Going To The Cawston Chaple Of Love Blues: Saturday, June 3rd!

My theology, briefly, is that the universe was dictated but not signed. -Christopher Morley, writer (1890-1957) 

Little cooler and cloudier this morning than yesterday but still very pleasant. Once up, I spent the first part of the morning replying to messages and then made myself some breakfast before strolling down to the Farmers' Market. Had a terrific time visiting with various vendors and bumping into friends. Picked up a number of different bedding plants: peppers, sweet corn and four different types of melon: red and yellow watermelon and two others, Cream of Saskatchewan and Jenny Lind. With our new "extension, I'm pretty sure we'll have room for the melons and corn. Also found out that we can plant radish, every three weeks or so, from seed, so want to do that as well. Furthermore, intend to plant green onions and to that end will try putting the ends of the ones I bought, into the ground. Left the roots in a shallow bowl of water once I'd trimmed each onion.

Back home, once I'd unpacked my purchases, I moved some scrap lumber from my neighbour's yard. Tom and his friend, Brent, both up from Vancouver, are continuing renovation work on the house so I salvaged four, almost new two-by-fours, taking apart to bi-fold doors, and quite a stack of kindling, yet to be cut into usable lengths. Took about an hour or so and then it was time to shower and change as I was to chauffeur Lady Dar to Cawston, where she was to perform her first wedding. Even so, she was pretty relaxed and even managed to catch forty winks on drive there.

Found the small acreage where ceremony was to take place, the home of the grandmother of the bride. Lovely setting from what I could see. Dropped the Marriage Officant off and then was on my own for the next two hours or so. As it happened, Eau Vivre, a winery we've not been to before was just down the road so it was my first stop. Was served by Dale Wright, the owner, and while tasting, I discovered that he learned his wine-making skills from Lawrence Herder, late of Herder Winery, and that this very site was where Lawrence and his wife, Sharon, established their first winery. Liked the Malbec so bought two bottles and then made for Coulthard Road. Dale had given me directions and I found it without difficulty.

I was looking for Dumplingdale Öko Farms, owned by Gabi and Dave Cursons. I first met Dave, through my hiking friend, Jake. Usually see G/D most Saturdays as they have a stall at the FM and I'd chatted with both of them earlier this morning. Said I might pop by to say hello as I'd be in their neck of the woods, with Lady Dar's wedding. In fact, their place is right on the corner of Coulthard and Lowe Road, the latter where the wedding was to take place. Didn't seem to be anybody at home so I took a few snaps to prove I'd been there and then back to the car to head for Orofino. I wanted to drop off the packing case that the latest release had been delivered in as I knew it could be reused. 

Noticed a young couple walking down the road, laden with grocery bags, towards me, and assumed they might well be foreign farm workers, as one sees such people everywhere, hereabouts, in the growing/picking seasons. At any rate, when they came alongside me I asked if they needed a ride, indicating I was heading north, towards Orofino, about a kilometre or so away, and they were more than happy to accept my offer. I thought that they might be from Québec, as many of the pickers in both Naramata and Summerland are from there, but it transpired that Clementine was from France, Brittany in particular, while Rodriguez was from Spain, La Mancha, in particular.

Had to make a slight dipsy-doodle to drive to the place where they were living. If they had walked they would have cut through a number of orchards but since I wanted to scope out the roads thereabouts, for future cycling possibilities, I was more than happy to explore. They had only been in Cawston for a week or less, having come from South America, traveling in Colombia most recently. Rodriguez had worked in the orchards here for the past number of years but this was the first time for Clementine. When I dropped them off one of the friendly pooches on the property came to welcome us. They were so new to the place that they didn't even know the dog's name but this didn't seem to bother the animal, in the least.

