Pender Island Chronicles

Welcome to Pender Island Chronicles - Stories from my island home

January 23, 2021 A New Year ! Hurrah !

As I write this first note in the New Year , there is just a touch of frost on the grass outside my window. It is a bit of a shock really, as the weather has been so warm and generous to us, allowing Lucy and I to get out and walk the property, trim some plants in the garden and generally breathe in the ocean air.

The picture above was taken around Christmas Day and highlights the difference in the weather here from the rest of Canada. These are yellow roses flowering amidst a wealth of greenery bursting forth in the yard. Other things are also budding and flowering. We can't help but wonder if spring will greet us earlier than usual . We can only hope . Below are some orange buttons that spread their seeds and pop up their heads everywhere when you least expect to see them. It is always a joy to discover the various wild and not so wild things that greet us on our land.

New Year's Resolutions Anyone?

I am not the kind of person that resolves to lose weight or exercise more or eat better or whatever other obvious "do-better" things that might come to mind. I am simply grateful to be here, to be breathing in and out and to be healing more every day from my experience of late August. I try not to feel frustrated at what feels like the slow pace of vaccine availability and to try to accept that our daily lives will have to continue to be different than they were for some time to come . So, on that note , I am trying to develop a new routine for the New Year.

After all, how much Netflix can one absorb? [ or whatever TV or video or electronic games or other electronic connections one may find?] Like many others, I have begun to consider new endeavours to bring into my daily routine to spark something fresh and creative . I signed up for " Masterclass" and now try and bring some learning back into my life. I pulled out my binder full of writings that has sat collecting dust in a desk drawer and have begun to write creatively again - taking classes from famous writers such as Margaret Atwood and Salmon Rushdie . It brings me a great amount of joy to listen to these lessons and then to write and especially to play with words. It takes my mind away from the world as it is and into other worlds of my own creation . I am realizing that the process of writing is not unlike the process of painting. I recommend to those of you struggling to find purpose in these days to bring out a diary of sorts, and simply to write what is on your mind once a day . Some recommend having gratitude journals to write down moments in your day that bring you contentment or happiness. It doesn't much matter what you write about - it simply allows your brain to spark some otherwise dormant cells. Like physical exercise, it exercises your brain . And that is a good thing. And, when this plague is finally behind us, it might even be interesting to go back and read the words you wrote during this time.

Things on my list for 2021

I have accomplished a number of repairs and "must do" things in the almost two years since I moved here . The roof replacement for the workshop and greenhouse is complete, the furnace ducts have been cleaned, the woodshed has been built , the monstrous amount of junk and stuff on the property has been binned and has left the property.The rose gardens were begun last spring. And so on. But there always seems to be a list. And for this summer, I am afraid my more limited energy supply
will slow me down considerably. My neighbour, Krystoff, installed the above address sign on my gate for me. [ He also re-imagined how best to capture the sun ] so my sign lights up in the darkest of our dark nights .

My neighbours' gift -giving continued with these beautiful " bear paw" handles installed on my workshop. [ Designed and produced in their own workshop]. Thank- you Krystoff and Nina . With every touch of something new , I feel more like I am home .

I believe it is important to have things that allow us to look forward, to move forward, to anticipate, to enjoy. For me, I am looking forward to spring and the warm sun on my face once again. On that note, Ben is coming today to look at what needs to be done to prune my fruit trees. They are already starting to bud up here . Surely that is a sign that spring is on the way.
And I am painting once again . Lucy will soon be three years old. I might just plan a birthday party for her......... below is Krystoff with Lucy and his "wine glass" in the kitchen while Nina cooks our magnificent Christmas dinner.

Winter sun show - Wishing everyone a year full of joyous moments and quiet contentment

November 19, 2020 A Road Trip & Other Crazy things

I know its only November. In any other year my Christmas tree would not go up until the first weekend in December. But we all know that this is not any year . So, when my friend Jayne came for a short visit, she helped me put my artificial but beautiful tree up and yesterday I decorated it . I bought it last year . It is a tree for a child. My inner child I guess. I can click a button and it changes colours or twinkles . It is full of lights and its brightness reflects in all of my large windows so at night it looks like I am living in a Christmas tree forest. I love it .

The thing about decorating my tree is that each decoration holds a memory - of a special person in my life, of a trip , of a special place, or celebration . Long ago I asked friends to forgo presents but a Christmas tree decoration would be nice . My mother made some of the decorations . These go on the tree too. So decorating the tree this year was especially emotional for me. Lots of tears about a life well lived . People and places to celebrate. Lots of memories - I am grateful that I still have all of my memories intact and rolling around in my healing brain.

After my summer , I wish I could fill the house with people and music, food and wine and celebrate life. But , of course, there is a hold on that too as we go into another kind of restricted lockdown - so , instead, I drink a small glass of wine and play Christmas music on my Spotify app and admire my sparkling tree.

This week has been nasty . Gigantic wind storms and power outages and rain blowing through in all directions.My greenhouse is still leaking even after the roof job earlier this summer. It has been a week of few walks with Lucy [ who hates the rain and who poops on the side deck under the overhang so she doesn't get wet ]. She huffs and puffs and hangs out on a sofa where she can watch her domain from the comfort of warm blankets . But today, the rain is finally gone . Hopefully, the temperature will be in the double digits as the sun comes round to our back deck and we can get some fresh air this afternoon.

Is it just me or are we all looking for more crazy things to get us through this upcoming winter. I finally got out the clippers and hair cutting utensils that Jayne bought for me while I was still in hospital. I have been unhappy with looking at my hair since coming home. Partially shaved, some hair growing weirdly around the scars forming, or not growing where the staples held the drains around my ears.... hair falling out in the shower - perhaps from dying or dead nerve endings or lack of nutrition for a number of weeks? who knows....... but I reached the end of my patience - pulled out the clippers; read the instructions and early one morning, I shaved my head. Just like that . And it feels awesome. Its not as if anyone is going to see me . I am going to be tucked in my house all winter. Going nowhere. It reminds me of my diving days, when we lived on dive boats and cut each other's hair as well as the crews'....... Another memory surfacing . Now I can wash my hair and face at the same time . Easy Peasy. No regrets. I wonder what all of you are doing that might fall into this category ?

I got permission from my doctor to drive my car again . It takes a lot of energy but before this rain spurt, Lucy and I headed out to the grocery store on a Sunday morning early and I shopped for myself for the first time in months. It was a quick trip and I slept for most of the afternoon but it was wonderful to just walk down the aisles and be somewhere else...... Now that the rain has stopped, we might try it again this weekend.

I have cleaned and organized every cupboard and drawer in the entire house in the past 3 months. I have one storage closet under the eaves upstairs that will be left until spring. So, now what to do ? I 'll let you know what I decide over the next month of recovery ... stay safe.

Above, my neigbour Nina , who is our hero, bringing me food and running errands and keeping me and Lucy company as I recover. Here she is hanging out with Lucy , who loves her.

October 24, 2020

This is the view from my kitchen window this morning . In the far background you can see the foggy image of Gowland Point on the southern tip of South Pender Island. Autumn is here, and the trees that can produce a coat of colour are wearing their autumn finery proudly.

It has been three months since I posted here . Each time I thought I was ready to post something, I delayed yet again. What would I say? What wouldn't I say?
Since the Pender Island Chronicles are written as much for me to chronicle my own journey on this island as it is to share , I can say I have been challenged to write down the words - but here goes. It is time .

My life changed suddenly on August 22 around 10:30 in the morning. I was standing on my back deck , talking to a couple , strangers, who had come to look at some dive gear I was trying to re-home. It was a beautiful morning, although gusts of wind were coming up from the ocean and it would get quite rough as the day went on. One minute I was perfectly fine . In fact, I was exceptionally happy. After two years of hard work, my property was in fine shape, the grass was cut, the garden was in great shape and I had promised Lucy, my boxer girl, that we would holiday for the whole month of September - walks along the ocean, playtime, and relaxation. We would enjoy our home without the work ... I had just bought a new car and I planned that we would go on some drives to explore the countryside. Well, that was the plan.

And the next minute my new friends were calling 911, digging out aspirin and trying to keep me calm. I was in excruciating pain, extremely nauseous and unable to focus.
In the blink of an eye . Without any warning. One day I am hauling wheelbarrows of dirt and feeling strong and healthy and in the flash of an eye , I was in serious trouble.

I knew when I moved here that there were risks . But Pender has a great medical clinic, doctors on the island and a paramedic service . Its a bit of a drive to get to where I live from the medical clinic, and then the paramedics had to get me back to the clinic for the doctor on call to examine me. It was a Saturday morning. A paramedic boat was called in from Vancouver Island and I had to be taken to the boat launch site . Then across some very choppy waters, to a waiting ambulance. Then to the closest local hospital , and from there to another ambulance to the emergency neurology ICU at Victoria General Hospital. I was lucky. Or perhaps it wasn't my time . Or perhaps my tough prairie genes are the reason I made it into the hands of experts able to help me . It was a number of hours later that I finally arrived at VGH.

Because of Covid and my symptoms. I had to be treated in a Covid isolation ICU room until a negative Covid test came back . While other tests were conducted and I was stabilized, all the medical staff had to fully gear up in COVID apparel to come in to my room and then remove everything and dispose of the apparel based on COVID protocols. I could see the perspiration on their faces under the heavy masks and plastic protective devices.

I won't go into the gruesome details. Suffice to say I experienced a ruptured brain aneuryism. I faced almost 6 hours of surgery the next day ; I counted at least 14 health professionals in the surgical suite all preparing for and aiding to prepare for the surgery. I had two neurosurgeons who completed the surgery to clip that tricky little aneuryism. [ their words]. And when I woke , I had all my little bits and pieces [ as a friend asked me] and some 200 staples in my scalp. Frankenstein here I come. The neuro ICU world is also an eye-opener. Life and death. Every day . Terrifying and Amazing . The nurses and all health professionals do such incredibly difficult work as a matter of routine . They are truly modern day heroes.

I spent two very difficult weeks in recovery in hospital and the last two months at home "resting" in order to allow my brain to fully heal. I am told I must be patient and give it another 4 weeks before I can start to get energetic. It may take a year or more for me to feel " like myself".

