About Me

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Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada
I am a lawyer in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada who enjoys reading, especially mysteries. Since 2000 I have been writing personal book reviews. This blog includes my reviews, information on and interviews with authors and descriptions of mystery bookstores I have visited. I strive to review all Saskatchewan mysteries. Other Canadian mysteries are listed under the Rest of Canada. As a lawyer I am always interested in legal mysteries. I have a separate page for legal mysteries. Occasionally my reviews of legal mysteries comment on the legal reality of the mystery. You can follow the progression of my favourite authors with up to 15 reviews. Each year I select my favourites in "Bill's Best of ----". As well as current reviews I am posting reviews from 2000 to 2011. Below my most recent couple of posts are the posts of Saskatchewan mysteries I have reviewed alphabetically by author. If you only want a sentence or two description of the book and my recommendation when deciding whether to read the book look at the bold portion of the review. If you would like to email me the link to my email is on the profile page.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Our 40th Anniversary!

Sharon and I celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary tomorrow. We were married in Humboldt at St. Augustine's with 3 priests (Father Maurice, Father Florian and Father Lawrence) from St. Peter's monastery con-celebrating our wedding Mass. It was a lovely summer day.

To celebrate tonight we went to Nipawin for supper at the Mabel Hill Farm Kitchen and Marketplace. We had a wonderful meal. Our server, Skylar, took the above photo of us.

Mabel Hill is just east of Nipawin. The restaurant is bright and airy. Outside our window there was
outdoor seating on the deck. Had it not been raining it would have been great to have eaten there.

Beyond the deck is a grouping of chairs around a fire pit.

Past the pit is a field of fresh vegetables.

In addition to supplying the restaurant there are pickled vegetables for sale.

We started with an appetizer of a zucchini blossom stuffed with ricotta and crab and lightly deep fried.

It was beautiful and delicious.

The last time we had a stuffed zucchini blossom was on a cruise in the Eastern Mediterranean on the island of Rhodes. We walked ashore for a tour that involved cooking at a fish restaurant. Stuffed zucchini blossoms were one of the dishes we prepared.

Tonight's appetizer brought back some nice memories.

We went on to have crab dip for second appetizer. Accompanying the dip was a small salad which included fennel, apple and celery. It was
delicious. We asked for extra crostini.

During the meal we chatted with Mieka, the General Manager. I said the restaurant had the feel of a European country restaurant. At the same time it has the freshness of a new building and the space of Western Canada around the restaurant.

We said we hoped they would consider a tasting menu. Mieka said they have done it on one occasion and may do it again.

For the main course we had a ribeye steak for two that had been dry aged for 38 days. We appreciated that it was pre-sliced.

There was a black garlic aoli sauce for dipping the steak. It was a great match.

To the side of the steak were "maple balsamic dressed greens with soy nuts".

In the bowl were truffle fries. Sharon loved them.

For dessert we had deconstructed
Black Forest cake. The presentation was striking. I thought the cherries were the best.

As we were eating I thought of another rural Saskatchewan restaurant, Rawhide's which is down in Stenen. Both are located in the country. Each features fine food expanding the choices for dining outside Saskatchewan's major cities.

Sharon and I had previously enjoyed a meal Chef Michael Brownlee had prepared at Creekside Orchard in Melfort. He told the diners of his dreams for what has become Mabel Hill. He has succeeded brilliantly.

Sharon and I had a special evening.


18 comments:

  1. Congratulations to both of you and thanks for sharing your memories and the details of your lovely evening. The meal sounds wonderful!

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    1. Thank you for the kind words Ilonka. It was a meal to remember.

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  2. Congratulations, Bill. What a wonderful dinner and you both look great. And happy.

    You beat us to your fortieth anniversary by 5 months. Glen and I will celebrate our 40th year of marriage on January 19th, 2020. (And I will retire one month earlier in December.)

    I wish you many more years of happiness together.

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    1. TracyK: Thanks for the lovely words and congratulations to you and Glen. I hope you have a great anniversary and many more. Maybe you can put up a celebratory post. And best wishes on retirement.

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  3. Congratulations, Bill, to both of you! And here's to many more years! It sounds as though you had a lovely, delicious dinner, and I'm glad you enjoyed it. All the best to both of you.

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    1. Margot: Thanks for the good wishes. It was the night we hoped it would be for us.

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  4. Yummy! And more importantly: Congratulations!

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    1. Thanks the kind words Christophe. "Yummy" is most apt.

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  5. Congratulations, Bill & Sharon! 40 years is a wonderful achievement and I'm glad you could mark it in a memorable way.

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    1. Debbie: Thanks for the congratulations. We had a supper we will remember.

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  6. Many congratulations to you both. What a fantastic achievement and a lovely celebration. Thanks for sharing with us. You have a nine year head-start on me and my better half!

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    1. Col: Thanks for the kind words. All the best to you and your wife as you journey on together.

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  7. I am so glad you shared that with us! it sounds like a fabulous evening for a fabulous couple - what a lovely photo. Congratulations!

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    1. Moira: Thanks for the kind words. And we picked up Sharon's hat at a store just before going to supper. It seemed just right for her outfit and she was doubly happy as it was a real bargain.

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  8. Congratulations on yur 40 years of marital bliss. These days it is rare to see marriages last a long time, but you two obviously know the secret.

    Hope the granddaughter is thriving, too.

    Best wishes for many more good years together.

    And I have never seen nor eaten stuffed zucchini blossoms. Sounds divine.

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    1. Kathy D.: Thanks for the comment.

      We have, as with every couple, had our challenges over the years.

      I guess I have not blogged that we have a second granddaughter, Hazel. We will be seeing her for a second time in a week.

      I hope you get a chance to try stuffed zucchini blossoms. I believe you would enjoy them.

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  9. Congratulations on your second granddaughter. Is she Hannah's sister?

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    1. Kathy D.: Thanks for the congratulations. You are correct. Hannah and Hazel are sisters. Our son has already given Hazel a nickname. She is Hazy.

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