The World Needs More Love Letters

“…in green underwood and cover, blossom by blossom the spring begins.” – Algernon Charles Swinburne, Atalanta in Calidon

The early days of winter feel colder this year despite the warm glow of colourful sunsets painting the sky. Recent below normal temperatures brought several snow days with icy roads and sidewalks and a quiet only fresh fallen snow can bring, alarming the news anchors on TV who in turn recommended that everyone stay home if they can.

So yes, we stayed in for two days – drinking cups of soothing winter tea, watching tiny lacy snowflakes morph into big fluffy stars, the grey sky setting them free for hours. The dark green forest outside our windows quickly became engulfed in a thick coating of white icing changing from urban woodland into winter wonderland.

And now, February is winding down, the days flying by – spring is on its way and I wonder if the world needs more love letters as well as the promise of warmer weather and beautiful blossoms. The news on television and losses closer to home have left me feeling unmoored…

Long walks in the neighbourhood, outdoor picnics with a good friend and a lovely free two hour yoga workshop down by the harbour have helped to smooth raw edges and allow joy back into my world. Recently, I felt drawn to an exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery (Denyse Thomasos – Just Beyond) making sure to find my way there. The vibrant colours, patterns and repetition on her many canvases were a wonderful distraction! I wandered among her 60 works (paintings, sketches and journal entries) for over an hour, her legacy a love letter in its own right.

With spring just a few days away, we couldn’t resist travelling to Vancouver Island for a much needed change of pace only to find ourselves travelling back through time with me writing my own love letter to the world. A letter written at the round brown table facing bright green fir, arbutus and cedar trees outside our patio door in a studio bungalow at Tigh-Na-Mara. A view that recently included two dark brown feral rabbits, feisty squirrels and colourful birds with early mornings and dusky evenings filled with the haunting sound of the local owl.

Leisurely walks through the forest on days gifted with warmer temperatures and sunshine sent us back in time, early signs of spring just beginning to emerge while back on the mainland we’ve been reveling in spring-like weather for weeks now. To see delicate white snowdrops, dainty yellow jonquils and fragrant crab apple blossoms here on the Island again has been an unexpected delight. Vancouver has been in bloom since the snow melted spoiling us with nature’s beautiful bounty, moving so fast that we’ve had to say goodbye too quickly to those first hopeful signs.

We’re heading home tomorrow – let’s launch our own love letters to the world, letters to chase away darkness, provide hope and touch hearts. The title of this post touched my heart, the words written down after I saw them printed on a T-shirt hanging in the window of a T-shirt printing shop long gone from the city’s iconic Robson St., its author unknown…

This is a self-portrait of Denyse Thomasos, if you look closely you can see her holding a paintbrush with her signature pots of paint sitting underneath the chair.

This colourful canvas caught my eye! It reminds me of city life and all it has to offer…

Her larger canvases are filled with beautiful vibrant shapes, I came away from viewing her works at the Vancouver Art Gallery feeling lighter and looking forward to spring!

We couldn’t resist taking a photo of this cool truck parked near another studio bungalow complex at Tigh-Na-Mara (Vancouver Island) where the local owl hangs out in the trees above!

This beautiful gazebo at Tigh-Na-Mara never fails to provide gorgeous views – the tide is really far out at this time of year making walking back to our studio from Rathtrevor Park a breeze.

On one of our long walks through the forest at Rathtrevor Park we came across this peaceful bench, filtered sunshine and shadows making it a magical spot to sit and listen to the calls of the ravens.

Throughout Rathtrevor Park are numerous picnic tables nestled among the trees, in grassy meadows and other unexpected spots making our daily walks here a joy!

Forest Doors – Holiday Series

“Winter is not a season, it’s a celebration.” – Anamika Mishra

Autumn is winding down fast after several weeks of golden light, glowing leaves and drier days – the arrival of winter and the festive holiday season unfolding in red Santa hats showing up on locals and visitors in the neighbourhood. On recent downtown wanders I was happy to see shops and hotels beginning to decorate their doorways with fragrant greenery and colourful ornaments reminding me of London (England). I think this means London captured my heart…

Despite the worries of the world, when I look out my kitchen window, I’m filled with a quiet joy to see the same flame coloured candelabra candle lights chasing away the darkness in the building at the end of my street and for the second year in a row, the regal maple trees at the other end of the street are dressed in colourful sparkling festive decorations – this year the gentleman who climbs a stepladder to reach the high branches decorated every tree. These are beacons, piercing the darkness to bring some much needed light to all.

