The Baseball Bachelorette.

Last week (as you may have seen on Instagram), I attended a Stagette for a very good friend. As you'll see from the photos, the day was all about baseball.

Let me introduce you to the Bride-to-be...



We started at Nat Bailey Stadium (Sorry, 'Scotia Bank Field') for a noon hour game, had a picnic in Queen Elizabeth Park, headed down Main Street for some cold beverages, eventually ending in Chinatown at a Supper club for dinner.

The Sea to Summit Trail.

On Monday I agreed to accompany a friend from out of town up the Sea to Summit Trail.
I like to hike, but he REALLY likes to hike. Probably my first mistake.  I was excited as I'd been wanting to do this all summer, and finally found someone who would attempt it with me. The Sea to Summit Trail takes you from the base of the new Sea to Sky Gondola, up to the peak. The guide book suggests it takes 3-5 hours. It took us three on the nose. I guess that's what you get when you hike it with a British Army Major. Stupid.

Polo Picnic: The Southlands Cup

On August 17th, polo fans donned fancy dress and headed to The Southlands Riding Club to watch the first tournament hosted in the city in over twenty years, The Southlands Cup.

Robert Mondavi 'White Party'

Last week I had a last minute invite from a friend to Les Femmes en Blanc (a White Party) she was hosting at her downtown Vancouver apartment.

Lazy, like Sunday morning.

In my last post, I mentioned we spent the afternoon at the lake down the road from the ranch (Harmon Lake). This little spot has been a favourite swimming hole of the family's for years. It's tricky on weekends in the summer, as it is often filled with campers, making it difficult to find a private entry point.

Horsing around.

Recovering from the previous day's vineyard adventures, we spent Sunday, lazing around the ranch, visiting with our four legged friends, and swimming at the lake down the road.

Grape Run.

Last Friday, Kristin, Nicola and I headed out of the city with two intentions; enjoying a weekend adventure, and topping up our wine cupboards. We don't exactly have 'cellar' at this point in our lives. If I'm being completely honest, I have a difficult time keeping two or three bottles on hand.

Regardless, I really enjoy the B.C. wines, and even more so, when I have a chance to pick them out myself. I even find myself hesitant to drink the ones, that I hand picked from the winery. Visualizing where it came from seems to form a special attachment. Silly, I realize.

The first leg of the journey took us to the ranch, for a quick overnight, as it is the perfect 'hub' for adventures such as this, with the idea of hitting the road early the following day, to head to the Okanagan.

Knowing it was going to be a hot one, we made a quick stop to top up the water for the horses, and then headed down the dirt road towards the Coquihalla Connector.

This meant, doing some 'ranch jobs' dressed for the wineries. I'm glad the neighbours weren't around to witness how silly I must have looked cleaning out the water trough in a silk dress accessorized with a rhinestone bracelet. Of course.

 Cheyenne, however, appreciated my efforts.

Greenwich.

So, this is fun...

I was cleaning out my photos when I found a London adventure that was never documented. Don't get me wrong, there are some sneaky little secrets I don't put on the blog, but this wasn't one of them.

The Cornershop

Reason No. 3,467 to miss London: LUCY SPARROW

Where else do you have artists producing so many amazing contemporary works that you can't possibly see them all? Honestly, people -"Tired of London, tired of life".

The Lovely Leo.

Yesterday, we intentionally took the scenic route on the way home from Shuswap. We drove through the beautiful Turtle Valley, had a pit stop at a country store for some piping hot donuts (speechless), and drove through the huge expanse that is the Douglas Lake Ranch (Canada's largest cattle ranch). 

Our plan was to stop at our place for a quick overnight, to break up the long drive home, and check on my new brother (read: 'Leo' the horse). Temperatures were soaring (37 degrees). After a swim at Harmon Lake, we charged home to meet the new guy.

After strategically waiting for the hot sun to tuck itself behind the hill, we headed down to the barn to work with the horses. I know what you're thinking, "We?". For your information, yes, even I helped. I swear, I did. In my brother's jeans (Thanks Chris). It was a gorgeous summer evening, and despite being in the hands of a rookie, the new guy was extremely well behaved. I think we'll keep him.

Some of the Douglas Lake herd...

Lake Escape.

What are you up to for the upcoming long weekend? I've been invited up to Shuswap to log some hours on the lake. I'm excited to spend time with family, finally get into my book, and hopefully rid myself of those awful one-piece tan lines I've acquired. 

Serious business.

Here are some pictures from our last trip up there (a few weeks ago)-