Gabriola vs. Quadra!

It's competition time! Gabriola and Quadra Island are competing to see who can be the most active and in turn help prevent cancer. It begins January 16th and runs until February 26th when one of the 2 islands will be crowned Most Physically Active. The challenge is $10 and you are to keep track of your numbers and call them in every week. Kids are only $2 and thanks to Arbutus Building Supply every child registered at Gabriola Elementary School has been sponsored. The extra bonus is not only the good feelings from being physically fit but all the proceeds from the registrations go to a local charity. The winning island gets 100% of their proceeds as well as 50% of the losing islands proceeds for a total of 150% going to the Lunch program at the Elementary School (when we win). Get your fitness challenge log at IDA Pharmacy in the Village, Arbutus Building Supplies and The Gym @ Twin Beaches. Come on Gabriola, let's get active and show who the winner is!

What a year!

Well the year is winding down and it is time to look back and remember all the days sunny or rainy, happy or sad. The girls are another year older and our oldest will be registered for Kindergarten in the coming months. The younger will be starting pre-school this year and so begins the yearly adventure of another grade, another teacher and so much to learn for both them and us. We added a new member to our family by finally getting a dog! Dexter is a 5 month old Bichon and is greatly loved by all, especially the girls. This year also came with the addition of 15 chickens of which 12 are still around and kicking, 2 of the 3 roosters became dinner this past summer and were quite tasty. Our garden was fantastic with beautiful tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash and beans, we are still eating greens, herbs and squash that we grew this year. Hopefully we will expand the garden next year and try growing new things such as some ancient grains.

I joined the board at People for a Healthy Community and look forward to working with the other amazing board members to give back something to the community that made me who I am today. Dave's business has taken off and Sleepdeprived Computer Tech's have helped keep many people's computers running smoothly. He also has spent a fair amount of his time volunteering with the Gabriola Co-op Radio. Through all of this we still manage sometime for each other and the kids and have really enjoyed the past year watching them grow while laughing at all the goofy things they say and do.

We always tried to keep Real Estate out of this blog but I am breaking the rules just for a moment. Business was slow in the beginning of the year but then took off at an incredible speed, so much for the "Quiet Year" perhaps that is still to come. Okay so know that the rule has been broken I will endeavor never to do it again and keep this an island lifestyle blog.

Thanks so much to all who have made this such a great year we really appreciate all your support.

The McMahon's/Vincent's/Wishinski's

Gabriola gets her vote on!!

Congratulations to all Gabriolan's and beyond who voted daily to ensure our place in the semi-finals for the Aviva Community Fund. We are in need of a permanent emergency health care facility and we are now one step closer to realizing that need. Daily we voted, reminding each other at the end of the day to vote became an evening ritual. This evening my husband asked if I had voted yet today because we only had 14 minutes left, I had. So wonderful to see what can happen when something so valuable is needed by all. But remember we are not done yet, voting resumes on December 2 so please vote! What a great challenge and community building activity this is, keep up the good work everyone.

Sunny Sunday

After what seems like weeks of rain it was a treat to enjoy a beautiful and sunny Sunday. It is amazing how a little bit of sun lifts your spirits and encourages outdoor activity. I was able to finish my fall garden chores and then I was off to the park for a good long walk. There are lots of puddles on the trails, each with a little trail around it!

Lunch and a project

With winter coming on and the family needing to exercise but not wanting to be out in the pouring rain we decided to share on the purchase of an eliptical trainer. This is a very easy thing to do, you order it from costco.ca and it arrives at your door. Putting it together was a bit more challenging but we managed it in about 4 hours. We had pizza for lunch, whole wheat naan bread, sauce from scratch, back bacon and jalepenos, topped with mozarella and avocado, all ingredients from our local grocery store.

