Monday, October 31, 2011

CARVING of the PUMPKINS


Burtons love pumpkin carving.  We try to do it every year.  We get our pumpkins early to be sure we have at least a fighting chance.    Last October we settled for self sticking felt for eyes and a mouth, no carving, no candles.  Work first, candy celebrations second.  This year we were done in time to go full out.  The seeds were toasted, two full size pumpkins were nestled and wrestled until they came out Jack-O-Lanterns.  The usual help from google and 'voila'.  Burtonia is open for Halloween business.   AB
Boo


Tuesday, October 18, 2011

SMOOCHING of the POOCHES


Burtonia has become and canine senior centre of sorts. You know a Burton you know we love dogs. Especially the two ridiculous mutts that live full time in Burtonia. 
Allison's dog: a fourteen year old chorkie and Mike's dog: a eleven year old super wiener-terrier.  Ying and Yang.  They couldn't have less in common.

The chorkie has been with us for our entire Burton adventure.  He came along just a few weeks after Mike did.  All three of us started our life together in a second storey walk up apartment downtown.  He watched Burton & Burton fall in love, decide what to do when we grew up and complete our post secondary educations.  He is the greatest boyfriend a girl could have.  Always at my side.  Good as gold. 

The wiener-terrier was an impulse buy.  We drove to farm in Stratford determined to get a wiener / something puppy.  In a barn stall there were a pile of the strangest looking dogs I've ever seen.  Of course we selected the craziest to call our own.  Due to an aversion to going home empty handed, he resides in Burtonia.  Live and learn.  In his decade he has consumed: coats, boots and shoes (leather preferred), my underpants, a toad, a wide variety of stolen human food and garbage, two mice and a few things that are truly to disgusting to list.  He finally learned to "go" outside at age four.  One year later than what I understand to be the average age for toddler potty training.

We can barely remember a time that they weren't both underfoot and warming hearts.  I can't believe they won't be here forever.  The trials of raising a young dog are long gone and replaced with efforts to keep them comfortable and healthy. 

One has some mystery lumps, the other not as many teeth as he used to.  They both have arthritis and are gray in the face.  Every day is a gift.  AB

CRUNCHING of the LEAVES


Burtons annual leaf experience.  Check.  We salute the summer, prepare for the winter and savour the short time left in between.  We have set our yearly over / under bets on the date of first snowfall so nothing left to do but wait.  We have never been called traditional but have so many traditions of our very own.  AB

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

GIVING of the THANKS

There are few things that make Mike happier than the holiday turkey.

the life cycle of a Burton holiday turkey

Not any old turkey, the holiday turkey.

Many turkeys see that last of their useful life in Burtonia.  We make turkey on the regular and most are quite irregular. Most are "utility" turkeys; missing a wing or a leg or the skin. Mike has a gift for finding them on sale on sale - the record is $0.61 per pound. We are not talking about those mundane and average turkey times.  If you know Burtonia you know a regularly irregular slab of meat wouldn't warrant much chatter.

We are talking about a holiday turkey. The real deal. The few times each year that call for a full price fancy turkey sporting all appendages.  A turkey that requires its own shelf in the fridge.  A turkey that weighs more than a kid in grade two.  A turkey you can show your friends and take pride in.  A turkey with pomp, circumstance and puffy breasted ego.  The kind of turkey that makes a statement.  I am turkey and I am here.  Behold me.

Break out the good meat thermometer and melt a stick of butter.  Thanksgiving is finally here.  AB