Not that I want to be a god or a hero. Just to change into a tree, grow
for ages, not hurt anyone. -Czeslaw Milosz, poet and novelist (30 Jun
1911-2004)
Up at 6:30 am after a delicious sleep, dreaming of how I'd spend the $40 Lady Dar now owes me after she made a bet that Jack Ashton, the Vicar, in Call the Midwife, was not DC Ian McLeash, a minor character in Endeavour. Will make sure she stops by the bank this morning , en route to the Farmer's Market!
Friends and family: On July 10th I'm riding in the Penticton GranFondo, (160 km), in support of Grandmothers for Africa. If you'd like to donate to this remarkable organization you can do so on Facebook or at my personal page: https://slf.akaraisin.com/pledge/Participant/Home.aspx?seid=11694&mid=9&pid=2756658 Thanks and Cheers, Patrizzio!
Dear Patrick, Lynn Copeland just made a donation in support of your event. You are now one step closer to your fundraising goal!
Hi Lynn! I just received an automated message from The Stephen Lewis Foundation informing me that you had just made a donation in support of my GranFondo/Grandmothers for Africa event. Cannot tell you how much your generosity is appreciated. Now, all I have to do is finish the ride! Training, such as it is, is going well and forecast is for cooler weather next Sunday so that will certainly help. Did a 100 km ride yesterday which included Fairview Mountain, the last, longest, steepest ascent of the ride, coming at the beginning of last 60 km so one is usually pretty weary by this point.
Over the course of the coming week I plan to ride various other sections of the course, the better to be as familiar with what lies ahead. Since this will be my 3rd GF, I am already reasonably familiar with route but I find it is always psychologically very helpful to reacquaint myself more closely with the overall route before doing the full distance in one go.
That being said, we went to an Hourglass, (Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend), Vertical Tasting, (5 vintages: 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014), at Black Widow this morning at 10:00 am! So much for my training regimen! At any rate, it was a most pleasant affair and we had the opportunity to chat with another couple we'd seen at other tastings there. Kari and Brent Tarasoff are hop growers and have recently started Square One, (www.squareonehops.com), one two acres below Naramata Road, down from Ruby Blues Winery.
I've ridden by it a number of times as the KVR trail runs past their farm and the plantings are unmistakable if you have ever seen hops growing. (Most production in North America is found in and around Yakima, Washington, as you might know, and we have visited this wine region on many occasions.) Brent is an agro-consultant and has many long-term clients on the Prairies. His family is from Saskatchewan, near Yorkton, I believe, and he and Kari still have a working farm and home in Alberta. I gather they will eventually relocate to Naramata but for now he is back and forth and Kari is managing the hops endeavour. A most interesting couple indeed.
After the tasting we stopped by Upper Bench to collect our latest wine club release, along with the three cheese offerings that go with this particular membership. Also picked up the same for our friends, Flamin' and Sarge, who will be staying here when we are in Vancouver for the Folk Fest. Will you be going this year? Joan and Paul are coming to visit and will be staying over the 25th and 26th, bopping between a couple of nights at Tinhorn Creek and then Kelowna!
Back home to drop off wine and then we strolled to the Farmer's Market. One of the largest so far, in part due to long weekend. Picked up quite a few fresh vegetables although our own tiny garden is keeping us well supplied with delicious cherry tomatoes, lettuce, green onions and mountains of kale, not to mention sage, dill, oregano and basil! Have planted two pepper varieties, in small planters, but they won't be ready until later, I gather. From the look of the flowers they seem to be doing well so am keen to see what they taste like when ready. Medical marijuana next!
Must away as Lady Dar is making threatening noises about the garage and the adjacent, so-called Rumpus Room. We are expecting visitors, (From Vancouver, Nicole, daughter of Flamin'/Sarge, with her one year old son Jaxon, and Nadia, a former Swiss boarder, 2010, en route to Australia, after falling in love in Mexico!), tomorrow, for next three nights, and I am charged with tidying up as both have been neglected for a bit. There is a very comfortable, efficient cabinet Murphy bed in latter and although we are not sure who will sleep there, we need to ready space. We just returned from Winnipeg, (after being in Manitoba for last three weeks to celebrate Corinne's parent's 71st wedding anniversary), this past Wednesday and I have been procrastinating ever since, using my GF training as my excuse!
Thanks again for your wonderful donation! Of course, hope to thank you in person at Folk Fest and you are always welcome to stay here if you plan on visiting the Okanagan. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Pics: Lynne came for dinner last night. Peter was away on business in Cuba. Black Widow Hourglass tasting. Brent, Shannon Lancaster, daughter/assistant winemaker of/to Dick, her dad/owner/winemaker, Kari, after tasting. Bees at one of honey vendors at Farmer's Market on Main Street.
Hello Snobbish Sandy Beach Lodge People! Or should I say, lethargic beach people! Very pleased to hear that your week went so well. Terrific that you joined Terravista's wine club. Bob is a very interesting chap and Chloë loves Benjamin, their lovely dog. He made it to the Winery Dogs of Naramata calendar! Don't know Little Engine so will have to visit. Perhaps this coming week.
