BC Birthday

Another memory from the recent BC trip, rather out of sequence (ie earlier in chronology than the mountains and Hope) with the most recent trip posts. Since I discovered it partly begun as a draft, I decided to finish it. I had probably abandoned it out of boredom because these chronological posts don't inspire me very much. And you too, I imagine.

As many of you know but may have forgotten, Althegal (D2) and I share the same birth date, early in September. Although we came within a few days of celebrating togther last year after the wedding, I don't know when we were last together on the actual day. We weren't able to be together again this year either, but on September 20, we able to celebrate what we couldn't on September 02.

This year she is exactly one-half of my age, and we started the day with a few gifts (L to R: D2, Althegal of shared birthday and D3, Pufferpoo). I am wearing the t-shirt and holding the little Superman light with which I was gifted.



Later D3 prepared a most excellent breakfast that included cheese blintzes and mimosas. Yum.



The girls planned a surprise afternoon for me at the Vandusen Botanical Gardens. Beyond my interest in flowers and gardens, the Zimbabwean Sculpture Exhibition (Zimsculpt) was also being featured. Since we were to see the Chainsaw Carvings at Hope later in the week, I guess carvings of one sort or another became one of the themes of this trip.

Here we stand at the gate, trying to mimic the faces on the picture of the sculptures behind ...



... and then I couldn't resist a little smooch with Cuppa, this trip being in celebration of our 40th after all.



The grounds and gardens were quite wonderful ...





... and the sculptures, interspersed throughout, were very impressive. They were offered for sale, but even if I could have afforded one, which I couldn't, getting it on the plane would have been highly problematic. Looking was good though.







As you know, Vancouver will soon be hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics, and there are constant reminders throughout the city. As we exited the gardens, Cuppa and I couldn't resist getting in the spirit even though it was a rather warm summer day.



Althegal and I tried to snow ... er ... grassboard. Unsurprisingly, her technique was much better than mine.



We ended the day's events with a bbq on the beach, a stone's throw from their front door ...



... after which Cuppa and I stared into the sunset ...



... together.

It's Raining Perplexities

We need a new roof and have been on the list for months now but have continuously been put off due to this year's seemingly interminable rain which put the roofers way behind schedule. As November loomed, we were within an inch of cancelling our order, but the workers finally arrived this morning with a promise to make everything hunky-dory again should we experience any sort of roof damage because the shingles didn't have time to set properly.

Amidst much noise, they were able to re-shingle the garage and porch this morning, but it's all quiet overhead again because they quit by lunch time ... because ... because ... you guessed it — RAIN.

However, that gave me enough time to wonder about two things.

1. When did roofers stop carrying shingles up the ladder in favour of trucks craning them up? It had to be within the past two decades because we last had a roof done within that period.


2. When did everyone under the sun (or clouds more likely in our case) stop using hammers? I can't remember exactly when I saw my last one, but I'm sure it wasn't that long ago. Pop, pop, pop.

HOPEful Salmon

(BC trip recollections continue)

After appreciating the Hope chainsaw carvings and some of the scenery, we followed directions to the creek where salmon were said to be currently spawning. Having never thought that I'd ever see such a sight, I found myself thrilled and mesmerized. It was certainly a trip highlight for me. I took some photos, none of which worked, but the following video clip is more or less viewable.

Touring Hope

After finally (one month later) posting photos of our trip through the mountains to Osoyoos yesterday, I think I'd like to reminisce a little more. Perhaps, it's the reminiscing that's actually the best part of trips.

It seemed that not long after we were definitely in the mountains, we stopped in the town of Hope for gas, both the automotive and human varieties. (I jest: the food was fine.) Outside the restaurant, I had my picture taken beside this fine wood carving (more information to follow).



After breakfasting at lunch time and pumping both our waitress and the nearby tourist centre attendant for information, we walked across the street for a view of the Fraser River, the mountains, and more wood carvings.



