farmlass

Movie review...

2012-01-28T14:03:00.000-08:00

I grew up in the suburbs of Toronto and although it was a middle class

townhouse development, our neighbours had a maid from Jamaica.

Our area was about as white as they come and I found 'Edna' the most interesting person.

She would tell these amazing stories about her life back home.

She had a big scar on her hand from where her donkey had bit her

and she swam in the ocean everyday as a child.

I suppose because our neighbours both worked and had 4 girls they needed the extra help.

From what I remember she was treated kindly and we all loved her.

I never experienced racism of the type in this movie I watched last night.

Maybe I was too young and naive to recognize it but I don't think it was

like it was in the deep south in the '50s and '60s

"The Help"

Really worth a view for the subject matter, the costumes, the music

and superb acting.

Song for Friday...far away

2012-01-26T21:28:00.000-08:00

Do you dream?

I remember my dreams most every night.

Some I wish not to but there are those that I wish would never end.

When I lost my sister, I dreamt of her every night for about 2 months.

In my dreams she was gone, but I could still speak with her and see her.

Some dreams were comical like the first night of the day she died.

I dreamed that I couldn't find anything to wear to her funeral and she was there

offering to help me, going through her closet with me.

The funny thing was that none of her clothes fit because she

had lost weight and for once in our lives I weighed more than her.

She would have loved that dream because she struggled with weight issues

and always thought I was 'too skinny'.

Dreams of her still come to me, though not as often,

but I feel her visits in my half awakeness in the early hours.
Last night I dreamed of her and this song played in my mind all day.

It was one that I put on a collection for her celebration of life

and was one of her favorites.

I particularly like this version.

have a great weekend all...give your siblings a call or a hug.

Big plans...

2012-01-26T11:02:00.000-08:00

Anybody else out there dreaming through seed catalogs?

A bear can dream can't he??

(sold)

Snow light....

2012-01-24T10:43:00.000-08:00

The snow has gone and the skies are pewter grey again....rain and warmer temps have returned,

but I'm remembering the light inside when the world outside was a hush of deep white.

There's something quiet about the reflection of snow...

Ruben has picked the best spot in the house and sleeps here on the bed all day...

Outside the bathroom window a veil of ice grows by the melting during the day and the

freezing cold at night...

From one day to the next the swords of ice grew at least a foot...

It's times like these I am ever grateful of my warm house and wood stove...

Some of my lovely birthday gifts take on the softness of snow light...

...this year I was lucky to get not one, but two bird paper weights!

Out in the barn, the old window catches the luminous glint of snow through its warbled glass...

...evidence of little visitors on the porch...

Time for a few more photos and then back inside for a big cup of tea...

The original diva...

2012-01-23T10:15:00.000-08:00

Sadly, on Friday, we lost another incredible voice in the music world.

Etta James was one of the original diva's of women singer songwriters.

She had much struggle and strife in her life and

overcame many obsticles of race and gender.

Her song 'At Last' is special to many people including myself.

It was one of those songs that reminds me

of the beginning of my relationship with Tom.

Of early days of dating and dancing and quiet romantic getaways.

So cheers to you Etta for keeping the romance alive.

A brand new day...

2012-01-21T19:51:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is a big day for Katie the goat.

She's going off to live in her home about an hours drive from here.

Hopefully all goes well and she's happy in her new environs.

Meanwhile we've been trying to keep her company as much as we can.

I think she's been fairly lonely what with the cold weather and snowy paths.

Before the snow got too deep, I took her out on a few walks.

She's really good on a lead and quite curious, all be it a bit nervous outside her 'safe-zone'.

So off we went down the drive and across the road...

As you can see, Griffin came AND Ruben too!

Katie made sure she kept her eye on Griff but was really eager to see what lay ahead...

I really hope she gets on well with her new family.

She's so sweet.

Maybe she'll become a good 'Auntie goat' for the younger ones.

We'll see what lies on the road ahead...wish her luck...

Song for Friday...catching me again...

2012-01-19T18:47:00.000-08:00

Some songs just grab you.

Starting out quiet and then gripping you with strength.

You just have to stop what you're doing and find out who it is.

This is one of those songs that catches me again and again...

This woman has such power and beauty in her voice...

Have a beautiful weekend all.

You think you've got it bad?

2012-01-18T20:53:00.000-08:00

There's one thing Canadians love to talk about and that's the weather.

So in case you think you've got it bad where you are,

check out the temps in our beloved Prairie Provinces...

Yeah that's -40 degrees!!!!

So chin up everyone.

You could be spending your winter life indoors if you lived in Saskatchewan.

Keep warm.

Snow day...

2012-01-17T09:48:00.000-08:00

...and just like that, our world turned into a quiet land of snow.

The meek and mild temperatures gave way to a northern

breath that whispered through the night...

I awoke under a thick, full blanket of crystal white snow.

Footprints of deer, tiptoe through the landscape and birds huddle silently

under great bows of white.

Soft and billowy flakes falling weightless from above.

Roads have become silent.

We hunker down by the fire, happy for the warmth.

A walk through the woods, footsteps in fresh snow,

as if we're there for the very first time.

Griffin is a puppy once again, snow beard and bright eyes...

This landscape is rare to us and I take it in, knowing that

soon it will disappear as quickly as it came.

For now, it's the beauty I see, the transformation from

dull, grey, rain and clouds

to this wondrous white world,

this snow scape of winter dreams...

Old endings and new beginnings...

2012-01-16T11:34:00.000-08:00

This is a typical picture of a goat.

Hard to get them to stand still for a picture, you usually end up

with quite a few shots like this.

His name was Tramp.

Sadly he died on Saturday night. He was the last of 6 of our

original goats which we got 12 years ago.

He had a stroke about 3 weeks ago and then went downhill from there.

We will remember him in happier days...

...here with a young, tame rooster we called Sonny, who became pals

with Tramp for a while...

Tom came home Sunday and dug him a resting spot by the barn.

After we wrapped him with a blanket and put some hay and favorite leaves in

with him, we began to shovel in the soil.

Griffin, our dog was standing by the graveside throughout the process and

had inspected Tramp before we put him in the hole.

As Tom and I began to shovel the dirt back into the grave,

Griffin did something so endearing.

He stood at the edge and began to push the dirt in with his nose,

as he does when burying a favorite bone.

I suppose he figured it was his job to help bury Tramp as well.

He worked with us until the pile was gone and then

went back and forth to the barn as if to make sure we were all done.

Our goat that we adopted in the spring, Katie, was quite something

throughout Tramps demise.

He lost his sight and Katie took it upon herself to make sure he was safe.

She became somewhat of a "seeing eye goat".

One day Tramp became stuck in some bushes in the lower field

and Katie made sure to help him find his way back to the barn.

He could follow her bleats and smell.

As much as we love her, we have decided to find a new home for Katie since goats are

a herd animal and it would be cruel to have her all alone.

A very promising home with other goats is on the horizon and

hopefully by the coming weekend she will be living there.

We will take a break from the barn animals for a while

but remember each and every one we have had with great fondness.

(photo courtesy of Aja O'Gorman)

Catch up...

2012-01-15T09:57:00.000-08:00

Here's a bit of catching up from the past week...

Tom took me into the city for a birthday lunch last week.

Before we hit the restaurant we took advantage of the gorgeous

weather (specially ordered for my day of course!) and

went for a walk along Dallas road.

We meandered along the cliff tops and visited the model boat pond.

A little quiet right now but in the warmer months there's

much activity with grown men and tiny motorized boats

of all kinds.

There's even tiny moorings and minuscule lighthouses...

These being taken over by seagulls for now...

We also took a stroll to sit with thoughts of Tracy.

Some of her ashes were cast on the wind of this lovely lookout...

This windswept walk was a favorite of hers from the day we moved to the coast.

We spent many hours roaming these beaches through

the years, showing it off to out -of -towners, walking the dogs and

even going to the occasional beach party as teenagers.

