Many Hats and The Savannah Sipping Society Blues: Thursday, July 25th!

So I accept these awards on behalf of the cake bakers and all of those other women who can do some things quite as important, if not more important, than flying, as well as in the name of women flying today. -Amelia Earhart (24 Jul 1897-1937)






 
Greetings from the coast: How are you? I have missed your newsy emails and wanted to check up on you and see how you recovering from your surgery.
We heard the wonderful new about Chloe!!! Life sure is funny how it deals out the cards. Hard to imagine that she went through all the motions to get pregnant and then finally gets knocked up the good old fashioned way. You must be beyond excitement.

anticipating the patter of tiny feet ( and I don't mean the velvety claws of your darling kitty cats ) around the house. The summer seems to be slipping by all too rapidly although we do look very much forward to spending some time with you and Corinne at Spirit Ridge in a couple weeks. I have already begun purchasing some lovely vino to bring along with us as Al and I stopped off at Everything Wine last night on a little spree.
 
I had lunch with my Mom yesterday to celebrate her birthday. Things are going fairly well with her prognosis. The medication she is on has slowed to growth of the cancer and given her a lot more energy and vitality. She and my Dad are hoping to do a bit of travelling while she is considered stable and are hoping to plan a trip back east via rail to visit some old dear friends in August.

Please do bring me up to date on how you are doing and what you're doing to fill your time as your shoulder continues to heal. Also, what is the official name of your abode? Burns Street Inn? I have forgotten and am having a little something made for your door which I will deliver when we see you. Cheers! Send our love to Corinne and Chloe. Love Marilyn xoxoxox

Dearest Marilyn, and Big Molly, of course! How delicious, delightful and deloverly to hear from you! Very pleased to hear that Sue's condition has stabilized, to the extent that she and Heraldo can consider travelling. Belated Birthday Greeting to her, from us both.] I really do apologize for not being a better correspondent. Yes, indeed, wonderful, wonderful news about Chloë's pregnancy. Lady Dar accompanied her to her ultrasound this past Monday and all was well. Nurse could tell sex but Chloë doesn't wish to know. Quite a story, overall, as you say! Just like her Mother who was "knocked up" before either of her marriages!!! We are still "arguing" about "Official" name. Ayn thinks Burns Street Base Camp is best and Lady Dar is leaning towards that. [Burns Street Base Camp Corinne!] I like one I've used in Subject line but it is too, too long for something snappy or catchy. I'm coming around to Burns Street Bistro now that we are growing our own vegetables! 

Again, sorry for my radio silence! No excuses but plenty, plenty reasons! In the main, Visitors! Visitors! Visitors! Certainly not complainin', just splainin', Rikki Ricardo! This being the case I simply haven't had a moment,[literally, until this morning], to sit down and collect my thoughts, look at my messages, let alone respond to any! Except for a couple of "alerts" to both the Bridge Gang and Book Club, this is the the very first composition since July 12th when we went to see Michael Kaeshammer at the Dream Café, [fabulous, fabulous performance!], with good friends, Denise Dangereuse and Wild Bill, up from Vancouver for tens days or so. They stayed overnight on Friday so that we didn't have to drive to and from venue, but could stroll, or stagger, along Penticton Creek!

Took in the Farmers' Market with them on Saturday. Lady Dar had to work on the wedding she was performing later that afternoon, together with one on Sunday. Had to be downtown at 5:45 am, Sunday morn, as we had volunteered to work at the GranFondo, bike event I've ridden in three times before. After our shift was over we bumped into Ellen, wife of friend, Ben, with whom I used to play squash, and their oldest son, Marcus. Ben and Marcus' girlfriend were in one of the shorter events, 50 km, and we invited them back to our house after they had down some wine tasting. That evening we had a wonderful bbq with close friends, Dame Judith, [also a Marriage Officiant and in both bridge and book group], and King Kevin, President of the South Okanagan Whiskey Tasting Society, [Lady Dar is now Secretary!], at their place with a gorgeous view of both lkae and surrounding hills.

