Sojourn to Saturna Island

Hello everyone! I have not posted for a while as it has been a very busy and rather enjoyable summer here on the west coast. I hope everyone is enjoying their summer - wherever you may be in this world! We had a lovely boat trip with family over to Saturna Island, another one of our beautiful Gulf Islands in British Columbia. My husband's cousin invited us to join them for a visit to the Saturna winery and spend the weekend aboard their 40 ft classic wooden boat. What a fun time we had! After tying the boat at the Saturna dock, we ambled our way to the winery. The extensive 60-acres of vineyards, rolling hills of vines and sparking ocean beyond, reminded me of the Mediterranean. It was a warm day with blue skies, not a cloud hovered in sight. We eventually made our way to the winery, sampled their local wines and enjoyed a light lunch out on the deck. View of vineyards and ocean, fun conversation with cousins Kim and Gail, made it a most wonderful and enjoyable afternoon. The day did not end there.....

We staggered back (just kidding) to the boat and made our way to Maple Bay where we spent a most enjoyable afternoon on the dock - swim in the ocean, barbecue and evening of laughter and conversation. We spent the night on board the boat. The following morning after a delicious breakfast of pancakes, bacon and eggs, we ventured out for a walk. I was more than happy about not meeting up with bears or cougars along the pathway, but we did meet up with a few llamas! Fergus, the dog, and the group of llamas were very curious about each other - they exchanged a few glances then we continued on our merry walk. We stopped along the way and had coffee with neighbours, then headed back to the boat. The men went for a swim and lingered by waters' edge for a few hours, reminisced about old times....then it was time to leave.

I will post a few photos from our trip. Thanks for viewing and happy summer everyone!

Kim at the helm

Portion of the Saturna vineyard

Sampling room

Patio overlooking the vineyards and ocean

Visitors enjoying glasses of wine and lunch

Spectacular ocean view

Gail - on her way back to the boat

Near Maple Bay

Off we go for a ride in Eva - Kim's small boat

Mt. Baker looming in the distance

Colourful Salt Spring Market

Breakfast at Barb's Buns Cafe in Ganges, Salt Spring

See Slide Show (Click here)

We had a lovely weekend here on the west coast. This was the first weekend of July and a time of celebration for many. Saturday was warm and sunny, for a change! My daughter and I ventured over to Salt Spring Island, one of our favourite destinations which is only forty-five minutes from our front door. We often travel there for a days visit or stay a few days for a short getaway. Saturday is busy and bustling with artisans and shoppers at the Ganges market, it is a marvelous event and is fun for folks of every age. Our first visit on Salt Spring was to Barb's Buns Cafe for a leisurely breakfast and to purchase coffee beans and few goodies from their bakery. The market was our next destination - a colourful and cheerful place to be! We enjoyed live music in the park and a stroll along the harbourside boardwalk. The lovely park looks out to Ganges harbour, a Mediterranean setting with charming view, dotted with sailboats and a gentle breeze blowing through. There are cafes, restaurants and food kiosks - a plethora of food venues to suit the hungry visitor. It was another lovely visit to the island. I always look forward to the sights, sounds and scents that tantalize the senses. I had my fill of lavender scent, ocean breeze, colourful artisan kiosks and world beat music for one day - I will be ready for it again soon!! Thanks for visiting me here, I enjoy sharing this with you. My warmest wishes to everyone. Michelle.

Roses in June

Roses in June are such a delight - they are delicate, beautiful and fill the air with sweet scent. I enjoy this month for it is the beginning of summer, we celebrate the longest day of the year and we spend most of our time outside in our garden. Tomorrow is the last day of June, then we will be celebrating Canada Day on July 1st. I would like to share a few of our roses here. Happy Canada Day! Thanks for visiting! Michelle

Akiko's Garden

Let me take you on a small journey to a lovely and enchanting garden that belongs to a very special and talented lady. My dear friend, Akiko, a gardener and artist, has turned her garden into a magical place. I always feel inspired when I visit there and am reminded of an Impressionist painting. Winding pathways meander through flower beds full of colour and scent, lush grasses, purple irises, poppies and peony bushes border along the pathways; roses ramble over arbours and gates and clematis climbs up fences and posts. Thyme and mint fill little nooks and crannies. No space is without colour. This truly is a place for gardener and artist. Thank you dear Akiko for being such a wonderful inspiration to all of us through your art and garden. Michelle

A Magical Garden - by Michelle

Morning dew like jewels glisten
The night now gone, the sun has risen
Warm licking arms of golden ray
Awaken dear garden this glorious day

Song of bird, lilting from the tree
Sky so blue, you set out free
Your home is apple, oak or fir
Your little ones, in nest they stir

Purple and yellow Iris I see
Tall spires of grass and peony tree
Orange, coral and fuzzy poppies grow
Sun on their face, their colours aglow

Red gate and pathway lie beyond
To a magical place where treasures are found
If you follow the path you might just see
The big grey owl who lives in the tree

I watch a flickering and lively sight
Hummingbird’s tasting honeysuckle’s delight
Along ground’s edge creeping woolly thyme
Bees dancing in clover, nectar divine

Red roses and white, pink, crimson hue
Clamber up and over, the clematis too
Its vine intertwined and reaching so far
Hang Royal velvet and soft purple star

The scent in the air is ever so sweet
Of rose, new grass and mint under feet
Lavender, thyme and rosemary grow
The kale and lettuce, all in a row

The pathway ends near the raspberry patch
Behind blueberry, strawberry in cage with latch
Beyond I see the red garden gate
Under rose and arbour, more treasures await

When evening casts it shadows of trees
Last rays shine golden on their leaves
Flowers glimmer and stand in last light
Tuck in their heads and say a good night