Of course she loved to see all the crows and their nests there as well.

Anyway, then it was off to Spinnakers for what I thought would be

'a quiet lunch for two'.

But honestly, although Tom tried to cover up the surprise, I kind of had

a feeling something was up. The slip up? (pay attention all ye men folk)

The day before my birthday he made up the spare room AND

cleaned the bathroom downstairs!

Now, I must tell you that Tom does his fair share of chores

but this is not on the regular roster and definitely

made me a bit suspicious!

Needless to say it was the best birthday surprise ever!

To top it off, my folks showed up as well.

(by the way, yes I'm holding 2 beer but one is Tom's...honestly!)

So we had a fantastic lunch with yummy Murchies birthday cake...

The rest of the 4 days with Aja and Paul were spent at our place,

walking the river, going for yummy dinners, cooking even yummier dinners,

playing games, watching movies, going to yoga and just enjoying

hanging out in general.

I miss my girl an awful lot and Toronto is pretty far from Sooke but

to have her here for this short time and to see her so happy in

her life is the best gift I could have.

That and having all of my friends and family near and dear to me.

Yup, I'm a lucky gal.

Song for Friday...surprise!

2012-01-13T09:22:00.000-08:00

My husband had something cooked up for my birthday and guess what it was?

My daughter flew out from Toronto with beau Paul to surprise me!!

It's been such a lovely time to see her for a few days, the weather has been amazing

and we've been eating lots, playing games, watching movies and

just chillin' together...

Thanks sweeties for getting this whole thing together and making it one of

the best birthdays EVER!

Night vision...

2012-01-10T09:39:00.000-08:00

Sunday night when I went out to the barn to close up the goats,

the moon was so bright and beautiful.

I went back into the house to get my camera.

No flashlight needed tonight.

In fact no flash on the camera either...

When it's bright and quiet like this, I can hear what I can't on other nights.

Owls calling from far away, dogs barking from up the road...

...things just seem a little friendlier.

Makes you a bit giddy in fact.

The goats seemed to want to stay out just a little later, being able to see a little clearer...

My cat Ruben acting crazy... his tail puffed up as he races around after me...

...too fast in motion, he ends up quite ghostly on camera...

As I walk back past the windows of the barn, I know the power of a full moon...

It's nights like these, I think of Hondo Crouch.

His poem 'Lukenbach Moon' was on an old Jerry Jeff Walker album I had

and ever since I first heard it 32 years ago I think of it when I see

a big bright full moon.

Not as it seems...

2012-01-07T13:36:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the world is not as black and white as we'd like it to be...

Even in the clearest moments, I wonder...

"is it black with white stripes or white with black stripes?"

That's where the grey comes in.

Fuzzing things up and creating questions.

A friend commissioned me to make a zebra for her husbands birthday.

At first I thought...sure! No problem!

After I made the initial sculpture I began in on the stripes.

In this case it was white with black stripes.

But as I do with any animal I'm making, I began to research.

Then it became more than just applying the stripes...

No two zebras have the same stripes.

They are like fingerprints.

Similar until you look very close to see that each animal is unique.

Even the pattern on each side of the zebra can be slightly different.

Did you know there are 3 different kinds of Zebras?

Each with a different pattern to their already unique stripes.
There are many theories to why zebras have stripes.
To confuse prey, to confuse flies, to hide in the tall grass.

When my friend came to pick up her gift, she told me the significance of why

her and her husband like zebras so much...

They met later in life, each with a big suitcase from other lives.

Their melding of lives was not easy at first.

They realized that so much of one persons 'black' was the others 'white'.

Instead of fighting it they saw that together

they were as beautiful as a zebra.

I like that.
Black and white can bring forth the most vibrant of colours , not just grey.

Song for Friday...once upon a time

2012-01-05T20:55:00.000-08:00

A long time ago, this song was # 1 the week of January 11th.

I was brand new.

For now I'm 49.95...

Soon to be 50.

Let's see what the next half century brings.

Maybe I'll do a little 'Slow Twist'...

Have a great weekend all!

Book review...

2012-01-04T10:27:00.000-08:00

Books, books, books....

I was telling an 8 year old girl the other day about the fact that

when I was a kid, we didn't have a library in our neighbourhood.

Instead, every 2 weeks my sister and brother and I would ride our

bikes to the parking lot of Loblaws grocery store to find

The Bookmobile.

A rolling library of a truck filled with escape and wonder.

I read voraciously as a child but found it too

much of a chore as a teenager.

It was too much like doing homework.

Not until I became a young adult and lived in places

without electricity or television, did I rediscover the joys

of reading again.

I find it fascinating that I can go from the

tombs of Egypt, to the coast of Devon, to the wild west or even

into the future through the words of a book.

Speaking of the wild west...

I've just finished this book...

A very strange and quiet Western about 2 brothers, Eli and Charlie Sisters.

Assassins during the mid 1800's in the days of violence and debauchery.

The tender relationship between the two brothers, the unbreakable bond of blood

and their adventures through California / Oregon to do one last

'job' which changes their lives.

I never thought I would like a Western.

I spent months in a cabin with about 20 Louis L'Amour novels

and I thought that was the last of my cowboy book reading days.

Anyway, excellent story telling by a Vancouver Island boy.

In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.
- Mortimer J. Adler

Song for Friday...for the New Year

2011-12-30T12:55:00.000-08:00

Well, another year has gone by with highs and lows all 'round.

I don't do resolutions.

I always thought it was all a lot of hype for things you

could do or don't do all year.

I think we are all a process to be evolving time after time.

I do wish you all the best for the coming year

and hope for your health and happiness.

A new day dawns every 24 hours.

And with it comes the chance to start afresh.

Have a great weekend all...see you next year!

The gift...

2011-12-27T16:56:00.000-08:00

It's been there since last spring.

I've probably walked by it at least 52 times.

Not once did I see the busy work of tiny beaks

constructing such a small feat of engineering...

Or peeked inside to gaze down at the tic-tac sized eggs...

Never heard a peep from baby hummingbirds.

Cuddled in this perfect cup of moss and lichen.

And then one morning last week,

the light just right, I glanced up at the exact spot to see it.

Just a little bump on a branch.

The supporting twig so brittle that it snapped off with no effort at all.

To think that the next day, the wind was so fierce that when I

walked by the same spot, a large limb had come down

on the main branch and took with it any trace of where the nest was.

Such a gift, first thing in the morning.

I gingerly brought it home, tucked in the palm of my hand

and nestled it in some Alder twigs anchored in epsom salts, imitating snow.

My elf keeping watch...

Myself marvelling at such a thing, and he, as if to say

"I've sat many times beside such a nest, chattering with the wee ones."

A birds-eye view indeed.

It seems like magic doesn't it?

To find such a minuscule miracle in such a busy, crowded world...

A precious gift.

Rediscovering...

2011-12-26T10:51:00.000-08:00

I was struggling to find the joy in the season.

I always love this time of year,

but it's different with my sister missing from the picture.

It was another 'first' without her here.

But you know, if you're missing Joy in your life,

you only have to look into the eyes of a child.

Norene and I took my nieces and nephews into the city to see what we could find.

First stop was dinner in Chinatown...

There's nothing like the lights here on a cold, dark night.

Always a magical place...

Next we strolled down Government Street.

Famous for it's old storefronts and big wide sidewalks...

Imagine, a shop JUST for Christmas things!

And who wouldn't dream of having one of these Christmas candy apples?!

Or getting a hug from this big old bear?

A trip downtown wouldn't be complete without a visit to my favorite bookstore...

As we approached the harbour, the kids eyes really lit up...

The legislature buildings in all of their holiday glory...

Boats are even dressed up for the season...

Then it was into the Grand Dame herself for a look at all of the decorated trees...

Every year local businesses decorate trees and donate money to local charities...

