Want to take a beach walk with me? We got back from our island visit Saturday evening, went to a beautiful and emotional shower at my sister’s (for my nephew’s new daughter) on Sunday, and late Sunday afternoon, my son, daughter-in-law, and Lively Two arrived. Daughter, Son-in-Law, and Patient Eight (all the Littles clamour for her attention) joined us for dinner (they live just down the street), and we’ve had a condo-full since.
It’s been grand, but very busy, no time for blogging. Son’s family head home today, but our daughter’s Eight-Year-Old is hanging out with us during the day this week, so I’ll still be caught up in activities away from here. I’m almost ready to post that Green Pea Soup recipe, and I have a few other possibilities up my sleeve, but if Eight says we spend the day at the pool, or if Eight says she wants me to read to/with her, or if Eight wants us to paint or knit with her. . . . Well, that’s just what I’ll be doing. And it will be a very happy choice, I assure you.
But I have some Beach Walk photos from last week to show you, and believe me, there are more where these came from. Our friend has built a beautiful private retreat centre on an island, and we stayed overnight there, spent the day exploring the gardens and the beach and the beautifully designed buildings. I absorbed quiet and space and calm, and perhaps you’ll be able to absorb a wee bit as well, just from these photos.
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| Grindelia stricta, a plant indigenous to the Pacific Northwest, also known as Coastal gumplant (it’s sticky!) |
Just in time. . . my daughter-in-law just came out of their room — time to put the kettle on. . . I hope you’ve enjoyed these photos. A Two is tiptoeing toward me right now, Bunny in hand. Gotta go. . .
A retreat centre is something I need so much at the moment-just a couple of days alone! For the start-your photos are so calming.
Luckily we have only 26°C today,but only until weekend,than it would be over 31°C again
Even if I were going to the sea,there will be a trillion people on the beach…..
You'll enjoy a week with Nola,such a treat!
Dottoressa
Oh, I wish I could wave a magic wand and put you on that beach. We've been having lovely weather here, but it's edging toward 26 this week, and I thought that would be too hot for me. . . then I remember your 30+. . .
I just got back from a Saltspring retreat at a friend's cabin. We ran into the visiting Shetlanders 3 times in Ganges. Unplanned..they were at a b and b and I got a last minute invitation from a friend. You will enjoy 8 year old. She always looks like such a fun girl My brother has an 8 and a 5 (grandchildren) and he loves looking after them in the summer. Enjoy your week!
Wonderful! What a treat to stay on Saltspring, and then what a surprise to keep running into your Shetland visitors there.
Yes, I think that Eight is a grand age! (and 5 as well — I'm sure your borther enjoys those two)
Love your post and pictures but especially enjoyed the last three sentences!
Aw, thanks — it was a sweet image "in real life" as well đ
Never seen that sticky plant before & isn't it amazing how photogenic old lumps of machinery can be . No grandchildren here , but the little ones next door , 7 & 5 climb onto the roof of their playhouse & entertain us – I think it's the dogs they love really .
Wendy in York
I have to admit that I love the aesthetics of much decay — rust is perhaps my favourite.
Thank you for that delightful image of the children next door, entertaining you from the roof of the playhouse. Would the dogs like to invite them in?
I love old rusting machinery… I can't imagine why. I love to poke around on the farm finding bits of this and that abandoned in the grass, or in the gully where the old farm implements went to die. As a kid I was always dragging something out of a barn, thinking it could be cleaned up and make a fine piece of sculpture in my bedroom. I can hear my mother's sighs still.
Enjoy your time knitting, swimming, reading…whatever-ing with the eight-year-old!
See? You and I are twins or kindred spirits or something. . . I have to admit that even now, I suspect fine sculpture could be wrought from the beautifully rusting objects I find on a beach. . .
So glad you were on an island for a while. They are very special. They breed weird and wonderful people.đ Have fun with the grands….
Ali
So very true, I know, having lived on a small island for 20-some years, and a rather big one for another eight. . . Weird and wonderful neighbours (and I hope they thought the same of me! đ
What is the name of the island on which you used to live? Is it part of the Gulf Islands? I am 1/2 Canadian and love to return to the homeland!
Protection Island, which is tucked between Gabriola (much bigger) and the city of Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island. . . and yes, it's in the Salish Sea, the Gulf of Georgia, so it's one of the Gulf Islands, although one that's not especially well known.
I know your life is not purely peaceful, but you sound so peaceful in this post. A weekend in nature is good for any soul.
Ann
So true, and that time on the island did calm me down.
Water is always peaceful, isn't it? No matter if it is a lake, a river, or the sea.
What are those round concrete things with iron rings on top? The look like huge lids of something. How did they get to the beach?
Ah, those are deceptive photos, I'm sorry. The rusted chain on top is not attached to the stone — and what looks like concrete is actually sandstone, carved by the water into that beautiful dome. Isn't it gorgeous what Nature gets up to?
Thanks for sharing this ..I've enjoyed "our walk" Having spent a glorious week in Cornwall I'm missing the sound and the sight of the sea …and the salty smell in the air!
It's always lovely to hear how you spend your time with your grandchildren. You both obviously have such a special relationship with all of them. Enjoy the rest of the time with "eight" đ
Rosie
We do have a lovely time together, and I've been astonished over the years to see how different and how very special the relationship is with each one of them. Thank you!
Oh, I feel calm already. This post sounds so peaceful, and the photos amplify those calm waves. Enjoy your time with "eight". Sounds like fun, and absolutely the best thing to be doing.
You know it, Mardel! đ
I'm glad to hear you have had respite from the building work and rebalancing time with the grand children. Your pictures are intriguing.
It's so noisy again here today, but I can go back to the photos are remember the calm I stored up. And time with children is always grounding for me…
How perfect that you have a beach retreat – a way to maybe find your Inner Island again, to keep it with you in the urban world. xoxoxoxo.
Yes, I'm trying to find something to balance this urban life, which can occasionally be a bit of a muchness…
We went to Gabriola recently and wondered which of the other small islands you had lived….now I know it was Protection Island. It really is a completely different world living on a small island. I'm not sure if I could live in the REAL WORLD full time any more….even though our island is a bit larger.
Ali
It's true that there's a very big adjustment to living in the city (the real world đ after island life (and yes, Saltspring would be a step or two closer than tiny Protection Island to city life, but still a long ways off). I'm trying to find some ways to get what I need to fill the gap. . . .