March, a long time coming

Cherry blossoms arrive so much earlier for Victoria, BC than at home.

They are so lush

To the side of a stunning Japanese garden sits this lovely little pot.  

The reflection of a perfectly shaped tree captures my attention.

an early morning walk along the harbor... it's just so civilized!

What fun it is to play with BAD photo's

 more of the stunning Japanese garden at the Laurel Point Inn

My very Favorite little City!  Victoria, BC

Summer in Victoria, BC

 Chinatown, Victoria, BC - the gates to Chinatown are pretty amazing

 Red silk lanterns dance over head

 a Favorite store on the ocean side of Chinatown, Chintz & Company is definitely worth a visit

 While Market Square has fallen upon somewhat hard times it houses one of our favorite restaurants Cafe Mexico

 Love the graffiti on this brick wall - and the peek-a-boo view through the old building facade

 These beauties are hanging all along the pub side of the Swans Hotel

What a great use for an old popcorn cart

What I like and what I don't like... about blogging

One of the reasons I started blogging was.... essentially... fear. It seemed the older I got the faster time was going by. I needed to be able to slow it down a bit, make a mark... a record of the passage and what I was doing in it. I do think this is the case for a lot of people.... I could be wrong ...

I am quite pleased when I see now that I am able to look back and see what was I doing this time last year? The year before that? It’s a really fantastic diary! Of course it doesn’t contain the personal stuff that diaries are made of, but I have hit the highlights and am able to fill in from there :)

The other huge benefit to me is I have effectively catalogued my photos. Quite a while back Sweetie bought me a coolmax external hard drive which I promptly transferred my gijillion photos to. Well this was okay but I needed a system! There’s that damn right/left brain war again. So I decided simple is a good start... I catalogued the everyday photos by month and any special moments like family celebrations (like my Grandparents 75th Anniversary !!) or our vacations in their own folders. It turns out simple works for me!

So it seems the only negative is the dry spells... There are definitely times when I really have nothing to say, even to myself. I just am. I’m not necessarily doing. That brings me to a wonderful writer/blogger whos’ coined the brilliant concept of BLOGGING WITHOUT OBLIGATION. A wonderful idea and one that I have to convince myself is okay!

If you feel the same check this out: blogging without obligation

Looking back to last years entries in March I found I was recovering from carpel tunnel surgery, taking a lot of photos and running away to Victoria!  Isn't that a kick!   As a retrospective I am sharing some photos today of the gorgeous flower arrangment my wonderful coworkers sent me as a get well and the amazing Abkhazi Gardens in Victoria.

Spring is just around the corner..... in Victoria !

  Mo:le Restaurant - a favorite for us!

Sweetie and I were feeling a little bit depressed (understatement really) with the blah winter blues that us Islanders’ often experience.....then you add in the world shattering events of recent weeks, really ...depressed doesn’t seem to cover it. I’m not complaining, how can I when you compare the blessed life we lead to the millions of people around the world who are suffering so much right now. It makes my heart hurt.

We decided a weekend away from the TV and housework and our rainy cold little chunk of Vancouver Island was in order. We always run away to Victoria. It really is such a lovely little city.

 The camelias are blooming in Victoria,  in March no less!

 Pretty banners at Market Square.

Sadly this place has seen better times.  We were lucky enough to catch a weekend with a Farmers Market setting up.  It was lovely to see people using this wonderful old space.

 Sweetie is obsessed with dragons.  What's with boys and dragons? 

The reason I return over and over to Mo:le Restaurant on Pandora Street!  The Simon Whitfield Yam Omelette... let me tantalize your taste buds for a minute: Sage Roasted Yams, Onions, Peppers and Fresh Basil Topped with Goat Cheese and Served with Hot Buttered Toast and Pesto Hash Browns.  Wasn't that mean of me :)

 Love Love Love the colors of these old buildings on Johnson Street.

 A Winter Marmalade stand at the Farmers Market.  Don't they look pretty!

A lofty view of Market Square.  Such potential!

Abkhazi Gardens - Victoria BC

Sweetie had an appointment in Victoria on Friday so we decided to head there a couple of days early. We spent a warm Wednesday afternoon walking downtown, enjoying China town, Market square and the other areas around our hotel.  Thursday dawned rainy and grey so what better day to do a garden shop tour. I got out the yellow pages and made myself a nice big list. When I came across the ad for Abkhazi Gardens it seemed like the best place to begin our tour and of course, the photo ops would be great. 

Abkhazi Garden is a wonderful example of the immensely important work done by The Land Conservancy of BC.  It is well worth the price of admission.  We were thrilled by what we saw here in late March and are planning on visiting the gardens again in early summer. 

The views from the summerhouse at the top of the property are some of the best in the garden.

Across the rocky terrain a peek-a-boo view of the summerhouse shows the diverse landscape of this garden.

One of my favorite plants, the Pasque flower gently nods its head to the raindrops.

The base of this red cone spruce is the largest I have ever seen.  I had no idea they grew this big!

You know it's spring in BC when you see the Skunk cabbage blooming.  We could smell this long before we saw it!

The garden is also home to many different species of wild life.  This guy seemed to pose for the photo op.  He wasn't shy at all.   I didn't realize I had captured one of the three turtles who call this pond home~ lucky me!

I had to ask the garden steward what this amazing architectural plant was... and wouldn't you know it, I can't remember what she called it.  Next time I'm bringing a pen and paper along!

Sweetie noticed this burl perched on a stump.  Isn't it amazing.

This makes me want to make hypertufa planters - I hope Gladys will want to join me!

visit to Victoria

Sweetie and I spent the last three days wandering around  Victoria, BC. It's a wonderful small city to traipse about. From busy & noisy China Town to  Oak Bay Avenue's quaint little village atmosphere there is always something to see. We had a wonderful concoction at Venus Sophia Tea Room  in the heart of China Town ~  something I've never considered (didn't know what I was missing) a rooibos latte. They grind the rooibos very fine and treat it like ground espresso. Delicious! The decadent brownie that went with it was divine as well. Good thing we (well, I) put many miles on my feet because did we ever eat well!  We started our first day by having an absolutely huge breakfast at John's Place, recommended and patronized by locals.  By far the best omelette I have ever had! Great fuel for the day of walking ahead.  Sweetie had banana bread French toast slathered in banana's and walnuts and syrup that was reminiscent of banana flavoured marshmallow cream.  Yikes! He loved it!

I loved the view from our room at the Carlton Plaza Hotel to the Ducks Building.  Great architecture, one of many interesting things to see on Broad Street. Great hotel location for people who want to walk the city! Just down Broad street and to the right is Trounce Alley where you will find the Tapa Bar, a stupendous place to eat.  We had an eclectic mix of food starting with their latin casear salad and grilled portobello mushrooms, finishing with Bistek al Ajillo (sweetie and his beef) and pollo Armanda (me and my chicken )

Amazingly flavourful food that just hit the spot.

Earlier in the day while sweetie watched some Olympic's on TV (yes, in a hotel room, sigh) I high tailed it  over to  Opus.  An hour and a half later, I emerged with a nice big bag of tricks!  I can't wait to try out my new Derwent Graphitint pencils. Here's a review on them: drawsketch review.  My right hand is healing nicely but... might be another week or so until I can really play. 

All in all it was one of my favorite trips to my favorite small city.  From Chintz and Company , Capital Iron and Silk Road to Murchies , Munro Books , The Papery and Muffet & Louisa, there is something for everyone.  And I have the credit card receipts to prove it :)