Port de Grave Annual Boat Lighting

Newfoundland and Labrador is known for it's rich and unique heritage,culture and traditions.  We celebrate  Christmas with a vengeance.  There are so many awesome, and some very unusual, traditions.  Many people start decorating for Christmas by the end of November and leave everything in tact, including the Christmas tree, and all decorations and lights, until after Old Christmas Day, on January 6.

Well, the people of Port de Grave take Christmas and decorating for Christmas to a whole new level,  They hold an annual boat lighting, where the fishermen decorate all of their boats in the harbor with Christmas lights.  This past Christmas, the area celebrated it's 17th annual boat lighting.  To learn a little more about this tradition, click here.  

Port de Grave is actually a peninsula on Conception Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.  It is about a 75 minute drive from St. John's.  Last week, we decided to take the drive out to see what all the fuss was about.  Wow!!!!!!!  We did not expect the treat that we got.  It is so picturesque, and the scene of the  harbor with all the boats covered in Christmas lights was simply magical. 

Have a look............

It was so cold, but we were dressed warmly and I was able to get a nice few shots from different viewpoints. Despite the minus 9 Celsius temperature, it was a spectacular site well worth the drive.  

My hat goes off to the organizers and the people of Port de Grave for starting, and 

continuing this tradition.  I can't imagine how cold it must be, climbing about on 

these boats and stringing hundreds of lights----

but I'm sure glad they do it!!!

Next December, if you are in the area, give yourself 

an unforgettable present--

go and enjoy the Port de Grave Annual Boat Lighting. 

Cheers

:)

Moose on the loose!!

Happy New Year to everyone!!!

It's just been busy, busy, busy, but fabulous!!

Here are a couple of snaps of two moose on our parking lot at work just before Christmas,  These aren't great because I snapped them through a 2nd floor window, but I thought some of you might enjoy. 

I'd much rather see them here than in my headlights while driving home from work!!

I didn't get the chance to post them until now................................

Have a great weekend!

Cheers :)

Happy Holidays

Just took a few moments to peek in and say hello----hope you are all enjoying a super holiday!!

Oh Christmas Tree....

I've been so busy and totally ignoring my blog.  I think I'm finally ready now.  Spent the day wrapping gifts and decorating our tree.  I bought this lovely owl last year, after Christmas, and I thought I'd use it as a tree topper this year..........

Hope you all enjoy this week......It's almost Christmas!!!!!!!

Cheers

:)

Smoked Atlantic Salmon - just in time for Christmas

We both love to have special treats on hand for guests, especially Christmas-time.  

Hubby really enjoys making things like moose jerky and  smoking fish and salmon. 

We bought four small whole salmon last week.  

To prepare them for the smoker, he filleted them and seasoned with sea salt and pepper, 

and a generous sprinkling of brown sugar.  

The fillets then set overnight with to absorb the seasonings......

 Roger built a new smoker about three years ago, and jumps at any chance to fire it up. 

 The smoker is built from plywood, and has a small electric burner mounted in the bottom.  

A small frying pan is filled with cherry wood chips and placed on the burner to slowly smoulder.

 There is a door on the smoker, which is closed to contain the heat and the smoke.  

The fish slowly cooks while being smoked at the same time.   

The smoking process takes about eight hours. About every hour, the door is opened to add more chips.  

The burner is turned up on high until chips start to burn well, then it is turned back to medium, to allow the chips to slowly smoulder,creating lots of smoke and a nice slow heat.   

 The smell is amazing during the entire process, but the end result is a true delight to 

see, smell & taste!

 

 Each piece is turned upside down to cool, then vacuum-sealed for
when company comes!!!

Cheers

:)