We finished our wine-tasting tour with Zanata (not sure of the spelling) and Godfrey Brownell (sure of the spelling ;-). The first place was in a nice old house, but the host was in a hurry, as he had a bus tour arriving momentarily. The wines were quite nice - we particularly liked the whites - but not outstanding. But I did help myself to some money plant seeds in the garden on the way out - I figured they were probably not going to be harvested, and I have been wanting to plant some money plants. Back when I was a poor single mum, I thought it was a giggle having money plants at the front door, and I have been wanting to grow them again. Now I have the seeds, but I'll have to wait until next spring to plant them.
Our last winery was Godfrey Brownell, an odd place that Rob, Nikki, and I had visited in 2007 when we did our all-day wine-tasting tour with Pete, Irene, and Elsa. The grounds look run-down and neglected - there are weeds in the vineyards, and the terrace bricks are crumbling, and the whole operation looks very, very low-key - as if no one really cares what people think.
When I was there last time, we all liked the wines, and I bought 2 bottles of a red named William Malman, one of which we consumed that night at Rob's. It was offered this time too, and I still liked it - in fact, Liam bought a bottle, but I did warn him that my second bottle, which we carefully saved for a year before opening, had turned to vinegar! Their best wines were $40 each, so I was not tempted to purchase either one; Liam agreed that, while they were tasty, they were not worth $40.
Overall, it is a slightly strange experience at Godfrey Brownell; the look of the place does not inspire confidence, yet they have some good wines, and this time they had also a jazz duet playing very nice music back under the trees. But very few customers. Liam looked them up later and reported that the look of the place is a deliberate choice, not neglect....I'm still not sure it works for me!
After stocking up on some groceries, we went home and played a hilarious game of Pictionary while waiting for the very delicious roast chicken to cook. After dinner, we played Balderdash, again to much hilarity. While Therese didn't come on the wine tour (she is, after all, only 16), she did join in the games, and we all had some good laughs. Later, we just relaxed in the living room and drank wine and yakked.
The next morning I was up at 7 am again, and it was sunny - I even put on shorts. But by the time the others were up, it had clouded over, and the rain came pouring down, accompanied by strong winds. Finally, by noon, it was simply cloudy but not raining, so we grabbed a quick sandwich and loaded up the car with our luggage, thinking to look at some shops and galleries in Nanaimo before going to the ferry. But we took the Yellowpoint road to go past Rob and Nikki's old house, and decided to stop at the very lovely (even in the dripping wet) Roberts Memorial Park, where we used to visit when Rob and co. lived a mile or so down the road. It was a very nice walk beneath huge cedars out to the beach, which is sloping and flat rocks, not gravel or sand. Everything smelled fresh and verdant, and I was delighted to be there again.
Invigorated by our short hike, we stopped at my favourite neighbourhood pub, the Crow and Gate, which is an old-English style pub in a park-like setting on Yellowpoint Road, not far from Cedar. Liam and Mel had never been, and were quite delighted with the appearance both outside and inside. It was very crowded, so much so that we tried sitting outside for a while, but it started raining again and we ended up on a bench beside the fireplace, but we eventually got a table. We were having such a good time talking and laughing that we decided to have another round and a couple of ploughman's lunches, and just stay there. I really enjoyed it, as I rarely get to go to a pub, having a partner who doesn't like beer and who has a dim view of pubs in general - although he likes the Crow and Gate just fine!
Mel, Liam, and I caught the 5:45 ferry, and sat in the caf eating snack food and relaxing: Mel watching Grey's Anatomy on her new Notebook; Liam writing up his wine-tasting notes; me reading my book.
We took the jitney together to the long-term parking lot, found our cars, and headed home. When I got home about 8:30, John and Daisy were at Angus and Natalie's - he had installed their new dishwasher for them. I was invited over for a glass of wine and a viewing, but I was by then too tired of traveling and wanting to just nest.
All in all, a great visit on the Island, and I still had the holiday Monday free to spend time doing chores. John and I had brunch and Scrabble with Angus and Tash, then Tash and I went shopping, all over town, for bookshelves. I had decided that we desperately needed shelves for the books piling up in the basement, so off we went. We ended up at IKEA and bought 2 different shelves, one for my office and one for downstairs books.
