Georgia Strait

The latest pictures

2008-07-03T20:35:00.000-07:00

The latest pictures are up on the Flickr page - just click on the small picture collage at the side of the page.....

Around Home

2008-05-27T21:48:00.001-07:00

Another day of sunshine, with rainy bits.....

In the late morning the smog (mist?) was so think the mountains couldn't be seen.

This is a small part of my concrete 'back 40'. As you can see, is is a work in progress. I usually have it all organized by this time of year.

My back 'yard' goes to the top of a steep cliff. Growing on the rocks are pampas grass and bamboo planted by a previous owner, cedar, fir, willow, maple, arbutus (madrona), and trees that I can't name that grow like crazy. I must get the tree men to come in and cut down all the larger specimens.

I can't resist clematis. I have bought several new ones this year and now must get them re-planted.

By late afternoon the mountains are visible. This is looking towards Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast.

A Gray Day

2008-05-26T19:54:00.001-07:00

It was quite gray today and a nasty storm this afternoon. Lightning, thunder and rain......

We went out for dinner and after I stopped briefly at Piper's Lagoon. The tide was far out - we have been having very low tides lately. The broom is still blooming - pretty, but a noxious weed.

It was very quiet on this cloudy day - not a soul on the south-facing beach.

There are lots of interesting seaweeds washed up.....

The Shack Islands are high and dry with the tide out.

A white-crowned sparrow has been visiting often.

Milner Gardens

2008-05-25T21:21:00.000-07:00

I am sorry that I have been negligent in putting up pictures! I will try to do better.....

Today I drove up to Coombs to buy some more bamboo fencing, and then stopped at Milner Gardens in Qualicum. The rhodos are lovely - but the wisteria on the old house is looking rather sad.

This is the lawn in front of the house, with the big trees of the forest behind.

The front lawn looks over the strait. There are a couple of people with kayaks below.

The garden has hundreds of rhododendrons, most in bloom right now.

One lovely tree is a copper beech.

Behind the more formal garden are many paths lined with very old rhodos and wildflowers as ground cover. Milner is a 'wild' garden, with the rhodos and other flowers blending with the forest and the wild flowers and plants.

This Solomon's Seal or False Lily of the Valley used as some of the ground cover.

The peonies are just starting to bloom.

This laburnum is almost out in bloom. I want one!

Sunset tonight from my window. A bit hazy, but nice.....

Gray Victoria

2008-02-08T20:09:00.000-08:00

Off to Victoria today..... It was warm (+8 C) but gray and a cool wind off the sea.

Fisgard Street is decorated for the Chinese New Year.

The harbour is very quiet.

The Empress looks bare with all the leaves of the Virginia Creeper on the front gone.

It is quite windy out on Dallas Rd. There are lots of broom and gorse growing wild along the shore. These were brought here from England in the mid-1800s, and now have spread all over the southern end of the Island. The broom is on the right - it blooms in May. The gorse is beginning to bloom now. It is rather a nasty plant, with long sharp spikes.

A wind surfer was out. It must have been very cold.

A closer view of the gorse.

There are lots of snowdrops out now.

And the best of all! The first (and only) daffodils to be seen - these were in a garden along Dallas Rd.

Nanoose Bay

2008-02-03T08:14:00.000-08:00

Kelly and I went for a drive late in the afternoon today - around the Nanoose loop. We stopped at the pond on the golf course to see what sort of critters we might find.

There were ducks, and some geese and one very sleepy swan with his head resting over his wing.

He woke up long enough to get his picture taken and then went back to sleep.

Farther around the loop is Schooner Bay Marina.

From the hill above I zoomed in on the mountains on the mainland.

Then down to the marina and a walk along the docks.

It was quite cold out - just above freezing, I would think.

But even if it is cold, the flowers are coming out more and more..... the rhodo bushes on Hammond Bay Rd. are looking more colourful.

Home and About

2008-01-27T15:04:00.000-08:00

A mixed day for weather! It was quite blue this morning and snowing this afternoon. The pictures were mostly taken in between.......

This was sunrise......

