New Work

Ceramics Workshop - LBED 4810

Sidewalk Art

Beaver Lake

When I am in my right mind, I make a point of riding into Stanley Park: Destination? Beaver Lake. It's one of my favorite places on Planet Earth, and I don't know why I'm not in my right mind more often. I take it all in, uncensored; smell, sound, sight and feel. I drink in the moisture-laden air and open my ears to the bird song. I am on the look-out for the beavers, a pair who have built their stick and mud lodge in the lake, not far from the gravel path which snakes around the perimeter. I always take my camera in hopes that I will catch one of them, or both, working at restoring their dam. This last time, the big male swam around for a while, but seemed worried that there were people on shore, so didn't begin his dam work. He soon grew impatient with the likes of us, and disappeared beneath the water, to surface again in the comfort of his own home. Beavers have a separate drying out chamber (not for recovering from alcohol abuse), and a living chamber. What mindful architects they are.

Moon Beam

Today I painted the dinghy bottom, and used a two-part primer - something I've never used before. It was as thick as molasses. I've never had paint so thick... like working with glue. In spite of what felt like a really lousy paint job, it miraculously turned out well. So well, in fact, that I don't want to add the finish coat in case it wrecks it. Is this sane?

At the lake for a little R & R.. Reading and Reviewing papers

I love going to the cabin on Anderson Lake to get away from the city for a few days.. but it is also BIG WORK. We drive along a logging road for about 20 minutes, after a 3 hour drive from Vancouver, and then hike in carrying all of our weekends 'stuff' for a mile down the railway track to our cabin. This is good exercise, and a nice way to make the switch from city to bush living, but it makes it difficult if we have forgotten anything ...like I forgot the sheets for the beds. Ooops. And Alex (my son) forgot our plumbing parts to fix the water system (so we got water from a hose linked to a faucet outside the cabin). Only 2 dead mice on arrival inside, and no bats that we could see. This is a first, as usually we have to convert the cabin from a bat-house back to our living space, which, believe me, is not fun.

Why do we do all of this? Look for yourself... at the view... and NO CARS for 4 whole days!!!! And, it's good family time; no cell phones, no computers, and lots of talk. And the stars (thousands of them) are a bit of magic ... only possible outside the bright lights of the city.

wood fire

In Revelstoke we use a wood burning stove rather than rely on our old oil burning furnace. The local mill generously offers logs they consider 'scrap' for $5 a truck load. We've taken them up on this economical arrangement many, many times over the last year and a half - ever since we installed the air-tight. We like the exercise involved in hauling the logs away... and they like getting rid of it. After Alan bucks up the logs, he splits the wood.... and I like stacking it.. nice and neatly in rows, like knitting only on a larger scale. Instead of ending up with a sweater, you have fuel to keep you warm.

It's a win/win situation... except for the wood smoke in the winter. Solar panels when - and if - we renovate??

Recipe for Fun

Restoring rowing dinghy to it's original charm is proving easier and less time consuming than I had originally imagined. I'm reminded of how much I love wood, and how little it takes to make this little boat come to life. Mixing the epoxy to fill in any damaged areas was less complicated than I thought it would be. (Honestly, making cookies from scratch is way more difficult.) The truth is, for something that is supposed to be work, I'm having way too much fun!

Sunday May 30th

Spring Fever has me in it's grip, scrubbing Spring Moons decks as well as painting anything that looks ratty, including my bicycle carry-baskets and rowing dinghy. A few hours of this and I'm ready for a nap....

Today in Revelstoke

Biking around the green belt beside the Columbia River in Revelstoke.

Welcome aboard!

It's blue skies and blue ocean today, and although I'm not about to embark on a sailing trip this weekend, the weather is enough inspiration for me to think about the 1000 things I'd like to do. I think I'll begin with my usual bike ride around the sea wall, and see how the day unfolds.