We ended up at the biggest one in the lobby...

...where Hannah and I put our faces on one of the big silver balls...

On the way back to the van, we stopped at the sweetest shop around...

Rogers Chocolates have been giving kids a sugar rush for over 100 years

and today was no exception.

The beautiful Czech glass lights are my favorite thing in the shop...

After strolling through the Bay Centre and spotting some owls,

it was time to go home...

Joy rediscovered.

Mission accomplished!

Song for Friday...good wishes to all...

2011-12-22T21:48:00.000-08:00

This season is a most difficult one for my family and I but

we are reminded to have gratitude for all that came to pass.

So many of my fondest memories are those of my childhood with

my brothers and sister and I truly appreciate the warmth they bring to my heart.

I want to thank all of you who have left so many kind comments

on my blog in good and bad times and although I only

know you through these so called 'pages',

I can honestly say that you are near to my heart as friends from afar.

May you laugh and sing with your cherished loved ones

and hold them dear to you.

A most Happy Holiday to you all.

P.S

of all the Christmas songs covered by various people throughout

the years, this is definitely my favorite.

(not mentioned is the lovely Sarah MacLaughlan singing harmony with the lads)

It came upon a midnight clear...

2011-12-21T10:37:00.000-08:00

There's much to see around the towns and cities this time of year,

but there's something special along the seaside as well...

I took my brothers kids out to Whiffin Spit for the afternoon...

There's nothing that Griffin loves more than to run with the kids!

We came to ramble on the beach, exploring driftwood houses...

There were rocks to turn over and crabs to discover...

Even tiny hands held tiny crabs...

But the real reason we came here today, was to see the work of

many secret elves.

You see every year, without being seen or heard, in the middle of a cold night,

the same tree is decorated on the spit...

People who walk the spit add there own bits and pieces as the days lead up to Christmas...

A lot of pieces are from found objects on the beach so the shore gets

a clean up as well...

Some leave memorials to those who used to walk the spit, man and dog together...

And then after New Years, as quietly as they came, the secret elves come again

and undress the tree, saving it all for the next season.

The beach always holds surprises, some gruesome, like this whole sheep we found...

very strange.

The birds are out and about, flitting beside us in the bush as we walk along...

Then it's time to go in for hot chocolate.

One of the best parts of walking far on a cold day!

Introducing...

2011-12-20T20:09:00.000-08:00

I've been seeing a lot of alternatives to Christmas trees

and I had to look no further than my friend Norene's house

for this beauty...

Introducing Miss L Toe...

How brilliant is that?!

From vacant mannequin to the bell of the ball!

Love it...

My friend Janet from far away sent these pictures of

her sweet Christmas chandelier...

Hey those little skates and that bird look familiar!
Anyway, here's to creative alternatives.
Whats yours?

The Best....

2011-12-20T08:13:00.000-08:00

Today is my babies birthday...

Not such a tiny girl as she was 31 years ago,

but still and always will be my little girl...

So Happy Birthday my lovely...

As Ray would sing...

"You are the best thing....that ever happened to me."

Around the house...

2011-12-18T21:38:00.000-08:00

Doing a bit of indoor decorating, now that I'm over the flu from last week...

In lieu of a tree, I hang my annual Christmas chandelier...

All of my favorites, old and new above the table to gaze up into...

...this one, the latest from my fellow, young and talented friend Boo,

who sent this in the mail the other day...

And of course there are birds all around...

A box lamp given as a gift from Irma.

More of her creations here.

During these short, dark days, giving yourself the gift of light is

one of the most uplifting things you can do.

All of those wonderful things that have hidden in boxes in the barn

for a year, come out to show off again, all be it briefly...

The long tags with writing were a gift from Mosaic Norene...

Seasons greetings in many different languages ...

Cherishing inherited vintage Nutcrackers and remembering those who

gave us recent ones...

Christmas cactus???

Winter fox...

Each and every one of these things, I remember from the year before.

From where I bought it, when it was made or who gave it to me.

They are all precious to me and I so look forward to

opening those boxes...to remember.

To celebrate the season one more time.

Song for Friday...classic

2011-12-16T08:39:00.000-08:00

I've been singing this song to our old goat now, when I go out to the barn.

I'll tell you more about him later....

Have a great weekend all!

movie review....

2011-12-12T20:34:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we took my nephew to the movies for his 14th birthday.

What we saw was a movie full of magic, intriguing characters,

amazing scenery, beautiful costumes and colours,

and a fantastic storyline steeped in history and mystery.

Plus it was all in 3D!

If you want to escape for a few hours to the wonderful world

of Martin Scorsese, I urge you to see this film...

Adventure, old books, Paris, train stations, clocks, film history, magicians...it's all here...

Something borrowed...

2011-12-11T10:22:00.000-08:00

Taking the long way home means stopping to collect those

beautiful seasonal bits and bobs...

So much more fun decorating knowing that you scrambled down a bank

for that fuzzy, mossy birds nest...

Or walked ankle deep in the mud to clip those perfectly cascading rose hips...

Need some of that mint green lichen?

Yeah, you know just the place to find it...

It may take you several hours to get there,

but you know that getting there is half the fun!

The willow and dogwood branches show off their best colours this time of year...

Gathered together in bunches to provide a perch for the birds on your porch...

Hang a few ornaments on them and there you go.

A great excuse to go for a ramble...take the dogs along and get festive.

And at the end of it all, you add a few fairy lights,

stand back with rum and eggnog in hand...

A toast to Mother Nature!

Now all we need is a wee bit of that white stuff...I always dream of a white Christmas.

Song for Friday...for John

2011-12-09T08:59:00.000-08:00

It was the anniversary of John Lennon's death the other day.

It's been 31 years.

We are missing a great talent, but he did leave so much behind...

Have a great weekend all.

Thanks John.

Wordless Wednesday...

2011-12-07T06:49:00.000-08:00

Ramble on....

2011-12-06T13:06:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was raw and damp and grey and cold...

The perfect day for a ramble in the countryside, collecting a bit of the wayside, to bring home
for decorating the porch.

Griffin and I ventured up Island to visit with Irma and Griff's brother Frank.
Fueled by lunch and chocolate torte at the Rock Cod Cafe,

Irma wanted to show me another gem of a place she discovered while

out wandering. She's been a bit stir crazy since she broke her arm after it

got in the way of her horse Sophie's hoof.

Our destination was the original homestead of Swallowfield Farm.

There was once a lovely old house here on a 300 acre farm.

Apparently famous for the potatoes grown there.

So down the long road now abandoned and closed off to vehicles

and used by ramblers such as ourselves...
The lads on the prowl...

The house sat on a little hill and looked down the valley towards

the estuary and the ocean beyond that...

Just to the right, the view includes the mill.

Looking quite ominous, but at least it's not pumping out the toxic dioxins it used to.

Now imagine... back in the day when, as quoted from the book 'Memories of the Chemainus Valley',

"Sweeping meadow lands alternate, in season, with fields of oats and potatoes,

Jersey cows graze knee deep in clover and alfalfa, pheasants and duck

"put up" anywhere, for it's probably the richest game preserve

on Vancouver Island. The Chemainus River winds through the

meadowland to the sea, and on a ridge in it's midst rises

Mrs Hutchinson's most artistic and spacious residence,

full of works of art and books."

Sigh....

We wandered amongst the bright rose hips which speckled across the landscape

in little clouds of scarlet...

As we wandered along on high ground, we spotted something in the bush...
Far from any water there it was...

A boat!
It even had paddles and a life jacket underneath.
It was trying to be in disguise with branches and wood placed carefully to hide it.
So we left it in peace to pretend it should live up on the hill.
Down the old road we went, through the old farm fields,
past a beautiful reclining Garry oak..

Evidence of the containing of livestock of long ago...

...to the banks of the meandering river.
We had kayaked down here many years ago, so seeing the view from
land was quite different.
We talked about coming back in the spring for a picnic along this pretty stretch...

