Wanderlust and Words

As I was on my walk around York’s walls, I spotted a sign for the York Ceramics Fair and thought it merited a detour. I’m so glad I did as it was a magnificent display of ceramics in so many different styles. All the artists were members of the Craft Potters Association . One thing that really caught my attention was the number of artists using really bright colours. Such a change from varying shades of brown. These dishes were astonishingly light and the artist told me she used the clay used to make porcelain doll faces. Kerstin Gren uses wild ochres she has collected from different landscapes.   Other pieces had creative patterns or shapes. Jenny Morten plays with the balance of the pieces as well as layering ribbons on top of her pots so you are always looking through a screen. Jeremy Nichols is interested in the relationship between function and form. I tried pouring from one of his pots, and it felt quite comfortable. Paul Young says he d

I took advantage of my only dry day in York to walk around the medieval walls . Although there are spots where you have to descend to ground level, the majority of the 3-mile walk is on the walls overlooking the town. Micklegate Bar is the most important of York’s four main medieval gateways and was the one I walked through every day into town. Monarchs travelling up from the south stop at this Bar to ask permission to enter the city. The severed heads of rebels and traitors were displayed here in the past. Modern coffee shops have been added to many of the gates. Europeans are much more prepared to let people decide whether or not something is safe. Long stretches of the wall had no fence above the drop-off, although they do close off the walls if it’s icy. The walk is a chance to peer down streets and even into a few modern homes. My favorite part of the walk circled York Minster. There were some wonderful views into gardens as well as of the Minster i

Local Happenings  For all the Norwegians in the crowd – Saskatoon Berry Barn is hosting a Norwegian Christmas Buffet on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 . Gud Eats has been acquired by Leo’s Group and is opening a second restaurant in Regina. Cookbooks Two Alberta-based authors have new cookbooks this fall: Julie Van Rosendaal has published Dirty Food , a cookbook celebrating all things sticky, gooey, and messy. Shane Chartrand and Jennifer Cockrall have published tawâw: Progressive Indigenous Cuisine , which traces Chartrand’s culinary journey and includes 75 recipes. Jennifer Cockrall and Shane Chartrand will be signing copies of their book at 7 pm , Monday , November 25 , at McNally Robinson Booksellers. Recipes  Carpaccio, poke, tacos, lasagna – all vegetarian and all made with portobello mushrooms. Food for Thought  When I go out for a meal, I’m looking for good food in pleasant surroundings. I don’t feel a glorified food hall fits the bill. Apparently, a lot of peop

I never know what to expect when I arrive at a new housesit, especially when it’s a small place with relatively little information available online. Bassingham, Lincolnshire, has been a delightful surprise. I had some lovely walks along the farm roads, an excellent supper at The Five Bells, and a couple of active days in Lincoln. But it’s the little things that I will remember the most – cuddles with the puss once she decided to trust me, super-friendly staff in the local stores, and masses and masses of footpaths and sidewalks – pedestrian heaven! Last, but certainly not least, I stumbled upon the most wonderful walking path between Bassingham and Carlton-le Moorland. Paved and just one-mile long it looked like a perfect afternoon outing when I took a break from work. Imagine my surprise when I found a giant carved rabbit near the beginning of the trail. And, when I rounded a corner, there was a larger-than-life-sized horse.  There were wonderfully elaborate benches as wel

I walked past the Five Bells on my first day in Bassingham and it looked so inviting. I liked the combination of red brick, ivy, and various potted plants. I’d also been told they served very good food, so I decided to try it out. Now that was a good move! The Five Bells offers excellent food in pleasant surroundings with friendly service. There are wood fires at both ends of the low, wood-beamed room. I was seated inside the chimney nook that ran the width of the room so I was lovely and cosy. The ceiling beams were strung with dried hops and the walls and shelving were filled to overflowing with everything from a stuffed fish to a portrait of Winston Churchill. There were horse brasses and brass jugs, old books, an antique record player, an assortment of relics from World Wars I and II, and so much more. I really enjoyed my meal, which was beautifully presented. The squash, sweet potato, and chickpea burger was served with a generous portion of fries, crispy onions, and

There are lots of public markets in the United Kingdom but far fewer farmers’ markets and they are usually only held once a month. So I was delighted that my one Saturday in the Lincoln area was the date for the Lincoln Farmers’ Market . Warning! Lots of pictures to provide possible inspiration for Saskatoon Farmers’ Market vendors. You can’t beat the Market’s location between Lincoln Castle and Cathedral! It’s a small market and there was only one farmer selling vegetables, but there were all sorts of other interesting items. There were two stands selling Lincolnshire and other British cheeses. One was also selling fresh unpasteurized milk from the cows on their farm. Autumn Harvest was selling mushrooms – fresh, dried, powdered, in soup, in risotto mixes, and more. They were also selling enormous pine cones from a tree on their land so you could harvest your own pine nuts. There were fresh and dried apples from the 130-year-old, organically-mana