Life is just a short walk from the cradle to the grave and it sure
behooves us to be kind to one another along the way. -Alice Childress,
playwright, author, and actor (1916-1994)
A word has its use, / Or, like a man, it will soon have a grave. -Edwin Arlington Robinson, poet (1869-1935)
Up at 4:55 am when alarm sounded. Went into kitchen to put java on so that Claire and Greg could have a shot of caffeine to start them on their journey. Few minutes later they came in through the patio door to say good-morning. Although coffee was ready they decided they wouldn't have any so we loaded bags into Titanium Green and made our way to Granville. Straight sailing all the way as lights were almost perfectly synchronized. Little traffic as well, given time of day. Had my charges at the AC Departure gate just before 5:30 am and after a few quick snaps and parting embraces we waved goodbye. Sad, of course, to see them go as it had been a lovely, lovely visit. On a brighter note, we do hope that we will manage to meet up with them, in Europe, probably in 2016, to travel in England, France and Portugal, or parts thereof.
Back home by 5:55 am to digitate, with a cup of java beside me, until 7:00 am when I really started to feel sleepy. Into bed until 9:00 am and then up again to a quiet holiday morning. Forecast suggests a cloudy day but no rain so plan to head out for a short ride to work up an appetite for turkey dinner!
P, a quick note on the run. Look forward to having you and C. here at Ukiyo when we can make that happen. Just at the end of a great long weekend here with with jane. I am coming in tonight and will be in town through Wednesday night and then I drive to Portland Thursday afternoon. Maybe we can get together in the next couple days depending on the fullness of your dance card.
Jane and I have planned a four day long weekend for the weekend of the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th of November. For that I would like to be back on that Friday the 7th. If I need to get on a bus or train to make that happen, I can do that as -- allowing you and Glasgow can return when it suits you. Very grateful for the table which I think you will agree fits very well with the decor. Jane affirms. W
Hello Game Farm People! What's next on your walks? Elephants? Lions? Perhaps you should buy a hunting rifle instead of "gators"! How did you enjoy your "Cornish" evening? Sounded like fun. Happy Thanksgiving, to Gayle, at least! On the turkey front, Chloë had dinner with Krissy and Mark and about 20 others, apparently, last night. Wonderful, wonderful food, as you can well imagine. However, dinner was served at 10:00 pm! Even a tad late for Chloë! Poor Krissy!
Our Thanksgiving festivities will start sometime after Clan Sutherland and rest of their
freeloader, hangers-on return from Seattle. They went down on Saturday to watch Seahawks lose to Dallas yesterday! We are contributing a number of dishes for the Thanksgiving
dinner: a large casserole of butternut squash and one of Brussels Sprouts, done in chicken broth with bacon, by Mme Coriandre. Chloë will be coming
over to make her cornbread stuffing later this morning. Marvin insists on doing the turkey. He
is a great cook so looking forward to his variation of traditional
bird. I'm hungry
already! If there are any overlefts will FedEx them to you! Will have about about eleven
or twelve again so we'll
all be able to sit around table.
Fondestos to you from Cora Lee, now up and bustling about, shouting out orders, right and left! Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Dinner at Edibles
After I helped Cora Lee do some food prep, we put three more leaves in the table and then I suited up to go for a ride. The day was quite cloudy but the forecast didn't predict rain so I set off close to 1:00 pm, intending to make for Iona. Almost poifect cycling weather and I hummed along. Traffic on Marine, past UBC was reasonably constant but not a single large truck so I was pleased about that. Very few other bikers out so I assumed they were all too full of turkey to ride, many people celebrating Thanksgiving on Sunday.
All went well over CSTB and River Rock Casino but just as I reached Templeton Street, past the new designer mall, still under construction, (To open in Spring 2015! Whoopee!!!), I felt a few drops of rain. Couldn't decide if I should turn around or not but believing, naïvely, (as it turned out), that this would be but a brief shower, if that, I decided to keep going out to Iona. As you might imagine, it began to rain more steadily quite quickly so, in for a penny, in for a pound, I put my head down and kept going. In spite of the rain, it was very warm. In fact, I was far colder at Falcon Lake, in July, when I was caught in a couple of real downpours. Only thing I was concerned about was my cell phone as I hadn't placed it in a Ziploc bag, something I tend to do when weather is "iffy". As I'd placed it in the inside pocket of my reasonably rainproof jacket, I thought/hoped it would be fine. (Fortunately, it was!)