To say such an experience is life-altering is certainly a truth.   For me, giving up my independence and asking for help every single day has also been difficult. My friends and neighbours have , in part, saved my life and allowed me to continue to heal and get stronger every day. I will be forever grateful. And friends who, because of Covid
restrictions must support me via email or other social media - are also forever in my heart. I realized very early on that I would not be able to get through this without all the support that could be provided. It is humbling to know how much you need other people in order to stay sane, and not get discouraged along the way.

I am not yet ready to acknowledge all of the emotional upheaval this event has caused in my life. That too will come. But I am grateful to be able to grow a little older in my home , to hug my dog, to watch the sunsets in all their glory and the full moon glowing outside my bedroom window. So, here are some excerpts from a favourite poem of mine that I pulled out of the bookshelf the other day - I hope it makes you smile.

Warning - by Jenny Joseph [ excerpts]

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves....

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So People who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old and start to wear purple."

Taken from the book by the same name and edited by Sandra Haldeman Martz

July 23, 2020 What is in our future?

The boats are suddenly back in the harbour below me. Summer heat forces Lucy and me into the house by noon . The natural grasses here have withered and turned brown. It suddenly feels like we are living in the dessert . But my garden containers are overflowing , the roses planted this spring are happily blooming and the lavender is keeping the bees buzzing. So too, the wild flowers I am planting, one small plot at a time.

To date I haven't been thinking about the future very much. Planning anything outside of the front gate seems an impossibility. Nevertheless I have been having a discussion with myself about whether it is necessary for one's mental health to contemplate the future , and if so, how to do so so as not to despair . Is it part of who we are as a species to need to look forward and to be hopeful?

I pulled out this little book awhile back , entitled " The Art of Abundance" by Candy Paull. Its fun to pick it up and read a page or two while having a cup of tea in the afternoon. This morning I came across this quote :

" The best thing about the future is that it only comes one day at a time"- Abraham Lincoln

I really like this quote . I think it is how I have been coping with the P thing up til now. I plan my week with little lists of things written out on post-it notes that I am going to try and accomplish . Then I break them down - a list for tomorrow. In the morning over coffee I look at my list for the day and then carry on . I feel a sense of accomplishment [ or not ] at day's end. It gives me a sense of normalcy. It helps me pay attention to Lucy and make sure she is getting some "out of the gate "walks and offers her some excitement to sniff new things in her life. It gives her something to look forward to..... And if I don't accomplish anything at all in a given day, then there is always tomorrow.

So, with each picture above, there is a story to tell . If I think about the future as coming one day at a time, then I can look forward each day to the bounty of changes that are happening on the property . Here is another quote to consider :

" LIfe is always a rich and steady time when you are waiting for something to happen or to hatch".- E.B. White

Lucy and I do a walk about each morning , with my coffee in hand and survey what the day will bring us . My experiment with planting a variety of wildflower mixes is the first joy . What flowers are flowering , what colours are coming out. We stop and say hello to the bees that are bursting out to collect the pollen . The hummingbirds are happy too and even a few butterflies.

This year my cherry trees produced cherries. Unfortunately, the birds were happy to eat them before they ripened enough to pick them. But the bird song while they are eating my crops are also joyful.

I also planted a variety of peppers for the first time ever. I think they must be hard to grow in most other places in Canada, but they love the heat here . Above are a variety of yellow peppers just starting to fill out on the vine.

My pear trees are also producing pears. They are babies so far, but maybe I will get to eat some . We check their progress every morning. The ones above have a deep red skin.

My garden containers are thriving . I am eating asparagus [ done now], mega lettuce, radishes,the infamous and ever growing zuccini [ yellow and green]and a bounty of strawberries [ now done for the year also]. And I have rogue tomato plants growing to the roof and flowering with abandon. I have raspberries and blueberries and blackberries but the birds feast on these too. I am planting my second crop of greens including swiss chard. Flowers and herbs sprinkle amongst everything in a kind of wild abandon .

And then there is Lucy's escapades. Because I am Lucy's person, she watches and helps me with everything I do. Gardening is no exception. Because she is grown up [ 59 pounds] she has learned to lean into the containers and she has a fondness for fruit . Above, she is pulling strawberries out of the strawberry container for a morning snack. She thinks I can't see her because her head is deep in the container........

She loves apples and they are beginning to ripen. Above, she has pulled one off a tree and is protecting her apple in the event I think I should pick it up . She will play with it awhile before chewing on it and realizing it isn't ripe yet.

The person she is hugging above is Krystoff...... She should not be licking his ear and giving him dog hugs BUT he lets her ...... he is a dog person. NIna, his partner, and Krystoff, are my neighbours and they brought me rock and helped me with my rose garden building .....
Lucy is ecstatic when they come by to say hello.

So let, me finish my rambles with  a couple more thoughts about contemplating the future:

In thinking about or wishing for the future as desiring a particular something to happen, perhaps we should be open to our desires changing and our horizons widening. Instead of trying to dictate how things should come to us, we
open our hands and allow life to bring its gifts when and where it will.

Abundance is ...... changing cloud patterns in a bright blue sky.
Abundance is rich brown soil turned and waiting for seed to be planted.
Abundance is a smile and a wave.
Abundance is - a full dog dish and a good bone [ Lucy's thought ]

From " The Art of Abundance"

Until next time - Stay safe. I wish you abundant joy today , tomorrow and in the future.

June 20, 2020 - Cycles

Day 102 of Covid 19 . We have had time to learn a lot about pandemics. This is not the first one in history nor will it be the last one we are told.

Being isolated on my property , I have been able to focus my attention on my second spring and now summer cycle . Having removed copious quantities of debris and weeds around the property , I managed to stir up long dormant seeds from previous plants growing here at one time . I am always finding a new surprise . One such special surprise are these magnificent poppies growing over five feet tall with such vibrant colour against the greenery of the yard they are glorious to behold.

Last spring I planted two salvias - named " hot lips". I planted them in honour of father's day in June - one was for my dad and the other for my brother Richard. They are especially attractive to hummingbirds, and one of my goals was to attract hummingbirds to my new home . The brilliant red salvias are glorious this year and the hummingbirds are everywhere -coming for a morning or afternoon sip from their lips. I didn't know then that I would lose my brother last summer, just after father's day . So this year, the salvias have special meaning to me . Also special are the peonies that were transplanted here from my old home [ once transplanted from my mother's home in her garden in Saskatchewan]. The peonies are happier here than they have ever been and honoured me with deep pink blooms in time for Mother's Day.

To alleviate anxiety at this time , my routine has included a great deal of time out of doors , tackling difficult areas of the property , using physical exercise to move the days forward and to breathe in fresh air and absorb the sunshine of these southern gulf islands. I have managed to restructure a horrific weed field at the side of the house into gardens, loaded them with fresh soil and replaced chaos with roses. There is still a lot to do - I need to find a lot of rock to hold up the beds along the side of the house and keep the structure of the gardens firm. But that can be done over time . Along the other side along the tree line, garbage and burnt offerings and old tarps , etcetera, have been replaced with patches of wildflower seeds of all kinds - for hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies and all kinds of flying insects. The seeds are shooting up and I hope they will multiply and create a natural flower landscape. Lucy spends her days while I am in the gardens, hunting for snakes and other critters that she is learning to identify by smell. See her patient stance as she watches the rocks below for any movement .

Unfortunately, she has also learned how to pick strawberries out of the strawberry container , and apples off the apple trees[ too green for her to eat at the moment]. While she, too ,is finding life a bit more boring than it used to be , she provides me with much needed company and support during this time .

Art in the time of Covid

Artists find themselves in different emotional places during this time . Since my summer art events were all cancelled, I found myself needing to be outside and I couldn't seem to get back into my new studio space . But as time has passed, I have begun to be pulled back ...... I have begun to "play" again ....... creating some new stories ..... about three pink sheep....... what can I say ?

I also have a work in the Federation of Canadian Artists Landscape Exhibition and I have been accepted into the Southern Gulf Islands Art Exhibition, Catalogue and On-line Exhibition about to open this coming week. So, life carries on, albeit in a much smaller world for the moment. Stay safe.

May 19, 2020 - Solitude

This is the view today from my studio . I think it is the perfect reflection of my inner feelings of solitude and aloneness. Not an airplane in the sky. Not a boat on the water. No movement of any living thing . The sky is bluer than blue. The mountains [ in Washington state] still hold the white snow of winter. But here , on South Pender, spring into summer is in full swing. The afternoons are already too hot to sit comfortably on the back deck without a hat . Lucy and I seek the shade of the front or side gardens to have an afternoon nap or do some reading .

Can I say I feel like a monk , alone on a mountain top [ well, really its only a ridge but it feels like some kind of spiritual mountain retreat these days], communing only with nature and my boxer girl . I listen to the birds, and the winds blowing through the trees, and the rustle of the deer outside the fence by the side of the house enjoying the fresh grasses and shrubs . I watch the hawks hang gliding very close to us as they rise from the heat off the side of the property and up over the cooler water , hunting - always around the same time of day. They are so close, I hear their magnificent wings swooshing above my head. I wait for the turkey vulture that seems to arrive later in the afternoon to sit in her favourite tree . In the last couple of days S the air is filled with blue dragonflies . The bees are happily buzzing everywhere in the wild flowers. The wild lupins are starting to bloom. The hummingbirds are humming a great deal around the flowering lavender .The garter snakes are coming out of their homes to warm themselves on the big rocks in the yard. And as the sun goes down, there is a symphony of frogs that begin to sing to the moon and the stars. Another day has come and gone .

Our routine has shifted somewhat to try and fill each day with some measure of purpose while increasingly living moment by moment . For so many who have led crazy chaotic lives, this time is an opportunity to reflect on the simple joy of being alive - of slowing down ; of breathing deeply; of looking up and around you; of closing down the electronic devices ; of looking out, and inward and recognizing that life is lived in moments. And of doing or trying things that you have wanted to do or try for awhile now. If not now, then when?

I write a 3 line note in my desk calendar each day simply documenting the number of the day of isolation and listing things that filled the day or to document something we saw - like the western taninger than came and bathed in our bird bath every day for almost a week. I increasingly try to fill my moments with small but joyful exercises and some new thing . New music , new food, new books to read, new games to teach Lucy [ who, like a small child - is so done with this isolation thing]. My emotional state has fluctuated up and down. I like to think others are feeling some of these same feelings. So I keep my lists of daily tasks and try to keep moving .

