From across the miles....

When I mention to people that I keep a blog, some ask "why?" while others ask "where do you find the time?" The reason for 'why' is simple...it's my own journal, a place to keep thoughts and stories and the pictures which sometimes accompany them. The 'time' question is sometimes an issue but quite often it's my down time with a cup of tea and thoughts fresh in my mind. I suppose its more constructive than just surfing the net...although I do a bit of that too.

Since I've been on this blog ride, I have sometimes caught my breath at how many kindred spirits I have out there. I will look at some photos of someones farm and think..."I would like to visit there". Or going along on ones virtual tour of their day out on the town and again I think..."That looks like a great little cafe to sit with a freind".

Its a great feeling to know that there are like-minded people in this huge world and that I can somehow connect with a few of them through the technology at hand even though they are miles and miles away.

Last night was one of the more meaningful connections I've made and I am still on cloud nine about the whole thing.

I follow a Cork man's blog and we have left comments regularly on each others posts. One such post I wrote was about my Irish roots and the ever increasing search for more information about them. Paudie offered to go for an adventure some day to try to find some of my ancestors gravesites back in Ireland. It turned out after he had read my post, he realized how close in proximity they lived to this tiny village near Limerick and lo and behold, last night I received the most amazing link to the post he did on finally finding these headstones!

I can't tell you how much it meant for me and my da to see the photos and to hear of his family's adventure...truth be told I am still quite emotional about it. It has taken a long time to find this information. Unfortunately my da and I didn't have it before our pilgrimage to Ireland but it has fueled the fire for the next visit.

I am still working on the Lietch branch of the family which is much more muddled than the Quilty side but I have faith that books and records will be dusted off and mysteries revealed one day...watch out Paudie..I may send you on another wild goose chase!

So cheers to all of you who don't think this blogging is a big waste of time! Have a look at Paudie's post and count yourselves lucky to have these grand connections.

(you might have to copy and paste this if the link doesn't come up)

                                         endofera.wordpress.com/2010/02/21/irish-roots

                                       

Where I work...commute...10 minutes

Mosaic by local artist Noreen Schmuck.

I used to commute 45 minutes to my job in the city as a letter carrier with Canada Post then...

Last summer I met a lady named Kate who was dreaming of opening her own eatery/ deli/ whole food market. She wanted it to be a place where like-minded people could gather not just for the shopping and eating, but to be a part of the community where we live. Sooke is a small town with it's roots in logging and fishing and times have changed and more and more diversity dwells here. There are artists, small farmers, musicians and people from all over the world who have made this small oceanside town their home. The closest large town is 1/2 hour away and the city of Victoria is 45 minutes away so most people would prefer to buy local if they can. The 2 grocery stores here are o.k but don't provide many organic or locally produced food. So Farmers Daughter to the rescue! I work here 3 days a week doing a bit of everything including baking, soup making from scratch, preparing meals, customer service and I even do dishes! Actually that's the great thing about this place is that we all do a little bit of everything...

Here's Wysteria making a few yummy salads for lunch...

mmm...roasted beets on baby spinach with goats chees and walnuts and fennel carrot stips with tangelo dressing...

Here's Ellen making the never ending kale chips...

Cream of broccoli soup with smoked cheddar cheese...

This was a fancy 5 course meal we had in the midst of winter...delicious!

...a cozy night it was.

Kate hamming it up in the kitchen with Josh and my tiny Thai sister in law, Phikun...

This woman knows how to cook!!

We've started to have open mic nights every second week...

Here's Kates partner Michael,  serenading us with some traditional ballads...

...and this woman and her son doing 'House of the rising sun' in Czech!

 Josh, brother Juda and Kate...they look pretty serious but don't let that fool you!

Shelves of home canned goods, maple syrup, olive oil and grains etc...

Gorgeous handmade cheese and sausage made on the Island...

 

 

How many workplaces have this for their view?!

So thats the tour...if you're in Sooke...come on by for some fresh juice and delicious home made food.

