SP Bridges-Celebrate Christmas_Nov 23

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2018

WHAT’S NEW at the FESTIVAL OF TREES MIRACLE on 34TH STREET

PLUS: Harvesting your own Christmas tree Sweet Christmas memories with Renee Kohlman

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Bundle up and harvest your own

Christmas tree

By HILARY KLASSEN

This holiday season, a splendid Christmas tree in a pristine Saskatchewan winter landscape is waiting to be chosen by you.

Bundle up, grab your family and a thermos of hot chocolate, and head for the woods for an adventure you won’t soon forget!

Harvesting a real holiday tree to beautify your living room can be an eco-conscious way to celebrate the season. You can cut trees in designated areas that would soon be cut anyway.

Make a day trip to Prince Albert National Park (PANP) and combine your tree harvest with other activities like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, skating, cooking food in a kitchen shelter or ice fishing, all while absorbing the beautiful landscapes of PANP. Photos courtesy the Ministry of Environment and Parks Create some treasured family memories this Christmas by harvesting your own Christmas tree.

There are several ways to do it.

Welcome to the

This year marks the third annual Christmas tree harvest in PANP. It’s an initiative that serves a greater purpose. “The Christmas tree harvest raises awareness of PANP’s wildfire risk reduction strategy. Cutting small trees from the fuel break helps maintain it,” says Lisa Risom, media officer with PANP.

2018 EDITION OF CELEBRATE!

Fuel breaks are cleared swaths of land of varying widths that help keep forest fires from spreading. But young spruce and pine trees grow back and reduce the effectiveness of a fuel break.

Editor: Jennifer Jacoby-Smith

“Many of these pretty coniferous trees would make great Christmas trees,” says Risom.

Contributors: Jennifer Jacoby-Smith, Darren Oleskyn, Ryan Hall, Hilary Klassen, Renee Kohlman, and Andrew Livingstone.

Designer: Rachel Sheldrake Cover: Megan Sampson THIS FEATURE WAS CREATED BY CONTENT WORKS, POSTMEDIA’S COMMERCIAL CONTENT STUDIO.

Permits are free and available at the Visitor Centre in the town of Waskesiu. Last year, 205 tree permits were given out and in 2016, 94 permits were issued. December 15, 2018 marks a free day to enter the park, which coincides with part of the three-day “O Christmas Tree Festival” hosted by the Waskesiu Wilderness Region.

Outside the parks, an additional alternative for responsible tree harvesting is to cut trees from various right-of-ways in the province.

“We suggest that people who want to cut a Christmas tree for their own use go along highway right-of-ways, road right-of-ways and power line rightof-ways,” says Bruce Walter, an area forester with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment Forest Service Branch.

No permit is required since those trees are likely to be chopped down at some point anyway as part of regular maintenance.

Popular choices for Christmas trees are white spruce or the balsam fir trees. For a nice Charlie Brown Christmas tree, the jack pine could work out well, Walter says. “For balsam fir you definitely have to go into the northern provincial forest, north of Christina Lake, north of Prince Albert near Candle Lake and north of Big River. The forest that we have around Prince Albert doesn’t have any balsam fir in it.”

TREE HARVEST GUIDELINES

Prince Albert National Park • • • • • • • •

Continued on next page •

A permit to harvest a Christmas tree must be acquired and displayed on the dash of the vehicle Trees must be cut down within the Christmas tree harvest zone shown on the map provide with the permit.

Trees must be accessed on foot Trees must be cut down with a handsaw or axe; chainsaws are not permitted.

All-terrain vehicles are not permitted.

Bring a sleigh or toboggan to haul the tree to the road.

Pack a first aid kit, extra mittens, dry socks, and a trail guide. or axe; chainsaws are not permitted.

All-terrain vehicles are not permitted.

Bring a sleigh or toboggan to haul the tree to the road.

Pack a first aid kit, extra mittens, dry socks, and a trail guide.

TREE CARE TIPS

Ministry of Environment • •

• •

Photos courtesy the Ministry of Environment and Parks Harvesting your own real Christmas tree can be a fun way to create memories and an eco-conscious way to celebrate.

The cut tree will be frozen. Keep it frozen until you want to bring it in.

When you’re ready to bring the tree in, slice about two inches off the bottom to get a nice fresh cut before it enters the warm house.

Set the tree up away from heat sources, otherwise the heat is going to dry out your tree.

Your tree stand should be able to hold about three to four litres of water – enough to keep the tree well hydrated for several days.

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Bundle up and harvest your own White spruce, however, can be found around Prince Albert as well as the northern provincial forest. There is some white spruce in the Nisbet Forest which includes the area past Duck Lake on the way to Prince Albert. White spruce and jack pine are also found in the Fort Alacorne Forest east of Prince Albert and north of

Christmas tree Melfort.

People who want to harvest trees from road, highway and power line easements for commercial purposes do need a permit and can contact the Ministry. Trees may not be cut in plantation areas where the Ministry is growing future forests.

“These are areas scattered throughout all of our provincial forests that have been harvested over the years. Trees are quite young in these regenerating cut-overs and in many cases we have actually planted the trees,” says Walter.

taller than that are not to be cut.

That’s about 13 feet, and most people don’t need a tree that size. They also ask that people leave stumps as low as possible and leave any severed limbs or ‘slash’ in the forest on the edges of the right-of-way.