Joy of Cooking

I don't remember when exactly I became interested in cooking but I have been asked many times by friends why I don't cook for a living. My answer to that is that I do it for the love of it and want to keep it that way. I had considered taking some classes to learn some new skills and tackle the dishes I have shied away from in the past. Now I can do that thanks to Gabriola chef Double Dave. He will be teaching the lucky class how to prepare a sensational yuletide feast using local Gabriola fruits, nuts, wild mushrooms, vegetables, seafood and free-range meats. Classes are to be held at Jupiter Ranch. select either the session on Friday November 13th from 6 to 10pm, or the session on Saturday November 14th from 6 to 10pm. Cost is 120.00 per evening. For more information visit Jupiter Ranch.

Raising Timber

A timber frame raising took place at the Gabriola Commons, the result of a huge volunteer effort. The timber frame structure was donated by the Island School of Building Arts and will house farming equipment at first. The plan is to finish the building using a number of green building techniques such as strawbale, cordwood and rammed earth and alternative power. This will be an interesting project to observe, complemented by a recently built cob wall.

Sustainability on Gabriola

This weekend a sustainability workshop was held on Gabriola at the Community Hall. With approximately 50 participants it was a lively event. The focus was to bring together individuals and organizations committed to long term sustainability of a healthy community. The format was small groups dedicated to such topics as affordable housing, water, food security, emergency response and community preparedness, art and culture, youth, waste management, and protecting natural areas and ecosystems. This was a grassroots effort and all were welcome to participate in crafting a plan for the future. Contact this group at communitysustainablityplan@gmail.com.

350 Climate Action Day

October 24, 2009 marks the second annual 350 Action Day, a day dedicated to joining thousands of people around the globe to call for strong climate action. Wonder where the 350 number comes from? 350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide—measured in "Parts Per Million" in our atmosphere. 350 PPM—it's the number humanity needs to get back to as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change. We are currently at 387 and Saturday is a call to action to bring about awareness and get that number down.

The website 350.org is a valuable resource in determining what you can do whether it is creating your own action or joining an already planned action. Search for the location closest to you and see if any event for Saturday peaks your interest. Dance, sing, hike, walk, jump, swim, do whatever it takes to help bring awareness to this event. Become part of the solution...the children of the world will thank you!

Fall Fair Day

It was Fall Fair day today and my sister and I took the oldest of the four girls and walked the short distance down to the Gabriola Commons. From noon until 3 pm today many Gabriolans spent the day listening to music, watching squash races, looking at beautiful fruit, veggie and flower displays and eating ice cream. The 4-H club served cotton candy and popcorn while the proceeds from the fresh corn on the cob and the ice cream went to the Hot Lunch program at the elementary school. There was a silent auction, face painting and plenty of good company, if you missed it this year make a point of coming next year!

Celebrate Summer and Welcome Fall!

It is that time of year again when the Gabriola Commons hosts the Fall Fair. It is a fun filled day full of animals and cotton candy, games, contests, demonstrations and more. It is wonderful way to spend the last day of summer, we hope to see you there!

For more info visit the Gabriola Commons website.

Shed Chic

A couple of days ago I was visiting with a friend who turned their 8 x 10 electical shed into an animation studio. It is a fantastic little space with insulation and drywall and even a cute little window. There is a fair amount of room and it functions as a great space for him to escape and get work done. On an island such as this where so many people work from home it is a cost effective way to turn a small outbuilding into a usable space. Outbuildings under 107 square feet can be built without obtaining a permit. If you decide to turn them into work spaces with electricity or a sink you will need the appropriate permit for either plumbing or electrical. Recently we have been looking into the idea of a workshop space outside for me and are having a great time looking at all the ideas for very nice "sheds". Books such as Shed Chic give great design ideas for outbuildings such a gypsy caravan or barn style while keeping it small. Take a look at some of the pictures and form your own ideas but be warned that it will be hard to decide what to build!
ps There are also pre-fab versions, check out Modern Shed for some ideas

Salmon BBQ

Yesterday evening my daughters and I served food at the 54th annual Salmon BBQ which took place at the Gabriola Island Community Hall. This has been a favorite event for Gabriolans for all the years I have lived here with non stop music, a fabulous meal of fresh salmon, salads and a bun, and a beer garden. There were 750 meals served and everyone had a wonderful time! There was plenty of food and at the end there was still a bit of salmon left.

