There Will Be Better Days

“Look to this day, for it is life.” – Kalidasa, classical Sanskrit poetry

On a day when missiles and drones filled the sky halfway around the world, I walked on sidewalks bordered by late spring blooms – pale purple and white foxglove, fragrant wild roses and lush peonies adding a colourful note amid dark green foliage. The stark contrast staying with me as one season flowed into another.

And now, another new season was unfolding, one I wasn’t ready to welcome just yet but since has left me drinking in all the beauty it has to offer. The months of July and August swelled with downtown art exhibits, classical guitar and jazz performances in magical gardens and on the rooftop of the main library situated in the middle of the city. Long walks in lush forest with wanders through secondhand bookstores added to the joy to warm summer days that stole my heart.

Cradled in a comfortable armchair facing a view of calm dark water drenched in mist I feel blessed to have spent the past few days enjoying some late summer sun here on Vancouver Island. The air has been alive with dragonflies of many colours, talkative black ravens and soaring eagles. On the dry earth, carpets of pine cones and needles crunch underfoot on our daily walks into the provincial park, the scent of ripe blackberries tickling our noses. Empty sought after benches in a beloved meadow welcomed not only us but a family of gentle deer (a delicate doe and her two spotted fawns) feeding nearby underneath the crabapple trees. Over two sunny afternoons we were treated to their quiet forays not bothered by our presence at all.

Words have been elusive lately, words like peace, bliss and love replaced with others more strident, expressing an outrage felt by many. On a recent local walk in my mainland neighbourhood I saw some words that set me free, words printed on a young man’s white T-shirt that read in black letters, THERE WILL BE BETTER DAYS, words eclipsing the wave of dystopia drowning our world leaving hope in their wake.

Retreating here to the Island has the same effect, nature’s eternal rhythm smoothing rough edges left by the news of the day. It’s so much more peaceful to walk on tangled woodland paths with the sound of raven’s wings above you and nearby, a tiny garter snake sunning itself, its tongue tasting our passage helping to release web caught words onto paper. Autumn is approaching – shorter days and gently falling leaves reminding us that seasons are turning and there will be better days to come.

This is one of our favourite West End (Vancouver) gardens, beautiful no matter the season!

In the forest of Stanley Park, Terry has been steadily working on a natural art installation we call the Zen Garden, The original artist’s (also named Terry) installation was destroyed and Terry has been restoring its beauty ever since.

A seasonal algae bloom has appeared this year on Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park and with autumn just days away, it’s still creating lazy patterns on the surface of the water.

The algae bloom looks incredible no matter which way one looks!

Hank Bull’s exhibit this summer at the Pendulum Gallery was called A Message From The Forest, “conceived in the wilderness”.

This part of the exhibit was called The Library, book shapes sculpted from wood that invited the viewer closer hoping to read some good titles!

These landscape images evoke the beauty that the forest and land offer us if we’re willing to look!

Escape The Ordinary

“Spring: a lovely reminder of how beautiful change can truly be.” – Unknown

Filtered sunlight and soft rain have created a fairytale vista outside the sliding glass door, the forested islands in the distance appearing to float on a sea of cobalt blue and pale green. Bright white gulls and majestic eagles soar on the wind chasing away the lingering chill of winter so spring can finally waltz in.

We are back on the Island (Vancouver Island) happily tucked into the ground level unit above the ocean we enjoyed last summer at Tigh-Na-Mara – the scent of wood smoke, cedar, and salt air welcoming us back once again. It’s the last week of spring break, the sounds of happy children floating on the air encouraging us to leave our city selves behind and embrace the wild!

Colourful kites also soar on the wind – sandcastles, heaps of collected shells and driftwood lying on the sand below heralding warmer days to come. We’ve enjoyed several dry days with some unexpected sunshine enticing us outside to walk for hours. The nearby tangled forest is filled with the call of birds, their trills and chirps creating an otherworldly choir celebrating the arrival of spring. It was lovely to sit on a familiar sunny bench to watch delicate white crabapple blossoms gently fall and take it all in. Near this coveted spot we came upon a small green snake slithering through winter weary grass, the warm sun a welcome friend.