Wishing them well, I drove to Orofino and had a very enjoyable tasting with Allison. Had planned to pop by both Clos du Soleil and Corcelettes Winery but knew I might be late to collect Lady Dar, [I was given strict instructions to be back by 4:40 pm, or else!], so made my way back to Lowe Road, stopping off, first, at Twisted Hills, almost within sight of wedding venue, on Ritchie Road. Had never been to this craft cidery but Lady Dar has tasted their product at the FM and liked it immensely. Had a simply wonderful tasting with Kaylan Madeira, [She is of Portuguese extraction as are quite a number of the grape/fruit growers and wineries, (Quinta Ferreira, on Black Sage Road, just south of Oliver, per esempio), in the Okanagan and Similkameen.], owner and cider-maker. Her husband, Joe, looks after the seven or so acres of orchards, planted with trees which produce fruit intended specifically for cider production.

Highly recommend all of the ciders although I was most taken with Pippin's Fate, perhaps their driest product. Thanked Kaylan for the delicious tasting, paid for two bottles of Pippin's Fate and said goodbye. Drove back to Ritchie and pulled over, on the grass shoulder beside the driveway to venue and waited for Lady Dar to appear. I could see some activity in the back yard and it looked liek the ceremony was over. A few minutes later The Marriage Officiant appeared. All had gone extremely well, although ceremony had been delayed, for fifteen minutes or so as one set of guests couldn't find their way to house.

Thought we might stop at both Clos du Soleil and Corcelettes and since Lady Dar was up for a tasting, we made for former. Quick tasting there as they were about to close and then on to Corcelettes. This was just before 5:00 pm and we had plenty of time as we knew the Tasting Room was open until 5:30 pm. However, once back in the car Lady Dar realized she's left her binder back at the wedding venue so we had to high-tail it back to Ritchie Road. Binder was just where she's left it during the signing of official documents so she was in and out quickly. Made it to Corcelettes by 5:16 pm so was pleased that we could still taste!

On way in, we passed two men, sitting a t a table on the patio, the older one with a glass of wine in front of him. Turned out it was Urs, the father, and Charlie, the son, owners of the winery. Had never met either before but knew, from past tastings that they were Swiss. Turned out that Urs had his first farm, in Canada, near Brandon, actually closer to Rivers, Manitoba, where my grandparents lived. I was so engrossed in chatting with them that Lady Dar brought out my first tasting! Once inside, I joined three others at counter, David John and Pricillia. David teaches Mathematica at the Penticton campus of Okanagan College, while Pricillia teaches Sociology there. John works at the Lakeshore Hotel & Resort, on the Reception Desk. The lads were living, until they moved to the Okanagan,in St Andrews, a suburb of Winnipeg, while Pricillia is from The Eastern Townships of Québec, not far from the Vermont border. Enjoyed chatting to her about this part of the country as we'd explored thereabouts, in 2007, when I wanted to visit the tiny community of Norton, just across the US border, where my Dad  had been born.

Always enjoy chatting with Jesce, Charlie's wife. Last time we were here she was very pregnant and is now the proud mother of twin girls! She is originally from Innuvik and apparently followed her mother to the Similkameen as Mama had always wanted the own a vineyard, somewhere, ever since seeing Under the Tuscan Sun! Wonderful time was had by all and hope to see the lads, [Lady Dar already asked them if they were planning to get married but learned that this had already happened, back in Winnipeg!], and Pricillia as she just lives a few blocks away, on Van Horne. Waved goodbye to one and all, stopping to admire new tasting room, almost finished, situated beside the winery. The stunning building was designed by Charlie and it will have a spectacular, spectacular view of the mountains across the valley.

Most enjoyable ride home and every time I drive this route, or indeed cycle it, I am ever more taken with the scenery, coming north from Keremeos and then descending back into Penticton, the highway winding along and above the west side of Skaha, offering majestic views of the lake itself and the surrounding benches, glowing green with all the various plantings of vineyards and fruit trees. Two years,a t the end of this May, since we moved here and it is already starting to feel like home! 