Promising finds...

The sun has been out in all of her glory this past week and dare I say that it really feels like spring! Yipee! I think I count all of us on the coast here as some of the lucky ones since it seems that winter has bypassed us altogether. Except for the torrential rains, I believe the worst is over. I know it's only nearing the end of February but I think it's safe to say that.....hmmm...maybe I better not say anything yet. 

While out shopping for Tom's birthday boots, I had some good luck at the thrift stores...

Fabric was the name of the game...this pretty needle point runner caught my eye...

It still had the label on it from Belgium..I've been working on a new bag and I may incorporate this into it somehow.

A gorgeous velvet king size pillow case to use for.....not sure yet...but who could resist the feel of  it and the pretty knot buttons..

 

Some spring like flowery fabric that I might make a new apron with...

And this lovely fellow...heavy and missing some horns..

...must have been attatched to something because he has these little knob bits on the bottom of his feet. I liked how weathered he looks. I would love to make a hood ornament out of him for my van....

This is the sort of stuff I squirrel away for rainy days but  looks like I'll be out in the garden on the weekend worshipping that big, warm orb in the sky....getting some dirt under the nails and all.

Song for Friday....or retro Friday and how to be cool...

I always loved Bill Withers...when I found this video it just about sent me to the hairstylist to get an afro perm! Man these guys were probably the coolest cats in the '70's...especially that drummer.
I'll have what he's having!

"I was born a WHAT?!"

All these years I thought I was Griffins little brother...

 Separated at birth...

...as I got older, I started to realize some differences...

the fact that he didn't care for mouse guts as much as I did, or that his interest in birds was somewhat low.

Car rides were not exactly number one on my list of fun things to do...

and whats with the stick and water obsession?!

 

He does look a lot like his 'other' brother Frank...

I never really thought about the size difference...

 

But I do know we both love leftover steak for supper!

 And now I learn that I'm actually a whole other species!

But you know what?.....

I say....WHATEVER!

  

love + flowers + sushi...= a great day.

I bought these tulips for 'us' to celebrate Valentines day and Toms birthday, which is convieniently the day after...

As they opened, they became bigger and brighter and harder to resist taking photos....they are probably one of my favorite cut flowers and I admit that I have a hard time passing them by in the grocery store when they come out in gangs...

Then I started to play with their tones...

Meanwhile outside the little crocus' are coming up through the grass...

It was a lovely day and we found this viburnum bush loaded with a spring bouquet...

And to top it off....sushi for supper....Aahhh... the simple things in life!

All things red and right and wrong..

We are in the first stages of the 2010 Olympics and I must say that I am caught up in the whole thing. I wasn't planning on having a love affair with Canada but, once again she, has caught me off guard with her reds and whites.

There has been controversy since day one and honestly, I was leaning to the side of the nay sayers. The cost, the hype, the overblown need to promote Vancouver again and AGAIN. The needs of many others who are overlooked.. The homeless. The poor. The eliminated social programs. Its all there. While the cost of the games continues to rise and we spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to truck in snow to the mountains, I give my head a shake. And so I have strong agreements with the protesters but I have much bigger disagreements with their choice of voicing those opinions. I don't believe in violent acts to make a point and it seems as though it is those people who get the publicity and therefore provide negative imaging for the media to take hold of.

But I am turning my eyes to other images right now. I think the Olympics are for the atheletes and this, we should keep in perspective. These talented, hardworking people have little funding and train hard for years to get that one chance at representing a love for sport and country.

There is a bit of a long standing joke about Canada and how we always seem to get so close to the top but never quite reach it..."...and another bronze for Canada.." or...." bumped down to 4th position...". But we are die hard fans for our countrymen and women...Hey, just ask any Toronto Maple Leaf  fan! They haven't won the cup since 1964 and STILL have the seats filled at every single home game!

So, yes, I am in love with Canada be it on the slopes, on the ice or standing in the crowd with my umbrella, praying for snow...

Go Canada Go!!