Such Things

Off the the Hills

We escaped some of the Vancouver rain by heading to Manning park after Christmas.  The kids were so excited to play in the snow!! 

We camped in our tent trailer with the little heater pumping away, but it wasn't nearly as cold as the last time we were there. 

We did cross-country and tubing on day one. 

We were happy to meet up with our good friends who brought their RV as well.  We all did some late night tobagganing together. 

On the second day we awoke to brilliant sunshine. 

The kids did downhill ski lessons for the first time! 

They all did very well and independently mastered the bunny hill and rope tow! 

Best of all, they loved it!

Welcome winter and Happy New Year everyone!!

Sockeye Salmon at Weaver Creek

It could not have been a more brilliant autumn day to drive through the countryside on the way to Weaver Creek, on windy roads lined on either side by orangy, red trees.

We made the trip out last year in November, but missed the peak of the Sockeye run.

This year the channels were bursting with bright red Sockeye.

There were row after row of channels to view the salmon swimming,

and jumping.

It was the first time I'd seen Sockeye in my life.

The kids were equally excited about the dragon flies, sour blackberries and leaves as they were about the salmon.

We stopped for a peaceful lunch at Grace Lake nearby, where a few people were fishing and camping.

Then we stopped at the Chehalis Hatchery to see the fry.

Do I ever love B.C. and sunny autumn days!!!  Thank you God!

Back From the Farm

If you've feen following my blog for awhile, you may remember posts about seeing our good friends who live on a farm in Greenwood, B.C. in the Kettle Valley.  We just got back from another wonderful visit.

There are always lots of surprizes:  unique birds, butterflies, wildflowers, dragonflies,

lots of trips to the "henhouse", somtimes accompanied by loud squawking from the chickens (I wonder why...),
 

lots of visiting and play, 

roadcrossings that we are not used to,

and more pure beauty at Jewel Lake.  A trip to the farm never disappoints. 

Island Artists

We followed a garden path off of a quiet road in Parksville to a place filled with a lovely variety of bread and other baking (La Boulange Organic Breads)...

To me, an artist is not just one who paints or sculpts,

It is also one who makes and creates in a variety of ways, such as baking,

growing (Cormie Farms),

displaying,

sewing,

 

molding (Sandstone Soapworks),

cheese-making (Little Qualicum Cheeseworks) and of course,

selling (Coomb's Country Market).

And I find it all so very inspiring.

We spent the rest of our camping trip at Rathtrevor Beach,

which is apparently the most popular provincial campsite in B.C.  It was beautiful and relaxing.  We also met up with an old high school aquantainance.  I was excited to discover her gorgeous hand-made jewlery on her website called Lone Monkey.  A must see!

So glad to be home now with internet, washing machine and dryer! 

A Taste of Tofino

We just got back from our camping trip to Vancouver Island, which was indeed wonderful.

We fell in love with our campsite, Crystal Cove,

known for it's many well-tended gardens filled with a colourful variety of flowers. 

The place had quite a tropical feel, scattered with palms,

and a with stunning view of Mackenzie beach,

a quiet cove.

We had fun touring the local attractions as well, such as,

Wickaninnish Interpretive Center, Comber's Beach,

and the Rainforest Trail.

I think my favourite was visiting the beach and sitting at the playground in an adirondack chair watching the kids play and drinking complimentary coffee from right next door to guest services. 

Ah, Tofino. 

Happy Easter!

Hope you had a most enjoyable Easter weekend, as we did!

:: visiting the bunnies at Maple Wood farm, colouring easter eggs, a day trip to Mt. Vernon, Washington for the Tulip Festival, Easter goodies on Easter morning and an annual Easter egg hunt. 

Also reflecting on the real significance of Easter:

"For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.  Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation."

                                                                                    Colossians 1:19-22

Loving Winter

My husband, Mark, and I were having one of those "dreaming about the future" conversations that we often have, and he asked me, "What would you think about living in Hawaii? 

Would you want to live in Hawaii?"  To be honest, I surprised myself my saying,

"No. I would love to go on a trip to Hawaii, but I think would actually miss the changing of the seasons if I lived there."

I would miss the outdoor winter adventures, like skiing,

tubing,

skating,

 and winter camping.

