Half-Batt Insulation Blues: Sunday, August 19th!

I never saw a discontented tree. They grip the ground as though they liked it, and though fast rooted they travel about as far as we do. -John Muir, naturalist, explorer, and writer (1838-1914) 

 

Hi Clarisse! I do apologize for not replying sooner but last few weeks have been a whirlwind of kitchen renovation, moving and social activity, speeding up, even more as we twirled and spun towards the Peach Festival weekend, two weekends ago. [Before that we had a wonderful visit with Jim Hillson, more than two weeks ago now.] This being said, I know you have talked to Lady Dar so some of this message might well contain old news. Thank you for your on-going concern about my health. 

With respect to the pumpkin we feed Duke and Etta it was suggested by one of Lady Dar's walking group friends, shortly after we adopted felines. We noticed Duke had loose stool while we were trying to decide which food was best of them and this person said that pumpkin had worked of her pet with same problem. They really like it and we give them a couple of small spoonfuls before their crunchies most mornings, not with evening meal. Vet seemed to think it was fine, bit of extra fibre were his words. Not cheap cat food however but nothing but the best for Burns Street Felines! I suggest Cody try it with his new kitten. Bit of variety is always good I think. This is the only "wet" food they receive.

Well, Dearest Clarisse, must away as I'm hoping to make more inroads on organizing my "office" as well as working on items that still need to go into new cupboards and cabinets. Will take some time to really see where things should go but at the moment we just want everything unpacked and put away so that we can begin a thorough cleaning of the house. In spite of measures we took, there is dust everywhere and am not looking forward to extensive "Spring Cleaning" which we can look forward to over the next few weeks this Fall! Fondestos from Lady Dar, running errands after church. Cheers, Patrizzio, your Favourite Son-in-Law! 

Pics: Lady Dar shows off her latest upholstery project at Sendero Canyon, this past Thursday. Bench for breakfast, with F/S and my fabulous Dirt Road java, guarded by Lady Dar! Peach Parade; Farmers' Market with organic peaches and then Julien, (Carol's/Bruno's youngest son), with my friend, Jake Snyder; Front Street Brasserie!
 
Trust this finds you both well and not breathing too deeply. The smoke sound pretty bad out your way. For that matter, there is no sign of the sun or the mountains here on what is supposed to be a sunny day. On the assumption you don't read the G & M this, (below), will be of interest from three days ago. I may be able to convince my Irish cousin Henry to pick up a bottle of duty free scotch on their flight over. They are flying direct from Dublin so the duty free selection may not be that great (certainly nowhere near as good as Heathrow). Any requests for a bottle we bring with us to the Okanagan? Cheers....Paul: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-buying-whisky-casks-latest-craze-with-some-expected-to-sell-for/

PS: I may be able to convince my Irish cousin Henry to pick up a bottle of duty free scotch on their flight over. They are flying direct from Dublin so the duty free selection may not be that great (certainly nowhere near as good as Heathrow). Any requests for a bottle we bring with us to the Okanagan? Cheers....Paul PS - it looks like the focus is on Irish whisky in the duty free (no surprize there I suppose):

https://www.theloop.ie/AgeVerification/141
 

Tell them you are not from the EU and aged and they let you browse their offerings. In cursory scan I saw one Scotch and one Japanese whisky and the other 100 or so are Irish. It reminds me of the Ralph Steadman cartoon on the annual French greeting for Italian wine - spikes on the road, trucks burning in the ditch etc. So much for open minded borders in the EU.....Paul Hi Paulo! Thanks for link to Cask Craze but another friend had sent it along a week or so ago. At any rate our group is light years ahead! However, did appreciate link to Duty Free. If possible, I'd like the Pearse Lyons 5 Year Old Single Malt Cask Strength Irish Whiskey 70cl, at €103.00. I'll certainly pay for bottle as it is a bit pricey. If that is not available then perhaps the 12 Year Old Cask Strength Redbreast at €59.00, 58.6%. Appreciate the opportunity for "muleage"!