And then later, looking north in the direction of Texada Island.

As the early afternoon was pleasant, I went up some of the hills above the city. This is from the top of Nottingham Drive, looking down on Departure Bay. The new ferry isn't out today - it is the one on the right.

And from the same perch, the view towards Mt. Benson. The Nanaimo golf course is the green bit.

Then to the top of a different hill. This is from the lookout on Smuggler's Hill. I have a good view myself, but the view from this housing development on the top of the Smuggler's Hill is spectacular.

This and the next shot are not very light, but I watched this interplay for about 15 minutes yesterday afternoon. The house finch is just sitting, and the Anna's hummingbird was quite upset that he is taking up space on the feeder.

Finally they both decide to have a drink, although I don't know what a finch can get out of the little hole.......

Here is another house finch,

and a chestnut-backed chickadee.

The flower of the day - the heather is quite pretty now.

Butchart

2008-01-24T22:11:00.001-08:00

Back to Victoria today......

After a bit of shopping, I took advantage of my Butchart Garden pass. It is always interesting to see what they have in the huge basket hanging in the sign.

It has been frosty with clear skies the last couple of days. The dear little snail looks cold.

This is the path to the sunken gardens.

And here they are - no flowers and clean beds with the little daisy plants that will bloom as soon as there are warm days.

Funny - I have not noticed this birdhouse before...... Cute!

The courtyard was empty of people. The spring garden is in the building on the far side.

The boar - a copy of a statue in Florence, Italy.

Inside the building that is the summer cafe, is the spring garden. Everything is in pots, of course, but it looks like a real garden.

There is even a goldfish pool and waterfall.

The new ferry, the Coastal Renaissance, was just coming in to Departure Bay.

Victoria and Back

2008-01-20T20:49:00.000-08:00

This morning the weather began to change for the better.....

Sunrise! Finally I can see the mountains on the mainland - these are zoomed, of course - to the coast range beyond Pender Harbour. This seine boat was heading out - I don't know what they are catching right now.

The last couple of days a flock of pine siskins has been visiting the feeder.

I went to Victoria today. I thought I would get some good pictures, but it hadn't cleared there yet and there was a cold wind blowing. I had a short walk in Beacon Hill Park.

By the time I got back to Nanaimo the sky was lovely and blue, and as I was driving up the Parkway I took a short detour to the top of College Heights. This is part of the panorama. Protection Island is the small one closest to town, and the larger island to the right is Gabriola.

Zooming in on the boat lagoon and Protection Island. There is a freighter anchored on the far side of the island.

This is looking towards the old downtown area. The crane is where the new condos are going in on the waterfront.

Then zooming northward...... Departure Bay is to the right. At the bottom of the picture is Buttertubs Marsh. Just above the entrance to Departure Bay and on the mainland is Sechelt.

The flower of the day...... more snowdrops in Victoria.

Here and There...

2008-01-16T19:42:00.000-08:00

I know I am late in updating the pics! I haven't been out for the last couple of days, so here are a few from the past weekend.

This is Long Lake, in North Nanaimo.

Long Lake is a favourite swimming and boating spot in summer - now the ducks are enjoying it in peace.

Then to Parksville, and the park on the ocean.

There were some very large roots and logs that have come in with the storms this winter.

The storms and the high tides have cut away the lawn....

There is a lot of new building along the Parksville waterfront - mostly condos......

This fluffy finch spent most of today in the feeder.

The flower of the day...... the first primroses blooming....

Deep Bay

2008-01-11T20:22:00.000-08:00

Quite a nice day today - about 8 degrees C and some sunshine off and on.

I drove up through Parksville and Qualicum to Deep Bay - one of my favourite spots. This part of the Island is called 'Lighthouse Country', and here is the lighthouse.

This is the marina at Deep Bay. The clouds never lifted from the mountains, but the sun was filtering through. The snow on the hills shows up all the logging slashes.....

The dock has a colourful railing. Behind this little bay is a narrow peninsula with one street of houses.

I drove out on this peninsula - and this is the view from the end of it. This is looking north-west up the Island towards Courtenay.

