Wastin' away again in Margaritaville...

Perhaps this charming fellow is looking for his lost shaker of salt...

Welcome to Huckleberry Hill

We finally came up with the perfect name for our property, as commemorated by this photo of actual huckleberries picked by Miranda (with help).

Girls together

Nana Lorna's school chum is visiting BC from Morrisburg, Ont.; they've been friends for 1/2 a century! We took the girls to the Galley bistro in Artisan Square...amazing view of the sea and mountains. Steve took this great photo; if only Grammy--Kathy's prof at Mount A many long years ago--could see 'em now!

The Onus of Responsibility (don't spell it with an A)

My esteemed colleagues made the heroic trek over to Bowen for a PD retreat day; our discussion of weighty matters such as plagiarism and sequenced assignments was punctuated by lots of laughs (and mmmMediterranean-style catering by The Tuscany) and underlined by a subtext of connectedness. OK, so we mixed a few metaphors...I'd still give us all an A plus! My photography, however, would scarcely rate a D: I intended to capture everyone on film (flatteringly, of course), but this was the best I could come up with (and I don't recommend pondering the metaphorical significance of any of this): Paul, we only see you in chiaroscuro profile; Liz, you're almost completely obscured by shadows; Bruce, you're partially obscured by Mary; Romy, you and I are visible only in a background reflection in the window; Neil and Sue Ann, I got your backside! Gill, Marlet, Mary, Al, Moira, Wendy, Cecilia, and Steve (joining us at Doc Morgan's Inn for pub BBQ dinner)--you all look great! Cheers!

Dads & Dolls

I took this photo of Steve and Miranda on the ferry en route to party time at Jackie and Andrew's; Andrew and Katie looking radiantly happy as they celebrated their first Father's Day with a great group of friends and neighbours.

No-body like Uncle Dave

Note Steve's (unintentional) Picasso-esque photo! The re-take looks a bit more conventional! When we asked Miranda if she remembered her Uncle David, she said, "He's funny!"...Dave is in BC on a business trip, so we're lucky to be able to spend some time with him. When we were telling him about our family dynamics, we asked Miranda, "Who's the boss?"--"Uncle Dave," she responded. That kid's really got a head on her shoulders...at least in the second photo!

Tea for two

Friends Debbie and Charlotte (from the Woodland Drive neighbourhood in town--they used to live only about a block away; now it's a bit more of a hike to see us in the real "woodland"!) came over today--lots of fun! The girls are almost exactly the same age, and although Miranda and Charlotte hadn't seen each other since last year, they quickly re-bonded and even (with no prompting from the adults) gave each other a big hug. Highlights too numerous to list but here's a start: miniature tea party; walk through the woods to the waterfall; strolling on the boardwalk; singing ABCs; switching dollies for the day. Sweet!

Bloomin'...

Carmen's flowers still look lovely the next morning--and I'm still chuckling over Steve's response to her inquiry about his back: "I can stand erect!" --quickly followed by Peter's rejoinder: "WHAT did you say to my wife?"...

A cozy evening at home

Carmen, Peter and Wilson came over for a nice family dinner with Nana and John--celebrating Steve's return to feeling a little more chipper...he's still not quite up to par, but definitely on the mend: well enough to make a beautiful herb-rubbed red wine pot roast with all the trimmings, in fact! He even managed to stay up until the end of the dinner! We drank a toast to his recovery--thanks to all the relatives and friends who've sent good wishes our way over the last couple of weeks!

Small-fry

Over the meadow & through the woods with Nana, Cheryl & Raia for a delightful Bowen tradition: the release, by local urchins, of tiny salmon from the hatchery to the stream.

Poolside

"Daddy, you make me a pool," Miranda insisted. So here she is in her bathtub, al fresco! Note Steve's improved mobility! He even danced a little jig for her amusement (not that he didn't regret it later)...

Little Miss Muffet

Sat on her tuffet
Eating her curds and whey...








Along came a spider
Who sat down beside her








And frightened Miss Muffet away!