Happiness is making ice cream

I used up some travel points last Christmas and bought a crazy fancy food processor along with [ oh joy] a machine that makes ice cream, frozen yogurt and sherbet...... This after trying to deal with tons of fruit last summer from my fruit trees.
I love ice cream . But last week, I made my first batch of frozen yogurt with frozen organic blueberries from last summer , vanilla yogurt and some other ingredients called for [ lemon juice, sugar, vanilla extract]...... I ended up with a cross-over between sherbet and frozen yogurt - stay tuned for more experiments. [ Delicious by the way].

My new rose gardens - the roses have arrived

The weeds are mostly tamed; the garden beds at the side of the property prepared and these beautiful roses ordered online from Gardenworks in Saanich and delivered by Pender Courier are ready to be planted. I managed to plant some this past weekend. More to do

Food Security & Self-Isolation

I have been almost totally self-isolating . And, when the majority of islanders are also home on the island and not shopping on Vancouver Island , food security has become a very important topic here. It is one of the reasons, after protecting islanders from importing the virus from visitors, that people are being asked not to travel to the islands. Food supplies are limited and people who live here are relying on one main grocery store, some smaller country stores, and the farmers who grow vegetables - just coming into season in limited quantities.

I have been ordering supplies through a community help service, with volunteers who pick up orders after hours from the store and deliver them to my doorstep. How wonderful to live in a caring community .

But recently, I have ordered fruit and vegetable boxes from a local couple/restaurant - El Faro Fusion. Happiness is receiving a variety of fresh , mostly organic vegetables and fruits. All boxed up , paid for online, and simply picked up outside the restaurant. It also gives me an opportunity to go for a drive and feel a sense of freedom.

Now I can order organic meats and other treats from Southridge Country Store- also paid for online, packed up and set out on a table for pick up. Perfect. Ordering and buying groceries is quite an exercise these days, but I am grateful for all this island has to offer. This week I enjoyed corn on the cob, beets, carrots, new potatoes, romaine lettuce, and much more.

On the property - Pictures of Solitude

March 26, 2020 When Time Stops

A friend of mine who emailed me this morning said she had been thinking that a house at the end of the road at the end of the island is probably a " very good place to safely wait out a pandemic". She then went on to say it is possibly a very good place to go quietly stir-crazy too. I had written her a note earlier and had rambled on about how many new words Lucy, my boxer , could now understand. When you are alone at the end of a road at the end of an island, I suppose teaching your dog new vocabulary in order to have some kind of conversation could be viewed as going some kind of crazy. But then, we are all us in this together for quite some time to come and so, we may find ourselves being creative in many, many new endeavours.

For example, Lucy has had her first driving lesson . She took it upon herself the other day to NOT get in the back of the car which has been her place for two years, but rather to climb behind the steering wheel . Thus, given that we were in no rush to go absolutely nowhere, I proceeded to give her a first lesson in driving . She listened very attentively and happily sat behind the wheel with the door open for the next hour or so, contemplating all that I had told her. She seemed very happy with the whole affair. What can I say. I will let you know how she does after the next lesson.

Simple Abundance

I am stealing this phrase, " Simple Abundance" from a book published long ago by author Sarah Ban Breathnach . I pulled the book out the other day for a look see as we look to fill our days in this most challenging of times. She asks the reader , " How happy are you right now?" She then quotes Joanna Field :

" Perhaps if one really knew when one was happy one would know the things
that were necessary for one's life" .

It seems to me that in this moment, when time has suddenly and inexplicably stopped for millions of people on earth, it is an opportunity to contemplate what makes one happy in the moment . It gives us quiet time to leave the noise behind and listen to oneself . The author goes on to say " We must learn to savour small, authentic moments that bring us contentment. Simple pleasures waiting to be enjoyed. Simple pleasures often overlooked".

On that note, after a year on the island, I finally got around to ordering " bread" from the Happy Monk Baker located just down the road from me on South Pender Island.
Each creation is baked with love in Mildreth [ See below]. Since you probably have some time , go to happymonkbaking.com to read all about the " organic, wild-yeasted, slow fermented breads and sweet delectables baked in a home-made wood-fired oven . Read about the making of Mildreth with love and passion and the glorious delectable mouthwatering works that are created . The images and stories that come from the website are worth a look.

My first loaf of seed feast was a dining delight. I forgot all about the rest of my dinner preparations, sliced some glorious bread and mixed up some rich olive oil and Modena balsamic vinegar and dunked away...... it took me back to memories of sitting by the cliffs in an outdoor cafe in the Cinque Terre, Italy and I admit I shed a tear or two for the glorious cooks and creators of Italy, for all the people of Italy and the tragedy of covid that has befallen such a generous and beautiful people.

Mildreth is made from a clay and straw mixture with a
firebrick hearth . You can read about how she got her name on the Happy Monk website.

Spring at the end of the road at the end of an island

I know for many of you that live elsewhere in Canada you will find it hard to believe that here in my back yard, many of my vegetable greens like swiss chard overwintered and are thriving in their garden beds. All is green here all year round and while snow does on occasion, bury it all, the greenery soon pops through and the snow melts away . My plum and other fruit trees are in bloom, spring daffodils are smiling , I've cut the grass twice already and weed pulling is a never-ending chore . So here are a few pictures of what is out and about on our property right now . Enjoy

So, in the theme of each of us seeking the awareness of what it is that can make us truly happy in this moment, and then embracing the moment , Lucy and I try and sit out on our back deck in the late afternoon and share treats and have a cup of tea or maybe a glass of wine . Here she is , telling me to put the camera down and get on with getting out the treats. It is interesting to think I understand her perfectly ..... since she is my only conversationalist , we are also working on increasing her vocabulary so we can have a few more dynamic conversations.......
Stay healthy everyone.... and stay home .

February 23, 2020 : Its baby time

As I write this it is Sunday morning and the sky has darkened once again and the winds are beginning to howl through the trees. The ocean colour has changed to a mean green as the waves whip up beyond the harbour . A new storm is here and my windows are being pelted with rain. I stopped my writing to fill up my water receptacles in the event the power goes out. When storms come on the weekend and the ferries stop running, the electrical crews won't come until morning , after the storm . We are on our own . I am fortunate to have a propane stove top so I can cook my food and heat water for tea or coffee. I am on a well system, run on electricity so when the power goes out I need to be ready by filling up my water jugs.

And I have a wood fireplace , so Lucy and I can cuddle under blankets by the fire if needed. I must say that it is getting really really nasty out there. I say a little prayer for my trees - please hang on .....

The picture above was taken a few days ago on the very south end of South Pender - a lovely road leading to a farm with sheep - its lambing season and babies are being born every day . Chickens amble along the road and cows chew their cuds. The scene is one of quiet and natural beauty except for the bleating of baby lambs wanting milk from their mothers. I enjoyed the visit with Diane [ sp] and Michelle very much . I enjoyed taking in the country farm smells - bringing back memories from childhood. Now I also know where I can buy fresh farm eggs . Below are some of the black-faced sheep and their very new babies. Thank you for sharing .

Lucy will soon turn two years old [ March 6th]. I think she is full grown now, although somewhat smaller than some boxers. I remember how much smaller she was than her sister, Penny, when they both arrived together at the Vancouver airport. But, she is full of beans and I would guess weighs around 60 pounds. She is all muscle for sure and loves above all, to run outside . Now that Jennifer is working on the property to garden, create garden beds and pull weeds, Lucy is , of course wanting to help her in every way . Jennifer has already figured Lucy out and they seem to make a good team . Below is Jennifer working on the side of the house that was full of brambles and weeds and will soon be transformed into a rose garden . Lucy is of course, helping her out.

Why does the chicken cross the road? To come and say hello to me as I walk along the country road of course .... we had a lovely visit .

February 1 - Coming Full Circle

It is not quite February 1, 2020 but I write this note in anticipation of our first full year in our new home which is Feb. 1st. Have we found our end of the rainbow land? It would seem so if you check out the picture I took the other day .

As I sit down to write this, Jen is out on the property pruning the fruit trees [ already starting to leaf out] and moving the blueberry bushes to a new location while they are still dormant. I am so happy to have found Jen, who is going to help me this year in continuing to recover the garden and maintain it . I have to acknowledge my limitations and so look forward to working with her on the property this coming year.

I still have a blue tarp on part of my roof and hope to have these issues resolved early in the spring as soon as drier weather will allow. They say patience is a virtue but I admit it is one I have to really work on . I remind myself that all good things will come in time.

A case in point -I was reaching a point of no return with my extremely large and heavy front gates with a system of closures that made me curse and kick and generally rail against the world almost every time I had to struggle to open or close them. I was afraid I might have to replace the entire gates to find peace [ not an inexpensive solution] but then Karl and Heddy came by with their dogs one day and Karl commented on the difficulties himself - so he took pictures and a few measurements before they left and came back with a fantastic solution ...... now installed and working like a charm. Who knew how happy I could be - but I feel giddy now every time I go to open or close the gate . My heroes. Below- installing a workable gate closure and the dogs enjoying games around the garden beds while the work was completed.

Even as Lucy and I have come through the year, my first friends on the island, Jayne and Tim are about to leave with a moving truck headed to Victoria. I stayed at their cottage with Lucy while I waited for the keys to our new house. Now I bid them good-bye . They will move into their new house in Victoria on February 1st. See pictures of Tim and Jayne with Lucy in my first chronicles below. Lucy and I look forward to them coming to visit us in the months ahead . Lucy loves Tim ..... so she is sad to see them go . But another islander, Amanda, who was Lucy's babysitter while I looked for our home here, is back on the island and comes to walk Lucy now - hopefully once a week. Lucy also loves Amanda and so they go off together for a good walk [ on leash] and give me a bit of alone time .

I know it is hard to believe, but it will soon be very spring-like here. The temperature is in the double -digits and the weeds and grass are growing. Snow-drops and other spring flowers are pushing up through the soil. There has been a lot of dreariness the past many days and that is perhaps the most difficult for me to endure. [ That and the impeachment trial of DJT].........

I am anxious for spring . So are my hummingbirds. Just like last year, we had a snow storm [ now gone] . See picture of the beauty of snow on the trees that surround and comfort us .

