Ants in my Nose

We got home yesterday and lo and behold my favourite peonies were in their prime, with the other bushes yet to flower. I was sure that I'd miss them all, but the cold weather must have slowed them down. My nose has been buried in the fragrant petals at every opportunity. Bliss.

We were lucky enough to be invited to our friends place for dinner last night. It was the first time I had been in Trudie's garden in the summer and I was wowed. I didn't have the presence of mind to take photos, but just imagine a lush garden with winding paths weaving among beds filled with vegetation and sprinkled with statuary. With every turn of the path another garden area was entered. It is huge! Supper was served in the middle of the garden and miraculously there were no bugs which is very strange for this time of year.

Carm and I made a pact before we headed to the rally - no trailer shopping. Well, we didn't exactly shop... but we did look around... and today we just got back from a huge RV sale... all cheques still in our wallet... so far. (look at that fridge! Plenty of room for all our veggies.)

Oh! I wanted to tell you about the great cd we have in the truck. Years ago for Carm's 50th birthday, friends Margot and Stewart brought a cd that they had created with the top 30 songs from 1954. What an amazing gift! Those songs are included on the "mix tape" that I made for the truck, so we enjoy the music whenever we take a long trip. The Happy Wanderer is one that brings many memories for Carm (he was told not to sing in a school pageant).

For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love.
Carl Sagan

Green Beans with Sesame Lime Dressing

I brought these to the Titanium rally pot luck and they were a hit with the vegetable lovers. I think they are a great change to plain green beans, and with the dressing is reasonably diet friendly. 1/6th of the dressing recipe is only 38 calories!

Green Bean Salad with Sesame Lime Dressing

Dressing recipe makes enough for 4 pounds of beans. It keeps will in the fridge for a few days.

Ingredients

2 pounds green beans root ends trimmed
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon tahini paste
2 limes juiced and zested
1 teaspoon Hot sauce (I use sirracha)
1 teaspoon soya sauce I skipped this
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons sesame seeds

Instructions
1. Cook green beans using your preferred method. I roast them in a 400F oven, lowest rack, for 7 minutes.
2. Meanwhile whisk the sesame oil, tahini, lime juice and zest, hot sauce, (soya), and honey into a bowl and whisk until smooth. When the beans are done place them in a bowl and toss them with the dressing. Transfer to a serving dish and serve. Sprinkle the sesame seeds evenly over the top

That's the Last of It for a Year

We have lucked out with another beautiful day - the sun is strong, but the breeze is slightly cool. Perfect for our hour long walk this morning. I would have gone further, but the dogs were starting to lag - I've got to toughen them up! Carm was lucky enough to join some other gentlemen to go golfing. A camping trip with golf is a good camping trip (in Carm's eyes... me too as it is nice to just chill by myself for a while).

No chilling today though, I met a few ladies on my walk and stopped for a short visit, and then once we were home another lady (Ilene) with her little poodle bichon mix Monty stopped to talk so I quickly invited her in for a coffee and visit. We hit it right off, and after touring each other's campers (mine is the little cottage to her giant palace) a few hours had passed and it was time to part ways. Spike had fun meeting a new friend, but was so tuckered out from the long walk it wasn't long before he was asleep under the picnic table!

Tonight was the final farewell steak dinner. It seems unbelievable that a week has gone by! All that's left now is to pack up and go tomorrow morning.

We have spent a lot of time walking around the park exploring  the little roads that wind through it. It is a lovely park - the owners obviously take great pride in it. I think we will book an extra week next year.

I don't know though how cut out I am for this sort of thing. I'm not shy, but have trouble just barging into a group that has already congregated. I guess it wouldn't hurt me to get over it and just do it! Most of the people here are so social and seem like such naturals...

Till tomorrow when we are safe and sound at home!