Johnny Appleseed and the Grappa B&B Blues: Sunday, November 3rd!

A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday. -Alexander Pope, poet (1688-1744)

Tim Kelly It’s difficult to capture rain on an iPad, however the petrichor of rain falling (after such a long period) is intoxicating Patrick James Dunn Hope raindrops keep falling on your head, Lord Chardoooooonaaaay! Cheers, Patrice!
November Schedule Could someone please switch with Donna for November 9th. Thanks Carole Hello, One and All! Donna, I could switch Saturday, November 9th, for Saturday, November 16th. Let me know and I'll plan accordingly. Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio!

Sounds great, we'll see you tomorrow, but you could come around 5:00.
Rita and I were talking about the time change and thought we'd get going a tad earlier in light of our sensitive routines. Well trick that clock this time.
There will be kids, their kids and Gordon as well. This is what we do Sundays:) GP Hi again, Grappa Grandpa! Just read your message this morning, [Thanks for reminding us about time change as I was up at "7:00 am" and wondering why our cats had not bothered to cause a fuss, agitating for breakfast, and had let us sleep in. After seeing your message I realized we had not put the clocks back last night before retiring!], so we'll adjust our schedule to suit new opening hours!

Must away to start dehydrating my second batch of Gala apples. On Friday, Lady Dar and I picked eight large bags from an orchard between Middle and Upper Bench Roads, just past Roche. Chloë met owner, Bill Sliva, through her work, a number of years ago, and he has been extremely generous in allowing us to pick seasonal fruit since then. Looking forward to seeing the gathering of Clan Laven. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Patrizzio, Good morning - and yes, everything seems to be a bit later than usual. Nice haul of firewood! I have been chopping logs the past week to bolster our own stockpiles. The movie sounds like our kind of fare... I will see if Rita wants to join me. I have a guys night on Tuesday to see something more mainstream - Terminator!

I'm curious about where that development is going to be. Blake will know a bit more. I was aware of something planned for the north side of the garbage dump, but not that the subdivision would come down to Naramata Rd. Till dinner, when we meet again. Bill

Hi Jos, Patrick, I am available Monday night for the sweet revenge. If game is on please count me in. Cheers. Mike Hello Summerlandians, Naramatian, et al! Yes, game is on. Olga Polga and Theresa, are you playing. Let me know and we'll plan accordingly. Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio! Count me in! If you need me. Carol Hi Chooch, et al! Looks like Theresa and Olga Polga are off the bridge hook as Carolina has committed to playing. [You can ride with us, Chooch, or ask Diane if there is room in her car.] If either of you two really want to play, Lady Dar is willing to sit out as she has plenty to do, helping Chloë ready her place for the coming baby! Let me know and we'll plan accordingly. Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Simi Prickly Pear! Haven't heard from Patrizzia yet but I assume shipment will only be one case, Alack and Alas! You haven't commented on damage to your roof. Has offending tree/limb been removed? Please send wood to Penticton!!! Always need oak even though I collected a truck-load of firewood, [mostly fir and pine], from friends on Spiller Road, [Phillipo is trying to reduce fuel load on their property.], yesterday afternoon. This is the second time Corey has helped me with his truck. This load is for next year as I "seasoned" last year's haul for this winter. Did you know, Dear Vicentians, that same developer of Sendero Canyon is planning a 250 home sub-division, below Robson's property, which will stretch right down to Naramata Road? Poor Gilliana and Phillipo originally bought where they did to be away from such development!

Before that we were at the Christmas Craft Fair, at the Convention Centre. After making the rounds there I left The Sisterhood to return home as Kid Chelene was coming by to help collect aforementioned firewood. Lady Dar and Chloë continued on to Craft Fair at the Lakeshore. [We brought almost a carload of baby things back from two of her friends in Vancouver so she has done very well on this account.] As I think I've mentioned, if all goes as planned she will be induced on November 23rd!

Later that afternoon/early evening we were off to see Motherless Brooklyn. Was really looking forward to see Edward Norton in his latest project. Nothing but very, very positive reviews but I am a fan nonetheless. Thoroughly enjoyed the film. Period recreation of NY, post-WW II, in early '50's, was wonderful. Everyone's superb acting, [Willem Dafoe, Bruce Willis, (Lionel's mentor, Frank Minna, operates a detective agency. Lionel works to solve the mystery of Minna's demise.), Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Alec Baldwin], the intelligent, well-written script and together with Norton's remarkable portrayal of Lionel Essrog, a private investigator who struggles with Tourette syndrome and has a photographic memory, makes the film nothing short of riveting. Catch it if you can!

