This cool and foggy morning would be the perfect time for this delicious beverage. My third hot chocolate offering is my long-time favourite: Peppermint Hot Chocolate from Bean Around the World on lower Fisgard Street. Made with Silk Road Westcoast Peppermint tea instead of syrup, the flavour is bright with a good balance of chocolate and mint; not too intense, comforting and creamy.
Very artful beverages: two large Peppermint Hot Chocolates and a regular Mocha (another fine chocolaty treat!).
Woke up to the most beautiful foggy morning, so went for a walk to the harbour. The air was so delicious and everything was enveloped in grey.
Looking out across the harbour towards James Bay on the left and Songhees on the right, Victoria BC.
Inner Harbour, Victoria BC.
The Legislative Buildings and the lower causeway, Victoria BC.
The Empress Hotel, Victoria BC.
By the time we arrived at Jennifer and Michael’s for dinner yesterday afternoon, the feast was well underway. Twenty-plus people had provided an amazing potluck spread. So instead of taking pictures of the food, we tucked in. Michael spared us the overindulgent second helping by giving us a tour. Then we spent some time in their beautiful garden. It felt so rural, yet is only 10 minutes from town by bus. Thanks M and J for a lovely Thanksgiving!
A few happy chickens. I love chickens!
Apple tree and chicken coop.
Bees!
Recent rock wall work.
Pumpkins ready for pie or spooky faces.
My second seasonal hot chocolate was enjoyed at one of our usual breakfast (lunch, dinner, dessert) haunts, Clay Pigeon. I plan to drop a hint that they should invent an amazing boozy hot chocolate for their winter menu. Will keep you posted.
Sweet and creamy.
Tarts in the oven for feasting day 2. Had an amazing meal yesterday at the delectable home of Annie. She went all out, of course, with full-on nibbles spread followed by the main attraction: the works. GJ did a little chore of replacing some weather stripping and we ate and drank all night! Forgot to photograph my dessert offerings: pumpkin pie and warm ginger pudding cake. Tonight we’re off to another meal with friends. Photos tomorrow…
Nibbles (and wine) kept us satisfied until the main attraction. I love all the bright colours Annie brings into everything she does!
GJ installed some new weather stripping for Annie.
Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry, mashed potatoes, gravy and of course… Brussels sprouts!
My favourite chocolate delivery method has always been in hot, milky, rich, drinking form. Through this autumn and winter, we will be sampling as many different purveyors of this heavenly liquid, locally and where we travel, and reporting our findings.
Our first offering: Caffé Fantastico Tré at The Parkside on Humboldt Street in Victoria.
Yummy cookies and GJ’s Americano accompany my hot chocolate: not too sweet, subtle and creamy.
I just purchased a new piece from Maggie French, The Accessories Collection For Izzy Lane. It is absolutely delightful and very well tailored. A great purchase that I will wear often through autumn and winter and for years to come! Check out Maggie’s work here.
Burgundy Herringbone Bow Band – Izzy Lane Ethical British Wool Tweed
October 1 and another sunny autumn day begins. We’re having the most beautiful weather. Yesterday we went to Ross Bay Cemetery for a guided walking tour. The Old Cemeteries Society hosts tours every Sunday, usually at Ross Bay, but sometimes at other historic graveyards like Pioneer Square downtown. Yesterday’s tour coincided with the 150th Anniversary of the Incorporation of the City of Victoria Symposium. Several actors in period dress portrayed people of importance from 1862 who are buried at Ross Bay. The Society uses the funds it raises from memberships and tours for materials to upkeep the historic graveyards. This year, we were told, they were able to repaint all the wrought iron at the Ross Bay Cemetery. Their volunteers also do research, gravesite cataloguing and tombstone cleaning.
Ross Bay Cemetery, Victoria BC; a beautiful and peaceful place.
We have had a very warm September and it has definitely been a long extension to summer. But in the last week or so there has been a crispness in the air and a bit of colour in the leaves. Our walk this week produced these shots:
Our lovely Inner Harbour.
We were pleased to see that the bright orange plastic fencing that had adorned the left side of this path for most of the year had been removed. Beacon Hill Park, Victoria BC.
Brown, green, red and orange.
Leafy path at the park.
One orange leaf.
Lovely autumn evening for a walk a few nights ago. Sauntered around the harbour and through the garden at The Empress Hotel before treating ourselves to dessert at Clay Pigeon. Such fun!
Chocolate Spoon Bread; yummy.
I had The Fresa, prosecco and berry compote and GJ had a glass of just prosecco. Clay Pigeon has it on tap!
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