The Ministry has a height restriction of four metres. Trees

If you suffer from ‘nature deficit disorder’ a trip to harvest a tree

should go a long way toward recovery. Find the wilderness, bask in the glistening sun, leave your footprints in the snow, charge up the memory banks and find that special tree with your name on it, that will mark some wonderful in your holiday season. Besides, the bears are hibernating.

Santa comes to the Festival of Trees

By JENNIFER JACOBY-SMITH

For over 33 years, the Festival of Trees has been showcasing beautifully decorated trees and inspiring young and old to embrace the Christmas spirit.

The Celebration Parade each day features many of the celebrity characters that visit the Festival of Trees. That’s included Olaf, Elsa, various Disney princesses, the Minions and more. Some of the characters will mingle after the parade so kids can get photos with their favourite.

This year the jolly old elf himself will be available for pictures at the Festival. Kids can get their picture taken with Santa in his sleigh. Santa will joined by Mrs. Claus and some of his elves for his Saskatoon visits. The complete schedule for photos with Santa is available on the website.

Face-painting has also been added to the main area this year. The cost is included in general admission. It’s a fun way for young ones to get into the Christmas spirit. Who knows, maybe there will older ones, too.

The cost of the photos is included with general admission.

“We wanted to make sure that it was very affordable for people to come and see the festival and also see Santa,” explains Cheyenne Steffan, marketing coordinator with the Festival.

Every year Boomtown at the Western Development Museum in Saskatoon is transformed into a tree-lined wonderland of everything Christmas.

This year’s festival features 57 fantastically decorated Christmas trees. Some are decorated in a traditional style, while others push the boundaries of

Supplied photo Every year the Festival of Trees turns main street in Boomtown at the Western Development Museum into a winter wonderland. But there so much more to see and do during the 10-day festival.

imagination year after year.

In addition to the Christmas trees, the Festival also offers a glimpse of culinary creativity with 22 gingerbread houses.

Many of the gingerbread houses are professionally decorated with stunning details all in festive sweet treats.

Over the years the Festival has expanded to include special events such as Peter Pan Pajama Party or the Perfectly Princess Tea Party. Most of these events sell out weeks in advance.

Recently, the Festival organizers have added some extra fun for attendees.

Each year it takes over 300 volunteers to keep the Festival running smoothly. If you want to share in the spirit of giving there may still be time to sign up. There’s an online application on the Festival of Trees website.

Of course, all this yuletide fun is for a good cause. Each year monies raised from the Festival are donated to Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation. This year proceeds will go towards the hospital’s medical imaging department with an upgraded fluoroscopy suite and replace-

ment of the portable x-ray unit.

Updating medical imaging equipment means clearer images, faster diagnoses and more efficient treatment.

“We’ve always been a supporter of Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation since the Festival started,” says Steffan. “All of the funds will go to support that.

And that’s something for everybody in Saskatoon. Everybody at some point in their lives is going to need medical care and potentially hospital care. So this benefits the entire city and we’re happy to be partnered with them.”

Last year 22,000 people visited the Festival. This year the Festival of Trees continues extended hours to give everyone a chance to see the yuletide displays and participate in all the fun. The Festival is open to the public Friday, Nov. 23 from 5 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and then Sunday Nov. 25 to Saturday, Dec. 1 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Each day’s activities can be found on the Daily Calendar tab at www.festival-of-trees.com.

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Finding your

Christmas bubbly

By DARREN OLEKSYN

With lights twinkling on the tree and snow glistening outside, Christmas is the perfect time to pour some sparkles into your glass with sparkling wine.

Bubblies — synonymous with celebration — pair perfectly with the festive season and its office parties, weekend gatherings and family get-togethers. There truly is something for everyone and every occasion.

While sparkling wines are a great aperitif and are the traditional choice for New Year’s toasts, they are also great food wines, especially the higher-acid, drier versions.

A wine with a solid backbone of acid can hold its own with fatty, creamy dishes, a wide assortment of cheeses, fish and oysters and lighter cuts of meat such as pork or poultry.

Here are some bottles that would go well with a casual gathering, formal dinner and, of course, under the tree.

Amp up the informal office party

Be the cool Christmas dinner host

The Italian bubbly Proseccco, produced about an hour’s drive north of Venice, is a great party favour. Made predominantly from the grape known as Glera, Prosseco is light, fruity, and frothy in the mouth, with soft acid and often a kiss of sweetness. Flavours often include apple, pear and flowers like orange blossom.

While Champagne is a premiere food wine, its cost can be prohibitive. But never fear, great sparkling wines are made all over the world in the same way as Champagne.

The bubbles in Prosecco are made using what’s called the tank method. A still white wine is put into a large tank and then sugar and yeast are added. The yeast feeds on the sugar, starting what’s known as a secondary fermentation. The fermentation creates carbon dioxide. Because the tank is sealed, the gas can’t escape — instead it becomes the beautiful bubbles in your glass.

Proseccos generally cost from $16 to $30. Some tasty brands to look for include LaMarca, Mionetto, Cinzano and Ruffino.

The thing that makes these wines special is the secondary fermentation.

Instead of happening in a tank, like Prosecco, the bubbles of traditional-method wines are formed in individual bottles. This adds more complexity to the wines, making them a great choice for the family meal.

Spain produces outstanding traditional-method sparkling wines known as Cavas. Generally from vineyards around Barcelona, Cava relies in large part on Spanish grapes Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada. The wines are dry, fresh and fruity, with flavours of green apple, pear, light cherry and cantaloupe.