Monday I had another physio appointment, [at Penticton regional Hospital], and am pleased to say that my shoulder is coming along nicely, if slowly. Nothing to do with surgery, really, but rather the shoulder muscles and tendons that need much, much stretching and strengthening, after almost twenty-five years of damage and inflexibility. In fact, I am quite disciplined about spending four hours, or more, per day, doing the sets of exercises Irene, my physio, sets me. [Another reason for lack of correspondence, together with whatever else isgoing on.]. That evening we enjoyed hosting our bridge group and Tuesday evening, Maggie, [Chloë's nanny from 1983/84], and Hans, her lovely, lovely boyfriend, arrived for three nights. Before Chloë and Lady Dar collected them at the airport, Kid Chelene and I drove to Spiller Road to load his pickup to the hilt with firewood from our friend's lot there.

Long hike, 12km, with them, [Lady Dar had meetings], on Wednesday and then a great day of wine-tasting on Thursday. It was Steel Magnolia's birthday on Wednesday, Lady Dar's on Friday, so we split the difference and celebrated both that evening.Chloë joined us so it was a fabulous time, all around. Took them to the airport quite early on Friday and that evening we attended the Poplar Grove Wine Club Appreciation Party. Another hoot and we met quite a few friends from year before, as well as others we know from town. Invited two couples back to our place so another late evening. 

Farmers' Market next day with another wedding for Lady Dar in the late afternoon. Once she was back home, Chloë drove us to Upper Bench Winery for their wine club bash. Sat with friends from the night before and enjoyed another terrific evening, much, much smaller that one at Poplar Grove but all of us were more than ready for a quieter time, by this time! Chloë had returned to our place and she very kindly picked us up after party. Invited Kara and Angela back for a night-cap. Sunday, Lady Dar had another wedding, in Kaleden, and when that was over, Chloë picked us up and we drove to Deep Roots for dinner. DD and WB had invited us for a bbq and with stunning view it was another truly enjoyable evening. DD and WB were returning to Vancouver on Monday and that night was only evening we could "squeeze in" a visit.

Another physio session on Monday and then two tables of bridge at our place that evening. Tuesday was first "free" day we'd had in almost two weeks and then on Wednesday, another physio appointment and then our Book Club, hosted by Senka, of Terravista Winery, at their gorgeous home. Robertito, her husband joined us, although he hadn't read the book, [John Boyne's The Hearts Invisible Furies. We saw him, two years ago, at the VWF.], and he enjoyed our craziness, muchly.

Yoga for Lady Dar this morning while I "attacked" my keyboard. In between trying to catch up with email and helping Lady Dar with dinner menu for Friday, I do a set of exercises while watching recorded episodes of this year's Tour de France.Tonight we are off to see a Many Hats theatre production, The Savannah Sipping Society, with friends, my "cousin", Michelle Dunn, and her amore, Anntonio, with dinner beforehand, at the restaurant beside the theatre. Flamin' and Sarge are coming for dinner, along with their friends, Jill and Herb, up from Denver, Friday evening. Whew! I need to go back to bed with Duke, lying at the foot of our bed! Looking forward to catching up with you two. Until then, stay well. Fondestos from Lady Dar in the midst of making potato salad for tomorrow's dinner. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Pics: Michael at The Dream; Ellen and Ben; KVR with Hens and Maggie; Hens with firewood from day before, collected with Kid Chelene; Bench 1775 picnic; Birthdays at FSB; Dana, [classmate of mine in LS], and Wayne, her husband, at Poplar Grove; Kara and Angela at Upper Bench; Book Club with Senka and the Šljivovica which I managed to enjoy! Swiss Chard, tomatoes and zucchini from our raised beds!

Yoga for Lady Dar Thursday morning while I "attacked" my keyboard. In between trying to catch up with email and helping Lady Dar with dinner menu for Friday's meal, I did a set of exercises while watching recorded episodes of this year's Tour de France. That night we were off to see a Many Hats theatre production, The Savannah Sipping Society, with friends, my "cousin", Michelle Dunn, and her amore, Antonio, with dinner beforehand, at the restaurant beside the theatre.
 

Bridge Night: To all you lovely people who I have played bridge with on Monday nights (and other nights). Due to a medical issue of which I am not at liberty to discuss, I am going to have to withdraw my presence from bridge nights. Thank you all for your kind patience as I endeavoured to relearn some of my bridge knowledge. I have enjoyed playing with you all. You can remove me from the mailing list. Thanks once again. Judi aka Dame JudithHi Dame Judith! Very sorry to have you leave the group but understand. Trust your medical issue will be resolved and you'll be in the pink again. I have removed you from bridge mailing list. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Bridge Babes!