Hello Marion and Bill!
Glad you popped by and sat in the yellow chairs! Must apologize for not replying sooner but didn't hear your phone message or read my email until close to midnight, yesterday, after our friends, Dawn and Gerry, left to return to their Airstream at an RV park here in town. We had hoped you might call on one of our cell numbers, [If you did we must have missed call or calls, unfortunately.] as we were very flexible, in terms of the day's itinerary, and would have met you wherever it was convenient. As it turned out, we started just south of Penticton, visiting Black Dog, a relatively new winery we'd not been to before, and then Painted Rock, with a picnic at Pentâge, after tasting there as well.
By this time it was around 3:00 pm and we assumed something had come up, as far as your plans were concerned, so we decided we'd continue on to Four Shadows, on Upper Bench Road, another brand new winery, having just opened, this past Wednesday! Then to Township 7 before returning to Upper Bench Winery and Creamery as Dawn wanted some of their fabulous cheese. [Last Sunday, before we left Elaine's we learned of her trip, this October, to Japan, with Suzanne and Liz. We have a close friend, Toshi, a former boarder, (She visited me in February when Lady Dar was still in Mexico, as she was a business seminar in Whistler.), who lives and works in Tokyo and I will put Elaine in touch with her. [Elaine, please send me your itinerary and any questions you might have for Toshi!] While here, I took Toshi wine-tasting, [as well as snowshoeing!], and one of stops was at Upper Bench. Shana, owner, along with her husband, Gavin, owner/winemaker, makes the fabulous cheese, and while we were there I introduced her to Toshi and Shana mentioned her daughter, Chloe, [!], was going to be travelling in Japan, later this month. Toshi said she would be happy to meet her and since then Shana was in touch and I provided Toshi with her daughter's email address so I've started an international career, putting people together!]
At any rate, it was well after 5:00 pm by the time we made it home and spent the rest of the evening visiting, having appetizers and then dinner so we simply didn't listen to any phone messages or look at email. I assume, from your message, that you would not have been able to come for dinner but it would probably have been possible to meet for a visit, if only a brief one, given your day, somewhere along The Bench. Coincidentally, we have met or been introduced to quite a few Dutch people, here in Penticton, Naramata and Summerland, so we'd be curious to know if Bill is related to any of them. We can compare notes when next we see each other!
On another matter of intersecting circles, Jim Hillson was here last Monday and Tuesday, staying with fellow retired United Church Minister, Linda Ervin, [You might recall that she was at Kitsilano United before it and St James amalgamated to form Trinity.] and they were over for dinner on Monday evening. Jim Left for Victoria on Wednesday and will be back in town today, for the night, before driving back to Medicine Hat. I'm organizing a table of bridge as Jim is a very good player. Too, too bad you two won't be around as we would have included you in dinner plans and had two tables instead of one! Next time, bring Elaine along and stay longer!
Again, sorry we didn't connect. Fondestos from Lady Dar to you both. We are off to the Farmers' Market this morning so looking forward to seeing many of the vendors we've come to know since moving here. Stay well. Travel safely and enjoy the rest of your Okanagan adventure! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Pics: Jim with Linda; Lady Dar and Chloë; on Chloë's deck at Sendero; Yellow chairs in use and back back patio on Thursday evening; Black Dog, Painted Rock, Pentâge and then with Shana at Upper Bench.
Hello Marion and Bill!
Glad you popped by and sat in the yellow chairs! Must apologize for not replying sooner but didn't hear your phone message or read my email until close to midnight, yesterday, after our friends, Dawn and Gerry, left to return to their Airstream at an RV park here in town. We had hoped you might call on one of our cell numbers, [If you did we must have missed call or calls, unfortunately.] as we were very flexible, in terms of the day's itinerary, and would have met you wherever it was convenient. As it turned out, we started just south of Penticton, visiting Black Dog, a relatively new winery we'd not been to before, and then Painted Rock, with a picnic at Pentâge, after tasting there as well.