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Finding your

Christmas bubbly At prices similar to Prosecco, look for brands such as Freixenet, Villa Conchi, Pares Balta and Segura Viudas (the latter two are special orders at the Co-op).

Canada’s cool climate also makes it an ideal spot for sparkling wine. Generally more expensive than Cava, Canadian traditional-method bubblies often use the traditional grapes of Champagne — Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier — and feature zesty acidity. Lemon, green apple, chalky mineral, anise, blackcurrant leaf and cherry are flavours to look for.

Blue Mountain Vineyard and Cellars, Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Gray Monk Estate Winery and, from Nova Scotia, Benjamin Bridge, make great sparklers. Check with your nearest private liquor store about availability.

Wow the wine lover If you want to leave something really special under the tree for your significant other, you can’t go wrong with Champagne. A traditional-method bubbly produced only in a small region east of Paris, topnotch Champagne delivers sublime depth, complexity and vibrant acidity, thanks in large part to the cool weather and chalky limestone soil.

Champagne houses generally produce two types of wine — a non-vintage sparkler that mixes wines from many years — and a vintage wine, where the grapes only come from one harvest. Both are very, very good.

Non-vintage Champagnes cost between $50 and $90, while vintage bottles start north of $100 and keep going up and up and up.

For a great gift without taking out a line of credit, look to wineries such as Taittinger, Veuve Clicquot, Moet & Chandon and Piper Heidsieck.

The flavours include brisk lemon, tart green apple, flint, smoke, blackcurrant, light cherry, oyster shell, or fresh baked bread.

Darren Oleksyn, who has his Level 3 Advanced certificate from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, has been writing about wine for seven years.

BETTER

OUTDOOR

LIVING

MERRY CHRISTMAS

To all of our customers that we have had the pleasure of working for; and to all of our suppliers and sub-contractors that we have had the pleasure of working with; both this past year and the many years before…

From our family to yours, we would like to wish everyone a Safe and Happy Holiday Season!!

THANK YOU!!

www.suncoastenclosures.com 10132224-01_1_1

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7 ways to find inspiration at

Soul Paper

By HILARY KLASSEN

For unique, customizable gift-giving this year, an extravagance of beauty and artistry awaits at Soul Paper. Instead of the usual foray into excessive consumerism, you step into a vibrant community, one that is particularly energized at Christmas.

Transformed for the holiday season, the shop will reel you in with possibilities. Owner, Susan Gallagher, has identified some hot trends and gift ideas that can inspire both soulful and joyful giving.

1. MINDFUL DESK SPACE. Susan

has noticed that many people have a new interest in creating a desk area.

“People love to write and there’s a whole resurgence of people coming back to it,” she says. They’re looking for pretty little pouches, pens, erasers or old-school notebooks – attractive items that make the space speak to them.

For many, the practice becomes therapeutic and facilitates mindfulness. “The world can be very frenetic and a space to re-centre is important. When we look after ourselves we can be amazing for others,” says Susan. For some, an

art journal using things like paints, rubber stamps and stencils, can also promote healing.

2. LETTERING KITS. Lettering has

become a popular pursuit and the gift of a Lettering Kit offers the necessary items for beginners who are just starting out. Kits include a practice book for skill development. For those who are more skilled at lettering, helping them build up their repertoire of brush paint tools is a great gift idea.

3. FOUNTAIN PENS AND WRITING INSTRUMENTS.

At Christmas and graduations, writing instruments are always popular. Soul Paper also does wedding invitations and Susan says some couples will buy a fountain or other special pen for each other which they use to sign their registry and then keep for the rest of their lives, forming a symbolic gesture.

4. PLANNERS. With 2019 only a

calendar-flip away, planners are high on the priority list. Dated planners are available, but Susan’s Traveler’s Notebook inspires a

more personalized approach with components uniquely suited to an individual lifestyle. Shoppers can choose how to populate or load their notebook with the items that reflect and facilitate who they are.

The level of creativity that can go into these planners is potentially endless.

5. HAPPY MAIL. Christmas is a

great time to send some happy mail. You don’t have to have a pen pal to enjoy putting some washi tape (which can be decorated and repositioned), stamps, stickers, stylized lettering using dip pens, or wax seals on a seasonal greeting you send to a special person.

6. BULLET JOURNALING.

This is a variation on the planner and can function like an analog app. Susan finds people are returning to this old-school style of tracking things. Bullet journaling started a couple of years ago as a flexible way to “track the past, order the present and design the future.”

Creator, Ryder Carroll, designed it because he could find no single app that did everything he needed

Photos by Hilary Klassen Hand-made journals are made to order in Budapest for Soul Paper. Owner, Susan Gallagher, especially loves the tactile experience of holding one of these exceptional leather-bound journals.

it to. His system uses bulleted points that are indexed. If you’re taking a trip, you index the pages in your journal where you talked about it. Some customers use it as a tracker that helps them identify how they’re doing in certain aspect of their life – like career or family - or to record how many glasses of water they drink or their sleep patterns.

One of Susan’s custom-order journals from Budapest would be ideal for bullet journaling. She specifies the type of cover, the

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leather binding, the paper, and then the journal is handmade and delivered.

7. GIFT WRAP. Let’s talk about the paper at Soul Paper. It’s beautiful!

There’s designs for a multitude of paper arts, mixed media, booking binding and even furniture enhancement. People are lining drawers, old trunks or the backs of cabinets with big sheets of decorative paper. They’re making lanterns, screens and collage. But at Christmas a lot of people buy special paper to wrap a gift for a special someone.

