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’.
Category Archives: Brantford news
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.
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.
book review: Scarcity Brain 5/5
This highly readable self-help book delves into our addictive behaviors — what they are, how they originated and how to understand and ultimately overcome them. I like the way that each chapter is a vignette with Michael Easter going to people and their experiences that personify the issue. For example, with overeating, visiting a remote tribe where no cardiovascular problems exist, or when discussing gambling, visiting the scientists involved in transforming mechanical slot machines into video-gamified ones, and how this video-gamified model has been applied to so many other areas of our lives. Readable, refreshing and helpful. Thank you, Netgalley and Rodale books, for the ARC.
A vintage photo of the Monday afternoon book club
During this afternoon’s super-interesting meeting, Marion Weir brought a photo from our same book group from May 2007! Two of the members are still in the group, Marion herself and Jean Farquharson.
L to R, back row: Betty Harley, Alannah McQuarrie, Jean Farquharson, Marjorie Campbell. Middle: Thelma Thompson, Elizabeth Cavanaugh, June Bragg, Wynn Harding, Marion Weir, Marg Simpson. Seated: Mabel Wyatt, Alto Hall.
Marsha presented Scarcity Brain, and highly recommends it.
February 28th speaker: Lisa Clarkson 7pm Zoom
On February 28th, Lisa Clarkson, Manager, Day and Stay Program at the John Noble Home will be our guest speaker.
Trivia Night
Please download and fill out the following registration form:
Trivia flyer webOur contact address is not posted publicly for obvious reasons.
Please use the form below and we will email you instructions on emailing or snail mailing the form and $100 team payment, and answer any other questions you might have:
