Piping Hot Chili - Art at the Sawmill

Kelli Mcrobert | Oct 25, 2023

I love the Fall!

Cooler nights, the crispness in the air, and the beautiful leaves as they transition between orange, red, yellow, and gold. Our roadways spoil us as we travel through patchworks of brilliant blends, pops of colour that are the envy of many southern towns. As we headed south to Verona, the rain had stopped, and we were eagerly awaiting a hot chili lunch that was being offered by the Trinity United Church. The volunteers had a well laid out room and the entrance fee was food for the Trinity Food Sharing Cupboard or cash, your choice. The tables were decorated with pumpkins, leaves, and other brilliantly coloured runners, and you could opt for a ‘meat’ or ‘vegetarian’ chili, and a soft white bun with butter.

As Sheila ladled out the piping hot chili, the bag pipes could be heard as they played nearby. The theme was ‘piping’ hot, hence the bagpipes as they played traditional tunes to entertain guests as they slurped and chatted at nearby tables. Coffee, tea, juice, water, and dessert rounded out the offering, and a steady stream of hungry visitors came and went over the 2-hour period. Once we had sated our yen, we walked over to Art at the Sawmill, located just behind where over 30 vendors lined the venue both indoors and out.

We grabbed a warm cuppa’ Joe and began to wander amongst the artisanal blend of crafters, creators, and designers. It was fun to see a few returning artists, and the outside was packed with tents hosting a few new faces. I again was drawn to some of the more tactile art where it is repurposed and put back together in creative ways. I love the wood, metal, and raw materials and had fun capturing new angles and a quirky image of my hubby (less than impressed with my vision) through rusted art. As we rounded the back bend, I met up with Kaye Traynor from K’s Kottage, who I had seen at a few previous events. Her hand made puppets draw me in every time. It brings me back to the days of Mr. Dressup, as he opened his Tickle Trunk and showed me that anything was possible with a little imagination.

We chatted about how Ernie Coombs (Mr. Dressup) had inspired her creativity as she was drawn into the world of Casey and Finnegan, as they shared their antics from the large treehouse weekday mornings on television. The craft corner exposed many to the idea of creating, designing, and drawing where there were no limits to the use of paper, scissors, and glue. If you get a chance to see the documentary on Ernie, it is well worth the watch as his story unfolds over decades and his influence on children’s television is still admired today. Bring a tissue as Director Robert McCallum takes you through the life of this, now Canadian, Icon.

As the weather started to turn, and rain was on the horizon, a few families and ladies with arms filled with bags and boxes headed to their cars. Visitors had been warned that it may get moist, so raincoats and boots were recommended by the host. Tents protected the vendors, and the acoustic guitar continued to play, as the fire pit kept us warm as we listened to popular tunes, with a variety of genres.

To round out the day, we popped over to Food Less Traveled where they were ‘reducing their inventory’ of ice cream as the season was winding down. We had tried a few times to pop in over the past week, and for some reason the timings never seemed to work out. There was still a pretty good selection of flavours remaining and the deal was to buy one, get one ½ price, and the third was free. So, one vanilla shake, one maple walnut to go, and hubby opted for an interesting orange/pineapple shake. As we waited, patrons strolled about the shop, local meat, baked goods, and various foods were being ordered as families prepared for an evening feast. I eagerly awaited my milkshake as it had been years since I had last had one. The lovely lady, loaded the machine, stainless steel cup at the ready….you can hear the whirl as the blades spun the delicious treat. All of a sudden…..glunk…..and the cup explodes with a frothy shower of deliciousness across her face, glasses and front…..we try to contain our laughter as she looks with shock as the vanilla, drips down her lenses. Take two. Shakes made and we are out the door heading home for a little yard work.

What a perfect day in South Frontenac. We are fortunate to have so many local events to participate in. Some weekends, it hard to choose just one. We look forward to next year’s happening at the Saw Mill, and well done to the Trinity Church who raised over $300.00 and numerous pounds of food to support local residents.

And to the Food Less Traveled… glad we could help take some ice cream off your hands! Yummy.

Cheers to living in Frontenac County, and all the treasures it has to offer!