Ingredients

• 1 quart vegetable oil(for frying) shopping list
• 1(10 1/4ounce)can beef gravy shopping list
• 5 medium potatoes, cut into fries shopping list
• 2 cups cheese curds shopping list

How to make it

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• Heat oil in a deep fryer or deep heavy skillet to 365°F (185°C).
• Warm gravy in saucepan or microwave.
• Place the fries into the hot oil, and cook until light brown, about 5 minutes.
• Remove to a paper towel lined plate to drain.
• Place the fries on a serving platter, and sprinkle the cheese over them.
• Ladle gravy over the fries and cheese, and serve immediately.

In keeping with our traditional French Canadian culture here is a tourtière recipe that will leave your mouth watering!!!

Typically we’re feeding a large family but feel free to ½ this recipe or freeze some. (Not every family has 14 kids like in the good old days ha!!)

Les Bucherons Famous Tourtière

Dough:

10.5 cups flour
1.5 lbs Crisco
2.5 cup very cold water plus maybe a little more
1.5 tsp salt
1.5 tsp heaping baking powder

Follow instructions on Crisco box on how to make dough.

Filling:

10 lbs (not lean) ground pork
2 cups water
2 cups chopped onions
3 tsp salt
3 tsp pepper
3 tsp sage or to taste
2 grated raw potatoes
2-3 cups fine bread crumbs

Directions:

Using a BIG pot on low heat, mix pork, water, onions, grated potatoes, salt and pepper. Stir often and cook for about 20 min. Turn burner to med adding the sage and enough bread crumbs to absorb the liquid. Cook for a little while longer till pork and potatoes are cooked.

Make pie crust, add enough filling to fill pie plate and cover with top crust. Bake on low rack @ 375 degrees if you are using foil pie plates. Med. rack for other kinds of plates for approx. 20-30 minutes.

If meat pies are frozen, thaw the night before. Reheat in oven at 350 degrees for approx. 30-40 min till heated right through. They taste much better if reheated in the oven vs a microwave.

ENJOY!!!!!

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1. Al Zelant says:

   April 30, 2010 at 6:59 pm (Edit)

   I was subbing this week at Callingwood school, and I was very fortunate to have been here during the week of Les Bucherons.
   In those few short days, I was amazed at how quickly their program was put together which was able to be presented so successfully to the parents on Thursday evening. I was quite impressed at the diversity of the presentations, and how much the students enjoyed putting this together.
   Having been in the school system for many years, I know how difficult it is to come into a school and develop and implement a program within a short time frame. The students always had a smile on their face and enjoyed the whole week immensely. Also, Gord and Ian’s contact with the students was very professional, and they developed a very warm rapport with them. It appeared that much thought and organization was obviously put into this week well before arriving at the school. The reason I mention this is that the curriculum of our school system was at the forefront, thus making this event even more successful, fun, interesting and most enjoyable.
   I would just like to give a high commendation to both Ian and Gord for the tremendous work which I observed this week.

2. Lynn says:

   May 27, 2010 at 2:11 pm (Edit)

   When Les Bucherons came to our school, an immediate relationship was formed and what was intended to be a theatre event for our students, became a cultural experience, that also addressed French, Language Arts, and Social studies. Our involvement with Les Bucherons went on and on, always willing to come back to our school, because they love us so much, as we love them. The relationship continues to thrive and embrace more outcomes than we ever dreamed of.

   Ian and Gilbert became a part of my family. The Story of Canada and the influence of the Metis and Quebecois culture in the history of our country became confirmed and also entrenched in my school and my family. My house is adorned with the sash of the Metis , the spoons and dancing men which are picked up at every gathering of folks. My use of French became enhanced and my love of their music thrills me.

   Lynn Heath, past principal, Bonanza School

3. Janina Carlstad says:

   June 16, 2010 at 3:40 pm (Edit)

   I have networked with the company of Les Bucherons since I first became acquainted with them in 2005. I find their music theatre to be dynamic, energizing, and inspiring for all participants within the school community. When Les Bucherons members are present in the school for a residency or even a day performance, staff, students, AND parents are INVOLVED! Any performance with Les Bucherons is highly interactive, informative, and entirely curriculum related.

   Cross-curricular integration of activities reaches out to students on many levels, whether it be the arts as in the creation of Dancing Men; or movement, as in square dancing/jigging; French or First Nations/Metis Languages through song and story; Canadian history and culture… each activity serves to inspire students beyond the textbook and into the identity of who we are as Canadians!

