Teaching on a Colony in June

June and the school year is all but over. I am a substitute teacher at some of the Hutterite Colonies. Last year's barbecue was a resounding success and now I am probably branded to do it every year. The children range from Grade 2 through 9 and there are 8 in school. We make everything from scratch and spent the entire morning getting everything ready. I wish I wasn't so picky. I didn't want any sticky fingers on my good camera and as a result we have no pictures of food! Next time I am going to designate a photographer so we get pictures of the great food they make.

Mostly it is from scratch. The menu today was BBQ chicken wings that we grilled first and then tossed in some purchased sauce. It worked so much better than last year when I marinated all the wings in a sauce. They just got crusty and black. We're learning!

We made a buttermilk dressing to serve with fresh veggies. We enjoyed radishes and asparagus from their garden plus a few from the grocery store, like jicama. If I had a dollar for every time that one of them asked me the name of that vegetable I'd be rich.

Then there were hamburgers and hotdogs with the fresh made buns from their kitchen. Our side dish was coleslaw.  The meal was completed with banana boats or banana split as the kids described it, filled with milk choccolate, wrapped in foil and grilled and then with vanilla ice cream. Oh, and we made fresh lemonade.

The girls were so amazing. Without even a hint from me they carried the dishes to the sink and washed each and every plate and fork. We swept the floor. Got the camera ready. I put on my hiking boots and we went to the coulee.

These pictures are the product of putting a digital camera in the hands of a child. 306 pictures later I have selected these to share.

I Just Had to Share This

Tuesday was my last sub day at the Colony and we had planned a hike to the coulee.  It was more than two hours walking, climbing, tromping through muck, watching frogs, exploring through the trees and sitting on a rock like a bunch of turtles sunning.

"What do you think about this place?" asked Mark.  "I love it," I replied.  "Me, too."

These pictures are very special.  The kids really let me into their sheltered world.  They taught me so much about their unique life.  They loved being in the outdoors.

I let them all take pictures with my SLR Digital Camera - my good camera!  At times they were teetering on the edge of a frog pond or balancing on a big rock with my good camera.  The lens cap was always in my hand the strap always around their neck!

The results were worth the risk.  I love these pictures.

Candied Bacon is so Darned Good

This candied bacon is irresistable.  I cannot stop snacking on it.  These tasty morsels are destined for Maple and Bacon Marshmallows.  Marshmallows are my current craze.  I want to try every flavour under the sun!  They are all destined for the Farmers' Market.

Candied Bacon

meaty bacon strips
brown sugar
cinnamon

It is so simple.  Add 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon to 1 cup of brown sugar.  Using the meatiest bacon you can find, rub it with this sugar mixture.  Lay the strips out on a rack placed on a baking sheet.  Be sure to line the pan with tinfoil to avoid a messy clean up.  Bake in a 350F oven for 30 - 35 minutes or until very carmelized.

Honestly, I can eat them just like this.  Forget the marshmallows!  I coarsely chopped them to add to my maple marshmallow recipe.  I hope they like it!

A Day in the Life of a Substitute Teacher

Dear Teacher,

Well, it has taken a full year to form some kind of relationship with these kids.  I would have never thought it would take so long.  We have come full circle - Josh is not only speaking to me and asking me for school help but he defends me when Thomas is rude.  Tom must have had a bad day because he was somewhat defiant and rude, not like him.  Jacob is Jacob and not much change there.  He never was a real problem.  Rebecca has more respect, still has her naughty side but that can be fun.  The twins cling to me.  John, is still not wanting to do his work but doesn't whine, much!  Joe has such a deep, pensive side and I am always thinking he is weighing each and every word I speak.  And the last, but not least, why can't I remember the name!  He is so sensitive and caring.

You have been doing some wonderful projects with them.  Those birdhouses are amazing and they are so proud.  And they showed me all the flowerpots for your wedding.  They love tending the bedding plants.  The library is 100% tidier.  I am sure you will miss them.

All the best in your new life!  I have a sister living in Yorkton.  BTW.  Such a small world.

So I guess I told you all this to soften you up for the kids' request.  They are wondering if we could go on a hike to the coulee the next time I come out.  It would be in the afternoon and be called a part of our phys ed time.  They say 2 hours, but I say it would be all afternoon.

Thanks for calling me to sub for you all year.  It was a good plan to book me for the entire year.  If not, I may have quit midstream!  They were a tough bunch for much of the time but they are so much more respectful and open with me now.  I can say what I feel without creating barriers.

So today, someone asked me if it was a good day.  I quietly said yes, and how was it for you?  Hmmm, it was good.  Melt my heart.

Sarah

Where Have I Been....

I have not posted in more than a week .... Sorry!  Somewhere along the line I have overloaded my schedule.

I retired from real estate three years ago and wanted a simpler existence, more time for me, follow my passions.  In the beginning it was fun.  I lived in Winnipeg for the summer.  Then I found a house sit opportunity in East Tennessee and lived in the country for 5 months.  It was so much fun and I met so many wonderful people and without even realizing, I had done something I always wanted to do - visit the South.  I would not trade that experience for anything.

My next move was to buy a house in a little city on the Saskatchewan prairies.  And, still I had so much time to relax.  I worked in my garden, volunteered in the arts community, and had picnics in the country.

I once said to myself, "If I could spend the rest of my life cooking, I would be happy."  Well, be careful what you ask for.  I am cooking all the time but rarely eat and I am exhausted.

At the moment I am a substitute teacher (with 12 school days in May), work half-time at a real estate office, sell my food at the Farmers' Market on Saturday and dabble in catering and cooking classes.  Phew!  I am tired just thinking about it.  Something has to give!  It will be a summer of contemplation.

Tonight I finally served myself a nice meal.  It was a very simple meal but I really enjoyed sitting down with it.

This is Tagliatelle with Smoked Steelhead Trout in a Cream Sauce .  Saute finely chopped leek and fennel.  Add the flaked smoked fish, a splash of cream and freshly ground black pepper.  Add the drained pasta and toss with the sauce.  Add some of the pasta cooking water if you need to loosen up the pasta.  Garnish and serve with grated parmesan cheese.

(I had previously written that this was whitefish. I have no idea where that idea came from!)