Saltspring Kayak

We are back to the daily grind now, but thinking back on our trip in idle moments is wonderful. I'd never kayaked before, neither had the dear husband. The first 2 days were about getting sorted out, the last day we were able to relax and enjoy. I was a courageous soul and swam 3 times during the trip. It was refreshing to say the least.

We journeyed around the island, making little side hops including Wallace Island Provincial Park . I am so used to the vast wilderness in the Yukon, it was strange to me to be camping where I could hear other campers snores and whispers.

It was also great to see our friends again and kayak with them. Photos will be posted!

Saltspring Island

What a lovely part of the world. Sigh. I am so happy to be here with my beloved. Where should I start? I'm so happy that I paid extra to reserve a spot on the 2pm ferry from Tsawwassen. It was way more relaxing knowing that we had a spot on the ferry. The 'sailing wait' for a vehicle was not a happy sign.The BC Ferries website is a bit confusing, but not bad. The ferry ride was short and interesting. Met Kevin who told some stories about Saltspring.

When we got into Ganges (the main town on Saltspring) we parked at the schoold and wandered around town. There's an arts exhibit on in Ganges for another few weeks at the heritage hall. They have everything from art to wear (fabulous felted confections) to fine art paintings and dioramas.

That night we crashed on a friend's mom's lawn (ok, septic field) and were pretty comfy anticipating the next morning's Saturday Market. That was so much fun! The food, Oh the food! I can't even tell you the joy... sigh.

I've been fighting a night cough so Chris thought it would be best to find a roof to go over our heads. The local tourist info folks were most obliging and found us Emily's Cottage, Ken is our wonderful gardener host here.

Emily's Cottage is just around the corner from Sunset Farm where we found wool to satisfy my need and Christopher's desire for a touque. They also have fabulous Queen sized wool blankets made with wool from their farm. When you pull up to the farm you are greeted by two very plump pygmie goats.

Let us not forget the vineyars. There are 3 of them on the island now. Saltspring Vineyards, Gary Oaks and Mistaken Identity. We visited them all yesterday. Wonderful wines, wonderful vintners (people), wonderful locations.

Today the rain has been on and off this morning. Who knows what the day will bring?

7th Anniversary Traditional Gift? Wool!

So, the 7th year of our marriage is around the corner and I discovered only a few weeks ago that the traditional gift is WOOL!!! I'm just a bit of a fibre freak, wool being a particular faviourite of mine. Dear Husband has been asking for a hand spun, hand knit sweater for a number of years now. Galvanized by the knowledge of our upcoming anniversary and the traditional gifting I searched through my stash and came up with some lovely dark blue yarn that has some depth due to other colour highlights. but there wasn't enough. I still had the information from the vendor and emailed her. She found more of the lovely wool in her stash/store and sold it to me. Thanks to Paypal and Canada Post the stuff was in my hands less than five days later. It is almost all yarn now and I should have enough to make the sweater planned ("Cobblestone" designed by JAred Flood).

I've got the sleeves knit and a chunk of the body... deadline looms...

More on the yard

We contracted with a really nice local fellow who has his own dump truck and bob cat to do the work on the yard - here's a portrait of the dump truck.

Progress Indeed!

After the yard was stripped of the over burden - ratty lawn, poplar suckers, cobbles, gravel and sundry dog do it took a long 12 hour day to get it all trucked away. My father in law Bruce, made the coolest barn style doors for our carport/garage so that a small bobcat can get through to the back yard.

Then road grade textile was laid down and 3 dump truck loads of 'crush' was brought in and spread around.

Our upload speed is criminally slow due to traffic throttling by Northwestel so I can't post as many photos as we have.

Progress is Being Made

For many years the DH (dear husband) and I have had a plan for the backyard. One of the wonderful things about our relationship is that we have a very similar design ethic and perspective on the purpose of things. Thank-God. I can't imagine how awful it would be to love a man and attempt to live with him and his hunting trophies. Equally, I've never understood how a woman could impose a floral decorating scheme in the marital bedroom, assuming her husband is straight.

Anyway, for all these years we've tried to pick away at it with no success. Yesterday all the trees and sod were stripped and piled, today, the pile is being taken away. Already it looks better. It is flat now. Next step is to put down road grade geotextile to deter the poplar trees from coming up in the lawn, which will be put in next.

Got Lucky! Haines Alaska Fair

Chris and I were at the Haines Souteast Alaska State Fair over the weekend and in addition to enjoying the fair and the food I caught a fish! Finally, after a year of no fish. We ate it last night and it was good.

I also got a really nice piece of art, a multi-media piece with real sea wrack. I know it's real because the cats tried to eat it.