We're home after a wonderful weekend in Ottawa for Winterlude. We skated on the Rideau Canal, the world's largest skating rink. We ate lots of beavertails and maple taffy. Beavertails, by the way, are not made from beavers. They are a flattened form of fried dough spread with butter and more. Sean prefers the Killaloe Sunrise, a beavertail topped with sugar and lemon. For Sean, hold the butter. This year my decided preference was for maple butter. The hot maple butter is topped with a swirl of chocolate sauce. So much dripped onto my gloves that I could live on them for a week. Keren discovered banana chocolate, which is only available at the shop in Byward Market. Gavi sticks with straight chocolate spread, Nutella actually. Jesse is the stand out. He started the standard cinnamon sugar; ate half of it, and passed it to me.
Jesse would rather eat maple taffy. This year we asked the secret. First boil down the maple syrup until it is just thick enough that it will just pour when warn. Spread over crushed ice; add a stick, and yum!
On Friday we had a private tour of the Diefenbunker, http://www.diefenbunker.ca/, built to protect the Canadian government from attack during the Cold War. It was interesting for all. The adults favorite piece was a sign in the cafeteria that said "You're lucky to be alive... So, just eat it!" Every parent agreed that if there was a fridge magnet with that phrase we'd all buy it!
Special comments from children:
(Picking up an ashtray) "What's this glass thing?
(In the Government Room, pointing at the desk blotter) "Why is there cardboard on the table?"
"Did they really have a smart board?"
(In the war room, looking at a rotary telephone) "How do you dial this thing?"
Of course they were also amazed by the computer that fills a room, but has less power and memory than a laptop.
It's a great place to visit. Gavi & I checked out all the rooms we missed after the tour. Gavi had about 10,000,000 questions. Wow!
Sunday afternoon we were walking back from Byward Market when Keren decided she was hungry. We tried to tempt her with more beavertails, maple taffy, or hot chocolate. Unfortunately, all Keren wanted was meat! For a good fifteen minutes, Keren whined for meat. "I want meat. I waaant meeeeeeaaat." It was amazing. I've never seen a child whine for meat. Specific foods, yes, but general meat, never. When asked if she wanted a specific thing, Keren replied, "Chicken... or cow." It was a problem. We travel with our food, and keep everything dairy for ease. Home today she had brisket for breakfast and chicken for dinner.
It was a wonderful weekend! Now, laundry, dishes, and back to school.