Oceanside, below our patio each morning, the waves roll in beneath a rocky ledge peppered with cedar seedlings, young arbutus trees and other green growth. Later, the tide heads out towards the islands revealing packed dark wet sand – this morning I noticed a few folks digging for clams! Several people venture out each day to walk towards the new edge at low tide, heads down searching for treasure. Sitting out on the terrace with the morning sun caressing our faces savouring a cup of tea and coffee has been a wonderful start to days spent wandering trails we never tire of.

The warm sun added such a playful note to our days we decided to treat ourselves to a creamy ice cream cone at the local pitch and putt before heading back to our unit to make dinner before those forested islands one last time before heading home. Precious time away like this is definitely an escape from the ordinary – giving us time to reset, leave behind the day to day, creating space for dreaming, creating space for life.

We found ourselves exploring new pathways and trails in Rathtrevor Park (Parksville, B.C.) on our many wanders! This capture invited us into the wild…

The rustic seawall never fails to offer us stunning West Coast views!

This sweet Bug kept us company at the Riptide Lagoon Pitch and Putt while we indulged in that creamy ice cream cone!

We were blessed to start two mornings like this out on the patio – wearing the cozy robes on offer while sipping our tea and coffee, a perfect escape from the ordinary.

On our last morning we were greeted by this serene view from our sliding glass door making it hard to say goodbye…

But look at the spring beauty that welcomed us back to our West End neighbourhood with countless blossoms and new green leafing unfolding daily!

(W)interlude

“Snow was falling, so much like stars filling the dark trees that one could easily imagine its reason for being was nothing more than prettiness.” – Mary Oliver

Bruised sky above a stark white landscape, gently swaying bright red Lunar New Year lanterns capped with a dusting of snow underneath a once green canopy is my unexpected mid-winter view from my favourite perch at Veranda Cafe. After a balmy and very sunny January, the first snowfall of the season has arrived bringing with it extreme cold temperatures leaving behind swathes of snow and ice. A creamy hot chocolate gently steams beside me on the old wooden counter, keeping me company as I jot down my thoughts as night falls.

It’s refreshing to step out each day and feel the sharp edges of a new season, a season we thought might pass us by, greedily counting each daffodil, snowdrop and crocus not enough to stop the tide – it seems we will have to wait for spring to arrive in its own time after all.

A recent Saturday walk through a Narnia-like forest in the park was especially beautiful, the sun shone bright on snow laden paths and joyfully built snowmen. It doesn’t snow often and any small (or big) hill drew children of all ages out on the slope with their sleds. We kept to the trails despite the odd icy patch and when we reached the magnificent vista waiting for us at Third Beach, it was nice to dust off a snowy bench and take in the view. Just before, I walked by a tall tree facing the water – inside a knot with a large whorl pattern, I spied a grey squirrel curled up inside sleeping in the sun. Near my coveted bench, a black squirrel scampered over the remains of the largest Red alder tree in North America and possibly the world (felled by a winter storm) found a spot in the sun and blissfully closed its eyes.

And now, spring will unfold in just a few short weeks! The snow has melted leaving no trace, revealing hardy snowdrops, pale purple crocuses and a sprig of mini blue irises (spotted in a local garden!). Each morning the light gently coaxes our eyes open earlier and earlier while the air fills with the sound of bird calls – Canada geese honking on neighbouring rooftops, Northern flickers drumming on metal, crows cawing with laughing gulls and sweet chirping performed by sparrows.

Today the sun made an appearance after a bitter night of fierce wind and pelting rain enticing us outside for a winter walk in the park. Familiar paths revealed new green growth, cheeky squirrels and some plants still slumbering underneath their own fallen leaves and fir branches. Imagine our surprise as we followed the sun by the lagoon and came across two proud Canada geese and their brood of five energetic goslings born just a few weeks ago during the snowstorm (the earliest sighting we’ve ever seen!)! A harbinger of spring to warm the heart and bring some joy into a world touched by darkness. So it’s a comfort to sit here again at Veranda’s picture window watching the lanterns still swaying among the trees, this quiet interlude between winter and spring providing a moment or two to gather my thoughts, find my center in the eye of the storm that is the news and feel grateful for the kindness and love that surrounds me.

Terry captured this stunning blue vista on a seawall walk in Stanley Park showcasing the beautiful sculpture of the diving girl on the rock!