At Soul Paper, the building carries the warm smell of history. Other than offering endless opportunities for exploration, this may be part of what makes you want to linger – a sense of place, of story, and of promise. Through the old-world feel we glimpse the future.

All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church 2616 Louise Street Saturday, December 1st, 2018 1:00 - 3:00 pm

Admission: $3.00

Everyone Welcome!

“Soul Paper is about so much more than selling notebooks or selling paper. It’s about being involved on a day to day basis with peoples lives and helping them to journey,” says Susan.

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10th Annual Mayfair United Church Craft and Bake Sale 902 33rd St W. on Nov 24th Starts @ 10AM til 3PM. Free admission, wheelchair accessible, lots of parking space.

Hot lunch available. Great Christmas gifts and homemade baking.

No vendors.

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Photos by Hilary Klassen Fountain pens and other writing utensils are a popular gift item at Christmas.

Photos by Hilary Klassen These days, people go to great lengths to personalize and spice up their journals.

Stickers, washi tape and a plethora of other “fun stuff” offers inspiration.

For inspired gifts, find your way to Soul Paper at 118 – 20th Street West, or visit soulpaper.ca.

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An old-fashioned Christmas at

By RYAN HALL

Barn Playhouse

The holiday season is a time for family and traditions. Whether its gathering for a meal, listening to festive music, or a special evening out our celebrations help to make the season bright.

For many, an important part of this has been the annual Barn Playhouse Christmas Dinner Theater, which has become a holiday mainstay for families across Saskatchewan.

the addition of a permanent Quonset theater in year two, as well as an expanded season featuring three shows, including the Christmas dinner theater.

Since then the formula has remained the same, and so has the support from the community. As a result, this December marks the completion of their 28th season, with the Barn Playhouse remaining as popular as ever.

The Playhouse itself was started in 1990 as a way to use a forgotry Klassen ten structure on a family farm.

One of the reasons for their success is the attention to detail which shines through wherever you look. For example, when visitors arrive, they are greeted by a horse-drawn wagon waiting to transport them from the parking lot into the venue.

From there a steady stream of volunteers ensures everyone gets unloaded safely and knows where to go. Along the way there’s countless familiar sights, sounds, and smells from the warm wood tones, to the 14-foot fall Christmas tree, to the smell of food wafting from the dining room. Together, they help create a memorable expe-

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“The barn on the yard I grew up on had been quiet for 20 years,” says Victoria Dyck, artistic director, “So my parents were keen to help me clean it up for our first production.”

However, Dyck wanted to go beyond putting on a play as she envisioned food booths, musicians, and a meal all talking place before the show began.

Her idea was a hit, and their initial eight-day run sold out before the first performance.

From there, things grew with

rience from arrival until final curtain.

As a result, the Christmas Dinner Theater has become a holiday tradition for families across the province. For these people the sight of the farm decorated for Christmas, sounds of laughter and sleigh bells, and the buffet meal of traditional turkey and holiday ham, make it feel like entering an old-fashioned winter wonderland.

Supplied photo

“There’s something magical about seeing the glow of the lights, even from a distance,” says Dyck, “it just fills people with joy and holiday cheer.”

Of course, all of this is only the first part of the evening, as after everyone has enjoyed the meal they move into the theater for the play itself. This year, the Barn Playhouse will present ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ as a Lux Radio Theater production set in the ballroom of the iconic Waldorf Astoria in New York City circa 1947.

Continued on page 10

fine stationery greetings art supplies Supplied photo This season will mark the completion of their 28th season at the Barn Playhouse, a holiday tradition for many families

invitations workshops writing instruments

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2018

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CHRISTMAS SERVICES AND CELEBRATIONS St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church

R O M A N

Spadina Cres E at 20th St. www.standrews-saskatoon.net

306-242-0525

office@standrews-saskatoon.net

Sunday worship at 11 AM Wed. Dec 12th – Service of Memory and Light 7PM A quiet service of prayer, music, and candle-lighting, in memory of our loved ones.

Sun. Dec 16th – Christmas Pageant 11 AM Christmas Eve, Dec 24th – Candlelight Family Worship 7 PM New Year’s Eve, Dec 31st – Watch Night Service 10 PM

Spadina Crescent & 24th Street

Every Sunday 10:30 am

Advent Celebration Sunday, December 2nd, 10:30 am

“Christmas Caring” Sunday Sunday, December 9th, 10:30 am

Knox Choir Music Service Sunday, December 23rd, 10:30 am

Family “Candlelight & Carols” Christmas Eve, 7 pm

Family Worship Sunday, December 30th, 10:30 am

306-244-0159

www.knoxunitedchurch.ca

123 Nelson Road www.holyfamilycathedral.ca Monday, December 24 Christmas Eve Masses at 4:30 pm, 7:30 pm, and 12:00 Midnight Tuesday, December 25 Christmas Day Mass at 11:00 am Monday, December 31 Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God Mass at 5:00 pm Tuesday, January 1 Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God Mass at 11:00 am

Mount Royal Emmanuel United Church 521 Vancouver Ave. N. S7L 4J8 306-978-0800 Advent IV - December 23 - 10:30 a.m.

Carols and Readings Christmas Eve - December 24 - 7:00 p.m.

