Tea for Two

Monday, Glen's meetings began with breakfast and would run the whole day.  I didn't mind as I had made plans to meet my good friend, Jennifer.  We connected10 years ago in Hawaii and our friendship has blossomed over the years so I was very excited to see her again.  She wanted to visit the Tattered Cover bookstore in LoDo so I headed there to meet her.

My first experience with this independent bookstore was eight years ago when Geoff and Melissa lived near Cherry Creek Mall.  That's where this premiere store had its beginnings in 1971.  In 1990, Tattered Cover bought an historic building in LoDo which has since expanded to 20,000 square feet.  In 2006, the Cherry Creek store closed and moved to Colfax Ave.  Jennifer had read it was the largest independent bookstore in the United States and the one in LoDo is huge.

Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves divide the two floors into nooks where comfy chairs or sofas allow one to read in peace.  Both Jennifer and I thought the store felt like an old library.  I unconsciously lowered my voice as we spoke and even a gaggle of kids (on a field trip) were not loud.  My only disappointment was that their beautiful central staircase was closed for repairs.

We headed up the 16 Street Mall as our next stop was tea at the Brown Palace hotel.  We arrived early so we could enjoy the ambiance of this beautiful old hotel.  Built in 1892 by Henry Brown, it has hosted almost every president beginning with Teddy Roosevelt in 1905.  Brown donated some of his land to build the State Capital then made his fortune selling the rest which allowed him to build a 'palace' hotel.

We went to the spa to buy some lip balm for Melissa and learned there was an apiary on the roof which provided the honey used in making their signature soaps and beauty products.  The hotel also has its own artesian well, 750 feet beneath the Ship Tavern.

Afternoon Tea begins at noon and Jennifer made reservations for 12:30 (it's a popular spot so call ahead if you wish to go).  The tea is set up in the lobby, an open atrium rising eight floors and lit by a lovely stained glass window.  Each floor has cast iron balconies overlooking the lobby.

We ordered Veuve Clicquot for Two which came with scones (and a bowl mounded high with clotted cream), tea sandwiches (open-faced cucumber were my favourite) and tiny pastries.  Veuve Clicquot is the best champagne I've tasted and could easily become my choice for New Year's.  We also drank Brown Palace Crown Jewel tea made of a blend of Assam and Ceylon leaves, served in silver teapots.  A special truffle finished the meal nicely.

Most patrons enjoying their teas and the soft piano music filling the lobby were dressed in flowery summer frocks but neither Jennifer nor I felt out of place in our blouses and pants.  One day, we'll do tea wearing fascinators and gloves but we felt elegant as we sipped our tea from fine bone china cups and used heavy silver utensils.

Jennifer and I parted after lunch but made plans for supper with our husbands.  We met at Rock Bottom Brewery and enjoyed a great evening together.  I had shrimp and lobster enchiladas and Red Ale while Glen enjoyed his steak with Rolle Bolle.  Neil had work that evening so we parted company after supper.

Meet Me Under the Bear

The ASM conference was in Denver this year so, of course, we attended.  We also extended our stay so we could visit with our son, daughter-in-law and more importantly, our grandsons.

We woke at 3 am on Saturday morning then suffered several tense moments until our cab arrived (late).  However, our Nexus cards meant we could take a shorter line through customs and security so we got the gate with time to spare.  The flight was not full and the tiny 5 week baby in front of us barely squeaked the whole trip.

We grabbed a cab at the Denver airport and arrived at Geoff's place around 9:30.  Melissa was there to greet us;  Geoff and the boys were at swimming lessons.  They came home and after quick hugs left for a birthday party.  I tried in vain to nap as Glen slept.

We had lunch together and then Melissa, Elijah, and Miles played Wii U with Grampy.  Later that afternoon, Geoff drove us downtown so we could check into the Westin hotel and Glen could attend the first ASM session.  It was late when we finally sat down to supper at The Rock Bottom Brewery.  I felt a little shabby in my jeans as it was grad night and all the young people were in tuxes and beautiful gowns.

The Rock Bottom's food was good as was their award-winning beer.  This brew-pub began 20 years ago and if the crowded patio was any indication, was still a very popular spot to meet friends.  We shared chicken wings then Glen had their Reuben sandwich with slaw while I had their roasted veggie pizza.  Both were delicious with their seasonal (spring) beer.

Sunday, we had a leisurely breakfast at Starbucks then Glen headed off to the meeting.  I grabbed my camera and began a walkabout.  Our plans were to meet under the bear and have lunch together.  We'd been to the convention center before when Geoff ran the Denver Marathon so we both knew about the huge blue bear (see photo) that peeks through the windows of this stunning building.  This forty foot bear was created by local artist, Lawrence Argent and installed in 2005.

I headed down to the South Platte River then made my way toward the city's centre.  Denver is a city of fascinating architectural styles and interesting sculptures.  I explored several different areas realizing that walking on a Sunday was probably the safest time to do so.  I didn't feel uncomfortable but might have later in the evening.

After meeting Glen 'under the bear', we headed to the shopping street, 16th Street Mall (built in 1982) for lunch and found a nice restaurant called The Paramount Café.  Housed in the corner of the historic (1930) Paramount Theatre, its ceiling still retains the 'look' of an old movie house.  Originally designed to show silent films, the Paramount Theatre (and yes, it's spelled 're') is a showcase of Art Deco design and it continues to host live entertainment (The Tenors were playing on Sunday).  Our server in the Café was a vivacious girl who attended high school in Aurora but loved living downtown.  She suggested I'd like their Gyro with chicken which was delicious eaten with a Fat Tire beer.  Glen had a burger done 'medium'.   I told him it would be ironic if he came down with food poisoning.

