Cork it up
The cork stopper was another technological advance important to wine. A species of the oak tree (Quercus Suber) provides the ultimate, most natural, stopper for wine. It is found primarily on the Iberian Peninsula and in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains in North Africa. Although the Egyptians used cork stoppers three thousand years ago, […]
A catalogue of mirth
One of the requirements for obtaining the coveted “CHC” (Certified Humour Columnist) designation from the American Humour Association is to write a piece about the annual Hammacher Schlemmer catalogue. I’m working toward my CHC, so this is one of my compulsories. And the catologue just arrived, so here goes. Hammacher Schlemmer (I am tempted to […]
Built for the race
So recently I was speaking with a friend about women in politics or, rather, the lack of women in politics. Actually she did most of the talking and I was making notes with an “uh huh” and “you bet” here and there. I was really listening, by the way. Like a lot of folks, she’s […]
Wood to wine
Winemakers’ willingness to accept the steep cost of barrel aging demonstrates the importance of wood to wine. A French barrel can cost upwards of $900 (Canadian) — while a barrel from Eastern Europe can fetch $600. An average barrel contains a little over 300 bottles of wine. If only used once, aging in a French […]
How to hoop an engine
The sun has dropped and in its wake steel-purple cutouts of silos, out-buildings, hedge rows and willows are propped against an alabaster sky. Beside the ditch on the old rail line, beyond clumps of teasel and burdock is a squared post rising ghostlike from the ground. The burdocks shackle my socks when I try to […]
Bronko Nagurski Part 2
Another highly respected American football observer, Grantland Rice, also had good things to say about “The Bronk.” When asked to select an all-time allstar team he said, “That’s easy. I’d pick 11 Bronko Nagurskis. I honestly don’t think it would be a contest. The 11 Nagurskis would be a mop-up. It would be something close […]
My favourite store
I’m just as much a fan as the next person of your bookstores, bakeries, art galleries and craft stores. I’m also a big fan of the small town department store, Stedman’s; and I’m sorry to see it close up shop in Picton. But the store of which I’m the biggest fan probably separates me a […]
How to talk to kids for dummies
As parents we can be just a bit dumb when it comes to talking to our kids. We never know if what we say to our children will scar them for life or give them the push in the right direction. When my kids were young, and living at home, I learned to listen to […]
Going with the grain
Barrels are wonderful in the way they allow wine to breathe and develop. The effect of its wood on the wine is profound. Through the course of a year, a barrel will lose up to nine per cent of contents through evaporation— most of which is water and alcohol. But, over time, this process allows […]
Bronko Nagurski Part 1
In the early days of the twentieth century, the eastern ports of Canada and the United States were inundated with immigrants from Eastern Europe. They were often fleeing the turmoil of revolution—Russians, Poles, Ukrainians. They were young men and women, some not yet in their teens, hoping to find a better life after arriving on […]