healing waters

the pacific north west kept its waters warm for our late august visit.

it was so wonderful to walk and get our feet 

massaged by the sand and kissed by the crabs.

everyday...we studied the tides

and our days were scheduled around its rhythm.

we are back home now...

dealing with organizing and loving our little messy home.

the rain, that was promised, have come (in buckets).

so the mountain of laundry is growing until the sun comes back to dry them.

today...i'm refilling the fridge, baking some chocolate, need-to-be-eaten banana muffins, getting rid of some clutter and filling up some donation bags.
if/when we get a break from the rain...you'll find me in the backyard!


erica
xoxo

cathedral grove

lost...stand still.

the trees ahead and bushes beside you are not lost.

wherever you are is called here.

and you must treat it as a powerful stranger,

must ask permission to know it and be known.

the forest breathes. 

listen. it answers.

i have made this place around you.

if you leave it, you may come back again, saying here.

no two trees are the same to raven.

no two branches are the same to wren.

if what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,

you are surely lost.

stand still.

the forest knows where you are.

you must let it find you

                                                     - david wagoner

with school starting in just over a week

we are soaking up these last few days of summer.

our last week was spent in qualicum bay...

if we weren't by the ocean, you would have found us in the forest.

this part of vancouver island is a nature lover's paradise,

there are so many nature paths and forest trails to explore.

these pictures were taken in cathedral grove,

a very special ancient douglas fir ecosystem.

all i can say is...it truly is a magical and spiritual place!

we spent a couple of hours meandering, picnicking, and hugging some giant trees.

walking/hiking with my teens is the best way to get them to talk...and talk they did.

they are excited and feeling confident for this upcoming school year.

ian and i just listened and smiled...

we are both feeling soooo grateful (it has been an incredible summer!!)

erica

xoxo

sky watch

i'm back....

we decided to enjoy these last few days of summer vacation 

on the east coast of vancouver island 

in a beautiful spot called qualicum bay.

we found a little ocean side cottage to rent a few years ago 

and have returned every summer since.

i brought my knitting, my book, my camera, some clothes and my walking shoes...

easy (quick get-away) packing because there is a quaint little town nearby 

to get everything else we might need.

no television

no phone

no computers

just four glorious days watching the sky change!!

i'll share more of our little adventure once i've calmed the chaos of our return home.

wishing you al the loveliest of weekends!!!

erica

xoxo

fun stuff: monogomous no more

i gifted myself another set of knitting needles

and for a change in pace, i decided to work on two blankets at a time.

i've always only worked on one project (mostly scarves and then blankets)

because the process of combining colours would entertain me for months.

after arriving back home from our holidays...

my sunny scrap blanket started looking too one dimensional, the colour combination just wasn't working for me so i ripped it out and immediately casted on my purple blanket with the bag of purple scrap yarn my friend brought me.

 over the weekend...i found the missing link. 

burgundy and moss green are perfect balancing colours for all that orange, pinks and red. so my sunny blanket found life again!!!

i must say it is rather convenient having both on the go... 

now i don't have to keep carrying my knitting basket with me every time i want to 

move between my two favourite knitting corners.

 i haven't found a book to read 

(i've been too distracted by with all the hullabaloo of my water heater drama)

 but brought jeff krasno's wanderlust home from the library.

what a beautiful book !!!

what are you knitting? reading?

care to share?

erica

xoxo

joining frontier dreams and small things

savouring the coast

we were blessed with another beautiful weekend.

lots of exercise, yummy food, great chats with friends and neighbours, 

and long, slow walks by the ocean.

although we have much need of some rain,

you can tell by the energy and smiley faces of everyone on the beach

that we all feel blessed by this long string of beautiful, sunny days.

with school starting in a couple of weeks and all the business of settling back to reality,

my to do list seems to get longer every time i strike a line off of one item.

(surprise, surprise...we are in need of a new water heater!!!)

all i can say is,

thank goodness...'walk the dog' 

is always on the top ten of my priorities.

our new water heater gets delivered and installed tomorrow...yay !!

then we are off for a couple of days to explore the mid-eastern part of this island.

erica

xoxo

thrifted threads: mauve

welcome to 'what i wore wednesday'

i'm linking up with lindsey and the ladies for some fashion fun.

it has taking me a while... but i'm finding rhythm and structure to my days again.

after having been gone for over a month, 

it has been really challenging getting back into routine, 

while ian had no problem jumping right back into work, 

it has been doubly challenging helping my two teenagers 

get out of their pajamas before mid day !!

slowly but surely...we are getting there.

to get through all my little chores - i've been living in comfy shorts and loose tops.

this mauve crocheted sweater was a thrift find from two years back.

i have fallen in love with everything crocheted 

and am easily thrilled to find thrifted crocheted pieces to wear.

talking about mauve...

did you check out how gorgeous these bulbs are !!!

i had spotted them in several florist shops in paris, 

and was so happy to photograph them while strolling through a 

temporary art exhibit in the luxembourg gardens.

i can't tell if they are part of the tulip family or not?!?

the weatherman has forecasted lots of sunshine for the week,

so today i'm tackling my garden.

messy is an understatement because the squirrels have been busy dehusking our walnuts.

it's a big clean up job so i'm starting early,

but for a break this afternoon, i am hoping to get to the victoria art gallery.

our free passes have come in.

happy hump day everyone !

erica

xoxo

fun stuff: purple blend

the purple blanket is still on the needles.

here it is with my birthday hydrangeas and birthday tea pot.

i love how they all blend beautifully together

i finished orphan train and really enjoyed it.

today is library day so I've got my fingers crossed that i find a good read.

it is one place i never get tired of and still find myself getting excited 

every time i go (even when i have overdue fines to pay).

erica

xoxo

joining frontier dreams and small things

starting another year

yesterday, i cashed in one of my birthday presents.

a day hike at east sooke park on vancouver island's west coast.

it had been a weekend full of little celebrations already

but this day was my favourite.

we got up early and were at the trail head by 9 am.

the early start was possible because we let our two sleeping teens slumber on 

(they were up waaaay too late with friends the night before)

the trail was rigorous (lots of hills and uneven pathways)

but we have done this one a thousand times before so we knew what we were up against.

 the most exciting part of the morning were the orcas...

yes, yes, yes...a pod of five (with their blow holes and all)

 came swimming through the strait,

just to make our day!!!

i tried to snap a shot but i was too much in awe of the moment (sorry...)

with all the orca excitement, 

it took us under two hours to make it to beechy head summit

but just over an hour to get back to the car.

yup....a spectacular start to another year of life !!!

wishing you all a wonderful start to your week...

erica

xoxo

sidney by the sea

we heard rumours that the orcas were in town

so we crossed our fingers and headed to sidney,bc 

to see if we could spot them.

ian and his eagle eyes says he and harlow saw a pod of at least eight.

the rest of us weren't so lucky

but we did enjoy the pier and got to chat 

with a couple of the crab fishermen.

we had dinner reservations later that evening,

so for the rest of the afternoon,

we checked out the local bookstore, thrift shops and bakery.

sidney is such a lovely town,

if you are ever on the island...it is a definite must see!!

the whole day was perfect...
just the way i wanted to celebrate my birthday.

yup...still 28!!!

erica

xoxo