So does the forest’s visiting artist; each wooden door discovered by ardent walkers and ramblers must bring a smile upon faces bemused by whimsy and a touch of magic. Terry took these last photos on an adventurous walk through the tangled woods with the artist (also named Terry) and now we’ve documented all 10!

Whether this note finds you sitting with a quiet cup of something good or amid the holiday hustle and bustle, I wish you peace, joy and love in the coming new year.

I love the shape and the well worn design of this delightful door, of course, I know what comes next! Who lives here, I wonder…

A forest gnome ready for a winter walk!

The details are amazing on this sweet door! The magical window, metal hinge and artistic doorknob are calling all who come upon it to knock on the door.

And look who’s here! Another tree frog who’s found the perfect home for the cooler days to come…

This intriguing forest door has some height to it making me wonder who might live there.

This tree trunk home is empty! It looks like it’s waiting for just the right owner, too bad it’s too small for me or you, sigh.

On a personal note, we’ve been spending some of our holiday time down at Coal Harbour by Stanley Park watching the antics of a great group of sea lions fishing and feeding – they must have followed a fish run into the harbour attracting other hungry wildlife (gulls, cormorants and Harbour seals). They’ve been here for over two weeks now and we’ve spent hours in their company enjoying every minute!

Falling Deeper

“I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.” – Og Mandino

A dark copper coloured leaf fell out of my black library tote bag as I sat down at my local coffee bar with a cup of hot chocolate hoping to take the edge off a day cooler than expected as we find ourselves falling deeper into autumn. This one leaf drifted down unbeknownst to me, part of a flurry one windy day. Seeing it tumble out on to Veranda’s red metal table made me smile, a piece of magic created to brighten someone’s day and it certainly brightened mine!

Since returning from our trip to the Island, it’s been hard to leave behind the sacred sense of peace the forest and beach walks gave us each day we were there – I remember that first full day after travelling, we were thrilled to see the tide quite far out making walking home to our studio bungalow that much easier, walking on packed damp sand rather than on a bed of wet rocks and battered driftwood.

A downtown gallery (Vancouver Art Gallery) visit here in the city recently offered its own respite, the upper floor housing an Emily Carr exhibit called A Room Of Her Own, within the title, a question for gallery patrons – does this well known British Columbian artist deserve a room of her own in the new gallery space breaking ground soon? As I gazed at some of my favourite paintings, in my mind’s eye I could see the room already, filled with her signature colours – cobalt blue, dark forest green and shimmering white. Art, it soothes the soul…

November is fast approaching, there are bare limbed trees standing among some still holding fast to their summer finery, soon we’ll be watching for the first of everything – spring buds, delicate snowdrops and early bright yellow daffodils. The great wheel of time turning until it stops. How serendipitous to find a small book at the library (In Light Years There’s No Hurry – Cosmic Perspectives on Everyday Life by Marjolijn van Heemstra, Translated by Jonathan Reeder).

A book written by a poet/journalist translating feelings similar to mine as the city I live in strains under the weight of random violence, chronic shoplifting, manmade and natural climate change, endless protests and a steady flow of newcomers arriving without enough infrastructure or resources to support them. The author looks to the heavens and outer space to find some perspective – her journey is inspiring making me hopeful that I’ll find the means to keep my heart open and be content to do what I can to help or give solace to those who might need it. Meanwhile, a cup of soothing hot chocolate and a comfortable stool looking out onto the space where I sat in the summer is a good start!

The November rains have arrived colouring the sea and sky with the same grey brush at English Bay.

On drier days we can still enjoy the flame-coloured leaves of the Japanese maple on our street!

This striking typography greeted patrons at the beautiful Vancouver Art Gallery…

I never fail to be entranced by the images and colour of Emily Carr’s paintings – images she captured of our province on her many travels.

Just a sample of Emily Carr’s iconic works tells me that she deserves a room of her own!

On the stone bridge near the entrance to Stanley Park (Vancouver, B.C.) one is given a stunning view of the city in all her autumn glory.

Beside the Rose Garden in Stanley Park is this peaceful grove and quiet bench inviting us to sit awhile in the autumnal light.