I continued exploring after lunch looking for a letterbox hidden in the downtown.  Problem was the clue didn't give a tourist any hints so I gave up and asked Melissa for one.  Turns out the box's title referred to an apartment building in LoDo, an area of downtown Denver where General William Larimer first settled in 1858.

We met Glen's grad student, Claudia, and former grad student, Tanis (under the bear) for supper.  Again we walked up the mall in search of a restaurant that appealed to all tastes.  The Hard Rock Café had a waiting time of 45 minutes so we ended up at Earl's.  Everyone was happy to eat at this Western Canadian chain.  Glen had a steak dinner while I enjoyed their Mexican chicken special.

We were still catching up on lost sleep so were happy to go to bed early that night.  Tuesday was to be a busy day for both of us.

90th Birthday Party

Both Glen and I were born in Ottawa, Ontario but left for the West 36 years ago.  It's good we still have family there or we'd never have returned to see how this city has evolved (see Ottawa Visiting).  Our visit in April was to celebrate my mother's 90th birthday.  That's her in the photo--pretty spry looking and ready to have a good time.

Our only travel glitch happened as we boarded in Calgary.  After taking our chances with seat selection before now, I decided to pre-book ours so we could sit together.  I chose row 24 D & F.  Problem was, they changed the airplane which meant seat E was between us.  Fortunately, the woman in E didn't mind changing with Glen (he is good and usually takes the middle seat).

My sister, Lynda, and her boyfriend, Chris were there to meet us when we landed.  It's so nice seeing a familiar face when arriving at a destination.

We had a great chili supper and enjoyed chatting and laughing.  Sunday, we bought two bouquets of flowers for Monday's party decor and took them out to Mom's senior's residence, Bridlewood Trails, in Kanata.  She lives in a lovely apartment on the 5th floor with a great view.  We had some wine and a chat before heading back to Lynda's.

Monday morning, Lynda and I went to her swimming pool, Splash Indoor Wave Pool, to do some laps and soak in the hot tub.  I can't remember the last time I swam in a pool.  My body didn't remember, either.

Mom's party was an afternoon event with tea, coffee, sandwiches, cheese and dessert trays catered by the residence staff (Lynda organized everything) and wine, shrimp rings and a slab cake provided by the family.  It was a great party with lots of laughs and teasing and Glen and I got to meet some of Mom's friends as well as touching base with my aunt and sisters.  Lynda and Nancy sang a duet which Mom appreciated as music has always been an important part of her life.

Tuesday was shopping day.  After checking out a craft store, Lynda decided I needed good, cheap clothes.  As anyone reading this blog knows, I'm not a great shopper and buying clothes for myself is always last on my list.  But at Value Village, I bought a leather jacket, pink suit jacket, and a red and black top all for $50!  I was thrilled and Lynda was glad I had some new clothes to wear.  In the afternoon, we walked to Starbucks and stopped to pick up some groceries on the way home.

Wednesday was the first letterboxing adventure Lynda had ever experienced.  She had bought a stamp and created her trail name so she was ready to go.  With Glen and Chris in tow, we headed to Hog's Back.  Glen and I used to walk this part of the Rideau River while attending Carleton University.  In the early spring when there is still ice, it is spectacular to photograph.  Lynda taught me how adjusting my f-stop would 'soften' the water.  I had fun experimenting with various shots.

Glen found the letterbox and that's when Lynda really caught the letterboxing bug.  Our next stop was lunch at Pub Italia in 'Little Italy'.  This pub is a fantastic blend of Italian and Irish decor with private booths hidden in corners and tables on different levels so it becomes an adventure to go to the washrooms (labeled Adam and Eve).  Lynda, Glen, and I had different pizzas while Chris had Irish Nachoes (you must see it, to believe it).

After lunch, we headed to Dow's Lake to find the next letterbox but after much searching, weren't successful.  Ottawa's famous tulips were a lush green so it was up to the crocuses to brightened the tulip beds.  As I snapped photos, I spoke to a local photo-journalist who needed a tulip for his newspaper story.  He refused to take a picture of the crocuses as it was not a 'Crocus Festival'.  Too funny. Obviously we were too early to enjoy the Canadian Tulip Festival which celebrates the connection between Canada and The Netherlands (see Tulips!!! which I wrote last year).  Queen Juliana lived in Ottawa during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands and to thank the Canadian people, donated 100,000 tulip bulbs to this country.  These fill the beds along the Rideau Canal and Dow's Lake.

That evening we headed to Rockland to visit my cousin and his family.  Always a fun visit with kids and dogs begging for attention.  Vic and Wendy had worked last summer creating a wonderful new front entrance to their home which was stunning.  We drove home along the river through a fog that laced the trees in gauze.  It was magical.

Thursday, we were off letterboxing again.  This time to Bate(s) Island in the middle of the Ottawa River.  Glen and his junior field naturalist club used to come here to hunt mud puppies.  The spot is also popular with river surfers and kayakers who use the rapids to hone their skills.  We enjoyed watching both but came up empty-handed after searching for the letterbox.  Not so when we hit the next spot, Strathcona Park.

