Chocolate Slugs

This spring in Gibsons has been unusually damp with 10cm (4") of rainfall in one month. Deer Fern's garden are lush and magnificent. We have seen an influx of slugs this year as well. I have spent a few mornings, with my nose to the ground, scouring the grounds for slugs, almost all of them are brown, very large, about 8cm (3").

I don't consider myself a gardener, I am 'one who keeps the forest floor tidy'. And with that thought, I know my forest floor intimately. When something is out of place, it catches my eye for investigation. I credit this talent to my friend Ann. She has taught me to be observant, cherish and appreciate the small things in life, especially nature, in all forms.

No bigger than basketball, this one day old Mule Deer fawn sits on our slopped bank, hidden amongst New Zealand grass and Heavenly bamboo. The chances of seeing this are once in a lifetime. This is our second chance, two years in a row. If it wasn't for Ann and chocolate slugs, I may have never had this pleasure.

Cat-Tail Moss

Storms are an amazing experience. They spin you through an array of emotions. The storms that drive through the night are even more mysterious, your imagination uses the storms violent sounds to draw images that may or may not exist. The storm that plowed through Gibsons, BC, this week (over 100km hour) happened during the daylight. With the power out, we nestled into the house and watched. The ocean taking deep breaths and exhaling rapidly, the trees dancing like ballerinas, shedding new growth on the forest floor. A matte of cushion, soft to the foot. After the storm we ventured for a walk, to see what damage had been done. On a trail, not far from here, a cedar tree lay horizontal, blocking the trail. The trail, seemingly, looked impassible, other hikers skirting around. We, saw an opportunity. How often can a person climb a tree? Perhaps as a child, or a lumberjack. This is 'The Path Less Traveled", climb this grand cedar with our feet firmly planted on the earth. The scent of cedar thick as smoke, branches gnarly and flexible, bouncing with our touch. Am sure that tree has been bucked up by now, but we had the chance to say hello and good-bye .

Branches that have fallen, will house much life in the years to come. This beautiful Cat-Tail Moss has taken residence on such a piece of debris.

Come Visit the Sunshine Coast of Canada, stay with us, get in touch with nature.

Bird Seed

My Grandparents pioneered the Sunshine Coast in the 30's, the family history goes a long ways back. We have lived here, on and off, for 20+ years and full time for 7 of those. There is a peacefulness, a stillness, a West Coast blanket of comfort. This 'blanket of cozy' has taken a long time to embrace.

Everyday life-chores used to be the focus, now the chores are the 'coffee break' in time.


There has been much 'action-in-the-air' these days. Two eagles have been soaring through our forest. Yesterday a Sharp Shinned Hawk did the same, then perched on a branch. Having seen this bird a few times, I know that he has his own fly-through-diner and has been here on many occasions. You see, I toss a cup of bird seed down every day as the bird feeders get tossed down by the deer and bears. The cup of seed gets eaten every day, no waste. So far as I know, hawks do not eat bird seed. Hawks like other birds. Fat, healthy, plump, seed filled birds.
Explains all the feathers strewn about this winter.

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.