January 12,2020 - So this is Winter

The winter sunrise creates a golden glow on the otherwise very deep green foliage across the harbour from me. The light is warm and flows in my kitchen windows, making me want to linger here and take in the warmth on my face. I have moved a couch into the kitchen /dining area in front of one of my giant windows so Lucy and I can curl up here with coffee in the morning and a book in the afternoon. Actually , the book is mostly an excuse for us to take an afternoon nap .

Winter makes me want to "nest" ..... and because the first many months here were spent outdoors, cleaning landscape and pulling weeds and digging vegetable gardens , and then trying to regain my energy and health even as my brother's energy and health declined until he left us in the height of summer; so I find myself focusing more intently on my inside world . Still, watching the sun rise and set is a feast for the eyes and a gift to the spirit.

We have not yet had a hard frost . I am tempted to show you more images of the flowers in the garden or the berries that continue to grow on the blackberry bushes [ much to the delight of the birds]; or the orange blossom in bloom. But, it seems almost cruel to do so as the arctic airs blow over the rest of the country and the snow storms are in full swing.

Not to say we haven't been faced with a lot of strong winds and a few power outages and rain in dreary skies. [ Lucy hates the rain ]. I moved into my new home last February 1st and a major snow storm dropped from the sky and turned the power off. The snow was apparently a rare event . But I know it can happen now and I am prepared.

The Pender Post weather man advises that the coldest temperature recorded here in the last many years is minus 8 degrees - really -8 . I think that tells you something about the unique climate here . Below are a few images of the winter beauty here. You can see how really green everything is . The grass is growing too tall and is too wet to cut right now. The trees are budding . Some lavender and other perennials seem to be blooming too soon . Apparently the rhododendrons are starting to flower in Victoria . Too early . February is the time to begin trimming fruit trees and readying the garden beds . The garlic bulbs I planted in fall are growing now .

Yes the weather here is mild and the air is sweet . I am back in my studio working on a new series of paintings and I am trying to exercise a damaged knee back into shape. I bought a recumbent exercise bicycle for this purpose and enjoyed my neighbours ' company Christmas Eve to put it together for me . So Kind . [ Thank you to Nina and Kristof and " the boys"] . Lucy has healed from a bad sprain after a bit of a run in with a big old dog at the Spit . Now she is bored and wants attention as long as the rain is outside the door. We are bracing for more rain and winds today as I write this . BC Ferries has shut down again for the day [ another reality of living on the island. Ferry service? Yes or No.] . It is simply a fact of life and one must plan around it and for it , whenever it might happen.

Christmas was a time of quiet contemplation . Away from the craziness of the city , of stressed out people, of crowds thinking the way to happiness is to shop and spend and consume ; away from it all at this time of year becomes a celebration of other things; of quiet reflection; of memories past and of cuddles with a very cuddly Lucy. Life is what you make it ; how you shape it; how you find happiness in the day to day things like watching the sunrise and the sunset ; or waking in the night to a full moon shining down on a quiet and sleeping world. Happy 2020 .

November 23, 2019 The Magical Light

I will soon begin to create new art blogs about my studio work and musings about all things art. Winter is my nesting time and I like to retreat into art books and internet ramblings of art museums and galleries and other art discussions. My art blogs have taken second fiddle to my Pender Island Chronicles this past year . I do find it a source of joy and maybe a bit of pride to look back at the past few months as I have settled in my new home on this southern Gulf island at this stage in my life and actually managed to keep breathing through it all .

At this time of year the light changes incredibly and I feel like I have a front row seat to nature's best shows . The morning light is warm and bouncy and still as I write this to you, I have flowers blooming everywhere and all manner of colourful fungi blooming in the yard. [ Also terrifying ....... many are death traps for dogs who sniff or bite into them ..... so I avoid even looking at them with Lucy around. So far, she has shown little interest but my neighbour's dog was rushed to the emergency hospital in Victoria after such an event. All is well thank goodness]. The garlic I planted is coming up [ I don't think this is good]..... and some of my shrubs are also flowering and have strong perfumed aromas. I also cut my grass again yesterday .

So, here are some images of the glorious light and colour displays Lucy and I have shared over the past several weeks of November. The images have not been doctored or made more saturated by digital play. What you see here is the real thing and if anything, not as magnificent as having a 270 degree view . Enjoy .

PS : Why is Lucy licking her lips? [ Because she found the bread cubes full of seeds I put out for the birds ..... I guess she thinks its a nice afternoon snack . ]

Friend or Foe?

I was taught when I began diving that the more colourful the particular species, the more dangerous they could be ..... here is an example of what is coming up in our yard in November.... beautiful to behold ....

November colour in and around our home is as lovely as every other month has been . The lavender continues to bloom as do many shrubs . Red berries are brightening the landscape in anticipation of the winter season . The temperatures remain well above zero although I am told we have had our first frost . The Gulf air is warm in the afternoon and we can continue to sit out on our back deck and enjoy the warmth of the sun when it is shining . Today , however the clouds are rolling in and rain may come later today . Time to get back to my studio to paint .

October 15, 2019 Autumn on the Island

Life is slowing down . Things are more quiet. Islanders are loading up their woodsheds, cleaning the tree needles and debris out of their gutters and planting their garlic crops for harvesting next July. I am doing the same .

The sun is changing in the sky . It creates more spectacular sunsets from my deck with ever changing colours reflecting on Bedwell Harbour below me .

The little birds seem to have left for warmer climates . I have put up a hummingbird feeder for the little guys that stay here all year. They seem grateful for the sugar.

The mushrooms and other types of growing things in all their diversity are popping up everywhere and there are pictures on the Pender Forum trying to get information on just what they are and whether they are indeed eatable or poisonous. I go out in the yard one morning to discover streams of fine lines all over everything . I think these must be strange spiders trying to create webs but am advised they are mushroom spores... quite magical as they float freely in the morning mist.

I have managed to get through most of my house repairs this past summer that were listed in my inspection report. And I have my studio ready and set up to nest and paint this winter. I must organize my emergency supplies in preparation for the power outages and storms that inevitably come from living here . But I know my neighbours now and know that I can ask for help if it is needed. That is a comforting feeling .

And as things quiet , my memories of my brother are closer to the surface. I try to focus on all of his loves- his wife, his kids, and especially his grandkids. As Thanksgiving came this year, I smiled at remembering how he loved his turkey and especially the hot turkey sandwiches after the day was over. Its the little things that bring us smiles and for which I am grateful every day .

Above: Lucy supervising the piling of wood in to my new woodshed. Thanks to Karl for delivering it from his own property . He lost a great many trees from the storm last winter here on the island, but now I have wood when I need it this winter.

I never imagined what a bounty of fruit I would be gifted from living on this property . Above: amazing seedless grapes ; sweet and delicious as well some of the apples from my apple trees.

Thank goodness I bought a stand up freezer when I moved on to this property . I have a lot of frozen fruit now in the freezer . I just bought myself my Christmas gift to tackle some of the fruit in new ways. I love ice cream . So, I bought a Cuisinart ice cream, gelato and frozen yogurt maker all in one. My new endeavour will be to make really awesome fruit ice cream and gelato and even frozen yogurt. Stay tuned.

At Mortimer Spit - Lucy's new playmates

Mortimer Spit is where South Pender and North Pender split . A one-lane bridge connects the two and boats and other water traffic can move through under the bridge [ unless there is a miscalculation and a boat gets stuck ..... hung up under the bridge.... it happens].

It is also a Monday morning meet and greet for a group of dogs and their owners . And if you don't think the dogs don't know when its Monday morning and time to go to the Spit, think again ...... I have really appreciated the support from the other dog owners as I try to raise my full of beans boxer .... and the hour or so spent at the Spit every Monday is a joy for both of us . So, here are just a few pictures of the shenanigans that go on at the Spit. Let the games begin.

Pictures from the fall fair [ read last column ]

Working through the internet here on the island requires patience. Loading images, like life here in the fall, is so much slower than elsewhere. I have so many more images and stories to tell but they will have to wait. My attention span is also a little shorter these days.

September 5, 2018 Turning into Autumn

The change in island life is sudden and noticeable. The long weekend is a last big hoorah for visitors to the island . It was a bit crazy to tell the truth . People trying to party one last weekend before going back to school , work and the general routine of life. Poet's Cove erupted with two days of music and noise and general hubbub that travelled up to my back deck and bedroom ....... Why people leave the city to come out to a natural paradise just to make noise , drink and become rowdy for two days is beyond my comprehension . Why not stay in the city and be a nuisance? But, Monday afternoon came and a kind of hush settled over the island .

It is a turning point for island life. Many "summer" residents also pack up, close up their homes and cottages here , turn off the lights and head home. Nice. The lights that shone across Bedwell Harbour from my place are generally out or subdued. The stars shine brighter in the night sky.

Things close. For Seastar Winery , the wine is sold out until the new harvest comes in . The food trucks and caterers also close. Hours and menus are cut back at other local eateries. Even the deer seem to know they have the run of the roads back ..... not seeming to hurry as they wander down the centre of the road looking for their next grazing spot . The summer market is over and the winter market about to take over - mostly catering to the local residents. Even the ferry schedule changes - cutting back from the summer tourist schedule .

The Pender Island Fall Fair

The fall fair marks this turn to fall ; a celebration of the longstanding agricultural history of the island.

It is a big deal and I loved every minute of it . The women farmers led the parade on their tractors looking strong and beautiful . The agricultural entries were awesome - lots of different animals- sheep and donkeys and chickens and roosters touting their cock-adoodle-do's. There was sheep shearing too.

The entries in the food department were as diverse as the growers on the island - all manner of jams and jellies and chutneys , pies and cakes and tarts galore . There were homemade blackberry and plum liquors and apply brandies and wine . There were flower arrangements and quilts and art and woodworking . Well, the list goes on .

All the children got into the act. I especially liked their entries. There was the face-painting and bouncy-bounce and clowns . There were fiddlers and a beer garden and great food trucks - not to mention the pig and lamb roast put on by the Legion. [ awesome]......

It is safe to say a grand time was had by all. Maybe next year I will try entering my zucchini bread ... Or my zuccini- I might even have a chance to win a prize.