   The addition of the Native American style flute and flute building workshops to the program is also a benefit of working with Les Bucherons, as this instrument provides children with a feeling of success, accomplishment and personal expression!

   Besides the Les Bucherons performances, I personally utilize CD’s, sashes and toques, maple syrup, dancing men, the musical saw, the spoons, and the Les Bucherons website to enhance my social studies curriculum in all grades. It has been a great collaboration – SYNERGY at its best!

   Janina Carlstad – Gr. 3-8 Social Studies, Language Arts, and Fine Arts Teacher, Peace Wapiti School Division # 76

Au bord de ce fleuve, en un territoire
précis d’Amerique,
sous des vents de concurrence,
nous nous sommes reconnus
dans le projet d’évenement
la maison de notre langage français.

C’est plaisir de la partager,
plaisir d’explorer sa musique,
plaisir de l’affiner pour exprimer
la clarté de notre être.

Quelle prodigieuse maison!
Vielle de mille ans, construite
par des myriades de voix avec
des univers d’experience personelles,
elle possède, jeune toujour,
le privilège d’exister partout
où on veut bien l’établir.

Bâtie en France d’abord, elle est aussi
au bord du grande fleuve.
Nous l’habiterons vraiment si elle devient
robuste et souple comme l’arbre,
harmonieuse comme le flux sonore
de la vie en chaque être.

C’est un maison à reconstruire sans cesse,
nous nous solidifions à la maîtriser,
nous nous embellissons à la considérer
comme notre première richesse.

En elle nous résidons
dans l’indestructible,
puisque c’est en elle que
nous rassemblons tous nos visages
pour porter le nom présent et futur
de notre liberté

We’re coming up on our third year already and this year the theme of the camp is the music from “Flatt and Scruggs”.

Here are the details:

Date : July 22 – 27, 2012
Check in Sunday afternoon, July 22, 4 pm
Location : Cabine Soleil Retreat Centre

I hope you’re getting excited. I sure am! This will be a fun and
informative week, guaranteed to be well worth your time and energy.

Speaking of energy…

Energy is cultivated during immersion camps. We should never miss the assembly because that’s where we get inspiration, nourishment and that is where the seeds of the future are sown and sprouted.

…so many music students WASTE SO MUCH ENERGY by not experiencing the full on immersion and synergy of working in strategic groups

I find that making plans and taking action is the key, for the past 15 years, I’ve always registered 6 months in advance to most workshops I take, and what happens on a daily basis in anticipation of your commitments is truly incredible.
My personal develpment for the past many summers has mostly been in week long music camps, but this year I’ve already made my plans for a Vision Quest in Colorado (June 22 – Aug 3) http://www.ritesofpassagevisionquest.org/
and two weeks of wilderness training in New Jersey ( Aug 5 – 19) http://www.trackerschool.com/ The synchronicity and alignment is accelerating my growth in these areas of mission, purpose and now wilderness nature awareness on a daily basis. (which actually links into music in many ways, LMC may very well be headed in this direction in the years to come http://www.vixcamps.com/ )

Some of my finest learning and personal development have always occured as a facilitator as well. I’m really looking forward to sharing a lot of quality time with you at the Lumberjack Music Camp and hope you can make time for it this July.

My goal is to show you exactly how to teach yourself or at least show you how I go about teaching myself!

If you are like most students learning music, you may find it difficult to get the habits and routines down on how and when to practice. For example my daughter, Genoa, has been playing fiddle for 5 years and is quite good but she’ll play ten times a day for thirty seconds at a time, it’s proving to be an interesting experimental model. I’ve adopted it as well when learning the fiddle and the native american flute.

The tricky part however, is that unless you learn some basic practising
fundamentals – you just won’t get the nessescary jumpstart or initiation required to bring your playing to the next level

And that’s tragic. Both for me and for you!

Playing with people in groups is a serious secret to endurance and flow. (look at the sucess of the Running Room Workshops)

Even if you take music lessons once a week, you won’t build that nessecary momentum that comes from being in an immersion program

The good news? You are on the right track by registering for this event.

By the end of our week together, you’ll be well on your way to finding
out the WHAT, WHY and HOW of effective practing and music making.. You’ll have some concrete
strategies that will ensure you get to enjoy music and help others do the same.

And that is good because you deserve it.

Be sure to get everything taken care of so you can be at this powerful,
music development week.

I can’t wait to see you there!

