past year Jim has redeveloped the historical Heard House beside the CIBC where the Heard House Gallery has recently opened. A strategic management consultant in the health sector, Jim travels throughout Ontario in his profession.

The three members of Artemesia Council of 2000 in attendance, Jim and the two Davids, were warmly received by those in attendance and were presented with plaques [complete with a Rick Chard photograph of Council] in recognition of their dedicated leadership and service in our community. A large framed photo commemorating the Artemesia Council of 2000 was presented to Grey Highlands Mayor McCausland and South Grey Museum Curator Doriann Seifried in honour of the last Council of Artemesia Township.

From May 26, 2002
Social Connections
A retrospection of Village Vibrations [21 weeks!] distinctly reveals the dynamic community we have here in Flesherton and vicinity. While to the possible chagrin of some, hockey was mentioned nine times, mention of various charitable groups and functions rose up into the double digits! The heart of all these diverse energies within our local society is people, people make a community what it is, and great people make a great community! Whether your civic contribution is to one of our service or support organizations; to culture or sports; or to building our economic base, your commitment to your community is to be celebrated. Please join the Flesherton & District Chamber of Commerce in extolling our social essence and recognizing outstanding citizens at the Community Awards dinner next Monday May 27th at the Kinplex. The Kinettes will cater a delicious spring supper and guest speaker Matt Evans of Split Arrow Communications, Kimberley, will deliver an enriching talk on community spirit. A fitting variety of community awards will honour many deserving contributors to our community at this social event for a reason, see you there!

Legion Allegiance
The newly fused Flesherton-Markdale branch of the Royal Canadian Legion will hold their amalgamation ceremony this coming Sunday at the Kinplex Community Hall, Flesherton. On behalf of the Legion, President Lynn Silverton extends an invitation to our entire community to attend the ceremony and support the local Legion Branch. The formalities will commence at 2 pm at the Kinplex with a march down to the Legion for dedication of the new banner.

Pulse Rates
A quick defibrillation of long weekend events?

The Big Bike ride for Heart and Stroke whooshed through town last Thursday lunchtime with a hale mix of Kinsmen Club members, Grey Highlands Secondary School students and Flesherton Advance personnel astride the 28 seater.

Poetry and motion described the scene at Aggie's on Friday. DJ-in-training Kiki book-ended Smudge Hubbell's guests? poetic jewels with some good ol' rock 'n roll. Pithy poems to ponder and resonant rock to writhe to ? we were all amused!

Our community hummed all weekend with business and gallery openings, garage sales and the 2002 debut of the Farmers' Market. A promising start to a busy, prosperous summer for all!

Thursday, May 02, 2002
A-List, eh?!
Canadians throughout the nation marked Volunteer Week from April 21 to 27. Were you too busy volunteering to observe the decreed proclamation and accept the recognition? Well, would all you countless volunteers please herewith accept the belated gratitude from your friends and neighbours in the community who appreciate your contributions: THANKS!!

Continuing the theme of recognition, the Flesherton & District Chamber of Commerce Community Awards Dinner just happens to be coming up this month on May 27th at the Kinplex. An inclusive evening for everyone to socialize together in celebration of community spirit. Matt Evans, actor and educator of Split Arrow Communications, will be the motivating guest speaker for the evening. An effort of our whole community, the dinner will be catered by the Kinettes and many of our local organizations and business community members will be along, donating special doorprizes and support. Pick up your tickets at the bank or call 924-9932 to get on the list.

From April 2002
"Village Pizza bakes melt-in-your-mouth white chocolate, macadamia nut cookies to take out or use in eatery cross pollination [if Aggie's is out of brownies].

Munshaw's Bistro has the ultimate creme caramel. Ooh la la, the cream; Mon Dieu, the caramel! Even beats the creme caramel on a stick sampled in Quebec City!

Departing from our trek a little [and since breakfast is usually dessert-less], our commentary strays into the delectable eggs benedict-style dish prepared at the South Grey Inn. This meal could count as breakfast, lunch and supper? de-lish!"