Wedding day!

For several months I have been helping the daughter of a good friend of mine plan her wedding and after months of planning the only thing we didn't take into consideration was what would happen if it rains. After all - as I was constantly told "It never rains the last week of July in Vancouver!" Well, apparently this year is an exception and the day of the wedding I awoke at 5 am to the sounds of thunder, lightening and rain. I paced the floor until noon when gratefully the sun decided to shine! Causing me to ask "What was I worried about?"
The wedding was wonderful, the bride looked radiant, the parents, on both sides, were rightly proud and the guests were delightful.
Although the wedding has tired me out I would not have missed this experience for anything.
This picture, taken with the bride's parents in-law, is the only one of the wedding that I have right now, but stay tuned and I will post a picture of the bride when I get one.

Day is done

It is that time when all the hustle and bustle of the day begins to dwindle and the cares of the day melt into the gentle ripples of the ocean waves. People talk a little quieter and their soft laughter wafts through the air mingling with the calls of the gulls heading for their nests. A time when your mind begins to wander to calm places and special memories. Thoughts of those we love nestle inside us and our dreams bring us hope for tomorrow. The time of day when an ordinary little goose becomes a lovely work of art.

On the Sea

"Oh ye! who have your eye-balls vexed and tired,

Feast them upon the wideness of the Sea;"

John Keats

Gotta love this

One thing I have always loved about growing up on the Sunshine coast is the wild life. I can remember walking to school and being delighted to see a mother bear and her cubs cross the road in front of me. I guess I was pretty stupid, but it never crossed my mind to be afraid of them. I always knew that if you left them alone and kept some distance between me and them I they would never hurt me. I loved to walk home from a friends on a spring evening and see deer and their fawns grazing on the side of the road. I was enchanted by them and I would stand for long periods of time, perfectly still, just watching them.

This year after the Sea Cavalcade parade we drove up the coast to Sechelt and stopped for lunch at Davis Bay. There on the water front, abandoned on the shore by it's mother, who was probably fishing nearby, was a brand new baby seal!

I could not believe my eyes. He looked so vulnerable there in the surf with the waves tossing him around. He made you just want to scoop him up and cuddle him, but of course that would be irresponsible of us. The wild life rescue informed us that his mother would probably be back to get him once she had finished fishing for food. Still....it was hard to just walk away from this little guy and I can only hope that he is happily swimming along side mom right this minute!

Seeing that little seal just made my day and just when I thought the day could not get any better I was in for yet another surprise.

This little deer was grazing on the side of the road and just like when I was a little girl I stood on the other side of the road holding my breath and not moving a muscle lest I scare him away. I shouldn't have worried as he was much too busy eating his dinner to care about me.

Sea Cavalcade Time Again!

Got up at the crack of dawn to go to the Sea Cavalcade on the Sunshine Coast again this year. It is beginning to be a tradition to go there and spend a lazy day in the sunshine watching the parade and eating hot dogs!

This time the day was hotter than I have seen it in many years in July. The temperature got up to 34 degrees at times, however it did not stop this kid from racing down the hill over and over again just a few inches from the scortching pavement! He was quite a site to see and I kept trying to get pictures of him as he sailed down the hill just ahead of the next float. I must admit I was mesmerized by the speed at which he flew down there and was very glad that he was wearing protective gear on his head at least! After taking several shots of him doing this he decided to take off his helmet and pose for a picture!

I think maybe this kids has a future as a real performer! Thanks for the show!

LOOK THE'RE TAKING OUR PICTURE.....

DO YOU THINK WE MAY BE ON TV DAISY?

It was a lovely day in the Fraser Valley today. The sky was a beautiful blue and the water was calm and lovely. Spent the day with Lucy and Karen on the beach at Kilby. Lucy always in love with that place spent 4 hours chasing her ball and swimming. She is always so delighted by going there that I swear you can almost see her smile. She dances and bounces as she runs to bring us her ball. She was even more delighted when Karen and I joined her in the water for a swim. She wasn't so happy however when we stopped on the way home to take pictures of a herd of milk cows happily grazing by the side of the road.

Friends

Not too often in this life do you get something you have been longing for so I feel very special that my dream of meeting Frances actually happened. Sometimes in this world someone comes into your life at a time when every one else walks out. They graciously put up with your whining and sniveling and some where along the way a friendship begins. You share your good times and bad times. Your family ills and your family accomplishments. For Frances and I this has mostly been done by e-mail with a few phone calls on holidays thrown in and parcels and cards on the special occasions. However, I don't think either of us was ever really sure that we would meet. Now Frances as I always told you ... we are sisters forever.

THE SUN

The artist is Ralph Shaugnessy of the Kwakiutl Nimpkish Tribes/Namgis

THE SUN'S RAYS BRING HEALING ENERGY, LIFE AND BEAUTY

At one time, the entire world was thought to be in darkness because a powerful chief kept the sun hidden in a box. It was cunning raven who, by trickery, stole the sun from chief's house, made his escape through the smoke hole, and flew into the sky. The proof of this story is, of course, the sun, which is still shining there to this very day.
The Kwakiutl and Tsimshian saw the sky as beautiful open country where the house of the chief was located. By climbing up a chain of arrows, the traveler could reach it through a hole in the western horizon and could then return to earth by sliding back down on the long rays of the sun.

Lots of Memories!

Till next time Ya'll!

Looky Looky....

Came home from my birthday party on Saturday night to find pictures of these people in an e-mail attachment with the accompaning note "Well, here's who you will be meeting soon! You sure you still want to go ahead?" Sheesh .... I scrambled to send back an e-mail advising them that I would be out of town...heck maybe out of the country and then I read...
"Don't reply to this mail as I shan't be able to access it!"
Could be an interesting week!! I'm wondering if interpol has been alerted!

Welcome to Canada Frances!

The summer is just rolling along and I can hardly believe that my friend Frances & family will be here in just three days! She called last night to let me know that they are in the country (if you consider Alberta part of Canada )and that they are having a great time and will call as soon as they get in and are settled. So... the plans now begin in ernest as I still have so many things to do. I need to finish the basket I have for them. I have to pick up the car that Peter and Janice lent me (thanks so much guys!). I have to bath and groom Lucy although I hardly see the point as she always looks rather scraggly no matter what and seems determined to smell bad no matter how much bathing or what kind of shampoo or doggy perfume I use! (okay .... you got me... yes I buy doggy perfume for Lucy ! Speaking of grooming I still need to do the girly thing myself... you know color hair, thread eyebrows, pedicure etc. I know that everything will come together okay I just really really really hope that they all have a great time!
The weather is supposed to be cooler, but so far there is still sun on all three days they are to be here so I will keep my fingers crossed for the best.
Tomorrow, on top of everything, is my birthday and my family is taking me to the Greek Festival to celebrate. It is such fun I took many pictures there last year when we went. The food is great, the Tsantali even better and the dancing and music make your heart light. Perfect way to celebrate a birthday.

Happy Canada Day!