By this time it was around 3:00 pm and we assumed something had come up, as far as your plans were concerned, so we decided we'd continue on to Four Shadows, on Upper Bench Road, another brand new winery, having just opened, this past Wednesday! Then to Township 7 before returning to Upper Bench Winery and Creamery as Dawn wanted some of their fabulous cheese. [Last Sunday, before we left Elaine's we learned of her trip, this October, to Japan, with Suzanne and Liz. We have a close friend, Toshi, a former boarder, (She visited me in February when Lady Dar was still in Mexico, as she was a business seminar in Whistler.), who lives and works in Tokyo and I will put Elaine in touch with her. [Elaine, please send me your itinerary and any questions you might have for Toshi!] While here, I took Toshi wine-tasting, [as well as snowshoeing!], and one of stops was at Upper Bench. Shana, owner, along with her husband, Gavin, owner/winemaker, makes the fabulous cheese, and while we were there I introduced her to Toshi and Shana mentioned her daughter, Chloe, [!], was going to be travelling in Japan, later this month. Toshi said she would be happy to meet her and since then Shana was in touch and I provided Toshi with her daughter's email address so I've started an international career, putting people together!]
At any rate, it was well after 5:00 pm by the time we made it home and spent the rest of the evening visiting, having appetizers and then dinner so we simply didn't listen to any phone messages or look at email. I assume, from your message, that you would not have been able to come for dinner but it would probably have been possible to meet for a visit, if only a brief one, given your day, somewhere along The Bench. Coincidentally, we have met or been introduced to quite a few Dutch people, here in Penticton, Naramata and Summerland, so we'd be curious to know if Bill is related to any of them. We can compare notes when next we see each other!
On another matter of intersecting circles, Jim Hillson was here last Monday and Tuesday, staying with fellow retired United Church Minister, Linda Ervin, [You might recall that she was at Kitsilano United before it and St James amalgamated to form Trinity.] and they were over for dinner on Monday evening. Jim Left for Victoria on Wednesday and will be back in town today, for the night, before driving back to Medicine Hat. I'm organizing a table of bridge as Jim is a very good player. Too, too bad you two won't be around as we would have included you in dinner plans and had two tables instead of one! Next time, bring Elaine along and stay longer!
Map and Stats for walk:
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3640078852#.XNesizBd0yM.email
Hi Twin Falls Travelers!
Lovely to hear your on-the-road experiences, Maggie May! Pleased you enjoyed card and puzzle! Thanks for the wine-tasting pitturas, even if I look like a Super-Grump! Absolutely delighted that you continued your freeloading ways into the US at the Kicking Horse Casino!
Busy time since we waved goodbye. Saturday we strolled down to the Farmer's Market and Lady Dar met with the couple she is to marry, in June, at the St Germaine Café, on Main Street, while I visited with various vendors further along the street. I popped back to see if meeting was over, about an hour later but she had departed. We know the owner, slightly, as he is the nephew of Val, wife of Dan, whose father owned Ace Cycle, in Vancouver, next to Young Brothers, on Broadway, not all that far from Hotel Kits. I knew Dan, from when he started his own bike shop, after a falling out with his father and his brother-in-law. When they left Vancouver they moved to Galagher Lake and about a year or so ago, they relocated to Naramata. The view from their house is one of the best I've experienced from the east side of the lake. At any rate, I reminded Christopher who I was and he introduced me to his mother, Helen, I think, Val's older sister, who happened to be visiting from Vancouver.
Back home to do couple of sets of shoulder exercises and then I readied myself to hoof it along the KVR. Left at around 2:20 pm and as day was quite warm, I filled up my camel pack to keep well hydrated. Starting to feel pretty good as my legs seem to be adjusting to the activity. I think riding the stationary bike helped even though I'm probably using all sorts of other muscles on the trail. Fairly extensive cloud cover helped with the heat as did the fairly brisk wind, out of the south. Always enjoy the views and was quite taken with a lone sailboat scudding along the relatively smooth surface of the lake. Not much wildlife but I did see a teeny, tiny field mouse at the edge of the trail, near some of my favourite clay outcroppings. My goal for the day was the hops farm, just before the intersection of the KVR and Lochore Road, not all that far beyond the McCullock Trestle. I was surprised to note that the field, which had been filled with huge uprights to support the netting on which the hops grew to a very considerable height, had all been removed. Not sure if the land, now graded, will be planted with vines or some other crop.