Sincerely,

Ian Porteous

Dans la blanche cérémonie où la neige au vent se marie
Dans ce pays de poudrerie mon père a fait bâtir maison
Et je m’en vais être fidèle à sa manière à son modèle
La chambre d’amis sera telle qu’on viendra des autres saisons
pour se bâtir à côté d’elle

Mon pays ce n’est pas un pays, c’est l’hiver
Mon refrain ce n’est pas un refrain, c’est rafale
Ma maison ce n’est pas ma maison, c’est froidure
Mon pays ce n’est pas un pays, c’est l’hiver

De ce grand pays solitaire je crie avant que de me taire
A tous les hommes de la terre ma maison c’est votre maison
Entre mes quatre murs de glace je mets mon temps et mon espace
À préparer le feu, la place pour les humains de l’horizon
Et les humains sont de ma race

Mon pays ce n’est pas un pays, c’est l’hiver
Mon jardin ce n’est pas un jardin, c’est la plaine
Mon chemin ce n’est pas un chemin, c’est la neige
Mon pays ce n’est pas un pays, c’est l’hiver

Mon pays ce n’est pas un pays, c’est l’envers
D’un pays qui n’était ni pays ni patrie
Ma chanson ce n’est pas une chanson, c’est ma vie
C’est pour toi que je veux posséder mes hiversMy country isn’t a country, it’s winter
my garden isn’t a garden, it’s the plain
my road isn’t a road, it’s the snow
My country isn’t a country, it’s winter

In the white ceremony where the snow is married to the wind
in this land of blizzards my father had a house built
and I’m going to be trueto his ways,
to his example my guest room will be the one
that you go back to, season after season to build beside it

My country isn’t a country, it’s winter
My refrain isn’t a refrain, it’s a gust of wind
My house isn’t my house, it’s the winter cold
My country isn’t a country, it’s winter

About my solitary country I cry out before I am silenced
to everyone on earth my house is your house
inside my four walls of ice I put my time and my space
to prepare the fire, the place for the people of the horizon
and the people are of my race

My country isn’t a country, it’s winter
my garden isn’t a garden, it’s the plain
my road isn’t a road, it’s the snow
My country isn’t a country, it’s winter

My country isn’t a country, it’s the contrary
of a country that was neither land nor nation
My song isn’t a song, it’s my life
It’s for you that I want to possess my winters

1. Keep alert to what’s ahead

2. Respond to changing currents

3.Trust your crew

4. Look out for each other

5. Follow directions

6. Ask for help

7. Keep your word

8. Stay focused

9. Commit to the journey

10. Explore the unknown

11. Expect adversity

12. Persevere

On Sunday, June 12, there was a huge grand opening of Cabine Soleil Retreat Centre.  It was also Estelle’s (president of Les Bûcherons) 50 th Birthday Party.  This building has three levels for facilitating workshops and also accommodations for the overnight programs.

Down through the years I’ve attended many music camps and festivals:

1995    Beg. Banjo (BCBW) British Columbia Bluegrass Workshops

1995    Int. Banjo (Blueberry Bluegrass Workshop)

1996    Int. Banjo (BCBW) www.musicworkshops.ca

1997    Adv. Banjo (BCBW)

2000    Vocals (BCBW)

2001    Int. Mandolin (BCBW)

2002    Beg. Dobro (BCBW)

2003    Adv. Guitar (BCBW)

2004    Riverdale Bluegrass Band (Winner of amateur Band Competition)

2008    Calvin Vollrath’s fiddle camp (St. Paul, AB)   www.calvinvollrath.com/

2008    Johnny Arcand Fiddle camp (Saskatoon, SK)   www.johnarcand.com

I’ve also taught a few times:

1998    Beg. Banjo (BCBW)

2009    Banjo and Guitar (Hotchkiss Guitar Camp)

2010    Banjo and Guitar (Hotchkiss Guitar Camp)

From all my experience, I believe the power of the immersion program is paramount in most anything.  It’s very inspiring and the group settings and circles allow for an accelerated growth that is very enjoyable.

I’ve never taken weekly lessons, the yearly camps, generally inspire me and teach me to teach myself.

For those of you who know me, you know I love music and sharing that love through teaching is a big part of my purpose and line of work.  Over the years, I seen many teachers and teaching styles and have distilled an effective system and philosophy of teaching with interesting techniques and strategies.

The Lumberjackcamp acts as an outreach program, bringing in beginners and intermediates, but most importantly bringing in the starters, an important category of students who must get off the runway in a supportive and encouraging fashion.

If you or anybody you know may be interested in this unique and fun opportunity, please feel free to share this information with them.

We look forward to seeing you and supporting you in your musical ventures down through the years.

Once again, thankyou for the support and have a great Summer 2010

Ian Porteous