Smokey The Lobster Claws the Halifax Bluse: Wednesday, August 9th!

A writer is, after all, only half his book. The other half is the reader and from the reader the writer learns. -P.L. Travers, author, creator of the "Mary Poppins" series (9 Aug 1899-1996)

Maritime treat? Hi Corinne and Patrick, Would you like me to bring fresh lobster back from Halifax for Friday dinner? If so, how many are going to be there? I'll bring one each and they can go on the barbecue, Cheers, Peter Hi Lobster Man, et al! Didn't realize you were sailing the ocean blue on the Bluenose! Thanks for the very generous offer of muling aforementioned crustaceans. Paolo and Co., (three), are actually responsible for Friday's dinner so I have included him in this message, as you will note, and let him/them decide. That being said, ridiculous as it may seem, to a gourmand like you, I am not a fan of the briny lobster so please do not include one for me, should you be asked to bring a shipment. Six clawsters, in total, would therefore suffice, giving one each for the rest of dinner goers.

Much appreciate the offer, of course. Lady Dar, however, is beside herself, with anticipation, liking to live, high on the hog, as opposed to her Pierogi, aka Varenyky, Perogy, Perogie, Patrizzio! Look forward to hearing about your latest trip. [If time and/or inclination allow, you could mule some interesting rum, should you think it is such, instead of a lobster, for me, and I would reimburse you upon delivery!] Unfortunately, probably won't have to do the lobsters on the bbq, just let them smoke themselves as we continue to be blanketed. Travel safely. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Miracle of Marco Spagnolo (detail)

Art: Giorgio Bonola (c. 1657-1700)

Hi Corinne & Pat, We are planning on arriving at your place tomorrow (Thurs) mid afternoon if this is OK at your end. Remind me of the address. Anything we can bring from the "big smoke"? As previously discussed, we will plan on preparing dinner for Friday evening doing whatever shopping is required Friday am. We'll also be off to Vanilla Pod for lunch on Friday. We will relocate to Tinhorn Creek mid Saturday having hopefully not overstayed our welcome.
 

How's the smoke? Sounds like there may be some rain during our visit. We are planning on coming the Hope/Princton but will check DriveBC before heading out. Announcement issued yesterday that Leslie Hurtig is the new Artistic Director of the Writers Festival. Good news. Talk soon...Paul Hi Paul, that's fine we will be home after 3:30. Have some appt. to look at houses for Chloe.
Smoke has been thick last 2 days and a bit cooler with the cover. Rain would be welcome. But it never seems to come here. Look forward to seeing you all. Best Corinne
Hello Big Smokesters! As you may have already read, still enduring the pervasive smoke here so bring your gas masks! If you do stop at Bridal Falls, for cheaper gas at the Shell station there, perhaps you could pick up some Peaches and Cream, Chilliwack corn, at the hut there. Other than that, just a case of rare, expensive malts from Legacy! 

If we happen not to be back when you arrive, either Duke or Etta will let you in! Should they not trust you, there is a key, in the basket, on the middle shelf, of the stand on the back patio stairs, to the garage door there. Liisa will be in The Rumpus Room and you two in the Lobster Room. In fact, quite literally as we have a beach towel, emblazoned with a huge crustacean, to keep headboard from squeaking. At some point, in the distant future, Lady Dar plans to paint this room so I don't want to affix said headboard to wall until then! Look forward to seeing one and all. Travel safely and see you soon. Cheers, Patrizzio! Pic: The Lobster Suite!

Dear Peter - thank you for your kind offer to bring lobster for the Friday dinner. As Patrick has noted, the three of us who are visiting Burns St had volunteered to cook on Friday with Lynne and you as our guests. If you are able without undue logistical difficulty and cost to provide lobster for six (Peter, Lynne, Corinne, Joan, Paul and Liisa) that would be wonderful. We'll make sure Patrick doesn't starve given his inexplicable aversion to lobster. If it doesn't work out it is not a problem as long as we know on Friday morning that an alternative main course will be required. Our friend Liisa is our Executive Chef and she is a bit uncertain about how to barbecue a lobster (alive or dead). We will assume you have some expertise on this matter if lobster is indeed on the menu. It will be great to see you and Lynne. Cheers.....Paul Hi Paul, I’m happy to bring the lobsters if Executive Chef Liisa is OK with them. I was told by my friends here in Halifax that to barbecue a lobster (these will have been parboiled), they should be split down the middle and barbecued for 5 minutes on each side. They should be good served with lots of lemon and butter.