I don’t normally post this many photos but this autumn has me falling deeper into the fiery reds, golden yellows and dark grey tree trunks!

Falling Into Autumn

“The Time Of The Falling Leaves Has Come Again.” – John Burroughs

Fall is set to arrive during darkness on a summer day we hope lasts forever. Catching a bus mid-morning to meet my friend Yvonne at the Park Royal Mall in West Vancouver on the last day of summer turned out to be a wonderful way to celebrate the ending of a season that gave us endless blue sky, warm days and wildfire smoke.

Once bright green leaves are slowly turning colour – amber, burgundy and burnt orange are beginning to herald the arrival of autumn. It’s not quite sweater season but cooler nights are quickly reminding us to unpack them from drawers closed tight all through summer. I’m no longer sitting out on the balcony drinking a refreshing ice tea, a new fall tea (a cinnamon turmeric chai blend) keeps me company inside as the first storms after the equinox brew outside our windows.

A trip to Vancouver Island booked in late spring is drawing near – the beautiful rustic resort, Tigh-Na-Mara, casts its spell upon us once or twice a year and this year we’ll be celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving there for the first time!

That perfect last summer day found Yvonne and I walking a leaf strewn trail behind the mall after buying a delicious Harvest turkey sandwich to share on a hopefully empty bench facing the ocean. On previous walks we never saw anyone fishing but that day we saw quite a few (we later found out that a Coho and Pink salmon run were making their way to the mouth of the Capilano River) as well as several fishing boats out on the water. The river and ocean became more that afternoon, more than just a rising river sheltering fish from hungry gulls, more than an ocean providing breathtaking vistas – both bodies of water giving us a glimpse of an ancient rhythm honouring the seasons.

As we sat on a bench facing the water and mountains we ate our sandwich half with gusto with the occasional dog exiting the sandy off-leash beach area loping over for a friendly sniff or two hoping we might share. But summer hasn’t left us yet!

There is subtle colour to gaze upon here on the Island – pale green, golden yellow and glowing scarlet leaves tell a different tale, autumn is coming despite the unexpected heat. Tree frogs and ravens sing their songs throughout a forest filled with the scent of wood smoke and cedar. Some of our favourite spots in the park (empty meadows) are now filled with happy campers, tents and RV’s crowding out the picnic tables we usually sit on waiting for elusive deer to appear – there is too much activity this visit but the joyous sounds of engaged children camping out was a lovely distraction and more than welcome on a long weekend focused on gathering.

Now I’m settling back into West End life after a week spent on the Island. Pale pink rosebuds and strings of holiday lights create a bridge between late summer and early fall. Sunshine and rain take turns guiding us towards winter with drier days offering us the chance to kick through fallen leaves and greet the blackbirds returning to roost on the chestnut tree one street over. Despite the winds of change manifesting in our world, ancient rhythms closer to home calm the heart with the promise of spring just a few months away…

This golden beauty was captured in Rathtrevor Park on Vancouver Island in one of our favourite areas to explore.

Beautiful rosehips swaying in a light breeze enticed us across a bridge onto a path that kept us away due to the Bear In Area signs on previous visits but we bravely walked over it and onto a path through a fern filled forest!

Autumn is showing off the beauty of Stanley Park here in Vancouver, we’re very blessed to be able to enjoy the mainland and the Island’s offerings this season. The leaves are gorgeous!

Surprise! Terry discovered two more forest doors with the help of the artist…

And this lovely green door houses what else? A green solar garden frog, he looks as surprised as I’m sure Terry was!

Can you believe this? A door created at eye level, I wonder who lives here?!

It looks like a wood gnome on his way out to do some trail walking which is just what we did on beautiful Vancouver Island.

Forest Door Series (Hello Fall!)

“Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.” – John Muir

What a mystery! A tiny carved wooden door to open…

This door reveals a tiny fairy who’s made a home in a hollow of a majestic tree in Stanley Park (Vancouver, B.C.)

Apparently there are 10 small doors to open in the park, created by a nature artist who purchases the figures from thrift stores to populate the new homes, the artist carves and constructs the doors himself as well!

This fellow looks very welcoming although I guess we should’ve knocked!