South Pender Island Farmer's and Grower's Market

This event was held at the Church of the Good Shepherd grounds within walking distance of my house. It was the perfect location for neighbours on the south island to get together . They set up tables and sold their sour dough bread, jams and jellies and chutneys and garden produce. There were beautiful flowers and woodcarving and art and more music and so much more. There were competitions for the young ones with trophies for the winners. I especially liked the paper airplane contest and who could throw their airplane the farthest distance.

It was also the perfect time for me to introduce myself to my neighbours. I took my zucchini bread, zucchini chocolate chip muffins and carrot pineapple muffins [ my mother's recipe] and handed out my baking to my neighbours as I introduced myself and got to know a little bit about them. These islanders have such unique stories and I am always curious to know how they got here and how long they have lived here. For sure, they all have a love for the island they call home . -

This was also the day for the year -end Legion bar-b-que and fundraiser held at the opposite end of Pender. My mom and dad were big Legion supporters so I made a donation of a painting, art bag and art cards for the silent auction . I also bought a bar-b-que ticket but after the drive and a tour of the event , I knew my day was done. I headed home for a cup of tea and a sit down on the deck with Lucy .

[ This was also the day for the doggy show and events at the Driftwood...... next year ].

What's happening in my yard

I barely survived my plum season . See previous entries. My apples are now mostly picked and a long with eating apples , I will peel some and make up apple pie filling to freeze.

But it is the abundance of grapes on the grape vine that will be my next challenge. What to do with them all? Stay tuned.

My pear trees only produced 3 pears. I haven't picked them yet .

I continue to pull weeds, and try and recover various areas of the property . Some days I feel that woe is me and then I have to remind myself where I am and how exceptionally beautiful it is here . And then I have a cup of tea, go for a walk with Lucy and pull some more weeds.

PS : As I write this, the electrician is here putting in my track lighting in my studio and hooking up my water fountain along with fixing the electrical issues from my house inspection report. I have one cord of wood packed into my new woodshed with another cord scheduled for delivery in October . I have an appointment to get my gutters cleaned ..... progress .

August 23, 2019 Every Day is a Gift

Today it is rainy and foggy and dreary outside my art studio window. A good day to write a new chronicle for my friends and readers as well as to record the passing of summer here. Every day in our new home here on Pender Island is a gift - a gift of beauty and quiet solitude and often a time for exploring . It is also a time to reflect on many things in one's life - and to be thankful for each and every one.

Lucy especially likes to walk down by the point on the south end of South Pender where we live. The photo above was taken at low tide as a kayaker heads out on the water. Sometimes the whales pass here on their way to feeding grounds further up the island. Often there are sailboats gliding by on the usually calm waters.

Below is another image of the same area but from another vantage point. Here you can see the lighthouse at the point guiding boaters away from the rocks and acting as a marker for the harbours . Just beyond the lighthouse is the United States. There are walking trails along the ocean and quiet beaches strewn with weathered logs and seaweed and other manner of interesting ocean finds.

Here is Lucy after her morning playdate at Mortimer Spit with her doggy friends. She will remain in this unmoving state , snoring and dreaming contentedly for most of the remainder of each Monday . Mondays are generally my assigned day to get various "chores" accomplished so we can have the rest of the week to do more interesting things...... so it works out well for both of us I post this picture to prove that Lucy does in fact have a down time .... normally she is going a mile a minute all day long. She has recovered from her surgery and is back to her usual full of beans self . Having been isolated from doggy friends and stuck in the house except to be put on a leash to do her business, she is raring to go and looking for trouble....

Lucy loves Tim . Lucy adores Tim . Lucy would go home with Tim in a flying minute . Tim and Jayne have quickly become dear friends to us as we navigate our new home and life on the island. They stopped by recently to see how we were making out - even as I feel the waves of loss wash over me - recently losing my only brother , Richard . Having them drop by is a gift and I must say , watching Lucy hug Tim and Tim trying to calm Lucy and stop her from slobbering all over him - can only bring laughter..... Look at this look of love ...... [ Would it be rude of me to say they kind of look alike in this photo ...]

Above: Lucy sticking close to Tim on a recent visit. It is only in pictures I realize how much Lucy is growing up .

Living in the moment

I had hoped to have all the things fixed around the property by early summer so I could spend time exploring with Lucy , and meeting artists and others and frankly- painting in my studio . I was hoping to settle into a routine - albeit a new one- sooner rather than later.... but life cannot be planned . Sorting out me , Lucy's emergency, and my family's short number of days to say goodbye to a father, grandfather, husband, brother and friend has meant living each day as a new gift and especially living in the moment.

So, the compost piles are still in the yard, and the wood has yet to be delivered and studio lighting , while ordered, will take some time to arrive and then to have the electrician install it all and fix the various other electrical issues needing fixing . Trying to arrange for a service provider to come from Vancouver Island to clean the ducts and fireplace is also a challenge but I am making progress. And my old friend Eric, who worked magic on my old cottage will come to fix the leaky workshop and greenhouse roof sometime soon.

But the woodshed is now built so I have a place to put the wood when it comes. Many of the aggravating issues have been sorted out with help from a new friend and handyman - Ken [ who Lucy also adores by the way .... and who delivered us apples from his apple trees .] I am going to make pie filling and freeze the filling for baking later.

Above: Lucy checking out the beginning of the woodshed . Below: Best sushi ever ... so happy to be able to order fresh sushi on the island and believe me - it is awesome . It is a gift to be able to enjoy such a treat .

I have been muddling around in my studio . I should have a few things finished one day soon . I am finding it difficult to focus ... I suppose grief has something to do with that. Some artists are unable to create again for long periods of time after losing a loved one. But I find solace in my studio . It is a gift to have this space in which to work and paint and just be.

Tomorrow is the Pender Islands Fall Fair. It is a very big deal and I am really excited to go and see everything..... This year's theme is " Resilience"..... Perhaps I will adopt it as my theme for this first year here in my new home . I'll try and take pictures.

Below see my new artist card and logo ..... its a reboot ... new home, new studio, new card. PS I have named my studio " Robin's Nest" studio .... I will need to create a banner /sign soon ....

August 4, 2019 Learning to Fly

This is the time of year when many new baby birds are being taught how to fly out of their nests.
Lucy and I sit on the back deck and watch the spectacle before us. Our house sits high up on the side of Oxbow ridge with Bedwell Harbour and the ocean below us. Our location is perfect for teaching birds to fly because of the updrafts pushing the babies high into the sky where they circle tentatively and flap their wings and then take a nose dive at a 90 degree angle only to have one of their parents swoop below them chortling at them to flap their wings and steering them back to the next updraft where the practice continues.

The woodpecker parents that I have watched all summer at the tree outside our bathroom window brought their two babies along to begin to teach them what and where to find food. They have been coming every day with the babies until yesterday , when the babies came alone. Today, too, only the babies sit in the tree. Have they " flown the nest " and their parents for good? We shall see. See the babies in the photo above.

Bountiful harvest

plums plums plums........ and more plums. Apples are coming..... more tomatoes than I can eat from one plant .... and look at that zucchini! Now the yellow plums are being picked and eaten.... yummy. I have learned how to tend the grapevine and the figs are also about to be picked..... My surroundings amaze me every day . Hopefully by next year I will have figured out what to do with all this bounty .

Lucy's visit to Victoria Emergency Vet

On a Sunday morning about three weeks ago I had to rush Lucy to The Victoria Vet Hospital after the side of her face swelled to twice the normal size. Being a Sunday, the Vet was not on island but he generously called me and urged me to get her in for medical attention.

She underwent surgery and had a drainage tube put in to relieve the pressure and allow the infection to drain . She was a trooper and with the help of Amanda, who gave up her Sunday to meet me at the ferry and guide me to and from the hospital , we managed to get back home on the last ferry , loaded with antibiotics and pain meds. I am truly grateful for the Vets, both in Victoria and on Pender Island, and for Amanda who supported me in a very difficult time .

Fingers crossed that Lucy is on the mend and that another visit to the hospital will not be required... The culprit causing the infection may have been spear grass [ a nasty wild grass common on the island]... It has been over 3 weeks since she was able to go to Mortimer Spit for a playdate with her doggy pals..... maybe tomorrow we will go and say hello again.

Life Lessons

I quote from Sarah Ban Breathnach, who wrote " Something More"-

"If we are alive, we cannot escape loss. Loss is a part of real life. "Have you ever thought, when something dreadful happens, a moment ago things were not like this; let it be then and not now, anything but now?" the English novelist Mary Stewart asks.

But it is now and my only sibling , my brother Richard is no longer in this world with us and the loss is so very difficult to accept. But his spirit is free to fly , and this is how I think of him. Soaring above the clouds . He loved his birds. It was often a topic of conversation when we talked on the phone from his home in Nova Scotia. So, as Lucy and I sit on the back deck at sunset and watch the starlings flit through the air ; as we watch the eagles come in to roost; as we hear the woodpeckers echoing in the forest or see the hummingbirds roost for a moment on the grape arbor, I think of my brother and hold him close in my heart .

" All the great blessings of my life are present in my thoughts today"
Phoebe Cary

July 10 ,2019 After the Rain

The morning is full of drifting fog and ghostly movement of mist through the trees. As Lucy and I step out on the back deck , the air is warm and sweet and full of the smell of grass and ocean after the much needed downpour last night. The foghorns out beyond the harbour sing their song repeatedly .

We walk through the yard and I am happy that all the fruit trees and plants on the property have had a good drink of water. It seemed as if one day the property was green everywhere and the next all the gras turned brown and shrivelled under my feet to a dry and crackling crisp. This is summer on Pender Island . So scary to imagine anyone throwing a cigarette butt now. No one is to use a lawnmower or other equipment that might instigate a park. But after a rain like this one, all the equipment comes out and work is hastily completed where urgent. Water hoses need to be close by at all times. Silly tourists who think they can start a fire on the beach are described as invasive species. [ well.... its a love-hate relationship - let's face it].

As we walk to other side of the property, the aroma of ripening plums on the tree is amazing. [ I have a plum story - to come later].....

II thought I would preserve some plums, pitted and cut in half in a light syrup with a little rum or brandy and cinnamon. I thought this would be an easy way to deal with the ever ripening plums and they would be enjoyable over ice cream or cake or whatever........ Okay, so obviously, these plums don't work for such an endeavour . After two minutes in the syrup, they all turned to mush ...... and do not look like whole plums in the jar anymore. This first effort might work as a sauce on pork or chicken or something ..... not sure ... but glad I just did a small batch..... I will see what happens when I try making plum jam on the weekend .. stay tuned. If anyone has some good recipes for plums like these, let me know.