As you can see, the paths were quite icy but thankfully still walkable if you took your time, I can almost smell the cold…

The sun painted beautiful shadows in the Narnia-like forest!

We noted that park gardeners were working hard to reclaim two ponds near the Vancouver Aquarium last fall and I must say they did a fantastic job, this pond looks magical!

Here is one of the joyfully built snowmen sporting an orange cone for a hat!

The now empty polar bear pit near the Vancouver Aquarium provides many opportunities for cool photos no matter the season, the stone walls and enclosure providing geometric patterns galore…

Pause, Daydream And Rest

“And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.” – Rainer Maria Rilke

After three days of damp atmospheric fog, it’s a joy to see the snowcapped mountains and emerald green forest again, sunny breaks here and there reminding us of warmer days to come. But before spring arrives there is winter to embrace, its shorter days and longer nights inviting us to travel inward, providing much needed space for daydreaming and rest.

A trio of wind and rain storms over the recent holidays battered our region leaving leaf strewn muddy ground, downed trees and branches with several forest trails in the park unsafe to walk. Looking back, it feels like summer abruptly ended, replaced by a rainy season not seen since the previous century, a season that has delayed our usual winter pattern. Lately, on leisurely afternoon walks there is new green growth, delicate snowdrops and pale pink cherry blossoms to greet us! After the sparkle of the holidays, this promise of spring helps to tame restless hearts waiting for the riot of colour and warmth of the sun to arrive.

Before I set out today, a news item flashed up on my computer screen announcing that so far this January (here in British Columbia, Canada) it has been the driest January ever! The snowpack looked so promising just a few weeks ago – the possibility of drought conditions this summer creating a frisson of worry with the raging wildfires down south in Los Angeles, California destroying neighbourhoods and taking lives.

Thankfully, a recent change in how we spend our time together or alone has helped mitigate the buzz on our newsfeeds – we noticed that when we holiday on Vancouver Island we feel more relaxed and worry free. The TV is off more often than switched on, we leave our laptop at home finding ourselves free from the drumbeat of worry. We walk for hours through the forest and on the beach coming home to our unit at Tigh-Na-Mara to make a simple meal or enjoy the delicious bites at the restaurant on site. An a-ha moment here at home sparked a conversation where we asked ourselves, why can’t we carve out space at least once a week to revisit those very things that encourage us to stop, daydream and rest.

And now, the Saturday Sabbath has weaved its promise of rest into our often busy and distracted lives. We start each Saturday morning streaming an uplifting program or series on TV while sipping on a bracing cup of coffee (for Terry) and a fragrant black tea (for me). This is always followed by reading or listening to positive words supporting the practice of lovingkindness and encouraging us to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. A long walk through Stanley Park after lunch visiting trails and paths (old and new) underneath the forest canopy enhances the rest begun that morning leaving us looking forward to our next day to pause! It’s a beautiful gift knowing there’s help to arm ourselves against busyness, distraction and the to-do’s that forever march through our minds. A day to appreciate all the small details that add up to a life well-lived, a life with room to pause, daydream and rest.

Seeing rain water filling the creeks and streams of Stanley Park is a welcome sight and bodes well for the summer!

We often find ourselves walking by a rushing creek which takes us underneath a wooden bridge, a crossroad of sorts where we can choose to walk towards the seawall or around peaceful Beaver Lake.

We have also been visiting the Zen Garden on our walks! Terry has been working hard over the fall and winter repairing the site, the original nature installations were destroyed which disheartened the original artist, it was wonderful to see the artist return to the site and add more stones, shells and branches. We often hear raven and eagles overhead…

At the top of Wren Trail there are beautiful ferns wearing their autumnal finery, these ferns have replaced some of the trees felled due to the Hemlock moth infestation reminding us that nature is the ultimate artist and sculptor!

After walking through the forest it’s a joy to come off the trail at Third Beach to gaze upon the ocean and take in the big sky, sunny days are the best…

No matter the weather, there is always a bench waiting, inviting us to sit, pause, daydream and rest!

