Je me souviens

Truly happy memories always live on, shining. Over time, one by one, they come back to life.

Banana Yoshimoto, Japanese author

I came to a halt before one of the mall's shops. Mais oui! Je me souviens de Versailles. Excusez mon français but, oh, the memories come rushing back and what little French I know bubbles on my tongue. In another Christmastide, twelve years ago now, I strolled through Versailles' grand hall of gold, mirrors and crystal in my little grey beret. Later someone informed me that only tourists wear berets in Paris. Ah well. C'est la vie. I felt chic nonetheless. As I stood before the shop's window, I smiled at all the wonderful memories unexpectedly triggered.

It's Fruitcake Time!

Your friends are the fruitcake of your life – some are nutty, some are soaked in alcohol, some firm, some sweet, but all together, great to have in your life!

Unknown

I thought everyone loved Christmas fruitcake . . . until I searched for a quotation for today's post and found more satire than odes dedicated to this dark, dense, and ambrosial treat. One comedian itemized 10 things to do with fruitcakes, and his first suggestion is: "Bury them in the back yard for future archaeologists to discover." Well, that's just fine by me. I know treasure when I find it!

Awesome

I am standing on the seashore.

A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze

and starts for the blue ocean.

She is an object of beauty and strength and I stand and watch her

until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud

just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says: 'There! She's gone.'

Gone where? Gone from my sight that is all.

She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she

was when she left my side,

and just as able to bear her load of living

freight to the place of destination.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her;

and just at the moment when someone at my side says:

'There! She's gone,'

there are others watching her coming,

and voices ready to take up the glad shout

'There she comes!'

And that is dying.

Charles Henry Brent, Canadian missionary bishop (1862-1929), "The Ship"

The creative writing class is drawing to a close. Our penultimate assignment was to write about our experiences with death and dying. Listening to the stories read aloud, I was humbled by the expressions of my classmates. One left us with Charles Henry Brent's poem, "The Ship". It's a beautiful gift that I wanted to share. Walking out to the parking lot, I looked up into an awesome passageway leading into the heavens. That, too, was a gift.

Sweet Savoury

Savory . . . that's a swell word. And Basil and Betel. Capsicum. Curry. All great. But Relish, now, Relish with a capital R. No argument, that's the best.

Ray Bradbury, American author (1920-2012) in Dandelion Wine

I relished these savoury shortbreads, scrumptiously flavoured with cheeses, spices, and nuts. Shortbread has long been a Christmas tradition at the ol' homestead and I maintain my grandmother's simple recipe of just butter, flour and icing sugar to be the epitome by which all other shortbread are judged. However, having been introduced this past weekend to the savoury shortbreads of the Provisions Food Company, I will now make a new prize category. Provisions has transformed the sweet into a savoury: what a delicious combination. Go figure!

Vineyard Adventures

Accept what life offers you and try to drink from every cup. All wines should be tasted; some should only be sipped, but with others, drink the whole bottle.

Paulo Coelho, Brazilian novelist in Brida (1990)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Everywhere we went.

Take a look at the Rosewood's Cab Franc, glistening once again,
with notes of raspberry and blackberry aglow.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas,
Warmth from e'vry stove

But the prettiest sight to see
Was the hibiscus floating free
On a spark-ling brut.

A pairing of mushroom soup with Riesling that shines
Is the wish of sis and me

A Bigmouth Merlot and a Bravado Cab-Sauv
Is the hope of Bro and Fraz

And all the while, he said with a smile:
"We're Napa of the North . . . sans attitude"

With apologies to Perry Como, Johnny Mathis, and especially composer Meredith Willson. The wines and the nibbles and the great company just has me singing praises of the "Wrapped Up in the Valley" event. Congratulations and thank-you to one and all at Twenty Valley.

Wrapped Up in 2012

Wine to me is passion. It's family and friends. It's warmth of heart and generosity of spirit. Wine is art. It's culture. It's the essence of civilization and the art of living.

Robert Mondavi, American vintner (1913-2008) in his autobiography, Harvests of Joy

It's that time again; time for sampling good wines accompanied by tasty morsels: it's Wrapped Up in the Valley 2012. The Time Traveller joined our wino threesome on another enjoyable tour up and down Twenty Valley.

Joe at Kacaba Vineyards and Winery was a highlight of today's tour. Never before have we been offered a taste direct from the stainless steel tanks. In addition to this preview of Kacaba's 2012 Sauvignon blanc, Joe offered a delightful commentary on various aspects of wine-making from hand-picking grapes to the bottling operation inside a flatbed truck. It's obvious he loves his work. And the wine? Suffice it to say that we pre-ordered a case of that Sauvignon blanc. It should be ready come Easter.

Visiting the home/winery of Sue-Ann Staff is always a pleasure. We love her big, friendly collie-cross dog, Bricks (or is it Brix?), who greets visitors with a wagging tail and a big smile. We love her stunning chandeliers. We love her mom's flavourful artistry with grilled cheese sandwiches (today's creation featured delicious, homemade spicy peach chutney). And we also love her wines. The 2011 Riesling "Loved by Lu", so-named in honour of the grandmother who taught Sue-Ann how to care for the vines, glistens with fresh fruitiness. Its sparkle is matched only by Sue-Ann's friendliness. Meeting the vintners and learning the stories behind the wines is what really makes the "Wrapped in the Valley" event so much fun.

In Gratitude

Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.

A. A. Milne, English author (1882-1956) in Winnie-the-Pooh

Happy Thanksgiving to my dear American friends! Know that I am grateful for your presence in my life.