Tinsel Town Taco Blues: Saturday, December 14th!

Of life's two chief prizes, beauty and truth, I found the first in a loving heart and the second in a laborer's hand. -Kahlil Gibran, mystic, poet, dramatist, and artist (1883-1931) 

Hello Clan Sutherland, et al! I am writing to you on behalf of Rowan James and his mother to inquire about the date that they can expect Ashlynn and Avery to start, as live-in nannies, on Winnipeg Street! He found the interview session, this past Saturday, much to his liking and can hardly wait for The Sendero Canyon Kids to take up residence. The other applicants did very well but RJ thinks The Double Trouble, Double AA Babes are more fun! Thanks as well, for the fab bottle of "Popular" Grove for my birthday and for all the wonderful dips and sauces, to compliment Ms Tinsel Town's dynamite tacos, Beckster!
 

Thanks, as well, for putting together Rowan's crib, more than a challenge for his grandparents! Must away to put another log on the fire to keep Lady Dar warm and cosy. Thanks again for lovely evening. Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Nanny Camp!
Fabulous pics ! Corey looks like he wants another one!!! Flamin' Just as much as The Katzenjmmer Nannies!

For your OF picnic photo series. I sent you these yesterday! Hope you haven't gone it, you can then include the ones attached! See soon, cheers, Aarturos

Hi Late-out-of-the-Gate Aarturos and Josefina! Sorry, Aarturos, but I had sent out album before your message arrived or I certainly would have included snaps you sent along. Nevertheless, Christmas Picnic was loads and loads of fun so a great way to start festive season. 

Must away to put up lights at front of house. Before we knew Ayn was flying up from LA this weekend, we had planned our Open House for today. Most of people Lady Dar had invited, originally, have been advised of change of date to January 1st, but just in case some were missed, we will have dinner here tonight. Ayn will be making her special Tinsel Town Tacos and Famiglia Sutherland, from Sendero Canyon, will join us, as their two girls, Avery and Ashlynn, have not met Rowan James yet. Fondestos from Lady Dar, barking out orders to me, to you both. Stay well. Cheers, Patrizzio, atop a stepladder!

Is bridge at Carol's this Monday? Susan Hello Susan, et al! As far as I know, bridge is still on at Carol's place as she has very kindly offered to host. To date, I have not heard back from any others so I'm hoping this message will provoke a response so that we'll know if we are playing or not. For those of you who are planning to play, please let me know, as soon as you have a moment, so that we can plan accordingly and let Carol know if she has to rent more tables and chairs! Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio! Pic: Rowan James has offered to play if we need a fourth or an eighth bidder!
 

After I finished putting up the string of lights around the front window, under Lady Dar's critical gaze, she drove over to Winnipeg Street to collect the Rowan James Entourage as they had  errands aplenty. Then, I split some of the larger logs that I had been drying, on the south side of the house, for last to years, and brought in a couple of basketfuls of said wood, before laying the fire for later. Once all this was done I headed into the guest bedroom to start my shouldares. Was finished just after 4:00 pm and was hoping The Sisterhood would be home shortly as I wanted to pick up fall release at Roche as well as attend The Pinot Project, a collaboration of Okanagan wineries dedicated to producing terroir-driven Pinot Noir.
 
Stag's Hollow Winery and Roche Wines have made 4 single vineyard Pinot Noir wines from 2 different terroirs. Fermented, aged, and bottled separately but available as a set, each 4-bottle pack is a tasting experience ready to be shared. Is there a unique sense of place that shines through? Or does the winemaker's style leave a lasting imprint on the character of the wine? We will celebrate the release of the Pinot Project with a drop-in tasting of the 4 - 2015 wines on at Roche.
 

Walked in the winery door at 4:45 pm, just before they were about to close. Dylan was there and had just started when five others arrived. Hockey parents whose team had lost so they were drowning their sorrows. One couple from Victoria, whose son was on team, and sister and mother from Kamloops. Simply wonderful tasting and it was quite remarkable to taste the difference, not so much in terms of terroir but rather in terms of wine-making style. I preferred the 2015 Roche Pinot made from Stag's Hollow fruit, but the Stag's Hollow 2016 Pinot, made from Roche fruit! Dylan felt the same about both. 

Saying goodbye to the visitors and thanking Dylan, I set off for Cannery Brewing to pick up a number of Growlettes. Kid Chelene likes beer and I wanted to try their Oatmeal Stout, 9%! Both Maya and Katie wanted Chloë to drink this as they insisted it would help her with breast feeding! As it turned out she wasn't all that partial to it but I thought it was terrific. Kid Chelene sided with her but he was more than happy with the new Bourbon I picked up a few days earlier: Legent, a Kentucky Straight Whiskey, 47%, a fascinating collaboration between Master Distiller Fred Noe and Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo. Will be curious to hear what Kevin Ritcey thinks of it as we tasted a raft of Bourbons at the last SOWTS pouring.