Pocketful of Memory Cards

Yesterday, what began as "We should do lunch sometime," turned into a four hour leisurely nosh and wine tasting at a Westbank winery.  My friend Val had recently celebrated a birthday so a winery visit was definitely in order.  We wanted to keep it on the west side of the bridge and we both enjoy Asian cuisine so Volcanic Hills fit the bill. I'm not going to go into a bunch of detail about the winery because their website does an excellent job of all that.  It does, unfortunately do a very poor job of telling you where the place is located.  I clicked on "Visiting the tasting room" and it directed me to take "A quick turn off Boucherie Road".  Really?  How far along Boucherie Road and from which end?  I really get annoyed by websites that want you to go on a scavenger hunt to find their address.  I'm on the site because I already know I want to go there, please just tell me where you are.  Eight paragraphs later, under "Hou...

I didn't want to miss Gratitude Monday but I wanted to post the photos I took of the Bevoulin horses this morning so here is post number two for today, where I am grateful for: 29.  Benvoulin Road.  What a lot of photos I've taken on this short cut as I drive from Springfield to Gordon.  It's a little bit of country right here in the city. 30.  the fact that nobody was hurt when the retaining wall collapsed on the overpass at the new Westside Road interchange. 31.  our mostly new city council.  Those who aren't new have a great deal of experience to guide the recently elected. Here's hoping for sustainable growth and balance. 32.  living in a place where snow and ice are no more than minor inconveniences and often a welcome addition. 33.  self-control.  So far today I've been able to resist the call of the cookie jar.  Nicole filled it with her homemade chocolate chip oatmeal cookies yesterday.

Such a beautiful day to walk on the ridge . Hello Lakeview Heights. And a lovely view of the W.R. Bennett Bridge .

I'd been looking for an opportunity to use the coupon I had for a Lebanese restaurant so when Nicole invited herself for dinner yesterday I suggested we try Gaby's Grill in Lakeview Heights. Many times I've heard restaurant owners say their goal is to create an atmosphere where you feel like you've been invited into their home. Gaby's succeeds very well. We were greeted at the door by Fay who immediately introduced herself and Gaby, who was seated at the bar. She was so friendly and genuinely pleased to see  us I felt comfortable immediately. She allowed us to choose our table, gave us menus and told my daughter she was "so beautiful."   The restaurant is cozy and homey and has a small patio on one side.  The beer and wine selection is small, but we easily found something to our liking. It was memories of the Lebanese salad called fattoush that had brought me there and I was pleased to see it on the menu.  When I ordered the salad along with t...