Grooming day

Tags

cuisine, dachshunds, Food, Italy, Vet

Well Monday 15 June is grooming day for our little Dachshunds, it has been many months since the last grooming and we are happy they can get it done. Next week we are going to the Vet Clinic for their annual shots and physical exam. Both are 11 and half years old and in good health. Though we have noticed that Nick is becoming anxious if I leave the house and he does not like to be left on his own.

Nora now barks at the smallest noise, which is annoying but she looks around and seems nervous. She also had another episode of what could be described as some kind of stroke, though it was short and quickly resolved itself. But we took her to the Vet Clinic immediately and within one hour the Vet told us that she was stable and could come home. We don’t know exactly what happened. But we do realize that we have two old dogs who are used to their daily routine and as long as it is not disturbed all is well. It has to be said that they are spoiled and like good Dachshunds always try to control what is going on, just too clever I think.

After Nick’s grooming and a snooze, so stressful, even a cookie does not compensate enough. He has the most beautiful colouring, old gold and dark chocolate. 

Nora, back at home and resting in Nick’s kennel, which annoys him but he puts up with it. Though she is one week older than Nick, same colouring but tuffs of grey hair here and there.

Today Tuesday 16 June, the Art Gallery of the Confederation Centre re-opened after 3 months of closure due to the pandemic. We were the first to arrive and the new sanitary procedures are in place, the exhibits are those of March since the gallery closed a few days after they were unveiled. They will now be on show until September 27. The 2020 Summer show has been postponed until next Summer 2021.

Lemieux, Fathers of Confederation

Many stores in town have closed permanently due to the pandemic and no tourists. Many restaurants will not open while other did open with a new menu and new Chef. One such place is Terra Rossa on Queen Street, new (well known) Chef, and a newish concept returning to the original idea for this Italian regional cuisine restaurant, sorry no pizza, no spaghetti. A grocerant/eatery with lots of specialty products like fresh anchovies in oil or burrata or N’Duya sausage, charcuterie from various regions of Italy and cheeses, most if not all unavailable in PEI up to now, so you see a refinement of gourmet offering. Fresh Anchovy as a fish is very delicate in flavour and can be eaten as is or on toast or in pasta or salad. This was a real find. A wine bar is also part of the establishment.  We were at Terra Rossa this morning and am very impressed with the place. Happy to see they have returned to the concept of four years ago which had been abandoned by a previous owner with little success and now re-instated with this new owner.

Sunday and Saturday we met with friends we had not seen in the last 3 months and it was so nice to actually see people in person, to talk and enjoy sweets. This is one thing that this pandemic has made us realize, the importance of friends.

 

 

 

 

 

Nick and Nora – The Early Years – II

Tags

dachshunds

Our two little Dachshunds Nicholas (Nicky) and Eleonora (Nora) now some 11 years old have brought us much joy. Here are films of their early lives in our apartment in Rome. Please enjoy!

 

via Nick and Nora – The Early Years – II

Two dates

Tags

Capena, dachshunds, dogs, Giorgio Porcino, life, Rome, Tiziana Tola

The 19 and 23 February is the 11th Birthdays of Eleonora (Nora) and Fantastico Nicky (Nicky) born in Capena, Italy in 2009 at the Casa degli Orsi owned by Tiziana Tola and her husband the celebrated veterinarian Professor Dottore Massimo Buzzanca.

Both are known in Italian as Bassotto Tedescho (German Bassett hound) or Dachshunds. All of their dogs have won numerous trophies and honours in Italy and in Europe. They usually have only one or two litters per year. We came upon their farm on the recommendation of friends who lived near them in the countryside. A very beautiful place with lots of mature trees and a big pond with giant Koi fish.

We had a contest on the internet to name them and settled on Nick and Nora from the film series Nick (William Powell) and Nora Charles (Myrna Loy). Nick and Nora Charles are fictional characters created by Dashiell Hammett in his novel The Thin Man. The characters were later adapted for film in a series of films between 1934 and 1947; for radio from 1941 to 1950; for television from 1957 through 1959; as a Broadway musical in 1991; and as a stage play in 2009.

We first saw them in late February, still very small with their mother and other siblings. We returned to pick them up some 7 weeks later. The road back to Rome to our home on Via dei Villini was only eventful in the fact that Nora looked afraid but quiet and Nick was whimpering all the way. They were sitting in the back with Will.