Here the clues took us past Stathcona's Folly which was an unique play structure incorporating many decorative features from Ottawa buildings and quirky bronzes.  Inspired by Mackenzie King's Kingsmere, Stephen Brathwaite (famous for Jacob, his Under the Umbrella Tree puppet) wanted the sculpture to look like those ruins.

Lynda found the letterbox so it became her first.  Unfortunately, the finder before us had put in a hitch-hiker stamp and removed the true stamp.  I've since contacted the planter and he will rectify this with another carve so we may have to redo this box.  I'm not upset as the location was lovely and we enjoyed our walk along the Rideau River back to the car.

Chris suggested we have lunch at the Mill St. Brew Pub.  He had had his retirement luncheon there and thought we'd like it.  Turns out we had eaten there before -- about 35 years ago when friends had their wedding reception at the then Mill Restaurant.  I had wild boar ragout while Glen enjoyed the lamb meatloaf.  Lynda raved about her beef dip sandwich (which reminded me of our daughter, Meg's quest for the perfect beef dip) and Chris had their famous tortiere.  The beer was also excellent, mine being 7% alcohol (Ambre de la Chaudiere).  Originally a grist mill, this 140 year old building sits near the Ottawa River's Chaudiere Falls and is a popular spot.

After such a large lunch, we decided to walk it off by strolling along the Ottawa River near Lynda's house in east Ottawa (formerly Gloucester).  We saw a Goshawk and geese which had all our cameras clicking.

That evening we dined with Glen's third cousin, Scott, and his wife, Katherine, at the Parliamentary Restaurant on the 6th floor of the Centre Block on Parliament Hill.  Our dinner was fantastic!  Katherine and I had onion soup and a Thai dish of green tea noodles with shrimp and scallops.   The desserts were to die for and even though Glen had to finish mine, I enjoyed their lemon tart.  Scott works on Parliament Hill so after we ate, we did a short tour of the semi-dark hallways.  It had a spooky castle feel which was thrilling.

Friday, we headed to Lanark, picking up Chris along the way.  Our plans were to do a letterbox in Almonte before having lunch with my sister, Nancy, at her off-the-grid house deep in Lanark back-country.  The letterbox could not be found but we did see a Green Heron feasting on frogs.  After a great lunch of sausages and salads, we explored Nancy's land and I took many photos of her spring wild flowers.

On the way back to Ottawa, we stopped at the Herb Garden in Almonte.  Although they were closed, they did allow us to wander the grounds and do their labyrinth.  The paths were bordered with sage and thyme making it smell like a turkey dinner.  The letterbox we sought was outside the property but it featured the Scimangada labyrinth.  It was my 50th box and was special because I knew the letterboxer who carved and planted it.

Lynda made fajitas for supper, our last one at Indigo Street.  They were excellent as were all the meals she served us.  I'll miss her scrambled eggs for breakfast (never the same twice) and her wonderful soups.  Glen pines for her chili brownies and bacon/chocolate chip cookies.  We came home many pounds heavier because Lynda is such a good cook!

Saturday morning we headed to Beechwood Cemetery where Glen's folks are buried.  He said he wanted to make sure they were still there.  Lynda listened to the stories of Glen's relationship with this cemetery while I enjoyed the peace one always finds there.  Although only one prime minister, Robert Borden, is buried at Beechwood, the gravestones are a who's who of Ottawa families.

We spent the afternoon relaxing and packing then headed to the airport early so Lynda and Chris could enjoy their evening together.  We had a simple supper of Reuben sandwiches and fries at the Byward's Taps before boarding the plane for Calgary.

Weekend in Hogtown

Thirty years ago, Dr. Mohamed Karmali discovered the connection between E. coli O157:H7 and hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) which inspired many researchers, including Glen, to explore this problem.  Saturday night these scientists gathered to celebrate this milestone at the University Club of Toronto.

We arrived in Toronto (often referred to as Hogtown) Friday afternoon and took a cab to the Hilton on Richmond Ave.  The fare was a flat rate which was just as well as we experienced some rush hour traffic.  After settling into our room, we headed to the bar, called the Tundra, to have supper.  The jerked chicken wings were delicious and we washed them down with Muskoka Cream ale.  Afterwards, Glen enjoyed steak ravioli while I ate deep-fried sushi-like salmon rolls.

Tundra also hosts breakfast with unique menu items as well as a buffet.  We knew we'd be walking so Glen tucked into a lemony pancake/crepe with blueberry sauce while I had duck confit on hash browns (three types of potatoes).   We then headed toward the waterfront to begin our letterboxing adventure.

The City of Toronto began as the Town of York and was designated the capital of Upper Canada.  Captured by Americans during the War of 1812, it was destroyed but rebuilt and became a city in 1834 (renamed Toronto--a Huron word meaning 'place where trees stand in water').  It's the fifth most populous city in North America (over 5 million) and has the third largest English theatre district after New York City and London, England.

Our first letterbox was hidden near the Redpath Sugar refinery.  John Redpath, a Scottish emigrant, founded the Canada Sugar Refining Company in Montreal in 1854.  The Toronto refinery was built in the 1950s with the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway.  Raw sugar cane is still brought from the Caribbean and refined here.

Near the refinery was a small swathe of sand called Sugar Beach.  This is where we'd find the box.  On our way there, we passed Captain John's restaurant housed in an old ship.  Glen and I remember it from previous visits but had never eaten there.  I guess we never will as the owner, John Letnik, who opened the restaurant in the 1970s, was forced to close it in 2012.