Falling Into Autumn Again

“I can smell autumn dancing in the breeze. The sweet chill of pumpkin and crisp sunburnt leaves.” – Anne Drake

Mid-summer heat and hot pavement have chased us into the coolness of the forest to walk a well known trail just off the Urban Forest Train plaza in Stanley Park. The trail opened to walkers in the spring and will close again before summer ends – I wanted to sit outside after our wander underneath the leafy canopy near the Urban Forest Cafe with plans to read and write while Terry continued on his own park walk. It was wonderful to sit there in the shade with a takeout cup of soothing mint tea and a fresh slice of lemon/blueberry loaf, to edit a work in progress with the background murmur of happy tourists and the periodic train whistle perfect summer sounds on a sunny weekend afternoon.

The presence of wildfire smoke this summer was thankfully replaced by the heady scent of jasmine and other fragrant blooms, the occasional hint of wood smoke drifting into the city a subtle reminder of the many wildfires still burning in the province, our neighbour to the east (Alberta) and down south in the US (Washington). The state of California is also struggling with wildfire activity this summer that has left the sky a deep orange colour in parts and air quality alerts…

Before fall arrives and our upcoming getaway to Vancouver Island there are summer images (and experiences) I hope not to forget – while waiting for a bus on my way downtown, a lovely gentleman walked by heading home with a small red net bag of sunshine bright oranges (the same oranges we bought not long ago sitting in a sky blue bowl on our kitchen counter), seeing those oranges made me smile adding a joyful lift to the day! Another sweet moment I hope to repeat happened while sitting outside on Robson St. with my yoga teacher (Sandra), sipping bold black tea and enjoying a decadent strawberry/cream croissant, the new Korean bakery’s tiny patio, an intimate oasis from the steady flow of West End traffic.

Summer days so far have been filled with long local and park walks, eight weeks of relaxing evening yoga classes, tasty outdoor lunches with a few seasonal visits to local farmers markets and art galleries. Travelling to the Island to revisit a forest landscape and beach we love to celebrate the end of summer at Tigh-Na-Mara is always an enchanting way to fall into autumn!

Now I’m sitting with a spicy lemon/ginger tea on the counter at Veranda with the familiar view of lush green slowly changing colour outside the picture window while my thoughts happily return to our lazy days on the Island. Days that started with cups of tea and coffee on the spacious patio facing the strait while wearing the plush white spa robes that each unit has tucked into a closet. We were blessed with early morning sunshine on our faces most days, the air filled with the buzzing of big black flies with the sounds of Canada geese and ducks chiming in. Sigh…

The memory of discovering a bench placed just so on one of our many daily walks positioned on a trail in the forest facing the Field (where deer gather and owls hoot), filtered sunlight gently inviting all who stop by to sit and take in the view has been replaced by the first storm of the season. Summer here on the mainland has abruptly ended leaving only swathes of colourful dahlias to mark its passing. Furious winds and rain have begun to set free clouds of burnished leaves and errant twigs leaving behind on dry days a trail of black crow feathers and tiny brown acorns. So now we don our cozy jackets and set out to enjoy long walks here in our urban forest and on the busy seawall, the echo of tree frogs and the rough call of the raven never too far away just like those last days of summer…

This beautiful view greeted us each morning as we sat on the patio, we took a chance this trip and happily stayed in an oceanfront condominium unit at Tigh-Na-Mara – we made many meals facing this view accompanied by the sound of the waves.

The units still retain some rustic charm after some much needed renovations, we loved this nook where we hung our hats and umbrellas…

Here I am listening to the waves breathe before a long walk on the beach to Rathtrevor Park to revisit favourite trails and quiet meadows.

Even on a cloudy day the views are stunning! We walked in the forest and on the beach for hours everyday…

No matter the season there are always Bear In Area signs in the forest and even on this sun-dappled bridge we failed to see one!

On that same sun-dappled trail, this is the bench we discovered placed just so, we could hear the tree frogs loud and clear as well as the rough call of a raven, memories to draw on as we fall deeper into autumn.

