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...a glimpse into life on Vancouver Island, needle felting, photography, food, gardening, etcetera...etcetera
"Happiness always looks small when you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and at once you learn how big and precious it is."
Maxim Gorky

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Song for Friday...retro love

In the coming week, it's our 13th wedding anniversary and we're going down to
Seattle for some fun get away time.
We'll watch a few Mariner vs Blue Jays baseball games...
Go to Pike Place Market...
Visit a few museums and just plain hang out.
My older brother Dan is coming along as well.
He lives on the mainland and I don't get to see him often enough.
Anyway, my song today is a cheesey one, but a classic.
Karen Carpenter had a beautiful voice.
Such a loss.
Apparently this is the #1 wedding song ever.
So Happy Anniversary sweetie!
Have a great weekend all!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Away we went...part 1...

There are some things which are chiseled deep into memory
and for me, a lot of those cherished moments come from my childhood.
When my sisters girls came this summer, I wanted to do something different.
So we packed up the van and took the winding road out to the wild west coast
of Port Renfrew. It's a tiny community that is frequently cut
off in winter storms and has the most beautiful stretch of beach around.
After an hour and a half drive we arrived at our campground.
It's run by the local Native Band and sits at the mouth
of the Gordon River...
Now, as many of you know, going camping is actually a lot of work and it took us a while to
get set up but we found a nice little spot and  made up our  home for the night...
Then it was off for a walk up the road...
 We brought along my friends daughter whom the girls have got to know and love over the last few summers. Remember those kind of friends?
You would only see them a few times a year but it was like you never missed a beat.
The chatter was constant, the giggling endless!
We took a stroll down to the shore for firewood.
This is one of the best driftwood beaches around...
 Stephanie and I walked ahead as the older girls huddled behind a windbreak.
From this point, if you took a boat straight out, you would eventually get to Japan.
There have been a few items washed up on shore from the tsunami which hit a year ago
but we weren't finding much except local rusty boat parts...
Oh, and  a great swing!
The big girls finally joined us and we made our way along the sand and logs...
 ...finding the bouncy ones is the best! log horseback riding!
And you know the best part about camping?
The campfire!
There's something primeval about it...everyone wants to tend it...to gaze into it for hours...and
the all important telling of ghost stories!!
Stephanie embarks on her own thrilling tale...
After I told mine, the girls started to get a little jumpy, looking behind their backs
and whispers of  "did you hear that?" and "what's that over there?"
so I figured we should change the pace and lighten it up a little...literally!
Sparklers!!
The big girls slept in the tent while Stephie and I and Griffin made our cozy
little home inside the van...
Tomorrow, we head out for adventure...sweet dreams.






Sunday, July 22, 2012

From the depths...

A perfect summers day...take the trail through the meadows...
down by the seaside.
Sand, sun, snacks...
The sea offers so much.
From the depths of her dark waters, she tosses up leftovers from oceanic gardens.
This summer day, we felt it, wore it and dressed in it, tasted it...
Sea weed!
Played with it's delicate, lacy sheets...
 a veil for Rachel...
...and out on the rocks we even spotted a seaweed mermaid...
magically transformed into...
Stephanie!