Anyway, heading back was maddening as wind really was gusting, the rain on slant now, so more like taking a shower than riding into a light shower! Only respite I had was back on CSTB as was completely sheltered as I made my way over it, wind and rain coming out of the east. They seemed to abate, somewhat as I climbed Cambie and once I was on Ontario the trees lining the street offered a modicum of shelter. Made most of the intervening lights at various major intersections, (Had to dipsy-doddle around a fairly significant fender-bender on 33rd/Ontario.), and was soon on W 1st and making for home. My shoes were squishing and squelching when I put my bike away and I looked pretty bedraggled when I walked in the door. Was told, in no uncertain terms, by both Cora Lee and Chloë, to strip-off in the laundry room. Did just that and then zapped a mug of java before heading for shower. Stats for ride:
http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/612160560#.VDxe0i47Wyw.email
Gang started to arrive shortly after 5:00 pm so we popped numerous corks and set about visiting with one another. Having had large gatherings before we have found that if we ask guests to serve themselves it works better than trying to pass everything around table. Close to 7:00 pm Sarge carved the wonderful turkey Marvin had cooked, while Cora Lee and Chloë set out other vegetable dishes and regular stuffing on a large warming plate we have, as well as having gravy simmering on stove, along with Brussels Sprouts and bacon in a large frying pan. Since Thanksgiving isn't Thanksgiving without a squash dish, as far as Coriandre is concerned, we contributed a huge casserole of that. Chloë's yummy cornbread stuffing and a delish broccoli/nut/grape salad completed the fare.
After Bella, Marvin's mother, said grace, we tucked in and spent a wonderful time enjoying the bounteous feast, chatting and joking about all and sundry. Close to 9:00 pm when those who wanted seconds had had their fill, we cleared the table and then repaired to the living room to rest before dessert was served. This consisted of pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake and an apple crumble. Cora Lee had her own gluten-free pumpkin pie so everyone's needs were considered. Alberto, (Bert), Marvin's Dad), and I were only ones who wanted malt so we enjoyed a few snorts of a Glen Moray 16 years old, a wonderful Speyside drop, and a Bowmore Laimrig, 15 years old, 54.4%, dessert in and of itself, so rich and honeyed is it.
Had been a busy, full, long weekend for everyone so our guests started to drift towards the door around 10:15 pm. Once we'd bade one and all goodnight, Cora Lee and Chloë put away most of the overlefts while I loaded dishwasher. Kissed Chloë, laden with plunder from the wonderful meal, goodnight around 11:00 pm and then Cora Lee and I watched the latest episode of Blacklist, relishing Red's dealings with those who dare to try to double-cross him! Into bed and my sleepy eyes couldn't countenance even a paragraph, let alone a page of The Confabulist so I think I was asleep even before my head hit the pillow!
Wayne Sutherland Today
was a Thanksgiving to remember. Seven weeks ago I came very close to
dying. I would like to thank all the members who kept me alive and my
wife Michele Darrow-Sutherland
who has looked after me diligently for the last seven weeks. I would
also thank my children and the rest of my family and all my countless
friends and co workers who also have assisted in my recovery. I love
you all and have you all to thank at this most special time of the year.
Ilya Brotzky Sent You a Message Thanksgiving Greetings Everyone! I wanted to thank you all for helping make this campaign a success and feeding 150 women all of this week at the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre. Over the week, we will be delivering meal tokens from Save on Meats and sharing the stories of the women who you helped support. We'll also be working to grow tickett, a crowdfunding platform for the homeless here in Vancouver. If you are interested in helping, please let me know by replying to this email. Thanks again!! Cheers, Ilya
Had been a busy, full, long weekend for everyone so our guests started to drift towards the door around 10:15 pm. Once we'd bade one and all goodnight, Cora Lee and Chloë put away most of the overlefts while I loaded dishwasher. Kissed Chloë, laden with plunder from the wonderful meal, goodnight around 11:00 pm and then Cora Lee and I watched the latest episode of Blacklist, relishing Red's dealings with those who dare to try to double-cross him! Into bed and my sleepy eyes couldn't countenance even a paragraph, let alone a page of The Confabulist so I think I was asleep even before my head hit the pillow!
Wayne Sutherland Today
was a Thanksgiving to remember. Seven weeks ago I came very close to
dying. I would like to thank all the members who kept me alive and my
wife Michele Darrow-Sutherland
who has looked after me diligently for the last seven weeks. I would
also thank my children and the rest of my family and all my countless
friends and co workers who also have assisted in my recovery. I love
you all and have you all to thank at this most special time of the year.
Ayn P Happy Thanksgiving xoxo
Patrick James Dunn Nana is still dreaming of the turkey to come, (To be cooked by Marvinator with Clan Sutherland Freeloaders invading The Islay Inn, yet again!), as I was up at 5:00 am to drive the Brisbanites to YVR, en route to SF! Squash dish, prepared yesterday, next door at The Annexe, to have final finishing touches added before dinner this evening. Chloë will be coming over to make her cornbread stuffing later this morning. I'm hungry already! If there are any overlefts will FedEx them to you and Los Horridos!
No comments:
Post a Comment