One Wish

I have looked forward to this day for quite some time now. Wishing, (like a child with my fingers crossed), that I could have been this woman holding the Olympic Torch; high and with Canadian pride, I will share her 2010 Olympic moment in Gibsons and, partially share her memories. With passion, focus and fortitude, she steadily held this torch singing our national anthem. The flame that has travelled the earth, now rests in her hands. Our moment in time has been recorded.

My one wish? I wish what you wish for. What we all wish for. Harmony with family, friends and neighbours. Concord throughout the world. This is what the 2010 Olympic Flame has brought to me, even if it is a transient flash in time.

Grasshopper

The sweet sound of rain on the roof and the gurgling of water. This is our glorious West Coast. As much as we like the sun, we love our rain. It's a never ending battle of 'weather wants'. Today, it is raining.

Our last 'road trip' was to Earls Cove. If you were to visit the Sunshine Coast, this is the end of the highway and a ferry to Powell River would be the next leg of your journey and I must say, the most picturesque ferry in BC.

On the way back we stopped at the Grasshopper Pub for lunch. A venue just off the two-lane highway, in the forest and overlooking the ocean. Cars coming and going, people walking about and this little lady, Ruffed Grouse, walking the parking lot with us. I thought to myself, 'the bird must be here all the time'. No one paid any attention to her. In the 20 years I have been on the Coast I have seen a grouse only once, and that was high up in a tree. They are not in abundance. Asking the waitress about this she asked if maybe it was a rooster. Having re-assured her it was not a rooster, she dashed outside to see.

Yes, this was not a common event. As we get older, we realize that these fleeting moments, are indeed worth taking the time to absorb, if you recognize them. Don't be in such a hurry, you might just see something that gives you copiousness amounts of gratification.

The Anchor

At first glance, this is a 'delete' photo. Really, trash the darn thing. Let me explain what makes it so unique.

This time of year the spiders 'go all out' with their webs. Every step you take outside, a tickle of web crosses your path. Break the thread and one hour later, they re-build hoping to snag a little lunch.

Focus on the spider and web, a little up-left of centre. At the bottom of this photo, you will see a white curved 'C'. This is a broken branch that fell during the last winds, it is about 60cm (24") long. To anchor the web the spider used a section of the house, a branch attached to a cedar tree and to keep the symmetry of the web, the final 2 anchors are attached to the broken branch. The branch was lifted off the ground as she tightened the tension.

I have seen this construction many times. A small pebble or small twigs, never a large, heavy weighted branch. It is built in a good location. That being, away from my path to the garden. This will be fun to see how long it lasts.

Pretty cool stuff.

Wandering

It's been somewhat of a dream-world this summer. Snippets of events that, individually, are beguiling. Then, when pulled together, a fanciful fable that can be told and re-told. The summer has been a whirlwind, still blowing through.

I have taken to meandering through the garden. Not only to look for creatures and see vines reaching for the clouds, but to cherish family and friends. To appreciate the global network that make our hibernacula* of life so comforting.

How appropriate that I find this Western Terrestrial Garter Snake. Also known as the Wandering Garter Snake. Yes, you guessed it, another first at Deer Fern BB. Lying on my belly for quite sometime, we looked intently at each other. As the evening sun shifted, we both slithered away. I thank this snake for being part of my network.



*underground dens shared with other snakes, even other species of snakes

New Beginnings

Deer Fern Bed and Breakfast

"Where you will find adventure

and sweet romance."

Imagine waking up in the morning and seeing a new born fawn in your garden. All 'the things' you had to do that day, are now OK to do tomorrow. Then tomorrow, the fawn is still in your garden, in a new location. This goes on for 4 days. Then you think to yourself, thank-goodness for digital photography. Not only do you have 300 photographs, there is no need to leave the house and have them developed or do grocery shopping. Grocery shopping? At some point, an Innkeeper has to say to herself, "Guests? Breakfast?, you want breakfast, with all of this happening?" All my guests, that have stayed this week, have been to Deer Fern BB before. They know that this is a unique and once in a lifetime moment. Yes, I served breakfast, I'm just kidding you. Bet you didn't know that Tim Hortons delivers.

The Sweet Sound of Outdoor Bickering

Cocoa the cat has taken to sitting in front of the computer screen, whilst we are using it. This is entirely my own doing. I thought, "Wouldn't it be cute to show her hummingbirds on You Tube". Not so. Don't try this at home. She is at one with the computer screen. She is addicted. I may have to send her to an addictions counsellor. On the other hand, our little hummers are back this spring. At the moment, 3 Rufus, darting around and bickering amongst themselves. They seem competitive, nattering for a particular feeding spot. I have found a trick to keep cocoa away from my screen, I set up you tube at my husbands computer while he is away. He can't figure out why she stands in front of his screen and I am left to type away. This just might cause some indoor bickering when he finds out.

The Other Lady in Our Lives

This is an extremely unusual scene at Deer Fern Bed and Breakfast. What you are seeing is the 'Queen of Surrey', our transportation to and from the peninsula. She has been away for quite some time now, about 2 months, for an engine retro-fit. What makes this so unique is that she had been performing maneuvers for the past hour, moments before she starts her watch. The Langdale terminal and her route is not close to us and to see her come home is most certainly a treat.

The land mass behind her is Vancouver Island. We do watch the ferries go to and from the mainland (Horseshoe Bay, Tsawwassen) to Vancouver Island (Departure Bay and Duke Point).

When you come to visit the Sunshine Coast, the Queen of Surrey waits for you.

All that is Beautiful

The sun sets on just about everything, except itself. We have so many phrases about the sun setting: our golden years, chapters in a life or a day and of new beginnings.

Lying at the foot of our property, a sharp-shinned hawk nestled beside the ferns. No life, no warmth in his body. There were no apparent signs of trauma, I do not know why he died. My tears for our creatures that perrish are only dried up with hopes that his offspring are in flight. May their lives be as rich as ours.

The Positive of Negatives

We know not enough about this life of ours. Even if we try to comprehend, it is a modest understanding. Are we obligated to unite, to touch, to experience and learn? There are no obligations. This life is a short one, it is not a re-run, it is a one time deal and it slips by terribly fast. Be yourself, not what you think you should be. That, my friends, is the hardest thing to do. That, is freedom and takes a lifetime to accomplish. It's not the clothes that makes the person, its the person who wears the clothes.

This coyote knows who she is. She was born with savvy. She is also very photogenic, now I am truly jealous. And that dress, oh how you wear it with sophistication and ease.

Presence

In early December, one journey took us to Vancouver for a Stewart McLean concert. Can you call it a concert? No, not really. It is a gathering of Steward McLean's radio family. Today CBC played that concert. The temperature is warming up and with a window ajar, and we also listened to the songs of the Varied Thrush. Dozens of voices singing their hauntingly beautiful music. Listen Here. Now, imagine listening to this 30 fold, all day. Two concerts today, one inside and one outside. Take a moment to listen. This is truly a gift, the best gift I can ever give you.