I Believe in a Cure…
Today, Port McNeill hosted the North Island Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life.
I volunteered some of my day helping set up in the morning. Then in the evening with the help of another volunteer, we kept the coffee and hot chocolate coming for the walkers.
For me, one of the most emotional parts of the day is the memorial lap. Everyone walks in silence around the track thinking about someone they know and love who has battled cancer; some won the fight, some are still in the battle and sadly others have lost… It’s unfortunately rare to find someone who has not been affected by cancer in some way. For me, I lost my mom.
The track is lined with luminaries. The luminaries have been lovingly decorated to remember or support a loved one. Others have words of encouragement…
A Streak of Blue and Green
No, not the Vancouver Canucks hockey team winning their game last night… It’s a Stellar Jay flying across the garden.
I have been spreading a bit of bird seed in the garden this year because of the colder spring weather. The Jays come for breakfast and this one was flying to the laburnum tree in the garden.
I was trying to get a shot of the Jay in flight. This isn’t what I was trying to achieve, but I like the result
Dirt Therapy
One of my favourite outdoor activities is gardening. I can spend hours puttering in the dirt… pulling weeds, moving plants, getting the ground ready for new plants.
This weekend I planted my patio pots with marigolds, snapdragons and geraniums.
In the flower bed I planted my two favourite annuals, Cosmos and rocket snapdragons… you will have to stay tuned to see them as they are only 6 to 8 inches tall. Both plants will grow over 3 feet tall and make an impressive display!
The Bears are Awake!
Between Port McNeill and Port Hardy there are areas along the highway where every spring the black bears come to graze on a variety fresh grasses and other juicy greens. You are almost guaranteed to see at least one bear as you drive the 45 kilometers between the two communities.
I photographed this one (from the safety of my car) on my way back from Port Hardy this evening.
Hurry up and Wait!
Do you know a better way to describe waiting for a BC Ferry?
Last Friday my husband and I travelled to Vancouver for some personal appointments. We planned on returning to Vancouver Island on the 5:00 pm ferry, however that wasn’t to be.
Disappointment quickly changed to pleasure. Now I had the opportunity to capture some of the activity on a sunny afternoon in Horseshoe Bay.
Driftwood Sculpture
I love walking along an ocean beach…There is always something new washed ashore during high tides. It’s kind of like the now famous line from the movie Forrest Gump: …”Life is like a box of chocolates…”
The winter storms throw huge logs and stumps high up on the beach, leaving them stranded. Over time, the elements change their appearance, sluffing off the bark, softening rough edges and exposing the beautiful swirls and textures of the wood… Mother Nature’s Sculptures.
Shack Island, Nanaimo BC
Growing up, Piper’s Lagoon Park was often a family favourite destination to explore.
In the late fall and into early spring, we’d pick oysters at the mouth of the lagoon. My brothers and I scrambling over the rocks gathering as many oysters as we could carry and take them over to Dad to shuck.
While Dad was busy with the oysters, we’d turn over the rocks looking for snails, crabs and blenny eels. In the tide pools, we would poke the sea cumbers and watch them expand like magic… fun times growing up 🙂
Shack Island is at the mouth of the lagoon. I’m not entirely certain, but I beleive the little cabins were built by Japenese fisherman who lived in the Nanaimo area back at the turn of the last century.
Back then there were no roads out to the lagoon, and by rowboat it would be a long journey to get to the best fishing spot early in the a day. So, to maximize time for fishing, the Japenese built the little cabins as a place to stay.
Today, the little cabins are used for summer vacation residents and have been passed down from one family to the next.
Photo Impressionism – Spirit Trees
A friend of mine participated in a photography workshop this past January to learn some new techniques; something to spark the imagination.
In one of his photos, the trees looked like ghostly shadows jumping up and down. I liked the effect and knew exactly where to find the perfect grove of trees to give it a try.
Let me know what you think!
Okay, seriously, Spring must be here!
Not everyone likes skunk cabbage, but you have to admit they do brighten up an otherwise drab swamp in the spring. Look at those bright yellow flowers and the huge leaves. I’d even go as far as to say they’re exotic!
Spring is Coming… I’m sure it is!
I can hear them; little green harbingers of spring! To me, a chorus of frogs croaking is one of the happiest sounds of spring.
I saw this little cutie a few years ago sunning itself on a big hosta leaf by my fish pond.
For Eternity
I don’t know who took the time to carve this into the log, I suppose it really doesn’t matter to anyone except for the two people it is meant.
Was it love at first sight? A promise to be together? A proposal? Who knows.
Whatever their story, we can make up our own.
Photo Phog
If writer’s suffer from Writer’s Block , what is it called if a photographer suffers from something similar… Photo Phog?
Whatever it’s called, I found myself having difficulty finding inspiration, until last Sunday.
I bought a beautiful bouquet of tulips… my favourite spring flower. They were the colour of bubble gum, bright pink!
With my camera on a tripod and using a long exposure, I carefully manipulated the zoom lens in and out while the shutter was open creating a Pink Explosion and the end of my Photo Phog!
Sointula Dog
While waiting for the ferry in Sointula, this little guy was looking for someone to play with.
Who could say no to such a cute face?
I had fun and so did he!
