Woods, meadows, marsh and beach...

Yesterday I took my niece and nephew for a ramble at Royal Roads.

 It is and old estate turned University/park with miles of walking trails through all sorts of terrain.

First we walked through some old growth forest...

There are some big old Douglas firs in these woods...

Then the woods open up into the most beautiful long path through the meadow where the sun came out!

Yum! the first salmon berries os the season!

Then it was into skunk cabbage land where they grow so big we almost lost Hannah!

Down at the back of the gardeners house, the road leads past more meadows where a young doe stood to watch us...

These fences are made of metal, lead I think and are probably from the late 1800's when the estate was being used privately by Lord Dunsmuir...

This place has an 'old world' feel to it with its narrow laneways and stone walls...

Nick loves to take pictures so I always bring along an extra battery and let him go nuts taking picture after picture.

Thank goodness for digital cameras...I showed him how to use the action setting and we took hundreds of 'running' pictures alongside the walled garden...

 These structures were built ages ago and are fish ladders which helped the cut throat trout make it from pond to ocean during spawning time...

It makes the most calming gurggling sound as the water tumbles down to the sea.

More giant, old trees...

And down to the lagoon.

See that pretty little house at the back of the marsh?

I always wanted to live there. It houses offices for the University now.

Here are some more of Nicks photos...I think that boy has something of an eye for things...

It was a beautiful day spent with 2 great kids who love nature...such a pleasure to take them out...

Dr. Feelgood...

Some days at work are shite.

Plain and simple.

Just the nature of the universe, the alighnment of the stars, waking up on the wrong side of the bed...

or whatever else you might believe. 

So when I get home there are things that make me feel better no matter what kind of day its been.

A massive mug of tea.

A good dose of dark chocolate.

The smell of lilacs from my garden.

Walking into my garden.

Seeing all the little seedlings growing strong.

These guys!

How could this mug not make you smile?

And some good music...my latest favorite...

an old Judy Collins song about a girl and a cowboy..."Someday Soon"

Song for Friday....sweet harmony

Last Thursday, Tom and I went into Victoria to see The Wailin' Jenny's at The Alex Goolden Performance Hall. It used to be an Anglican church and is EVER so beautiful inside with it's massive pipe organ and stained glass windows...the upper balcony is fronted by a gorgeous wrought iron railing...

The picture above is Sara Harmer playing since it was the only picture I could find of the interior.

I didn't take my camera with me but will definitely dedicate a future post on this amazing building.

Anyway what can I say about The Wailin' Jenny's... exquisite musicians, sweet harmonies and pretty to look at. The last song was performed acapella without microphones and was like the voice of angels in this sacred place...and it was a lovely Irish ballad...here it is to soothe you into the weekend.

Busy, busy, busy!

Late last fall I stuck this birdhouse on the end of this fence post to get it out of the way of some pruning;

thinking I would move it to a safer spot before nesting season came.

Of course winter came and went, spring arrived and things got busy and I was just about to move it last week when look who's head popped out of the hole!

The box sits only 6 feet above the ground and about 4 feet away from the door to the greenhouse.

I am constantly walking within touching distance but he doesn't seem to mind...

He's busy keeping his lady chickadee fed while she tends to the buisness of sitting on eggs...

He flits about and makes his sweet little 'chick-a-dee-dee-dee' sounds before flying into the box...

First the rose bush, then the fence edge, then the old bicycle handle..

I can't wait to see the chicks when they start to poke their little heads out the hole, calling for some breakfast.

My job? Keep the cat AWAY!

A walk with mom...

On Mother's Day, after our visit with my Grandma, my mom and I took the dogs down to Tod Inlet.

The trails lead you down through the woods to a pretty inlet which used to be a cement factory in the early 1900's.

It was part of a limestone quarry which now holds the world famous Buchart Gardens.

Along the way you pass by remnants of the factory. I believe this would have been part of a pipeline that brought water up from the creek...

Down the trail you go where shells of old storage sheds appear...

The original smoke stack from the cement factory still looms in the distance.

There was a small industry town built here where migrant Chinese workers lived in tiny shacks.

Years ago before it was a park, we would come down and find old bottles, coins and dishes in the woods.

Others lived here as well in bigger houses where only foundations survive today.

Lilacs which were planted long ago have now gone wild and scent the air on these warm spring days...

And funky old maples line the path...

A few of the storage sheds are still in place, although time is starting to camoflauge them...

There are piles of these cement pilons stacked in areas near the water.

Some were still in the Inlet as part of a large wharf for moving the cement onto barges...

The boxes on top of the wood pilons are part of a program to bring back the Purple Martin, a large swallow. 

Looks like a great day for kayaking!

A few Trilliums are still in bloom as well as this rare Pink Lady's Slipper orchid...

The Inlet is now a Provincial Marine park and many boaters moor here in these quiet, sheltered waters....

So the dogs had fun, we had fun, the weather was gorgeous...all in all I would say a perfect day!

When we got back to my mom's, my dad treated us with pizza, wine and a bouquet of carnations for me...

How sweet!

The visit...

This is a story about time...

how it marches on by, no matter what.

These hands are my grandma's.

They wear a wedding ring from my grandpa, gone years before.

These hands washed the faces of  9 children.

Cooked and cleaned for them all.

Held them all in her arms.

Lost one along the way.

Taught them how to laugh.

On mothers day they open a card and a gift from her daughter.

The hands are still able although the mind is not.

Her smiles and hugs for all who come around are abundant but dementia is a terrible thief.

She is quiet and restless and wants her garden and her house back.

The 'home' she lives in is lovely though, and has a resident companion named Buddy.

He brings joy to everyone he meets...a tiny but mighty little guy.

The ladies wear summer hats while we have our tea and cake...

We enjoy the sun and the closeness which the day has brought.

We remind her of other times and places, grandchildren and great grandchildren, trips to Hawaii and the Canadian Rockies...

She likes to hear of these things and a sparkle comes back to her eyes.

These moments in time are precious.

Grab hold and take it all in...breathe it in deep.