Take me Out to the Ballgame...

Nat Bailey Stadium...also known as "the prettiest little ballpark in the world"...is home to the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League. It was built in 1951, and has been the centre of baseball in Vancouver ever since. It is named after renowned baseball promoter and the founder of the legendary B.C. restaurant chain, known as the White Spot....and is affectionately called 'the Nat'. It sits immediately next to Queen Elizabeth Park...a beautiful backdrop for an outdoor stadium.

On Saturday the temperatures climbed to the high 30's (Celsius)...and it was the perfect day to head to the city for an evening ballgame. We...as a Rendzvous group...took three vans of avid fans (and one-night fans) out to the Nat for the evening...and we definitely got our money's worth!

The game began at seven...and at eleven o'clock it was still happening. Our peanuts were long gone...as were the drinks...but the game went on. The visiting team was three runs ahead at the bottom of the ninth inning, so the game was all but over...until a wonderful young player came up to bat with bases loaded, and did what most can only dream about. He hit a beautiful grand slam home run...

...and brought the crowds in the stands were to their feet.

Since the home run ball scaled the wall immediately next to one of the A & W targets, every fan received a voucher for a free A & W teen burger and root beer. Jeremy Barfield was one popular young player on Saturday night...he is the nineteen year-old son of former Toronto Blue Jay's star Jesse Barfield.

So with a tied game...we went into the tenth inning. New pitchers came in and warmed up, and it was beginning to look like the game may just go on forever. But the hometown boys just couldn't quite pull it off, despite a wonderful effort.

When the game was over, one would think we would be in quite a hurry to get back on that freeway for the long commute home. But we couldn't just leave, since we had chosen to visit Nat Bailey Stadium on a night that featured fireworks after the game. The fireworks were wonderful...

...and although I discovered I have a fireworks setting on my camera, you had to be there to appreciate them!

 It was a fun evening...at the prettiest little ballpark in the world.

tulips of the valley...

Yesterday's Rendezvous event was a 'dazzle your senses' tour of the farming area of Agassiz...done in large vans with a group close to 50 people joining in the fun!

First stop...Tulips of the Valley, 35-acre tulip farm. We were free to stroll the fields...open to the public for two-weeks for self-guided tours.

After we've had a chance to check out all the tulip varieties...buy tulips or order bulbs...and take a few photos...it was off to The Back Porch.

Here we checked out the circa 1919 coffee roaster...soaked up the wonderful aroma or sampled their coffees...and visited the pottery studio.

The barn houses an interesting collection of antiques, collectibles and garden decor items.

Next stop...The Farm House Natural Cheeses...where one can watch the cheese making process through a viewing window (but not on Sunday), or sample a wide range of handmade artisan cheeses...or gelati ice-cream!

I haven't tried their ice-cream but the jalapeno Gouda is wonderful!

And a little further down the road, we stopped off at Limbert Mountain Farm...specializing in potted herbs and organic specialties.

We visited their tea shoppe...which is also home to cooking classes by famed instructor, Chez Dez. We were free to sample all kinds of strange and wonderful goodies...including lavender chocolate!

The tour is never over until we've had a serious bite to eat...so our last stop was the Wildcat Grill for dinner. Not only did we enjoy a fabulous meal...but we topped it off with birthday treats compliments of Gord (he really knows how to plan a birthday party!)

And that, folks, was our event for April...and who knows where we'll go next?

Christmas at Hycroft

While half of Canada watched the Grey Cup game yesterday afternoon, we as a Rendezvous group headed to downtown Vancouver for the annual Christmas open-house at Hycroft Mansion.

Hycroft is a magnificent Edwardian mansion, originally built for Alexander McCrae who was a leading businessman and politician in the beginning of the twentieth century. Construction began in 1909 and the home took two years to complete and quickly became the hub of social life in Vancouver. In 1942 the McCrae's gave the home to the Canadian government and it became a hospital for war veterans until 1960. At that time it was purchased by the University of British Columbia Women's Club and has been restored and maintained by them. It is used for for receptions and private parties throughout the year, but only open to the public for the annual Christmas open-house. What a great old house!

Let me give you a peak...

I just love all the ornate detail and fancy moldings!

The dining room was all ready for us...

I think the cooks were watching the Grey Cup game though!

Every room had it's own tree...

...and most also had their own fireplace.

No, it wasn't snowing in Vancouver, but I had to throw in one picture from last year...it does sometimes snow out here in November.

What a lovely place to visit...and get inspired!  And it helps to be in good company.  

Amaizing Campfire Night

Fall has arrived and the corn fields are disappearing as the crops are being cut for winter feed for the cattle. But there's one bumper crop that will be standing until the end of October. Last night we as a Rendezvous group decided to go get lost in the corn in our local corn maze. They have record high corn stalks this year...about twelve feet tall throughout.

We soon figured out that it was all about knowing the answers to the clues we were given...and since we were a little 'clueless' we decided that if we just followed the path most travelled we would eventually find our way out. And we would have...

... except that the darkness came so much sooner than we expected! I think John (the owner) actually thought we might still be there on October 31st when they cut the corn, so he came to our rescue with his flashlight!



It was such a beautiful night and the corn field was a great place to enjoy it!

John and Rascal joined us at the campfire where we roasted smores and enjoyed each other's company under the starry sky. What a great way to enjoy a clear, crisp autumn evening!