Almost directly across the KVR is the Trail Store which sold slushies and such and where we bought our Christmas tree two years ago. The place has since been sold and I'm not sure if there are new owners or not. Anyway, I turned around here and made my way back, relishing the breeze in my face as I had worked up a pretty good sweat by then. Back home by just before 5:00 pm, in time to do last set of shoulder exercises and then have a quick shower and change before Zircon, [aka Jim Hillson], and Linda Ervin arrived for dinner. WE had invited them to dinner and afterwards to play bridge. Linda doesn't play so we'd asked Susan Finlay to complete table. Linda left after meeting Susan and we enjoyed four rounds before we bade goodnight to Jimbo and O Susannah. Lady Dar caught up on an episode of Hinterland while I did dishes. By the time I was ready to watch TV I was too tired to do so as walk had finally caught up with me. I brushed and flossed and said goodnight to Lady Dar, telling her I was headed for bed. Fell asleep almost immediately but vaguely remember hearing her turn out her bedside lamp.
After a sound sleep I was up at 7:30 am, Sunday morning, to feed the felines, tuna cat food, this morning, as a special Mother's Day treat! Chloë and I had arranged to walk along the KVR while Lady Dar was a churchin'! I managed to do my first set of shouldares before she arrived, around 9:20 am and we left Burns shortly thereafter. Parked at the lot, just down the road from Hillside and set off across Naramata Road at almost 10:00 am exactly. Chloë had wanted to head back down the KVR towards Penticton but I persuaded her to go north, towards the Little Tunnel, although we not planning to go that far today.
The Peach City Runners Blossom 5/10 Miler was in progress, [the latter starting on Languedoc Road], when we crossed Naramata Road and just before we reached the continuation of the KVR, friend, Leandro, winemaker at Checkmate, came pounding by, so we cheered him on! Simply gorgeous day, already, over 24º C, when Chloë checked once we were on the trail itself, and projected to reach 26º C. [In fact it was 27.6º C when we returned to car!] Trail was quite busy with bicycles and dog walkers so we had to keep our wits about us and our ears open not to impede the cyclistii.
The lake looked like hammered, dimpled metal, the surface mirror smooth for much of its expanse. We enjoyed chatting about all sorts of things so really lost track of time. Just before we reached Arawana Road and Workman Place, the latter leading to Kettle Ridge Lakeview Estates, a fairly recent, high-end development I've often cycled around, we were overtaken by Nancita and Guillermo, out for a ride. Visited for a few minutes before they rode off and not long after we turned around to retrace our steps.
Lovely cool breeze so we really didn't feel oppressed by the rising temperature. As well, a fair bit of cloud cover so we weren't baking in unfiltered sunshine, all that much, whenever the trail was un-shaded. About half-way back, we spotted a lone quail perched near the very top of a tall, dead tree. We surmised he was looking for a mate! Slight downhill grade helped a tad as when we re-crossed Naramata Road it was almost three hours from start to finish! I was delighted with outing as it was the longest, both in distance covered and duration, since I embarked on my latest regimen. A most decent work-out for Chloë, as well, since she simply hasn't had the time, given work pressures, to walk over last few weeks or so. At any rate, we congratulated ourselves and enjoyed the drive back to Burns, all the windows wide open and the lovely breeze cooling our sweaty selves! Map and Stats for walk:
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3643276491#.XNiQVC8EnUg.email
Chloë dropped me off and came inside to plan rest of day. She was making dinner. Originally, to be done at her place but since we all wanted to watch the next episode of Game of Thrones we decided to eat at Burns since Chloë doesn't subscribe to HBO. Then she headed back to Sendero, Lady Dar following. She had picked up some plants at Garden Works on her way back from church and wanted to help planting them, etc., as well as with arranging new rugs Chloë had bought for her patio. After they left I fixed myself a hearty brunch of overlefts, [I was famished after great walk!], and then proceeded to do the last two sets of shoulder exercises.
Lady Dar was back just before I was finished and I then I had a quick shower and change before we set off for Township 7, for a glass of Rosé, part of the winery's Mother's Day event. We arrived around 4:30 pm and were only people there so we had a most pleasant time, chatting with Devon, chap who had been in charge of Tasting Room but will be working with winemaker, starting on Monday morning, as his long-term career plan had always been to become more involved with wine-making process. Lovely evening so it was a terrific way to whet our appetites for meal to come. Bought a bottle of chilled Rosé for Lady Dar, along with four roses to support fund-raiser for Breast Cancer, and then toddled off home.
