VISITING DAY

Packed up the bike in good time this morning and said goodbye to Mom and Don to head south.  Made another side trip to Onanole for a quick  coffee with long-time friends Lynne and Mark from Erickson.  Busy as ever in "retirement", I wonder when they will ever slow down!  

On the way through Neepawa, I met cousin Kathryn and Neil for lunch.  We had a nice visit and it was good to catch up.  Dad arrived from Arden, being in Neepawa to pick up bread for his animals.  We stopped at the Farmery Brewery and found out when their tours were, arranging to go down at noon tomorrow to do that.   The Farmery Brewery is a local brewery started by people we had connections to from Erickson.  They have done very well with their product, expanded their variety and I am happy to promote them!  Now available in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, I hope to see Farmery products available in BC soon.  Looking forward to tomorrow's tour.  

Since it is important to do a lot of eating, we stopped at McDonald's for a hot fudge sundae before heading on to Main Street for errands.  Mom had said she was going to call the Neepawa Banner and see if they were interested in my trip as a little story.  I mentioned this to Dad and he knew where the office was and said we should just stop by.  So we did and Owen kindly listened to my story and took some photographs.  It would be fun if they decided I was newsworthy!  :)

After stopping to spoil the sheep with bread, I dropped the bike off in Dad's driveway and hopped in the truck to go give bread to the horses who are pastured some ways down the road.  Apparently the bike, with no passenger, caused great consternation among the dogs and llamas while we were gone. They are unaccustomed to a vehicle pulling up and parking at the gate without someone visiting.  There was much barking and huffy behaviour until our return.   The horses, however, were very happy to see us and came running for their treat.  I had forgotten that Dad has a "movie horse".  Reba (the dark horse in the photo with Dad) has been in movies with Sidney Poitier and Brad Pitt.  

We stopped at the Farmery hop yard to take a couple of photos.  They have several hop yards in different locations.  I'm sure, like vines for wine, different soils and micro-climates contribute to distinctive flavours in the hops that are used for beer and other products.  

Before heading home, we took a trip out to Tracey's grave.  Dad had a wooden butterfly made and placed there with the flowers from her burial to mark her grave until a headstone can be acquired.  It is nice to see that her grave is marked with something special.  And in seeing that little spot beneath which she lies, I realize all over again how very much I miss my only sibling.  

Brother-in-law Brad joined us for dinner when invited,  claiming it had to be better than whatever would fall out of the freezer when he opened the door.  Shirley made a nice dinner and then we all sat around with bellies full,  making conversation amidst yawns as we digested.  We have determined it is time for bed, so I will say good night until tomorrow's adventures.