Bald eagles were still hanging around for the last bits of salmon who'd spawned
upriver just a month or so ago...

The Native Indians come here to duck hunt and we found a strange 'decoy'
or whatever it was pegged on a stick by the water...

After collecting rose hips, birds nests, privet branches and ivy, it was time
to head back to the van.
One last stop along the road though...

The old E & N railway line.
Not in much use these days, although there is talk of commuter rails, which
would be LONG overdue.
We took a stroll down to the river crossing.

Frank, curious of the one hunched on the ground...

All in all a great wander...just what the doctor ordered.

Song for Friday...thoughtfulness

2011-12-01T19:29:00.000-08:00

I guess, to be honest, I'm having a 'sad' week.

Thoughts of my sister come and go and some days they are more coming than going.

With the holiday season approaching, her 2nd born's birthday

being on Christmas day, well it all comes to settle deep in my thoughts and heart.

Some songs remind me of our childhood together, the late '60s and early '70s.

This is one of those songs that puts me in mind of days gone by.

Hope you all have a great weekend, hug those you love and think of those who you can't be near to.

Wordless Wednesday...

2011-11-30T07:06:00.000-08:00

Dreaming of ice...

2011-11-25T20:56:00.000-08:00

"It's comin' on Christmas,

They're cuttin' down trees,

They're puttin' up reindeer,

Singing songs of joy and peace..."

"Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on..."

"Oh, I wish I had a river so long,

I would teach my feet to fly....."

"Oh, I wish I had a river...I could skate away on."

(words by Joni Mitchell. Needle felting by farmlass.)

Just waiting for some tiny skaters in my etsy shop.

Song for Friday...one they forgot to mention

2011-11-24T17:51:00.000-08:00

The other night PBS had a documentary on women who've been influential

in the music industry from the '30's through to the present day.

There were the greats like Big Mama Thornton, Aretha Franklin,

Bonnie Raitt, Chrissy Hynde, Janis Joplin, Madonna.

But I was surprised when they didn't even mention Joan Armatrading.

Certainly one of the most independent, and first of

the modern singer songwriters.

I had the good fortune of seeing her once at an outdoor festival

and she did not disappoint...

So here's is my inclusion of one of the

Women Who Rock.

Happy Thanksgiving to our Southern neighbours

and hope you all have a lovely weekend with family and food!

remembering real winters...

2011-11-22T08:09:00.000-08:00

It's funny, when it snows here, the first thing I want to do is

grab my camera and go take pictures of the magic being created on the landscape.

Everything looks so pretty after the first fall of flakes.

Looking back on old photos from my childhood, I realized that the

photos of the snowfalls always included people.

Most noticeably, us kids...

Here we are, circa 1969, in Riverdale Park, Toronto.

I remember the feeling of getting bundled up so tight that my dad had to

do up our boots, or skates because we couldn't bend over in all that winter gear.

That's me, front row center with the chipped tooth.

I remember that hat too. It was 'genuine sheep skin'

and man, was it warm!

Toronto winters were white, long and cold...

My sister, me and my brother (probably freezing our little buts off)

But seeming like we were having fun no matter what the temperature was.

That's my dad's big shadow taking our picture.

I guess because I don't have little kids at home anymore, I tend to

take pictures of the leaves and trees and shadows of the weather...

I'm not sure if I lived back east again if I would be running out at the

first sight of snowy down.

Winter is different there. You're in for the long haul and the first snow

is the sign of the beginning of about 6 more months of it.

It's cold and predictable.

Here we can have mild temps for weeks at a time and snow

is a fairly short occurrence.

It never lasts long.

Here's my sister in her new winter coat.

It was bright red and black.

And those boots!!

You go-go girl!

Now look at the snow beside her...

I remember making tunnels and igloos out of those piles.

Here we don't get that at all.

And the tobogganing!!

We were on the hill all the time.

Every household owned at least one toboggan.

I think I should like to spend at least one more winter in real snow.

Maybe I'm forgetting all the shite parts of real winters though...

the driving, the shovelling, the not getting out of the house for days.

But I guess that's the beauty of childhood memories isn't it?

All sugar and spice and coming in from the cold, leaving your winter

woollies in a pile in the basement and coming upstairs for hot cocoa...

a mouse in the house...

2011-11-20T21:02:00.000-08:00

This little mouse is welcome in the house...

Jeremy came honestly onto this spot on the books.

He worked his way into my dreams and I in turn worked

the wool into what is now himself.

No wicked cat flipping him into the air like a toy, dragging him under the bed

and staring him down.

No, Jeremy is calm in his woolen work socks...

Ready for the cold winter nights ahead.

At home on the window sill as well...

Who knows where his journey will take him?

Song for Friday...A love song...

2011-11-17T21:00:00.000-08:00

Today winter came to us boldly...

She brought the winds during the night, knocking out the power for a while.

It was a dark and stormy night indeed!

And although I would have rather stayed warm and cozy, needle felting by the fire,

I took my que from Griffin to get out for a few walks.

This afternoon, I bundled up and out we wandered in the thick, wet snow.

Quite a few years ago I happened upon a pair of boots in a British horticulture magazine

and it was love at first sight!

I adored them from afar, saving up my pennies for almost 3 years.

Then I finally found a shop in the area that has started carrying them.

I promised myself, I would just go have a look...

But as soon as they caressed my ankles and fondled my toes, they had me...

Or should I say, I had them!

Now when I go out, even in this weather, especially this weather, my feet and my legs are

warm and more importantly DRY!

You see not only are they gorgeous Irish Dubarry boots,

they are Goretex lined.

My feet and I are in love and happy as can be.

So today's song is a love song to the saviour of these wet, winter days...

Wordless Wednesday...

2011-11-16T09:31:00.000-08:00

Adventure on the high seas!

2011-11-14T11:30:00.000-08:00

My Aunt Tas and I planned a girls weekend of shopping with my nieces over on the mainland

and got more than we bargained for in terms of adventure.

Our plan was to catch the 1 pm ferry from Vancouver Island which is usually

about an hour and a half journey to the mainland.

Not even half way across the Captain came on with an announcement...

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm afraid we've slowed our pace all of a sudden due to the

fact that we've lost an engine. Our mechanics are working to fix the

problem and hopefully we'll be on our way shortly."

Our first thoughts were....oh well, a bit of a delay...things happen and there's not

much you can do when you're out in the middle of the ocean...except maybe...

...or this...

So we settled in with our tea and chocolate and wandered around a bit.

The next announcement was this...

"Ladies and Gentlemen, it seems our problem has been fixed and

we'll be on our way with full speed shortly."

A quiet sigh of relief drifted through the passenger decks until....

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm sorry to tell you but it seems the engine problem hasn't been fixed

and we are currently moving off course so as not to stay in Active Pass."

(this is a narrow channel normally used on this route but since we were running on one engine it

wasn't safe to remain here...in case we didn't have enough power to avoid smashing

into the large Islands on either side of us)

We drifted around amongst some lovely scenery...

...and then had this announcement...

"Ladies and Gentlemen, it seems we will have to try and make the rest of our

journey on one engine as well as re-routing around Saturna Island.

This will delay our approximate arrival time to 5pm.

The other problem is that the high winds have cancelled the ferries leaving where

we intend to dock, so we may not have a berth to come into,

but we're doing the best we can and will keep you informed."

Knowing we were in for the long haul, we went down to

the car deck and got out the travel scrabble game to bring upstairs....

The next announcement was for free desserts and beverages in the cafeteria.

Keep the masses happy with caffeine, chocolate and lemon meringue pie.

So now we've been on the ferry for about 4 hours when the NEXT announcement came.

"Ladies and Gentlemen we are slowly making our way into Tsawwassen (the mainland ferry terminal)

and we have a berth to dock in but we will be assisted by a Seaspan tugboat so

our estimated time of arrival will be between 5:30 and 6:30 pm.