Admiring the winter star-lit skies,

and waking to see a stunning sunrise.

At least for now, I think I'd like to keep living right here where we are!

:: all of the above photos were taken on a weekend adventure to Manning Park.  Mark took the nighttime photo with a tripod and a 30 sec. exposure time.

Hope you are enjoying the season you are in where you live!

Dazzled by Disney

First time at age eight, next fourteen, then eighteen and age twenty-one.  Now with our own kids.  What is it about Disneyland that causes people to fly, drive and devote an entire trip to it?  I've heard friends say that it really is the happiest place on earth.  What is it that still creates the feeling of awe, magic and grand entertainment?

Each time I go, I can't help but get fascinated about Disney, himself.  A man who had a vision and who went forward with his ideas despite others warning him not to. The old-fashioned fire engine pictured above is the very one that Walt Disney would drive around the park each morning, just before opening to ensure that all was in order.  The fellow who told us this story did so with such sincerity and such respect.

After a day at Disney, I found myself reading biographies about him from the laptop in our hotel room while the kids were fast asleep in the next bed.  Next day at Disneyland, I looked around me amazed, especially at the attention to detail.  A real paddle boat, canoes, a raft floating across to an island of adventure, with Splash Mountain rumbling by in the background.  Characters popping out for photo opportunities and fireworks every night.  Walt Disney said, "I just want it to look like nothing else in the world. And it should be surrounded by a train."

Well, Mr. Disney, it certainly is like no other place on earth. 

On the Road Again (Coast of California)

  

"Alright, guys!  Jump in the van!  We're ready to go!!"

We spent a lot of time on the road, and we'd often sing this "theme song" as we drove:

06 On the Road Again

On the road again -

Just can't wait to get on the road again.
The life I love is making music with my friends

California Redwood Forest

And I can't wait to get on the road again.

On the road again

Goin' places that I've never been.

Seein' things that I may never see again

And I can't wait to get on the road again.

                                            Trolley in San Fransisco

On the road again -

Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We're the best of friends.

Insisting that the world keep turning our way.

And our way
is on the road again.
Just can't wait to get on the road again.
The life I love is makin' music with my friends

And I can't wait to get on the road again.

And I can't wait to get on the road again.

                                            Fisherman's Warf

Northern California is beautiful and just amazing.  I just couldn't get over the adorable tomato trucks we kept seeing on the way.  Just not seen here in B.C.!  Time for the best yet, Disney!

Postcards from Oregon (road trip down the Oregon coast)

I didn't think it would take this long for me to find a minute to post, but our trip's been a blast!  I'm writing from a hotel room right now and am still reflecting fondly on how much I loved camping down the Oregon coast.

But first, I'm not going to pretend that a road trip is a heavenly journey.  Have you ever been on a road trip?  Have you ever been on a road trip with children?  My husband and I did the "Disney" road trip before we had kids and it took us two days.  This time it seems that it takes us at least three time as long to cover the same distance.  There's bathroom breaks, snack breaks, spontaneous shopping trips (mostly on Mark's and my part).  I still can't get over these outlet malls-great deals!!!  Then there's traveler's tummy and backseat silliness and bickering, and to top it all off, sitting around with that feeling of having "camper's film", from head to toe, which seems to miraculously disappear with a shower at the hotel. Not to mention contending with Oregon weather, mostly cloudy or extremely windy and not that warm at all!!  Let's just say, I'm thankful we packed so many sweaters and pairs of pants. 

So why, I might ask myself are we doing this? 

Because a road trip is a most wonderful journey with great surprises around every corner: 

The wreck of the Peter Iredale, Astoria,

Seaside,

Cannon Beach, 

Sea Ranch RV park, Cannon Beach, 

lighthouse,

tide pools,

and sealions at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area,

Sand dunes in Florence (one of my personal favourites),

Honeyman National Park, Florence (where we camped),

And there's the peacefulness of camping under the trees,

sleeping in our cozy tent-trailer,

cooking and eating all our meals outdoors,

and telling stories by the campfire. 

Waking with the sun and sitting out under the stars until bedtime.

If anything, I would have liked to have done more and I would definitely do it again. 

But for now, good bye Oregan and hello, California!!!