HEEFS October 2017 Newsletter
/We Have So Much To Be Thankful For!
Everyday is a holiday at Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary but some days are like a week of holidays rolled into one. That's how we feel every October when we host our annual Thanksliving Day event.
This year we had almost 200 people join us from over the world! Guests of all ages enjoyed the day that started with a tour of the Sanctuary and ended with an incredible meal that featured over 10 delicious, freshly prepared items including Caesar Salad, Root Harvest Salad with Black Rice, Cauliflower Alfredo over Penne Pasta, Mushroom Cerviche and Italian Bella Meatballs along with freshly made brick over pizzas, plus cheezcake and cupcakes for dessert!
The event began months before the first pumpkins ever arrived on the scene as we planned out the day including the entertainment, the menu, seating for dinner and the decorations. Nothing was left to chance because we wanted the day to be as wonderful and perfect as the thousands of amazing people we have supporting us all year long.
Throughout the day, guests mingled, checked out the silent auction items, listened to live music and looked on as each resident was fed their special Thanksliving feast.
Special thanks go out to all of the amazing farms who grew the fresh produce that we used to prepare our dishes. Thank you to Allison's Farm Market in Georgetown for the fresh-picked corn and tomatoes, Andrews Scenic Acres for the fresly pressed cider, Atkinson's Farms for freshly picked beets and the Georgetown Farmers Market vendors for all of the other freshly picked produce.
Check out all of the pictures from our 2017 Thanksliving event on the Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary Facebook page!
Always In Our Hearts
One of the hardest things about having a sanctuary is saying goodbye to our residents when it's their time. Some residents are with us for years...others for weeks, but they each have their own permanent spot in our hearts.
Our residents come to us because they have been abused, discarded, and unwanted. We know that when they come to us, they are often in a horrible physical and mental state, and our goal is to show them love for the very first time.
We had been struggling to find the best possible way to celebrate the lives of our friends like Bear, William, and Dot, and we know that you'll agree that we found the perfect solution. To honour the residents that have come, and sadly gone, we have created a special place at Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary that we call Memorial Trail. This trail has been foraged through the Enchanted Forest, and is marked, for each resident that has left us, with an engraved rock from our own property. It is a place of peace and remembrance, and a place where our visitors can share in their own memories of those we have lost.
Along this trail you will find a quiet, but happy spot, nestled among trees and moss-covered rocks where you can sit on benches, generously donated in memory of our past residents, and enjoy a moment of silence.
Memorial Trail was officially opened to the public at this year's Thanksliving Event. It was the perfect way to say "thank you" for all the love and joy we get each and every day from every animal that makes HEEFS their home.
Get To Know . . . Captain Dan!
Our floppy-eared Captain Dan is often referred to as the Hunky Barn Pig (HBP) by a certain diva pig, and we couldn't agree more.
Our handsome Dan was born in 2011 and came to live at HEEFS in 2014 when a failing sanctuary near Quebec surrendered him along with his friends, Bear, Bobbie and Len.
Dan, a Yorkshire pig, is currently our biggest pig weighing in at 750 pounds. But he's a gentle giant and is always happy to greet visitors at the fence and treating them to a shake of his floppy ears.
Never one to turn down a piece of his favourite watermelon, our Captain Dan is fond of most foods including the special pumpkin he got to enjoy at our Thanksliving event.
We Thought You Might Like . . . .
A rose gold angel pig necklace
It's never too early to start your holiday shopping! This angel piggy pendant necklace, is the perfect piece of luxury fashion jewellery at an affordable price! It is made of copper-tone base metal alloy, set with rhinestone.
Pendant measures 1.25 inch in length, 0.75 inch in width. Chain measures 18 inch in length. Lobster claw clasp.
You can get this beautiful necklace, and find a whole lot more Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary items, at the HEEFS Store
Try This Today!
Scary Face Pancakes
Makes 5 pancakes
Ingredients
1-1/2 cups (375ml) Bisquick
1 tablespoon (15ml) maple syrup
1 teaspoon (5ml) baking powder
1/2 teaspoon (2ml) vanilla extract
3/4 cup (180ml) unsweetened non-dairy plant milk (almond milk was used)
Instructions
1. Add all pancake ingredients into a mixing bowl. Whisk until smooth. Let the batter sit while the griddle or a sauté pan is heating to medium high heat. Spray the pan or griddle with cooking spray.
2. Pour 1/4 cup (60ml) of the batter for each pancake. Cook the first side until you no longer see bubbles popping, about 2 minutes. Flip the pancake and cook for an additional 1-1/2 to 2 minutes.
3. Place your pancakes on serving plates. Cut any lower "jaws" off with a paring knife. Let your kids make their scary faces using Raspberry preserves, sliced bananas, mini Oreos, non-dairy chocolate chips, sliced almonds, non-dairy whipped cream. Serve with maple syrup.
Find more delicious recipes at Esther's Kitchen
Gone But Forever In Our Hearts
We've added a new In Memoriam page to the Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary website. On this page we will forever remember and honour the amazing residents whose time at HEEFS has passed.