After a brief rest at Sugar Beach, we retraced our steps and headed along the waterfront to Spadina Ave.  Our next letterbox was near the Rogers Centre where the Toronto Blue Jays play.  Close to the railroad tracks is a memorial to the Chinese immigrants who worked on building the railroad.  It was erected in 1989 and commemorates the contribution these men made to uniting Canada.

Our final box was an unusual one in that it wasn't hidden in a public place.  We had to enter the Global Village Backpackers Hostel and ask for it.  There was no missing the bright blue building (130 years old) but we did feel a little strange going inside.  We were definitely the oldest there by a good 40 years.  Of course, the woman at the front desk had no clue what a letterbox was.  I showed her the clue and she found the box for me.  As I stamped in, we explained to her what we were doing.  She was fascinated.

By this time, we'd walked for 2 hours and were hungry so headed back to our hotel with plans to eat at an Irish pub I had spotted when we arrived.  Fionn MacCools is a chain of Irish pubs (there is one in Calgary) owned by Prime Pubs (founded in1997).  The menu was a mix of Irish and modern so I had grillbread which was like a rectangular pizza while Glen had steak and mushroom pie.  We both enjoyed our Guinness after such a long walk.

After eating we discovered the pub was attached to our hotel by an indoor walkway.  We returned to the room to rest.  My sister, Nancy, and I had connected via Twitter at breakfast to discover we both were in Toronto.  She was visiting her son so she and her husband, Andy, popped by the hotel on their way home.  We spent about 45 minutes chatting.  Not long enough but a moment of magic.

After they left, we flew into action as our dinner began a half hour later and we didn't know how long it would take to walk to the club.  It turns out we made it in plenty of time.  I was surprised how many people I knew and some I could finally put faces to the names I've heard for thirty years.  We had a lovely meal of salmon done to perfection.

Glen had a traditional breakfast on Sunday while I ate an oatmeal risotto which our waiter (who remembered what we'd eaten the previous day) recommended.  We took a limo (not stretched) to the airport as it was not much more than a cab.  The ride was a half hour shorter.  We were not assigned seats on the plane so I began to panic when they started boarding.  How do you board if you don't know where you're going?  We were finally called and were seated at the very back.  Note to self--next time pay the extra so you don't have to go through that again.

Winter Holiday?

I put a question mark at the end of this title as our few weeks in Victoria have not really been winter as far as I'm concerned nor a holiday as far as Glen is concerned.  The weather has been cool and rainy most days but with several bursts of sunshine to keep the blues at bay.  And although Glen did take time off to enjoy the season with family and friends, his mind has been focussed on writing a grant and dealing with several manuscripts and other scientific reviews.  There was also a panic moment when the university servers went down for maintenance.  I guess they figured no one worked over the 'holidays'.

Our flight here was uneventful except Air Canada misplaced one of our suitcases.  I had divided the presents between the two cases so all was not lost but it proved to be an upsetting way to begin our vacation.  We tried to forget about it while buying groceries and visiting the butcher.  We always eat at Christies the first night in Victoria so off we went to enjoy wings,  fish and chips, and Island beer.  Partway through the meal, Glen's phone rang (doesn't everyone hate that).  It was the courier with our luggage.  He brought it to the restaurant so that final beer was much sweeter than the ones proceeding it.

Heavy rain changed our driving range plans the next day but we replaced them with a movie.  The Hobbit lived up to the hype and we enjoyed a hot dog and popcorn lunch before seeing the film.  I had read Tolkien's book when I was 15 so I think of myself as a lifelong friend of hobbits.

In the meantime, we decorated the tree and organized our social life.   First, we met our friends from Buffalo, New York for lunch at Pescatores.  Iain loves raw oysters as much as we do so we joined him in a feed of Kusshi, Satori, and Village Bay oysters.  I also had Sooke trout of which I am fond and Glen had a seafood pot pie.  We walked to the restaurant so did some Christmas shopping on the way home.  Glen requested a couple of cigars as a Xmas present so we stopped at his favour shop, The Cuban Cigar Store.   Meg had made him a fancy humidor for Father's Day and it's perfect for keeping the cigars fresh.  I ended up wrapping the empty cigar tubes and stuffing them in his stocking.

Our next visit was with Tony and Diane at Penny Farthing in Oak Bay.  I had been up most the night with a stomach flu but felt well enough to walk down to the village.  After having just a piece of toast for breakfast, I dug into a lovely shepherd's pie while Glen had a lamb burger.  I had planned lamb for supper so he ate it twice that day.

Sunday, we finally walked down to a beach.  We had to pick up our goose from the butcher so went via Willows Beach.  The tide was very high so we never did walk on the beach although I stepped in the sand to take some photos.

Over the weekend, I had done some preparations for our dinners but Xmas Eve was devoted to cooking.  First though, we went to our favourite fishmonger, Finest at Sea for Fanny Bay oysters for my soup and Sea Angel oysters from Quadra Island (appetizer) and Salt Spring Island mussels (main course) for our traditional Xmas Eve feast.  We began with smoked salmon on crackers, spread with goat cheese and a shrimp ring and ended with mincemeat tarts.

