Stolen Kiss

Savour the precious moments... like this kiss...

As she approaches with slight apprehension and with a cautious eye on the prey, she bent over and stole a kiss. Was a precious moment indeed!

Feast of Fields Summerland, BC

We had the priviledge of being able to attend this first annual event in Summerland last month. Event organizer Rhys Pender did a great job. I know what it's like to put on a huge event and this ran very smoothly. I'm sure that it will be a well oiled event for many years to come! The event was held at Valentine Farm where they make their own vinegars. A beautiful spot to hold such an event!

We missed the event at UBC in Vancouver but are really excited to be attending the event at Providence Farm in Duncan where event organizers Jason Found & Melanie Banas having been putting on Feast of Fields on Vancouver Island since 2006.

I've attached some of my photo's from the Summerland event. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did shooting them ;)


Butter Chicken from Waterfront Restaurant/764 Restaurant

Beautiful dried mushrooms

Little Creek Gardens & Poplar Grove Cheese ~ Divine!

Vinegar Works made at Valentine Farm

Kettle Valley Steam Railway passes right past their farm. How cool is that!

Home made honey ice Cream, raspberries & chocolate sauce & beautiful topping provided by Cabana Bar & Grille

The handoff of the completed creation!

Heirloom Tomatoe & Gouda Pizza made by Okanagan Grocery. They rocked!


Summer apple, brown butter streusel & caramel pizza... Need I say more?

Preparations for the after party ~ Pig on a spit but we had to split!

Fall - Harvest

I am wondering where did our summer go? With the blink of an eye there was fall! It's okay actually, as I find it to be my favourite time of year. Soft light of the sun hitting the orange/brown/mauve/yellow colours of the leaves on the trees. It calms my soul... Going for walks near the forest or the ocean, hearing the rustle of the fallen leaves or the swoosh of the waves, being one with the earth...

Fall also brings on the delightful apples, pears, pumpkins, squashes and still the favourable corn! Sweet corn smothered with butter and salt. That says fall to me... Share with me what reminds you of fall, I would love to hear

Gerbera ~ they look so cute in my cow creamers :)

Acorn ~ they are still quite soft and squishy. Can't wait till they are ready!

Sunflower ~ it is such a happy flower

Blacksmiths Fire

Salmon BBQ ~ it looked and smelled delicious!

Lamb roast ~ it is quite a sight seeing all these lambs on the spit. I could not bring myself to eat any...

Black Gold ~ making ourselves a cup of coffee wherever we stop, this is my favourite thing to do any time of the year :)

Peach Cobbler Recipe

A new eagle friend Moenmac1 to be exact sent me her recipe of Peach Cobbler from her neighbour's grandmother in the '70's. Needless to say, it's been around for quite some time and boy it is well worth keeping for another century!

Ingredients:

3 cups peeled, sliced peaches
3/4 cup honey
3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup milk
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4lb butter

Preparation:

Mix peaches and 1/2 cup honey in bowl. In seperate bowl, mix the remaining ingredients (except butter). Melt the 1/4lb butter in bottom of the 8 x 8 baking dish in warm oven. Add batter to the melted butter in dish. Place the peach and honey mixture on top, spreading evenly. Bake in 350f oven for 1 hour. Goes very well with fresh whipping cream or icecream!

With the abundance of fresh fruit at this time of year, I highly recommend you trying this recipe out as I'm pretty sure you'll be making it for years to come for your own families!

Enjoy!

Ahh Birthdays...

Went to the Hotel Eldorado for my birthday lunch recently. What a fabulous place to sit back, relax and enjoy the view of the lake. One would get the feeling that Sean Connery was going to walk through the doors and order his martini (shaken, not stirred) right in front of us! I refrained from my cosmo and opted for the Sumac Ridge Private Reserve Gewurztraminer to accompany our delicious meals. I had the Eldorado's grilled caesar with free range chicken breast and my dear hubby had the steak sandwich. They were beautifully presented and tasted divine!