Sandwell Park

Sandwell Park is on the edge of Lock Bay. There is a short and beautiful hike through cool forest and massive rocks which opens onto a sandy beach with a spectacular view of Entrance Island and the coastal mountains. We have been swimming there every evening during this heat wave. The water is very clear and warm with a sandy bottom and there is a little swimming platform made of beach logs anchored not far from shore to dive off of.

The Morning Harvest

This heat wave has caused an explosion of produce in our garden, each morning we pick enough vegetables to feed our extended family plus give some away!

Relaxing on Hornby Island

We had the luxury of getting a week off this summer and we went to Hornby Island. Many people looked at us rather oddly when we said we were going to another Gulf Island for a holiday but we so wanted to spend some time in a quiet place where we were totally anonymous. We arrived on Saturday afternoon and headed to the lovely cottage we had arranged to rent for a week. The property was beautiful and equipped with a zipline in the backyard much to our 4 year old daughter's delight. Hornby is a beautiful island which you can reach by taking a ferry from Buckley Bay on Vancouver Island to Denman Island and then driving across Denman to the Hornby Island ferry. The ferry ride to both islands are a short ten minute jump and the connections are quite good.

Hornby has a wonderful shopping area called the Ringside Market where there are 2 clothing stores, a coffee/ice cream stand with the best americanos, cafe, restaurant, book store, pottery store and of course the Hornby Co-op Grocery/Everything you need Store. While there we made trips to many of the local artist studios, beautiful beaches, farms, and of course the Cardboard House Bakery which has the best almond buns and cream puffs. It is also the home of Pizza Galore which beats any pizza place I have ever been to, fantastic!!!

Hornby is also home to two wineries and a meadery which we managed to visit without our kids thanks to our wonderful friends/travel companions. Middle Mountain Mead is an artisan honey winery combining the best of ancient and modern techniques to create small lots of premium handcrafted mead. We left with 3 bottles of Mead which we are eagerly awaiting to try. Visit their website at middlemountainmead.com.

We had such a fantastic and relaxing vacation that we will definitely be back next year anxiously awaiting anonymity and almond buns:)

Elder Cedar Trail

You need to watch for it off to the north side as you drive through the 'tunnel' on North Road. Elder Cedar Nature Reserve. There is a beautiful hiking trail, through a seasonal stream bed, past a huge old cedar and down a meandering pathway through a shoulder high thicket of ferns and on. This is a beautiful example of the natural Gabiola forest.

We Rode to Conquer Cancer!

What an amazing event to be a part of! The Conquer Cancer ride from Vancouver to Seattle was a life changing experience. The ride consisted of 1701 riders whose combined efforts raised $6.9 million for the BC Cancer Society. Waking up at 5 am on Saturday morning we prepared to leave from Guilford Center at 7:30. The ride meandered through White Rock and across the USA/ Canada border. We continued through Washington state stopping at the many pit stops that were arranged for us along the way. Lunch was provided by the amazing and supportive volunteers in a beautiful park in Lake Stevens. Continuing along to Mount Vernon, 132 km from the start, where the busy crew of volunteers had set up a tent city for the over 1700 riders and many more crew. A wonderful dinner was provided and many stories of survival and loss from cancer were shared. After a good but short night sleep we prepared to depart from Mount Vernon at 7:30 am. Day two was incredible winding through Washington State up to Lake Samish and towards our final destination, Seattle. We continued along Lake Washington to the University and the finish line. We accomplished over 260 km in 2 days and I can't wait to do it again. See you next year in Seattle! If you are interested in doing this ride or joining the volunteer crew visit www.conquercancer.ca for more information, or talk to me, I am organizing a Gabriola team for 2010.