Then Angus and Tash came over for a movie and pizza, and we had some laughs - Angus WILL talk during the dialogue - then John went off to close down the Bonanza Gallery for the last day of the PNE (yay!!!!) and A&T went to the PNE to pick up Andre, who was working at the Gallery.
I unfortunately woke up at 4 am unable to sleep any more even though I needed to, with a sinus headache, so I stayed home from work. And here I am.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Holiday Deux
We picked Mel and Liam up at the ferry about 12:30, and went straight home to decide on our afternoon activity which, by that time, had to include a place to eat lunch. We ended up in Chemainus, at the Willow, a very nice sandwich place. The sun was pretty much staying out, and there was a strong wind blowing, and it was clear and crisp and gorgeous after the rain of the morning (Rob and I went through several separate downpours on the way to the ferry).
Liam had brought a Wine Access magazine with write-ups on the wineries of Canada, or maybe just BC, and he was interested in a place called Averill Wines, so we headed there. It is just north of Duncan, off the road to Cowichan Lake. We saw the sign and turned off the highway, and proceeded up a rather long, gravel road, climbing steadily. We were all kind of wondering whether there really was a winery at the end of it, especially when we passed a field of very neglected-looking grape vines, but suddenly we saw fields and fields of very healthy-looking vines covered in blue netting, and immediately after that, a stunning wood/glass/rock building, brand-new and surrounded by rock gardens - Averill Winery!
This was our first stop on our wine-tasting tour, and it turned out to be the best, in hindsight - although we sensed that might be the case when we looked at the grounds, and then tasted their wine. Liam produced his business card - Icon Wines, which resulted in a very nice talk with the owner and a tasting of a wine he doesn't normally pour. He turned out to be a retired physician who was very interested in Mel's pregnancy and very fun to talk to.
I took several photos while we were there - not only did the winery look beautiful itself, when you turned around and looked out at the view, it went for miles....A panorama that looked out over the valley, out to Cowichan Bay, and further to, on a perfectly clear day, the San Juans. I also bought my only bottle of the day - a $28 Pinot Noir that we had tasted which I thought was excellent. I will take it home to share with John....
Because we had started so late, we were pressed for time the whole afternoon, as some wineries close at 4 pm, and others, 5 pm. This necessitated some planning of our route and decisions about where to go, in what order. We decided on close as opposed to known, and drove across Highway 1 to try a couple of places about 10 minutes from Averill. The first one was by appointment only, so we moved on to the 22 Oaks winery, a very, very new venture that was surrounded by baby, non-producing, grape vines. The tasting room was in the lower floor of a new, attractive house surrounded by lawn and adirondack chairs - it looked like a nice place to sip some wine 'in the garden', which two women were doing. However, I didn't find their wine very good, especially for the $20 price tag.
Liam had brought a Wine Access magazine with write-ups on the wineries of Canada, or maybe just BC, and he was interested in a place called Averill Wines, so we headed there. It is just north of Duncan, off the road to Cowichan Lake. We saw the sign and turned off the highway, and proceeded up a rather long, gravel road, climbing steadily. We were all kind of wondering whether there really was a winery at the end of it, especially when we passed a field of very neglected-looking grape vines, but suddenly we saw fields and fields of very healthy-looking vines covered in blue netting, and immediately after that, a stunning wood/glass/rock building, brand-new and surrounded by rock gardens - Averill Winery!
This was our first stop on our wine-tasting tour, and it turned out to be the best, in hindsight - although we sensed that might be the case when we looked at the grounds, and then tasted their wine. Liam produced his business card - Icon Wines, which resulted in a very nice talk with the owner and a tasting of a wine he doesn't normally pour. He turned out to be a retired physician who was very interested in Mel's pregnancy and very fun to talk to.
I took several photos while we were there - not only did the winery look beautiful itself, when you turned around and looked out at the view, it went for miles....A panorama that looked out over the valley, out to Cowichan Bay, and further to, on a perfectly clear day, the San Juans. I also bought my only bottle of the day - a $28 Pinot Noir that we had tasted which I thought was excellent. I will take it home to share with John....
