Easter dinner at my parents when we were young “adults” (if we dared to use that term so loosely!) was always interesting. Mostly because nobody arrived at the same time, and everyone brought a different definition of the word “help.” By the time the coats are piled on the bed someone had already lost a shoe in the entryway, and the house smelled like turkey, ham, and mom’s homemade buns that honestly made people forget their own names for a second. One of my older cousins sh

Vermilion is not known as a place that has a lot of crime, so when something happens, it always makes news. This is as true today as it was over 100 years ago when the community was young. Back then, a young man by the name of Riel Bonneau decided that he would rob several farmers, expecting that he would get away with it easily. That would not be the case though. Over the course of several weeks in February 1919, he robbed various farms while wearing a mask. Once he accompli

This recipe does not use any processed sugar, only natural sweeteners like dates, sweet potatoes, and a touch of honey on the icing. It is also flourless and gluten-free. This is a moist and dense small cake, with a brownie-like texture. Sweet potatoes are another one of those foods that have a lot of healthy benefits. Sweet potatoes are a rich source of the vitamin A called beta carotene. Sweet potatoes also have beneficial fiber as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory

In the early years of homesteading on the prairies, it would have been a lonely life if it had not been for neighbours and community gatherings. Families were often separated by miles of open land, and long days of chores could pass with little company beyond the wind and the wide-open sky. When someone needed help raising a barn, bringing in a harvest, or tending to an illness, word travelled quickly and people showed up because everyone understood how much depended on mutua

For a town to survive from its earliest days through the next century, financial growth was vital. While there were rough patches for Vermilion during its early years, especially when The Great Depression hit, the town always survived. By the early-1960s, it was prospering. At a meeting in February 1962, a group of taxpayers attended the annual meeting of the Vermilion ratepayers to hear reports of the town’s progress. The first report came from Charles Thompson, a hospital b

With the start of another month, it is time to look back in time to what was happening in the community back in March 1926. Some events were small, some were large, but all shaped the future community. On March 7, Vermilion was defeated 6-0 by the Calgary Albertans in a tough-fought hockey game that didn’t end well for the home team. On March 8, James Cammon, a resident of the Vermilion for the previous 21 years was appointed as the Justice of the Peace. He had previously ser

This is a great dish to serve as an appetizer orhors devours, and it is sure to be a hit for entertaining. A lot of people don’t like sushi with raw fish. Here is a wonderful baked (and cooked) version. The fact that salmon is a very healthy food is no secret. The problem often is that we don’t eat it, or any type of fish enough. Coming from the land locked prairies, where fish is not a staple food, it may not be a regular part of our diet. The importance of enjoying salmon r

We often get several snowfalls in March, and it is snowing as I write this today. We have the most beautiful white glistening pristine landscape on the prairies when it decides to snow; transforming it into a living work of art. Snowflakes, with their every size and shape, some delicate and feathery, others bold and crystalline, showcases Mother Nature’s endless creativity. No two are exactly alike, each carrying a story etched in ice. I have always been so mesmerized by the

This is a delicious aspic that pair well with so many meats. It is beautiful with roast beef, hamburgers, pork roast, moose, venison, chicken and turkey. Serve it as a condiment. There are so many health benefits in this sweet and savory aspic. The first one is collagen in the gelatin, which is a protein rich in glycine and proline. Collagen in the diet is needed for joints, skin elasticity and hydration, and intestinal membrane gut health. Onions are a great source of the

Autograph books were quite popular in the past as a fun way for people to collect handwritten notes, signatures, and sometimes little drawings or poems from friends, family, classmates, or maybe even celebrities. According to Google, historically they were trendy before the 19th century particularly with college students. Over the next several years there were some decorative, ornate, needlepoint, leather, hand painted covers which became treasures, filled with memories and p

Each year, curlers from around Central Alberta came to Vermilion to take part in the popular Vermilion Bonspiel in the hopes of capturing the Alberta Hotel Cup. At the end of February 1919, the bonspiel saw several close and exciting games. There were about 20 rinks that entered the bonspiel, with seven coming from outside of Vermilion. One was the McClung Rink from Edmonton. I don’t know if the skip of that rink was related to Nellie McClung, but it is possible. There were a

A good cattle dog is a treasure on a working ranch. We have had Border Collies for most of our ranching years. Their herding nature requires them to be active, alert, independent thinking, and responsive. Tubby was one such a dog. We bought him as a pup, he was the biggest one in the litter and stayed a “roly-poly” for awhile (hence the name). His cattle instincts showed up in the first year of his life. He would display “eye,” stalking, or circling behaviors around his litte

Our chickens have been laying a few more eggs than we can use, so it was time to pickle a few. This recipe works in the winter, and in the summer. I like to add fresh dill from the garden. If your pickling spice has cloves it will turn the brine tea coloured, and that is fine. If you want a clear brine, then you will have to pick the cloves out of the pickling spice. To hard boil eggs, place your eggs in a pot and cover them with water. Bring the water to a boil, cover the e

In the very early years of Vermilion, as the community was slowly coming together, there were problems with some individuals who couldn’t stay on the right side of the law. In early February 1910, three criminal cases were presented at the district court to Judge Taylor who was presiding. In the first case, a Vermilion man was charged with attempting to steal a white steer from another man off his property. The name of the person accused was not listed, nor was the person who

Marty and Buster were two borderline mammoth donkeys who graced our lives and left a permanent hoofprint on our family’s heart. They had unique personalities; they were both friendly and very approachable and always greeted anyone who wandered into their pasture. They loved treats; apples, carrots and other goodies and the people who brought them. Marty was a striking grey color accentuated by a bold black dorsal stripe running down his back. Buster was two shades of rich bro

Whenever it’s cold outside it’s a good time to turn on the oven and do some baking. This banana bread recipe is a good way to use up some over ripe bananas. If you have over ripe bananas and no time to use them up, you can pop them into the freezer, peel and all, to be used later for loafs and muffins. This is a well tested recipe that makes great banana loafs every time. This recipe is high in fiber, and is mostly sweetened naturally with dates and bananas. Dates, oat bran a

When I was growing up, I looked forward to the spring months of April and May; it was calving season. The cows calved on the hills on a half section of pasture north of our buildings. Dad checked the cows twice a day on horseback. His lariat and a few small calving supplies were part of his gear. I was so excited to get to ride with him on occasion. As we saddled up and headed north, Dad would always light a smoke. He looked like the “Marlboro Man”. It was generally cool and

Here is a cabbage salad that uses healthy ingredients in the dressing, instead of salad dressing and mayonnaise made with industrial seed oils. Olive oil is rich in monosaturated fat, which helps to reduce inflammation. Olive oil contains omega 9’s, vitamins E, K & A plus additional anti-oxidants. Olive oil is an important part of the Mediterranean diet, that helps to prevent heart disease and stroke. Studies of the Mediterranean diet, which is high in olive oil, show a 40 p

With it being the beginning of a new month, it is time to take a trip back in the past. We are venturing to 100 years ago to see what was going on in Vermilion in February 1926. On Feb. 2, the Town of Vermilion announced that there would be a reduction in the business tax since the cash on hand for the community was $12,000. It was expected that the business tax in Vermilion would decrease by 20 percent to encourage more development as the town grew. On Feb. 4, Vermilion Agri

Way back in 1910, Vermilion was about five years old and quickly growing. All around the area, people were taking up homesteads to capitalize on the fantastic land. To help get people settled in the area, various syndicates were formed. These companies provided people with guidance to build their homesteads. They sold the goods that were needed, directed the settlers to where they needed to go and helped with all the organizing. In January 1910, it was announced that the Belg