Chloë arrived shortly after we were back, having stopped off at IGA for ingredients for meal she had planned. While she started on main course, [shrimps in pesto!], she fixed us appetizers, dip and rice crackers which we nibbled on, watching an episode of Hinterland. Shrimps were to go on top of a salad, [cherry tomatoes, cukes, red onion and Feta cheese], and once salad was ready and shrimp drained, Chef Chloë joined us in the Rumpus Room and we ran the episode of GT she had not seen. I watched some of it but since I'd already seen it, I did a few kitchen chores while The Sisterhood were glued to the screen. After Chloë was caught up she returned to the kitchen to prepare the shrimp and we re-started Hinterland.
Didn't take her long to ready shrimp and when done we were called to serve ourselves. What a wonderful topping the pestos drenched shrimp made for the delicious salad. We took our filled bowls back into the RR and put on the next episode of GT, just recorded at 6:00 pm. Another cliff-hanger so we are already counting down until next Sunday! Then into the living room for the presentation of Mother's Day presents. I had two small gifts, a bar of cherry soap, from one of the local orchardists, along with a jar of lemon curd from another booth, both from the Farmers' Market. I gave Lady Dar a bar as an Xmas stocking stuffer and she really liked it, while the lemon curd is her absolute favourite, preferring to eat it with a spoon, right out of the jar, as opposed to slathering it on toast!
Chloë had three gifts for her mother. The first, a contraption for holding corn cobs on the bbq, a present from Etta and Duke and then a gag item, a delightful, small garden gnome! We had seen them at Rona when looking at garden furniture a few weeks ago and agreed it would be a wonderful "tease" as Lady Dar cannot abide such ornaments. As far as gnomes go, this one is actually quite adorable and Chloë wanted it for her deck but we both thought we'd like to upset her mother first! Real gift was a state-of-the-art fitbit inspire HR, she and Ayn decided they would give her. Now all she needs is an advanced computer programming degree to start using it! Dessert was two designer ice-cream tubs, Häagen-Dazs chocolate/peanut butter and cookie dough flavours! After presentations, Chloë started her Mother on initializing fitbit while Scullion Patrizzio did the dishes. By the time various apps were downloaded to her iPhone and sketchily understood, Chloë was ready to head home.
Pics:
Hello Marion and Bill!
Glad you popped by and sat in the yellow chairs! Must apologize for not replying sooner but didn't hear your phone message or read my email until close to midnight, yesterday, after our friends, Dawn and Gerry, left to return to their Airstream at an RV park here in town. We had hoped you might call on one of our cell numbers, [If you did we must have missed call or calls, unfortunately.] as we were very flexible, in terms of the day's itinerary, and would have met you wherever it was convenient. As it turned out, we started just south of Penticton, visiting Black Dog, a relatively new winery we'd not been to before, and then Painted Rock, with a picnic at Pentâge, after tasting there as well.
By this time it was around 3:00 pm and we assumed something had come up, as far as your plans were concerned, so we decided we'd continue on to Four Shadows, on Upper Bench Road, another brand new winery, having just opened, this past Wednesday! Then to Township 7 before returning to Upper Bench Winery and Creamery as Dawn wanted some of their fabulous cheese. [Last Sunday, before we left Elaine's we learned of her trip, this October, to Japan, with Suzanne and Liz. We have a close friend, Toshi, a former boarder, (She visited me in February when Lady Dar was still in Mexico, as she was a business seminar in Whistler.), who lives and works in Tokyo and I will put Elaine in touch with her. [Elaine, please send me your itinerary and any questions you might have for Toshi!] While here, I took Toshi wine-tasting, [as well as snowshoeing!], and one of stops was at Upper Bench. Shana, owner, along with her husband, Gavin, owner/winemaker, makes the fabulous cheese, and while we were there I introduced her to Toshi and Shana mentioned her daughter, Chloe, [!], was going to be travelling in Japan, later this month. Toshi said she would be happy to meet her and since then Shana was in touch and I provided Toshi with her daughter's email address so I've started an international career, putting people together!]
At any rate, it was well after 5:00 pm by the time we made it home and spent the rest of the evening visiting, having appetizers and then dinner so we simply didn't listen to any phone messages or look at email. I assume, from your message, that you would not have been able to come for dinner but it would probably have been possible to meet for a visit, if only a brief one, given your day, somewhere along The Bench. Coincidentally, we have met or been introduced to quite a few Dutch people, here in Penticton, Naramata and Summerland, so we'd be curious to know if Bill is related to any of them. We can compare notes when next we see each other!
