HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-12-20, Page 35Wednesday, December 20, 2006
TIMES -ADVOCATE
35
Taking birdhouses to
another level in Kirkton
By Nina Van Lieshout
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
KIRKTON — It's been eight
years since Kirkton resident Dave
Dawe first discovered his passion,
a hobby—turned—business, or a
"hobby out of control" that he says
comes so naturally.
One night, years
ago, Dawe was sit-
ting by a fire with
his wife, Sandy,
when he noticed a
burning log that had
taken on an unusual
shape, something
he'd never wit-
nessed before.
Dawe immediately kicked the
log out of the fire and got to work,
turning what was once just a log
into something much more — a
birdhouse carved out of a chain-
saw.
Eight years have come and
gone, thousands of birdhouses
have been carved and Dawe shows
no signs of stopping, carving any-
thing and everything that comes to
mind.
"There's a piece in every wood,
you just need to see it," says
Dawe.
Dawe works mostly with cedar,
which is his favourite because it's
the lightest and stands up the best.
Scots pine wood is also another
favourite.
Dawe says all pieces are carved
"with a chainsaw and are origi-
nal."
His most prized possession,
which took Dawe the longest to
carve is his wizard, "Gandalf."
The largest birdhouse Dawe has
ever carved was "Twenty-two feet
and had five birdhouses
in it." It's in
Sebringville.
Other pieces carved
by Dawe have included
his German shepherd's
doghouse, clocks,
planters, tables and
more, most which can
be found around the
yard of his business, "A
little Bit of Country."
It is run out of his home on
Union Line, outside of Kirkton.
Also found on the property are
carved rocks. Bottles are found
inside, something Dawe also sells.
Dawe is just as excited about his
passion now as he was eight years
ago, hoping one day to host a "one
man, one of a kind craft show."
Dawe is just as
excited about his
passion now, as he
was eight years ago,
hoping one day to
host a "one man, one
of a kind craft show?'
Unique Kirkton birdhouses —
Kirkton resident Dave Dawe has
found an original way of carving
birdhouses into all shapes and
sizes.Above, Dawe stands recently
with his favourite, a wizard he calls
"Gandalf."(photo/Nina Van Lieshout)
Holiday kitchen: make
party morsels that melt
in their mouth
(NC)—Only the richest of butters is acceptable when it
comes to our expectations of holiday shortbread. In
fact, the taste of premium butter is so important to
party baking, all lesser substitutes inevitably fail. Here
is a buttery hors d'oeuvres recipe with rich cheese and
tangy sour cream:
Stained Glass Cookies
2cups (500 ml) Gay Lea butter, unsalted and softened
1 cup (250 ml) fruit or granulated sugar
1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
3 cups (750 nil) all-purpose flour
1 cup (250 ml) cornstarch or rice flour 1 tsp (5 ml) salt
1 50g -package hard candies, different colours
Using electric mixer, beat butter until very creamy.
Gradually beat in sugar, beating until very light and
fluffy. Beat in vanilla.
In separate bowl, combine flour, cornstarch and salt.
In four additions, using a wooden spoon, stir flour mix-
ture into butter mixture, stirring well between each
addition. Transfer dough to floured surface; knead gen-
tly for 3 minutes until shortbread holds together well.
Divide into three balls. Wrap each ball with plastic
wrap; flatten into discs and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Remove plastic wrap from one piece of dough. Flour
work surface well and knead dough lightly for 30 sec-
onds. Re -flour surface and top of dough. Roll out dough
until 1/4" (5 mm) thick, constantly rotating to make
sure it's not sticking to the surface and lightly dusting
the top of the dough with flour. Cut out shapes, using a
cookie cutter. Makes 4-1/2 dozen cookies.
Using small pastry tips, cookie cutters, tips of drinking
straws or hors d'oeuvres cutters, cut out small holes or
shapes in cookies. Transfer to parchment -paper lined
cookie sheets. Chill for 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.
Bake for 5 minutes in preheated 325F (160C) oven.
Meanwhile, crush hard candies, keeping colours sep-
arate. Spoon candy lightly into prepared holes. Bake for
10 to 15 minutes or until dough is firm, underside is
golden and candy is melted. Cool on pan on racks.
To use these as ornaments or as part of
a garland, cut out hole in top of cook-
ie - before baking - using drinking
straw. Upon removal from oven,
make sure hole is large enough to
draw string through. Let cool
completely before hanging.
All of us at D&D Glass & Mirror, your authorized Andersen® Windows & Patio Door Dealer.
Thank You for your business the past year. We're looking forward to serving you in 2007.
From all of us at D&D Glass L -R John MacLennan, Toby Killby, 'Fergie' Ferguson,
Marg Miller, Dave Miller, Trudy MacDonald, Shawn Yenssen
Thankyou
we've enjoyed meeting you!
...and thank you for your kind
comments on our 2006 Christmas
entries. We've enjoyed participating in
Huron County's Santa Claus Parades.
See you next yeat44
Christmas Holidays!
We will be
CLOSED
starting Friday, Dec. 22 at 12 noon
Re -Opening Tuesday, Jan. 2
LONG LIVE THE HOMET" Andersen
D GLASS
ANDERSEN®
Excellences"`
DEALER
o_
DAND MIRROR
1st Avenue, VANASTRA
LOCAL CALLS IF BUSY CALL
482-7869 482-5816
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