Vancouver Mural Festival....41 new murals around Vancouver.

Wow....I can't wait to tour around and see this wonderful new public art.

http://globalnews.ca/news/2891720/mural-festival-transforms-vancouver-neighbourhood/

Just back from an ocean swim....

It's such a lovely walk and then swimming in the sunshine.  I think it's going to be warmish tonight so great to get cooled down like that.  The water was a little chillier than before....perhaps the tides....is summer over....oh, no!

Teahouse at Stanley Park

Well,  we knew it as the Ferguson Point Teahouse.   We hadn't been there for years so decided to give it a try.   When we stayed at the Bayshore when we were living in Victoria,  we would walk from there round the seawall and then have lunch.  Many wonderful times!  A bit too long a walk for us now.  So,  we drove,  and had a nice tour of Stanley Park.  We hadn't done that for a while.  Jim was shocked that parking was $3.25 an hour (it does go down somewhat in the off-season) and it was a complete zoo....packed with tourists everywhere.  So,  we bailed,  parked in our Resident's Only parking on Beach Ave. and had a hotdog and sat on the seawall at English Bay.  Then went to The Sylvia to have a beer on their terrace.  Perfect!   We enjoy this view all the more since we don't have it all the time.  We did learn that they have an appie hour and appies are $8 from 3-5pm.  We'll wait until the tourists leave and  the parking is cheaper!

Facebook memory from three years ago....I was hooked!

Artist Trading Cards Group...I think I'm hooked!

I really enjoyed this event and thanks so much, Susan,  for introducing me to this and encouraging me to get going on painting again.   Members bring stuff to share and work on their own art and chat.  I made a "stamp"....my first stamp ever and created quite a sensation that I didn't own any stamps.  This group has lots of stuff to do art with...just loved my cards that I chose and they even seemed pleased with my stuff...all good!

Ordered the new Louise Penny book today....in hardcover.

It is going to be released Aug. 30.    I ordered the Kindle version last time because I wanted to read it right away and also my Kindle was new to me and wanted to try it out.  But then I didn't really have the book and couldn't lend it to anyone.  Patty,  I know you felt the same way when you bought a P.D. James in electronic form.  I think for special books...I want the book!

Wow...great photo from Hal Castle!

Good morning,Palm Springs. 8-18-16;6:21 A.M.

Wonderful time with my cousins, Bonnie and Georgia, at Burnaby Mountain Golf Course Clubhouse.

It was so much fun today and we got to see Lindsay and little Richard ((Bonnie and Jack''s new only grandchild),  also her husband, Richard.  Super guy....only photo of him didn't turn out.  We also met Lindsay's two step children....very sweet kids.  

So,  quite the gang.  Georgia,  Bonnie''s sister,  has 8 grandchildren...all great kids too.

Lindsay and Richard.

Richard...a real sweetheart!  He's 17 months old.

Richard,  Jack,  Georgia,  Jim

Lindsay,  Richard,  Georgia

Bonnie,  very proud Gramma,  Lindsay,  Richard

Jack and Jim

Lindsay and her two step children and a tiny bit of Richard,  the husband.

Bonnie,  Richard,  and Georgia.

Jody Paterson nails it again...yes, let's not be so cranky! Thetis teens...party on.

I just love reading her blog!

Cranky in Paradise: How life in a fairly perfect place makes us angry

http://closer-look.blogspot.ca/2016/08/cranky-in-paradise-how-life-in-fairly.html

Wow...a sunset even over Lost Lagoon!

Well,  it's even better now and would be fabulous from the Observation Deck but we've been up there already today and I'm feeling tired.  I'm really pleased to get these colours.

From Kin's market today....

Well,  I talked about having corn, tomatoes, and cherries for dinner when we were camping as kids.  Seems like a good day for it!  I do love the campari tomatoes but will try this fresh field tomato and see what it's like.

Later:  You can't beat the campari tomatoes!

Really enjoying our observation deck today!

Wow...just loved this wine!

Linda and Cec brought this wine from Chaberton Winery yesterday and Jim and I had it for lunch today.  We just loved it.  Linda and Cec were having dinner out there recently and they bought a case of it after tasting it.  I think we'll have to do the same.  And the Bacchus Bistro there has wonderful food.

Well,  can't really see the wine label.  It is Chaberton Reserve 2015 Bacchus,  Fraser Valley, B.C. VQA

Description:

"Produced from estate grown grapes,  our off-dry Bacchus showcases sweet aromas of delicate white flowers.  Soft lemon notes and nuances of cinnamon and spice on the finish."

