Weather Watching can make you Squeamish

Yikes!!!! Maybe they grow em BIG down there in Orlando!!

Watch This


It's good for a Friday Afternoon Laugh!

Remind me!

THIS

OR

THIS.......

Remind me again why we live here??????

A Trip Back in Time

So what to do when the weatherman is right and the rain plays havoc with any plans to go walking - well, if you have access to a car you go for a drive through the Sannich area of the Island along Patricia Bay. Very pretty and VERY GREEN!

I had seen advertisements for a castle in Victoria so as I was in charge of directions on the map and realized we were a few blocks from this "castle", I directed the driver to the right neighbourhood. We could see the spires of the castle over the roof tops so knew we were getting close.

We were totally unprepared though, for the splendor and the grandeur of the actual structure until we rounded the corner and pulled into the driveway.

Craigdarroch Castle - home of Robert and Joan Dunsmuir - built in the 1890's. (thanks to Barb for pointing out the 90 year age gap) Robert never did live in the home as he passed away the year before it was finished. The Castle has 4 floors plus a tower room.

The home is open to the public so we thought we would go in for a quick look - two hours later we left with a glimpse into Victorian society and an appreciation for craftsmanship in building - especially at the turn of the last century.

There were fireplaces in almost every room - this massive one above was in the main foyer. The wood panelling was incredible and apparently was shipped from the US by rail. Most rooms on the main floor were floor to ceiling panelling. As was the custom of the day by high society, sayings from works of literature were often carved into fireplace surrounds. The one on this fireplace is from Shakespeare. The main entrance (below) was completely panelled with carved mouldings and niches

On the landing to the 2nd floor was the turret alcove with the pipe organ - a room that opened up to the next two floors and could be looked down upon from balconies on each stair landing.

The stained glass in the house was beautiful and was found at almost every window.

The tour takes you through almost all 39 rooms of the house - most were set up with furniture replicating what would have been in the house determined from photos of the era. Most everything in the house was auctioned in 1909 at the time of Joan Dunsmuirs death as none of the children wanted to buy anyone's share of the estate

Another of the many turrets overlooking Victoria and showing more stained glass at the windows.

Below is a glimpse of the painted ceiling in the drawing room - two rooms located on the main floor off the main entry hall.

When the Victoria School Board bought the castle and moved their offices into the building, they put 5 layers of white paint over this ceiling. The tedious task of removing the paint is almost complete. One more layer will restore the ceiling back to it's original splendor.

The painstaking process of removing the paint was done with solvent and cu tips.

The castle has had many owners since the Dunsmuirs - the University of Victoria being one - names carved into the wood panelling of the billiard room on the third floor are preserved as part of the history of the building.

Our history is to be found in those who came before us, their struggles and their successes. By preserving the past, we can be transported back to our parents, our grandparents - even to our great grandparents time.

All in all it was a lovely day - a drive in the country and a trip back in time. A great way to spend a rainy Saturday in Victoria.

Finding Spring!

Spring is in the Air!

And it is only an hour and a half away - (not including driving time from home to the airport!) So close - and yet so far.




But find spring we did - albeit a cloudy and showery one - but that is what spring is all about according to the old adage -


April Showers bring May Flowers


(although in Victoria - that might mean

February Showers bring March Flowers)




The temperature is a balmy 12 degrees. Those of us not yet aclimated to the warmer temperatures keep overdressing - not quite believing that 12 degrees means you do not need the three layers of warmth that spring time on the prairies dictates.

Yesterday - the weather forecast was for Heavy Rain but we were determined that a little rain was not going to deter us from walking about. Umbrella's in hand we set out. We never opened those umbrellas - there was no rain and the sun even poked out off and on all day. We spend a very enjoyable morning at the Provincial Museum - a place full of history of both our ancestors and of our world.




We ventured out by car to explore the south-west side of the island with a trip along the very windy (that's curvey not the breeze - crazy english language!!) road up to Port Renfrew. With the Kilometer signs showing 80 km it should have taken about an hour. We did not anticipate the often 40 km speed limits on the twists and turns nor the one lane bridges that made you pause to peer through the fog and around the next bend for headlights that signalled that someone had to wait. We prairie folk - used to 80 km meaning just over 45 minutes of driving along straight roads - quickly find out that in BC, 80 km means 2 hours of twists and turns and ups and downs and when the moist pacific air settles a foggy mist over the road any thoughts of speed are thrown out the window.

Along the way we stopped at Sooke to buy some sandwiches at the bakery and then again at River Jordan where the vastness of the Pacific Ocean gives one pause. We stepped out of the car and listened to the waves crashing on the rocky beach and breathed in the moist, spring air.


