I am still here!!!

Wow...where do I start???!!!

We bought a house and we got married!!! Yes...so much has happened since my last post in May.

Our new home is in Duncan and we love it!! We were lucky enough to find the perfect house and we have a hiking trail right out our front door...literally!!!

Lets see.....bought the house in late June, got married July 5th and drove across Canada in a U-Haul full of furniture in late July arriving home on the 29th.

What a trip!! Breathtaking sunsets,pristine lakes, sea of yellow and purple on the prairies,hoodoos in Alberta, majestic mountains.....so much beauty and eye candy!!! Over 500 photos!!

So much to tell!!!

Well, my youngest daughter , Candice and her boyfriend, Mario have finally decided to see what all the fuss is about on the west coast and arrived on May 15 after a 3 day bus trek across Canada!!

They loved the trip and the pictures were awesome!!

We have been running around the island talking them to see all our favorite spots that we show off as if we created them and have some sort of ownership!!! It is funny isn't it how possesive we get of our little piece of turf!!

We are looking for a house on the island!! Not easy with the prices 23% over market value!!

After much thought we have decided to go over the Malahat to Duncan !!Prices are half and in fact with the way that Victoria is growing we just have to wait on the other side of the Malahat and Victoria will come to us!! We will see what happens with our offer.....

We flew back to Muskoka in early May and packed up all our belongings and sold our house ....no ties now. The kids will just have to come visit us!! I can show off the island since with any luck we will , along with the bank , own about 20 square feet!!

We now have our bike out and riding is actually pleasureable!! Warm wind in your face and awesome smells everywhere!!

Our trek up Mount Finlayson.....March 30,2008

Well, we didn't quite make it to the top of Mt Finlayson although we were within feet of our destination!! We are both terrified of heights and the last few steps were sheer rock and we just weren't going for it!! It was a little disappointing to say the least but the view from where we were was magnificent!!

We are both determined to keep trying till we reach the summit. After all it is only a few feet!!

Those few feet were straight up with barely a hand hold and sent shivers all the way to my toes!!

I stared with envy at the few people beginning their descent asking..."how much further is it?"

Their reply made my heart sink....

""Oh, only around that rock just 10 minutes or so"....

So close!!! I am going to do it!! An inch at a time if I have to!!!

We will plan another trek up Mt Finlayson.........

Smoken Bones Cookshack

Smoken Bones Cookshack
721 Station Ave
Victoria, BC
250-391-6328

Hey, I can forgive the lack of ambiance in favour of the most awesome ribs I have had outside my own kitchen!!
This up and coming hotspot has it all but unfortunately service is not big on the menu. We dined on a busy Saturday night(maybe this had something to do with it) and service was practically nonexistent.
We were seated and the waitress took our order for drinks. After pondering the menu for about five minutes we ordered. So much to choose from and it all looked delicious!! Unfortunately, we did not see the waitress again until we cornered her to ask where our dinner was . Dinner, when it arrived, was fantastic !!! The House Greens Salad with honey lemon vinaigrette was a refreshing contrast to the Smoken Pork Ribs that literally fell off the bone and the BBQ Chicken glazed with fireweed honey and mustard might be worth a second trip.
If you are looking for a great bbq place this is it, but be prepared to wait!!

Spring!!!

The first lawn mowing of the season has me eagerly sniffing the air for more potent spring smells!!
It is March here on Vancouver Island and after bragging all winter to my family back east about the great weather and thank god! ....no snow!!! ...it snowed today...March 26!!! Two days ago I awoke to the all familiar sound of a lawn mower and smiled secretly to myself ...smart girl for following your heart and settling in this little oasis in the middle of a frozen desert!!....Victoria, BC. So what's up with the weather??? It is not supposed to snow now!!! HELLO!!! It is spring!!!
Ok...enough complaining for now....... After all ,the snow flakes were beautiful shimmering in the sunlight and never even made it to the ground.....now where was I?
Yes.....!!!! Spring is here!!! I am thinking plants!! Fresh herbs! Fuscia for those charming little hummingbirds that I meet on my walks around the bay...yes, I saw them in February!! Swear!!
Since we are living in a little one bedroom apartment on the inner harbour of Victoria, I can not have a garden in the traditional sense but before this season is over , our balcony will be bulging with fresh herbs , sunwarmed cherry tomatoes and maybe even some string beans!!
The apartment is small and nondescript but the view is HUGE!!! Sunrises to take your breath away, and at night, the lights of the city shimmering in the harbour. It soothes the soul.....
Hey...the snow has stopped and the sun is shining......!!! I keep forgetting....if you don't like the weather in Victoria.....wait five minutes!!!

Valentines Day

Well, it has been a while since I lasted posted since I am steadily working on my first love...SLOW VICTORIA!!!
Since my first initiation to SLOW started with my love of good food and taking the time to enjoy it, I thought it only fitting to mention great places to eat in Victoria!! Places that are romantic and totally affordable since Valentines Day is upon us!!

Victoria restaurants are among some of the most unique I have ever seen !! I love the fact that they support local food growers and farmers, encouraging them to grow and produce foods so we can enjoy the wonderful flavours at the table!!!

Spinakers Pub is one of my favourites places and where we will be spending our romantic Valentines Day dinner. It overlooks the Windsong Walkway and Victoria's inner harbour. The view is breathtaking!! The food is outstanding and unique!! A blend of local produce and organic ingredients ....the aroma is amazing!!
As time goes on, I hope to list all the great dining places and my own personal experience with them.

The SLOW alternative

Reading Carl Honore's " In Praise of Slow" has indeed changed my life...... for the better I might add!! http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/73
In slowing down, taking charge of my life and getting rid of much unnecessary stress, I have discovered that going slow is not for retirees and "old " people...it is for all if we are to have a better quality of life and yes....live longer!!!
My move to Victoria was prompted by meeting the love of my life and following my heart. (He actually bought me "In Praise of Slow" and gave it to me on our third date!! I think he was trying to tell me something!!)I flew to Victoria from Toronto for a two week vacation and to spend time with my love of course! and in doing so I fell in love again!!....with this beautiful , quaint island and its spectacular weather, the relaxed feel of the people on my morning walks around the bay and the friendliness!! Everyone actually says "Good morning" and they are smiling!!! I was stunned the first time and I must have looked pretty stupid with my mouth dropping open, but being from the east coast originally,I felt the same warmth and I knew this was the place for me!!! I flew back to Toronto and packed up my apartment and the rest as they say is history!!
So the birth of SLOW VICTORIA!! It is indeed a labour of love!
We have moved into the "FAST" age and it is destroying lives, families and indeed affecting our health to such a degree that we are rushing through life and not enjoying it. To put it bluntly...we are rushing to our graves!!!
I hope that by reading this blog and visiting http://www.slowvictoria.com/
that you take a moment to sit back and find your own way to do SLOW!!