The "Skinny" on Canadian Cross Country Skiing

Hot off the press! 

Bruce Mitchell, Lac Le Jeune resident, author, skier, and founding member of the Overlander Ski Club has published a book. 

The "Skinny" on Canadian Cross Country Skiing communicates the amazing experiences that are waiting for you when you maximize your Cross Country skiing experience when you open your imagination to the adventures waiting outside your door that make our Canadian winter something to be excited about.

Find out more here:

  https://www.brucemitchelltheskinny.ca/

Meet Skye, the new chef at Lac Le Jeune Nature Resort

I reached out to Skye Jackson, the chef at Lac Le Jeune Nature Resort, to let her know residents are very excited about this new opportunity to dine locally!

Skye is from Vancouver Island originally, but has spent much of her adult life moving around to where her cooking talent was needed. She is excited the resort restaurant doors are now open to the public, and has many plans for menus, specials, events, entertainment, and even some themed nights! 

Skye has settled right into this peaceful community, and appreciates the warm welcome she has received. 

I look forward to seeing you all in the dining room to enjoy Skye's creations!

~Sylvia Currie

Lac Le Jeune Sunrise - quilt by Jenny Perry

This quilt, "Lac Le Jeune Sunrise", by Jenny Perry, is featured on the website of Virginia Quilt Museum's upcoming juried exhibition. It is one of 32 contemporary art quilts from the Virginia and North Carolina Region of Studio Art Quilt Associates.

 

Ospreys

This incredible photograph was taken by Lac Le Jeune resident, Tim Shields. 

Tim offers photography webclasses through Photography Academy. 

 

The Bridge Beyond the Boundary by Perry Kilby

Our friends Perry and Elizabeth Kilby lived in the upper subdivision of Lac le Jeune for many years as they raised their children. Since their retirement and move away from this area, Perry has written a children’s book, The Bridge Beyond the Boundary. You may recognize Lac le Jeune in some of the locations referred to in his book, even though in this week's Kamloops This Week article, he refers to Kamloops as the area. We know where it really is!

The book is self published and can be purchased from Perry's website.

Posted by Kathy Wyse

The Silly Geese

A story by David Wyse, written for his grandson.

The View From Here

The View From Here

Familiar scene? This quilt by Lac Le Jeune resident, Jenny Perry, is part of a Fibre Art Network traveling exhibit called "Canadiana" which opened in New Zealand in January 2015. 

"Participants were asked to explore, in fibre, their sense of place in Canada, considering its history, environment, the people, culture [including food, outdoor activities, music] and its uniqueness." 

(click on image for a detailed view)

Enjoy

In contrast to the post earlier this week showing the devastation caused by a group irresponsible individuals, this is what you'll find if you wander down the Gus Johnson trail a little further. A beautiful bench made by John Krawchuck. 

Red-Winged Blackbird Social

Photo of a painting by Peter Wyse

Tickets are now available for the Lac Le Jeune dinner party on February 22, 2014, 5pm, at Lac Le Jeune Wilderness Resort!

The event is called Red-Winged Blackbird Social in honour of these birds that return each year to Lac Le Jeune around the 3rd week in February. It is one of the first signs of spring in Canada. Red-winged blackbirds feed in large flocks, which is what we’ll be doing!

Tickets are $30 for adults, $7 for kids (10 and under), and no charge for tots (3 and under) and can be purchased from your Lac Le Jeune Conservation Association area reps:

• Pam Sheridan (Lookout Road) 
• John Krawchuk (Lower Subdivision)
• Howie Mattfeld (Upper Subdivision) 
• Jenny Perry (Little Lake)
• Jacquie Brugger (Old Town Site) 
• Jeanette Scott (Lac Le Jeune Drive East)

To facilitate the payment process, please make cheques out to Lac Le Jeune Conservation Association. We will then issue one cheque to the resort to cover costs of the event. Cash is also fine. Space is limited so plan to purchase your tickets soon, and no later than February 8th. Be sure to hang on to your tickets for the door prizes!

What's included? Dinner, dessert, tea, coffee, and gratuity. Here is the menu. It may vary depending on availability of ingredients:

• Pastitscho (Greek pasta dish)
• Roast veggies and potatoes
• Lamb, pork souvlaki, lemon chicken
• Assortment of salads -- Greek, romaine, potato
• Rice
• Selection of desserts 

Wine, beer, cocktails, and other beverages are available for purchase.

We're looking for contributions for the door prizes. Gift certificates, services, local crafts, framed photographs... use your imagination! Sylvia Currie (sylvia.currie@gmail.com) will be collecting these closer to the date.

