October 1

The days are getting shorter, and we rest in the sunny spots instead of the shade when we are biking or hiking.Those are the main signs of fall that I have felt so far.  The poplars are yellowing, but the larch are still green; there are very few trees with fiery leaves in the Okanagan.  I'm going to see The Cowboy Junkies tonight at the Arts Centre.  Patrice asked weeks ago if I wanted to join her.  I'm glad I said yes because it's been a good day, but it's rainy and cool now and the music might liven me up.

Jay and the gang are moving to their new place today.  They are renting a house with a yard, a garage a good view and a 70 year old man in the basement apartment.  I haven't seen it yet, nor have they come by today, so I guess they will move the stuff that's here later.  I have invited them for dinner Sunday. 

 I went for a really good fall bike ride with some friends on Wednesday.  We were on the roads back of Lumby and stopped on the way back at a farm where we bought so many vegetables that my panniers were more loaded than they have ever been.  I bought two huge cabbages.  This morning I used much of the green one to make cabbage rolls for tomorrow.  I googled a good way to separate the leaves.  You remove the core and place the whole cabbage in the microwave for 5-6 minutes.  It's not dead easy; I still had to work on them under running water, but it's the best method I've ever used.  I then baked the rolls and hope that they taste as good tomorrow as they smelled today.

It's now Sunday.  The Cowboy Junkies did NOT liven me up. I've heard their songs on the CBC, but never before listened to their music for an extended period of time. I did last night, and it is decidedly NOT lively.  The singer, Margo Timmins admitted part way through the second set that they had only ever produced one happy song.  They are three siblings by the name of Timmins and two others, all from Toronto.  Even though an entire concert of their music is too intensely emotional and raucous for my liking, I was drawn in last night by their commitment to it.  They have a big fan base in Vernon; the Arts Centre was packed. It was the celebration of the 15th Anniversary of the Vernon Arts Centre.  Patrice and I laughed as we were leaving.  It made me think of the line, "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to."  I guess they wanted to. 

The cabbages

The happy gang after eating the cabbage rolls