Winter Carnival 2010

The top two Ice Ball teams from the North Pole League played an exciting championship game on the Arctic ice floe behind the church. As part of the “Beat the Blues” Winter Carnival, the Seals and Walruses played a somewhat confusing but action-packed game.
On the field pitching was Eskimo Bob and providing rides around the bases, more or less, were the Polar Bears including: Grizzly Graham, Jumping Jerry, Dirty Dan the Polar Bear Man, Arctic Alex, and Mama Bear Lily. Official score keeper was Nanook of the North, AKA Vanessa.

The championship game was called when all players buried Dirty Dan the Polar Bear Man in the snow. Final score: Walruses, 6 runs (scored by Thomas, Laura, Brandon and Adrian) and Seals, 3 runs (scored by Jenaya and Breanna who kept wanting to swim away after each hit). Longest hit of the game was by Walrus Randy; too bad he couldn’t catch a Polar that would run to first base.

Reporting from the ice floe in Burtts Corner, Eskimo Bob reminds you, “Never eat yellow snow!”

Submitted by Eskimo Bob

The Great Coke/Pepsi Taste Test Challenge

Internationally renowned beverage tasteacologist Bob Kierstead conducted his famous Coke/Pepsi Taste Test challenge during the “Beat the Blues” Winter Carnival. To ensure the absolute integrity of the proceedings, church musicologist Miriam Pugh monitored the beverages throughout the taste testing.

Tasteacologist Bob informed the large crowd of boys, girls, men and women participating that in 25 years of conducting the Coke/Pepsi taste test challenge, nobody had been successful. Taking a break from teaching the world to sing in perfect harmony, Grizzly Graham Crandall was heard to boast that the 25 year record was about to be broken. “Not likely,” Bob was heard to reply.

Well, the taste-testers tasted tenaciously and one by one, they fell to defeat. Dejected and faced with the realization that the longstanding record might not be broken in Burtts Corner that day, the crowd demanded that the process be changed. Refused by both Tasteacologist Bob and Musicologist Miriam, the tasters resumed tasting and the list of defeated tasters grew longer.

Then, to the absolute shock of Tasteacologist Bob, the 25 year record was broken first by eleven-year-old Jenaya Pugh, and then by Ann Martin. The crowd wondered if this could be the real thing. When Grizzly Graham stepped up to the taste stand, he boasted that the day would go down in tasteacology history, predicting his own success. And so it happened on that eventful day, that the 25 year record was broken a third time. Grizzly Graham immediately and successfully identified Pepsi—leaving everyone to wonder how a self-professed Coke-lover could recognize the taste of Pepsi so quickly….

The day ended with three successful tasters promising to return next year to defend their title. Meanwhile Tasteacologist Bob has gone back to his laboratory to fine-tune his testing procedure. As he skulked out of sight, he was heard to mutter, “Coke is it…. Well, ya won’t beat ‘it’ next year!”

Submitted by Tasteacologist Bob

Many crafts and laughs awaited those who wandered into the Blue Skies room during the “Beat the Blues” Winter Carnival. With assistance from Pompom Pam, Magnetic Melanie, Scissor-Happy Celinda, Art Fairy Ariel, Becky Gluestick, Joking Joe and Tara the Craft Pro, crafters cut and bejewelled snowflakes, assembled candle-holders, dressed snowmen, and carefully arranged collages of winter scenes. The greater Burtts Corner area must have some beautifully adorned refrigerators with all the fun foam, construction paper, and baby food jar masterpieces produced that day.

One unembellished fridge sits plain and lonely at the top of Tripp Settlement Road, in the Egers kitchen. Poor Tom lasted only a short time in the fumes of glue and glitter. When encouraged to stick it out and create a craft, he claimed that of all the crafty folks in his family, he was not one of them and he quickly vanished. He was last seen seeking solace in a steaming bowl of soup….

Submitted by Scissor-Happy Celinda

What’s better then a free Winter Carnival hosted by your friends and family? That’s right; free food! Say what you like about BCCC but you can’t deny that we have some good cooks! If you weren’t there let me tell you what you missed out on.

The basement kitchen was a flurry of action (no pun intended!) with Kenn making delicious turkey soup to go with the hot cider and home-made hot chocolate. We had many people coming back for seconds and even those who were unable to attend were placing orders via telephone. And the rolls! I won’t tell you how many I ate but let’s just say that I wasn’t the only one over eating. There is nothing like eating a home-made dinner while spending time with friends and family.

Around 3:30 the kitchen became even more crowded when the competitors in the maple food competition began to prepare their plates. There was everything from ribs to cookies to cupcakes, all with maple in them somewhere. Finally when everyone was ready the dishes were given to the judges who began to dig in while the rest of us watched with our mouths watering. Though all of the entries were yummy Barb Hong snagged first place with her maple ribs with Adam Hanson as a close second. If you want recipes I’m sure that the competitors (which include Becky Dunn, Celinda Crandall, Adam Hanson, Barb Hong and a Mystery Contestant) would be willing to give them, unless of course they are planning to use them to win next year!

Thank you to everyone who helped with the Winter Carnival and especially to those who lent a hand in the kitchen. I know I speak for everyone when I say “How long until the next one?”

Submitted by Jade Hong