The flower of the day...... a small cheat - these daffs were in a pot outside Thrifty Foods......

January Days....

2008-01-08T21:50:00.000-08:00

The first three pictures were taken yesterday - it was mostly cloudy but quite mild.

I drove up to the top of Oakridge - this is the marina channel with Departure Bay to the right.

This is a picture of the new C-class ferry on our Departure Bay / Horseshoe Bay run. It is quite a bit bigger than the old one behind it. As I am going to Vancouver next Monday, maybe I will get to ride on it....... Yes, I do believe in ferries......

This was taken from the new planned subdivision below the Lost Lake Rd., looking down on all the new building on Rocky Point.

Yesterday was nice - today was a different story. It snowed at the higher levels (not at my house) and then warmed up and rained. This is Jingle Pot Rd. this afternoon.

I stopped at the Millstone River - it is usually a small stream, but is now flooding over the banks.

Flower of the day - heather, of course....... all the winter heather is looking very colourful.

Brannen Lake

2008-01-06T16:51:00.001-08:00

The day started out cloudy and dull, but gradually brightened in the afternoon and about +5 C.

I was out briefly, and drove around Brannen Lake. The snow is quite low on Mount Benson.

There isn't much access to the lake - I only know of this little road down to the water.

The lake is very high after all the rains, flooding into the fields.

At the south end of the lake is the Nanaimo Correctional Centre - it used to be called the Brannen Lake Penitentiary. That is part of it on the right of the picture.

Back home - the view from my window at sunset.

Flower of the day - I am not sure what these are called - but they bloom all winter.

Yesterday in Victoria

2008-01-05T13:28:00.001-08:00

I drove to Victoria yesterday with Lovette...... It was horridly windy and poured cats and dogs all the way to Duncan, but then the sky began to improve and by picture time it was mostly blue.

After our errands and shopping, we drove around so I could take some pictures. This is the sunny Inner Harbour.

A quick stop in Beacon Hill Park

It was warm and sunny - 11 degrees C (what's that? 52 F...) - sweater weather.

The flower beds are full of winter blooms.

We couldn't see the Olympic Peninsula on the other side of the Strait. The harbour master's boat is just at the freighter's bow.

Then up to the Lieutenant Governor's gardens - the helebores were quite spectacular.

It is beginning to darken with clouds again. This is the view from the gardens down towards the sea.

Back on the sea route, the wind is kicking up.

Flower of the day - I knew I would find these! The snowdrops are out in many gardens. Spring is coming!

Cow Bay

2008-01-03T15:05:00.000-08:00

We went to Cowichan Bay several days ago.

As usual, the skies were gray......

This is looking towards the 'town' and the marina.

We walked out on the maritime museum pier. There are quite a few houseboats tied up here.

The snow was quite low on the hills and the air was cold that day.

An old boom boat painted up - definitely easy to see in the fog!

This is the end of the museum pier.

Along the pier are small buildings holding old outboard engines, canoes and other maritime memorabilia.

It looks like wood smoke - do you suppose there is a stove inside?

This is the view from my window today - stormy - lots of wind and rain.

Flower of the day - a poor little pansy in one of my flower pots is trying to come out.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-02T19:07:00.000-08:00

It is time for resolutions. I only have two - I am GOING to lose weight and try to put up more pictures for all of my friends who tune in faithfully as long as I keep putting them on-line. I know I have promised this many times before - hopefully 2008 will be better! Rain is promising to take a picture each day - a 365 challenge.

The photo above was taken a couple of days ago, from my window.
Today was gray, but any coast winter day when it doesn't rain is a bonus.... I stopped at Piper's Lagoon, briefly. It was quite mild out, and I wished the tide had been out so I could easily get to the hump across. There were several families out for winter walks.

It was quite windy at the beach, but a family with kids, picnic basket and pails and shovels seemed to be enjoying it.....

The south winds have brought up lots of interesting seaweed. Does anyone know what the pink stuff is?

My favourite photos in January are of flowers. These winter rhodos are out on Hammond Bay Rd. This is what living on the Island is all about!

