Garden dinner, Sunday, July 17, 2011

Our neighbor, Kerry Lindsey, invited us to pick dinner from the garden and cook together as a community-building activity.  He points out chanterelle mushrooms which were cooked in butter and cream. 

heading out to pick berries, beans, potatoes and mushrooms

Blackberry crew

bean picker

They come with mud.  I (Susan) washed them with the garden hose.  It almost peeled them.

Dave was on burger duty - garlic and herbs mixed in

Kerry's mother Treska grows garlic and eats most of it.  We understand Kerry's liberal use of it.  

Maralee's blackberries

everyone had something to do

Her dutch oven was over coal fire

potatoes with pesto, spicy cole slaw and beans with butter

The amazing chanterelles

Blue Heron Whitewater in "duckies"

Our neighbors in Flat Rock, Maralee and Roger, invited us to go on the French Broad River running rapids last week in rubber kayak's called "duckies".  Grandpa bought the closest thing to sandals he'll ever have - water shoes.  They look a lot like Mitchell's version, not quite as colorful. 

Maralee said,  "the duckies are easy, you don't want to be in a raft!"  The instructor said, "just follow the raft down the rapids and stay aimed straight ahead...  If you go over, keep your feet downstream and head up.  Never put your feet down because they get lodged in the rocks." One fellow in our group went over three times. 

 Both of us got stuck on rocks and needed more than a wiggle off - a push or pull.  We stayed upright.   Following the lead raft took frantic paddling.  Staying straight through rapids got easier after we went through backwards a few times and learned!   The photographer caught us when we looked good.

Niagara-on-the-lake

June 26-July 1 we went to Canada with Mt Gretna friends for a week of relaxation on lake Ontario.  Here are the highlights.  First stop - lunch at Peller, a winery with an exquisite restaurant.  

Carl and Joan Royer, Dave

Our house was literally, ON THE LAKE.com.  4 beds and baths.

Excitement the first evening was a swimmer who was drifting out of the river to our right toward Toronto across the lake.  We became concerned and called 911.  The operator said "people have a right to swim in the lake."  We said "This doesn't look right..."  A policeman came and called a boat to pick him up.  His brother and 2 friends had watched him swim away from the beach and get carried by the strong current.  He was safely delivered to his friends.  Policeman said "it could have been tragic."

The river - Niagara Falls is just to the right out of sight

Dan and Pat watch the swimmer

We all watch

The policeman and brother/friends of swimmer on our beach "Was he drinking?" "No, he's never done anything like this before"

Pick up boat meets police boat to transfer swimmer

Just when we think it's over...and we resume prior position

A helicopter flies over.  We know not why.  We picked an active site on the lake!

Dan and Susan play 9 holes at the course next door.  Dan birdies a hole!  2 shots on a par 3

Another wonderful lunch at a winery

White asparagus with bacon ice cream...

Happy Dan

Snoozy Dan

Bringing along merch from Hillebrand

When we weren't eating and drinking we read, cooked at home, walked around town and went to a play "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."

Susan read Queen Noor and Dave read a book about American Indians that Dan recommended

The dinner for eight sized RED from Hillebrand

Pat picked flowers in the garden for arrangements

Bill's homemade garlic bread

Wanna taste black garlic?

Pat's mushrooms with black garlic

Dave opens the Trius Red

Sitting and spitting... (what older folks do)

Our evening post

Pat and Joan make a purchase at a winery

The guys make a purchase.  When asked at the US border "What are you bringing in?"  "Some wine..."

Wine on the porch of 13th Street winery

We were there, and here's evidence.  Got to get pics from other photographer Beth.

Getting out of Canada was not so easy... 3+ hour delay at the border