We appreciate your patience and will keep you informed of our progress."

Our heroes!!

Now, unless you know the size of a BC ferry, the strength of the winds around here,

plus the waves and the cold weather you can't imagine

the job these guys are about to undertake.

The tug boat is probably about the size of the 'BCF' part of the sign on the ferry...

Kind of like nudging a really lazy elephant into a bathroom stall,

while there's a hurricane going on.

I did take a few short videos of the operation,

which aren't the best but it'll give you some idea of the task at hand...These tugs are ALL engine.

Needless to say the last announcement of our final arrival brought a round of cheers

and applause.

I must commend the Captain and crew of both vessels for keeping us all safe.

Tas and I both love music but we certainly didn't want to hear the band playing

on the passenger deck or have to fight for a good seat in the life boats!

All in all it was a great weekend.

We made it for our girls weekend, shopped till we dropped, had some good laughs

AND THEN SOME!!!

Song for Friday...Remembrance Day

2011-11-11T08:16:00.000-08:00

They shall grow not old,

as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them,

nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun

and in the morning

We will remember them.

Back to our roots...

2011-11-09T07:20:00.000-08:00

Today there's a feeling of adventure in the studio.

We have had our finishing touches felted and now we are off on a field trip!

From whence we came!

Down the abandoned road...

...and into the woods!

We have many activities on the agenda.

First, a conference...

...a meeting of new, like minded ideas will be discussed...

'Putting our heads together', so to speak.

These toadstools provide us with important information, imprinted into their flesh...

We absorb the lost stories of our kin and take it with us deep in our hearts and minds...

Down through the shady forest, we contemplate where the big people have walked...

Look around to see where the woodcutters have left their mark.

So far this place is still quiet and very much intact.

A small trail leads us to where the mighty bear and svelte deer nose their way

through the trees...

...and then amongst the moss and silence we sit.

Our hearts are awash with emotions.

These sights and sounds will be carried with us,

within us, on our journey, where ever it may be.

And each one of us will whisper the stories of the woods to the field mouse,

the house cat, the sparrow and the mole and remember these days

of our beginnings...

(come visit us in Kerry's etsy shop!)

The little shop in the woods...

2011-11-04T21:50:00.000-07:00

In the tiny community of East Sooke, down a little driveway...

...just below the 'big house'...

...is the tiny little studio / shop called 'The Wren House'...

It's run by a most talented mom and daughter team of Val and Leslie Speed.

Leslie is an incredible lino-cut artist and makes these charming pieces of

scenes depicting birds, trees, houses and rural life...

Her mom Val, uses vintage wool blankets and sweaters, recycling them into

pillows and framed artwork featuring the sweetest birds and other images...

Val also has quite a green thumb and cultivates many boxwood and rosemary plants...

A small group of other artists have joined in the festivities of Val and

Leslie in celebrating the 1st anniversary of the studio / shop opening...
Bonnie Coulter, Angela Menzies, Barb Ferguson and Norene Schmuck...

I've brought a few of my creations as well...

So if you're in the neighbourhood of East Sooke, drop by for a look
and some scones and brownies and hot apple cider...

...and as Stuart McLean says...
"we may be small, but we're big."
5701 East Sooke Road...down Gillespie, turn right at Bill's store and it's just down the road.

Song for Friday...for the future

2011-11-04T08:05:00.000-07:00

I went to visit my great Aunt San yesterday.

She was my grandmothers sister and grew up on Saltspring Island.

We went and had tea and cookies in her little apartment and asked

her about the old days and she told us stories of growing up there.

I later wondered if one day my nieces will come to see me

and look into my aging eyes, asking me questions of the 'old days'...

It put me in mind of this song...

Have a great weekend all...

Tuesday's colours...red and white

2011-11-01T13:57:00.000-07:00

Mushrooms have been popping up all over the place.

More than I've ever seen in the usual places.

Especially these Amanita's...

There's been word around that it's going to be a cold winter and

nature has shown some signs.

More berries on the shrubs, more acorns on the trees.

Maybe the abundance of mushrooms follows suit...

Possibly nature's way of ensuring survival by way of producing more than enough.

Whatever the case may be, it's a marvel to see.

Even with all of their deadly attributes, they are beauties as well...

Buzzy...

2011-10-30T13:18:00.000-07:00

...wee bees...

...wee fruit box...

...wee bee skep...

Now buzzing away in my etsy shop

Saltspring...one more

2011-10-29T17:36:00.000-07:00

One more bit on the further adventures of Saltspring Island...

After we left the old homestead, Irma suggested we go down to Burgoyne Bay

by the sea before catching the ferry.

Needless to say we found more heritage heaven on the way and

never made it down there!

As soon as we took the turn down Burgoyne Bay road, we saw this old beauty...

The lady who lives across from it told us it was probably an old storage shed for

the dairy that used to take up a large portion of land along this road.

...definitely a skilled stone mason used all kinds of bits and bobs in this creation...

We were reminded of old world buildings which always peak interest in our quest

for stories of days gone by...

Next to this building was a curious, round roofed shed, probably

used to house tractors, plows and such...

Once again, craftsmanship, craftsmanship, craftsmanship!

All beautifully wrapped in history and mystery...

Further on down the road was yet another icon of the dairy.

We figured this one was the main cow barn where the herd was fed

and possibly milked.

Standing tall, containing the ghosts of farmhands and dairy maids...

These grand old barns are being taken care of and lovingly restored to

once again tell their tales through the words of the remaining elders

who remember a much quieter, slower time in the farming industry...

Finally, this building, surrounded by the golden days of autumn...

Needless to say, by the time we had poked around here for a while

we had missed our intended ferry and ended up on the later one.

A small price to pay for discovering another link to the pioneers

who settled here and helped 'grow' this island.

This whole farm property is a park now and has been left for others

to explore and wonder whilst wandering.

Song for Friday...in need

2011-10-27T19:31:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know, my daughter and her partner have rescued 2 Jack Russell's in

the Toronto area.

The organization is in need of homes so I'll let the poster and the song do the talking.

Have a fantastic weekend all!

Finding great grandma's house...

2011-10-26T12:50:00.000-07:00

The continuing saga of our adventures on Saltspring Island brought us down

from Mount Tuam and to the pretty little church in Fulford Harbor...

This is St Paul's Catholic church.

The oldest one on the Island.

It was built between 1880 and 1885 with many old tombstones along the front and

up the hill from here.

The materials were brought from Cowichan Bay by Indian canoes to Burgoyne Bay

and then from there by ox cart to it's present location.

Quite a feat back in the day.

I imagined little horse drawn wagons bringing

the congregation to mass on Sunday mornings.

Our next mission was along the Fulford Ganges road to search for the

little house where my great grandparents homesteaded in the early 1900's.

The road meanders through a beautiful valley, rich in history of many

settlers who braved the rugged land to try and carve out a life here.

This is Bruce's Peak looking from the vicinity of the house.

Many family photos included this view, like this one of my

mom and my great grandpa Cairns...

While we were looking for the house with a few vague descriptions from my elderly aunt,

we saw this broken down house and of course gasped and had to pull over to explore...

For all of the years I've known Irma, this is one thing we thrive on!

Finding bits and pieces of times gone by.

Wanting to find out more.

Wanting to see what lies beneath the broken bricks and weathered boards.

Wishing the windows could give us more than just a reflection of the sky...

On this day we were the lucky ones.

As we gingerly approached the house, I noticed a man coming down the drive and he was

kind enough to come and have a chat with us.

This is George Laundry...

...and this was his grandmothers house where he grew up.

I asked him if he knew where the Cairns' old homestead was and he said that it

was the property next door. He remembered my 2 great uncles,

Bill and John since they were about the same age as him.

