-
Busy, Dizzy and Happy – The Salamanders Team
Busy, Dizzy and Happy The Salamanders Team Since February of last year, all heck has broken loose. Salamanders has been going crazy with our faithful old clients returning from the Covid isolation in droves and new folks “discovering” us. We are very grateful for everyone coming in for a Salamanders “fix” and there are times when we are run off our feet. Part of the issue is the labour issue that you have heard so much about. Liane and Beth have been keeping the place going in the kitchen and on the floor with our faithful few, good people like Ally, Deborah, Glenda, Joel, Maia, Shane… Some other folks have…
-
The New Normal
So, here it is, February of 2022 and we are living in The New Normal. You surely remember the old normal, right? Where there was handshaking, hugging old friends, closeness at concerts, theaters and restaurants, a clean face with no masks, none of that slimy stuff on your hands, travel to other parts of the country and to other countries, all like that. The New Normal talks to being nervous a lot of the time. We are nervous about doing all of the things we were used to before and long to do again. Salamanders has re-opened, after intermittent closures not many of which were dictated by science but more…
-
Waiting for Recovery
A lot has happened since our last blog in January. We were hoping for a better year and so far, our hopes haven’t materialized completely. What appears to be working, finally, is the vaccination campaign, despite the issues with planning and administration. There is a reduction in the number of Covid cases and we appear to be breathing somewhat easier. Another positive sign is the demand for seeds and plants at the local stores. At the farm, we planted three fruit trees and have put in a full garden, complete with Ma and Pa scarecrows, compliments of our grandson Ayden. As we were doing maintenance chores at Salamanders, we noted…
-
So, we’re Canadjuns, eh?
We are a very recognizable folk, ya know. We have travelled far and abroad, and people in other countries get to spot us pretty quickly. In Paris, for example, all Grandpa Paul had to do when he was doing some work over there was speak one sentence in the language of Molière and the restaurant staff would know that he was from Canada. This gave rise to him recounting the story of the Acadians and the Cajuns, to a rapt audience and extra kind service. People love Canadians. We are kind, polite (almost apologetic), take the time to talk to people and always very helpful. Though there are probably some…
-
Salamanders Annual New Year’s Eve Celebration
For the past eight wonderful years, Salamanders has held its traditional New Year’s Eve Celebration, ushering out the old and bringing in the new. And every year, we seem to do a little bit extra. This year is no exception. Liane and her team have put together a tasty and entertaining package for you. First, there are a couple of seasonal drinks you may wish to try: our Peppermint Mocha White Russian and savour our special Christmas Cookie. These are designed to set up your taste buds for some classic appetizers, such as our very own Cajun Shrimp Dip, or our Sun-Dried Tomato Parmesan Spring rolls or some Coconut Shrimp.…
-
Not one, but TWO birthdays on July 1st
As Canada approaches it’s 150th birthday, did you know that Kemptville will be celebrating it’s 161st? Queen Victoria signed “The Act to Incorporate the Village of Kemptville” on July 1, 1856, to take effect on January 1, 1857. I could go on, but the good people of North Grenville have constructed a fantastic history of our town and can be found here. What also can’t be missed, are the historic walking tours of our communities. Take a look and see how many buildings you recognize today. We, at Salamanders of Kemptville, wish you a wonderful Canada Day. Drop by and say hello if you do your own walking tour…
-
Getting Ready…
We are all privileged, in a very real sense. First, we are Canadians; second, we have a chance of a life-time to celebrate a very special birthday, Canada’s 150th. When you consider what other people are going through across the world, we in Canada have a great deal to be thankful for. One of the first things we hear from refugees who find a new home in Canada is how secure they feel compared to how they felt back in their own countries, often in turmoil. So, let’s take the time to celebrate! But not only celebrate – we need to also appreciate. When we sit down as families and…
-
Portrait of an Artist – Gertrude Cecilia Thibert, 1904-2005
“The Thibert family was pleased to present the art of Gertrude Thibert at Salamanders of Kemptville on 27 and 28 May, 2017. “Gertrude was born the oldest of then children, on the River Road farm to Timothy and Mary McGahey of South Gower Township, Ontario in 1904. As a young woman she obtained her teaching diploma in North Bay as she was too young to attend University. Gertrude was a founding teacher and the first principal of Holy Cross Separate School in Kemptville, Ontario. The school started out as a four room school house in September 1961. Alongside her were the sister-in-law Theresa McGahey and her friend Mary Beach. She…
-
Weddings, we’ve got weddings…
When the cold winds of winter and the icy rain of April finally leave our area, a young man’s – and a young woman’s – fancy turns to love. And so, they make it official and they wed… Weddings are time for a great deal of preparation, a few short days of hectic activity and celebration and a couple of weeks of a honeymoon trip, very often in some exotic place. Some weddings are more sedate and concentrate on the spiritual side of the event; others are more raucous and involve much drinking, music, dancing and laughter. One thing is certain, every wedding is a one-off day of happiness and…
-
Multi-Culturalism and Great Food in Louisiana
Being of Acadian descent, our family is very interested in all things related to our ancestry and our people. I’m sure you remember reading that the Acadians were folks who came over from France and settled in what is now known as Nova Scotia, in the general vicinity of the Gaspereau Valley. They were kicked out in 1755 by the British who demanded that the population swear allegiance to the English King. The Acadians refused; but, then again, they also had refused to swear allegiance to the French King. So, as made famous in Evangeline, a Tale of Acadie by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the Acadians were deported from their homes.…
Salamanders of Kemptville | Cajun Restaurant