Once we reached Port Renfrew, we stopped for only about 15 minutes concerned about the fog we had encountered getting thicker as the day wore on.

Somehow though, the trip down did not seem so long, nor so twisty although my stomach told me otherwise.

All in all - so far - we have definitely found Spring and what a welcome it is. We know what we have to look forward to once we are home.

Today will be more exploring - although we have learned our lesson about dressing for Spring weather and we have learned not to believe the weatherman - although those umbrellas may still be carried along - just in case.

WARNING - Global Warming moves the Sun!!!!

So in the continuing debate over just how much Global Warming is affecting our world I came across this little ditty from our favorite tax-payer supported broadcaster.

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2007/03/09/nu-sun.html

Riiiiggghhhhtttt..........

Moments to Enjoy

I read the following essay by Ralph Marsen that speaks to the fact that we should enjoy every moment as it comes!

Find something to enjoy and to sincerely value about whatever you are doing. And you will add power and effectiveness to your efforts.

Realize that anything is enjoyable to you solely because you have decided for it to be enjoyable. It's a decision that can create much value.

Instead of fighting against your own actions, give energy to them. Instead of making yourself miserable, allow yourself to enjoy.

It's great when you can make positive plans and enjoy following through on them. Yet even when things don't turn out as planned, you can find something to value and enjoy.

Learn to find enjoyment in life's surprises, and those surprises can yield great treasure. Choose to enjoy those times when you get knocked off track, and you'll discover the quickest way to get back on track.

You are at your best when truly enjoying life. So allow enjoyment to bring out your best in every situation.


How often do we admonish ourselves for doing something "enjoyable" while there are "things that need doing".

We sit down and read while the dishes sit in the sink.

We watch a TV program knowing that the floor needs vaccuming

We spend time on our art knowing that the garden should be weeded.

Why is it that we think that we are somehow "goofing off" or "lazy" when we are doing something we enjoy?

So today - just once - when you are admonishing yourself for doing one thing instead of another - remember - enjoy the moment. The dishes will wait, the garden will wait and those dust bunnies will lie there sleeping until another time.

Relish the choice you have made - it makes life enjoyable.

Things I Learned Today

The thing about learning is to actually prompt change in the future!!

Today I learned that I NEED TO DO ONE THING AT A TIME!!!!!

Today I learned that

GETTING THE INGREDIENTS OUT OF THE FREEZER TO MAKE A SMOOTHIE IS NOT THE TIME TO CLEAN ALL THE OLD, DRY BREAD OUT OF THE FREEZER!!!

Sigh........

One Website I LOVE to visit

We all have our list of "Favorites" on the website - the list of sites we visit often. Some are for shopping, some for travel, most for information we need to access for our jobs or just to find something quickly. Then there are the ones we access just to feel good.

One website I love to visit often is someone whose talent is becoming more and more obvious each time.

As an artist I recognize her use of the principles and elements of design to make intriguing and interesting photographs. She seems to have an innate ability to know just when to click that camera lens. And most of them are so darned CUTE they must make you feel GOOD!! (especially those little fairies).

So I encourage you to add her site to your list of favorites and just go and visit to make yourself smile. (Click on "talent" to spend some time on her website - and contact her if you are interested in her photography).

Make sure you turn the music on - it just adds to the enjoyment. Check out the new additions to the gallery - especially the scenery ones - they are magnificent! Scroll your cursor over the small prints at the bottom of the page, sit back and enjoy. (Make sure you wait long enough on each photo for the big photo to appear. )

Our 24 Hour Walk-Thru

This morning (-20 with ice fog). Sigh...... I sure wish that Global Warming would kick in!

Anyhoo - Pat noticed that there were lots of tracks and scrapings in our back yard. He checked out the tracks and discovered that several deer had been browsing on the left overs from the fall cleanup.

The Tracks came out of the bush at the back and our noctural visitors took several detours through the whole yard sampling many different food sources.

We had thought my compost heap would be the prime stop, however I took some scraps out there this morning and the snow cover shows that whatever is under that blanket was not what suited their taste buds.

The leftover sunflower heads in the flower pot seemed to strike their fancy.

The continued their saunter through the buffet testing from the many shrubs and plants, taking liberties to scrape the snow cover away to enjoy as much of the delicious morsels left close to the ground.





They then took a path up through our yard
stopping to browse on the small shrub planted beside our ground level deck.

They finally decided that they had had enough of our buffet and their tracks continued northwest through the yard of the new house next door in search of other, perhaps better supplicants.


I guess we all deserve a few treats now and then and a little pruning is always good for a plant.......right???