Things in my garden in July

The grape arbor if ill of little grapes . The olive tree is beginning to produce flowers. one of the dwarf apple trees has ripening apples. Below is a picture of the grape arbor by the container gardens in the back yard.

When I show you pictures of my yard, all you see is the beauty . And there is a lot of beauty in my surroundings. But a great deal of the area was a mass of overgrown weeds and neglect and I have been working little by little to take back the yard while allowing it to remain as natural as possible . It is not a job for the faint of heart and it will not be accomplished in a few weeks . But that is okay . The side of the house used to have a lovely curved and shaped garden . I have been trying to find that shape of the old garden and have been removing dozens of wheelbarrows full of noxious weeds from the area . See a couple of pictures of this herculean effort.
Time to take Lucy to the Vet. I will share pictures of our new baby woodpeckers in my next episode...

June 1, 2019. June is here . The frogs keep singing

What is different about living here ? I have been asked that question now more than once. When I think about it I want to say that Everything is different . At least it feels that way to me at the moment. But please remember I am very much a newbie to Pender and most certainly someone who has never lived as an islander before . And much of the newness for me pertains to discovering how to navigate living on an island and how to be an "islander" ... So each new day brings new things ; new discoveries; new challenges . I really haven't attempted to do many things to meet new people and become a real part of the community . I am still trying to recover from all the challenges that came with the initial decision to move here. My mental and to some degree my physical well-being took a hit that only time can mend . So I am taking one day at a time . But let me tell you a few of the things that are different about living here [ from my perspective only ....].

1. A Visit to the Vet

I took Lucy to the Vet last week. It means a drive on the main road from South Pender where I live to Hope Bay on North Pender - the trip covers most of the island from one end to the other .

I stop at the bottom of the private driveway on the way, to pick up my mail at the mailbox. I am greeted by a mother deer and her doe chewing quietly only a few feet away. I say hello and she greets me in her own way and then carries on with her chewing. Only the birds sing in this part of my world . All is quiet .

The first part of my drive is in the valley, where the Enchanted Forest exists. On either side of the road are an abundance of wild roses - pinks and whites. I find them in my yard as well - so fragrant that I must keep the window rolled down just to soak in the aroma.

I pass some farm stands, where there are bags of manure, some cut flowers and a sign that says eggs are available.

The drive is mostly around very windy roads by the ocean, with tall trees on either side and the light dances around through the trees making a happy dance. I drive around 40 km on average , slowing to 30 or 20 km on the really windy bits. I must cross a one-way bridge from South Pender to North Pender, go by the quail crossing sign [ still waiting to see them] and head through the farming country in north pender.

Along the road, I see two magnificent enormous black pigs , some goats, sheep and chickens not to mention a few interesting art pieces.

On the return trip, we stop at the Driftwood so I can pick up milk and Salt Spring liquorice at the bookstore and yes- a nice bottle of wine . Today is treats day. I stop at Petals and Paws and pick up a couple of Lucy's favourite chews for being so good at the Vet. It has been a very enjoyable drive, with only one or two other vehicles along the way . A drive in the country - meditative and invigorating. Quite different from battling the Ironworker's bridge on any given day.

2. Property Taxes

So I received my first property tax bill here. I had no idea what the taxes would be like but I was expecting them to be significant . After all, there are fewer than 300 full-time residents on South Pender and I understand around 5000 on all of Pender Island. That is not many people for the services required and the services seem to be excellent from what I can tell. So, what is different about the tax bill here? Here is a list of taxes included on the property tax bill :

Provincial Services :
- school tax
- provincial rural tax
-police tax

Local Services:
- CRD electoral area SGI
-Fire Protection
-South Pender Parks & Recreation
-South Pender Island Trust area levy
Capital regional hospital district
-BC Assessment
-Municipal Finance Authority [ 18 cents??]

Parcel Tax
- SGI wharf facilities

I will be honest with you . I don't know what a couple of these are and will have to find out but for the most part , they all seem to be services I am happy to pay for . I told you that I pay my own fees when I drop off a bag of garbage to a collection site - user pay : I like it . I hardly have any garbage and it encourages me to work even harder to eliminate garbage altogether. I pay an annual $ 20 fee to drop off my recycling and recycling here on the island is a very big deal in more ways than you can imagine. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle are words that most islanders live by every day.

So, what's different? I think attitudes are different . What is important to Islanders and an almost daily focus are things like the environment, the land, the oceans, and working to protect it all. But I like it. I think I will feel like my taxes mean something when I pay the bill. I like that.

What's new in June on the property

Everything is a surprise. I have more pictures to show you but I will save them for another chronicle. Suffice to say, its fun to walk around and see what is showing up now that I have cleaned and raked up the debris so that the seeds hiding underneath can surface and say hello to the world.

Enjoy June everyone .

May 9, 2019 : Discoveries

Yellow flowering tree by the front gate

I am writing this chronicle especially for my big brother Richard . This morning you called me to talk . It was 6:30 am. I was awake anyway but I always know it is you or Barb when the phone rings early . You remind me I should be up anyway and out working in the garden. You are right . Lucy- not so much. She looks at me from bed with that look that says who is waking us up ...... and she turns around and goes back to sleep. Its nice to hear your voice - even if the words are challenging you right now . My brother phones from his hospital room - he is surrounded by family and friends and the best doctors . He still likes to talk more than I do. That's okay. I like to listen.

So I took these pictures just for you , big brother. You would love this place I'm sure. It is kind of like living in a park all the time. I didn't realize when I chose this property just how many plants actually grew here. I thought it was a very natural setting and would be much less work than my cottage garden was in North Vancouver.

But I am making new discoveries every day. New things are blooming and wild and cultivated plants are popping up everywhere it seems.

Who knew that Richard and I would both have a love for plants and growing things and also the birds and wild critters that we attract to our environment. I think Richard is a much better gardener than I will ever be. He seems to have a natural touch that I don't have. I will never forget the amazing dahlias he grew in their last home. Magnificent. I wish I had some pictures of his dahlias. They would be worth trying to paint in all their glory.

Walking Wounded - The Earth week clean-up project

I said to you a week or so ago that I wish we could turn back time so working in the yard would be easier. Also, I would have you out here doing the heavy lifting. When I couldn't find someone to come in and do a clean-up of the property , I rented a large [very large] disposal bin that was delivered to the property, bought a new wheelbarrow and began the job of cleaning up all the deadwood, broken tree limbs from the winter storm that hit here very hard in December and all the stuff that people seem to throw in various places or that arrive by wind - plastic, lots of old metal , rebar, old wire, pieces of toys, concrete pieces, cardboard and so on.

I was also concerned from a fire hazard perspective that all this dead stuff around the edges of the property was not a good thing. Now that I have removed so much of the dead leaves and debris , the grass and wild things are growing again and everything is turning green. It was a gargantuan effort and not without a few blisters, banged up fingers and toes .

Trying to do anything with Lucy is a test in patience. Yet I feel guilty if I put her in the house so we try to work things out. If I put twigs and tree boughs in the wheelbarrow, she needs to take something out so she can take it to the bin when I take the wheelbarrow.

But she must have a rake of her own . If I don't give her a rake, then she takes mine and I find myself walking the property looking for it . Now I give her her own rake and tell her to bring her rake when we head over to a new area of the yard. Here is a picture of her stealing my rake :

I filled the disposal bin to the brim and now that it is gone I feel lighter . I feel like I accomplished something for sure.

Now I can turn to the garden beds . I left them to see what was growing in them . I discovered that I have morel mushrooms growing on my property in spring [ I didn't know what they looked like so had to ask Penderites]; lots and lots of asparagus ; also rhubarb just starting to turn red; herbs ; a fig tree ; several small fruit trees - apples, pears, cherry, plum and berry bushes- not sure what they are yet. I also have strawberry plants in flower . I am really surprised at everything that is here . I have a lovely lilac bush in bloom and then there are the arbutus trees.... so many things to discover. Here are a few pictures of some of these wonderful discoveries:

I am told that this is a fig tree.

wild daisy -like flowers

Lucy hang in out on the back deck after fighting with the water hose

A place to rest- brought from my cottage

Where Lucy and I have afternoon tea [ or wine]

As spring turns into summer here on Pender Island , I send all my love to my big brother , to Barb and Jamie and Connie Lynn and everyone in my brother's life ..... I hope you enjoy this brief glimpse of my discoveries this month. Call soon...... Love you.

April 13, 2019 Spring

Spring is definitely springing here on Pender Island . Lucy and I try and wander around our property daily to see what we can see - and there are lovely surprises cropping up everywhere. While the property is generally in a state of " naturalness", there are gems of beauty everywhere . So, here are just a few images of our finds over the past several days. New beginnings , as in the season of spring , are so inspiring , and I am back in my studio working over painting themes and compositions .

So, Lucy and I go down to Mortimer Spit on Monday mornings so she can have a playdate with other dogs who meet there . I have learned , however, after some research that the boxer breed is not considered a swimmer due to its large chest cavity, short breathing structure and usually lack of tails. Having said that, Lucy doesn't care. She runs full out along the water's edge and sneaks in up to chest. She is just happy to be there . Here are a couple of pictures of her and her dog mates.

The weather today is awful - wet and windy and cold. But soon, the sun will come back out and we will sit on the deck and watch the cruisers and sailboats coming in and out of Bedwell Harbour .

Here are a couple of Lucy Boxer crazy photos of the week: hanging out ...

March 26, 2019 Becoming an Islander

Two months and counting. Spring is here . The robins are chirping and so are the tree frogs [ yes, I am told they are tree frogs].... I leave my bedroom window open at night and the frog symphonies sing Lucy and I to sleep. She still isn't quite sure what to make of the voluminous singing when she goes out to do her business before bedtime. She stops, cocks her head and listens intently . She looks at me as if to ask me to explain the amazing chorus that surrounds us ..... It makes me laugh .

The other night , just after dusk , we had a visit from a horned owl - a giant it seemed to me - that came and sat in the highest limb of the tree outside the kitchen window. I tried to to take pictures but the light was fading and he/she was at a distance. But if you look closely below - you will see an outline, just the same . I am hoping she will come back.

