Claude, Katrina, Marla & Carol – Aug 2014

Carol – this post is dedicated to you – welcome aboard the à la Claude adventure!

Every now and then, Carol organizes a night for a few of us to gather and re-connect.  She is a nurturer and successfully brings people together, tends to them and really excels at being an all-around fantastic person.  She really was one of the best Master Corporals in the Royal Winnipeg Rifles Band – mostly because she is a mom who cares about her kids – whether they are biological or assigned to her section.  Always aware and concerned for their well-being, she meticulously organized herself to be available whenever duty called.  And she never seemed to forget cookies for those special birthdays!

The crew that gets together are mostly Rifles alumni – Katrina, Marla and myself.  We usually grab a Starbucks coffee or head off to a new restaurant for a more lingering evening.  Tonight, the agenda consisted of meeting in Assiniboine Park for a bit of a stroll then heading to Sargent Sundae to have some of their seasonal delight: pumpkin pie soft serve ice cream!

I can hardly believe that we all got cones and cups when the weather was windy and a mere 14ºC (57ºF)!  Thatcher accompanied, so we sat outside – on the cold cement bench.  Sorry ladies!

The ice cream exceeded all expectations.  It hit all the right pumpkin pie notes from mace and nutmeg to cinnamon and an intense pumpkin flavour.  We spotted several people walk out with half-litre containers of the bright coloured ice cream.  I will definitely be returning before the season wraps up – so should you!  BTW – we missed you Marla!