Meg called us at 7:00am as that has been her traditional time to begin opening presents.  She was with Mike's family in Edmonton so had been up for an hour before calling.  I was glad she remembered the time change.  Santa was very good to us - we are truly blessed.  Lunch was created using the oyster soup as a base and adding extras like mussels peas, and shrimp.  I also made two chip dips for our 'floor' party.

Our neighbours, Cynthia, Carolyn and Ray invited us for pre-dinner drinks at Carolyn's condo so armed with dips, chips, and beer we joined them celebrating the day.  As Glen monitored the cooking goose, I enjoyed chatting with good friends.  Carolyn's apartment was beautifully decorated and I felt we sat in a place worthy of a Western Living magazine feature.

Our goose dinner was excellent with all the traditional foods we love at Christmas.  I assumed the duty of making Christmas pudding when Glen's mom passed away so I always remember her as we eat it on Christmas day.  I make two puddings so Geoff's family also enjoys this annual treat.  This year, Melissa's cousin, Kelly, joined them so I feel I have truly spread the love of the Christmas 'Pud'.

Boxing Day, we went to the driving range to sweep away the cobwebs and work off some of the food.  We were back using our old clubs so needed to get a feel for them again.  The next day we tackled our favourite par 3 course, The Ridge.  Little did I know I had so much power in my swing.  At the first tee, I chose my 'usual' club and when I hit, the ball went over the green and onto the next tee box.  I worked my way down to using my pitching wedge off the tee.  We both had one par although I destroyed a perfectly good birdie attempt by 3 putting it.

Tony and Diane had invited us to dinner on Friday evening which allowed us the time to walk to Gonzales Beach.  Again the tide was high so we didn't actually walk on the sand.  That's when we realized we never made it to this beach last summer.  It hardly seems possible but perhaps our laying-on-the-beach-reading days are over.

Diane cooked a lovely salmon dinner and we enjoyed a couple of bottles of red wine.  They showed us how their old fireplaces had been redone with gas inserts.  Lo and behold, they used beach stones instead of logs which I'd been telling Glen would be perfect for our fireplace in Calgary.  I guess great minds think alike but only some act upon their ideas.  Coco, their cat, adopted my lap for most of the evening.  The warmth of the fire made her mellow and she had the same affect on me.

Saturday, we were off to Langford to get pull carts at Golf Town.  We use these in Victoria more than Calgary so felt we could indulge in new ones.  Glen usually rents his while I struggle with an old hand-me-down that never held my bag properly.  These new carts remind me of pushing a baby carriage but at least the clubs don't cry.  Glen also bought a 60º wedge to help with his short game.

Sunday, we met Iain at Cedar Hill Golf Course.  It was cold so Janet, who suffers from arthritis, did not join us.  After playing nine holes in wet, boggy conditions, we finally learned what the term 'winter golf' means.  My feet stayed dry thanks to my Footjoys but my pants wicked up the water and quickly became splattered with mud as I whacked with my three wood on the fairways (not fair this day).  I did do well on the putting green which was like golfing on a quilt so very challenging.

After throwing our wet clothes into the wash and tidying up, we met Iain and Janet for supper at The Snug, a pub in the new Oak Bay Beach Hotel.  Originally a hang-out for university students, this pub has gone uptown.  All the features were carefully stored when the hotel underwent its recent renovations and brought out again to decorate the new place.  It is very small so if you go, go early.  They don't take reservations and Sunday night is very popular.  The menu is limited but they do have a buffet.  We ordered deep fried dill pickles and fish and chips.

I decided to do Hogmanay proud by having haggis for supper.  Slaters Meats makes a good haggis and with sweet potatoes and ham, and excellent New Year's Eve dinner.  For the first time, my haggis survived the cooking process and didn't 'blow' up.  It was so substantial that I never did eat my ham.  We toasted in the new year, chatted with Geoff and Melissa (the boys lasted until 11pm before going to bed) then headed for bed.

New years' day we took down all the Christmas decorations and the tree.  Suddenly the condo seemed larger.  We enjoyed a tourtiere for dinner and the second half of the Christmas 'Pud'.

Wednesday we had errands downtown but stopped first at Don Mee's to do dim sum.  It has become a tradition.  We ordered enough for supper, too.  We shopped at MEC for rain pants that we plan to use 'winter golfing'.

Thursday, we headed 'up island' to to meet Glen's friend, Murray, his wife Yvonne, and daughter, Rebecca.  First though, we stopped at Duncan to do a letterbox in a community park.  Duncan is famous for its totem poles and this Third Street park had a lovely one.  Our next stop was Transfer Beach Park in Ladysmith which was originally the port where James Dunsmuir shipped coal from his mines.  The photo above shows the foggy view from the park.

Just south of Nanaimo, there is a country style English pub called The Crow and Gate where we were to meet Murray for lunch.  It's nestled in dairy farmland beside the Nanaimo airport.  We drove down the country roads wondering where a pub might be and how Murray had discovered it.  He wasn't the only one who knew of this fascinating place, though, as it was packed.  The day was cold and damp so entering the warmth of a tudor style building with two wood fires and gregarious patrons was wonderful.  Being a country pub, you order both your beer and your meal at the bar.  Glen had the steak and kidney pie and was thrilled with the chunks of kidney.  Usually there is a tiny piece in amongst the beefsteak or more often than not, just a bit of kidney broth used so it can be called a steak and kidney pie.  I had a thick shrimp sandwich with a side salad (both potato and tossed).  The prices were reasonable and the ploughman's lunch looked substantial.