In Rome they were used to their walks in the centre of the City around our home, a quiet leafy area. Nora loved to put her head under the Nassone which is a drinking fountain with continuous flow of water coming from the mountains around the city. The water is very cold and she loved it. Then in July 2011 they flew to Canada with us as our time living in Rome ended with regret. Arrivederci Roma!

Nicky and Nora are always with us, if we travel we have a babysitter to look after them at home.  Tiziana Tola and many friends including our Vet in Rome, Giorgio Porcino told us be careful because they can be controlling, always pushing the limits to see who is in charge. Nora thinks she is in charge and can be very demanding and at the same time plays coquette. Nicky on the other hand is a cry baby, it was funny when he was a puppy but not at 11 he is an old dog but hey it works and he knows it. We are certainly at their service.

That day at the Farm Casa degli Orsi when they came with us to Rome. Nora (L) Nick (R). By law the owners have to have microchips for each dog upon purchase and they are also registered with the Italian Government for identity purposes.

Nick enjoying the sun in our Roman living room, to this day he enjoys sleeping in full sunlight.

Nora learning to type at 3 months. She is good at sending E-cards to people.

A three tier birthday cake with marzipan. Since birth and being with us we have spoiled them with pieces of celery and carrots, pieces of gouda and cheddar cheese and in the morning sometimes Will will give them a small piece of his bagel with cream cheese. Nora loves Espresso but we do not give it to her, she still tries to but her big nose in the cup.

They also get regular check ups at the UPEI Vet College. The Vets know them quite well to a point where if we call the clinic, the staff know their names by heart. Our old vet from the time we had our first two dachshunds Bundnie and Reesie said to us that when he died he wanted to come back as our dog because we took such good care of them.

Nick (L) and Nora (R)

Events and things

Tags

dachshunds, dogs, Events, Holiday, hounds, life, sleep, XMAS

First this photo of our Nicholas or Nicky for his friends. Every morning same routine, Nick loves to get up at 7:30am to go out for a short walk and then quickly in for his breakfast. Then he looks for a spot of sunshine and will lie in the sun like any hound loves to do. If there is no Sun well then he will point me to my chair in the living room by making funny little nasal growls, softly, plaintively and moving or jerking his head to indicate over there. I go sit down with my morning Espresso and he comes to sleep by me. Nothing complicated and it makes him happy, just snoozing away, such a good boy.

As we come to the end of the Year 2019 and Christmas is just around the corner, I looked at my calendar for the past year, counted 85 events attended during the year. I also did at least 60 coffee mornings with various people, many with local politicians one on one to talk about issues. I am not counting all the other general activities on any given day like looking after Mr Nicky and Ms Nora.

Today is Black Friday, essentially an American tradition which jumped over into Canada. We bought a new Dutch oven from Paderno a well known maker of Canadian pots and pans and a local company, huge discount of 75% on the price. This is quality stuff and is usually not cheap. Could not resist and went to Canadian Tire to get a 6 Litre Dutch oven.

I also went to buy our Xmas Crackers for the table, they are all made in England, I also got fancy little bags to given to each one of our guests on Christmas Day Lunch. We will stuff the bags with nice small gifts and things. Our guests love those and the surprise is different for all, no one gets the same thing, there will be a candy cane, some chocolates usually filled with liquor from Anthon Berg of Denmark, a small candle, a fragrant fancy soap, some nuts in their shell and I don’t know what else.

Our crackers will be colourful, I really like those ones and their contents. I don’t know if a lot of people do crackers. Do You ?

Today the weather is quite bad, high winds around 70Km, rain changing into snow squalls tonight. The Santa Parade has been moved to Sunday which is suppose to be sunny.  Horrors of horrors, I saw my first snow plow today, spreading salt on the road.

Oh well, it’s Winter or late Fall …..

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday!

Tags

Birthday, Capena, dachshunds, Rome, Via dei Villini

This week marks the 10th Birthday of Nicky and Nora, born in Capena, Italia in Febbraio   2009. Capena is a little town famous for a place of exile where the great Marcus Tullius Cicero wrote letters on Friendship and Old age in 58 BC. It is also the area where Livia wife of Augustus lived in old age in her great palace.

Nora was born 5 days before Nicky and they both have different sets of parents.  Nora comes from a line of European champion hunting/tracking dachshunds and Nicky from a line of champion show dogs like his father.