He knew the midwife across the road, who delivered my grandma on a cold, snowy night

in December when Doc Maxwell couldn't make it

When he was old enough he went out into the world and became a physicist, married,

lived in New York and Toronto and then lo and behold, came back

to live on the farm of his childhood.

He had an engagement that night but invited us back another time for a proper visit

to tour his place and hear some stories of the past.

The place is derelict now and he lives in a newer house up the drive,

but local people have been trying to use

parts of the house to replace pieces of their own heritage homes

which are all but impossible to find.

So off we went down the road, past the Burgoyne Bay church...

Can't you just hear the church bell ringing through the farmlands on a Sunday morning?

Up the next driveway we found the house.

I recognized it from the few pictures I had seen and felt such a sense of connection even though

my great grandparents moved from here many years ago...

Now there is a young family who calls this little house their own and have been fixing it up.

While I was getting Irma to take my picture on the stoop, young Emily came out for chat...

Here's a (kind of blurry) picture of my great great grandpa with my grandma,

great aunt San and great uncle John (and Bob the dog) in front of the same house...

Emily and I were talking about grandparents and dogs and such

and then she told me something quite interesting.

She was also born in this little house where all of my great grandma's children were born.

Then her mom Debbie came out and told us that Emily was born on the 19th of December.

My grandma was born on the 18th of December!

About 80 years apart. Isn't that something?

So this kind family let us intrude on their day for a few minutes,

letting us walk around a bit and take pictures...

I will send Debbie some photos of the place when I can find a few from my mom's collection.

It really made me feel good to know that this lovely family is now creating their own history

here on the Fulford Ganges Road.

Bringing new stories to add to some of the old ones.

Perhaps catching a glimpse into the past of a life that in some ways is very

much akin to their own.

These places are echoes of those who paved the way for us.

The people who once lived here, as my great Uncle Bill once said,

are 'The Origin of the Species' which is our family.

They are the reason why, when I plunge a spade into the soil, I feel connected to the earth.

Or when I can peaches in late August, I am once again taken back to the farm.

I have a mirror in my hallway that belonged to my great grandparents,

which hung in their house here on Saltspring and every once in a while, when I pass it, I catch a shadow of a young pioneer wife and husband and hear the cluck of chickens in the background...

Jack, May and Agnes (San) 1922

Great Great Grandad Cairns, 1930

Bill, John, Agnes (San) and Marge (my grandma), 1938

In search of monasteries...but finding spaceships

2011-10-24T10:39:00.000-07:00

This past week I spent the day with my friend Irma in search of a mystery monastery,

my great grandmothers old house and, well, just a good old fashioned adventure.

Our destination...Saltspring Island.

We left from the tiny town of Crofton on a beautiful fall day.

This is probably the largest of the southern Gulf islands, with a healthy population

of artists, musicians, retiree's, farmers, loggers, fishermen and a general assortment

of alternative life-styles.

There's a plethora of studios, galleries, shops and restaurants but that kind of

tour will have to wait for another day.

Irma had been over there in the summer and had done some exploring along a winding

road up a mountain. Unfortunately the gals she was with weren't into seeing

what was around the bend and she had to rely on some Google Earth maps
when she got home to see what was there.
She knew there was a Buddhist monastery up there
which looked very interesting on Google Earth with some sort of
huge round structure...or so we thought.
Near the top of the road we passed a numbered sign with colourful prayer flags but
we kept going straight and finally came to the end of the road...

...and there it was!

A spaceship had landed on top of Mount Tuam!!
Well, not really....but that's certainly what came to mind.
There were several radio towers up there but we had no idea what this monster structure was...

Turns out that 'War of the Worlds' was not upon us, but instead we later
learned that it was used as navigational equipment for ships but is now defunct.
Atop Mount Tuam (680 metres) we had amazing views of the east side of Vancouver Island and
just below us, somewhere down there was Irma's house in Cherry Point...

It was spectacular!
We were the only ones up there, besides the birds and the clouds.
We settled down on the edge of a bluff and had our picnic...

We hadn't seen each other for a few months and so we sat and chatted of our comings
and goings and daily life in each others corners of the Island.
Sadly, Irma had also tragically lost a sister years ago and so we talked of the
mysteries of life and death and the impact of such life changing events...
The wind, the clouds, the quietness upon that little mountain that afternoon
made for one of those rare days that stays with you forever

I later found out that this area is in the process of being protected as a nature preserve and I
imagine all of the little nest boxes we saw were part of the process but I also
wondered at what impact all that junk from radio towers would have on the
birds, bugs and such who make their home up here...

The search for my great grandmothers old house will be a bit long winded so we'll
save that for another day...for now...enjoy the view...

Song for Friday...lovely

2011-10-21T09:16:00.000-07:00

From the first time I saw Lisa Hannigan's video of 'I don't know' in
Dickie Macs pub in Dingle, she had me.
Now she's stolen my heart again with her new cd 'Passenger'.
Right now my favorite song is a lovely ballad called 'Paper House'.

"Oh we walked in a hallowed place back then,
on the edge of Dublin,
on the edge of May and June.
Oh to live in a paper house again,
where we grew by the light of the moon."

Unearthed...

2011-10-20T10:14:00.000-07:00

We had been buried under rich forest soil, leaves and moss for many years...

And then on a warm October day, we heard it!

The footsteps and rustling above us...someone was digging us out!

A curious woman who saw the glint of glass in the sun, poking out the side of the creek bank.

She brought us up into the light, wrapped us gently in her jacket and took us home.

We looked a bit rough after all this time.

Some of us dating back to the 1930's...

Rain and snow and mud covered our shine and kept us hidden from view.

Dirt became embedded in our creases...

Then she stood us all up in a line to get a good look at us...

Maybe we look a bit rough now, but back in the day!...Oh we were bright!

And important!

Placed high up on shelves, we had purpose!

Coloured liquids filled us up, medicine, perfume, food and whiskey!

We had special tasks...each and everyone of us, until one by one, we were emptied,

tossed into the dump and eventually plowed over the banks of the creek.

Long forgotten, some of us broken beyond repair and recognition.

Until this fine Monday afternoon, when Lady Luck smiled on us and brought us back to life!

Cleaned us up with warm soapy water, man! did it feel good!

Now we sit gleaming in the sun with new life...

Even one of our little corks was saved...

Re purposed once again, even if it's just for show...

Just knowing that somebody out there cares!

What a day!

On Sundays....

2011-10-17T10:46:00.000-07:00

Today is Monday and the traffic on my road is back to it's weekly routine...the school bus

rumbles by, commuters make their way into the village and the city, service vehicles driving

to and fro. There's the distant sound of machinery and the general sounds of

a work day begin in earnest.

I don't usually walk Griffin along this road during the week, it being a bit busy with

no safe shoulder .

But Sunday....glorious Sunday morning!!

I can feel at ease strolling right down the middle of the road and all is quiet...

We've had some fairly good frosty mornings and this early time of day shows

off the magic before the warmth takes it all away...

This time of year, people around here burn yard debris which has piled up all summer.

Forest fire season has passed so it's safe to have big bonfires during these cool crisp days.

The lingering smoke, along with an atmospheric condition called an 'inversion',

plays with the cool fog and the rising sun and is music to my eyes...

It's this quiet time of morning when most are still in bed, lazy with their Sunday morning dreams

when I love to get out. I can hear the birds...see things before the rest of the world wakes up...

This turkey vulture quietly scanning the road for a morning snack.

And when I went back after the sun was up, he was still there, patiently keeping a vigil

on some deer remains left behind by a hunter...

As each minute went by, the light changed again and again.

Places where I had stood 10 minutes before in the dusky grey morning, were transformed

into warm, bursts of sunrise...

A bush where I had walked past, was now adorned with silky bits of web, hidden before in the dark...

Tom and I were supposed to go into the woodlot to cut firewood but at 5:45 a.m, the old

work truck thought better of that and didn't want to start.

