L'Arche fundraiser and annual parish sleigh ride

Elena, Nadia, Edward and Vera at the Brophy farm

Bishop Carl seems to be greeting the horses

Charlie Brophy raises money for L'Arche by hosting an annual sleighride

Bishop Carl feeds a chickadee on his hand at the Jack Pine Trail

We saw mostly chickadees, but also a nuthatch and two kinds of woodpecker

Nadia has birds landing on her head and on her hand

Nadia has a bird in the hand!

Vera contemplates the marshmallow she just toasted over an open fire

The trail has a wonderful boardwalk over a frozen swamp

Snow angels!

Years ago, our Sunday school and any adults who wanted to go along, would go to the Brophy farm south of Ottawa for a sleigh ride. Over the years, Charlie Brophy and his wife, decided to bring in a few other horse teams (they own the black horses) and make it into a fundraiser for L'Arche. This was my first time going and did I ever have a good time!

Alas, many of our Sunday school children could not make it this year as they had a prior commitment. We had hot dogs, a choice of hot chocolate, coffee or tea, Lindt chocolate and a chance to toast marshmallows.

Then a new tradition started last year, a trip to the Jack Pine Trail, where the birds are so tame they will land on your hand or head. It was so good to get away from the computer and out into the woods.