On another matter of intersecting circles, Jim Hillson was here last Monday and Tuesday, staying with fellow retired United Church Minister, Linda Ervin, [You might recall that she was at Kitsilano United before it and St James amalgamated to form Trinity.] and they were over for dinner on Monday evening. Jim Left for Victoria on Wednesday and will be back in town today, for the night, before driving back to Medicine Hat. I'm organizing a table of bridge as Jim is a very good player. Too, too bad you two won't be around as we would have included you in dinner plans and had two tables instead of one! Next time, bring Elaine along and stay longer!
Again, sorry we didn't connect. Fondestos from Lady Dar to you both. We are off to the Farmers' Market this morning so looking forward to seeing many of the vendors we've come to know since moving here. Stay well. Travel safely and enjoy the rest of your Okanagan adventure! Cheers, Patrizzio!
Pics: Jim with Linda; Lady Dar and Chloë; on Chloë's deck at Sendero; Yellow chairs in use and back back patio on Thursday evening; Black Dog, Painted Rock, Pentâge and then with Shana at Upper Bench.
Hello Donna Maria and Herardo!
Just a quick note to say how much we enjoyed your visit! Please make it even shorter next time! We both had a wonderful visit, even if we were not invited back to the Airstream for appetizers and inferior, corked wine! Must away as we are off to the Farmer's Market. Tree-Hugger, Commie-Pinko Jim is coming, along with Linda, for dinner and bridge this evening so if you are turned back at the border, come on over with some of the expensive wine you have been keeping for yourselves! I'll send along more snapolas in next message. Travel safely. Stay well. Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Monday evening with Jim and Linda! Thursday evening!Hello Lost Sunglasses People! I'll buy you a new pair at the market this morning, Herardo! Cheers, Patrizzio! PS: Note last snap is out of focus! Who took picture, I wonder?
Map and Stats for walk:
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3640078852#.XNesizBd0yM.email
Hi Twin Falls Travelers!
Lovely to hear your on-the-road experiences, Maggie May! Pleased you enjoyed card and puzzle! Thanks for the wine-tasting pitturas, even if I look like a Super-Grump! Absolutely delighted that you continued your freeloading ways into the US at the Kicking Horse Casino!
Busy time since we waved goodbye. Saturday we strolled down to the Farmer's Market and Lady Dar met with the couple she is to marry, in June, at the St Germaine Café, on Main Street, while I visited with various vendors further along the street. I popped back to see if meeting was over, about an hour later but she had departed. We know the owner, slightly, as he is the nephew of Val, wife of Dan, whose father owned Ace Cycle, in Vancouver, next to Young Brothers, on Broadway, not all that far from Hotel Kits. I knew Dan, from when he started his own bike shop, after a falling out with his father and his brother-in-law. When they left Vancouver they moved to Galagher Lake and about a year or so ago, they relocated to Naramata. The view from their house is one of the best I've experienced from the east side of the lake. At any rate, I reminded Christopher who I was and he introduced me to his mother, Helen, I think, Val's older sister, who happened to be visiting from Vancouver.
Back home to do couple of sets of shoulder exercises and then I readied myself to hoof it along the KVR. Left at around 2:20 pm and as day was quite warm, I filled up my camel pack to keep well hydrated. Starting to feel pretty good as my legs seem to be adjusting to the activity. I think riding the stationary bike helped even though I'm probably using all sorts of other muscles on the trail. Fairly extensive cloud cover helped with the heat as did the fairly brisk wind, out of the south. Always enjoy the views and was quite taken with a lone sailboat scudding along the relatively smooth surface of the lake. Not much wildlife but I did see a teeny, tiny field mouse at the edge of the trail, near some of my favourite clay outcroppings. My goal for the day was the hops farm, just before the intersection of the KVR and Lochore Road, not all that far beyond the McCullock Trestle. I was surprised to note that the field, which had been filled with huge uprights to support the netting on which the hops grew to a very considerable height, had all been removed. Not sure if the land, now graded, will be planted with vines or some other crop.