So there I was, making lemonade from lemons, enjoying the peace, thinking

of my sister...her and Steve would have celebrated 18 years of marriage this weekend.

It's a time of day that I relish.

I collect my thoughts, remember dreams, think of great things to create and generally

solve all of the problems of the world...

Maybe next Sunday the truck will be in a better mood with a new starter and we'll see

what's beyond the logging road gates.

I remembered a beautiful spot on the river up this road many years ago before

they locked up all public access. Now only for a short time, they allow you in

to gather wood, leftovers from logging. For $20 you can go in for about 7 hours

and gather and cut what you can fit in your truck.

Stay tuned, but in the meantime, enjoy the quiet...

harvest time...

2011-10-15T14:07:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I spot an absolutely perfect photo op...

This time it was a gorgeous autumn day and the pumpkins were out in all their glory!

... basking in the October sun...

How could you not love all of those bald orange heads!

...just waiting to be picked, taken home, carved and

to be the one shining it's light through a dark, fall evening ...

...or maybe turned into a thousand pies!

Nothing signals the end of October like these giants of all veggies...

There they sit in fields and gardens, after months of care and attention...

...along with crisp apples, the last of the harvest.

And just like that, I woke this morning to frigid air.

As I walked with Griffin, my breath swirled around in the morning light.

A light frost covered the leaves.

Is it really time to say goodbye to summer?

I would say so!

Hello to my woolen hats and gloves.

Don the leather boots and light the stove.

"They’s something kindo’ harty-like about the atmusfere

When the heat of summer’s over and the coolin’ fall is here—

Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees,

And the mumble of the hummin’-birds and buzzin’ of the bees;

But the air’s so appetizin’; and the landscape through the haze

Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days

Is a pictur’ that no painter has the colorin’ to mock—

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock."

James Whitcomb Riley

Song for Friday...autumn

2011-10-14T08:55:00.000-07:00

Van the Man making magic once again.

Have a great weekend all...

Thanks Giving...

2011-10-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

This weekend we had a full house with family.

They came from the mainland to celebrate a birthday, to eat, to drink, to tell stories and to

be thankful for being able to share a few precious days together.

We joined the five other cousins, my younger brother and his wife who live close by,

as well as my older brother from the mainland.

The forecast was for rain but high above us the sun brought warmth

and a gentle breeze, just the kind of day we hoped for.
You see we had another purpose for this beautiful autumn Sunday.
Down through the woods we scrambled...

... past the slough and over the little bridge...

Although most of the family was there, one was missing.
We came down here accompanied by her spirit.
To mark her life in yet another way.

We have been choosing places that my sister loved and scattering ashes here and there.
Some of her ashes will be upon the sand on this part of the coast.

Tracy loved to bring the dogs and kids to the seashore and let them run.
"Oh they'll sleep good tonight!" we'd say as we watched from our seats on big
abandoned logs.
Today the cousins were reunited once again and played together inventing
games in the leftover forts of someone else's day at the beach.

It always intrigues me how children just 'are' with each other.
As soon as they're out of the van, they're running and playing and telling
each other stories as if they were together only yesterday.

...already making plans for the next time they can be together.
We explain to them the reasons for coming here today and, although not grasping
the full understanding, they know that we are a family who are missing a piece
and making it possible for us all to have somewhere to come to feel closer to her.

Steve has been so generous with his efforts to allow us into this most difficult part of his life.
He has made this trip over here several times now, knowing how much we all want to remain close.
We all have different roles in each others lives now and he truly understands how
important the bond is and will continue to be in the coming years.

For those of us who come down to this beach often, it will remain an adventurous playground...

...but will also be a place to quietly keep Tracy close by.

Today I sit here in the house with the rain pouring down outside and once again I am
so thankful to have had such a perfect day to add another goodbye on this journey.

' You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back
or you can open your eyes and see all she's left.

Your heart can be empty because you can't see her
or you can be full of the love you shared.'

(Anonymous)

Song for Friday...thanks.

2011-10-07T08:54:00.000-07:00

Since it's Thanksgiving here in Canada this weekend,

I thought I would post a beautiful autumn song.

Nothing like getting cozy with your sweetheart on a crisp autumn evening...

Feeling much love and gratitude for all those in my life

and love for those who have gone but left enduring memories behind.
And to all of you...have a light filled weekend, kick around some leaves,
eat lots, smile often, give your sweety a squeeze...
Happy Thanksgiving.

Ancient art...modern technology...

2011-10-04T10:17:00.000-07:00

Back in the '50's, some brilliant film maker invented the 3D movie experience.

Audiences donned special glasses and were brought into the film as if they were part of the action.

Last night, for the first time in our lives, Tom and I went to see one of these movies.

We were both surprised to find out this little known fact about each other after 12 years!

With our ticket we were given the updated version of the 'special' specks'...

I like how it says "real 3D"! (as opposed to fake 3D).

The film was in a word

AMAZING!

"The Cave of Forgotten Dreams" is the latest by Werner Herzog.

You may know him from such films as "Grizzly Man" or my favorite "Fitzcarraldo".

He is an incredible film maker and has such an interesting way of telling a story.

"Cave of Forgotten Dreams" is a documentary about the cave paintings inside

a lost place called Chauvet in Southern France.

32,000 years ago people went far into these limestone cliffs and began to tell

a story of great animals that once roamed these lands.

This cave is so fragile and an important archaeology and geological marvel

that it is locked up and guarded form the public.

Werner Herzog and his film crew were granted permission to film in

these caves for a very short time.

It is an exclusive look into a world of stories of which we will never

know the true meaning of.

The detailed artistic impression of the animals on the walls is stunning.

If you love art, history, exploration, or are just in the mood to be 'WOW'd'

you must make a point of seeing this film.

The music is just as haunting and beautiful.

Share the land...

2011-10-03T11:32:00.000-07:00

Now that we have the definition of allotment understood, I can take you on

a little tour of Sooke's community garden.

This post is especially for Gwynneth over at "ook" who keeps me

up on her allotment plot across the sea in Wales.

Many people don't have the space for a garden and look to these

pieces of land to get their hands in the soil and a bit of home grown food on the table.
There's also a more important reason which is the sense of community
and kindred friendships through gardening that echoes many
peoples feelings about this place.

The day I went down there it was a gorgeous, sunny day and a handful

of people were busy cleaning up and harvesting the bounty.

Here's Phoebe, one of the organizers and all 'round 'regular sunny faces down here.

Phoebe is also involved in the Sooke Food Chi project, promoting locally,
affordable food for all people in the area.

People of all walks of life can come to the many workshops and teachings provided here.

I found it interesting to see all of the different styles of gardens people have and their little
garden plot # paddles reflecting individual personalities as well...

The beauty of this place is the sense of kinship and shared spaces...

Very inspiring and motivating!
The fall harvest is showing off in big plump pumpkins...

Perfectly purple cabbage...

...showing off it's big elephant ear-like leaves...

...crazy, curly kale...

A few gardeners got their hands on some mammoth sunflower seeds and
boy are they living up to their names!!

...and just to give you a good idea of contrast, I had this eager lady stand next to the big boy...

They'll be some happy birds this winter!
This woman was happy to show me some of her bounty...

She was giddy with excitement about her carrots, because she said she's never grown them like this before. She's so happy to have other gardeners share with her their tips and tricks with her.

Gardeners are the creative type in case you hadn't noticed!

...recyclers on the move.
Patterns on the cold frames caught my eye on this sunny day...

Bees are making homes in Sunriver as well...

Plots can be large or small but the important thing is that people are out there' growing food and flowers and enjoying the sense of camaraderie which comes with community.
It's all about sharing the land, your knowledge, a tip, a bit of compost and a cup of tea.
Just enjoying being out there.
And bringing home a bit of the harvest as well.

"Gardens, scholars say, are the first sign of commitment to a community.

