CDA Rodeo, BC Fires, Bowling.

We enjoyed our stint at taking tickets for the local Canadian Diabetes rodeo on Saturday, met some nice people - staff and volunteers and it was a fun few hours. However, when we went to watch the rodeo itself, it was a bit late in the programme and we didn't get to see some of the quarter horse work and saddle bronc riding I would have enjoyed. We did see some roping and steer wrestling, we also saw some barrel racing, a bit of trick riding and then a clown a couple of times, the second time the clown rode two horses standing on their backs particularly around fire which horses are pretty scared of normally. He was good. Later there was bull riding, however, we were not sitting in the best place for a lot of this, and certainly not for the bull riding which was taking place quite a distance from us and in a corner we couldn't really see so we decided to come home - there was a lot of clowning around during the bull riding, but didn't get to see a lot of it. We were really lucky with the weather, it threatened rain all day, but it never happened. Didn't know before, but they have a dance in the evening. We could have got free hamburgers or hot dogs, but we'd had lunch before we left home. Sorry, no pix. I was never really in a position to photograph anything although the horses were going past the entry gate all the time, if I hadn't been busy I could maybe have taken pictures of them, there were some magnificent looking animals. I wished I still rode horses, unfortunately I haven't done so since I was a youngster except once when we first came to Canada and we went to a dreadful place (as it turned out) to ride out - in the first place we knew nothing about the differences in guiding the horses (English and Western), in the second place, they told Matt not to let his horse's head drop but not why, later on the head dropped and the horse rolled. Matt was fit enough to jump off, I would have ended up with a horse rolling on me. They were comparitively small horses compared with those we saw at the Rodeo. There was one tiny tot riding this humungeous animal in the barrel race, she wasn't as big as the saddle she sat on. She rode very well. They were expecting 1,000 people, which surprised us, but I don't know if that many actually turned up. British Columbia is having some problems with wildfires at the moment, Sunday's news said the fires were out of control and thousands had fled their homes and many more were under evacuation alert. It is very dry in the Okanagan area which makes it ideal for fires. There are three fires burning at the moment but the weather with high wind gusts and not a scrap of rain in sight, is not helping - they are having temps of 30°C which is just what you need with all these fires. Today is our last day of the summer bowling league - we have our banquet (sandwiches in the summer) and awards, then play a couple of fun bowling games and then its all over until September. We will be playing a couple of times, a) to keep our hands in and b) because we will be away for some of the games in September. As it is, we miss bowling twice a week, not at all won't be good but the alleys take a break too in the summer. We have heard talk of renovations where we bowl, the place sure needs it. Here is another recipe I was sent last week, this time for Campari tomatoes. They didn't send me a photo, but I figured this looked similar. Pasta salads are very popular in North America. They probably are in Europe these days but I don't remember them when I lived in the UK. Campari® Picnic Pasta Salad Mastronardi Produce Always popular pasta salads are best mixed together just far enough in advance so the flavors meld but still stay bright and fresh. Makes 8 – 10 servings 8 oz dry, small shell pasta 3 Tbsp mayonnaise 1/2 cup high-quality Italian salad dressing 2 cloves garlic, finely minced 1/2 tsp black pepper 1/4 cup chopped parsley 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 3/4 cup frozen peas, defrosted 1/3 cup small-diced red onion 1 can (2.25 oz) sliced black olives, drained well 1 lb Campari® Cocktail Tomatoes, diced Cook pasta according to package directions, rinse and drain well. In a large bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, dressing, garlic and pepper. Gently mix with pasta and remaining ingredients. Have a great day.