A Weekend Away

 

Along the highway curving up our Island, daisies wave in the wind among the long grasses lining the road. In a few places, purple lupins stand tall, just beginning to bloom. And everywhere is green, from chartreuse to emerald, all joyous in the sunshine. 

Our anniversary isn't until next month, but this was the weekend that worked for a family getaway. Sadly, one family had to cancel at the very last minute because of illness. Oh, how we missed them. They are recovering well, and we are thankful.

Above is the view from our hotel. At low tide the beach was exposed almost to the point of the nearest bit of land on the right. We walked out one afternoon, over a kilometre, wading through sun-warmed tide pools and squelchy sand. 

Along a log visitors pile up stones and leave them all in a row for others to add to. 

The weather was not terribly warm, but we did manage both beach time and pool time. Here are the littlest ones enjoying the mud on the beach. I love their hats that protect their delicate skin both back and front. 

Tide pool art. There is so much life to observe - tiny crabs, sand dollars, determined snails, waving eel grass - it's a miniature world. 

There was a visit to the wonderful playground in Parksville - definitely the best playground I've ever seen. So many activities for kids of all ages. And an ice cream truck. Grandpa treated the grands. This picture makes me both happy and sad, as one grand is missing. 

We ate well, slept well (mostly), and enjoyed each others' company. I cut a bouquet of peonies before leaving home to place on the table of our suite. How beautiful they are, so elegantly ruffled and fragrant. 

School is now finished and I have completed my reports. I still have to tidy up my room, and attend graduation on Wednesday. I'm looking forward to spending more time in my garden, and at my sewing machine. Our weather is still rather cool with much cloud. I keep hoping for sunnier, warmer days, but will have to make do with what we have. Experts say this system might break mid-July! That seems very far away. 

Fathers, Forest and Beach

Four of the finest fathers I know - my own father, my husband, our son and son-in-law. Our daughter and son-in-law were camping for the weekend, so the rest of us (minus the Vancouver lovelies) drove up for lunch on Sunday.

Although the weather was cooler than we'd hoped, fun was had by all. Travis blew bubbles for the littles. Don't they look magical in the forest?

What fun to try and catch a bubble before it pops. Miss A caught several with her mouth and confessed that they didn't taste all that wonderful. 

While the grandchildren tried to catch bubbles, I caught some ocean spray (holodiscus discolor) with my lens. And some pretty "bubbles" in the background.

After lunch ("We're eating al fresco," said Miss A, demonstrating a newly learned word), we headed off to the beach. The tide was out and the sand stretched far into the distance. However, the girls wanted to plop down immediately to start their sand castle. We convinced them to wander a bit further, to the edge of a tide pool. 

These cute little feet splashed and ran... 

and sat on top of the sand pile accompanied by plenty of giggles. 

Kite flying was popular that day. 

Success! We (my parents and Tim and I) didn't linger very long on the beach. It was chilly. But as we drove the 2 hours homewards, the sun began to shine and the evening was warm and lovely. I hope it was the same for those who stayed longer.

How was your Father's Day weekend? 

From the Garden to the Beach

Saturday morning. While eating breakfast (bacon, egg, tomato) I glanced outside to see that the clematis, having wound itself around the deck railing, had opened its first bud.

I had never noticed that the petals open one by one. 

Unfurling. Opening wide to the light. 

There will be many more pretty blooms from this General Sikorski clematis. Some searching on the internet reveals that the name is to honour a Polish general who "rendered great service to his country." Personally, the name makes me think of a helicopter.

After breakfast (and photography), we threw our bags into the car and drove up Island (as we say) to the beachside town of Parksville, along with some friends. This was the view from our room. In the evening, we ate a late (and delicious) dinner on the patio and watched the tide creep across the sand. In the distance, over time, three brightly lit cruise ships sailed by, en route to Alaska.

Beach art. Found art.

Wild roses bloom along the path down to the beach. I could smell them before I saw them. 

Home again now, preparing for another week of work, but refreshed by walks on the sand, good food, and laughter and conversation with friends.  

Beach Treasures

Weekend road trip. Just one night away, at the beach a few hours up the road, in Parksville. Wild roses bloom on the path from the hotel down to the beach. Beautiful forms and colors.
 

Friends. So glad for them. We support each other through job losses, everyday problems, parental issues, aging parents, and now, one is walking through breast cancer. We talk, we laugh, we cry, we pray, we eat. Together.
 

Sea anemone waving underwater. One slight touch and all the tendrils pull together in protection.
 

A shell lies open on the sand. Afternoon shadows highlight its curved lines.

The best treasure of all - my husband.

Wide and open, this beach is full of tidal pools to explore, squishy mud between the toes, tiny crabs scurrying back and forth, and enough space that no one feels crowded. The land mass in the background is firstly Lasqueti Island, and behind it lies Texada Island. Beyond that is the mainland.
 

Roses nod in the sunshine. 

Home again and another week beckons.

Linking to Mosaic Monday, hosted by Judith of Lavender Cottage Gardening.  

Ocean Views and Gulls

 This was my view when I opened my eyes this morning. We took a couple of days of vacation up in Parksville. Our room overlooks the water and we slept with the curtains open so that we could wake up to this view. 

Later in the morning, a walk along the breakwater at French Creek yielded this harmony of water, land and sky. The rocks on the right are covered with gulls. I've never seen so many of them together. A huge flock of gulls, maybe several flocks.
 

More gulls, wheeling and screaming in the air. There was also a great fluttering and splashing as the gulls bathed. This was a new sight to me, too. Oodles of gulls in the water, flapping their wings to bring the water over their backs, ducking down, squawking all the while. Then they lifted off the water and their white wings glinted in the muted light, bright against the somber forest.

Home again tomorrow.