Face forward - even if not moving forward

Tonight our little church had a fund raiser. It consisted mainly of those who paid for a ticket for a dinner. A dessert auction was done afterwards. It was organized by one of the teen daughters whose mother doesn't go to our church. She wanted to do something special to raise money for a surgeon's fee that is not covered by our provincial healthcare. Anyone have any idea about Fibrocystic Breast disease? My part in all this was (are you ready?) running the sound system and video (ha – gotcha! - no news there). But it was nice to pick out stacks of CDs at the library and mix up a bunch of tracks for background “mood” music for the dinner.

A week ago it didn't seem as if there were going to be enough people coming. But today, almost every seat available was taken and I think enough was raised. For me, the best part is always coming away with more food than what I came with (which is usually nothing). Look at the picture below: a casserole dish of macaroni lasagne, a mincemeat pie and a wedge of carrot cake. Yum! Yum!

I also purchased this photograph taken by one our church's teens. It's a trillium; the official flower of the province of Ontario.

Matthew 5:5 says, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Not too many preachers speak on this verse. It has been bothering me a little that at work, I will usually stay behind to clean up the lunchroom; remove the recyclables; make sure all the doors are locked; check that all lights and fans and electrical tools are shut off. Most everyone heads off right at 5 or shortly thereafter. It seems like they’re too important to look after the little things that make a workplace safe and clean – or just figure “somebody” will do it.

Sometimes I like to think of myself as “nobody”. The famous and imaginary “nobody” who looks after the running toilets, dirty dishes, dead microphone batteries, projector filters and water for the piano’s humidifier system. You know the phrase, “Who looks after that? I guess nobody does...”

I like to think of the meek as “nobodies”. They are the detail people who stay after everyone’s gone to make sure the small stuff is taken care of. I figure they will inherit the earth since no one else is looking after it....

Well, it seems "Where I Live" posts are becoming all the rage among my Opera friends (well two, anyway). I'll add photos here and there as time permits..
(Addition 1: Hamilton Rail Trail pics July 9, 2009)


First off, Hamilton is in the province of Ontario in the country of Canada. It's at the headwaters of Lake Ontario; and being at the edge of the Niagara Escarpment, this city has the distinction of being the waterfall capital of the world. As an example, Mt. Albion Falls is a 20 minute walk from my apartment.

This picture I took of a roaring Webster's Falls a few years ago is one of the best I've ever seen anywhere; notice the base of a rainbow on the lower right corner.

One of the interesting things about many of the falls here is the huge hole or crater burrowed by powerful water streams as glaciers melted and retreated. This picture has a melting hole that is well over 30m (100ft) across and cut back over 1km (over 2/3 mile) from the edge of the escarpment.


One of many, many conservation areas inside the Hamilton city limits.

Most of the conservation areas are linked together by the Bruce Trail. The Bruce Trail is over 800km (500mi) in length, stretching from Niagara Falls to Tobermory.


This is the view of my front door..

This is the view from my balcony in winter..


Hamilton is more popularly known as "Steeltown" due to the long history of steel making giants Stelco and Dofasco (but currently known as U.S. Steel - Hamilton and Arcelor-Mittal). If you download and view the split skyline photo below, much of Hamilton's waterfront is dominated by the piers and plants of these two companies.


A place I spend a lot of time is my church. My principal work there is audio/visual and all things related to that. This is me posing at the sound booth I designed and built a few years ago.


Now all of this doesn't include McMaster University, McMaster Hospital, The Hamilton Tiger Cats (a professional football team) or the Royal Botanical Gardens. More on these a little later...

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One interesting man-made feature very near where I live is the Hamilton Rail Trail. It's an abandoned railway line that travels along the edge of the Niagara Escarpment from downtown to within 0.5 km of my apartment. The rails and gravel have been removed and the bed paved over to provide almost 5kms of very smooth pathway. The grade is very gradual and scenic lookouts are placed every now and again. Becuase I haven't bicycled in a long time, my legs were really hurting.

Here's a shot of the trail near a lookout.


A shot from the lookout toward Hamilton Harbour.


A picture of steps installed to climb up the escarpment. There are tracks on the outer edges of the steps for people to roll their bicycles up or down. This is one part of the steps going from halfway to the base...


Going from halfway to the top of the escarpment...


The view eastward at the top of the escarpment.

I tell this to the worship leaders at my church all the time. I've always wanted it on a T-shirt. It should look like this. Allen & Heath are my favourite mixing boards.

(Of course they REALLY know I take very good care of them and serve them wholeheartedly )

The lady who did the fine soups on my Soup du Jour post also sent these.
Try them and enjoy!

SALMON & POTATO CHOWDER
1 Tblsp. canola or olice oil
1 Tblsp. butter
1 onion, finely chopped
1 small red pepper, seeded and chopped
1 celery stalk, diced
1/4 cup flour
3 cups milk
2 large potatoes peeled and diced
1-8 oz. can salmon drained.
1 small can kernel corn (or about a cup of frozen corn)
salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the oil and butter over medium heat.
Once the foam has subsided, add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes, until soft.
Add the red pepper and celery and cook for a few more minutes, until they soften as well.
Add the flour, stir and cook for another minute, then add the milk and stir until thickened and smooth.

Stir in potatoes, bring to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are just tender.
Add the salmon and corn, heat through.
Season to taste.


STRAWBERRY CREAM PIE
1 pie crust. (cooked)
1 small strawberry jello
1 small vanilla pie pudding. (If you can only get a large one, use 1/2 )
2 cups water
1 tsp. lemon juice.

Bring above to boil-----boil until it thickens
Let cool completely.
Add 1 cup fresh strawberries, hauled and cut in half if too big. (do not use frozen, as it gives you too much juice)
Whip up 1 pkg cool whip

When mixture cools add the whipping cream
Pour into your cooled pie crust