In true HodgePodge style a variety of thoughts.
This intense heat and smoke wave continues to force Tez and I indoors and away from our struggling gardens and other outdoor fun.
It’s a nasty reminder on our eyes, ears, and throat to our Valley’s historic visit with Mt. St. Helens and a couple terrible forest fires during the past two decades. When in conflict with Mother Nature good ole Mom wins every time.
Not only has the heat diminished our yard work, it has also vetoed a party or two. Our wedding anniversary and camping trip with eight year old Taylor must now be rescheduled much to my chagrin. Undaunted we are moving forward on the adventures. The camping trip is now rescheduled to the backyard and includes air conditioning and anything involving Netflix instead of marshmallows and extra propane.
Tez and I share mixed emotions recognizing that aside from gardens there are mountainsides and forests outside that likewise need protection and we are unable to physically assist. We are thankful however for those brave volunteers who are doing so. We worry for the mountains and for those protecting the forests.
If you are out and about please use common and cautionary sense making it a safer place to be for all.
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The list just diminished sadly by one with the announcement that Rose’s Waterfront Pub has been sold and will change hands next month. Rose’s has always ranked high on my list as a favourite place to go for a beer, bite and round of people watching. Tez and I are hoping to hear more soon but wish current owner Rose Sexsmith all the best in whatever adventure she takes on next.
Next month I will be writing my annual column Tips for Tourists and so I definitely need your input on neat places to dine, drink, dance, people watch (Rose’s was my top pic every year), swim, take your dog, get your hair cut….
Got a great spot? Email your thoughts to charliehodge333@gmail.com. Consider it your civic duty. Tell them I sent you.
For Tez and I our personal ‘summer opening’ celebrations kicked off with Tez’s work related fun – a company wine tour. For a non-wine drinking wine drinker my voyage to more than a half dozen wineries was a marvelous glimpse at the industry. I admit I approached with caution. I was a tad afraid.
I am a beer boy. I know beer. I trust beer. I do not fear beer.
Wine and I were not exactly friends and I sensed that driving around in the back of any vehicle filled with wine was usually not a grand plan for me. The tour however was safe and fabulous beyond fun and so were the snackies provided by Geoffrey White Law.
Among the wineries on the list was The Hatch, the Indigenous World Winery, and of course, fabulous Mission Hills.
Crunched in-between a 30-year reunion camping trip and Creative Roots yard angels visiting our yard Tez and I celebrated our eighth wedding anniversary. We are not sure which was more fun the yard crash or reunion however the charts were pretty high on both. Suffice to say more will be revealed on the yard angels and the rock n’roll reunion next week. Tez, however, wins the remainder of the hill today.
For eight years Tez has truly ‘walked the walk’ above and beyond the line about ‘richer or poorer’. As far as ‘health and strength’ any HodgePodge reader knows I would not be here without her support the past year or two.
It’s difficult to explain that Tez is the real strength behind why I am alive. Yet I get all the fuss and support. Readers constantly asks how Charlie is doing when it’s Teresa, that deserves the support and could really use some help.
Thanks for the past eight years Tez and hopefully you will put up with another eight.
Now then, where is that tent?
