After we crossed the border on our way back to Nelson from Spokane, we stopped in to our friends who live in Salmo. They treated us to a lovely afternoon and evening of amazing food, fun with children and pets, and a great visit with dear friends.
A big charming cat enjoying the Holidays!
Homemade bread, just out of the oven!
Porcini mushroom gnocchi, divine!
Stuffed mushrooms were amazing!
An idilic little farm, perfectly suited to children, horses and ducks!
It took a couple extra days to get here, but we are enjoying a snowy and lovely Christmastime with family in Nelson BC. When we couldn’t fly as planned to Castlegar on Friday, we chose a different route to Spokane Washington via Seattle for Saturday. As we arrived quite late, my sister (who, with her partner, had driven down to meet us at the airport) booked us into the Hotel Lusso which is right across the street from the historic Davenport Hotel and is one of its family of properties. After we checked in, we popped across the street to view the magnificence of The Davenport, all extra beautiful for the Season. Lusso is also delightful. Our room was clean, bright and spacious. On Sunday morning we had an amazing breakfast at Italia Tratorria, then hit the road for the three hour drive back to Nelson. We look forward to spending more time in Spokane on another trip.
Little birds greeted me just outside the hotel.
Hotel Lusso in Spokane Washington.
Holiday cheer and colour in the lobby at Hotel Lusso.
More cheery decorations at Lusso.
The Davenport Hotel.
Davenport Hotel, architectural detail.
Davenport Hotel, architectural detail.
I knowI say this often, but one of the best bennies I’ve ever had. The Farmer’s Breakfast was also amazing!
Snow said “NO!” today for flying to Castlegar, so a new plan in place and we try again tomorrow! Has given me the opportunity for one more seasonal post about our lovely Victoria. A random sampling:
All the downtown streets have jolly decorations of delight.
Dozens of decorated trees illuminate the lobby at The Fairmont Empress Hotel. Money raised by the public paying to vote for their favourites goes to BC Children’s Hospital.
A lovely little gingerbread village mixed in with the festive trees at the Fairmont Empress Hotel. A large display of gingerbread houses is also viewable at the Inn at Laurel Point.
A ferris wheel has been erected in Centennial Square again this year; festive fun for all ages!
There is a little delightful tea bar called JagaSilk which is tucked away at Nootka Court in downtown Victoria. It is run by the sweetest people who are very passionate about tea, especially maccha. We’re blessed in Victoria to have many passionate people providing an abundance of venues in which to enjoy the highest quality teas and freshly roasted coffees. JagaSilk is so cozy and comfortable, and our teas and snacks were delicious. This will be a regular haunt for us. They also have an excellent on-line store. Here are some pics of our adventure:
The entrance to JagaSilk, warm and inviting.
Enter from Courtney Street and it’s just past the bug zoo.
Our order being filled. We must go again soon and try the chocolate cake!
My black tea being prepared at our table.
Our final snack, two maccha lattes, one black tea, some little chocolate snowball cookies and a crème caramel.
Delicious!
Let the feasting begin! The foods of the winter festivals – what could be more glorious. Yesterday launched us fully into the Holiday spirit with two events. Our annual Brandied Eggnog Happy Hour(s) with our friend D was delightful. Nothing fancy, just warm eggnog with brandy and a few sweet nibbles, fireplace roaring, candles lit, and great conversation. Then a short stroll to A’s place for grand dinner nibbles done as only A can: gloriously! Her beautiful home was decorated magically which was wonderful. While reorganizing our storage space in the summer, I buried the Christmas decorations box and can’t even see it much less dig it out. So one sad dry eucalyptus wreath for us, but at A’s wondrous bows of evergreen, lights, eclectic baubles and happy animal ornaments hanging here and there, plus many candles and a lovely fire in the fireplace. To top it all off, a frosty walk home – moon visible but shrouded in mist and bright twinkling colours to light the silent night.
The warm glow of great friends and delicious food; the Spirit of the Season!
Twinkling light from candles…
Found a sad miniature snow man while out walking yesterday. As he melted away, he enjoyed one of the best views in the city!
Snowflakes and sub-zero temperatures – that’s more incentive than I need for seeking out the city’s best hot chocolate! Last week, while it was still a balmy 8°C, we tried the offering at Relish. We haven’t eaten there yet as we always seem to arrive just before closing, but the chocolate was very good; rich and delicious. Their daily menus look incredible so we must try eating there soon!
First snow of the season! Very pretty out there.
The Chinese Public School with snowy evergreens.
Entering into Centennial Square from Fisgard Street.
Snow and seagull in Centennial Square.
The Gates of Harmonious Interest at the Government Street end of the 500 block of Fisgard Street.
We were recently gifted three dozen eggs (chicken, duck and quail) from dear friends who lovingly raise and care for a variety of foul. They were so beautiful I didn’t want to eat them!
Duck, chicken and quail eggs (and one golden goose egg for good luck!).
Finally we gave in and made fried quail’s eggs on little toasts for breakfast. And, some of the chicken eggs went into the fruitcake yesterday (but not the blue ones; I want to look at those a while longer!). What to do with the duck eggs is my big question. I’ve never eaten them before and have been told the flavour is a bit strong, so I’m nervous! Hopefully our friends will have some ideas!
Little two-bite toasts, so delicious! Twelve eggs was one breakfast for two! We were very hungry…
These little deviled quail’s eggs were made and photographed by the friends who raise the birds. They must require patience, a steady hand and a good piping bag!
I think this is at least the tenth year I’ve made fruitcake on or near December 1. I know there are detractors, but I love fruitcake. My version is based on a recipe my Grandmother had torn out of magazine. I don’t know if she had actually ever made it (she lived in another country, and we never spent Christmas with her), but she gave it to me on one of my trips to visit her about 25 years ago. I use the basic measurements from the recipe, but with all organic fruit (well soaked in boozy booze) and homemade organic peel. It’s all brushed down with rum and wrapped up for a couple weeks to mature. Our studio smells amazing!
Raisons, currants, and dried cherries soaked in rum for about five weeks; organic sugar, flour, spice, butter, eggs, almonds, and homemade candied lemon and orange peel.
In the pans by about 10 am, then in the oven for four hours.
They look like they will be good this year! We’ll find out around the 15th.
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