Many followers of this column have told me they enjoy “reading about the old days.” And I’m glad. I get a real kick out of researching and writing about past times in the north end of Kenyon. I apologize that there’s been a dearth of cobweb items of late. However, I have no choice. As summer is a comparatively busy time in our little hamlet, I must focus on today and give yesteryear a wee rest. However, I continue to collect snapshots of the past that I look forward to sharing with you… like the one about the farmer’s wife who remained in the kitchen baking pies while her a log home was being slid downhill to a new location.
Buzz on the money
Unfortunately, Terry and I had to take a pass on last Saturday’s Glengarry Honey Fair in Dunvegan. We were up in the Sudbury region attending a celebration of life event. However, I was thrilled to learn that the pre-event buzz was right and the day hit the sweet spot. Although things started off slowly, curator Jennifer Black told me that by 11:30 the museum’s south-end parking area was fairly full and cars were lining County Road 24. By the time 4:00 rolled around and the day drew to a close, over 400 visitors had passed through the gates. Marlie Tilker, ‘queen bee’ of the organizing committee emailed me to say that there was a real mix of people. “Lots of regulars, but also lots of new people,” Marlie reported. “Some younger… and lots and lots of families.” All told, the inaugural Glengarry Honey Fair grossed nearly $3,500. Not too shabby for a first-time event.
Jim Mullin, another member of the organizing committee and the volunteer who originally suggested the idea of a honey fair, told me that he spoke to every vendor. Apparently all did very well. For example, two of the flower farms sold everything they brought to the fair. “The exhibitors are already looking forward to next year’s event,” Jim said.
As for the Honey Tasting Contest, Marlie reports that the judges — Julia Graham and Ronna Mogelon — were impressed with how well things were organized and agreed they would do it again. After sampling a whole lot of excellent honey, they awarded the ‘Bee’s Knees’ grand prize certificate in both the Clear and Creamy categories to: Glengarry Bee Farm. The third-generation apiary is owned by the Phillips family and is located on the 4th of Kenyon. To learn more about their operation, visit: glengarrybeefarm.com.
Buddy can you spare…
The next two items relate to the 2022 Harvest Fall Festival. Believe it or not, it’s only one month away: Sunday September 11th. To start, I address this appeal to all gardeners, cooks and bakers out there with a soft spot for the Glengarry Pioneer Museum. I urge you to pledge and contribute home grown, home baked and home cooked items to the Harvest Sale fundraising tent. Barbara Newman, the coordinator, needs whatever you’re willing to donate: pies, squares and cakes, cupcakes, bread, rolls, cookies, doughnuts, fresh herbs, vegetables, fruits, jams, jellies, pickles, plants, flowers… you get the idea.
The harvest sale tent has been feature of the festival since the event was first introduced. In 2000, I believe. Visitors love to hit the big top and stock up on goodies from country kitchens and gardens. But there won’t be anything for them to buy, without your generosity. Donations can be dropped off at the museum (call ahead to 613-527-5230 to make sure someone’s there). Or to arrange for a pickup, call Barb at 613-361-2703.
“Cow Pie” times two
This year, the Harvest Fall Festival is back with a roar. Plans are afoot for a horse parade,vintage farm machinery demonstrations, heritage trade presentations, children’s activitiesand a really strong slate of downhome music. I’m sad to say, though, it won’t include Léo and Noella Paquette. After countless years of opening and closing the festival’s music tent, they’ve finally hung up their instruments.
However, the “Cow Pie 50/50” raffle will be returning, and it promises to be better than ever. If you didn’t witness the action at last year’s festival, here’s how it worked. A grid was painted on a fenced-in 30’ x 30’ patch of grass and each of the 225 squares was numbered. Then a cow was turned loose in the enclosure to leave a “deposit” on one of the squares. The raffle ticket holder with the number that matched the square with the cow pie won half of the jackpot.
The bovine raffle was so popular that every ticket sold and there was a huge crowd to witness the pie making. So, this year, the plan is to have two. The times aren’t cast in concrete yet, but it’s been suggested that 11:00 am and 2:00 pm might work. In the first one, the “pie” donor will be a full-grown cow. And for the second, two heifers will compete to see who can make a deposit first. As an added bonus, between the two raffles draws (or perhaps “drops” would be a better term), there will be demonstrations of how cows used to be milked by hand.
Music, wine & stars
The museum’s “Classical Music Under the Stars” recital with piano soloist Nicholas Deek is tomorrow night, August 18th. The event also features a complimentary wine tasting from Lochiel’s Stonehouse Vineyard. Purchase your tickets now through the museum’s online box office: GlengarryPioneerMuseum.ca. The cost is $25 per person, or $20 for museum members. Children under 12 are free.
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