Almost directly across the KVR is the Trail Store which sold slushies and such and where we bought our Christmas tree two years ago. The place has since been sold and I'm not sure if there are new owners or not. Anyway, I turned around here and made my way back, relishing the breeze in my face as I had worked up a pretty good sweat by then. Back home by just before 5:00 pm, in time to do last set of shoulder exercises and then have a quick shower and change before Zircon, [aka Jim Hillson], and Linda Ervin arrived for dinner. WE had invited them to dinner and afterwards to play bridge. Linda doesn't play so we'd asked Susan Finlay to complete table. Linda left after meeting Susan and we enjoyed four rounds before we bade goodnight to Jimbo and O Susannah. Lady Dar caught up on an episode of Hinterland while I did dishes. By the time I was ready to watch TV I was too tired to do so as walk had finally caught up with me. I brushed and flossed and said goodnight to Lady Dar, telling her I was headed for bed. Fell asleep almost immediately but vaguely remember hearing her turn out her bedside lamp.
After a sound sleep I was up at 7:30 am, Sunday morning, to feed the felines, tuna cat food, this morning, as a special Mother's Day treat! Chloë and I had arranged to walk along the KVR while Lady Dar was a churchin'! I managed to do my first set of shouldares before she arrived, around 9:20 am and we left Burns shortly thereafter. Parked at the lot, just down the road from Hillside and set off across Naramata Road at almost 10:00 am exactly. Chloë had wanted to head back down the KVR towards Penticton but I persuaded her to go north, towards the Little Tunnel, although we not planning to go that far today.
The Peach City Runners Blossom 5/10 Miler was in progress, [the latter starting on Languedoc Road], when we crossed Naramata Road and just before we reached the continuation of the KVR, friend, Leandro, winemaker at Checkmate, came pounding by, so we cheered him on! Simply gorgeous day, already, over 24º C, when Chloë checked once we were on the trail itself, and projected to reach 26º C. [In fact it was 27.6º C when we returned to car!] Trail was quite busy with bicycles and dog walkers so we had to keep our wits about us and our ears open not to impede the cyclistii.
The lake looked like hammered, dimpled metal, the surface mirror smooth for much of its expanse. We enjoyed chatting about all sorts of things so really lost track of time. Just before we reached Arawana Road and Workman Place, the latter leading to Kettle Ridge Lakeview Estates, a fairly recent, high-end development I've often cycled around, we were overtaken by Nancita and Guillermo, out for a ride. Visited for a few minutes before they rode off and not long after we turned around to retrace our steps.
Lovely cool breeze so we really didn't feel oppressed by the rising temperature. As well, a fair bit of cloud cover so we weren't baking in unfiltered sunshine, all that much, whenever the trail was un-shaded. About half-way back, we spotted a lone quail perched near the very top of a tall, dead tree. We surmised he was looking for a mate! Slight downhill grade helped a tad as when we re-crossed Naramata Road it was almost three hours from start to finish! I was delighted with outing as it was the longest, both in distance covered and duration, since I embarked on my latest regimen. A most decent work-out for Chloë, as well, since she simply hasn't had the time, given work pressures, to walk over last few weeks or so. At any rate, we congratulated ourselves and enjoyed the drive back to Burns, all the windows wide open and the lovely breeze cooling our sweaty selves! Map and Stats for walk:
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3643276491#.XNiQVC8EnUg.email
Chloë dropped me off and came inside to plan rest of day. She was making dinner. Originally, to be done at her place but since we all wanted to watch the next episode of Game of Thrones we decided to eat at Burns since Chloë doesn't subscribe to HBO. Then she headed back to Sendero, Lady Dar following. She had picked up some plants at Garden Works on her way back from church and wanted to help planting them, etc., as well as with arranging new rugs Chloë had bought for her patio. After they left I fixed myself a hearty brunch of overlefts, [I was famished after great walk!], and then proceeded to do the last two sets of shoulder exercises.
Lady Dar was back just before I was finished and I then I had a quick shower and change before we set off for Township 7, for a glass of Rosé, part of the winery's Mother's Day event. We arrived around 4:30 pm and were only people there so we had a most pleasant time, chatting with Devon, chap who had been in charge of Tasting Room but will be working with winemaker, starting on Monday morning, as his long-term career plan had always been to become more involved with wine-making process. Lovely evening so it was a terrific way to whet our appetites for meal to come. Bought a bottle of chilled Rosé for Lady Dar, along with four roses to support fund-raiser for Breast Cancer, and then toddled off home.
