Sunday, August 12 2012
Greetings from Vacationland
The amazing disappearing Technical Guy
If you've tried sending me an email or phoning me lately, you will have noticed a more-or-less complete absence of . . . me. As is my usual practice, I'm taking the beginning of August off, to recharge my batteries for the headlong plunge that is the Fall winemaking season and the run-up to our Limited Edition 2012 program. Most of the seeds of that work have been planted, but the harvest of the fruits those seeds will bear is a beast, and I like to make sure I'm in tip-top form coming out of summer, so time off it is.
When I mention that I'm going to be away for a summer vacation I get asked, 'Where are you going?' My answer is deliciously simple: the beach.
Tides on a shallow bay make for an ever-changing beach landscape
Right across the street from my building is one of the prettiest beaches on the lower mainland, and the first couple of weeks of August generally have the finest weather of the year, so it's a no-brainer. I stay home and take advantage of the natural beauty.
Okay, I'm bragging it up, I know: it's actually pretty cold and bleak sometimes in the winter, there are an awful lot of trains, and the traffic on weekends can be staggering--especially children in their 'boom stereo' cars and all the fools who ride lumpy, poorly-engineered 19th-century technology motorcycles (yes, I mean Harley Davidson. Who can take noisemakers like that seriously?)
Still, on the whole, it's brilliant here. The flowers are in bloom:
Pretty, but don't let that pollen touch you-- it's stainy.
Yes, an artichoke does make a flower. Not quite yet, though.
The sunsets are spectacular along the pier
White Rock Pier at sunset
But it's not like I'm staying home every day. A lovely day-hike out in Golden Ears Park was a nice return to my stomping grounds. As a Cub/Boy Scout/Venture Scout, I spent a lot of time in those woods and hills, scrambling up rocks, falling down crevasses and generally having a wonderful time. It's a very gentle hike up the lower falls trail (especially now, after decades of trail improvement) but the scenery always tugs at me.
Mmm, mossy goodness
On the shores of Gold Creek
Lower Falls--cool and lovely on a 40 degree day
And as ever, I've enjoyed a few fine meals on the patio: my wife is a professional Red Seal chef, but as anyone married to a full-time chef can tell you, if you leave it up to them to cook at home, you're going to eat an awful lot of take-out and cheese sandwiches. But after a few days out of the kitchen, when she feels like making something 'special', it's going to be lovely.
Salad Niçoise, with fresh-grilled Yellowfin, garden potatoes, beans, lettuce and herbs.
Zucchini fritters with dill, capers, smoked salmon and sour cream, and stuffed zucchini blossoms.
Yes, we grow zucchini in our garden. Why do you ask?
There's still a week until I go back to the office, and lots more to do: an overnight trip down to the Yakima Valley to visit friends in wine country, another barbecue or two, an appointment to go for a session in a flotation tank (trippy!), some practice time down at the range, and plenty of time in the garden--tomatoes are coming in, the potatoes are eating beautifully right now (nothing like a potato so incredibly fresh and tender that washing it makes the skin slip right off!) and while our broccolli is done, the Brussels sprouts are going strong, along with the squash, berries, zucchini (sigh) and all of the rest of it.
Almost forgot: we're off to go see the Perseid meteor showers tonight in our super-secret viewing spot. Better than any summer blockbuster movie, I say.
See you all in another week or so.
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