My Christmas tree

2007-12-21T09:11:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I put up my tree, and the grandkids - mostly Aidan - decorated it. My tree is decorated with a collection of stars and snowflakes.

It really needs a bit of work - I like all my favourite stars to be shown at their best.....

For example, this very delicate one was purchased at the gift shop by the crypt in St. Paul's Cathedral, London.

This one I bought at the Christmas store in Rothenburg, Germany - a medieval city on the 'Romantic Road'.

And at the top, a star from China bought at the cloisonne factory near Beijing.

Outdoor Christmas Challenge

2007-12-16T22:24:00.000-08:00

Well, it seems that I am the only one with the Christmas pics. You see, I am the sort of person who (almost) always follows the rules...... So here are a few assorted pictures from this week.

I really like the Cameron Island decorations. If I lived there I would decorate, too. Luckily, no one on my street puts up lights, so I don't have any guilt at all.

Every year I drive around McGirr Street. I don't think the decorations are quite as spectacular this year, but every year this house in a cul-de-sac off McGirr has the same six white boomers pulling Santa's sleigh.

This house on one of the north end streets (I was lost when I saw it) has very eclectic decorations. Something for everyone!

This snowman was at Russell's Market.

While driving around Victoria I spotted this decorated tree. Now these are perfect decorations for Christmas!

The Snow Challenge

2007-12-06T23:28:00.000-08:00

Yuck! I hate snow. This isn't a mild dislike - I truly HATE it. You see, I lived for 30 years in northern BC where we had nine months winter and three months poor sledding - or, to put it another way - almost winter, winter, still winter and dust. When I moved south I swore I would go where people asked if the car was electric when they saw the cord and 3-prong plug out the front. When it snows on the Island I am very annoyed, even insulted.
So, when it snowed last week I wound up the furnace, put on the fireplace and didn't move out of the house until it rained and the snow was all gone. All the pictures below were taken through my windows, which accounts for some of the low quality!

The snow came down one afternoon as big as toonies - no, much bigger....

My flowers had been trying to keep blooming until this landed.

My computer desk is in front of the window, and just outside this window I have a bird feeder and a hummingbird feeder. There was lots of action on the snowy days! This is a finch, of course.

The juncos are cute little birds. They always look clean and tidy.

Some of the finches looked anything but tidy. They were all puffed up to keep warm.

The rufous-sided towhees are my favourite visitors, but they are difficult to photograph because they are always in motion. They have a sassy character.....

The hummers were very busy feeding on the snowy days. Funny - I just realized from the picture that I don't have the perches opposite the feeding places - the poor things have to keep flying to eat!

This hummer spent time sitting on the tree on my deck. This picture doesn't show how tiny he is.

Then I went to the back of my house. On the hill behind my fence there were two deer plowing through the snow. They have a path there, but I imagine it wasn't as easy for a few days. The second one is partly behind the tree - a little buck.

It is sad, but I guess it really is winter. I shall go to Victoria tomorrow and see how many flowers I can find blooming to make me feel better.

Go and see what Rain and Dilling and Krista have done.

Harbour Challenge

2007-11-24T19:11:00.001-08:00

I went down on Wednesday, but as I had to pick up the grandkids I didn't poke about too much. I am happy with a couple of the pictures - and the rest are rather ordinary, in my opinion. At any rate - here we go!

Here is the obligatory fishing boat picture.

I took this one because I was thinking of the nice ice cream treats we have in the summer, and we sit at these little tables on warm summer evenings. Then I liked the reflections. I am big on reflections!

There are boats and people of all kinds at the waterfront! Is he going to Protection Island or one of the boats that are anchored in the harbour?

I said I liked reflections......

This is the reflection of the Cameron Island tower.

Up at the top by the street and the Bastion is a row of roses, still showing lots of pretty blooms.
(Second to water and reflections come flower pics...)

I think that I read that the old museum is closed now.

So that's my offering.... I am anxious to see what Rain and Dilling and Krista have done.

See the pictures in a larger format here.

