One of our walkers thought we should call ourselves the Tuesday Trotters! I see very little trotting going on but I do see a lot of great conversation, birdwatching, recipes exchanged, and general support. The Tuesday whats? I don’t know!
All posts by MJS
February 2024 Newsletter
Trivia Night!!!
The Dunsdon Legion was busy on the evening of Wednesday, February 7th with the sounds of 26 teams vying for the championship of our fifteenth Trivia Night. The questions were just right and those present enjoyed the challenge. At the end of 10 rounds, Team 8 was the winner and Teams 2 and 9 were tied. After a play-off round, Team 9 was victorious and took second place with Team 2 in third.
Barb Perry, and helpers, ran an another amazing sale of new/very gently used books, DVDs, CD, and puzzles and took in $244.00!
There were 24 Door Prizes, all donated by members and they seemed very appealing (many were also very tasty looking!). This year we decided not to run a draw prize to save time, but it also affected the profit for the event. Our usual Heads or Tails game took in $229.60 and Mary Guillemette went home with a $100 gift certificate to The Keg compliments of Ted McCleister of McCleister Funeral Homes.
We also received $215 in donations.
At the end of the evening, everyone was invited to enjoy a slice of pizza donated by Dominos Pizza. Dominos has supported us since the beginning, and we appreciate their generosity. Please consider purchasing a pizza from them sometime in the next couple of months, to show your thanks. As usual, the staff of the Dunsdon Legion was very friendly and accommodating!
Thank you to all who donated gifts, money, and time for our 2024 Trivia Night.
Our profit for the event was $2,539.89.
The Trivia Night Committee – Brenda, Colette, Dian and Lynn
Thursday night book club on zoom!
Thursday Night Book Club met on Zoom. This month, we deviated from our traditional exploration of one book. Our challenge was to each choose an iconic or classic book that had remained personally significant over the decades. We reread our chosen book over the past month, reflecting on whether the story was still memorable. We presented the books we had chosen by genres: Fantasy/Fable, Historic Fiction/Fiction, and Philosophy, sharing the impact the book had ‘back then’ versus ‘now’. The discussion was lively as we recalled memories that the books invoked, the importance – and joy – of being read to as a child, and how we came of age by reading books that included stories about war, depression, revolution, and ‘the very meaning of life’.
Walking group: plywood patch bridge holds surprises!
Longtime club member Janet K was very interested to recognize a logo that she had designed being included in one of the paintings on the plywood patch bridge. She had designed the logo for Ecole Dufferin when a new logo was needed to celebrate the school’s 100th anniversary. Janet designed it at the request of her daughter who was on the PTA at the time, and they are still using it. At the time of the anniversary it was printed on t-shirts and other paraphernalia… Janet had forgotten all about it, so fun to see it today on the bridge.
Janet says, “This also raised memories of the one I also did one for BCI’s 100th birthday, and just going on the School Board’s website, I see that they are still using it…nice surprise. My own kids and my two oldest grandsons are and will be BCI alumni. Plus I taught there for a long time. BCI used the logo at the time of the anniversary on a wide variety of stuff to sell from notebooks to drinking glasses.”
Outside walk, and both groups meet!
Our walking group flexes to ensure all can participate at their own pace, so some walk for an hour and some walk for 90 minutes, some walk on an indoor track, and some walk outdoors, some come for coffee after and some do not. Today, a critical mass of us met up on the trail! HA!
From our Creative Cooking group: maple parsnip soup with mustard and pine-nuts
The Creative Cooking Group enjoyed a four course dinner this week but the highlight was the maple parsnip soup – great nurture food for these cold winter days.
MAPLE PARSNIP SOUP WITH MUSTARD AND PINE-NUTS
(Makes 8 servings.)
Ingredients
1/3 c. butter
1 lb. parsnips, cut into 1/2 inch rounds 2 med. onions, 1/2 inch diced
2 clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
6 c. chicken broth
1/2 cup whipping cream
2 tbs. dijon mustard
1/3 c. maple syrup
3/4 c. toasted pine-nuts
salt to tasteInstructions
Melt butter over medium heat in a heavy pan. When it starts to brown, add parsnips, onion and garlic. Cook til onions are translucent but not browned. Add nutmeg and stock. Bring to simmer and cook 40 minutes or until parsnips are soft. Add cream. Take off heat and puree til smooth. Add dijon, syrup, and salt to taste. Sprinkle each serving with toasted pine-nuts
ukuleles
Interest groups are the key to our club’s longevity. It’s not just about the exercise and fresh air and it’s not just about the conversation with old friends and new. It’s about the synergy. Supporting, caring, being there — together. On this cold day in January, every topic imaginable was discussed, including ukuleles.
January 2024 Newsletter
The Reverend Nora Elizabeth Fueten: the death of a longtime member
Fueten, The Reverend Nora Elizabeth (nee Clemons)
Born in Brantford in 1940, died January 10th 2024. Daughter of George and Helen Clemons (Henry). Predeceased by her husband Horst (2018) also sister Ketha (1984) and brother David (2012) and son-in-law Danny (2022).
Survived by daughters Louise Ciarniello and Mary (Jon) Hatt, Step-Son Frank (Paula MacKinnon) and grandchildren Anna, Simon and Julie. As well as sister-in-law Pat Clemons, brother-in-law Duncan McLaren, and extended family in Canada and Germany.
Nora loved life in all its fullness. Her love of nature was kindled at Blue Lake as a child, continued in the Rocky Mountains, Algonquin Park and hiking in Germany.
From an early age Nora loved music, beginning with piano. She completed conservatory exams while quite young then took up pipe organ leading to church positions and choir directions wherever she was living. Moved to working in opera in Toronto in 1967 with the Canadian Opera Company and the Faculty of Music University of Toronto, then at the Deutches Oper am Rhein in 1971. In 1974 she met Horst and they were married in 1975.
Returning to Canada in 1976 in order to take up sheep farming with Horst on the family farm north of St George. She continued in music at First United Church in Cambridge and the Faculty of Music Wilfred Laurier University. She was also founding conductor of the Hosanna choir in Flamborough. Her music interest continued later with conducting the St. George Pro Musica.
In 1984 she began exploring a call to ministry in the United Church of Canada. Ordained in 1988. The work of ministry was endlessly interesting, full of opportunity and gave a focus to the rest of her life. Her first church was Marlborough (later Harmony), in Brantford, where she served until 2002. Although retired, she continued in ministry throughout appointments in Brant county, also St James and Old Winham in Simcoe, First United in Waterloo and Westdale in Hamilton. She was in Ministry at St. George United until June of 2023 when her health no longer allowed her to continue.
Nora was also politically very engaged. She was a federal candidate for the Green Party in the 2008 and 2011 Federal elections and subsequently remained engaged with the Green Party locally.
Family and friends will be received at the McCleister Funeral Home, 495 Park Road North, Brantford on Friday, January 19, 2024 from 2:00 – 4:00 & 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. A memorial service will be held at First United Church, 16 William Street West, Waterloo, ON on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Cremation has taken place. A private graveside service will take place at St. George Cemetery, St. George, ON at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the United Church of Canada Foundation or to a charity of your choice. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.mccleisterfuneralhome.ca McCleister (519) 758-1553.
All of creation belongs to God
Nora Fueten was such an integral part of CFUW Brantford as was her mother before her.
We will miss Nora’s wonderful energy, creativity, honesty and focus.