Landscapes

“There is an eternal landscape, a geography of the soul; we search for its outlines all our lives.” – Josephine Hart

One late spring day I found myself on an adventure! A dear friend who owns a vehicle picked me up so we could revisit parts of the city we hadn’t been to in quite awhile. Our goal, lunch at a favourite hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant called Maizal, located on Main St., a street peppered with cool coffee bars, restaurants and unique shops. We tend to choose two traditional flour tacos to munch on each with the delicious fish taco on offer our first choice with the second one usually something different. Yvonne ordered the perfectly cooked shrimp taco with a small ramekin of guacamole on the side while I ordered a savoury bean and mushroom one, it was heaven with each tasty bite. We made sure to treat ourselves to refreshing glasses of tropical juice (passionfruit and hibiscus) to celebrate the day. It was lovely to sit in their airy space, catch up and watch the world go by (with some folks popping in to purchase fragrant mouthwatering take out!).

Our day ended at the other end of the city with a happy wander through Banyen Books on West 4th Avenue before sitting outside across from the bookstore at Aphrodite Cafe to share two decadent dessert squares with the brilliant sunshine and warm wind as company. Throughout the day (sitting outside or in the car) I was struck by the different landscapes unfolding in a city adjusting to 10,000 newcomers arriving every 37 days, searching for housing and employment – verdant pockets of land making way for tall towers and older three story apartment buildings being demolished to create new dwellings for sale or rent. A fragile glass city struggling with growing pains, desperately trying to catch up with her older siblings (Toronto, New York and London) no matter the cost.

Thankfully, there are other landscapes to delight one’s soul – a beautiful vista of the summer green forest, majestic mountains painted with just a touch of snow and sparkling water, all shimmering before us as we enjoy an afternoon tea and coffee on our balcony each warm day. Other landscapes are manmade and just as beautiful; I recently saw an exhibit with a series of framed paintings and photographs hung on an art gallery wall at eye level, a horizon (or landscape) of a different sort hidden in plain sight!

It’s the landscape of the heart though that remains the most constant despite frequently changing scenery as we navigate the ebb and flow of our earthly lives. Its contours, hills and valleys harbouring precious memories and grand adventures, keeping us company as only a true friend can…

This beautiful landscape was captured above the seawall at Third Beach in Stanley Park (Vancouver, B.C.), there are benches and picnic tables available (as well as concession food) so one can sit, breathe and take it all in!

Deep in the forest stands another landscape – a stand of trees struck by lightning over the years, some left with mysterious portals…

Terry captured another photo of his bike near a peaceful bench in the Rhododendron Garden, leafy shadows stretch across this special spot facing the miniature golf course in Stanley Park.

One of my favourite neighbourhood walks is by these beautiful houses, their front gardens are lovely to look at no matter the season, colourful landscapes to delight the eye!

A recently discovered manmade landscape caught my eye on a walk up to a local Free Library with a tote bag full of orphan books from our laundry room shelves, the colour and design created to make passersby smile.

A recent wander through the Vancouver Art Gallery to take in the exhibit, Black And White And Everything In Between: A Monochrome Journey turned out to be very relaxing. This capture of the gallery wall at the entrance to the exhibit welcomes patrons and piques the imagination, hinting at the restful colours within as well as being a very striking artistic landscape on its own.

Summer Breeze – Bike Series

“The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets.” – Christopher Morley

A quiet trail in Stanley Park conjures up images of enjoying a thermos of tea or coffee on the smooth wooden stump conveniently located by a perfectly carved tabletop!

A pause on Wren trail reveals a “woodpecker” tree, these trees are left for wildlife and can be found throughout Stanley Park. Some are very well used…

This hidden jewel (Beaver Lake) is a peaceful spot for counting dragonflies, listening to frogs as they call to each other or simply sitting on a sunny bench while ravens and eagles soar overhead!

Behind this wildflower meadow above Brockton Oval, a family of coyotes live, Terry has come home with video of a pup and its parents respectfully taken from a safe distance. While sitting on his favourite hill, Terry recently heard a young pup yipping…

We have been known to stop at this lone picnic table at Brockton Oval after a delicious fish and chip lunch at Lumbermen’s Arch concession to listen to crow young or enjoy a mocha gelato…

This photo taken near the majestic Totem Poles captures the natural spirit of the city – big blue sky, dark green forest and cobalt sea, inviting local residents and visitors to explore.

The opening quote should include musicians, too! Thank you to Terry for capturing a beautiful summer vibe on his many bike rides through the park and on the trails.