November 11

2007-11-11T22:36:00.000-08:00

In April 2007 I did a tour of Holland and Belgium. One day we did a day trip from Brussels to Flanders and had a tour of the World War I battlefields. We began in Ypres, a town that was levelled in this war.

This is a WWI museum, with displays of photos and memorabelia of the battlefields and the people who fought here. As we went into the museum we were given the name of a soldier, a medical person or a citizen of the area. As we went through the museum we got a story of that person and at the end of the tour we found out if the person lived or died.

This is the main square of Ypres, rebuilt as it was before the war.

Then we drove out across the fields of Flanders to the place where our own Dr. John McCrae tended to the wounded and wrote his poem.

These are the terrible bunkers where he worked - dark, cold and damp.

Then we drove on to a cemetary of Canadians, British, Australian and other Commonwealth soldiers of WWI.

There had been many Canadian visitors recently - wreaths, poppies and flags were on the graves of the Canadians.

After dinner that evening, we went to the Menin Gate of Ypres.

Every single night since the end of World War I, except for the years of Nazi occupation in the second World War, the Last Post has been played at this gate.

It was very sad and impressive and touching.

The Buttertubs Challenge

2007-11-09T17:51:00.001-08:00

It has rained and rained and rained all week. I thought that maybe I might have to skip this challenge - but lo and behold, the rain stopped and there was even bits of blue this afternoon. So off I dashed to do my part. It actually was warm out! Very pleasant......
It is my choice for next week's challenge - let's just do the waterfront - Cameron Island to the Bistro. OK? It's a bit different flavour.... how do you see it?

Buttertubs was looking very nice. I don't think I have been there this late in the fall, but it looked attractive with lots of autumn leaves left.

The paths to the north and west are lined with huge old English oak trees. These are not native - they were planted in the 1920s. It was neat to walk over the paths that were golden with the oak leaves.

I am wondering if more and more of the marsh is being taken over by bullrushes. It seems to me that there are more than when I visited here on previous years.

On the east side of the marsh are lombardi poplars, also planted in the 1920s, and there are a bunch of trees that are covered with these red berries. I have no idea what they are.......

After I walked here and there, I sat down on the wide 'steps' at about the only place where there is bird access. I pulled out the baggie of bird seed and waited.

Not for long! The ducks and pigeons have one eye on this area waiting for humans with bird seed.

I took oodles of pictures of greedy birds, but in the end kept only this one.....

When all the seed was gone the fickle birds left me sitting there alone ........
You can see the same pictures in a larger format here. Refresh if you don't see them.

Odds and Ends

2007-11-05T21:11:00.000-08:00

Halloween is over, and suddenly it is time for Christmas. I have even done some shopping.

I make up baskets for my two daughters, my daughter-in-law and a friend for Christmas, with a wide variety of goodies - kitcheny things, bath treats, and odds and ends of all kinds. This takes a LOT of shopping. Here I am, back in Chintz and Co, hunting for bits and pieces.

Did you see the picture on Rain's blog of my poor little Katie? How sad to see her lacking all her twinkles.

I have the single day's pictures (the challenge at the moment) on my other website if you want to see large images...... I started it because I got looking in daily at a couple of photographers in England and admiring their work. I do find it hard to get out each day as they do, though. My favourite Brit one is called Cornwall Cam, and I also like Lakeland Cam. These guys are marvellous photographers, and of course they have lovely places to photograph.

It is supposed to be nice tomorrow. Maybe I'll head to Buttertubs Marsh!

Challenge #2

2007-11-03T18:20:00.001-07:00

Here we go! Off to Piper's Lagoon for the challenge. I went on Tuesday.... the weather was cool but it was quite nice out. The tide was in - the tide was in all week in the daylight hours. It makes the lagoon itself look nicer but does cause some hiking problems.

First, a view across the lagoon.

Then out to the parking lot and a walk across the spit? Causeway? At any rate, to get to what was originally an island, I imagine, there is the walk along the path with the beach on one side and the lagoon on the other.

