There are moments that are perfect. I sleepily made my way to the table after a summertime afternoon nap. Dinner was tacos with fresh salsa.
Dessert was blackberry and apple crisp. Not just any crisp, but one made from wild tart blackberries and tree fresh transparent apples. The crust was made by an Oma who no longer needs a recipe. It was warm from the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting on top.
August 3rd, 2013 Extra-Ordinary:
Can you believe there was any left?
When was a kid Grandpa and Grandma would visit and always bring fruit from the Okanogan. I’ve told you this before and I also told you of my love of Macintosh Apples. I have always preferred Macs, Spartans and Granny Smiths above all others especially Delicious Apples. I am not sure what it is about Delicious apples, but I don’t like the yellowish flesh, the mealy mouth feel, the thick skin and the flavour seems not appley to me. So when ever I see those tell-tale bumps on the bottom of that dark red apple, I pick up a banana instead.
I do the grocery shopping in our home because I actually like grocery shopping. Emile does most of the dinner cooking and I do lunches. It seems to work well for us because Emile gets home earlier than me and the best grocery stores are out by my work. When I make a grocery list – unless I need specifics – I usually write “fruit” and”Veggies”. I am not sure why I am compelled to write that – because if I know I’ll remember what fruit to buy, why don’t I think I’ll remember to buy fruit? Hmmm. I’ve not thought of this before. Well, reflection for another time.
Anyways, as you can well imagine when I buy apples, I buy my preferences. Macs – if they aren’t end of season, Spartans if they look good or Granny Smiths (because they taste to darn good with sharp cheddar or peanut butter). I eschew any apples with bumps on the bottom. No thank you! I assume if they have bumps on the bottom they are related to a Delicious and I can’t take that risk. I’ve never considered apple selection implications on Emile until for some reason I went rogue in the apple aisle. My normal selections weren’t looking that good, so I picked up some Gala, Pink Lady’s and Ambrosia apples for that week. I figured Emile would have to make do with these until better stock was in place. (incidentally, I threw them all into the same bag, cashiers hate me)
When it comes to the lunches I make, I really like feedback. No, strike that, I really like appreciation. And so Emile does his best to say “hey, liked my lunch today”. He came home on rogue apple week and said “I really liked that apple you packed. One of the best in a long while”. Wha?!
March 12th, 2013 Extra-Ordinary: “Bumpy” apples get added to the rotation – but just not Delicious, I am not sure if I could actually take paying money for them. All this time, I have been thinking only of myself and protection from Delicious apples and Emile has been suffering.
Greetings from Coquitlam, BC and the Lydell Family Residence!
Hours on the Road: 10 hours
Kms Travelled: 846
I found myself alone in my mom’s house as everyone left for work. It was 7:30 am. It was weird having nobody to wave goodbye from the front porch or at the airport gate. But I pulled out and heading on the “Crow Highway” or Highway 3 “Shortest Route to the Coast”.
I love the drive from Cranbrook to Vancouver, it is filled with amazing mountain passes with cities dotted along about every 1 hour. There are multiple passing lanes so when you are going down an 8% grade behind a large truck, you can pull around and make a more speedy descent.
I haven’t driven this drive alone for more than 15 years and I enjoyed the solitude. Alone with my thoughts I wondered “Have we made the right decision?”, but mostly I just sang along to my iPod.
As I passed through Creston, I considered purchasing fresh fruit, but decided I would bring it from Osoyoos instead. I love the romance of roadside fruit stands. I imagine family orchards three generations deep with luscious peaches and crisp apples in their blood lines. I am sure it is much more corporate today, but I love to stop.
I stopped for gas and lemon Perrier frequently – the latter causing my bathroom breaks being a little more often than a tank of gas.
In Osoyoos I stopped and purchased a large basket of nectarines and large McIntosh Apples. I cannot return to BC without enjoying a case of BC Macs. I love them – it tastes of crisp weather, Hallowe’en, and raking leaves.
I drove without incident until about 15 kms out from my destination and then entered the construction on Highway 1 and the Port Mann bridge. It slowed my progress tremendously, but I was still able to roll into town just in time for dinner.
September 14th, 2012 Exta-Ordinary: I’m here.
The Daily EO 