Swans or Squabs

Swans or Squabs? That's what would be a-swimming today in our 12 Days of Christmas.  Through the many years of variations, it is dominantly seven swans a-swimming with only one version in 1900 of squabs a-swimming.  This doesn't make much sense as 'squabs' are pigeons, and they don't swim. Squab in culinary terms is a young domestic pigeon, typically under four weeks old. They have been raised commercially in North America since the early 1900s.  It is remarkable given that they are fed by both parents until four weeks old, so one keeps pairs of pigeons to produce squabs.  A pair can produce 15 squabs a year.  This used to be the staple of Chinese-American restaurants, but industrial chicken has taken over.  Squab is still is part of Chinese holiday banquets, such as Chinese New Year. As time has gone by, squab has become a specialty item and is served in haute cuisine restaurants by celebrity chefs.  "Squab at Alinea"  in Chicago, an acclaimed restaurant, is one of the courses in a 14 course tasting menu.  Or how about the Old Homestead restaurant in New York City.  It offered a four person meal for $8,750 a person and one course included squab alongside the turkey.  This was in 2015.  And Now Magazine in Toronto covered T.O.'s top 5 game dishes and there was Pigeon Pie (Squab) at Borealia. The article covers game dishes including quail, rabbit, Ontario venison, and game meat sausages. Our year concludes today and we count anew tomorrow.  Here are two images of Jordan Valley from yesterday's walk - they represent the sunset of one year and the new dawn of the next.

Niagara Water is Green

Marilyn's Photo of the Day  Niagara's Winter Scenes

What the Lake Views are Like There's nothing like winter water and particularly Niagara water, full of those minerals so that it is very green.  Port Dalhousie recognized this and painted the walk way bridge a matching green.  This is the scene of our first picture.  From inside Pier 61, our favourite restaurant in Port Dalhousie that sits on the bank of the old Welland Canal entrance (I think). The water is Twelve Mile Creek flowing into the Lake. The second picture shows the bridge that crosses over the small, almost frozen falls.  This is the one road into Port Dalhousie, and there's one road out. Perhaps that is what makes it such a quaint little seaside town still.  We were lucky yesterday as there was a pair of swans that came through for a while.   Our third picture shows at all the people fishing on the other side of the water. We haven't seen this many people since before Christmas.  I wondered if there was a fishing contest or festival. Our final picture today is what I think of as the backside of Jordan Harbour Bridge. The frontside view is from the QEW.  It is such a scenic view with the massive Jordan Valley in the foreground. I haven't been able to get to the eastern side to take photos.  Houses line both sides and the roads in are private - all the way from the main north/south road.  I did find this empty lot with a for sale sign.  What a view this monster house will have as it joins its fellows on the east bank of the Jordan Valley.