This is the path. The tide being in is a big problem for me. I am 70 and do not have the best balance. If the tide were out I could walk below that rock on the left of the picture over to the rest of the park. But with the tide in, the only way to get there is over that very large rock. I did that several years ago, worrying all the time that I would fall and break a leg or worse, and wondered how long it would be before someone found me. Imagine lying in a heap, giving out faint cries, "Help! Hellllllp!"

Piper's Park has many of the Garry Oaks. The Garry Oak ecosystems are endangered. Only 5% of BC Garry Oak ecosystems are in wild areas. Generally in BC these oaks are only found on the southeast coast of Vancouver Island and the nearby smaller islands. These trees grow in a twisted form. Very photogenic!

At the end of the path lies this old oak. It seems to be still alive - just resting.

Behind the old tree is a big rock, but not as difficult to climb as the other. Climbing this hill in the spring is a pleasure, as the slopes are covered with wild flowers. At the top is my very favourite park bench, with a million dollar view and shaded in summer by the lovely old oak.

So I sat down for a bit of a breather. This is the view.... Ahead to the south is Gabriola Island and on a rare clear day you can see Mt. Baker.

Back down to the path. The wind is cold and from the north. This lady has found a place out of the wind to read her book.

I know - for wild flowers they aren't much - but beggars can't be choosers on November first!

Drizzle, Crafts and 1000 Places

2007-11-03T16:41:00.000-07:00

Off to the first Christmas craft fair in the drizzle......

The entrance to Beban Park buildings and the craft fair entrance.

There weren't huge crowds there - probably because of the miserable day. I was not impressed by most of the crafts and didn't buy a thing. It amazes me that people spend all year making things that nobody wants.......

On the way back to the car these berries took my eye, and this goofy rhododendron that thinks it is spring.....

To continue the '1000 Places to See Before You Die'.....
and counting up my score.

10. Blenheim Palace - The palace where Winston Churchill was born is rather an ugly pile, but the grounds are beautiful.
I didn't realize I was taking a charming bum picture.....

11. Bath - After a quick view of the Roman baths, I walked over quite a bit of the city. There is lovely Georgian architecture and a pretty river running through the valley.
(The rest of today's pics are digital pictures of old regular pictures I took before I had the digital camera, so the quality is lousy.)

12. Stratford-Upon-Avon - I have had a tour of Shakespeare's house but only saw the garden and outside of Anne Hathaway's cottage (below). I took a slow peaceful boat ride on the Avon, with lovely homes and weeping willows into the water, and glimpses of churches and the big theatres.

13. Stonehenge - We were on a tour, and the guide insisted that we leave very early in the morning to get to Stonehenge as early as possible - and that was great as we arrived before the masses of tourists. It was misty and there was lots of atmosphere. It is really very impressive.....

14. York Minster - This is the enormous cathedral in York - northeast England. It is the largest medieval church north of the Alps and the building began in 1220, on a site where earlier churches had stood. Nearby are the narrow cobbled streets with overhanging buildings called The Shambles. I don't have a picture of York Minster or the Shambles......

Critters and 1000 Things

2007-11-02T14:11:00.001-07:00

Critters seen out my windows....

For those who do not know where I live - the immediate area is filled with deer. They eat the gardens, stop the traffic and people drive along the street just to see them, stopping in the middle of the street just when I am in a hurry to get somewhere.

On my railing - possibly a married couple who are not speaking.

I like the finches! They are here every day and sing beautifully.

I picked up a book that I have had for ages - '1000 Places to See Before You Die'. As I am getting older, I thought I would see how I am doing. Some places I saw before I had a digital camera, so you will just have to take my word for it. So...... starting from the beginning of the book and in England, here goes.

1. Windsor Castle - Lenore and I did an afternoon tour out of London, if I remember correctly - and didn't have time to really see everything.
2. Chester in Cheshire - this is a neat city - the wrought-iron clock tower over the street and the half-timbered buildings.
3. Land's End - after you run a gauntlet of souvenir shops you can walk on the paths looking down on the jagged rocks and the sea.
4. St. Ives - one of my favourite places in the world. I have been here three times. The second time I visited, I bought a delicious ice cream cone at a small shop in the harbour and stood leaning with my elbows on this stone wall to watch the going-ons in the harbour. Suddenly a seagull flew over my shoulder, snatched the cone and disappeared with it. I was left standing there with an inch of cone left in my fingers. I had been warned about the gulls, but didn't think they would be this aggressive!