Since my last note, I have managed to organize my recycle boxes and visit the Island Recyle Depot on Otter Road. It is an impressive operation and was very busy the day I checked it out. Virtually everything can be recycled here . In addition , there is a shop where stuff is fixed and resold cheaply from donations; and there is a FREE shop - where people can take anything they can use from partial cans of paint to electrical stuff to - well so much re-usable stuff it was fascinating to peruse it all.
Keeping the island clean and environmentally healthy is a big concern and it is great to see the effort to recycle .

Garbage is a whole other issue of course . Here, one must pay a "per bag" fee of $ 8
and deliver one's garbage to a centre that takes it for disposal. Burning is allowed on the island for a few winter months and then is restricted for the rest of the year. I hope not to burn - not very environmentally friendly . I like the idea though that I pay only for my own garbage. IN the 2 months I have lived here I have accumulated 1 bag of garbage and I hope that will be reduced over time.

I made it to the Community Thrift Store last week with a box of donations from my unpacking and came away with a brand new, never worn Ralph Lauren Chaps flannel shirt [ original price tag $ 60 ...... purchase price $ 4 ..... ] You can never have too many flannel shirts in my opinion.

I have begun to clean up my property from the winter storms in December and early February . At the same time I am watching a zillion little green shoots coming up and waiting to see what they bring - but daffodils and other spring bulbs are flowering now and the robins are busy checking out the worms in the gardens . I have some ornamentals that are also in flower or beginning to flower ... quite lovely . Nevertheless my mission is to keep the property as natural as possible

Lucy celebrated her one year birthday on March 6th with a big turkey neck . On Monday mornings we go to Mortimer Spit where she has a playdate with 7 or 8 other dogs her age and they race around and play freely chasing toys in and out of the water. She may not be a water dog but is quite happy to chase the other dogs and run along the water to her heart's content. It also results in long naps at the end of the morning .

Below are some of the images viewed from my windows over the past several days. The views are ever-changing . Now that I am back in my studio , I can gaze out the windows and look at the changing sky and water and it has this calming effect on my creative efforts - I can slow down now and just enjoy the process .

March 5, 2019 Sunset and Moonrise

The sunsets here are spectacular even as they are impossible to capture on camera. But now that the skies are clearing, every sunset is special . This is the view that is shared with me every evening. Lucy and I try to have tea around 4 pm out on the deck and watch the sunset. We both also have a small treat. Routines are beginning to form .

We have had a successful week. Lucy and I meandered from South Pender [ we are almost at the bottom end of the island on Oxbow Ridge] to more northerly Pender to visit the Vet and get records sorted. She had her nails cut and like always she wasn't interested in leaving the Vet. She loves everyone.

We headed north to the Hardware Store to get her Dog tag. [ Yes, the hardware store].... She is legal now on the island. I also loaded up on necessities like a propane lighter for when the power goes out again [ as it inevitably will]; pails and brooms [ mine didn't quite make it to the island] and other necessities like sink plugs.

Then we headed south and found the Library - so now I have a library card and books to read again . The library is really lovely and it makes me happy to support it. The Nu to You store is right beside it , but that will be for another day.

And, then , Lucy met Valerie- one of Pender's dog trainers . Yes, Lucy and I will be back to classes now that all the turmoil is over. In fact, we head out for another lesson this week. Lucy is quite enamoured with Valerie and Valerie definitely has the touch . Now if Valerie can just get me trained , life will be good.

Happiness and contentment comes in many forms . I finally found some special artwork that I love [ Michel LeRoux's etc] and found the places I wanted to hang the works. They are up now and I walk by them and greet them as old friends to carry me in my new world.

It takes time to figure out where things should go in a new house- especially after twenty years in one place where everything had a place. But it is so much more enjoyable to wander around and think about where the right place for each thing should be.... or whether it must go .

Lucy turns one year old tomorrow. She will get a turkey neck with her candle. I might try a glass of wine .... on the deck .... to watch another sunset.

This image was taken from my bedroom window. The many large windows allow me to track not only the moon but the stars as well..... Van Gogh's " A starry , starry night " might very well have been painted looking out these windows.

February 13, 2019 - After the Storm

Above is one of the views from my kitchen window after the snow came and went.It is a winter wonderland. I felt like I was staying at a ski chalet high in the mountains as the storm moved in and all visibility disappeared. As did the power - again. And here, everything depends on electricity . Heat, light, most appliances. Without power one is virtually stranded.

So, here are a few observations I have had the time to make over the past several days. If you are contemplating a new adventure in life or just new experiences, then you must be open to what comes along with the choices you make. Ingredients to make your experience successful include Positivity and even more importantly, a big dose of humour. With an estimated 235 full-time residents on South Pender, I was mentally preparing myself to wait for some time to actually see power restored. It would seem to me that efforts would more likely be focussed on outages with the largest number of consumers. I reminded myself that last January I was freezing my b..... off in Mexico so this is just part of my new story for 2019.

Lucy staying warm under a blanket [ and getting a bit grumpy to be honest] and digging out some peanut butter by the fire. Trying to keep Lucy entertained through the storm was an interesting exercise. We napped a lot under the duvet in the upstairs bedroom.

[
This was the view from the upstairs bedroom window of the last storm as it approached us . All visibility is gone and it felt like we were in the clouds.
Who knew that Lucy would love the snow so much . She hates the rain . But I can't keep her away from the white stuff. I bought her a coat and she really likes it. Now if I could get her to wear boots so she won't freeze her paws...... [ See below - Lucy working on a snow fort and getting ready to go back out with her coat on].

My car is a looking a little lost in all the snow . I signed up for emergency notices on my phone yesterday . Sandy [ my real estate agent and new found friend] checked in on messaging to see that we were okay [ they have 4-wheel drive so are able to move around these roads a little better than me]. Jayne & Tim checked in as well. Nice .

This morning the power came on, the coffee is good, the sun is shining and Lucy is outside making a snowman [ seriously]... I hope everyone out there is safe, and warm and as happy as Lucy and I are today.

February 6, 2019 - We are Finally Home

The sun is rising on a new day in our new home . Lucy turns 11 months old today. Her short life has been full of rather a lot of adventures but she seems perfectly content to go with the flow. And now here we are. We made it . Hoorah!

After all the warm weather and sunshine, last Friday [ moving in day] was chilly and rainy , turning to a cool mist by noon.The sky was dull and overcast. The rain overnight made everything a bit dreary but for Lucy and I it was all about getting the keys and moving in . The Nahanee moving crew were on the ferry from North Vancouver and on their way. If you ever want the best local movers around, talk to me and I will tell you the saga of my moves and the incredible support and the job that these guys did for me. I am forever in their debt to get me through all the trials and tribulations of the past several months.

Tim & Jayne, new found friends [and who rented me their cottage] , so graciously offered to puppy sit Lucy for the day . [ Thank the Lord for big mercies .... we never would have succeeded with Lucy underfoot]. So, if you ever think you want to explore this incredible island and want the perfect place to stay , talk to me about Tim and Jayne's place and I'll see if I can hook you up.
Here I am with my car in front of the front gate to " MY" new home; waiting for Sandy [ my realtor] to come with the keys to the house to officially welcome me to our new home . The property is gated and fenced to keep the many deer on the island out of the property. Without such measures , one cannot grow anything - the deer eat everything.

Before calm , there is chaos!

Lucy wants to be helpful. She especially likes ripping the tape off the boxes. She opens and I organize. She likes the paper too. I haven't got her trained to put the paper back into the boxes yet but I am working on it.

Some of the chaos in our new kitchen. The cupboards are crafted from local woods by a master...... they are so beautiful .

Lucy and her ball up on one of the sitting areas in the kitchen . She can look out the window here in the daytime and watch me cooking . In the next picture , Lucy is sound asleep in front of one of the windows looking out to the water.

And then there was snow? IN the Florida of Canada?

I wasn't really prepared to wake up Monday morning to a power outage and cold but there you have it . That little house you see above on the left houses a big old generator but I didn't think I would have to use it so soon and anyway, I was counting on the power outage being short-lived. But I did clean out the fireplace and with lots of kindling left by the previous owners I started a fire and Lucy curled up in front of the fireplace and generally we stayed warm. No morning coffee though .... The snow is mostly gone now and it seems to be warming up some today.

So many views - A magical Place

Of course we have only been here for a few days . The clouds have begun to clear. The above images are of the same view with the same tree but you can see how the light shifts magically through and behind it . There are many views from many windows in my new home. Large floor to ceiling windows make me feel as if I am looking at a new painting through each one .... a changing landscape of colours, and images; light and mood. It is really something and I have to pinch myself to believe I am here ; that we are here - Lucy , my crazy boxer and me .
I am sure it will be Christmas before we are unpacked. But that's okay. We are home . And wait till you see the stars......

January 31, 2019 - My Crazy Boxer

Today is closing day. Waiting for all the paperwork to go through . Waiting. Waiting . These past two weeks have been especially easy to navigate with hosts like Tim & Jayne, pictured above with Lucy [ who I admit is infatuated with Tim and not likely to want to leave her home here for the past two weeks]. I think she is likely to have some withdrawal symptoms. Tim, on the other hand will likely work on a nap or two.

Tim and Jayne were in work mode the past couple of days - moving rock and levelling ground for a new parking spot . Lucy was totally unhelpful in this exercise although Tim was intent on getting Lucy to dig rock, move branches and generally be a total nuisance. She was pretty good at digging rock. She was so happy and Tim is an amazingly kind and patient person. I must admit, watching the whole thing play out between them [ and Jayne also] was worth the price of admission . Lucy is such a funny creature ..... see her "helping" below -

Resting : Lucy has a smile as big as the moon - a very happy puppy. Tim ? Not sure what he thinks of all the "HELP." Lucy has been his shadow for most of the time he has stepped outdoors.

I thought I would take this picture of Lucy to share with Tim & Jayne. This is Lucy's posture after working outside alongside Tim. She slept for over 12 hours without so much as a woof.... well done Tim.

January 30, 2019 The Home Stretch

We walk the property early morning after breakfast . Here , one can think in a quiet solitude, breathe the air off the ocean, and watch the light change in the sky as day arrives. Yesterday morning, we climbed the rise in the back part of the yard to view the ocean and just to stand still - something I have been unable to do for many weeks. And then - listen. Is it real or is it my imagination? No, it is there.. and there... and there....