Here is Will in February 2009 in Capena in the room where they were born at the house of Dr Massimo and his wife Tiziana. See how small they both are, their eyes are still closed.

We saw them at 10 days and they came to live with us at 7 weeks. As we drove back into the City, Nicky was in the back of the car with Will and Nora and he was whimpering all the way.

They lived the first 2 years of their lives in Rome on Via dei Villini and then immigrated to Canada when we left.

Nicky on the sofa in our den at home in Rome

Nicky at 2 in the morning Sun on Via Dei Villini

Nora 

Nora in Ottawa, always keeping an eye out, just watching

Left to right, Nicky and Nora on the sofa

 

Left to right Nora and Nicky 

Getting ready, we are ready

Tags

Charlottetown, dachshunds, Food, gingerbread cookies, pasties, Seafood, thongs, Xmas tree

Well we are 9 days away from Peace of Earth day to quote Mel Tormé. We have our menu all figured out for Christmas day Lunch. Christmas Eve it’s drinks Chez Nous with select friends and for New Year’s Eve we are going to our Club for a drink and sit by the fireplace. That is it, simple no fuss.

Today Will made gingerbread cookies (male-female) for equity sake following the Justin Trudeau Ideology on the topic. I decorated them with icing and was immediately cited by the Morality police, can you believe it. Do I look like Michael Cohen to you? I was directed to decorate them. You be the judge I think they are lovely.

Later I put the star at the top of the tree as is the tradition in this last 40 years in our household. Same dollar store star which has graced all our trees in the best capitals of the World.

 

The Christmas Dachshunds with their home made Xmas scarves, so festive. Our friend Lori gave them to Nicky and Nora.

the ladies have pasties and the men wear thongs all in Xmas colours of course.

Will also made some wonderful sausage rolls, they are soooo good!

This picture is the taste test batch, we will be making more for Xmas Eve Cocktail party.

Will is also making a Tourtière for our Xmas Lunch and another friend is making Ragout de pattes de cochon avec boulettes de viande. (Ragout of pigs feet with meatballs) DIVINE! Typical French Canada fare. We will also have a breast of turkey just to say we have it. For dessert Mulled Wine jellies and Plum Pudding (home made). We will have our Christmas crackers as always. I am thinking of poor Duchess Meghan who will be introduced to this custom this year. Oh well it is all part of her becoming more civilized.

Finally last night after drinks at the Haviland Club where we go every Friday with the other cognocensti of Charlottetown, we had dinner across the street from our home at the Water Prince restaurant, it was their last night before closing for the Season, they will re-open in Mid-April. It is always fun to mark the end of the year this way and Shane Campbell who is the owner and his son are there. The fare is lobster, haddock, mussels, oysters and other seafood. I had oysters to start from Malpeque and grilled haddock, Will had a lobster and a chowder.

Maureen standing behind Will is the manager. The place is an institution in town, it is extremely popular in the Summer time. You can easily wait 45 minutes for a table.

Happy Christmas and Happy Festive Holidays to all! 

A mix

Tags

Borden, cookies, dachshunds, decorations, ginger, Hand Pies, non-binary, PEI, Xmas tree

We are almost ready for Christmas, so here are some pictures of today. It is windy and -8C but no snow which is great.

The house also smell nice, baking meat pies and cretons. We are preparing our Xmas Eve Dinner menu and it looks like we will have a Lobster meat and shrimp soup to start and then Acadian Meat Pie, a salad and a special sweet.

My mom use to make Creton with veal but this version Will made is beef and pork. Wonderful with toast in the morning or anytime of day.

Nora on the left with her long rough wire coat and Nick on the right with his smoother coat. They love the sunshine.

Nick turned around because I called to him.

The 2017 Xmas Tree stands 2 meters tall.

Detail of the tree with our decorations from around the world, some are 40 yrs old

These little enamel painted balls come from China

This papier maché Xmas Frog came from a Xmas Fair in Ottawa, some 30 years ago.

Today I went food shopping at the Riverview Market which is owned by a Dutch Family and is as the name indicates facing the Hillsborough River. The Hand Pie Company from Borden was doing a special sale on their pies and though they had brought 600 pies with them from their shop in Borden, they sold out in 35 minutes. I was lucky to be able to buy the 3 last ones. Borden is not that far only 40 minutes from Charlottetown, so I could go there if I wanted to. By the Cash register this sign above Ginger Bread Men and Women appeared. I thought it was a sign of our times.

