A mingling of threads

friggin awesome, man

I stole this photo from the Herald. I was so mesmerize by the show I forgot to take photos.

Before the concert began, I notice we sat amongst several of the local media folks. People from CBC, the BT host, Maria something, a guy that use to write entertainment items for the former Daily News.

A thunderous standing ovation began before the show even started. The stage was almost completely black; we could see the band taking their places, than a short slight man walk to centre stage... no grand announcement, no introduction.

The spotlight revealed a bemused Leonard Cohen, he gave a slight bow and said, “We haven’t been on the road for a while, but this is a wonderful way to begin, I hope you won’t be disappointed. Thanks for getting me started again.”

First Set
Dance Me To The End Of Love
The Future
Ain't No Cure For Love
Bird On The Wire
Everybody Knows
In My Secret Life
Who By Fire
Anthem

During the intermission all you could hear was "it is friggin awesome, man." "I been to a lot of concerts, seen a ton of performers, this is the best." "Friggin awesome, man." "He is so cool." "The band is amazing. Friggin awesome."

Second Set
Tower Of Song
Suzanne
Gypsy Wife
Boogie Street
Hallelujah
Democracy
I'm Your Man
Take This Waltz

Wild cheers to every song. A couple of standing ovations. The man to my left clapped so loud I thought my ears might bleed and I'd go deaf.

They leave the stage to a standing ovation and loud cheers.

First Encore
Heart With No Companion
So Long, Marianne
First We Take Manhattan

They leave the stage again to a standing ovation and even louder cheers.

Second Encore
Closing Time

The audience stood throughout entire second encore song. The band left the stage once again to a standing ovation and the loudest cheers.

He came back on the stage and with a very mischievous grin as he began.

The Final Encore
I Tried to Leave You

Band members
Roscoe Beck (bass & vocals, music director)
Dino Soldo (keyboard, saxophone, wind instruments & vocals) this guy was fun to watch he was so into the music.
Neil Larsen (keyboard, accordion, brass instruments)
Javier Mas (acoustic guitar, oud & misc. string instruments), all I can say is WOW!
Rafael Gayol (drums & percussion)
Bob Metzger (guitar, steel guitar & vocals)
Sharon Robinson (vocals) She is songwriter, singer & producer on several CDs, her voice is amazing.
Webb Sisters Charley and Hattie (vocals)

Leonard Cohen was so humble and gracious and was obviously having a wonderful time. His band was absolutely amazing.The first Halifax audience was very enthusiastic. We tried one last time to call him back however it was over. Almost 2½ hours of music and song. It was friggin awesome!

I wish I had a ticket to the four other shows that he will do here.

Friggin awesome on the East Coast.

Soup of the day

On a cold, and rainy spring day I like to make soup. I love most soups, stews and chilli; however, clam chowder is my favourite with corn chowder as close second.

Most Maritimers have a favourite chowder recipe that they can make with their eyes closed. Not a recipe that is written down, one that cooked from memory - the taste from family gathering. Mine is a clam chowder cooked over a campfire on the beach, with just dug clams...

Since I didn't have any clams I made corn chowder.

A few of my ingredients.

Caramelized Corn Chowder

Serves 6

6 slices bacon, diced
3 scallions (green onions), sliced (reserve a bit of the green top for garnish)
2 cloves garlic, chopped
900ml chicken broth
750gm frozen Peaches & Cream corn or if you can get fresh corn about 4-5 ears
284ml can of creamed corn* (optional if you are using fresh corn)
4 large PEI potatoes, cubed
1 cup 18% milk fat cream
red pepper flakes to taste
1 tablespoon butter (optional)
black pepper

In a large pot, add the chicken stock and the potatoes; simmer until the potatoes are tender about 10 minutes. Use an emersion blender to purée some of the cooked potatoes in the pot; purée just enough to thicken the soup; you still want to see most of the potatoes cubes.
In a large sauté pan, cook the bacon until crispy, remove the bacon from the pan and drain on paper towels.
In the sauté pan, add to the remaining bacon fat the butter (optional), heat the butter until bubbling.
Add the corn to the sauté pan, and allow to it to brown. When the corn is well caramelized about 6-8 minutes.
Add the onions, garlic, and red pepper flakes to the corn; sauté until the onions are tender about 1 minute.

caramelized corn

Add the cooked corn mixture to the soup.
Add the cooked bacon, reserve a bit for garnish.
Add the creamed corn, and cream.
Season soup with fresh ground black pepper.
Simmer the soup allowing the flavours to blend about ½ hour.
To serve top with the reserved bacon and scallion.

*Note: The creamed corn helps thicken the chowder; it also adds the flavour of the corn milk you scrap from the cob, after the corn kernels are cut from the cob.

This is a lovely rich, flavourful, thick chowder.

Inspired by:
Simply Recipes - Corn Chowder
Karina's Kitchen - Roasted Corn Chowder with Cilantro
Caprial & John's Kitchen - Fried Corn Chowder
elly says opa! - Grilled Corn Chowder

Making my own sunshine on the East Coast.

Ten Green Bottles*

I have been slowly sorting through my brother's things. After Peter died, I sorted out his clothes and items to give to charity. I also found all the items he had bequeathed to family and friends. His collections I put aside to deal with later. He collected coins, antique bottles and movies.

These round bottom bottles can not stand up and must lay on their side.

A few weeks after my brother died, Dad brought over several boxes that Peter had stored at our parent’s house. I put them in Peter’s rooms with everyting else and shut the door. At the time, I could not begin to cope with the overwhelming task of sorting out the collections.

Last year I sorted out Peter's coin collection, and prepared it to be valued. Luckily, a family friend recommended a reputable dealer who would come to the house to catalogue, and value the coin collection. We knew the general value of the collection because Dad had an interest in the coins and he kept a record for Peter. It took the dealer two days to compile his report and give us a price for the coins. Once we agreed to his valuation, he paid us, and took the whole lot away to be sold to other eager collectors.

Drink Wishing Well

This summer I’ll be sorting, photographing, and cataloguing my brother’s bottle collection.

Old English Ginger Beer - Sussex New Brunswick

WH Donovan - Halifax

This one has a very pretty daisy like embossed pattern.

These bottles are interesting some are marked Evangeline on the front with Acadia on the bottom.

Others are marked Acadia on the front with Evangeline on the bottom.

*  Ten Green Bottles (click to hear the tune)

Ten green bottles
Hanging on the wall
Ten green bottles
Hanging on the wall
And if one green bottle
Should accidentally fall
There'll be nine green bottles
Hanging on the wall...

Only 30 more boxes to go...on the East Coast.