When people plant corn, they're saying "let's stay here"

And by their connection to the land, they are connected to one another."

Anne Raver

For more information on the gardens and other related projects, have a look here.

Autumn nature journal...

2011-09-30T12:48:00.000-07:00

Page 2...

Adieu...

2011-09-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

This river that we walk along is ancient and it has been here long before any of us.

It's floods and droughts, the salmon who've lived and died in her swirls and riffles,

the bear and cougar who roam along her banks, are all part of her story.

But I have only known this river for a minute.

It's a place where our dogs love to run...

The fields above her shores are a place I dream of living...

...a place where farmers used to keep their cattle...

This land has been bought and sold and now serves us as a wide open and lovely park...

During these crisp autumn nights and sun kissed shortened days,

we walk through the maples shedding their summer dress.

...and peak into the beginning of the dying days before winter falls upon us...

The salmon have begun to swim upstream and with it the fly fishermen try their hand

at catching and releasing...

I am mesmerized by the sound of the reel and the quiet flash of the line...

These will be some of my last days of the year down here.

Although it is one of the most beautiful places to walk, the salmon will slowly start to

die after spawning and leave their rotting carcases on the beach.

This is something that some dogs (like mine and Regina's) can't resist and so

we stay on other paths where this can be avoided.

For now, for today, we soak in the beauty and the quiet that is

The River.

A visit with Annie...

2011-09-28T10:41:00.000-07:00

Years ago I cut a picture out of a magazine of a pretty little house.

I put it in the first page of a new journal I was starting full of ideas, dreams and creative motivation.

Who knew that years later I would be visiting my friend Annie who lives in that same house.

Well, actually, it's her husband David's office but it's on the same property five minutes from my house.

To say that David is a builder is a massive understatement.

He is truly an artist of woodworking.

The 'big house' where they live is just a peak through the woods behind the office.

So off I went for tea at Annie's.

And delicious zucchini fudge brownies!

As much as David is an artist in his building, so is Annie in her gourd art and her garden.

Through the garden gate we take a stroll into the green house where it's warm and full of the gourds she'll use to make her beautiful works of art...

Here's one of her little gourd clocks...

..and more of her work can be found here on her website.

Inside we sat on the couch drinking in this view as well as the tea...

...the kitchen, warm and cozy...love the jade plant stand of the bronze figure...

I love to see where artists do their work and Annie's studio was no disappointment!

It is like a mix of mad scientist, alchemist and medieval watch maker with dashes of whimsy

and gobletfuls of creativity everywhere you turn.

Love it!

As if the garden and the house and the art aren't enough to keep them busy, Annie and David

are building ANOTHER house on their five acres.

Actually they moved a log cabin that was built in the 1930's and are now, after 20 years,

putting the finishing touches on it so they can move in.

This house also looks out onto those beautiful pastures we saw from the living room of the 'big house'.

We wandered around a bit more...

This lovely 'carriage house' is David's workshop...

All in all a wonderful morning spent amongst the creative forces that make up this

mix of fairy woodland, English cottage and true West Coast flare.

Thanks Annie!

Mind of it's own...

2011-09-27T21:46:00.000-07:00

Remember that scene in 'Stand by me' where the kids have to cross through the junkyard

with the mean dog to take the short cut to get to the grocery store?
I apologize if anyone has been trying to leave comments and has met with a blogger sort of grumpy, snarly dog who won't allow you in!

I believe the dog has now been tranquilized and the coast is now clear for you to

head on through the comment gate.

Don't be afraid!

The autumn rains cometh!

2011-09-26T11:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday a dark, gray sky drifted above us and with it came the rains.

Serious, autumn rains.

Sideways water coming down.

And with that, our summer was finally blown away.

Only a bittersweet memory now.

Fat, droplets cover things now and the fire has been lit to keep the damp out.

Glen Gould plays Bach on the CBC keeping in rhythm with the rain on the roof.

The other day, whilst hunting in the thrift shops,

I found the sweetest buttons...

Yeah, so? Little white buttons...what's so special about those?

The size, my friend!

Aren't they the sweetest little buttons you've ever seen?

Now I'm motivated to make a tiny piece of clothing for a

tiny little creation...more on that later.

For now, I'm staying warm and dry.

That fierce autumn wind has blown away the dust in the corners.

The creative leaves swirling about gathering momentum for the shape of things to come.

sunny bees...

2011-09-24T08:26:00.000-07:00

After what seemed to be the start of fall, we've been blessed with some last minute,

hot summer weather. Even the nights are warm.

I had replaced my summer blanket with the down comforter and now I

find myself waking in the night much too hot!

The sunflowers are providing some of the last bit of food for

the bees and, well, I just couldn't help myself but go out

and take pictures of these giants and the busy sunny bees.

Look how each one has it's own preference of which way to turn it's head!

Some are droopy...

Some look as if they're facing a might wind...

Some decided to have 2 heads...

But most of all, they're all so bold and beautiful!

Bees are dusted and drunk with the late summer pollen...

What would you do if you were a bee with allergies?!

Took advantage of the sun and heat and made some Linden flower, lemon sun tea...

I must admit though, I'm looking forward to some rain.

The well is very low and I'm ready for some wet weather.

But for now, you take what you are offered in these last heat filled days...drink it all in.

Collecting...

2011-09-21T22:21:00.000-07:00

What is it about autumn that we love the season so?

Many people I talk to look forward to the changes that come at this time of year.

Numerous blogs are posting about the smell, the feel, the look of fall.

Maybe it's the cause for coming inside after months of playing outside.

The air is cooler, we want to feel insulated and prepared for the coldest months.

So many feel the tug and pull of the creative beast within.

I have been inspired by the blog resurection fern
Margie Oomen has been keeping a nature journal for the summer, collecting, pressing,
drawing and putting it all in a blank book.
I thought I would keep an autumn nature journal by way of photos a few times a week.
I am a collector by nature and more oft than not bring something home from
my wanderings.

So without further delay we will begin...
Page 1...autumn nature journal.

Wordless...barkless, Wednesday

2011-09-21T10:06:00.000-07:00

farmlass

Movie review...

Song for Friday...far away

Big plans...

Snow light....

The original diva...

A brand new day...

Song for Friday...catching me again...

You think you've got it bad?

Snow day...

Old endings and new beginnings...

Catch up...

Song for Friday...surprise!

Night vision...

Not as it seems...

Song for Friday...once upon a time

Book review...

Song for Friday...for the New Year

The gift...

Rediscovering...

Song for Friday...good wishes to all...

It came upon a midnight clear...

Introducing...

The Best....

Around the house...

Song for Friday...classic

movie review....

Something borrowed...

Song for Friday...for John

Wordless Wednesday...

Ramble on....

Song for Friday...thoughtfulness

Wordless Wednesday...

Dreaming of ice...

Song for Friday...one they forgot to mention

remembering real winters...

a mouse in the house...

Song for Friday...A love song...

Wordless Wednesday...

Adventure on the high seas!

Song for Friday...Remembrance Day

Back to our roots...

The little shop in the woods...

Song for Friday...for the future

Tuesday's colours...red and white

Buzzy...

Saltspring...one more

Song for Friday...in need

Finding great grandma's house...

In search of monasteries...but finding spaceships

Song for Friday...lovely

Unearthed...

On Sundays....

harvest time...

Song for Friday...autumn

Thanks Giving...

Song for Friday...thanks.

Ancient art...modern technology...

Share the land...

1. the act of allotting.

2. a portion or thing allotted; a share granted.

3. (in U.S. military use) the portion of pay that an officer or enlisted person authorizes to be paid directly to another person, as a dependent, or an institution, as an insurance company.

4. British . a plot of land rented to a gardener.

Autumn nature journal...

Adieu...

A visit with Annie...

Mind of it's own...

The autumn rains cometh!

sunny bees...

Collecting...

Wordless...barkless, Wednesday