Candlelight Service All are welcome Regular Services –Sunday-10:30 a.m. www.mountroyalemmanuel.com

Advent and Christmas Services at McClure United Church

Knox United Church Family Worship with Children’s Sunday School

C A T H O L I C

Room at the Inn? Join us to explore the meaning of Advent Sundays at 10 am Candlelight Service Christmas Eve at 7 pm

GPUC.ca

Sunday, December 2nd (Advent I - Hope) 9:15am and 11:00am - Worship Service 12 noon - Hotdog lunch and Advent Festival Sunday, December 9th (Advent II - Peace) 9:15am and 11:00am -Worship Service 7:00pm - Blue Christmas Service Sunday, December 16th (Advent III - Joy) 9:15 and 11:00 a.m. - Choir Cantata Sunday, December 23rd (Advent IV - Love) 9:15 and 11:00 a.m. - Worship Service Monday, December 24th Christmas Eve 5:00pm - Family Service 7:00pm - Family Service 9:00pm - Youth-led Service 11:00pm - Communion Service Sunday, December 30th -10:00 a.m. (only) - Worship service

4025 Taylor Street • Mcclureunitedchurch.org • 306-373-1753

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CHRISTMAS SERVICES AND CELEBRATIONS ST. PATRICK PARISH

3339 Centennial Drive

Come Celebrate Christmas

St. Martin’s United Church St. Martin’s United Church 2617 Clarence Ave at Wilson www.stmartinsuc.com 306.343.7101 Saturday, Dec. 1 2:00-4:00 pm Christmas Tea and Bake Sale Sunday, Dec. 2 7:00 pm Sounds of the Season Concert Sunday, Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23 Worship at 9:30 am and 11:00 am

Christmas Eve Masses: 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm Christmas Day Mass 10:30 am

Monday, Dec. 24 Children’s service 5:30 pm Family service 7:30 pm Communion service 10:30 pm

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 627 Taylor Street East Pastor Murray Keith 306-343-9535 www.stpaulslutheran.ca

Everyone Welcome Advent and Christmas Services Advent Services: Wednesday 7:00 p.m.

Dec 5th, Dec 12th and Dec 19th Children’s Christmas Program and Divine Service December 23rd 10:00 a.m.

Christmas Eve – Candle light Service December 24th 7:00 p.m.

Christmas Day Divine Worship with Holy Communion December 25th 10:00 a.m.

For unto us is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord Luke 2:11 Sunday Worship Services 10:00 a.m.

Lutheran Church Canada Church of the Lutheran Hour

Augustana Lutheran Church

Lutherans & Anglicans worshipping together 1201 Broadway Avenue • 306-242-9553 Pastor Marilyn Fowlie-Neufeld Christmas Eve - December 24 6pm & 8pm Candle Light Services Christmas Day – December 25 10:30 am Christmas Day Service Lessons & Carols – December 30 – 10:30 am

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CHRISTMAS SERVICES AND CELEBRATIONS

An old-fashioned Christmas at

Barn Playhouse Continued from page 7 Audience members will be able to see the checkered ballroom floor, 14-foot tall red velvet drapes, marble panelled walls, and photographs of Christmas from the streets of the ‘city that never sleeps.’

St. Thomas Wesley United Church GRACE-WESTMINSTER UNITED CHURCH 505 - 10th Street East, 653-1766 Minister: Rev. Daryl Woods Music Ministry: Janet Wilson Dec. 1 - Adventivity 2:00 - 4:30 pm Dec. 2 - White Gift Sunday (during 10:30 am service) Dec. 16 - Sunday School Pageant (during 10:30 am service) Dec. 23 - Choir Cantata (during 10:30 am service) Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 7:00 pm

The actors themselves will be dressed in period costumes which means pinstripe, double-breasted suits, cuffed pants, and suspenders for the men. As for the women, they’ll be dresses with pleats and buttons, all kinds of finger wave hairstyles, and rolled up curls in the front. However, while everyone is in costume, this is a radio theater which means the action takes place around a microphone. As a result, there won’t be any outfit changes, but only smaller tweaks that help the audience see the actors as different characters.

Ave. H & 20th Street West 306.244.7676 Christmas on 20th Concert Turkey buns and Carols Friday, Dec. 14th 2-4pm Christmas Eve Service 7:00 pm

Lastly, using the radio show format allows the Barn Playhouse to showcase the talents of their sound effects crew, who will help create a realistic world. Even better, every sound will be created live, with no digitally recorded noises used. While this can be challenging, it also adds to the sense of immersion which helps draw the audience into the story. Part of this includes a live pianist, who plays music as the story moves from scene-to-scene and helps make the show seamless.

December & Christmas Services Sundays: 9:25 AM Sunday School & 10:30 AM Worship Service Sunday, December 23rd 10:30 AM Family Worship Service Monday, December 24th 6:30–7:30 PM Carols by Candlelight No Services Christmas Day

“We really want the audience to get caught up in this beautiful story,” says Dyck, “As it’s a comedy, and a romance. It’s tender in some places, hilarious in others. But above all, it’s a story that remind us about what is important in life – kindness, love, and joy!”

AVALON ALLIANCE CHURCH 413 Cascade Street 306-931-4414 www.avalonalliance.ca “Togetherness, Hospitality, Service”

For more information on the Barn Playhouse, their Christmas Dinner Theater, or to purchase tickets for the Nov. 28 to Dec. 2, Dec. 5 to 8, or Dec. 12 to 16 shows please visit www.barnplayhouse.com or call 306-239-4600.