5. The Royal Pavilion - Brighton. I didn't get to see the interior as it was too late in the day when I arrived, but I walked around the outside.
6. The Cotswolds - This area in south west England has the most attractive little towns imaginable. Below is Broadway.

7. Winchester Cathedral
8. The Lake District
9. Cambridge University - here are punts on the Cam River.

I am just amusing myself - I guess if people are bored they won't visit any more!

Home from Victoria

2007-11-01T07:44:00.000-07:00

I made a few stops on the way home from Victoria - first at Goldstream Park.

I wanted to see if the salmon were spawning. There were a few - I hope there are lots more to come.

The late afternoon sun was highlighting the entrance to the park.

Then I stopped at the lookout at the top of the Malahat. This is a zoomed view of Mt. Baker and the Saanich Peninsula in the foreground.

Then I tool a short detour to Cowichan Bay.

Cow Bay is rather tacky touristy..... I passed these planters walking down to the water......

There is a little park at the north end of Cowichan Bay where you can look back at the boats.

Looking the other way, towards Duncan. I imagine these poles used to be used for tying up log booms.....

Reflections.....

2007-10-29T19:19:00.000-07:00

Into the Japanese Gardens of Hatley Castle, and to the pool. This bridge goes to a tiny island in the middle of the pool.

There are sculptures of herons , and they have been joined by a pair of mallards enjoying the sun.

I became fascinated by the reflections. This is the last picture in the previous blog turned upside down and cropped to just the reflections. The odd looking spots are floating leaves in the pool.

This is a reflection picture taken from the little bridge. Thanks to Rain, who photoshopped out the floating leaves that looked like UFOs in the 'sky'.

This is another reflection in this pool. It was just the perfect amount of movement in the water - just the tiniest ripple that distorted the picture.

Sorry to bore you! Back to reality...... The little bridge goes over to the tiny island and this Oriental building where you can stand and admire the pool.

This rose still looks lovely......

Out of the Japanese Gardens and back to the pretty paths.

In a few more days there won't be many leaves left on the trees. It is a beautiful time, but I hate to think of winter coming.

Hatley Castle

2007-10-28T08:50:00.000-07:00

Hatley Castle, as promised......

Driving into the grounds - a pretty birch and a monkey puzzle tree.

Looking up to the castle from the guest parking lot down by the lagoon. It was built in 1908 by James Dunsmuir, with the best of everything from around the world.

Lavender is planted along many of the paths and hangs out over so you brush against it as you walk and get the wonderful perfume.

This is part of the view from the castle - the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the mountains of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. In the last batch of pictures I drove along the spit, which can be seen here with the lagoon in the foreground.

In the 100 year old garden the paths wind through the trees. There are many quite tame peacocks in the garden.

I thought mating season would be spring, but this fellow is putting on a show for his lady.

And this is from the back as he vibrated his backside. The missus looks rather bored....

There are not many roses left in the rose garden.

There are some lovely big red cedars in the garden area.

Then into the Japanese Garden.
More tomorrow!

West of Victoria

2007-10-26T22:50:00.000-07:00

I have itchy feet. A week home working and being as busy as I always am and I feel the itch. And then the sun comes out and I just must get away. Luckily, I live in one of the most beautiful places on earth, so finding lovely places to go is easy.

Today I headed south from Nanaimo towards Victoria. After a short visit to Mayfair Mall, I left my usual tourism spots and headed west to Esquimalt. I stopped at a store and bought a good map as this part of Greater Victoria is not familiar to me. I saw a small park marked and made my way there.

It is called Saxe Park and is on a headland overlooking the Royal Roads (Roads meaning a partly sheltered anchorage). The sailing ships anchored here in the early days. This is the view looking to Sooke and out to Asia....