Jack Nash, an ex-Sussex, England man, built the pub in 1972 when the laws changed to allow neighbourhood pubs in British Columbia.  A stickler for detail, he used pegged beam and plaster construction with open stone fireplaces and wood trestle tables.  Fifteen years later, the Olsons, Bryce and Linda, took over.

We did a quick tour of the grounds with its duck pond and fields.  In the summer, there's an extensive garden edging the pub's outdoor patio.  We couldn't linger, though, as we wanted to cross the Malahat before night fall.  This stretch of highway can get treacherous when the temperature dips.  On Christmas day, the highway was closed due to snow and ice causing many accidents.

Friday was decidedly damp.  We planned playing golf in the afternoon as Glen had to work in the morning.  However, we ended up working at home the entire day.  I did some creative writing which was a surprise as I was stalled at a fight scene and couldn't figure how to write it.  Now the words should come easier.

My birthday dawned cloudy but much warmer.  We met Iain at The Ridge to introduce him to our favourite 9 hole course.  He is not a fan of par 3s but when he saw the signature hole #6, he changed his mind.  It messes with your mind.  After our round, we returned to his condo and had a wonderful Navarin that Janet had prepared.  Their view of the Olympic mountains was spectacular.

It's become a tradition to go to The Marina for my birthday supper but imagine our surprise when the server recognized us and welcomed us back.  We had a delightful seafood meal of scallops and steelhead trout (me) and Satori/Zen oysters and sole (Glen).  We washed this down with a lovely Pinot Noir from Stoneboat Vineyards in the Okanagan.  Glen had a fancy ice cream sandwich to finish which looked very sweet.

Sunday, we planned on playing golf but had not decided where.  In the end, we returned to the Ridge as it was dry.  We ended up playing 18 holes because the day was fine.  Glen did very well hitting his second birdie ever.  The fact we both parred #6, was icing on the cake.

Monday, we headed downtown to meet Diane and Tony for lunch at The Swans.  After a lovely lunch of shepherd's pie (Glen) and lobster bisque and chicken chipotle sandwich (me), we said our goodbyes until we see them again in the summer.  It feels like forever away but I know the time will pass quickly and we'll be back on the West Coast again.

Another Wonderful Thanksgiving

This year we lucked out when it came to Thanksgiving feasts.  We had a fantastic one in Muskoka hosted by Glen's cousin (see last entry), then Glen barbecued a turkey for our celebration with Meg and Mike, and last week, we again flew to Aurora to share the meal with Geoff, his family, and friends.

We arrived the Saturday before the big day to have time to enjoy the excitement of the grandkids, Elijah (7) and Miles (5).  We spent the weekend playing lego and football and getting groceries.  On Sunday, Geoff was on stage playing his violin for their Worship Team at church so we enjoyed their music and the thought-provoking sermon of the guest pastor.

Monday and Tuesday, the boys were in school so we followed that old familiar rhythm of taking them to school and picking them up.  The weather was so nice, it was not a chore to wait for them.  We also did some window-shopping for Xmas presents and ended up with a few ideas.

On Tuesday, Geoff had to head to Boulder to do a nitrogen fill of his 'little' magnet.  He also had some supplies to pick up which I helped with while Glen worked.  For lunch, Geoff wanted to try out a local brew pub called Twisted Pines Brewery.  It was early so we were one of the first customers.  The tap room had a rustic pine decor and a delightful mural of the beer-making process.  The menu featured appetizers, salads, pizzas, and sandwiches.  I had their 'Meditteranean' which had artichokes, mozzarella, and sun-dried tomatoes.  Geoff had a Philly and Glen, grilled cheese.  I think the sandwiches were made to order but Glen didn't get the extra bacon he asked for.

The brewery began in 1995 when Gordon Knight bought old equipment from the New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins.  He initially brewed 3 beers -- American Amber Ale, Honey Brown Ale, and Raspberry Wheat Ale.  A year later he sold it to his friend, Bob Baile, who owned the Peak-to-Peak Brewery.  He merged the two companies and added Red Mountain Ale and Blonde Ale to the line-up.  Now, Twisted Pines also brews Cream Style Stout, Hoppy Boy IPA, Espresso Stout, Billy's Chilies, and Imperial Porter.

Glen had Hoppy Boy IPA, Geoff, Cream Style Stout, and I enjoyed Honey Brown Ale.  I loved the distinct taste of the wildflower honey in this beer.  I was also curious about Billy's Chilies as it was made with a variety of hot peppers.  Later, we bought a variety pack but I never did get to the Billy's Chilies.

After lunch we headed to the local music store, Robb's Boulder Music to see if I could buy Geoff some violin strings for Christmas.  While he drooled over the Art & Lutherie guitars (made in Quebec), I got the strings he wanted.   We then hit Boulder Running Company for the Brooks running shoes I've come to love.

On the way home, we stopped at the local Aurora brewery, Dry Dock Brewery, to buy some growlers. These are large jugs of beer (~4 litres) that are returnable.  We bought two--Apricot Blonde and Vanilla Porter.  Both were excellent with a distinct flavouring in line with their names.  Dry Dock began in 2005 when Kevin DeLange who owned a home-brew store felt his customers might like to enjoy a brewery.  So he expanded his strip mall location with the help of home-brewer, Kevin Kellogg.  A year later, they won Gold in the World Beer Cup for their H.M.S. Victory EMS beer.

