Farmers Market

One of the things I love to do while I'm on Quadra is go to the Farmers Market in Courtenay. Courtenay is about a 40 minute drive from Campbell River where our ferry lands on Vancouver Island. Cousin Sarah makes wonderful fresh pasta and tasty, unusual pestos which are sold at the market. On Saturdays my cousin Mia helps sell them. When I am there I also help..well, sort of.
On this Saturday it was freezing cold but the light was beautiful and the air crystal clear. My camera just couldn't bear not to click away!
One of the colorful tents getting ready.

Sarah's sign advertising her wares.

Sarah and Saoirse on duty.

Saoirse sampling one of the crackers that are there for customers who want to sample the pestos.

The rest of the photos speak for themselves. It is hard not to buy, buy, buy with all the lovely products that are for sale.

Things We Do On Quadra

A cookout with John, Mia, Sarah, Derek and Saoirse is always top on our list of fun things to do.
The Cookout Clowns at work.


Saoirse and one of her million dollar smiles.

Father and daughter.

Mother and daughter in their look-alike outfits,

Sarah saying cheers.

The fire ban has been lifted so we were able to have a fire in our beach fire pit. The fire-maker is busily doing his fire thing.

The start of the party...

We had the most amazing clouds that night.


Here are more to the right of those in the previous two photos. Hard to believe they are in the same evening sky.

My attempt to paint the evening sky.

On Wednesdays we help in the Community Centre (Canadian spelling) kitchen. There is a soup lunch, three delicious soups are made each week and they are accompanied by donated desserts as well as veggie and fruit plates. Usually around 100 people show up. Payment for the lunch is by donation. It is a fun event that draws a wide assortment of residents of all ages each week. This fall a group of us created and published a cookbook featuring the soups and desserts served over the years.
Here is the rec centre.

Doni drying dishes.

Buck scraping dishes and prepping them for the dishwasher.

The cookbook committee.

Then there is apple picking... We cooked them, ate them, froze them and Mia and John took them to be made into fresh apple juice.

One beautiful apple.

Driving the Husquaverna loaded down with apples.

I've become such a confident driver that I can actually drive, smile and wave all at the same time!


Time for the annual grape crushing. Boxes bursting at their seams with what???

Grapes!

Buck helps lift boxes.

John pours grapes into the crusher.

The best part of the event..sampling last year's vintage and solving the problems of the world.

Hauling the juice off to our friend Gary's garage.

While he was 'batching it' Buck discovered his baking-side. Here is his now famous peach and blackberry cobbler. He picked the blackberries with his very own hands.

Taking the cobbler out of the oven.

Oh yum! Bring on the ice cream!

Time For Some R&R

After nearly 4 weeks in Beaverton with Marnie, I flew to Victoria to meet Buck who had been on Quadra and, among other things, going on a wonderful kayak trip.
We spent the night downtown, had a delicious supper at the Bon Rouge and the next morning wandered around enjoying this beautiful city until the Royal museum opened. It is a fabulous museum and a must when in Victoria.
Here is Buck in front of the grand Hotel Empress at the Victoria Harbour's (Canadian spelling.) edge. We had a glass of wine on her front terrace and felt most elegant.

The harbour is busy with ferries, yachts and float planes coming and going.

These amazing evergreen trees welcome guests to the Empress. They look like giant Heffalumps.

Here's Jackie

Over the last couple of months I have has some wonderful times with Jackie (and his mom and dad too of course.) He's a great little fellow and easy to be around. He is very observant and has a lot to say. Life with Jackie is fun and lively. He is yummy to hug too!
Ways to keep cool on a hot September afternoon.


Where did the water go?

Trying to drink out of the sprinkler was challenging, the water kept getting in his nose. He kept at it until he was finally successful and then it was hard to convince him to stop.

This was his idea. All he needs now is a straw hat and a beer!

Wearing Dee's hat.

I can see you. Grrr...Don't I look scarey?

Checking out some leaves.

Helping Dee. Lucky Dee!

Jackie has a love of remotes (and old cell phones) that borders on obsession. He sleeps with them at nap time and at night and has them nearby most of the day. He generally calls them, 'g'motes.'

Mommy is drawing g'motes and Jackie knows exactly what he wants in each picture. Don't deviate a bit, Mommy!

Check out those curls!

His alligator tears. Don't you love the lip?

Jack in a box.

Having some good times with Uncle Wayne. My little Brother. He came to Oregon to take over so I could have some R&R in Canada.

And a cuddle with Shiya aka Katharien aka Kai. My baby sister, who also came to Oregon to spell Wayne and spend time with Marnie. Thad named her Shiya when he was a little fellow and the name has stuck.