Parking is available at the Wilderness Resort.

You don't need to be a member of the Lac Le Jeune Conservation Association to participate in this event. Although, there's no reason NOT to be a member :-) Questions? Add your comments to the blog or email sylvia.currie@gmail.com.

Special thanks to Peter Wyse for permission to use this photograph of his painting.

Overlander Ski Club Passes

photo by Kneale Quayle

Time to get ready for ski season! An Overlander Ski Club season trail pass allows access to all club-maintained ski trails, as well as snowshoe trails and the newly constructed dog-friendly trails. The pass includes ski club membership. There is even night skiing!

You save by purchasing the pass online, and before 15 November. Not skiing this season? Consider becoming a club member as a way to support this great local resource.

Anybody recognize this skier? The photo was taken 5 years ago.

The Upton House

There's a great spread about Tracy and Mitch Upton's house in the March issue of Currents Magazine called "Handcrafted Living". Check it out!

Open publication - Free publishing - More gardening

David and the machine

David and the machine.
Photo by Sylvia Currie

After thirty winters up here at the lake shoveling every snowflake that has drooped on to our driveway, I finally broke down a month ago and bought a snow blower. Kath and I wrestled it out of her car and carried it, disassembled, into the garage where it waited in anticipation for its first job. I examined the owner's manual to study the directions on how to upt the thing together. It talked about taking the clevis pin from the chute support bracket, raising the skid shoes higher on the auger housing and something about a carriage bolt. I was terrified. I rationalized shoveling the snow from the driveway as the snow blower still patiently waited, disassembled, in the garage, by telling my curious neighbours that I "wanted to ensure a good base of snow covering over the gravel before using the blower." (The only thing that had many any sense in the manual was a warning in dark print about the danger of ricochets from gravel being propelled at extreme force by the whirring auger.) When the second snowfall came and I shoveled it off, two of my neighbours came over, one at a time (I think they had been talking) and asked if I would like a hand putting the machine together. Too embarrassed, and too proud, I thanked them and used the excuse of needing to have a better base of snow on the gravel before using the machine.

Fortunately, our friend, Ted, arrived for a visit a day or two after the third heavy snowfall which I had again removed by hand, still trying to get a good base of snow. Sitting in the kitchen, sipping tea, I asked him "What is a carriage bolt?" He told me that it is a bolt that has a round shaft except for a square part just under the head. He told me that they used to be used to put the parts of a carriage together. I said "Oh." He said "Why do you ask?" I said "My new snow blower has one or more carriage bolts." He said "Oh." And then he said "Would you like a hand putting it together?" I said "That's a coincidence...I was just about to head out to put it together when you arrived." It took him ten minutes. I helped by holding the manual open at the right page. It hasn't snowed since.

Story by David Wyse

Ashcroft Opera House

You are invited to a back porch shindig in Ashcroft to celebrate the future of the Opera House and to welcome the new owner, Mel. Local musicians will be putting on a live performance, and there will be food for folks from away.

The Ashcroft Opera House was built in 1889, and has had a long history of bringing people together to enjoy excellent music and food.

401 Brink Street, Ashcroft

Thank you to musician Lynne Kellman for passing along this information.

6th Annual Fine Art Show

This is show you won't want to miss! Thanks to Pat Burton, a local artist, for passing along the poster. Click on the image for a larger version.

Young fly fishers of Lac Le Jeune

We have some young and very skilled fly fishers in our community! These trout were caught in May and June.

Jennee Lindsay

Foster Wynne (with Pepper)

Claire Lindros - Belly Dancer

Have you ever seen an outstanding belly dancer? You don't need to go far! Claire Lindros has been busy this past year teaching belly dancing at Let's Move dance studio in Kamloops. Some Lac Le Jeune residents have been talking about how much fun it would be to take lessons close to home. It can be arranged! Send a note to Claire: cbear_7@hotmail.com

Congratulations to local speed skater!

Congratulations to Gillian Michell, age 9, of the River City Racers Speed Skating Club for winning a gold medal in the bantam girls category at the WorkSafeBC Southern Regional speed skating championships held in Kamloops this past weekend. Gillian also skated personal best times in all four of her distances. She skated to 2 first place finishes and 2 second place finishes. Gillian took off up to 5 1/2 seconds off of her previous times.

Seasons Greetings from the Burtons

This is a completely home grown Season's Greetings "montage" from the Burton family.

Music composed by Hugh Burton

Photos by Hugh Burton

Guess who on clarinet? Hugh Burton!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com