An Artistic Touch

This week The Duchess if again hosting guests from the arts community; Z'otz Collective is creating an installation at the Thames Art Gallery and we are delighted to have the gallery as a client and the artists as guests. The show will be open to the public starting this weekend and continuing through April. Search the web for the Gallery, Z'otz, the members at Ilyanamartinez.com, nahomflores.com and erikjerezano.net and on zotzcollective.blogspot.com. The Duchess is planning one breakfast with a Latino flavour - hope it works!

Getting Out

We made it to a couple of events in the past while: were fortunate to get a spot at the Union Gas table for a Wallaceburg Lacrosse fundraising dinner and auction. Enjoyed some Ukrainian appetizers and found out that the area generates more than a few university players and some professionals too. A set of 4 Leaf tickets went for over $800, and some football stuff courtesy of Shaun Suisham from his Redskin days. Also Rick attended a small reception for Fergie Jenkins at Rotary Park and the following day we went for lunch at The Armories and applauded Fergie as he unveiled his postage stamp. Rick had been carrying around a 1972 score card from Expos-Cubs and finally got it autographed.

Winter Wonderland

A new Chathamite from Newfoundland sputtered last week- "you told me that it doesn't snow in Chatham!" well, yes, but it "doesn't last". And we finally joined the club, but nothing like the heaps that have blanketed the rest of the country. It's nice and fluffy and it's no big deal. Roads are good, there's a cheery fire in the Wellsley Room, and The Duchess is ready to welcome you. Looking for a get away to beat the blues? Give us a call and come on down.

Chatham's New Old Theatre

Our neighbour, The Chatham Capitol Theatre is continuing with a great lineup of shows in the New Year..beginning with songstress Nikki Yanofsky and The State Ballet Theatre of Russia's presentation of Swan Lake in January. This will be followed in February by Jazz (Kaeshammer and Barber), Flamenco (Jesse Cook), Broadway (CATS), Farce (Stephen Harper The Musical), and Choral (Lady Smith Black Mambazo).

Whew!

The Duchess of Wellington is extending package offers, including savings on 2 best-available tickets, a night's stay, and full gourmet breakfasts. Hope to see you in Chatham.

Give me a call: Antja

Sugar Bush

The Duchess was concerned that we would run of of the Giffin family's award winning maple syrup, but thanks to sap collectors like Cecil Griffiths a good harvest was made at Sinclair Bush in Chatham-Kent. The advantage of buying from the farm gate is the chance to sample their outstanding products like maple butter: see our web site for locations where Giffin Maple Syrup and other great local stuff can found while daytripping. Photo by Diana Martin at Chatham Daily News.

Lake Erie Spring Birding

We and brother Jim and wife Faith visited Erieau in mid-March just as the last of the ice was out, and the swans were enjoying the weather. The Rondeau Wings of Spring has just ended with a successful outing. For those interested, we have been keeping an electronic log of the Xmas Bird Count at Rondeau, with data back to the 1940s. We have to get 2008 in, but would be happy to email a copy of the Excel file. Click on the title to get our website and contact info.

Last Train to Toronto

We recently took VIA Rail to Toronto for a few days, visiting son and fiance, and checking out the Ancient Ukrainian exhibit at the ROM, & the ancient Leafs at the AC Centre. Rick determined that Sidney Crosby is NOT overrated (as claimed by the Detroit press) and the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal IS truly awful (as claimed by most everyone). Libeskind's folly is way too Berlin (slashing in the walls). We did enjoy revisiting the crystal display and particularly the European rooms - after having made the aquaintance of curator Dr. Peter Kaellgren in Chatham.

Flooded Chatham

Whoops, 16-1/2 feet or 5 meters above normal. One foot above New Year's, and four feet below the 100-year high of over 20 feet. Lots of foot and auto traffic on Family Day to take pictures from the bridges (like me!).

River Rising in Chatham

A very weird month (for Chatham) is over...the coldest January in 30+ years, the first ice fishing on the Thames in 15 years, and much snow. In February a couple of record daily highs and lots of rain has almost taken care of the snow, but the river is rising. We happened to be watching it tonight from Casa Bella when the ice and assorted flotsam and jetsom torn from the banks earlier broke free and started to flow towards Lake St.Clair. We already had a crest over 15 feet above normal at New Years; are we heading for another?

Tilting @ Windmills

We had the pleasure of Nancy & Paul Gipe's company this week, and attended Chatham Rotary's annual banquet to hear Paul describe a sane wind and solar energy policy for Ontario and North America. A couple of weeks ago Rick & I drove through Port Alma on the shore of Lake Erie to view the Wind Farm started this summer.