If Liisa has another menu in mind, please let me know this evening. Otherwise I’ll buy them at the Halifax airport on my way home in the morning. Looking forward to seeing everybody. Sorry to hear that Patrick would have to eat chicken. Cheers, Peter We are a go for the lobster Peter so as long as you can get them on the plane all is good. Your instructions on barbecuing should see us through. Safe travels and see you on Friday. Cheers....Paul OK Paul, I’ll use all my influence with Air Canada to get the lobsters home. They’ll be treated well in business class. Peter Hello Lobster Mule, et al! Just out of curiosity, do crustaceans, travelling in Business Class, prefer Salty Dogs or Screech? For my part, I'm happy to nosh on chicken while the rest of you are swabbing Polysporin on all the painful cuts your hands will receive as you attempt to remove minuscule amounts of flesh, of questionable taste, from carapace and unforgiving claws. I think you might just as well swill melted butter and save yourselves all the painstaking trouble. Taste is the same without all the grief but who am I to declare that The Emperor Has No Clothes!

Jugos, please stop at McDonald's on way home from airport and pick up two large orders of Chicken McNuggets! Comfort food indeed! Happy travels with your parboiled buddies, Mule Man! Must away as the Snowbird pilots whose craft have been buzzing our back patio, are coming over for post-airshow drink. Apparently the jet-fuel goes well with Shelter Point Cask Strength, giving it an added kick. At least, with resulting blindness, one can't see the blanket of smoke! Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Ayn! Trust all goes well. Still smokey as hell here, unfortunately. Getting ready for next round of Freeloaders, Paul/Joan Whitney and their good friend, Liisa, arrive tomorrow for two nights. We will probably spend Saturday night in Osoyoos, at Spirit Ridge, with Flamin' and Sarge. Dinner at Tinhorn Creek, just out of Oliver, on Sunday evening, guests of Paul/Joan. Nana will return to SPirit Ridge for another couple of days while I plan to head home after dinner. Not quite sure, as of this writing, how Nana will return to Burns Street.

I'm finally getting around to putting together a number of albums from wedding extravaganza and I need some help with names and relation to various families. Could you remind me of Res(z)a's husband's name: John? As well, the mixed couple in wedding party, both baby lawyers, according to Marlo! Jason, (?), and ???, and his parents, sitting with Patti at reception. Verneen's sister? Sam's bother, wife and their children? Boy a little older and taller than Ryan. Young man with glasses, sitting between Jessica and Jesse during ceremony? Melvin's relatives, husband /wife, from Antelope Valley, I think. Sam's Uncle, the pastor? Your "wedding acceptable" date, Bernard? Not a big deal if, from my descriptions, you don't know who I mean as I don't have to have names but would like them, if possible. Finally, what is Lauren's son's name?


[Hello there Sorry for the delay, it's been a long week. So let's see: Resa's husband is Jonathan Gwartz or Jon for short The baby lawyers, Danielle Bray and Josh Babataher-they will be married this November The young man in glasses at Melvin's table was Jessica's youngest son, Jeshua James-Allen. The husband and wife were Tony and Alicia Allen at Mel's table Sam's aunt is Melrose Ogden and her husband is the Reverend Renee Ogden. Lauren Beattie's son is Zanai and the father is Joe Sam's brother is William, his girlfriend is Carly and William's son is Kobe. I think I got them all!! Hope the house hunting is going well....fingers crossed for Chloe's job interview nexr Friday! Love Ayn Oh and yes, my so-called acceptable date was E.B. Dixon...aka Bernard]
Must away as I have to drop by bank to pick up a money order to send to Kimberley Grey for her wedding present. As these things go, same day as Corey's, next Saturday, for Marriage Officiant, otherwise we probably would have attended. Fondestos from Nana, reading with her foot up, (Duke at the end of the bed), as her ankle is still very sore. Love and Cheers, Dad! Pics: Yesterday, on Linda Ervin's back deck, with fabulous grape arbor, vines planted by her when she first moved in. We went over to help her move boxes of books to the basement as it is something a bit too demanding with her MS.

Hi all, I am back in P’ton, and, if there has been a notice about hiking tomorrow (Aug 10), I have misplaced it. So….one of 2 things….-1- if someone did send out a notice, would some soul kindly send me a copy of the info, or -2- if there is as yet no hike planned, let’s meet at 0800 tomorrow at HH in P’ton and head for the hills. We can decide on a destination when we meet. Let me know if you are interested. Many thanks, Jim

Map and Stats for ride:

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1906679430#.WYu0sFecNGk.email