Week of July 15th, Quite Eventful

Try as I might this picture will not go where I want it to.  Anyhow, three water-bombers filling their tanks before proceeding to a wild-fire.

Last Sunday we took the Kettle Valley train.  We have been meaning to do this for a long time.  Well it's done and it was "underwhelming" to say the least.  The website mentions "10 miles", I don't think so.  We chose the indoor coach and boy, it was very warm. 

The engine

One of the "hostesses".

 We chose the premium "Great Train Robbery" event.  The robbery was fun for the kids with about a dozen robbers both in the coach and outside on horseback.  Loud, very loud.  The meal afterwards was also "underwhelming".  Oh well, been there, done that.

The robbers rode up and down firing their pistols

As you probably know, the Okanagan is once again suffering from wild-fires.  We have a front row seat.  This week we had our own private air show of water bombers.  The larger ones have to fill at the airport but the helicopters and little planes load from the lake.  It was very exciting having them fly just above our house and then into the lake.  I know that they were working but it sure looked like they were having fun.

Notice the smoke.   Most days are smokey.

Thursday our friends Randy and Sandi came in their motor home for a visit.  We had two days of fun and laughter.  They "glamped" in our driveway.

Dinner with Sandi and Randy at Naramata Pub

Saturday morning we drove up to Salmon Arm and then Falkland.  We visited with brother Bill in Salmon Arm, had lunch and then headed for the Little Britches rodeo in Falkland.  Little Britches is for ages 5 - 15 and they are so cute.

In this event the little boy rides his horse, dismounts and then has to tie a ribbon around the goats tail.  Daddy had to help as his legs didn't touch the ground.

Our friends Cynthia and Ross are both retired from rodeoing.  Their daughter Amanda still barrel races but we were there for granddaughters, Hannah and Taylor.  We love to watch them.  We feel we have been dropped into a different world.

Taylor does really well in pole bending, where she has to slalom through the poles.

We have now been told that we cannot rent this house past September as the owners want to renovate it and live in it themselves.  We are diligently looking for another place, preferably in Naramata but definitely in the Penticton area.  We have a few choices but choose to wait until the 1st so we can see what's available in Naramata.

WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO

We are always busy but not necessarily blog-worthy busy.  

We are happily settled in our summer-time home in Naramata.  We are waiting for word as to whether we can stay in this house year round.  We would love that.

Doug rides his bike almost daily.  He has worked up to about 20 km. (12 mile) round trips.  We are lucky to live just off the Kettle Valley Trail.  He bikes up the mountain and takes fabulous pictures.

Looking down on Naramata from the Kettle Valley Trail

Surrounded by orchards and vineyards

We have neighbours and friends over regularly.  Yesterday I made a Greek dinner for our friends Chuck and Linda but I was too busy to take any photos.  

The garden is plentiful.  We have pretty much exhausted the cherries, we still have raspberries coming and the apricots are next.  Soon after that there will be peaches and plums.  As far as vegetables go, we are eating fresh peas, yum, yum, yum.  Today Doug discovered the beans are ready.  The corn is about  5 feet tall and tasseled.  Oh fresh garden veggies, nothing like it.

Apricots on a tree grafted with a plum tree, two fruits in one

Delicious cherries

Doug continues to work on the motor home, installing the solar and the inverter.  We are taking it out next weekend.

Me, I've been sewing.  I knit dishcloths  and have signed up for a quilting class.  I am going to attend an art class at a local winery.  Sounds like fun, wine, snacks and an artist.  I've always wanted to paint and my father was an artist.

I made raspberry jam.  Doug and I used to do this every year but it's been years.  While he was biking, I was making jam and scones.  It was/is delicious.  Tastes like sunshine.  Soon I will be making peach and apricot jam as well.

Making jam

The fruits of my labour

The cat continues to entertain us.  We discovered we have catnip growing in our garden and she gets pretty crazy with that.

Zoe helps with my sewing.

Just a couple of random photos for you.

A young hawk.  There is a nest across the road from us.  This young bird was crying for it's Mom.

The yard is lush at this time of year.  Grass needs mowing at least once a week

Canada Day Fun

A few times in the past, we have helped our family in Merritt with the festivities in the park.  Dave and Liz own the radio station and they put on games in the park.  The weather is usually scorching but this year it was only on again off again sunny.  But fun.

With the smaller motor home we were able to overnight in Dave and Liz's driveway.  What a view.

And the view from our crescent sky window.

There were relays for three age groups and we even had a few adults in the older group.  We had a lot of work but fit in numerous laughs.  One stands out for me.  We had gift cards for Tim Hortons ($10.00 !) but only one per family. As I handed a card to the Mom of a group of three kids and explained one per family, the teen-aged daughter grabbed it from her Mom and trotted off.

Some pictures to share:

Getting set up.  It was quite windy so we had to tie everything down.

The Tonka truck race

Hmmm strategy planning

Root beer chug-a-lug

Yum doughnuts.  (that's our grand-nephew and our sister-in-law behind the table)

Strategy girl and her doughnut

This guy's girlfriend dared him and then hid because she was embarrassed.

Some of the older girls at the watermelon chomp.  The deejay from the station.

Go go go

Jump jump jump

Man in motion

We watched the fireworks over the lake from our deck.