Hallow'een

Costumes; parties and candy; carved pumpkins lining the forest tunnel, lit after dark; families and friends at Taylor Bay watching the fireman fireworks and drinking hot chocolate; Hallow'een on Gabriola.

Early Trip to Town

When we left Gabriola on the 7:45 ferry to do some errands it was just getting light, 20 minutes later we arrived in Nanaimo and the rising sun was reflecting off the Harbour side buildings. An early start means we can get back to the island by lunch time with the best part of the day still ahead.

Fruit Stand

Berry Point Fruit and Honey, just the place to stop for apples and pears. When you shop there you will be amazed at the number of varieties. There are boxes of fruit to choose from, a scale to weigh them, bags and a jar to put your money in. This is the honour system and it is a treat to stop and shop in this way. I bought the little pears and they were absolutely delicious!

Fall Stride

A crisp fall day is perfect for a brisk walk, especially when you are pushing a stroller full.

Gabriola Sands

Pilot Bay is 0n one side of Gabriola Sands Povincial Park and Taylor Bay is on the other. Both beaches are sandy on the inside edge with sculptured sandstone shelves along the outer parts. I was basking in the intermitent sun in Pilot Bay enjoying the quietude.

Studio Tour 2008

The annual Thanksgiving Weekend Studio Tour is my favorite event on Gabriola. I love walking into a warm studio from the chilly outdoors to be met by the enticing smell of hot apple cider and the eclectic artwork of the many talented artists of Gabriola. My sister bought some glasswork and I purchased 'Dog with Top Hat'. We visited many of the 60 Galleries that are open to the public during this fantastic weekend. What a satisfying day!

Thursday Night at Artworks

Each week Thursday night at Artworks marks the opening of a new display showcasing the varied work of individual local artists. This week was of particular interest to me because when I first met the artist over 25 years ago her art was in its infancy, a whimsical show at the Malaspina College Gallery with wood nymps and trolls adorning a children's book has matured into quiet scenes of west coast nature where light and water are captured in watercolor. Carol Evans left Gabriola 26 years ago and has become a well known artist, it was nice to see her and I was pleased to find that she remembered me from so long ago. She said that Gabriola is very special to her and is the jewel of the Gulf Islands. It is always enjoyable to attend these gala openings with wine and cheese in an informal atmosphere condusive to purchasing that piece of art that happens to catch and hold your eye. We are so lucky, we live here.

Drilling for water

On Gabriola our water supply is most often established either by drilling a well or catching rain water. If you call Windecker to drill your well he will come and set up his cable tool drill. This method produces a plumb hole by dropping a drill bit suspended by a cable over and over into the hole, then adding water and bailing out the mud. It takes several days to a week or more to establish a good well, 6 inches in diameter and often over 200 feet deep. The Windecker family has been drilling wells on Gabriola since 1968. They can trace their roots back through the Cox family to the pioneer times.

An Evening Stroll

We walked out through the park and and came back through the 26 acre Commons. Past the community garden, past the pond, through the overgrown fields we could see the main building with the barns off to the side, we stopped to admire the now finished Fig Tree Wall.