The sounds are like no other. Silk dresses swishing exuberantly in a kind of dance . One, two, three, one two three..... And there they were.... a pod or two pods? I don't know enough about the southern whales that come through the Swanson Channel ... but they are frequent and can be observed often . There they were - surfacing, breathing that soft breathy sound that echoed through the air as if they were right beside us... for there was no other sound but that of their passage through the water close to the shore. It was enough to just take it all in .... as they were visible for more than a few minutes . Then they were gone.

I am told that one can watch them at Thieves Bay a little way down the road.

All I can say is that it was a magical way to start the day yesterday and these creatures carry a magic all their own .

January 28, 2019 Looking Ahead

Well then , this is the week. On Friday we will finally settle into our home , on our new island, with new plans and dreams and canvases to paint. New paths to walk and run. " The Enchanted Forest" lies just below the property . Really. Look it up . "Poet's Cove" is within a short walk . So many places to explore and gain inspiration for the paint brush and the spirit. Above, Lucy stands high on a rock looking out to the ocean and listening to the eagles high up in the trees. I wish I knew what she was thinking .

Today was a bit frightening too. As Lucy learns about her surroundings, and runs free in the fenced in property where we are staying, she is getting quite sassy . She would rather be outside than in and she has explored every inch of her new found freedom. This morning, Jayne, the property owner, took the truck outside the gate, closed the gate and headed out on the road. But Lucy had found a gap under the fencing, and in just a boxer "flash' she was out and running down the road behind Jayne, determined to go with her. I called her back. She stopped, looked at me now some distance away.... looked at the truck heading in the other direction and .... opted to follow the truck. I had no hope of catching her on foot, so ran back to get my car keys and her leash, jumped in the car and headed down the road.

Now, you must realize that Lucy has no street/road smarts...... and while there was not another soul on the road, I was thinking that Lucy would be halfway to the town centre given her speed. But luckily, she had stopped and was walking back towards the car. She knew she was "in the doghouse"...... and I didn't need the leash to get her into the car.

When we arrived back to the cottage, she quietly went inside, looked up at me with those big boxer eyes, and when I told her she was in a timeout [ a word she knows],
she quietly laid down and went to sleep. [ Later, she climbed on my lap for a cuddle and forgiveness.] What a brat!

Early in the morning [ before the fence episode], Lucy and I walked in the forest. I took the picture below of the sunrise patterns through the trees.

Friday can't come soon enough ...... I think I am getting excited.

January 27, 2019 Sunday Morning Play

Lucy seems to know that Sunday is our lazy day, our quiet day, our day to listen to CBC radio and have a late breakfast and play and nuzzle. [ I have the late breakfast while she is back on her schedule and breakfast is promptly at 8 am please and thank you ]. It feels special that there is nothing we have to do or worry about today. My brain is starting to relax after the mayhem of the past many weeks. The sun is supposed to shine later today but right now there is a mist over the ocean and while warm, the sky is dull. The broom [ a kind of shrub native to this area of the world] is beginning to bloom at the roadside in all of its brilliant yellow colours . Yes, it is a different ecosystem here in the Gulf Islands and it is hard to believe the icy winter that is playing itself out in other parts of Canada.

We wake up to the light creeping in the bedroom windows - earlier now than only a week ago. I like that I can allow my internal clock to move with the natural world - and I am amazed at how Lucy and I both sleep a deep sleep of almost 12 hours..... I think we are realigning ourselves to our new circumstances. I wait patiently to recover my normal level of energy.

Lucy is learning about her environment too. Deer turds seem to attract her attention everywhere we go. Gratefully, I don't have to watch for bears on the trails like I did on the North Shore. I also have a new challenge - how to remove pine tar from a boxer- as the sticky cones lay everywhere and Lucy likes to chase them and chew them. It was suggested that only rubbing alcohol will do it . I will have to buy some this week to try it out. Lucy doesn't seem to be having much success licking it off and how she got it on her ears I shall never know .

Below you will find Lucy looking for various places in the cottage to hide out. Interestingly, she hasn't realized yet just how much she is growing up. She comes and climbs on my lap to cuddle like she is still a pup. She doesn't care and neither do I . Happy Sunday wherever you are today. I hope the sun comes out for you .

January 24, 2019 Our Pender Island Hideaway

A hidden place on the ocean - a place to rest, to breathe, to walk, and to rejuvenate the spirit ...... and for a puppy..... well a kind of freedom she has not experienced before.... now can she possibly stay out of trouble?

January 22, 2019 -
Saying hello to the deer & other wild things

Lucy and I are both focussing on finding routine. This is especially important in the first year of a dog's life and so it will take awhile to find it again. Lucy seems to be better able to adjust than me.

This morning's walk was especially exciting . We are staying on a dead end road , so there is little in the way of any kind of traffic . This morning we walked in quiet with only the sound of the wind high in the tall trees encircling us. It felt like a tree symphony . And then , there was a burst of bird sounds- almost shrieks . I looked up , trying to recognize what was assailing my ears. And then there she was- a magnificent pileated woodpecker very close to us. Irritated at something I thought. We both stopped and gazed at this red-headed beauty .

Lucy seemed to be as much in awe as I was.... a new sight and sound for her and one that I hadn't heard or seen for a number of years. I used to see them in North Vancouver during walks in the forest, but I think they, too have left the area for quieter homes. Below is an image from the Audubon Guide online . They are large birds and beautiful in flight.

It is hard for Lucy to slow down . Everything smells new and different and she seems to have to smell everything and then, if possible , taste it too. She can't decide which side of the road she wants to explore so tries to go from one side to the other. Cruising . For the past couple of days she has been especially interested in what is obviously deer droppings ...... everywhere ...outside of the yard where we stay. Many people have fully fenced yards here- high fences - in order to keep the island deer out. This effort is critical if one wants to have any kind of garden or even trees or shrubs. The deer eat "EVERYTHING".

And then there were two - a mother and young one - right in the middle of the road. I grasped Lucy's leash tightly- prepared to be dragged off if she bolted for the deer , but no - she stopped once again - nose in the air- sniffing, sniffing, sniffing ...... trying to decipher this strange animal that was definitely not another dog.

She looked at me for reassurance. I held her close and we watched as the mother moved slowly off the road.
But then the young deer bounded into the air, leaping playfully after her mother. This was too much for Lucy as I knew it would be and I held on for dear life as she pulled me off the road to follow the deer. Brave but not too brave..... stopping again to watch them in the clearing - her tail wagging as hard as it possibly could. No barking . I don't think she wanted to scare them. I think in fact she likes them .... would like to play . But not today Lucy, not today.

We walk for an hour - in perfect solitude. There is no traffic, no sirens, no horns , no construction noise. No humans. No other dogs barking. Just quiet .Wind through the pines. A kind of peacefulness wafts over us. Lucy slows down . I am in the moment. And it is perfect. And then it is time for our nap. Home again.

January 19th, 2019

New beginnings : Saturday , January 19th, 2019

Endings
On Friday night we slept on the carpet on blankets and pillows. Lucy took it all in stride although she insisted on laying her head on my stomach at various intervals [ obviously a better cushion than the floor]. [ For more about Lucy check out " art critic" page ]. She rather seemed elated with the totally empty cottage as she could sprint from room to room and up and down the stairs in boxer speed style with nothing to impede her . It was a great game. After the movers departed and quiet settled in, I felt rather lighter. All my worldly possessions gone away somewhere to storage for the next two weeks. I definitely felt lighter. [ I wondered if I really needed much of anything back ].

The antibiotics I have been taking have done their job [ thank the Lord and Jane who prayed to the Saint for eyes to heal me] . I can see out of my right eye once again; pain gone; most of the puffiness too. I am on the mend even ifmy body aches don't seem to reflect this fact. Never mind.

Crossing on the ferry
Sleep eluded me. At 5:30 am I got up, took a shower, and began packing the car.
Suitcase, Lucy's meds; my antibiotics, lucy's toys, lucy's frozen food, shoes, coats and two books from Vicki and Pauls' lending library . [Thank you. I left some bookmarks ]. Camera, electronics and maps with instructions. At 6:30, we began our journey to the ferry terminal. Still dark, but not cold and not raining. Thanks be to the weather gods.... my eyesight is not 100% . I could take my time and the traffic on the highway was more than manageable. A beautiful light came into the sky as we headed out to the terminal. It felt like a new day and a good one.

This is Lucy's second "long" car trip . She came with me to Pender Island in the summer when I was still looking for our new home and she was a trooper. She just loves the adventure I think. She sits in the back and watches everything around her quite contentedly. She was fantastic on this trip too. She seems to understand the necessity of bathroom breaks before getting in the car. No accidents. Good puppy.

The ferry trip seemed to go by quickly . Sandy came to the Pender ferry to guide us to our retreat for the next two weeks . [ Thank you Sandy]. I must say I did get a little teary eyed as I sat on the ferry waiting to offload and saw the Welcome to Pender Island sign . I admit I took a photo. Welcome home .

The island seems more like a road maze , with winding roads , trees on all sides and deer playing and grazing with ease. The Magic Lake area where I am staying for the moment is designed to confuse the bravest of the brave.

Pond Puppy
After arrival, and unloading stuff in this simply perfect cottage retreat [ not really a cottage but a modern little house full of light with ocean views, trees and solitude] ; I let Lucy off her leash [ the property is fully fenced] and Tim offered to walk us around the property. Of course Lucy was in heaven with all this new stuff to smell and explore and no leash to hold her back. As Tim asked me if Lucy liked water, we turned to see her take a "FLYING LEAP" right into the POND. You could almost hear her little brain saying "OMG, what have I gotten myself into?" COLD and over her head she began to paddle like a dog who discovers for the first time she can swim and needs to head for solid ground. With a little help from Tim grabbing her collar, she scrambled out in quick order. The shock on her little full of beans face was really priceless. Not so full of beans in that moment. Lesson learned. [ I have the feeling Lucy will learn a number of lessons the hard way .... she seems to have no fear and goes full steam ahead].

Nevertheless this is what excites me about our new life here on Pender Island. A kind of freedom to explore and run and walk and get around without heavy traffic and noise pollution and to live with nature on all sides of the equation. And so it begins.

​Welcome to Pender Island Chronicles - Stories from my island home