Because we had started so late, we were pressed for time the whole afternoon, as some wineries close at 4 pm, and others, 5 pm. This necessitated some planning of our route and decisions about where to go, in what order. We decided on close as opposed to known, and drove across Highway 1 to try a couple of places about 10 minutes from Averill. The first one was by appointment only, so we moved on to the 22 Oaks winery, a very, very new venture that was surrounded by baby, non-producing, grape vines. The tasting room was in the lower floor of a new, attractive house surrounded by lawn and adirondack chairs - it looked like a nice place to sip some wine 'in the garden', which two women were doing. However, I didn't find their wine very good, especially for the $20 price tag.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Holiday Weekend
MacMini and I are at Rob's house, in Saltair, for the long weekend. I came over Thursday afternoon on the 3:15 to Duke Point, and Rob and Nikki picked me up. As it was dinner-time, we went to one of my favourite places, the Crow and Gate - an English pub near Cedar. It was very busy, but we managed to get a table and have a delicious pan-fried oyster dinner.
Friday, which felt like Saturday to all of us, was fun - Rob had to do some inspections on Salt Spring Island, so Nikki, Therese, and I went along too. He dropped us in Ganges at 9:30 am, saying he would pick us up at 2:30. We started at Barb's Buns, which Nikki wasn't familiar with, and had delicious coffee and some baked goods. It is a neat place, full of Salt Spring regulars, with yummy food and, happily, few tourists. I have eaten there many times, both breakfasts and lunches, often related to sailing, as it is just a couple of blocks from the marina.
Nikki, Therese and I then set out on a marathon gallery-visiting, shopping spree, checking out anything of interest. I actually spent quite a bit of money, mostly in a Fair Trade store that had very neat stuff from India and other places, and in the Art Gallery/Gift Shop on the road just past the fish shop. I have been there quite a few times before; they always have something different, and their things are good quality. They have paintings, sculptures, jewellry and all manner of interesting things, and I ended up buying a present for Mel and a couple of things for Christmas presents - probably a first for me, the last-minute shopper!
We didn't stop for lunch, just had a snack on a bench overlooking the bay, so by the end of our time in Ganges I had sore, tired feet. I found I have been there so often that I know the village and the shops quite well. I was able to take Nikki and Trey out on the short little hike past the townhouses out to the point - I don't know what it's called, but it's a little trail that winds past these luxurious townhouses, over rocks and up and down until you climb up, then down to the point. The point faces an island separating the marina basin and the channel leading from the other marina out to the waters south of Ganges. Therese was fascinated to see a large white swan swimming over by the island, and she was delighted when it swam all the way over to us, probably thinking that we might have some food for it - it came right over and walked onto the sand, but we were up on the rocks so removed from any harrassment it might have planned! Trey took lots of photos....
Rob met us an hour early, which suited my feet very well, and we made the 2:10 ferry at Vesuvius. We had come on the 8:30 am ferry from Crofton - the small, cars-on-open-deck type of ferry. It's a short trip, about 20 minutes, and on the way back, beautiful in the sunshine. We had dressed for cooler weather and clouds, but it got sunny as the day progressed, and then positively warm.
On our way home we shopped for groceries at one of my favourite places, Russells Market, and took the slow road back to the house - I do like Island time! After that, it was relaxing, and reading, and helping with dinner....Afterwards, Kathy and Andy, and Fred and Sheena, came over and we all had a nice visit, drinking wine and yakking.
Rob and I stayed up after Nikki went to bed, but only for about 40 minutes - I was dead tired after all that relaxing!
Today, Saturday, I am excited because Liam and Mel are coming to visit. They have never seen Rob and Nikki's beautiful house and I know they will love it. I am so pleased they are coming, because Liam has always enjoyed Rob's company, and I have wanted for years to get him, and Jordan and family, to come over and visit. Rob and Nikki are so welcoming, and they have such a neat place and so many things to do here, that I know Mel and Liam will like it, and hopefully, decide to come again, especially in better weather (it has rained, sunned and clouded so far today). Having Liam and Mel come is like going on a holiday with them!!
Friday, which felt like Saturday to all of us, was fun - Rob had to do some inspections on Salt Spring Island, so Nikki, Therese, and I went along too. He dropped us in Ganges at 9:30 am, saying he would pick us up at 2:30. We started at Barb's Buns, which Nikki wasn't familiar with, and had delicious coffee and some baked goods. It is a neat place, full of Salt Spring regulars, with yummy food and, happily, few tourists. I have eaten there many times, both breakfasts and lunches, often related to sailing, as it is just a couple of blocks from the marina.