Back at Burns Street we found our lazy cats just waking up.  Once we'd unloaded car we set about making dinner preparations and settled in for an evening of catching up on previously recorded programs. Started with The Blacklist and found the first few episodes of Season Four,extremely engaging ad they provide much of the backstory to both Elizabeth's mother and Mr. "Kate" Kaplan, portrayed by Susan Blommaert and Joanna P. Adler, (young Kaplan, born Kathryn "Kathya" Nemec), Reddington's personal "cleaner" who comes in to scrub crime scenes. She cleans up after Liz kills one of the men watching her from across the street, and then helps Liz find Reddington. Later, she helps Reddington clean up after he kills Diane Fowler.  She also disposes of the bodies of Lucy Brooks and the Cowboy once they are found by Reddington's people. She helps Liz fake her death so she can escape from Reddington. For this, she is shot in the head by Reddington but survives and is held hostage by an unknown man in "Gaia". She later recovers and leaves.

In "Requiem," it is revealed that she was hired by Katarina Rostova to be young Liz's nanny. She became friends with Katarina after discovering she was a Soviet spy and learned that she was having an affair with Reddington. When Katarina was forced to flee and abandon her daughter, Kaplan left Liz with her foster father, Sam. Later, she fell in love with a woman named Annie Kaplan, and assumed her surname after Annie was murdered in front of her. She then joined Reddington's employ to protect Liz, on the understanding that she would always place Liz's interests ahead of his. In the present day, she exhumes all the bodies she buried for Reddington over the years, intending to use them to destroy him."
  
Must say that I'm very taken with latest plot twists and am looking forward to seeing how things are resolved.

that sounds like quite an operation, breaking into the second story with a ladder!!! Best of luck, including working with the local politicians to try to get treatment for unfortunates. I have been following, at least loosely, BC political turmoil and the pipeline that the seemingly not so angelic Trudeau wishes to build across from the tar sands. The struggle to go green in both our countries seems to be a tough fight, although no one can possibly be as bad as Trump.

Thanks for the initial tips for Agnes. I will let her know we are working on it. There is no real rush as she's not going til September I think. As for us, I am still trying to nail down a housesitter. Once I have some sense that we can find someone to stay here and take care of our feline (who shocked us by bringing in a mouse yesterday, dead at least) or giving up on that and asking neighbors. But I would hope to get something going within a week or so. Made some pesto pizza yesterday, came out grand, alas, there wasn't a scrap of pineapple in the house! Cactus

Pat, Good to hear from you. Sylvia is in England at the moment for Jenny and Sean's wedding which took place today. They are off to the Basque Country, (Biarritz, I think,) on Sunday. Sylvia visited the Brownlees earlier. Christine has MS, as you know, but seems to be managing it quite well although she fatigues easily. Sylvia did some cycling with Jim and they all visited Saltaire which is a Unesco Hertage site with a gallery of David Hockley's art work.
 

We have a very busy summer with numerous guests and Jenny and Sean will be here also. We have been invited to Savory Island again which we will probably do as we both enjoyed our stay there last time. Cardio fitness is not as good as it should be but I haven't done as much cycling this year. I'll get going again once I finish my teaching in about 2 weeks time. You garden looks good and the zuccini and garlic are thriving. Another task I need to invest more time in, soon.
The Carters went to Philadelphia and New York to visit relatives. They might be back by now. Glad you both seem to be doing well. Ray

Tummler, Greetings from Tolox, Spain, 50 kms north of Malaga. We are here in a tiny village in the mountains, house sitting a couple of cats: Wayne and Sheila who send fond regards to the mouse hunters. We are not cycling but are getting some wonderful hikes in up the local mountains through olive groves and pine forest – reminiscent of southern California, dry and sandy. Above 30 degrees C in the sun.

Good to know you are getting your riding in and doing the distance for all of us. I cant wait to get back on the bike. Let us know when yo are riding up the camino in the Republic of Galiano. I may be able to get you a visa, under the table of course.
 

We are excited to learn of the coalition government formed in BC in our absence. It should make your endeavours to house the marginalized in your area, a little more accessible. At least reaching provincial authorities - one would think. Good on ya.
 

I just read a couple of books you must find: Brother of the More Famous Jack and The Glass Room. Tell me how the book club is coming along. I am attaching some things I wrote which give a glimpse of where we are at the moment. My photographer will be putting some photos up shortly. There is some catholic based fiesta today (like Mexico - in honour of the virgin of...) which involves a long walk up the mountain with a bunch of horses. Should be interesting. Hasta luego. Fond regards to all, W&CJ