Must away to start dehydrating my second batch of Gala apples. [Did first batch Saturday morning.] On Friday, Lady Dar and I picked eight large bags from an orchard between Middle and Upper Bench Roads, just past Roche Winery. Chloë met owner, Bill Sliva, through her work, a number of years ago, and he has been extremely generous in allowing us to pick seasonal fruit since then.

Have been invited to a large family, [children/grandchildren], dinner this evening, off Naramata Road. Looking forward to seeing the gathering of Clan Laven. Bill makes his own wine and distills Grappa, both gangbusters! Fondestos from Lady Dar, still in her dressing gown, to her favourite Vicentians! Cheers, Patrizzio!

Pics: We left Vancouver Thursday morning and stopped at Costco, in Abbotsford, to do some grocery shopping. Nothing left as far as Halloween candy was concerned so had to settle for a case of small bags of potatoe chips, etc. Also picked up a box of Excel to hand out. Turned out gum was a big hit. One ghost opted for gum, imagining a small packet of Chiclets and when presented with what he had he shouted out to his mom, "Wow, a whole package!"

Anyway, when we stopped at Manning Park, to charge eKona, fed two birds a few chips. Later, the cheeky raven tried to dislodge the cardboard case I'd crushed, after emptying it, and flattened and wedged between recycling containers, to keep it from blowing away, hopped onto our car and proceeded to peck at our wiper blades, fixedly eyeing Lady Dar's packet of crisps through the windshield. She threw a couple out the window and another raven joined the fray. Then, both returned to the hood and "attacked" the wiper blades again!

More chips out the window and another return. Had to honk horn a couple of times to chase them away. 

Such gorgeous, frighteningly intelligent creatures. Hence the Trickster of indigenous mythology. Had close-ups of their magnificent plumage and terrifying claws and beaks. Not so small eagles, certainly not to be messed with given their powerful hooked beaks and huge, razor talons. Christmas Fair: In front of a lavender wreath; with Leigh from Balsamic Bliss, [Think you met her this past summer.]; fab wooden toys! Kid Chelene; bags and bags of Galas! Duke keeping us company this morning!

Hello Naramatia! Thank you both for the more than delightful evening, the fabulous, fabulous food and drink! It was lovely to meet your sons, Blake and Gabrielle, and their wives, Amanda and Jesse, and all the very well-behaved grandchildren! Great to see Gordon and to meet Kent, of course. Will be sending out an invitation to our Open House, Saturday, December 14th, so do hope Clan Laven will be able to pop by as Burns Street Bistro is child-friendly. By then we trust we will have a new grandchild to compete with your flock! Thanks again. Stay well. Fondest from Lady Dar to one and all. Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: The Good Life in Naramatia! 

A fingerpost in Rushton, Cheshire, UK

Photo: Jeff Buck

Patrizzio, your company was most appreciated. And look at you two, very photogenic! We'll see you soon for another gathering of the clan! Hi Grappa Man! Thanks again for the wonderful evening, and the snapola. Fondestos from Lady Dar to you and Rita. Stay well. See you soon, I trust. Cheers, Patrizzio! 
  

Hi all, This Thursday, we have 2 different hikes to choose from.  Read on. Hike # 1-  “The South Slope”.  This hike will be organized and led by Larry Shannon and Graham Stokes.  You will: -meet at 0700 (yes, early) at the Cherry Lane north parking lot on Warren Avenue  (Southerners meet at 0720 at Twin Lakes Store and Gas Station on Highway 3A.  Summerland folks meet at 0640 at IGA parking lot in S’land) -Carpool and drive to the Ashnola Valley, to the Ewart Creek Road and bridge and then to the Ewart cabin. -hike up the Ewart Creek trail, the Juniper Creek trail , and the South Slope to the South Slope cabins. -explore the South Slope and hopefully see great numbers of mountain sheep -return to the Ewart cabin via Starvation Flats, the Corkscrew trail, and the Ewart Creek trail -return to Penticton. This is a fairly demanding hike, but with great payoffs in scenery!  Be prepared for a long day.Are you interested?  If so, please let Graham know.

Image: Amazon

Hike #2:  “Mount Laidlaw”  This mountain is to the north of the Twin Lakes Store and Gas Station.  You will:-meet at 0900 at Cherry Lane north parking lot on Warren Avenue (0840 at IGA parking lot in Summerland). -carpool and drive to the Sheep Creek Road (just before Yellow Lake), and then up Sheep Creek Road to the meadows -hike to the summit of Mount Laidlaw and return -choose a place for debriefing and refreshment. -return to Penticton Are you interested?  If so, please let me know, Cheers, Jim

Gordon Pasha!