Vancouver Island is a very large rock. The RCMP do a charity bike ride down the length of the Island called 'Tour de Rock'. Here the south end of the rock meets the sea.

Many of the trees show the force of the wind from the ocean.

There are still quite a few hardy flowers around, and the holly berries above the attractive rock.
This little park has lots of places to sit and enjoy the views.

Then, a drive farther west across the Esquimalt harbour, to the long spit. The seaward side of the spit has lots of logs brought in by the storms.

Inside of the spit is a sheltered lagoon. Someone must have put out some bird seed or some other treat, because there were oodles of feathered critters along the shore.

There were hundreds of Canada geese, two swans, seagulls, pigeons, crows, and several different types of ducks.

I don't recall seeing a goose smile before..... but this one looks quite friendly.

Looking across the lagoon is Hatley Castle, now housing Royal Roads University. If you tune in tomorrow I will take you over to the castle and the lovely gardens around it.

A Grand Day!

2007-10-23T16:03:00.001-07:00

It was one of those grand autumn days. We haven't had very many nice days since summer....

I went shopping this morning, and the view from the Sears parking lot was spectacular. Mt. Benson has a fuzzy hat.

Then I drove around Brannan Lake. Brannan Lake is famous for its prison, but if you can ignore the presence of this at the end of the lake, it is quite lovely.

A gaggle of geese had found a nice place to spend the day.

Here is another view of Mt. Benson's hat.....

Sidney and the Butchart Gardens

2007-10-08T17:21:00.000-07:00

Another trip this weekend to Sidney and the Butchart Gardens to see the autumn colour.
Have a look!

http://www.members.shaw.ca/mid-islandcam/

Refresh if you aren't getting Oct. 8 pictures.......

A Day in Victoria

2007-10-02T19:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the rain stopped and the sun came out for a while.

I spent the day in Victoria - from the Parliament Buildings to the seaside to my favourite store, Chintz and Co. To see more pictures of my day, go to:
http://www.members.shaw.ca/mid-islandcam/
Refresh if you aren't getting today's pictures!

Odds and Ends.....

2007-09-29T11:45:00.000-07:00

Gray days and wonderful sunshine - city and farm - and a cow in a hottub...

To see more pictures of the last couple of days, go to

http://www.members.shaw.ca/mid-islandcam/

Refresh if you aren't getting today's pictures!

Flora and Fauna

2007-09-25T19:35:00.000-07:00

Today went from misty rain this morning to brilliant sunshine......

To see more pictures of my day, go to http://www.members.shaw.ca/mid-islandcam/
Refresh if you aren't getting today's pictures!

A Day Up-Island

2007-09-22T19:44:00.000-07:00

This is just a teaser! To see more pictures of my day, go to http://www.members.shaw.ca/mid-islandcam/

Refresh if you aren't getting today's pictures!

Survivor China

2007-09-21T16:23:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting and waiting for the new Survivor China series. The ads showed the wonderful mountains of south China near the city of Guilin. In the spring of 2006 I did a three week tour of the country - and this part was my favourite. These ancient limestone peaks rise out of the flat Li Valley floor...... very spectacular.

I was a bit disappointed in the show - the intro was great and the bits they showed to introduce each section had good pictures - but it didn't seem as if the action was in this part of China. They also showed the Great Wall - which is at least 1000 miles from Guilin and these mountains. It is just like having Survivor in the Yukon, and showing Vancouver and Medicine Hat. Anyway, I shall continue to watch for the glimpses of the things and places I have seen.

I really want to go back. Did you catch the Great Wall in summer, with everything green? This is the day in March when I was there. Do you want to come?

So far, so confusing....

2007-09-20T15:18:00.001-07:00

I spend most of my day at the computer. I am really good at the things I have to do - but new programs confuse me. Maybe it is my advanced age. So I have been puzzling over the blog - opening windows and closing them, moving things and then deleting them. I would ask Rain to help - but she is always very busy - and then she might think I am clueless. Mothers have to keep up their image of competence - false though it might be! And she said blogging is easy...