This door looks like it hasn’t been opened in a wee while! I wonder what we’ll discover…

Oops, I think we caught him on his way out! His home looks very beautiful draped in dark green moss and silvered lichen…

This whimsical door conjures up images of a favourite mouse, who lives here, I wonder?

It’s a woodland gnome just as surprised to see us!

Wow! This has to be the most welcoming door…

And guess what? There’s already a guest who’s settled in for a cup of toadstool tea! I hope we can join them…

It’s been a joy for Terry to go out on his daily walks through the forest to capture these sweet doors for my latest blog post, on some of his wanders he has come across coyotes slipping quietly through the trees and just recently he spied a young Barred owlet practicing his flying and hunting skills on a path that yielded no artistic doors, just a beautiful doorway into the world of nature.

Blank Eyes

There are blank unblinking eyes across the lane,

each rectangle of hotel glass reflecting nothing.

Not long ago, behind those eyes, lives in flux lived there –

Creating art, shedding tears, trying hard to fit in while we,

their neighbours, warily watched the comings and goings.

And yes, fire trucks arrived to check on fire alarms ringing

as the women tried to find a homely rhythm on hot plates –

saying no to prepared meals on offer,

waiting to return to renovated spaces not that far away,

deep downtown amid the hustle and bustle, back to friends

and familiar places.

Knowing that my world is not their world, but changing it nevertheless

patiently waiting for our eyes to open.

Summer morning light and the beautiful entrance to the historic Buchan Hotel.

Communion (Ink On Paper)

“We are one huge universe speaking and listening to itself.” Francis Lucille, The Perfume of Silence

Sam, a 16 year old black and white neighbourhood cat walked with me for almost a block not long ago, keeping pace despite his shorter legs leaving his person at the corner coffee bar, buying an afternoon coffee not worth the wait. Sam periodically looked my way making sure we were taking this short journey together. Our peaceful communion ended at a basement floor apartment in an older building, the tenant inside working – the very nice fellow opened a window to say “hello” with treats at the ready to give to Sam (apparently this happens often). Sam went to the kitchen window instead and waited despite friendly calls and enticement. After a moment or two, the other window opened, treats were given and Sam headed home across the street. Walking side by side with Sam felt special, no words were needed and even though I wasn’t feeling lonely, I was glad to have his company on my own walk home.

On local walks seeking communion there are others doing the same – gentle spirits touching tree trunks and bright green leaves, ink black crows tending to their fledglings and gatherings of human beings large or small. One such gathering happened spontaneously on a late spring day underneath the shelter of a large bright yellow awning outside at Veranda Cafe. I came upon my neighbour Huguette sitting with a book at one of the iconic red tables, happily she invited me to bring my afternoon beverage out to join her. Our conversation (communion) covered many topics both sad and happy, later alighting on the subject of writing, both of us poring over my own journal with its crossing outs and scribbles; another dear neighbour named Margo arrived, joining us with her coveted cup of espresso and bringing her grand sense of humour to the table brightening our day.

There are other kinds of communion unfolding in mysterious ways – random office chairs have been making an appearance here in the West End, abandoned in alleyways and sitting on various boulevards. It’s always interesting to watch different folks checking them out, rolling them across the grass or pavement hoping for the perfect match! I wonder if these home office orphans were set free as workers began to return to their office towers now that restrictions relating to the fading fast (we hope!) pandemic have lifted?

I’m sitting outside at Veranda Cafe (again!) underneath a lush canopy of maple and catalpa trees communing in a different way – enjoying a delicious fruit smoothie while a Sunday summer’s wealth of tourists and locals walk by. There’s a gentle breeze, happy groups taking selfies and lovely filtered sunlight extending spring’s bounty, the season having blessed us with many warm summer-like days already. Today has me thinking about other ways of communing some of which are already in play – I’m feeling more social and have registered for a summer evening yoga class as well as signing up for some indoor gardening workshops here in the community. If I plan a few day trips and art exhibit wanders, my summer in the city should be sublime…

Spring has officially left the building now, ushering in a bevy of sultry summer days which finds us each morning looking toward the mountains checking on the amount of haze clinging there. Almost every evening on the news there is mention of wildfire activity erupting seemingly all around us. There was even a brushfire at the edge of our beloved park, the forest much more fragile having lost 20% of its rainforest canopy to drought and frenzied feeding by Hemlock moth larvae, their appearance every three years or so now a yearly occurrence. Thankfully, there are still many green spaces to enjoy amid the destruction of this deadly communion.

