Bliss Bakery

Although I love dining out, my sojourn in the Okanagan included mostly picnic fare and easy grilling. One exception was a quick lunch at Bliss Bakery, a truly heavenly place that a couple of friends/locals had recommended. The Tuscan Vegetable Soup was hearty and delicious, but the clear winner was that beatific view.

Poplar Grove

Poplar Grove recently reopened a state-of-the-art winery in this ethereal location. Should you find yourself in the Okanagan, do drink in that view (and The Legacy, their spin on the Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon blend). And if you're lucky, you might even get to see the implied sun pulsating in the supplied poplars. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this review are my personal views and this particular winery review was not sponsored or paid for in any way by the company or an agent working on their behalf. I just like to drink, but you already knew that.

Ingested Development

 Blouse, Banana Republic. Skirt, thrifted. Jacket, Talbots. Sunglasses, street vendor. Necklace, F21. Sandals, Geox.

This is the color palette I donned whilst wine tasting in Naramata and I think it was a wise choice. Blending in with the background makes for a less conspicuous drunk. Also, pencil skirts create the illusion of poise and panache. I passed off my midday inebriation as ladylike dizzy spells because everyone loves a Lucille Two in distress (can you tell I'm excited about @batemanjason's latest tweet?).

Naramata

I've just returned from my brief trip to the Okanagan Wine Country (Wine Country always sounds like a made-up place, doesn't it? Much like Villainville or Cellulite City). Many hours were spent exploring the Naramata region, sipping as much wine as one could stomach on serpentine streets. My palate may not be refined enough to detect notes of forest floor in a glass of Pinot Noir, but that doesn't mean I couldn't thoroughly enjoy the experience and guess the easier notes, like raspberries and currants. When in doubt, amateur oenophiles, always say raspberries and currants. As for me, I'm already planning my next trip to a sylvan area, so that I can finally sample that famous forest floor.

Notice

I'll be out of town until Friday - adventure calls. Please remember to water my plant and starch my shorts. No, it's not gross and I'd do it for you, so don't make that face. Extra stiff. Thanks.  

Legitimately Sinister

Dress, Brooks Brothers. Sweater, Banana Republic. Scarf, American Apparel. Brooch, vintage. Handbag, Ann Taylor. Pumps, Nine West.

Did you know… that I am an ambidextrous calligrapher? My left-handed cursive is the ugly sister, but a sibling nonetheless. This self-taught skill was a result of my war paranoia – a childhood fear that I could be drafted at any time (even as a woman! even as a child!). Recurring nightmares had me driving ambulance cars (for obvious reasons), looking for family members in a sea of people, and watching myself get shot from a convenient new body. In daydreams, I would survive by having my right arm amputated, so the clumsy left would need to become my livelihood – a sinister thought, indeed! I guess you could say I liked to be prepared, although I still don’t have a driver’s license so I should probably dream up a new wartime occupation. Paranoia is a full-time job, isn't it?

In Search of Reading Time

Dress, Talbots. Blouse, Banana Republic. Trench, J.Crew. Headband, Holt Renfrew. Belt, Eddie Bauer. Wellies, Hunter.

It's that time of the year again, folks. Time to pull the wellies out of storage and dust off your old edition of Swann's Way that you've been meaning to read for a decade or so. 'Tis the season to be cultured and start getting hipsters' Proustian references.