ADVENT & CHRISTMAS AT EMMANUEL Taizé - Join us for a peaceful entry into Advent with an evening of Taizé style music - Wednesday, November 28, 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

Christmas Singalong – Wednesday, December 5, 7 p.m. in the Refinery. Join the Slightly Off-Centre Band and the Good News Choir for a fun evening of Christmas singing.

Refreshments available.

December 9, 10:30 a.m. – A service of special music with guest oboist, Berlin Janzen.

Christmas Music & Meditations - Sunday, December 16, 10:30 a.m. Poetry, Stories, Prayer and Music to reflect on the Christmas Season. Our choir will be joined this day by the Mac Talla Quartet (Kim de Laforest, Anna Bekolay, Jeremy Cook, Sean Whelan).

Christmas Eve – Our service will be at 7:30 p.m Supplied photo 10130691-01_1_1

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Dazzle guests with this

show-stopping dessert London Fog Torte This dazzling dessert is a City Perks Café favourite. Owners Coralee Abbott and Michael Dahlen and their team at City Perks created it by combining several recipes into one. The delicious chocolate cake is finished with Earl Grey buttercream and drizzled with caramel topping, which makes for a dramatic end to your holiday meal.

Cake Recipe 2 ½ cup 1 cup 2 ½ tsp. ¾ tsp.

1 tsp.

2 cups 2 1 2 tsp. ½ tsp. ½ cup, 2 tbsp.

1 ½ cup 1 cup

Earl Grey Buttercream Recipe flour cocoa baking powder baking soda salt sugar eggs egg yolk vanilla almond extract canola oil milk coffee

Directions Grease 3 8-inch pans. Sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat sugar, eggs, egg yolk, vanilla, almond extract and canola oil. Scrape down bowl. With mixer on low, add flour mixture and milk (alternating the two), starting and ending with flour. Scrape bowl.

Add coffee with mixer on low, mixing no more than 30 seconds. Evenly distribute batter and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

2 cup ¼ cup ½ cup + 2 tbsp. ¼ cup ½

butter loose Earl Grey tea leaves egg whites sugar vanilla bean

Directions Place 1 cup butter in pot with tea. Heat over medium heat until melted. Turn down to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let tea steep for 5 minutes more. Strain and let cool until soft, 20 to 30 minutes.

Place egg whites and sugar in bowl of stand mixer on top of a saucepan to create double boiler whisk egg-sugar until hot to touch or 155-160 degrees F. Carefully put bowl onto mixer and whisk on high for 8 to 10 minutes or until medium stiff peaks.

Outside of bowl should be room temperature.

Using paddle attachment on low slowly add the tea infused butter and 1 cup butter a few tablespoons at a time until incorporated. Turn to medium high and beat until smooth and silky, 3 to 5 minutes. w The cake should be assembled as a three layer cake. Finish with a drizzle of caramel topping and garnish with berries.

**This is a corrected version of the recipe that appeared in the October issue of Living Spaces.

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Photos by Jenni Carboni

Sing Choirs of Angels Friday, November 30 and Saturday, December 1, 2018 7:30 PM at Knox United Church Tickets are $30 and $15 (limited sight lines), available at McNally Robinson Booksellers and at the door. Reserved seating. www.saskatoonchildrenschoir.org

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Cozy up your home

for the holidays

By WENDY LIVINGSTONE

Regina’s Dutch Growers. “People are helping to create memories with those items as opposed to a glittery tree that you don’t want to touch.”

Comfy chenille blankets, warm, glowing candles, and a touch of nature brought indoors: this year’s trend in Christmas décor reflects a desire for a cozy retreat from both the cold weather and the hectic pace of the holidays.

“It’s more about creating environments that are good for gathering and spending time together.

Whether that be a homemade meal or just getting a group of

friends together, there’s a much bigger focus on making an environment that you want to be in, and not just a tree,” says Karen Van Duyvendyk, co-owner of

She says that, often, when people decorate their homes for Christmas, they are choosing a palette based on the colours that make them happy rather than what someone else might think they should have.

“Pinks are really big in fashion for the winter, and they’re also really big for Christmas holiday decorating as well. It is a non-traditional colour, and I think that speaks more to people trying to create an environment that they want to be in,” she says.

Dutch Growers Garden Centre includes a year-round ladies’ Continued on next page

HOLIDAY DÉCOR TIPS Keeping special ornaments safe

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Annu

If you have precious Christmas ornaments that you are hesitant to put on the tree because you fear they may get broken, or if they just don’t match the colour scheme that you have planned for this year’s tree, display them in a piece of glassware, such as a vase or bowl, on the mantle or on the table. They can be on their own or with lights, and perhaps embellished with greenery and/or artificial snow, suggests Karen Van Duyvendyk of Dutch Growers.

al

Chri!mas experience h

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li m churc

Happy Hygge Hygge, which generally means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people, is practiced in Denmark, where the winters can be long, dark and cold like as in Canada. “There’s a huge focus on comfortable blankets, a warm fire, and candles, going all the time,” says Karen Van Duyvendyk of Dutch Growers. “It’s part of their culture that’s seeping into the rest of Europe. And, because of that, we are starting to get it over here in Canada now too.”

Experience # Wonder of Chri!mas all over again.

FE ATURING THE 70 -VOICE E LI M C HURCH CHOIR AND A FUL L SYMPHON Y O RCHESTRA

nov 30 - Dec 2 tickets on sale now!