On a glorious bluebird sky day Terry and I jumped on the bus to spend some time at Granville Island, Terry to buy a new hat and for me, a happy stroll through a bookstore. We were shocked by the sheer numbers of roaming tourists and locals on what we thought might be a quiet mid-week adventure. Enjoying lunch out quickly forgotten we decided to catch the small ferry boat back to “over there” as the company’s sign proclaimed, successfully avoiding any long lineups at the bus stop. Terry found his hat and I enjoyed taking in the many book titles on offer in an airy space filled with colour and light. A different kind of communion, heart to heart – moving from the everyday into something different, something other on a beautiful summer’s day.

Strawberry Hill, a local greenspace where Sam often wanders one street over from where we live!

A delightful communion on our balcony railing between a pretty finch and sparrow.

My best capture of an orphan office chair, taken just off my own alleyway (it looks antique!).

My work in progress at Veranda Cafe!

A different type of communion! Pokey the Harris hawk and her handler on duty at Granville Island Market (seagull security!) making sure everyone’s lunch or snacks are safe from hungry gulls!

Time Will Bring Flowers

“Let us dance in the sun, wearing wildflowers in our hair…” – susan polis schutz

I’m six days into a new spring month and had planned to start journal writing daily again but unexpected summer-like weather drew me outside to revisit favourite haunts left behind in winter, journal writing abandoned.

On one of those sunny days, I met Terry up at the Rose Garden (in Stanley Park) toting a thermos of coffee and tea from home as well as a tasty homemade peanut butter bite, Terry having tucked two California mandarin oranges in his small backpack before he left for his own afternoon bike ride. It was lovely to feel the warm sun on our faces, just taking it all in upon a weathered bench – observing tourists, delicately hued tulip trees glowing in the light with the ever present cheeky black crows strutting about! Winter and early spring find most of us close to home dreaming of the freedom that the warmer months will bring. Visions of picnics in the park, reading on benches offering tranquility and pastoral views with gardens big or small nearby. And it’s one of those beautiful gardens that not only offered me the title of my blog (words seen on a brightly coloured garden sign!) but the very flowers that time promises us when spring finally awakens from its winter slumber.

The heady fragrance of purple lilacs and translucent white rhododendron flowers perfumes the air while on cooler days, the campfire scent of wood smoke adds its own mysterious note reminding us that fire season is a new reality we can’t escape from. Lately I find myself farther afield, exploring different laneways and streets in our neighbourhood, visiting parts of the city not seen in years as well as enjoying beloved trails in the welcoming forest, lushly green at this time of year. Lingering light invites me outside, leaving behind cozy blankets and mugs of tea – it’s time to be more active, try new things and embrace the many flowers that time has gifted us.

The month of May has not only unfolded with more dry days recorded than last year, it also hosted an unusually early heatwave with summer officially still a few weeks away. There has also been wildfire smoke and haze in the air due to wildfires burning in the neighbouring province of Alberta and closer to home here in British Columbia leaving us to wonder what the next few months will bring weather-wise.

Despite the weather anomalies, lighter layers and blue sky have made travelling locally, through and outside the city a breeze. I’ve spent time with good friends exploring Horseshoe Bay (a tiny hamlet where the provincial ferries dock taking us to Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast and Bowen Island) where my dear neighbour Huguette and I discovered the quirky Seaside Village Coffee Bar. Located at the base of forest and mountain, we sat at the counter facing the street to enjoy our cold drinks (a ginger ale for Huguette and a lemon ice tea for me) and snack. I munched on an unexpected treat, a thick slice of banana loaf threaded with decadent dark chocolate! Small oil paintings of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico adorned the wood plank wall beside a large picture window (where we were sitting) open to the breeze on one of the hottest days so far this season evoking memories of past travels and adventures…

Wandering through charming Edgemont Village (in North Vancouver) again was another May highlight – a visit to the local bookstore, zero waste emporium and picking up a delicious veggie sandwich from the deli that sells out fast are must-do’s, peeking into the various gift stores dotted throughout the village, icing on the cake. Sharing one of those large veggie sandwiches with my friend Yvonne up at the Cleveland Dam has become a nurturing ritual – we find an empty picnic table or bench nestled amid the tall trees at the edge of the forest and reservoir with otherworldly mountains in the background and dig in! We breathe in pure air as we bite into our bounty, catching up and celebrating a borrowed summer day here in mid-spring. Celebrating time that will continue to bring flowers, late fall and winter much too far away to think about.