Wednesday, Geoff and I walked to Pioneer Park, a local playground.  Elijah and Miles rode their bikes.  I got caught up with photographing milkweed pods (they don't grow in Calgary) so was glad I remembered how to get to the jungle gym because the boys were way ahead of me.  We left Glen to work and Melissa to enjoy her bible study session at a friend's house.

Thursday was Thanksgiving so we were up early.  Geoff began making pie crusts for two pies--pumpkin and pecan.  The day-long football game began with a break for lunch and cooking sessions.  Everything came together when Geoff's and Melissa's friends arrived and we sat down to a wonderful feast of turkey, bourbon sweet potatoes, garlic and plain mashed potatoes, rolls, cranberry sauce, gravy and dressing.  We all had much to be thankful for.  Between the meal and dessert, Geoff switched on the Xmas lights, a tradition we brought home to Calgary.

It's also become a tradition for Glen and Melissa to hit the stores on Black Friday.  While the boys watched Xmas specials, Geoff and I puttered about the kitchen.  The shoppers returned after a successful trip, bragging of the many bargains they scored.  It was date night so I made supper of Thanksgiving leftovers and we watched the boys play Wii Lego Star Wars while Melissa and Geoff had a fondue supper with friends.

Saturday, we got a lovely standing rib roast and Geoff created perfect Yorkshire puddings, a treat I haven't had in a long time (mine always look like gold hockey pucks).  Actually, all the meals we had at 'Casa Armstrong' were delicious as Melissa and Geoff shared the chores of preparing great meals.  I gained three pounds on chili, spaghetti, beef casserole with biscuits, stir-fry with homemade dumplings, and burgers to name a few of our dinners.

Sunday morning Glen wrenched his back pulling on his socks (it's a long story).  He also had a severe headache from a sore above his eye so we decided, it was best he stayed home from church.  Melissa made him a hot water bottle, I fed him Tylenol then he settled down to read.  Geoff had left early to set up the sound system for the Worship Team so we met him there.  Christmas carols were playing on the sound system as we entered the auditorium which really put me in the mood for the season.  The pastor of the previous Sunday returned and gave us an interesting sermon on Peter and his relationship with Jesus.

Geoff and Melissa had bible study that afternoon so while I packed, the kids played with Grampy.  We left around five thinking the holiday crowds would make security a nightmare.  Fortunately, someone knew the situation and so the many travellers were ushered through in no time flat.  We had hot dogs at a sports bar before reaching our gate.  The plane was so full that Glen couldn't put his laptop in the overhead bin.  We landed early which meant our gate wasn't ready, then it took over 20 minutes to unload our luggage.  We tumbled into our own beds around 11:30.  Monday morning, we missed our usual 7:00 wake-up call which involved flicking the bedroom light so Glen was almost late for an early meeting.

Whirlwind Ontario Adventure

All who know me, know I love Thanksgiving.  Last year for the first time, I celebrated both Canadian and American Thanksgiving.  This year our Thanksgiving festivities began with a wedding.

My nephew, Kevin, married his high school sweetheart, Meagan in Bath, Ontario on October 5th.  The date was the wedding anniversary of my much loved in-laws, Bessie and Jim.

I had accumulated some airline points so told Meg and Geoff they could join us in Kingston.  That was the first hiccup.  Turns out Air Canada ups the 'cost' of flying using points over Thanksgiving.  Geoff could travel from the States since it's not their Thanksgiving but not the rest of us.  So I booked him on United Airlines and scrambled to find cheap flights for the rest of us.  Meg ended up flying WestJet while we stuck with Air Canada.  At Thanksgiving, there are no such thing as cheap seats.

Due to work constraints, we couldn't fly out a day ahead to participate in the wedding golf tournament organized by the Best Man and our nephew, Christian.  A big disappointment for Glen and myself, not so much for Geoff and Meg.  So, I booked our hotel rooms in both Toronto and Kingston, and rented a car so we'd make the Friday evening nuptials.

All seemed to be going smoothly until the Monday before the wedding.  Our Ion (2003) and the one that had the accident this summer (See Beginning our Summer Holidays), was leaking fluid.  The assessment of the problem was not good--we needed a new the heater.  The replacement part was not expensive but to install it would cost twice what the car was worth.  We decided it was time to buy another car.

We did so the next day and are now proud owners of a 2007 Saab 9-5 Aero Wagon.  It has all the creature comforts including heated seats, a sun roof, 5 disc CD player with an MP3 port (7 speakers including 2 sub-woofers) as well as a glove box in which you can chill drinks.  The problem was we bought it quickly and didn't even take it for a test drive.  It was a private deal under the umbrella of a dealership so we felt we were safe.  But when we walked away, I realized we'd paid for a car we didn't even drive home.  Talk about stress!

The dealership promised to replace the cracked windshield the following day and we could get it then.  Trouble was the truck carrying the glass had an accident and the windshield--yes, cracked.  They let us take the car off the lot anyway.

Meanwhile, Glen got a call from his Hilton Honors program to say there was a problem with our reservations in Toronto.  His Visa card had been denied.  Could they have his card number and the security code on the back?  Without thinking, he provided the information only to realize after he hung up that he'd just received an email telling him Hilton Honors never calls to confirm a credit card.  He quickly cancelled his Visa card and cut it up.  For years, he's carried an Amex card for just such an emergency so he did have a back-up (always have two credit cards when travelling as you never know).