Local Delivery

Being a both parents work family we have to divide our time up wisely. One thing that we have done to create more time and feel good about the outcome is to start using the Spud grocery delivery service. Spud is a local Victoria company that allows you to order all your food online and have it delivered to your door weekly. We started receiving a delivery 3 weeks ago and received our 4th delivery last night. We ordered fresh pasta from Bagga Pasta in Victoria, Mount Royal Bagels also from Victoria as well as a plethora of fresh fruits and veggies which have been wonderful quality.
When you look at your statement not only does it give you the price you paid and the quantity received but it also gives you the distance traveled. Last week I managed to have my average distance that our food travel come out at 750 km, the average to a typical grocery store is 2500 km. This week didn't come from as close being that I received Turbinado sugar which had to travel a whopping 10490 km! If you are interested go to www.spud.ca and if you decide to order use this promo code CRVIC-MCMCAR to receive $25 off over your first four orders.

Tour de Gabriola

Tour de Gabriola is a fund raiser for the Gabriola Health Care Society and it is a fun way to help. With donations and a registration fee you sign in at one of the check points and then ride round our very picturesque island. For us it was both a family affair and something to do with friends. These girls are pulling two children in each of those carts and to see them ride up the brickyard hill was truly inspiring!

On the Strait Of Georgia

The past week has been a hot one on Gabriola, absolutely fabulous weather! And the best place to enjoy it is at the sea. This sandstone beach is along Berry Point Road.

Saturday Market

Gabriola's Saturday market opened this weekend for the season and will continue into the fall. There was a good selection of produce from the Good Earth Market Garden including lettuces, asian greens, spinach, radishes and leeks. The Slow Rise Bakery table offered delicious breads including apricot ginger, roasted garlic, and medjool date cinnamon, plus their very poplar scones. The licorice lady was there, and there were pies and home made donuts. There were stalls offering natural skin care products and cottage craft soaps, pottery, jewelry, cards, tie dye clothing, garden ornaments, outdoor furniture, and face painting for the kids. It was a great turnout for this first of the season public market.

Pilates Twist

Ahhh Pilates, how do I love thee, let me count the ways. It had been far too long since I had given myself the treat of Pilates. But low and behold tonight at our workout we had a guest appearance by Miss Mara and the short but wonderful pleasure of experiencing Pilates. For some it was the first time and for others it was the reunion with that old friend we had forgotten about. Flash back to 2002 when I was newly married, childless and living in Victoria. A co-worker had become a Stott certified Pilates teacher and we were her guinea pigs. Twice a week we would climb the four flights of stairs up to the studio in Oak Bay and wait to see what new movement we would learn. Every class we would proceed to gain strength and insight into how to move and strengthen our bodies. The first time we did "the hundreds" we were sure that we would collapse. In our defense the instructor was terrible at counting and we soon learned that actually we should have called them the "hundred and twenties". Just when we felt we could do the movement with some ease the next level was presented and we would gasp, bug-eyed at what we were expected to do. So let me get this straight, neutral spine, tea-cup, shoulders down, and breathe all while doing something that I am sure would fast track me to the contortion section of Cirque du Soleil. Of course we would do it and at the end feel like we had perhaps conquered Everest, ok well maybe not Everest but at least Mount Finlayson.
So it has been 4 1/2 years since my first pregnancy made it impossible to pull my belly button in off the floor and I sadly said goodbye to my Pilates teacher and class with the intention of starting again as soon as the baby was oh, 6 weeks old. Alas we left Victoria when Aylan was 6 weeks old and really six weeks, who was I kidding. I can pile on the excuses but here we are almost 4 years later and it has shown it's wonderful and strong head again. So enough with the long winded intro, here is the "short" definition of Pilates for those who don't know.

"Pilates is an exercise method, designed to elongate, strengthen and restore the body to balance. Based upon an anatomical understanding of the body's muscular and skeletal systems, the Pilates teacher creates a comprehensive exercise programme for the client. Classes will focus on specific areas individually whilst using exercises that integrate the whole body to re-educate and restore it to optimum muscular and skeletal function."

Now to the good part, there is more than one teacher here on Gabriola but the one I am most interested in is instructed by a fantastic woman by the name of Mara, Miss Mara to be exact. Check out her website here for more information, do yourself an immense favor and try Pilates out for the first time or do like I am and find that old friend again, it could be one of the best things you could do.