Just bloody good is what I would say!

Bandol, mon amour

We have spent a lot of time in Bandol over the years!

Who would you like to be sitting here with, in this elegant square in Bandol, Provence, listening to the tinkling fountain...
Photo: Lisbeth Patterson

A wonderful time with old friends...

Linda and Cec and Carol and Dave came to visit us today.  Linda,  Carol,  and I were all old neighbourhood friends.  It was so much fun and so great to see them.  Love you guys!

They loved our new apartment,  the pool, and the observation deck.  It was great out there.  We kind of take that view for granted since we go to Cloud  9 but it is something most people don't see.  As a kid,  Cec used to work for some cement company that did various buildings around here...he could point them out.  Tough work.

This is an inspiring story!

This Republican mayor has an incredibly simple idea to help the homeless. And it seems to be working.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2016/08/11/this-republican-mayor-has-an-incredibly-simple-idea-to-help-the-homeless-and-it-seems-to-be-working/?wpisrc=nl_most-draw8&wpmm=1

From The Good Life France

"Photo: Aix-en-Provence market by Sinem Gokalp
The best street markets of Provence"

We've been there but nothing beats the market at Carqueiranne!

The company Richard works for....now "Boeing Vancouver"

Richard is really delighted with the name change...makes for a lot more clarity.   And he hopes to be able to work out of the new Yaletown office eventually.

In The Sun today:

http://vancouversun.com/business/local-business/boeing-to-bring-200-high-income-data-analytics-jobs-to-vancouver

A very choppy ocean swim and a fabulous dinner.

I think our swim today will be much calmer.  I almost got knocked down by a wave yesterday coming in from our swim!  We couldn't believe how many people were out and about on Beach Ave,  Davie,  and Yaletown on our drive to the Provence Marinaside.  We had reservations but the restaurant was packed.  We were glad to be able to snag the last outdoor table available when we arrived.  It was a lovely evening and the food was amazing especially the halibut and a very generous portion given the cost of fresh halibut.  The wine pairings were perfect.


We began with a "Mediterranean Caesar"....a little appetizer in itself.

Still handsome after all these years!

They do things up so nicely at this restaurant.   This is the extra little "amuse bouche" they brought us as a gift from the kitchen...scallop with tomato type pesto.  Immediately they brought us some little toasts and tapenade..so south of France.  Jim began with the gazpacho and I had the tomato tarte.  I think I got the better deal.  The gazpacho had a bit of cream in it and was an interesting take but I think I make a pretty good gazpacho and like the pure veggie taste.  I can see that the little bit of cream takes the edge off the acidity of the tomatoes but for a tomato lover like myself I love that taste.

My halibut...wow!

Jim's steak.  The best thing about it for me were the shoestring potatoes like what Le Crocodile always gives you as a "gift from the kitchen".  Good thing Jim doesn't particularly like them.  I got most of them.

Our desserts.  Trio of sorbet for Jim (I got "hunks")  and of course I can never resist a lemon tart.

The owners of these dogs were lucky to get an outdoor table by the fence.  The restaurant welcomed them and told them they could "park their dogs".  I hadn't heard that expression before.

Treating ourselves....

Wednesday, we went to the Alberni Keg for Happy Hour....had their wonderful calamari and sliders.  We love this place!  We feel like we are in Hong Kong,  London,  New York,  San Francisco....just love the big city downtown vibe.  We'll be back there with Richard and Grace to take advantage of "Lobster Summer" later this month.

And another wonderful bonus of The Keg on Alberni is that there is this fabulous Urban Fare Market. Some of the goodies we picked up.

Last night we went for the music at The Sylvia but it was totally packed out in the bar so split a fish and chips in the dining area.  We had a wonderful view of the ocean and took a walk on the seawall afterwards and watched the sun set.

Tonight it's Heirloom Tomato Menu  Fest at the Provence Marinaside.  Since tomatoes are one of my very favourite foods,  can't wait!   When our family went camping in the summer in Penticton, dinner was often freshly picked corn on the cob,  tomatoes,  and cherries.  Heaven!

It will definitely be a beach day today.  Good weather on the horizon for quite a few days.

http://www.provencemarinaside.ca/7th-annual-tomato-fest/

Some photos from last night.  It's a lovely short walk to The Sylvia.

I missed my skunks in Victoria...no skunks on Vancouver Island.  They are beautiful animals...from a distance,  of course.

Now,  I don't think you can see it very well but there is a seagull there and it was actually nibbling the blue flowers...no kidding!

Mobi bikes everywhere!

From The Sylvia and along the seawall...