Supplied photo

e l i m c h ur c h. c a/ c h ri st m a s

This season’s holiday decorating trends are about bringing nature indoors and creating a warm, comforting environment, say the experts at Dutch Growers.

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Cozy up your home

for the holidays fashion department, so Van Duyvendyk has knowledge of trends in that industry also. She says styles and colour appear in home décor about 18 months after they are showcased by the fashion world.

“If people are looking to be on-trend, rose gold is really big.

That’s one big trend that came right off the fashion runways, and certainly the use of coppers and rose gold in Christmas decorations is a definite reflection of the fashion items that we are seeing so popular in our boutique as well,” says Van Duyvendyk. “That whole colour palette with little bits of iron and black – minimalist with those little pops of rose gold and pink – I love that.

We’ve gone away from that shiny gold and shiny silver, and the metals have become very muted and more everyday. It’s taking ‘everyday’ and jazzing it up for the holidays.”

difficult to find,” she says. To the delight of those with a fondness for blue, Dutch Growers is displaying a country-style tree that is a denim-blue colour, giving the effect of a blue jean tree.

This fun, colourful tree reflects a tendency for those who prefer artificial trees to select those that do not pretend to be real. “If they are looking at artificials, they are looking at tinsel trees or trees that are bright green or bright red, or that really step out of the box,” she adds.

But, during the past four or five

years, fresh, live trees have been displacing their artificial cousins in many homes, as today’s young householders display a strong appreciation for natural items.

Even though live trees are often imperfect and asymmetrical, Van Duyvendyk believes these irregularities are what people like about live trees. “Those little elements of a live tree actually make them easier to decorate and they also add character. It allows you to be a little more creative – grouping ornaments together instead of just having them uniform throughout the tree. We do a lot

This year, the cold, snowy weather made its first appearance in September. That could make this winter seem exceptionally long.

“By the time Christmas comes, people will be cold and tired of the winter, so I think it’s going to be one of those years where they

are really looking to entertain in their homes as opposed to going out, so creating an environment that’s cozy and inviting is sort of what the holidays are all about,” says Van Duyvendyk. “I think this should be the best year yet. There are just so many neat things coming in, so it should be a good holiday season.”

The Saskatoon

Fireside Singers

The Pantone Color of the Year also influences décor choices at Christmastime, and last year’s “Greenery” green has led to displays of beautiful tone-on-tone trees. “You’ll see a green tree with greens and silver and gold. It gives that bringing-nature-inside kind of feel. The idea that winter is stark and cold, and you can add life to it with greenery.”

Present

Christmas Memories!

December 21st & 22nd TCU Place

Other inclinations this year include taking a step back in time by using traditional reds and greens and adding icy elements to trees to make them more sparkly. This can be done with acrylic items like icicles and snow flakes.

Van Duyvendyk has also observed that, regardless of other tendencies, blue decorations are always popular. “It seems we never have enough blue – every shade of blue. People seem to find that one

more of that now than we ever did before,” she says.

Artistic Director Marilyn Whitehead Orchestral Director Bonnie Nicholson Stage Director Albert Couture Choreographer Kelsey Stone

Special Guest Artist Thomas Yu Photo by Wendy Livingstone Display precious holiday ornaments in a glass vase or bowl, accented with sparkling lights or greenery.

Tickets By Phone (306) 975-7799 Or Online @ www.tcutickets.ca 10130059-01_1_1

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Many Christmas tales feature

ghostly characters

By ANDREW LIVINGSTONE

Christmas has long been a time of warmth and togetherness, an opportunity for us to reflect on feelings of love, charity, fraternity ... and spine-tingling terror? Strange as it may seem to us now, Christmas in the English tradition used to involve a generous helping of horror in the form of Yuletide ghost stories and seasonal spooks.

The hints of what was once a popular tradition are subtle and often missed. In “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” from 1963’s Andy Williams Christmas Album, we’re told that, after toasting marshmallows and caroling out in the snow, “There’ll be scary ghost stories/ And tales of the glories/ of Christmases long, long ago.”

So, if everyone is supposedly telling you to “Be of good cheer,” why would anyone associate such a light-hearted holiday with supernatural dread?

It isn’t difficult to imagine why our ancestors might have felt a growing sense of unease with the approach of the solstice. As autumn gives way to winter, the nights grow longer, the days grow shorter, glittering flakes begin to fall from grey skies, and cold gusts groan through skeletal trees.

The world seems weird and deathly, and we can forgive ourselves for wondering if the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead is fraying in the frosty winter winds. Certainly, our ancestors believed just that: magical phenomena were expected to multiply as the solstice drew near, and that made stories of the supernatural chillingly

Getty Images

Charles Dickens wove ghostly visitations into his classic tale, “A Christmas Carol”.

plausible.

Hundreds of years ago, some of the greatest writers in the English tradition, such as Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare, called such stories of the supernatural “winter’s tales.” Shakespeare even wrote a “Winter’s Tale” of his own, though he couldn’t decide whether it was meant to be a sad story or a miraculous one. This conflict between the light and dark themes of winter’s tales survives even in the Christmas tradition of gift-giving, which often pairs a friendly and generous spirit like St. Nicholas or Father Christmas with a hostile and punitive being like Krampus, Knecht

Ruprecht, or the Whipping Father.