Meg got off work earlier on Thursday than expected so we headed to the airport and had supper at Montana's before boarding.  Our planes were due to leave within 20 minutes of each other.  In the end, we watched her plane take off as ours sat waiting.  Geoff also had issues with his flight so was late leaving Denver.  In the end, Meg, who was to land last, landed first so made her way to the Hilton while Geoff waited for us to get our luggage.

The next morning we picked up our car at Avis.  In the past, we've had minor problems with Avis but the good experiences outweigh the bad.  This time everything worked like clockwork and we were on the road to Kingston within 15 minutes.  What a lovely drive it was along Lake Ontario with the leaves in full fall colours.  I'd forgotten how much I love the red of sumac bushes.

Geoff is a fan of Tim Hortons but when we stopped for lunch at a highway rest stop, he actually had an A&W hamburger with Glen while Meg and I had a soup and sandwich from Tim Hortons.  He did buy a box of Timbits, 'for the road', so we enjoyed their tasty sweetness as we made our way to Kingston.

We had booked at the Travelodge La Salle so while Glen and Geoff did an errand, Meg and I began our wedding preparations.  I had much ironing to do.  As we left all rigged up in our finery (Glen and Geoff in their kilts), it began to rain.  Bath was a half hour drive away and as we pulled into the Loyalist Golf & Country Club, the skies cleared a little.  It was an outdoor wedding so this was a good thing.

A piper played as we sat before an island in a small lake.  Beyond was a fairways so we watched a couple of men golf.  Then the groomsmen appeared and walked across a small bridge to the island's gazebo.  All of them wore kilts.  The bridesmaids came next, each wearing a lovely shawl to warm their bare shoulders and bearing bright orange bouquets.  The bride was beautiful in a stunning dress with a neatly pleated bodice and flowing skirt.  Her veil wafted gently in the wind. Vows were exchanged and then Bronwen read an excerpt from Dr. Seuss' Oh The Places You'll Go.  During the exchange of their wedding bands, Kevin looked down to admire his which caused us all to laugh.  It was a happy event.

After the photos were done, the bride and groom had their first dance then food, wine, speeches and a fantastic DJ rounded out the celebration.  The dancing began with fathers and daughters together, followed by mothers and sons.  It was a great idea.  Glen was happy to let Geoff drive us back to the hotel.  Beer and dark country roads do not mix.

The next day, we enjoyed a lovely breakfast in the hotel's dining room (Meg asked why all the hotels in Ontario had stewed pruneson their breakfast menus) then had second breakfast (and elevenses) at Norma (Glen's sister) and Randy's place.  Randy ran his standard gauge trains (some had belonged to Glen's father) along the tracks around his backyard while everyone socialized.  We left in the early afternoon to make it back to Toronto.  We stayed again at the Hilton and after drinks, had a quiet supper in their dining room.

We were up early the next day (Sunday) to say good-bye to Meg and Geoff as they caught their flights home.  Once they were on the shuttle bus, Glen and I went back to bed.  After a leisurely breakfast, we headed north on Highway 400 (not before getting lost in Mississauga) to spend Thanksgiving with Glen's cousin, Lynn, and Fred at their cottage on Little Joe River in Muskoka country.  Alan, Lynn's brother, was there along with his son, Scott, and his new bride, Katherine.  After a tour of the cottage and it environs, we all piled into the boat for a ride around the lakes.  Seeing the changing leaves from the water was a special treat.

What can I say about our Thanksgiving meal?  It was a blast.  Seventeen sat down at two tables sharing stories, food, and wine.  Laughs resonated through Lynn's kitchen as everyone pitched in to cook, serve, and eat.  We all had much to be thankful for.  Both Lynn and Fred were gracious hosts.

Monday morning saw Alan heading back to Vancouver (via Toronto) and Scott and Katherine heading home to Ottawa (via Algonquin Park).  Fred had some chores to do so Lynn took Glen and me on a tour of the nearby Muskoka resorts.  The first, Clevelands House (photo) is reminiscent of a different time when tourists came north for their holidays and stayed in a resort.  Glen called it a 'Dirty Dancing' resort.  Monday, it was quiet as only a few guests enjoyed their Thanksgiving weekend there.  I went crazy photographing their famous Muskoka chairs painted in bright primary colours.

Next, we drove to the modern Red Leaves Resort.  It was also quiet but offered wonderful views of the lake and the fall leaves.  The decor was what I think of as modern/cottage.  Brass lamps made to look like tree branches complete with acorns and birch-bark-like tables with granite tops.  Lynn gave us the story of the hotel and the controversy swirling around it.

Finally, we visited a local cell phone tower.  What made it unique was the top was disguised to look like a fir tree!  Think of a fake Christmas tree and you have the right idea.  Glen said someone should string lights around it at Christmas to give it a festive look.

Supper was a wonderful spread of leftovers and we treasured the time we spent chatting with Lynn and Fred.  We were sad to leave the peace and tranquility of the Muskokas the next day.  Glen said all the stress of the previous weeks had melted away.  He wished he could stay longer and forget all the worries of home and work.

Our return to Calgary was uneventful except we almost didn't get on our plane because it was overbooked.  However, Glen's Prestige status saved the day and we even got seats together.  Bonus with being the last on the plane, your luggage comes off first so we were driving home in record time.