November 2017 News

Scribbles by Shirley

Our Fall season was filled with great food, music and visitors. The Fall colours were late and more muted this season and now the leaves have fallen, ready to glisten with snow and ice crystals. 

Fulton's is honoured again to be listed as the oldest family business in the Ottawa Business Journal. The list includes 20 fantastic area businesses who have given back to the community for generations. Please support these family businesses. 

Christmas planning is in the air. Our family name exchange will happen, then the fun of choosing the perfect (inexpensive or re-gifted) gift for each other. Candy making and syrup packing are underway for Christmas orders and for availability at Cedar Hill Christmas Tree Farm (opening November 12). 

It's exciting to have daughter Pamela,  her husband Grant and their boys preparing to open for their second Christmas season at the Tree Farm. I have been lucky to maintain my position as official greeter and look forward to seeing everyone again this year.

Don't miss the Holiday Street Market happening the evening of November 16 in Almonte. Both Fulton's and the Cedar Hill Christmas Tree Farm will have booths set up in front of Vamos. Yummy, sticky maple taffy, delicious maple products and Christmas wreaths. Follow the aroma to the maple taffy and evergreen boughs!

Another pre-Christmas celebration is the 'Peak at Pakenham' musical comedy written by our very own Fern Martin. Come out and learn historical (and hysterical) facts with Fern's twist of valley humour. More info below under Upcoming Local Events. 

As you know we love celebrating, and we are so very delighted to celebrate RaeAnn being a first time Grandmother. Our COO (Chief Organizing Officer)  may be better known now as CGC (Chief Grandma Cuddler). Congratulations to Matthew and Jaime on the birth of their beautiful baby daughter, Annika. 

Time to start my Christmas list; I want to get it to Santa early this year. Last year he ran out of a few things on my list! 

Sweet maple wishes to you,

Shirley Fulton-Deugo

4th Generation Owner

Cedar Hill Christmas Tree Farm

Visit to Spa Fairmont

Le Château Montebello 

Recipe of the Month

Cheesy Maple Mashed Potatoes

With dropping temperatures signalling that Fall is finally here, it's time for comfort food! We have chosen just that for the Recipe of the Month. Delicious Cheesy Maple Mashed Potatoes, perfect for a family meal. We are pretty sure the leftovers will be tasty as well, assuming there are any! Pick up some Pure Organic Fulton's Maple Syrup on Tuesdays or Thursdays in our Maple Shoppe, or order online and have it shipped directly to your door. 

Making Maple Sugar Candy!

Brenda has been busy in the kitchen making Sugar Candy. First she heats Pure Organic Fulton's Maple Syrup to the magic temperature. Then she pours the hot syrup into the hopper (affectionately known as 'the pig')  to move the the hot syrup around, which facilitates crystallization and  helps to turns it into yummy candy.  She turns the tap on and positions the trays of candy molds under the spout so that they get filled just to the right level. Then the candy needs some time to harden in the molds. After that the candy is dipped into another layer of syrup to 'crystal coat' it and is dried by hand with special cloths. It is then left on wire racks to air-dry completely before it is placed carefully into packages. It is sold in our Maple Shoppe and online and is very popular for wedding tokens and conference gifts! Hand-made onsite with love in small batches, just for you! 

Upcoming Local Events

Nov 4-5 - Christmas in the Valley Artisan Show, 10am-4pm, Almonte Arena. Free parking & admission, tearoom provivded by Friends of the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum, and a great quilt door prize! valleyartisanshow.blogspot.ca or find them on Facebook. 

Nov 9- Mississippi Mills Quarterly Business Breakfast, 7am at Cedar Hill Christmas Tree Farm. An opportunity for Mississippi Mills past, present and future business people, to network, ask questions & hear updates. Come hungry, as there will be a delicious pancake breakfast.  Hosted by Mississippi Mills Community Economic & Development Committee. $10 (payable at the door). RSVP by November 6th to tmaclaren@mississippimills.ca or 613-256-1077.

Nov 12 - Dessert, Tea & Gift Basket Auction, 2-4pm at St. Andrew's United Church, Pakenham. Hosted by the Pakenham & District Civitan Club. Tickets are $5 and are available at the door. Many themed baskets to be auctioned off! Full info here. 

Nov 12- Dec 24 - Cedar Hill Christmas Tree Farm is OPEN. Offering pre-cut and cut-your-own trees, hot food and treats, wagon rides, shopping, wreaths and more. www.cedarhillchristmastreefarm.com.

Nov 15-18 - 'A Peak At Pakenham', an hysterical historical musical written by Fern Martin, performed at Almonte's Old Town Hall. Tickets are $20 ($10 for children), available at Baker Bob’s in Almonte, Nicholson’s Sundries in Pakenam and at both Almonte and Pakenham Libraries. Proceeds to support the beautiful renovations of the Pakenham Public Library (openingNovember 7). For more information please contact fernmartin70@gmail.com. 

Nov 16- Holiday Street Market, 5-9pm, Mill Street in Almonte. You can find Fulton's set up in front of Vamos on the main street. 

Dec 1- Light Up the Night, downtown Almonte, 7-11pm. Help light up downtown Almonte during this festive event that draws thousands to Mississippi Mills each year. Head to Mill Street at 7pm and be delighted by a variety of performers providing entertainment for all ages. 

Dec 2- Pakenham Santa Claus Parade, 1-3pm, downtown Pakenham. Don’t miss Santa at the Pakenham Santa Claus Parade! Pack a thermos of hot chocolate and head to downtown Pakenham at 1pm for an old-fashioned, festive parade.

Dec 3- Almonte Santa Claus Parade, 5pm, downtown Almonte. An annual event held the first Sunday of December in the evening. Parade floats make their way from the Almonte and District Community Centre down Bridge Street, on to Mill Street, around the town and back to celebrate the arrival of the holiday season.