Chloë arrived shortly after we were back, having stopped off at IGA for ingredients for meal she had planned. While she started on main course, [shrimps in pesto!], she fixed us appetizers, dip and rice crackers which we nibbled on, watching an episode of Hinterland. Shrimps were to go on top of a salad, [cherry tomatoes, cukes, red onion and Feta cheese], and once salad was ready and shrimp drained, Chef Chloë joined us in the Rumpus Room and we ran the episode of GT she had not seen. I watched some of it but since I'd already seen it, I did a few kitchen chores while The Sisterhood were glued to the screen. After Chloë was caught up she returned to the kitchen to prepare the shrimp and we re-started Hinterland.
Didn't take her long to ready shrimp and when done we were called to serve ourselves. What a wonderful topping the pestos drenched shrimp made for the delicious salad. We took our filled bowls back into the RR and put on the next episode of GT, just recorded at 6:00 pm. Another cliff-hanger so we are already counting down until next Sunday! Then into the living room for the presentation of Mother's Day presents. I had two small gifts, a bar of cherry soap, from one of the local orchardists, along with a jar of lemon curd from another booth, both from the Farmers' Market. I gave Lady Dar a bar as an Xmas stocking stuffer and she really liked it, while the lemon curd is her absolute favourite, preferring to eat it with a spoon, right out of the jar, as opposed to slathering it on toast!
Chloë had three gifts for her mother. The first, a contraption for holding corn cobs on the bbq, a present from Etta and Duke and then a gag item, a delightful, small garden gnome! We had seen them at Rona when looking at garden furniture a few weeks ago and agreed it would be a wonderful "tease" as Lady Dar cannot abide such ornaments. As far as gnomes go, this one is actually quite adorable and Chloë wanted it for her deck but we both thought we'd like to upset her mother first! Real gift was a state-of-the-art fitbit inspire HR, she and Ayn decided they would give her. Now all she needs is an advanced computer programming degree to start using it! Dessert was two designer ice-cream tubs, Häagen-Dazs chocolate/peanut butter and cookie dough flavours! After presentations, Chloë started her Mother on initializing fitbit while Scullion Patrizzio did the dishes. By the time various apps were downloaded to her iPhone and sketchily understood, Chloë was ready to head home.
Although
it was only just after 9:00 pm, she was rather tired from our walk, not
having done such a distance of late. Thanking her for the wonderful
meal, her Mother for the lovely gifts, we said goodnight and returned to
the RR to watch the final episode of Unforgotten.
Absolutely chilling portrait of the serial killer who is eventually
charged with a murder, committed over twenty years ago. Interestingly
enough, the actor, Alex Jennings, who plays the psychopath, is also in
Victoria, another series we have enjoyed. In this series he is Leopold I
of Belgium and it took me a few episodes of Unforgotten
to place him as his accent, in the latter, is so heavy and pronounced
that he creates a completely different character, terribly unlikable,
for different reasons, although not as monstrously evil, of course. A
measure, without question, of his remarkable, chameleon-like ability.
Then we polished off the episode of Hinterland
we had been watching earlier. Talk about tortured detectives in both
series! Exhausts us to watch them have to deal with the crimes they must
investigate and somehow try to navigate their own troubled personal
lives. Extremely sensitive portraits of complex characters, struggling
with terrible demons. Makes us feel blessed that we only have to deal
with Freeloaders!
Lazy
sleep-in until almost 8:00 am this morning. Answered a few messages
while sipping my morning java and then attacked my first set of shouldares.
After that I loaded up the Kona with recycling and headed tot he depot.
After I emptied the car dropped by London Drugs for a replacement gas
cylinder for SodaStream. Also inquired about a lens cap for Chloë's
camera as I wanted one to protect it from dust, etc., while walking or
hiking. However, model in question doesn't accept a cover so I'm faced
with buying a model which does, [to replace one that was rendered
useless when I fell in Auschwitz!], or else a camera case. Probably opt
for latter, in terms of expense at this time, even though it is a
"klunky" solution, not being as convenient, of course, and bulkier to
carry around my neck.
Back
home to have a bite of brunch. Fried up some of the young garlic,
[almost like large green onions, but stronger, more pungent, of course],
I picked up at the Saturday market, along with some overlefts and once
I've sent this message I have "orders" to work on tidying up my office!
No rest with Lady Dar around. Fondestos from her, to you both, cleaning
up the back patio stairs and bbq area. Enjoy the rest of your trip.
Travel safely. Stay well. Cheers, Patrizzio!
No comments:
Post a Comment