After many years of government opposition to the frivolity of Christmas, Charles Dickens entered the literary scene. Dickens, who lived through a mini-ice age during his childhood that culminated in “The Year without a Summer,” wanted to rekindle interest in Christmas not only by reviving its values of warmth and redemption in even the most frigid times, but also by resurrecting its supernatural traditions. So, in 1836, he published “The Story of the Goblins who Stole a Sexton,” a short story that featured a cantankerous and bitter man who is spirited away by goblins on

Christmas Eve. The creatures show him a series of scenes that inspire him to change his ways and reconnect with his fellow man. Seven years later, Dickens expanded on that basic plot in “A Christmas Carol,” which swapped the goblins of the previous story for a host of ghostly visitations.

“A Christmas Carol” was a success, and Dickens’ imitators, many of whom were competent and respected authors themselves, created a flood of Christmas ghost stories in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Although those stories were typically read aloud at Christmas, many of the authors felt little need to otherwise link

their tales to Christmas themes, and they didn’t necessarily understand that their ghosts were a continuation of a much older genre.

Now, as even the most engaging of the Victorian stories fades into obscurity, only “A Christmas Carol” remains as a shining example of a terrifying tradition that stretches back into time immemorial.

That is, unless you would like to try your hand at raising the Christmas ghost story from the grave. Do you have a terrifying tale of your own – one that makes children and adults alike huddle close and appreciate the fellowship that keeps the cold winter at bay?

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2018

SASKATOON STARPHOENIX

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ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT

ALL YEAR ROUND! This holiday season, treat yourself to an Online subscription to the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Stay on top of breaking local news, business, sports and more with unlimited access to thestarphoenix.com.

GET 25% OFF WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR A 1-YEAR ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION TODAY! VISIT THESTARPHOENIX.COM/SUBSCRIBE USE PROMO CODE HOLIDAY2018

Offer: 25% off a 1-year Online Subscription to thestarphoenix.com using promo code Holiday2018. To Redeem: Go to thestarphoenix.com/subscribe, click on “Subscribe” under the Online subscriptions, and redeem the promo code after selecting the annual subscription offer. *Regular Annual Online Access Subscription is for 12 months for $99.99 plus tax; the promo code Holiday2018 will discount 25% off the regular price. Subscription will auto-renew annually at $99.99 plus tax. Promo code cannot be combined with any other offer and cannot be applied to current subscriptions. Limited time offer ends December 31st, 2018. Other restrictions may apply. You can contact our customer service team by email at mysubscription@thestarphoenix.com.

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Christmas Butterhorns with vanilla drizzle

recipe

By RENEE KOHLMAN

Some of my sweetest Christmas memories are of Mom bringing out butterhorns from the freezer at Christmastime. We’d enjoy them with our breakfast and a good coffee, and I could barely wait until they had lost their chill before biting into one.

When I was a grown-up and living away from home, Mom would send me off with a container of butterhorns when I travelled

Butterhorns Recipe 3 cups 1 tsp 1 cup 1 cup 2 1 Tbsp 1 pkg

all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting salt unsalted butter, softened and cubed whole milk large eggs, at room temperature granulated sugar active dry yeast (about 21/2 tsp)

back to my apartment in Edmonton, and I cherished each and every one until they were gone.

What makes butterhorns so special? The sweet yeast dough is rich and soft, and yes, it’s buttery and light. The vanilla drizzle complements the butterhorn ever so well, and once you eat one, you can’t wait to grab

Directions 1.

To make the butterhorns, mix together the flour and salt in a large bowl. Cut in the butter using a pastry blender, mixing it well, but leaving some pea-sized bits of butter. Heat the milk in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat just until it begins to steam.

Remove the milk from the heat and let it cool just until it’s warm to the touch. Mix the eggs and sugar into the warm milk and stir in the yeast. Let this stand, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Stir the yeast mixture into the flour mixture and mix until a soft dough forms. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

2.

The next day, remove the dough from the fridge and lightly dust your countertop with flour.

3.

Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper.

4.

This dough is best rolled cold. Cut the dough into 3 evenly sized pieces and shape them into balls. Roll each ball into a disc about 1/8 inch thick and about 10 inches in diameter. Cut each disc into 8 triangles. Roll each triangle tightly, from the wide end to the point.

Place seam side down, about 3 inches apart, on the prepared baking sheets. Cover them lightly with wax paper and let them rise for 2 hours in a warm, draftfree spot.

5.

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Place the rack in the lower third of the oven.

Bake each sheet, one at a time, for 15–20 minutes, until the butterhorns are a nice golden brown on the top and bottom. Remove the pans from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack for about 13 minutes while you make the glaze.

6.

To make the glaze, whisk together the glaze ingredients in a medium bowl.

7.

Once the butterhorns are barely warm, drizzle the glaze over them. I find a fork works really well for this.

8.

The butterhorns will keep in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature, or can be frozen after they are glazed for up to 1 month. Makes 24 butterhorns.

Vanilla Glaze Recipe 2 ½ cups ¼ cup 2 tsp

icing sugar whole milk pure vanilla extract

**Note: Finely chopped toasted walnuts or pistachios can be sprinkled on top of the glaze for extra deliciousness.

Recipe from All the Sweet Things by Renée Kohlman (TouchWood Editions 2017). The cookbook is available in stores and online.

another. This recipe is a two-step process, with the dough needing to be refrigerated overnight. The next morning, you’re good to roll! Mom says she clipped this recipe out of The Western Producer years ago, and over the years we’ve made adjustments. I’m so glad I’m able to pass it along to you now.