Here the girls play the roll of hobbits beside a Gandalfianesque figure.



A few views from the park.







We had been told that the salmon were spawning at another nearby site, so we left to park to try to find them. On our way, we saw quite a few more wood carvings, and it is at this point that I should reveal what is extra special about these works of art, for in addition to being wonderful in their own right, I was astounded to learn that they were all carved by chainsaws. How incredible is that?! Here is a link to more photos.

Before we leave these incredible carvings behind, however, I present one of those stereotypical touristy shots. Who's that silly guy in the bonnet and the frock?



One more anecdote for the day: at breakfast/lunch, when discussing tourist options with the server, she asked if we had the book of hope. Some wiseacre at the table (guess who?) asked her if she meant the Bible. Considering where they seated us, it wasn't such a bad question (see photo below).

Through the Fuzzy Mountains ...

... and into the Desert

When Cuppa and I visited Vancouver and British Columbia two years ago, we rented a car for the whole time and got around quite a bit. This time, we decided to stick close to home base for the most part and limit ourselves to Shank's mare and public transit. However, with the girls, we also took a quick two-day trip into the dry interior and back.

It's a 400 km trip from Vancouver to Osoyoos (see blue squiggle on map below) and a total change in geography. Right on the Pacific, Vancouver and the windward slopes receive abundant precipitation, but the interior, leeward side is in a rainshadow to the point where parts of it can be considered desert or near enough.



While travelling, especially in scenic BC, one wants to take many pictures, but there are very few opportunities to stop. So, we made the most of our situation and snapped away to our hearts' content whilst travelling at speed, which is why I called them the Fuzzy Mountain in the title. Taking photos became even more problematic on return trip with the windshield liberally bespattered with bug carcasses. Nevertheless, I'm going to inflict some of my attempts upon you.

The mountains are never far away in Vancouver, but I'd say we were definitely in them somewhere around Abbotsford or Chilliwack (click on the map to enlarge it). At that point they looked something like this: heavily forested with trees from the summits to the valleys.



The next two photos were also taken in the windward, rainier regions.





Soon, however, perhaps somewhere between EC Manning Park and Princeton the vegetation changed noticeably with trees becoming sparser and the surroundings beginning to look dry.



Of course, this change continued until we were in a desert or extremely close to such as we neared Osoyoos, which is about a stones-throw to the America border. We picked Osoyoos because we wished to visit wine country and heard that there was a unique native-run winery there. Perhaps, I will say more about Osoyoos at a later date. In the meantime, Cuppa has mentioned it here and here.





While I have known about windward and leeward slopes and rainshadows for a long time and always seemed to be referring to such in my geography classes, it was quite interesting to drive through the transition myself.

Silent Sunday

My goodness: what a long time since my last SS post. With Mom in Vancouver for the past few days, we've been very busy babysitting, even sleeping over there. Cuppa has posted quite a few pictures already (here and here), but I dusted off my camera again yesterday for few. Almost as soon as she got home from Music Together with Daddy, she settled down to colour. Perhaps, we have another artist in the family — so far I'm the only one who doesn't qualify.







Sorry, can't help myself: two more photos — Nikki Dee at lunch.

There Goes My Baby ...

... Here Comes My Gal

She's just turned two and a half, but she's also become a little girl. I don't know when the metamorphosis from baby to girl occurred exactly, but I've become aware of a change in her over the last week or two.

Suddenly, she's taller, and that baby tummy has all but disappeared.



Her verbal skills are growing although she has never had any trouble in letting me know exactly what is expected of me ... like helping her spin on the playground spinner thingie ...



... or letting me know that it's time for another push.



While I'm not claiming that she's really able to do Sudoku's yet, she sure tries to help.



She knows that I have trouble keeping a steady rhythm and does her best to keep me on track.



I have to admit that I miss the baby a little bit. I mean, transitions can be difficult.

But I do love my little girl.