Duck Lady

On Tuesday morning David and I spent about an hour walking along the ocean and visiting Esquamalt Lagoon. There was a lady there who fed the ducks, swans and geese every day. She spent about $150/week on feed...but as she said, the children were all grown and well looked after, the grandchildren were well looked after, and she and her husband did not like to travel..so why not? She said the ducks came running as soon as her car pulled up. I think they are too stupid to figure it out. I mean just look at them in their feeding frenzy!!

The swans were much more sophisticated about the whole event and the Canada Geese just made a whole lot of noise but were slow to figure out there was some food for them.

Pintail

Mallard

Over on the beach were the seagulls - they did not come near the feasting ducks. I think they preferred any garbage they could find.

Do you think this is Jonathon Livingston Seagul??

We arrived home from our short trip at 1am this morning and ran out the door to work at 7:30 this morning. Work, play, work , work , work , play :) Life is crazy isn't it? But He blesses us so.

May He fill your life with blessings!

Julie

Victoria Waterfall

As promised, more Victoria. This is Niagara Falls - not THE Niagara Falls, but the Niagara Falls of Goldstream Provincial Park, British Columbia. Very pretty, very strong waterfalls. To get a sense of the size, try to find the person standing in the bottom rt hand corner of this next photo. You can always double click on a photo to see it more clearly.

The forests offered wonderful silence and wonderful sounds of nature. Standing in the middle of an amazingly quiet forest, you round the corner of the path and hear the sound of rushing water - then you see it gushing over the top with unrestrained force. Just amazing! His creation and His sovereign hand in all of this is just plain amazing! I wish I could have stood at the bottom of this waterfall - but it is too strong and would knock me over. :)

We are home late tomorrow night and back to the grind early the next day - short but sweet holiday. Hope number one son has the house clean for us. :)
Blessings!
Julie

More Victoria

Morning strolls along the ocean, a sunrise, some swans in the bird sanctuary up the way and views from the B&B.

Then off to Goldstream Provincial park for a little walking/hiking.

can you guess what this is? Hint below.

GTG but will try to post some great photos of a waterfall this afternoon.

Have a wonderful day everyone

Blessings

Julie

Experience Victoria!

hummingbird who visits each morning at breakfast.

Raspberry sorbet!

Vanilla Bean cheesecake

...a light lunch at 5th Street Bar and Grill....

one of the peaceful views from our room...

Creme Brule with a decadent chocolate center

Blessings!

Julie

Victoria Getaway

A month ago when the windchills were minus 47, my sweetheart started googling and found out that one of our favorite B&B's in Victoria had a winter special on. Unfortunately West Jet and Air Canada didn't... so the discussion was on and he won. He really needed a break from the weather and his 60 hr weeks so can't blame him. So here we are for five wonderful days in Victoria...our son Paul was just wearing jeans and a t-shirt as he drove us around after picking us up at the airport. It is beautiful here - not beach weather, but the sun is shining and it is very green!
We are staying at the most romantic, beautiful, adults only (who act like kids only hehe) B&B in Victoria...overlooking the ocean. We have a lovely suite. If you want a winter get-away for a bit to a very romantic, quiet and totally rejuvenating five star spot, check out Amore by the Sea . My DH, extravagant guy, booked the Sea Star deluxe room!!

The web site has great photos, but this one I took last night after we arrived back from a very nice supper at My Chosin' Cafe. The name is a play on the area where we are staying on the outskirts of Victoria called Metchosin. Very popular place and we had fun sitting up at the bar waiting for our table. Great bartenders! :)

From the bedroom into the sitting room....

This bathroom is incredible - HUGE shower with two shower heads that adjust so they can spray at you from several different directions - fun and sooooo relaxing. ...and a big jacuzzi!
The windows all along this suite look out over the ocean - so peaceful

The moon was full over the ocean last night. If it is clear tonight I will try to get out there with my tripod and get a picture. The reflection off the water was so beautiful last night.
Today we are off to church with Paul and Allie and then lunch - the Cactus Club I believe, then a visit with my Mom and Dad this afternoon ...but first the incredible breakfasts that Amore is famous for... I will have my macro lens ready so I can share that experience with you.
Keep checking back..I will post pictures daily. Oh don't you love wireless? and Laptops? I can blog anywhere!!! GTG - the sun will be up soon and the views from our room over the ocean and downtown Victoria are wonderful!
Blessings!
Julie

New Car

Harold bought his first car last fall - wow - this is a big thing for him - payments and all - but it is a great solid car to get him back and forth to work. He was thrilled and so was I!

I am treating myself to scrapping a few more recent pictures!! I love the simplicity of this page..lots of rub ons from the stash....you can never have enough rub ons!!

Thanks for letting me share!

Blessings!

Julie

Lunar Eclipse

Last nights wonder was pretty cool....okay it was cold too, but it was pretty cool!

Creative weekend!

Three days in a row off this past weekend and boy did I fill them up with lots of creativity! Saturday David and I got up early, scanned through our recipe books and planned an elegant supper for six. We haven't done this in a while and forgot how much fun it can be - we love being in the kitchen together, and shopping - we toss a coin for who gets to wash out the bathrooms and who gets to vacuum. Off for our Sat am walk to the coffee shop (three miles return) and then home to call up some friends for an evening of impromptu dining. Grocery shopping and home to start the preparations.

Spinach stuffed mushrooms - David made these - mmmmm. Steamed asparagus wrapped with cream cheese and prosciutto (thank you Brenda for this yummy idea - they were fabulous again). Mexican rice full of peppers (jalapeño included) fresh herbs and spices, Cajun salmon steaks -from scratch = David prepared all the seasoning. A very delicious Sonoma salad - pine nuts, cranberries, sunflower seeds and orange vinaigrette. Some fresh bread and dip.

Set the dining room table for the event and even pulled out the silver and the china - looked quite nice. Forgot to take a picture when the candles were lit - next time! Those are tea light in martini glasses filled with little clear plastic beads. Very elegant!

Sunday was a busy day too. A guest for lunch after church, a brief nap because I was out shooting the sun rise that morning remember? (see one post down!) and then I started into a project I am working on for the health region. My manager is retiring and I am putting together a coffee table book for her with old photos and staff photos...so last week on my lunches I gathered old photos, had someone identify them all for me and spent four hours scanning and editing them in Photoshop today- I think it will turn out quite well. I just need people to submit some current photos and send me the "copy" for the book. Thats the hardest part.
And today - Monday. I finished my last two page spread for the year 2000! YES!!!

Then I went through and arranged, by event, all my 2001 photos - and we start again. 2001 will not be as long as 2000 - which I believe is close to 50 layouts - we did so much stuff that year!

2 page spread on our talent night in Dec 2000. Lots of pictures - Becky Higgins layout sketches pg 192 to the rescue! Some new paper and some old rub ons and stickers.

I also was quite inspired by a pencilines sketch (love this site)so I did a page from Feb 2007 as well.

I really like how this turned out and it was fun to do! This was our black tie dinner in Toronto when David's company won 50 Best managed companies in Canada. Very classy evening! Look at that very handsome couple!! :)

Everyone have a super day!!

Julie

Saskatchewan Sunrise

Got up early this morning for some photos....it was cold!! North wind!!