Thank you T. K. for recommending this great place!

Thank you everyone who wished me well for my birthday (you know who you are) and hope to have you all in my life for many years to come!

THE PEACH

Summer, what a great time of the year for fresh fruits. Visit your local farm and taste what real local fruit actually tastes like. Anything that has to travel for more than a day is no longer, healthy, fresh and TASTY. While in the Okanagan, we have the privilege of aquiring these juicy fruits quite easily and I must say AWESOME. I went to the local farm Davison Orchards in Vernon. They have a great selection of their own home grown produce. Check them out!

Did you know that peaches originated from China and were the favoured fruit by the emporers? Smart people!

I made a Peach Streusel Cake with my lovely fruits and here is the end result. Very easy to make and tasty if I may say...

Recipe by: Diana Rattray, About.com

Ingredients:

• 10 tablespoons unsalted butter (I guessed about 3/4 cup)
  
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 to 4 large peaches, about 1 1/2 pounds, peeled, pitted, thinly sliced

• Topping:
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 tablespoons brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 scant teaspoon cinnamon

Preparation:

Butter and flour a 9-inch springform pan. Heat oven to 350°.

In a mixing bowl with electric mixer, beat 10 tablespoons butter and the granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. In another bowl combine the 1 2/3 cups flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly beat the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture until well blended, scraping the sides of the bowl a few times. Spread/pat the batter into the prepared pan. Slice the peaches and arrange over the batter, pressing lightly, in a concentric circle, overlapping as needed.

Combine the topping ingredients with a pastry blender or fork until crumbly. Sprinkle the crumbs over the peaches. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until golden brown and peaches are tender and bubbly.

ENJOY!

Sun Valley Cruise-In - Friday Night

We came across this car show last night in downtown Vernon and what a sight! There were literally hundreds of cars. At least 6 blocks were closed off for the public to wander through the main street and talk about their favourite car, memories or just capture the moment with their camera. Well done Sun Valley Cruise-In and the Downtown Vernon Association

Celebration

The Ladybug Birthday Party

The little ladybug woke up

and remembered,

it was a most special day-

her little friend's birthday

was today...

Her little abode-

a sweet little rose

with crystal droplets of dew,

reflected sunlit petals

into a rainbow of hue.

Now she must hurry

no time to tarry,

as she made cupcakes

vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry-

making a pot of rosehips tea

she spiced it extra carefully...

She then tidied up

picking a fresh

bouquet of buttercup,

to place on her table

with party favor

for little bugs to savor...

Ribbons were hung

and balloons strung

to celebrate such an occasion...

she heard the doorbell ring

the guests had arrived-

oh, what presents they did bring!

Then they all danced to a tune

that the ladybug wrote,

by the light of the silvery moon,

and ended on a most harmonious note

as they all sang "Happy Birthday to you!"

-Marie Lawrence

Happy Birthday Sparkey!

Our dog Sparkey was born August 1st, 1998. She is a Cocker Spaniel with 1/8 Maltese. She has been our companion and has never left our side in all her years. We raise our treats to wish her a happy day ;)

The Selkirks - Rogers Pass July 20, 2009

Road trip to the Selkirks & Rogers Pass was great day. Federal parks were aplenty and we had no problem finding a picnic site along the way. Once again, it was a photographers paradise, so many beautiful mountains and critters to keep the eye sharp!

The Last Spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway... November 7, 1885

Can you see the Cross?

The work it took to build these railways

Stellar's Jay... had a cheezie thanks to a patron of the park!

This crazy Raven was doing a little dance for me. The size of these birds is incredible!

Gophers everywhere! My first to see. They make this irritating sound when danger is close to warn their little buddies. Glad I don't live close to them!!

Cornus canadensis - Bunchberry Dogwood.
They are just growing along the roadside. A real treat to see.