Social Season

Tags

apple pie, Blake Caissie, Charity work, cheddar cheese, Christmas, dachshunds, Fashion Show, PEI, PEI Regiment, Remembrance Day

With the departure of the tourists we have the island back to ourselves and the fun begins. Many think that there is nothing to do here in PEI after the Summer Season and the last cruise ship leaves. This year thanks to climate change, the Summer was dry and warm and the month of October was unseasonably sunny and warm, we broke a lot of records with high temperatures up to 30C on some days when it should have been around 15C. No one is really complaining, warmer weather is always more pleasant.

The number of Food festivals, Art evenings, events of all kinds all around the Island will keep you busy during the Winter months until Spring and the return of the tourists. If California has the swallows of Capistrano we in PEI have the tourists of Crapaud.  So you have to plan your activities and time during these coming months so as not to be overwhelmed. This is not including the many invitations to parties and dinners from friends and neighbours. In the past 7 days we had 5 events to attend plus all the regular daily activities around the house and with our dogs. We are currently planning our After Christmas activities, we decided that this year we will have a party on 6 January or La Fête des Rois, this is a period after the rush and before February.

Last night we went to a Fashion Show fundraiser called Santa’s Angel, a Fundraiser providing some Xmas cheer to children who would otherwise do without. Fundraising at this time of the year is a big activity on PEI, many families are poor, so you will have food drives, last year the CBC-PEI the National broadcaster on the Island provided donated turkeys to a large number of families. Same goes for warm clothing and other supplies, reminding us that poverty is an issue in Canada despite all the social programs we have.

Here is a Blake Caissie creation presented during the Fashion show, Blake has a lot of talent and it was a really beautiful dress for the Season.

Here are all the dresses for this Xmas Season Fashion Show, all created by people who had the imagination and time to come up with a design. All in good fun, very colourful.

So to return to the topic of activities and other things to do, yes there is a lot. This Sunday there is a craft fair and Tea at the Homestead of Sir Andrew MacPhail who is one of the luminaries of PEI. His family home is beautiful and located in Orwell just 20 minutes from us. Hoping the weather will be pleasant for a drive out. I read recently his famous book The Master’s wife published after his death in 1938. MacPhail is seen with Lucy Maud Montgomery and Milton Acorn the People’s Poet, as a man of ideas and a writer documenting his life period.

The weather last night was quite chilly and the wind fierce and cold, we were at the Convention Centre which looks out on the Hillsborough river and the opening to the Strait, it started to snow at one point, just swirling drifting snow. Looks like the mild weather is over. There were wind advisory and restrictions on the Sea bridge all day. The sea can be very impressive.

This morning is 11 November and so the Remembrance ceremony took place as usual at the Cenotaph in front of Province House and the cannons were positioned in our backyard at the bottom of Great George Street, remember all this takes place within 3 city blocks so you can hear it all. The dogs were jumpy as they fired an 11 gun salute. The house shook and then the marching bands of the PEI Regiment on a bright sunny windy day at -1C.

Mr Nicky went to the groomer this week and he looks really good with his big moustache à la Kaiser Bill.

Here is Miss Eleonora or Nora for her friends just sitting by the door. Next week is her turn at the grooming salon.

Finally Will found a recipe for 2 types of Apple Pie with a Four year Old Sharp Cheddar pie crust, it smells divine. I married him all those decades ago not for the family fortune but for his cooking skills which is an important asset for any French person like myself. La Cuisine toujours la Cuisine!

Happy Birthday to N & N

Tags

Birthday, dachshunds

February marks the Eight Birthday of Nicholas and Eleonora of Capena. They were born a week apart so they are not related on a very nice farm owned by a well known veterinarian and his wife.

The puppies moved to Rome and grew up there before coming to Canada with us. They have had a life of luxury and ease but of course being Dachshunds they don’t know this or imagine this is how it is usually.

Here they are in the guest bedroom facing South in our home, Nora is on the right of the picture. This picture was taken a few years ago in Rome.

They are both healthy and happy, wishing them many more years of happiness.

Happy Birthday Nicky and Nora.

Happy Puppies

Tags

dachshunds, Dog, life, PEI

Our Nicky and Nora on the sofa, maybe I should say their sofa. Just lounging as always, what a sweet life they have.