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Monthly Archives: February 2021

Is it the 5%?

Posted on February 20, 2021 by Roger Harmston Posted in Terroir Leave a comment

We have two favourite Vintners in the ‘reasonable’ price range.  The Wineries of Famille Perrin and Meffre.


Saint Mapalis is patron saint of the village of Jonquières, located at the heart of the “Plan de Dieu” vineyards. The quality of this vintage is wonderful.  Intense. Ripe and rounded.


Grenache 65 %, Syrah 30 %, Mourvèdre 5 %


At first I thought maybe it was the 5% Mourvedre that was the differentiating factor.  After the second sip we came to the conclusion that it was a glorious combination of true terroir.  Climate, Soil, full fruit and wine crafting experience.


Pleasure is taken in more than one glass.

COTES DU RHONE VILLAGES PLAN DE DIEU – MEFFRE ST MAPALIS

$17.99

14% Alcohol

UPC: 03142920024401

Grenache Meffre Mourvedre mystery case syrah

Whining

Posted on February 19, 2021 by Roger Harmston Posted in Humour Leave a comment
  • ‘You guys are all pardoned – I’m putting in a wine cellar.’
  • ‘I need a ‘parent of three teens’-size glass.’

The Seven Wonders of the World

Posted on February 18, 2021 by Roger Harmston Posted in Terroir Leave a comment

A group of Geography students studied the Seven Wonders of the World. At the end of that section, the students were asked to list what they considered to be the Seven Wonders of the World. Though there was some disagreement, the following got the most votes:

The Anticipated 7 Wonders of the World

1. Egypt’s Great Pyramids

2. The Taj Mahal

3. The Grand Canyon

4. The Panama Canal

5. The Empire State Building

6. St. Peter’s Basilica

7. China’s Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl, hadn’t turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list.

The quiet girl replied:

“Yes, a little. I couldn’t quite make up my mind because there were so many.”

The teacher said:

“Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help.”

The girl hesitated, then read:

“I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:”

1. To touch

2. To taste

3. To see

4. To hear

. . . She hesitated a little, and then . . .

5. To run

6. To laugh

7. And to love

Little Free Libraries

Posted on February 17, 2021 by Roger Harmston Posted in Neighbours Leave a comment

Teale Phelps Bondaroff spends a lot of his time thinking about books.

A couple of times a week he loads up a bike trailer, which can hold up to 250 paperbacks, and pedals around town delivering books to free little libraries in need of a top-up. The weekend before last, he delivered the 20,000th book to a little library in ­Saanich as part of a placemaking ­project started in 2017.

He selected Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne to mark the milestone, because he thought the title was “poetically appropriate for the 20,000th book.

The 10,000th book delivered was a pilot’s autobiography reflecting on life at 10,000 feet, and Phelps Bondaroff is already thinking about what title to choose for the next big milestone.

Although the little libraries operate on a “take a book, leave a book policy,” new libraries often need a little help getting started, because people need to get in the habit of bringing a book when they go for a walk, Phelps Bondaroff said.

That’s where the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network’s Pocket Places Project comes in. Since 2017, volunteers like Phelps Bondaroff have been topping up the libraries and helping people build their own to add to the region’s growing collection. In that time, Phelps Bondaroff has personally made 1,220 visits to little free ­libraries, topping them up and sometimes ­redistributing books.

For Phelps Bondaroff, the free ­little libraries are about much more than books. They’re places where you can strike up a conversation with a ­stranger, meet your neighbours and make new friends.

“I’ve always described the libraries as coral reefs for community. And so they have the potential to sort of serve as these community hubs,” he said.

In one little free library in Royal Oak, there’s a notebook where people who need help running errands can leave their information and ask for support. Those wanting to offer help can also leave a note to connect.

“So during the height of COVID, if you needed help picking up groceries, you could say: ‘I need help picking up groceries. Here’s my phone number or email.’ And then someone in the back could say: ‘I’ve got a car on Tuesdays if someone needs a ride to a medical appointment,’ ” he said.

Many free little libraries have active social media accounts, sometimes interacting with each other. When there was flooding in Texas in 2019, Phelps Bondaroff reached out through his own library’s Twitter account to a free little library there to see how it was faring.

“It’s like a whimsical interjection to the normal hellscape that is Twitter, where you get, you know, just two inanimate objects talking to each other,” he said.

He’s also struck up a relationship with someone who runs a little library in England, exchanging postcards addressed to their libraries every few months.

Of the more than 400 little free libraries in Greater Victoria, there are some that offer exchanges in items other than books, like seeds and children’s activities and at least two “super COVID-appropriate” puzzle libraries, Phelps Bondaroff said.

“It’s kind of like one of these things where you start with a little library, and then you can expand to benches, to community bulletin boards, to ­emergency safety meeting spots, to community,” he said. “Ultimately, it comes down to community.”


Source: Times Colonist February 17-2021

Messing around in the kitchen

Posted on February 16, 2021 by Roger Harmston Posted in Terroir Leave a comment

Themes for a day

Posted on February 15, 2021 by Roger Harmston Posted in Music Leave a comment

Moody Manitoba Morning – The Bells

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVTS_OmZOok

Buffalo Springfield – For What It’s Worth 1967

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp5JCrSXkJY

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Teach Your Children

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkaKwXddT_I

Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way (HQ)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ul-cZyuYq4

Pink Martini – Dosvedanya Mio Bombino

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5ACbm-YFT8

Throwbacks

Posted on February 14, 2021 by Roger Harmston Posted in Humour Leave a comment

Huge on Flavour. Big Value

Posted on February 13, 2021 by Roger Harmston Posted in Terroir Leave a comment

They’ve been making wine for centuries on Sicily, and certainly get it right with this one.


It has a fresh and inviting bouquet, a definite full body flavour and lasting finish. I bet you’ll take a second sip quickly after your first.


Located near Trapani – Firriato produces about 4.5 million bottles from 380 hectares, so there will be some for us next time you want to stock up (assuming our locals keep it in stock).


Nero d’Avola 80% and Petit Verdot 20% – sometimes with a little Merlot added to the mix.  Nero d’Avola is also known as Calabrese.

Kefta (meat balls) Moroccan style.  Lamb this time.  With grilled asparagus, and carrots with a little honey drizzled on top.  It would also go very well with a baked tenderloin and roasted veggies.

NART

SICILIA ROSSO – FIRRIATO NARI

$12.99

13.5% Alcohol

UPC: 08002815405706

Calabrese Firriato Nari mystery case NART Nero d'Avola Petit Verdot Sicily

Why we do Mystery Cases

Posted on February 13, 2021 by Roger Harmston Posted in Terroir Leave a comment

This wouldn’t normally be on our radar, or in our case – but thankfully the Goddess of Wine picks both low and high above the average price for our mystery items.


The central California Coast around Monterey has an extended growing season which allows for full ripening of the grapes and as a result we have smooth textures to the wine.  

Round Bouquet, slightly lemony flavours and a nice honey-like smooth finish.


This is a BIG Chardonnay with all the trimmings.


Roasted chickie with fruit stuffing (pomegranate seeds, figs, raisins, prunes, apricots, dates) made a great match for the wine.

CHARDONNAY – MER SOLEIL RESERVE SANTA LUCIA

$31.99 regularly $32.99

14.4% Alcohol

UPC:  00710909710107

California Chardonnay Mer Soleil mystery case

These Kids have it right

Posted on February 12, 2021 by Roger Harmston Posted in Neighbours Leave a comment
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