One of many beloved trails in Stanley Park offering beautiful shadows and peace.

This gorgeous path is found at the end of our street, a magical portal into Stanley Park, where time has certainly brought us flowers!

Many West Enders walk by this house and its neighbour often, as the gardens tended there change throughout the seasons.

With such a beautiful park to explore one has to make a special effort to adventure outside its borders!

And thank goodness I did, this is the quirky Seaside Village Coffee Bar located in Horseshoe Bay!

This is a peaceful capture taken at Beaver Lake in Stanley Park where we’ve sat many times on inviting benches with a thermos of hot tea counting dragonflies and blackbirds galore.

Moved By Beauty

“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Our early spring days still feel very winter-like, it’s cold in the mornings and throughout the night, warmer temperatures rising just after lunch. So on the first day of a sunny stretch we find ourselves on the ferry heading once again to Vancouver Island to enjoy a few days of rest and relaxation at Tigh-Na-Mara. Four months since our last sojourn have resulted in a new wrinkle to navigate, ferry delays and cancellations due to staff shortages, a phenomenon currently sweeping the earth but we were lucky – calm waters and a functioning ferry helped us arrive on time!

Day one of our spring break and we’re sitting at a lichen covered weathered picnic table listening to two majestic pine trees, their dark coloured cones beginning to open up underneath the warm sun. Several pine cones already spent, their seeds on journeys we can only imagine, have fallen on green grass hosting daisies and buzzing bees. There is also the sound of birds, a large raven’s black wings as he flies by and the swift flight of an American Kestrel hawk – we are in one of our favourite spots, a peaceful meadow located in Rathtrevor Park.

This trip has brought us some sweet surprises – we have met lots of lovely people and an outdoor picnic on-site spontaneously provided a dinner gift from the resident chef (Eric). The food portions on offer are quite generous and we each had a delicious turkey baguette half to savour from the night before at a picnic table not far from our bungalow nestled in the woods. It sits near a barbecue area facing a group of log built studios and one bedroom units amid a forest of pine and arbutus. The bluebird sky above, sunshine and a lone raven were the perfect companions. When the chef and two team members arrived, we were puzzled – platters of colourful salads and vegetables were carried over to the empty picnic table behind us on a grassy area populated by resting deer at dusk. A picnic basket with a bright red and white checked cloth spilling out added to the romantic tableau while a fellow chef grilled up a bowl of glistening shrimp and a tart lemon with a side of Naan bread.

Worried that we might be in their way we offered to move but all was well, they were setting up for a social media shoot showcasing part of a wedding package on offer – an intimate barbecue that could be enjoyed by the wedding party and guests. As we breathed in the fragrance of gently grilled herbs and lemon, we all got to talking and Tigh-Na-Mara’s marketing staff person asked if she could take a picture of us with Chef Eric for social media, celebrating our long acquaintance with this beautiful resort we’ve been visiting since the 90’s. Chef Eric then announced that dinner would be on him that evening, drinks and all. What an unexpected gesture! That night we feasted on slices of Italian flatbread, a plate of barbecued ribs for Terry while I tucked into some lightly spiced salt and pepper chicken wings accompanied by two large glasses of cold beer. And yes, we were able to dig into another outdoor leftover lunch at our picnic table the next day with a tasty take-out pizza freshly prepared and baked in their large pizza oven. Heavenly…

We haven’t been on the Island in early spring since March 2020 so we were delighted to see the tide way out allowing walks home from the forest on packed sand rather than the narrow rocky strip left when the tide hugs the shoreline. There were small tidal pools to explore, beachcombing and abstract art to admire in the form of bright green and translucent seaweed lying abandoned among hundreds of pieces of driftwood. Human artistic endeavors could be seen too – brightly coloured plastic pails and shovels left strewn on the wet sand amid half-finished sand castles awaiting towers and turrets.

The word reset has been our mantra this week as spring emerges from the grip of winter giving us a chance to dream and plan for the warmer days to come. We leave tomorrow for the mainland and the dangers those warm spring days might bring have already begun – several wildfires are burning in our province as we sit inside our forest bungalow on a rainy day, reading and writing with cups of coffee and tea nearby while flames dance in the fireplace, moved by the beauty outside our windows knowing we cannot hold on too tight.

