Skywatch Friday

No interesting Similkameen skies all week, -  until last night, and then pure golden beauty in the midst of a wild thunder and lightning storm.

It was a hot, humid day with a few desultory thunderheads around.

It started to rain up valley, to the west

but the sun still shone on the toe of K Mountain

 As the storm moved down the valley the light changed to gold, even as the rain started to fall

A faint rainbow reached up from the mountain in an arc across the sky

towards the north there was still blue sky but the clouds were suffused with the light of the setting sun

the golden glow in air and clouds

eventually the storm moved off over the hills towards the east, all of the time being guided by the grumbling of the thunder and bright flashes of lightning

the heavy rain was doubling welcome, first to cool the air and secondly to inhibit lightning strikes and forest fires, and to aid in controlling the fire high in the mountains in the Lower Valley

the garden thought it was just pure bliss, freshly washed with cooling rain

For more glorious views of the sky from around the world

click here to go to Skywatch Friday, with thanks to all who organize this wonderful meme

ABC Wednesday

The letter of note this week is B

On a literary note, B is for "Boys, Bombs and Brussels Sprouts" a 'knees-up wheels-up chronicle of WW11'; a tale of J. Douglas Harvey's wartime adventures with Bomber Command and the Squadron cooks who forever put a blight on Brussels Sprouts for thousands and thousands of servicemen.

A copy of this book sat on Charles' reading shelf until he loaned it to another reading enthusiast, - alas, never to be returned.  It was 'a joyous' book, written by a young man who was only twenty when he piloted 31 sorties over the Continent, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Another literary B is a sophisticated classification of Canadian Prime Ministers written by Will Ferguson, "Bastards and Boneheads,  Canada's Glorious Leaders Past and Present"

Robin Ryan of Vancouver, British Columbia, reviews this book quite adequately.....

"Ferguson does a wonderful job making Canadian history, traditionally perceived as a dull topic, into an enthralling tale of a budding nation, people, and the strange contradiction that is inherent to all things Canadian. The language is simple, yet the ideas are very critical. The humoUr is terrific, yet Ferguson pulls no punches in condemning some of Canada's more shameful history. An excellent primer for anybody interested in Canadian history."


You may not agree with his opinions, but it is humourous, a good read and well researched.


If you were one of the servicemen who only allow brussels sprouts on the dinner table at Christmas time, for tradition's sake, - here is a recipe for the tiny, overboiled, grey-looking cabbages that may change your mind.


Brussels Sprouts Cheesy Casserole Recipe


Cook 2 10 oz. packages of frozen Brussels sprouts according to package directions; drain and cut sprouts into fourths - set aside.


Combine 2 slightly beaten eggs with 3/4 cup of soft bread crumbs, 1 can of cream of mushroom soup, 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese and 2 tbsp of chopped onion, - also a dash of pepper.


Fold in the sprouts and transfer to a casserole.  Combine another 3/4 cup of soft crumbs with 2 tbsp of melted butter and sprinkle over the top of the sprouts.


Bake uncovered in a 350 degree oven for 35 minutes, - it is bound to change your jaundiced view of Brussels Sprouts for the better!


For more B entries visit ABC Wednesday here, and prepare to be educated and entertained.