Set the Table - July 1st to July 4th

Set the Table - July 1st to July 4th

The July 1st and July 4th holidays are fast approaching.

We are expecting our friends from the United States to visit over the holiday.

Our table is set as a nod to both the Canadian and American July holidays.

Some of the place settings are Red, White, and Blue.

While other place settings are Red and White.

See how we folded our napkins here: THREE FAVOURITE SUMMER NAPKINS

There are three common elements in each place setting - Red Napkins, Red Poppy plates, and Red tumblers.

The centrepiece sports flags from both countries.  There are no flags or patriotic references anywhere else on the table.

The centrepieces were made using large, empty coffee cans.  See how we did it  HERE

Unfortunately, when we were shooting this table it was threatening to rain.  It would have been nice to see the sunshine.

 Happy Canada Day and Happy Independence Day 

A List of Elements

Round White Tablecloth, AmazonRound White Tablecloth

Red and Blue Placemats, Bed, Bath and Beyond

White Plates, Antique Scroll, Pier 1 Imports
Blue and White Gingham plates by Royal Stafford, Home Sense
Red Poppy Salad Plates by Royal Stafford, Home Sense
Red Napkins by Stitch & Shuttle, Sears

4" x 6" American Flags, Amazon Flags
4" x 6" Canadian Flags, Dollarama
Drink Bottle Caddy, Pier 1 Imports
Cutlery, Bombay Co.

Thanks for stopping by.

Barbara

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Fair Meadow Place Bookshelf - I Stand for Canada

Fair Meadow Place Bookshelf is a new feature.

Once in awhile, I will review a book that I really like.

I Stand for Canada by Rick Archbold

Please know that some of the links in this post are Affiliate Links.  This allows me to make a small commission if you purchase something, but your price will stay the same. Thank you so much for helping to support this blog!
My Disclosure Policy is at the bottom of this post.

Before long it will be July 1st and this year Canada is celebrating it's 

150th Birthday.

Happy Birthday Canada!!!

That is the reason I wanted to feature I Stand For Canada as my first book review.

You see, this is a book about the story behind our Canadian flag.

We start in 1963 when the Liberal Party led by Lester B. Pearson won the federal election.  

The story really started before that, but for our purposes, we will say 1963.

It was Mr Pearson's hope that Parliament could agree on a unique flag for Canada.

Canada's 100th Birthday was coming up in 1967.

Canada's unofficial flag, at that time, was the British flag, the Union Jack.

Above Left is the Union Jack and also Left and below the Jack is the Red Ensign which included the Union Jack and the Canadian Coat of Arms
On the Right are the various Ensigns from other countries around the world who also included the Union Jack on their flags.

Finding a flag for Canada wasn't going to be easy.  

Canada's former Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party, the Honourable John Diefenbaker, sat in opposition to Prime Minister Pearson and the Liberals in the House of Commons. 

Mr Diefenbaker wanted no part of any flag for Canada other than the Red Ensign or the Union Jack.

Union Jack

Red Ensign

......and that's when the trouble started.

But first, it probably helps to understand some of the histories behind Canada's story.  At the time of the great flag debate, it was considered that Canada had two founding nations, France and Great Britain.  

Really there were three founding nations, the first being the Aboriginal peoples while the others came along later and claimed to be founders.  In those days we heard very little of the Aboriginal people's contributions.

Canada was first claimed by France and then later on the British stopped by also claiming ownership.  France and Britain were always at war back then and so then was Canada.

When it came to the flag debate of the 1960's French Canadians were not partial to the Union Jack, but rather the Fleur-de-lys was the pennant of choice.

Fleur-de-lys

By 1964 there were a growing number of Canadians, 25%, who traced their origins to neither France nor Britain.


P.M. Pearson was leaning toward what came to be known as The Pearson Pennant.

Three Sugar Maple leaves conjoined on one stem on a white ground flanked by blue bars.

The Pearson Pennant

The three maple leaves were representative of the Canadian component of Canada's Shield and the central element of the Canadian Coat of Arms.

The blue bars represented "from sea to sea".


P.M. Pearson, ever the diplomat, opted for a design that included none of the traditional symbols such as the Union Jack or Fleur-de-lys.

He wanted a design that would offend the fewest and be accepted by the most.

I wonder, did he know that no sugar maple trees grow in western Canada.

The Maple Leaf

As it turns out the maple leaf has been a symbol for Canada since before Confederation in 1867.

Canadian regiments have worn maple leaf pins on their uniforms while overseas.

This was to distinguish them from other regiments also serving under Great Britain.

During WW1 Canadians serving overseas were called "Maple Leafs" by the other troops because of the maple leafs on their uniforms.

The Canadian Coat of Arms also has three maple leaves as an integral part of its design.

By the 1900's most Canadian athletes had adopted the maple leaf as the badge they wore when competing internationally.

There are many examples of Canada's association with the maple leaf.

Back to the Flag Debate

There are so many really good quotes in this book.

 P.M. Pearson rose in the House of Commons to address Parliament in June 1964. 