Tomorrow Is Closed

“Light tomorrow with today.” – Elizabeth Barrett Browning

It’s a quietly beautiful day outside my windows – I can see the pale curve of the moon against a very blue background, the sky’s many shades reflecting off the cobalt waters of Coal Harbour. Spring is unfolding in glorious colour with warmer temperatures, the delicate flowers of the chestnut trees one street over are glowing in raspberry and ivory providing fragrant cover for small birds and cheeky squirrels. Crow young are calling to each other from tall trees and cedars, impatiently waiting for the adults to bring food to their well hidden nests. Some days with all the various bird calls and cries, it sounds like an urban jungle out there!

All this beauty and activity always inspires me to wander – one of my first rambles began in the park on a sunny weekend day, there was just enough winter bite in the air to warrant purchasing a warm apple cider from the concession for my walk home. It’s a blissful feeling to sip and stroll taking in all the new green growth, listening to the birds and just being among like-minded people. Imagine my surprise (and delight!) when I noticed the gates to the miniature train station area open to the public again. It made me wonder (and hope) that one of our favourite trails might be accessible too, especially after it was mostly closed these past few years. There’s no harm in trying I thought as I made my way into the plaza and found the trail beckoning me to walk its newly graveled path.

And what a wonder it was to revisit this peaceful trail winding alongside the railway tracks, the miniature train (The Urban Forest Train) transporting happy children and their families through the dark green forest, the children’s laughter a perfect companion as I was the only walker on the trail. The surrounding landscape revealing that some of the trees have been felled or removed due to the devastating looper (Hemlock) moth infestation – thankfully there is still a lot of familiar beauty to admire despite the losses, making me eager to walk this trail again as spring turns into summer…

The energy of downtown calls me as well and I enjoyed another visit to the Vancouver Art Gallery to catch the exhibit – Of & About Posters: The Lawrence Wiener Poster Archive (1965-2021). After an hour or so I came away with a new appreciation of the many posters we come across each day – some taped up in store windows, pasted on weathered telephone poles or others picked up at the local library or community centre advertising upcoming festivals or lectures. The most recent poster (card) I picked up is a cheerful reminder of the beloved Vancouver International Jazz Festival which traditionally heralds the beginning of summer each June. The card’s lively colours and images (orange sun and crescent moon with various instruments and figures on a background of green trees and city buildings) will surely brighten up my refrigerator already peppered with a small collection of souvenir travel magnets!

I also try to see the various free exhibits at the Pendulum Gallery which is located not far from the Vancouver Art Gallery, on that day the gallery panels and spaces were empty. But not long after on a downtown walk home after spending time on the North Shore and leaving the busy Sea Bus terminal, I popped into the Pendulum Gallery to spend some time among a collection of sculptures. Some were sculpted from bronze, alabaster and wood – there was even a metal steam punk piece in the shape of a cool guitar and a futuristic life-size robot mother and child created from metal and found objects which made me smile…

Tomorrow is closed until we open our eyes to a brand new day – a day to embrace spring and the arrival of summer, enjoy a delicious blueberry and banana smoothie, celebrate a birthday on a wooden deck overlooking a lush park or a day to simply be, to let go of yesterday and dare to write a new page!

This striking poster caught my eye at the exhibit, especially the photograph of the gallery taken many years ago!

Lawrence Wiener’s posters were displayed all over the world at many different venues, New York featured a lot of his works and in Europe, Lawrence Wiener even posted his own posters in famous cities on bus shelters and other welcoming spots.

This poster brought back some wonderful memories of London! I wish I had bought a souvenir T-shirt of the iconic Underground symbol but this capture will more than do…

I couldn’t resist this lovely poster’s message, it touches on the seasons, reading, sand and wind, all things that are dear to us all!

Sometimes after yoga practice, I take my book to a sunny counter at Veranda for a quiet read and a delicious smoothie! My current read is the sailing memoir by our friend Sam McKinney (1927-2006) called Sailing Uphill, his words are a delight to read and oftentimes I feel like I’m sailing with him (and yes, we have wonderful memories of sailing with him here on English Bay!).

The Stanley Park Brew Pub has hosted many birthday celebrations over the past few years and it’s a beautiful spot no matter the season! I recently celebrated mine here and enjoyed every minute…

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!