Ruby Blues. Yummy wines and doggie friendly!

Woof! Woof! This is Sparky. My hooman and I have been exploring different places in the south Okanagan Valley in Canada, and we have found some wineries that are very doggie-friendly. Yesterday we visited Ruby Blues Winery at 917 Naramata Road in Penticton. 

One of the owners, Prudence Ruby Mahrer (now you know where the name Ruby came from, right?), personally came out to greet me and give me a big squishy hug. Even though my hooman has known Prudence and her hubby, Beat, for twenty-five years, my hooman only got a socially acceptable COVID-19 air hug. 

Prudence, and The Sparkinator

I got a big hug, was offered a nice dish of cool water, and was invited inside the wine shop. I really like Prudence.

We have another friend who also works at Ruby Blues Winery. 

Her name is Sharon Hickey, and she helps customers sample the different wines and tells them things like, "Red Stiletto is an easy-sipping red wine that pairs well with salmon or lamb chops." 

Well, I love salmon and lamb chops, but my hooman says I am not allowed to drink. She says the wine is for her to share with her friends. Humph! I thought I was her bestest friend.

We met some other people at the winery who were excited to hear that I am famous, the star of the Isla Mujeres Mystery novels. 

Oh, and they were sort of interested to speak to my hooman who writes about my adventures. She has to do the typing because I can't use a keyboard very well. I am just a two-toed typist.

My hooman also says that if you like yummy wines that are only available from the winery, you should visit Ruby Blues on the Naramata Bench in Penticton, or you can order from their website:https://www.rubyblueswinery.ca/. 

Just in case you were wondering about the behind-the-scenes guys, Beat Mahrer creates magic by growing delicious grapes, and Blair Gillingham is the talented winemaker.

My hooman bought the special deal of six bottles for $100.00 and is now entered in the monthly contest to win more wine. 

Personally I think she should be entering contests to win me a piece of steak!

That's just my opinion

Woof! Woof!

Sparky, aka The Sparkinator

~

Murder and mayhem. Revenge and romance. 

Twisted Isla, Book #6 of the Isla Mujeres Mystery series, is available on Amazon in e-book or paperback format. Grab your copy today!

 

COVID-19 has blown out our birthday candles

Val and grandkids on her 65th birthday

It is a birthday celebration! Time to blow out the candles on a fancy birthday cake, gently spraying the cake with our saliva and germs. 

And in some cases, we moisten the cake with the combined saliva and germs of other family members or friends who are celebrating on the same day. 

The late-night musings of my overactive mind.

It really is an odd custom, but until COVID-19 came along to dramatically alter our world and our lives, no one even gave it a thought. It's what you did. Make a wish and lather your birthday cake with your germs.

Val and family, celebrating her 75th

Or in the case of some children's parties - particularly in Mexico - the kid's face is shoved into the cake, then the remains are served to the guests. 

Yum; skin cells, eyelashes, and assorted fluids.

Searching back through my collection of photographs, I found lots of fun memories captured in time. 

One of my all-time favourites is a rare photo from my third birthday and my oldest sister, Valdine, helping me blow out my candles. 

I was the fourth and last daughter. By the time I came along, Mom and Dad were so over the photo-taking mania. Hundreds of photos of the oldest child, a little less with the second baby, even less with the third youngster, and practically non-existent with the last kid. Lynda who? 

My 3rd birthday with my sister Val

This weekend, we are celebrating my sister's 80th birthday, in a socially responsible way, outdoors in my niece's large yard. I am looking forward to visiting with nieces and their spouses, great-nieces, and great-nephews, plus our combined collection of doggies and one very large cat. 

But late last night, I got to thinking. What about her birthday cake? How is my sister going to handle that one? 

How do you blow out candles wearing a face mask? And who would want to eat a cake that has been decorated with germs? And if you don't blow out the birthday candles, do you still get to

Thomas the Cat, on his 16th birthday

 make a wish? It's a conundrum. 

If I owned a birthday candle manufacturing company, I would be very worried about the future. 

The colourful paper plates, napkins, and balloons will probably have a future in our post-COVID-19 lives, but birthday candles? I think they will, in time, disappear from the retailers. Retailers can't afford to stock an item that no one wants. COVID-19 has blown the fun out of life.

Happy 80th Birthday to my sister Valdine, with love from your annoying baby sister. I am so pleased that we can still infect our birthday cakes together. 

Val on her 50th birthday

~

New, new, new! 

Twisted Isla, Book #6, Isla Mujeres Mystery series

Grab your copy today - here's the Amazon link for e-books or paperbacks.

Grab your copy today - just click on this link