We spent most of today working on readying the house for next round of Lower Mainland/Overseas Freeloaders! Fondestos from Lady Dar and Chloë, off seeing Crazy Rich Asians while I listen to BBC on my laptop and try to catch up on message backlog. Look forward to seeing you and Joan and meeting your Irish cousins. Cheers, Patrizzio! [Great pictures! Stephen] Thanks for all the reading suggestions. I look forward to taking some of them up. It always amazes me how small our world is! My dear friend Kathi Ernst is the accountant at Culmina winery. I have enjoyed some of their wines as a result! Yes I can imagine how you feel losing a house mate. I no there will be a huge space left with Chris’s departure. It will be strange but nice to have the lessened work load too ( perhaps something you guys didn’t experience with a daughter!). Enjoy your bridge, beer and scotch?! Luigi 

Hi again, Luigi! Interesting about Culmina connections! I keep forgetting to mention Kathi's name to Chloë whenever she pops around but will do so now, particularly as Shruti is moving in at the end of the month. We really haven't had time to miss her, [Or the lessened work load, more like what we were always doing wrong!], but we did receive a water bill for $18,000, a few days ago. No joke, given the length of Chloë's showers, but Lady Dar soon cleared up mistake. Nevertheless, we included bill in Chloë's birthday card, [August 18th],in lieu of money! Sometimes I think she is personally responsible for drought in The South Okanagan, if not the world! Fondestos from Lady Dar to you. [Currently, she is reading The Humans!] All the very best. Stay well, Luigi. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Ryan Sutherland I found this website from the City of Penticton listing good water saving tips...penticton.ca <www.penticton.ca> Patrick James Dunn Thanks for the tips, Prince Valiant, but we don't need them now that Chloë has moved to Sendero Canyon. Please direct water saving strategies to her, personally responsible for record drought in The South Okanagan, if not the world! Cheers, Rain Barrel Man!

Hi Carol, What a small world, turns out we have mutual friends 😲 cool. So let’s play together, and here it is the invitation for coming Tuesday. See you there Cheers and hello to Greg. Mike

Hi Patrick I have two phone numbers for carol Cheers Judy Hi Gill, Phil! Can you respond to Carol letting her know how to get to your place please? I have invited her on your behalf, but she needs your address. Cheers
Mike Patrick, Not home yet🙃 waiting at the Fredericton airport for my flight to Toronto. My flight into Penticton tonight may be cancelled because of the smoke. If I do make it home tonight I have yoga tomorrow night (Tuesday) at 6 pm. Have fun playing Bridge. I am looking forward to resuming Bridge with all of you. Pam 
  
Hi Old Farts, First, a confession. Last Thursday, we did not go to Mount Baldy as planned. Concerns about distance and visibility gave us cause for some sober second thought. The result: a fine hike up Mount Keogan. This Thursday, we plan to start at White Lake Observatory, climb Mount McLellan, Helipad Hill, and Hawthorne Mountain, and finish at Mahoney Lake. We will: -meet at 0800 at Home Hardware north parking lot in Penticton (0740 at IGA in Summerland). -carpool and make our way to White Lake. We will also park a vehicle at Mahoney Lake to shuttle drivers later in the day. -hike our little hearts out on the hills mentioned above. -descend to the shuttle vehicle at Mahoney Lake and arrange to return to the other cars. -decide on a place for debriefing and refreshment. Interested? Give me a nod. Cheers, Jim

Hello Fartograms, This is a tough one, but I feel, after consultation with a group of very wise Old Farts, that it is irresponsible to ride in this weather. Oliver is bad, this morning, this evening, likely tomorrow. I care about your health, would like to enjoy your friendship for many years to come. So, Jos & I will not ride tomorrow, postponing the bike ride until further notice. If you do want to ride, you are on your own, but remember ... smoking is not good for you! Cheers ��😀, xxx🤐xxx Aart a wise decision, I think, Hanneke