Another Snowy Day

I was just about to write a blog about the last of the snow melting from my front yard and my hostas growing new shoots and then this happened! At least 6 inches fell last night and, where the snow piles up from sliding off the roof, it is higher than my front deck. I had joked to my parents when they left in late December for their vacation in the desert that we would still have snow when they returned in the end of March ... now I think I may have been right.

As it is hard for me to get my car out of the driveway I have decided to take advantage of the snow day and relax, warm at home with my family!

Calling all fairy princesses...

Tomorrow is one of my daughters' girlfriend's birthday party. In typical 4 year old fashion it is a fairy party, a garden fairy party to be exact. So in keeping with the theme I asked my daughter what she thought we should get as a gift and her first idea was a wand. We then set to work looking for the perfect wand, luckily we have the internet and my favorite site for gift purchases, Etsy. For those who don't know it, Etsy is a fantastic site, possibly the best online shopping marketplace ever. To make things even better Etsy is the place to buy and sell all things handmade and to all who enter beware, it is full of fantastic items. There is even the ability to do a location search for those of us who want to try to buy local. After a short period of searching we came across the perfect wand, topped with a large pink flower this will be perfect for any garden fairy. It arrived a few days ago and is awaiting being wrapped by little exuberant hands. Fast asleep my daughter is very excited for tomorrow and weather permitting she will arrive to the party in style aboard her own Chariot...bike trailer that is!

Eagles in the Morn

What a treat we had this morning while clearing the breakfast dishes! We looked up just in time to see a pair of bald eagles land at the top of a douglas fir tree for a brief break in the morning sun. This tree seems to attract the birds as it is the same tree that I caught a picture of an owl and a pair of ravens over the past year. The ravens are often perched in the top branches of this tree but the eagles are definitely a first. As quickly as I could I grabbed my camera, my gumboots and my vest and was quietly slipping out the back door. I crept down to the garden in hopes to not startle them before I got some pictures. The pair noticed me quite quickly and watched me much of the time before they flew off into the blue sky and morning sun. Definitely a special moment on a cold and clear February day on Gabriola.

Artworks Erotica Show 2009

Nothing beats going to the village after an hour long core workout with Lesley Standerwicks to see the Gabriola Artworks Erotica Show. Walking in through the front door in our workout best we were greeted by two lovely ladies enjoying a bubble bath in an old fashioned clawfoot tub. To our left was the wine tasting counter done by none other than the Village Liquor Store. After grabbing ourselves a glass of wine we continued up the stairs to view the show. It was everything it promised to be, artwork definitely not for the faint of heart. People in costumes adorned the room while the walls were filled with photography, 3D pieces, paintings, and sculpture. The mood was relaxed and warm with everybody discussing the pieces and trying to guess who the artisit was before looking. A fantastic night was had by all, great job to all the artists. Thanks to the Artworks crew for all their hard work, we are so lucky to have a venue like this to support all the sensational artists we have here on this fab little island!

La Lune

Almost full, the moon rises above the Douglas Fir that surround our property and brighten the garden on a clear and starry night.

Gabriola Co-op Radio

It has been years in the making but it looks as though we are getting closer and closer to have our own radio station CKGI 98.7 fm. There is a meeting scheduled with the CRTC and we as a community are being asked for support. Community support carries a lot of weight in the evaluation of the application. If you feel so inclined to write a letter it can be emailed or sent the old fashioned way via snail mail to the CRTC. Let them know why you feel we need a radio station, it can be short but it must be your own, any templated letters with identical wording will be discounted. If you are interested in learning more about Gabriola Co-op Radio or are wanting to have your voice heard visit members.shaw.ca/gabriolaradio for information.

Winter Sunshine

On a sunny winter day a walk in the park can be such a treat. The sky is blue and the promise of spring is in the air!

Cooking for Fun

Cooking is one of my passions, it is my stress release. It helps that I love food, the tastes, textures, colors and the company with whom I consume it. Whether it is my immediate family, Sunday dinner or the beloved dinner party I love watching peoples reactions to the food I make. My long time favorite is the Mushroom Pecan Burger which makes even my mushroom hating husband swoon at the mention of it. This veggie burger is chock full of protein due to the pecans and the finely diced mushrooms give it a smooth yet meaty texture. Serve this burger with horseradish mayo and grilled sweet onions (especially tasty if from Gabriola's Good Earth Farm) on a homemade bun and you will have a fantastic meal that will cater to the vegetarian and carnivore alike. These freeze beautifully, just cook them lightly and then package to freeze. If you are interested in this recipe it can be found on page 114 of the sensational Re-bar Modern Food Cookbook, one of my favorites. If you get the chance the restaurant is located at 50 Bastion Square in Downtown Victoria and is well worth the visit for a snack or full meal. As an added note I am on page 92 enjoying a cup of the fabulous coffee that they make, one of the many perks of working there!
"After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one's own relatives" Oscar Wilde

West Coast Wonders

We finally received our seed order in the mail. This is an exciting occasion because it means we are once step closer to spring and with that comes gardening. We love getting an assortment of vegetables, fruit and herbs, nothing tastes better than a meal made with ingredients grown within 100 feet from your backdoor. This year we are trying our hand at cantaloupe, Lesley grew these one year and they were the best melons I have ever had. They were small, crisp and had such an amazing sweetness. Melons are a tricky crop to grow on the west coast, you should choose the part of the garden that gets the most sun and has the nicest, loosest soil for these plants. Saying that, we are always up for a challenge and nothing beats the satisfaction of growing your own food. Every year I look forward to getting my hands dirty and spending many a warm evening in the garden weeding, watching the kids play, and snacking on all that nature has to offer.