The beginning of our reset with a resident owl above, a welcome neighbour!

A timely bench at the end of a woodland trail that takes one to the entrance to Rathtrevor Park.

We decided to explore and revisit this delightful vintage general store not far from the park entrance!

After a long walk through the forest we walked home each day via Rathrevor Beach rather than walk up the woodland trail.

After our beach walks home, we were greeted with this beautiful vista each day at Tigh-Na-Mara from the newly built gazebo!

We currently stay in the studio bungalows nestled in the forest, this is the view that lucky condo unit guests get to enjoy each day (there are beautiful snowcapped mountains in the background).

Tea Journeys – Part Three

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” – Martin Buber

Recently running into my neighbour Huguette resulted in a lovely late afternoon sojourn in a tiny coffee bar on Denman St. called Cafe Portrait. It has served us well offering tasty breakfasts, rich Turkish coffees for Huguette and lightly spiced Chai tea lattes for me – today I wanted to try an herbal tea. It was a chance to take in the wonderful portraits painted by the owner hanging above handmade wooden and blown glass tabletops. A chance to catch up and unwind…

Huguette ordered her beloved Turkish coffee which arrived with an exquisite square of their popular Turkish Delight while I chose a rooibos tea, the light steam from my cup releasing fragrant tropical and floral notes. We shared a delicious slice of loaf, the taste of chocolate and vanilla dancing on our tongues as the afternoon deepened – inspiring this post and promising more visits to come.

A trio of female portraits quietly observing happy patrons at Cafe Portrait!

A tiny corner hosts more colourful portraits with coffee mugs and other souvenir items for sale.

This dashing character is the coffee bar’s signature portrait, it holds beautiful copper topped pens and of course, I couldn’t resist buying one!

I’m back at Veranda Cafe sipping on another creamy hot chocolate, thoughts of a soothing cup of green tea forgotten – there was bright sunshine earlier in the afternoon but now it’s hidden behind dark clouds against the winter sky. Three weeks ago in early February, we unexpectedly lost a gentle neighbour in a way that has left several us grieving and traumatized. Tenants come and go in our rental building but a core group of us have known each other almost forever – Niall and I exchanged holiday cards each year and he was very supportive when my father (also a tenant) passed away several years ago. A dear friend reached out and came by to whisk me away from the tragedy and we ended up on a gloriously sunny day across the bay to walk on paths not tread on in years wishing that our troubled neighbour had only waited a few more hours…

It was just what I needed; new faces, sights and sounds to focus on – stumbling upon a miniscule hole in the wall cafe (Viva Cafe and Bakery) just off famous Kits Beach turned out to be a welcome respite. What a surprise to find out the cafe was participating in the annual Hot Chocolate Festival (something I’ve always wanted to check out). Yvonne treated me to a subtly spiced Mexican style hot chocolate that came with a very spicy mango jam filled chocolate dipped cookie, yum! We sat outside at a quiet table facing the street taking time to remember Niall while watching the world stroll by.

A photo of Veranda Cafe’s delicious hot chocolate sitting on top of their iconic red topped table!

It’s March 1st and I went for a lovely winter walk this afternoon by the edge of the park, counting fallen trees and debris on the damp ground after a second snowstorm which left swathes of clean white snow on neighbouring rooftops and painted the dark green forest in buttercream frosting. It was sad to see tiny brown pine cones scattered at the base of trees whose limbs broke off due to the wet snow and relentless wind. The only solace was seeing small birds, cheeky robins and quiet Varied thrush foraging through the remains, kindly providing shelter and creating a food source.

I was on my way to do some recycling before the next snowfall and afterwards, on my way home got caught in a hail storm – thank goodness for winter jacket hoods, it allowed me to enjoy the tiny white pellets bouncing off me and find the forcefulness of this unexpected torrent exhilarating! And now I’m home drinking a warm cup of chai rooibos tea looking out at a winter sky dark with gathering clouds and listening to the evening song of a robin nearby as our wind chimes begin to move in the wind.

I’m dedicating this post in memory of our artistic neighbour Niall with a birthday shout-out to another dear neighbour, Huguette.