We have never been to Nelson but hope to visit at some point in the not too, too distant future. We passed by the turn-off last Wednesday on our way home. Have wanted to visit ever since we saw Steve Martin in Roxanne, filmed there, in 1987 or so, in, of all places, Sonoma, in a cinema off the colonial-era Sonoma Plaza, on one of our early wine-tasting trips to California.
We are in Vancouver for the Folk Fest, July 15th-17th. We will be staying, (with friends from Summerland, Jos and Aarturo, from hiking group), at the Keatings as Elaine and Ted will be in New Jersey, visiting their eldest daughter/son-in-law/grandson. Are you around? At this point not quite sure when we will drive down, (14th I hope!), but perhaps some bridge if everyone's schedules allow. Will suggest something as soon as I've talked to Jos/Aarturo. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hello Snobby Saskatchewan Bobby! Very pleased to hear that your Prairie travels are going so well and that you are enjoying the people and landscape, weather and critters, wild and domesticated! Enjoyed all the videos. Sorry we missed you at the Medicine Hat Hilton. Had another lovely night with Zircon. As you know, he has had wall-to-wall visitors this past week. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hello Bridge Folk! Trust everyone is well and enjoying long weekend. We had hoped to host bridge this coming Tuesday, July 5th, but our coming visitor's schedule has changed and they will still be here that evening. One of them, Nadia, was a former Swiss boarder, (2010 over Winter Olympics), and is now en route to Australia. Since we haven't seen her since then we'd like to spend as much time as possible together.
Not sure what group has been up to since we've been away but we'll offer to host the following week, unless other arrangements have been made. Will have another visitor then, as well, but Agneta plays bridge and I'm sure she'd love to meet everyone. Anyway, let me know what you think and we'll plan accordingly.
Fondestos from Lady Dar to one and all. Cheers, Patrizzio!
If no one else wants to host you come here again no problem. We have the room but I'm no good at providing the eating goodies!!! Who is available to come over?? bye Gill and Phil Thanks for offering Gill. I am available.... Pam
Hi Patrick, Welcome back, hope you had good time out there. I had a couple of nice plays with the group, but this time I won't be able to make it. Regards to all. Cheers, Mike
Welcome back Patrick and Corinne. Sorry to say I have to miss bridge tomorrow. Jos Hi Jos, we plan to host next week on Tuesday. Gil and Phil are doing it this week as we have guests who don't play bridge. Looking at the folk fest schedule the first stages start at 2 pm on Friday the 15th. We are planning in that case to go in on Thursday the 14th. Does that work for you? We can both stay at our friends the Keatings who don't live too far from the festival site.
They are expecting us all for dinner. Hope we can talk soon about this weekend. It should be a lot of fun. Cheers Corinne
Hi Janet! I know Lady Dar has been in touch and confirmed dates of your coming stay! Sorry I didn't reply sooner but as you found out we were on the road and times were busy. At any rate, grand that you will be visiting. You will overlap with Joan and Paul Whitney on the 26th so we can have a VPL reunion! (Hope things are not too, too upsetting relative to Dunbar!) We'll collect you at the airport so expect the red carpet! Thank you for the lovely snaps. Much appreciated. However, sorry to learn about James' return to Lethbridge. Long distance relationships! Regards to your Mum. Upsetting about her jaw, of course. Trust move went well. Fondestos from Lady Dar to you, Janet. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Hello Sunshine Valley People! Trust all goes well with you and your busy lives! Just wondering when we need to roll out the red carpet and lock the wine cellar, in preparation for your arrival. Fondestos from Lady Dar to you both. Let us know your plans and we'll plan accordingly. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Beunos tardes Patricio We are at the valley as we speak...having a wonderful time and looking forward to seeing you next weekend. We will be arriving mid day next Friday. We are at the cabin and will call you in the next few days to finalize our plans...we can't wait to see you :) ttys xo Hello Valley People!
Nice life indeed! Thanks for letting us know. Looking forward to your arrival. Cheers, Patrizzio! Love the pics...we are so looking forward to seeing your revamped patio ( especially for we vamps ) as well as getting caught up with our favorite pentictonites ❤ See you soon
I would be more than happy to support your cause and will go to the Facebook page to do so. I wish you many happy trouble and carefree miles! Cheers, Al
Playing cards with Mar and Ryan Hello Card Sharks! Nice life now that the children are in bed!!! Lady Dar is relaxing as she is completely done in after binge watching The Young and the Useless ever since we returned from the Farmer's Market and then had to water the plants! I am now charged with making a salad as we will watch three episodes of The Outlander! Fondestos to one and all. Cheers, Sous Chef Patrizzio! Pics: Lady Dar and this evening's latest haul!
Hello Naramatia! Welcome home, Jugos Cuba Libre! Trust all went well with flight and Costco run. Had a lovely evening with Lynne so hardly missed you, Petrovich, although we thought of you both when we went to the Hourglass Vertical Tasting. Fondestos from Lady Dar to you both. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Thanks for the news and photos, Patrizio. And, thanks to you and "Lady Dar" for a very nice evening on Friday. I enjoyed getting out of the house and having a proper meal and some good company to boot. See you soon. Cheers, Lynnie
No comments:
Post a Comment