"Mr Speaker,it is for this generation, for this Parliament, to give them and to give us all a common flag; a Canadian flag which, while bringing together but rising above the landmarks and milestones of the past, will say proudly to the world and to the future:  'I stand for Canada'."

A Flag Committee was brought together consisting of 14 men and 1 woman, all members of parliament.

It was the committee's task to choose a flag for Canada and then present it to the House of Commons where it would be put to a vote.

There were nearly six thousand flag designs submitted from artists and citizens alike.

Many of the designs featured Union Jacks, Fleur-de-lys, beaver including one wearing a mountie uniform.  There were Canada geese, grizzly bears, moose, salmon, bison, and caribou.  The North Star was also popular and so was the cross.  One design featured crossed red hockey sticks and a single hockey puck.

The committee must have been blurry-eyed sorting through all of the designs submitted.  The renditions of flags were plastered over the walls and ceiling of the committee meeting room.

Irish President Eamon de Valera to Lester Pearson in the Spring of 1964.

"I don't think, young man, you're going to win this parliamentary struggle.  It is not possible to legislate as a flag design that has no significance and no tradition attached to it.  To get a flag accepted, you have to have blood on it; you have to have waved it fighting somebody.  That's how our flag became accepted.  It was a badge of revolution; it was a badge of victory against our oppressors.  You know what you ought to do, you really ought to take your flag down to the American border...and get some of your friends on the other side to take some shots at it, and if you can get somebody mildly wounded, that will make all the difference.  It will be a hallowed emblem of your independence from the United States."

Hmm.  What would the Americans think?  

The committee worked for weeks and heard any number of witnesses testify.

Just 19 of the flag designs considered from nearly 6000.


Finally, a design was decided upon by the committee, but it still had to pass in Parliament.

The debate raged on into December and on December 15, 1964, the motion passed 163 to 78.

Canada's flag was born.

Thanks to P.M. Pearson, the Flag Committee, and members of Parliament Canada has its own flag.

We have a flag that is unique.  There is no other like it the world over.
It is recognised everywhere.  Everyone knows what country it belongs to and the principles and beliefs for which it stands.

Canadians expressed solidarity with American neighbours after Sept. 11, 2001, by flying the two countries' flags side by side.  A massive rally was held on Parliament Hill on the international day of mourning for all who had died in terrorist attacks.

In the book, there are many things that make me smile as I remember how we were in the 1960's.  I was a young teenager in high school.  The flag debate seemed to go on forever.  I wondered if it would never end.

The book is a documentation of Canada in the 1960's and goes back further to reveal how we became the Canada we are today.   There are many interesting facts in the book.  
Canada is a work in progress.  We are still growing and developing.

I Stand for Canada has been written with a humorous pride of country.



Thanks for stopping by.

Barbara

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Deliciously Perfect Dessert for July 1st to July 4th Celebrations

Deliciously Perfect Dessert 

July 1st to July 4th Celebrations

There will be a number of celebrations soon including Canada Day and Independence Day.

Cherry Tarts

Cherry Tarts with small embellishments seem to be a good dessert choice for the flag-waving days ahead.  We look forward to celebrating summer and our country.

They are very simple to make and if you choose to use frozen pastry and canned cherry pie filling the prep time will be cut way down.

When I make tarts I usually make my own pastry.  I just like the way it tastes as well as its texture.

However; if I am in a hurry I sometimes buy pastry in the frozen food section.

Double Crust Pastry Recipe

2 3/4 C All-purpose flour                           1 large egg

1/2 tsp salt                                              1 tbsp.. white vinegar

2/3 C Vegetable shortening, cold                Ice water

1/3 C butter, cold

In a large bowl combine flour and salt.  With a pastry blender cut in the shortening and butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal.

In a glass measuring cup beat the egg and vinegar with a fork.  Add enough ice water to measure 1/2C + 1 tablespoon of egg, vinegar, and water mixture. Mix well.

Drizzle the egg mixture over the flour mixture a little at a time.  Mix with a fork.  Continue adding the egg mixture and mixing until the dough is evenly moist and holds together when gently pressed between fingers.

Divide dough into two equal parts and make a flat disc with each portion.  Wrap each portion with waxed paper or plastic wrap and chill for a minimum of 30 minutes.

Roll out on a slightly floured surface to a thickness of 1/8" thickness.

Using a round cookie cutter (4") cut circles for the bottoms of the tarts and place in a muffin tin.  Gather the leftover pastry and re-roll.  Using Star and Maple Leaf cookie cutters cut out the tops of the tarts.

Cherry Pie Filling

I use a can of prepared cherry pie filling and add:

1/2 tsp. Almond extract

1 tsp grated lemon rind

Mix together with the pie filling.  Fill the tart shells with the filling to 2/3 full.  Place either a star or maple leaf on top of each tart.

Brush a wash of milk on top of the tarts.  Sprinkle some granulated sugar over top and bake.
Bake 25 minutes at 375 degrees.

I like them slightly overfilled so that the filling runs down the side a bit.

Enjoy!!

Thanks for stopping by

Barbara

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