Nikki, Therese and I then set out on a marathon gallery-visiting, shopping spree, checking out anything of interest. I actually spent quite a bit of money, mostly in a Fair Trade store that had very neat stuff from India and other places, and in the Art Gallery/Gift Shop on the road just past the fish shop. I have been there quite a few times before; they always have something different, and their things are good quality. They have paintings, sculptures, jewellry and all manner of interesting things, and I ended up buying a present for Mel and a couple of things for Christmas presents - probably a first for me, the last-minute shopper!
We didn't stop for lunch, just had a snack on a bench overlooking the bay, so by the end of our time in Ganges I had sore, tired feet. I found I have been there so often that I know the village and the shops quite well. I was able to take Nikki and Trey out on the short little hike past the townhouses out to the point - I don't know what it's called, but it's a little trail that winds past these luxurious townhouses, over rocks and up and down until you climb up, then down to the point. The point faces an island separating the marina basin and the channel leading from the other marina out to the waters south of Ganges. Therese was fascinated to see a large white swan swimming over by the island, and she was delighted when it swam all the way over to us, probably thinking that we might have some food for it - it came right over and walked onto the sand, but we were up on the rocks so removed from any harrassment it might have planned! Trey took lots of photos....
Rob met us an hour early, which suited my feet very well, and we made the 2:10 ferry at Vesuvius. We had come on the 8:30 am ferry from Crofton - the small, cars-on-open-deck type of ferry. It's a short trip, about 20 minutes, and on the way back, beautiful in the sunshine. We had dressed for cooler weather and clouds, but it got sunny as the day progressed, and then positively warm.
On our way home we shopped for groceries at one of my favourite places, Russells Market, and took the slow road back to the house - I do like Island time! After that, it was relaxing, and reading, and helping with dinner....Afterwards, Kathy and Andy, and Fred and Sheena, came over and we all had a nice visit, drinking wine and yakking.
Rob and I stayed up after Nikki went to bed, but only for about 40 minutes - I was dead tired after all that relaxing!
Today, Saturday, I am excited because Liam and Mel are coming to visit. They have never seen Rob and Nikki's beautiful house and I know they will love it. I am so pleased they are coming, because Liam has always enjoyed Rob's company, and I have wanted for years to get him, and Jordan and family, to come over and visit. Rob and Nikki are so welcoming, and they have such a neat place and so many things to do here, that I know Mel and Liam will like it, and hopefully, decide to come again, especially in better weather (it has rained, sunned and clouded so far today). Having Liam and Mel come is like going on a holiday with them!!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
I'm back!!
OK, this is sooooo cool! I have my very own, brand-new Mac computer - a MacBook! John brought it home for me tonight and gave it to me after dinner. It is white and wee and clean and I love it!
I so enjoyed blogging when I was on holidays, and I got used to pulling out my miniMac several times a day and writing...and I equated writing with my mini instead of my clunky old pc, so when it died (choked on a dvd I tried to play, possibly) I stopped writing. I really felt it, but I couldn't get interested in writing on the clunker, with its clunky keyboard. John very kindly took away the miniMac and tried to resurrect it, but nope - it's dead. So instead, he turned up tonight with this beautiful new miniMac.
Tomorrow I will start doing entries again, but tonight, I am just getting such a kick out of looking at this beautiful new machine, and trying to understand it - it has a camera, for pete's sake - that I can't really think straight!!
John, you do know how to surprise me! That's pretty neat, after 5 years....
I so enjoyed blogging when I was on holidays, and I got used to pulling out my miniMac several times a day and writing...and I equated writing with my mini instead of my clunky old pc, so when it died (choked on a dvd I tried to play, possibly) I stopped writing. I really felt it, but I couldn't get interested in writing on the clunker, with its clunky keyboard. John very kindly took away the miniMac and tried to resurrect it, but nope - it's dead. So instead, he turned up tonight with this beautiful new miniMac.
Tomorrow I will start doing entries again, but tonight, I am just getting such a kick out of looking at this beautiful new machine, and trying to understand it - it has a camera, for pete's sake - that I can't really think straight!!
John, you do know how to surprise me! That's pretty neat, after 5 years....
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