Island Fever

With all the traveling we do, and all he greenest grass across the fence, it's not often that we get a good grasp on how to appreciate our home while we're at it. Personally, I do a lot of wishing I was anywhere but where I currently am, and it makes it feel like life is just passing you by. We come home to save money, we focus on making a lot very fast and then get out as soon as we can. We get stir crazy. Life is happening elsewhere and we can't stand that were not part of it. This summer, I'm putting a stop to it. We have grass here, and its pretty green...that might be because of all the RAIN we get here in the summer, but if you're so into green grass then thats the recipe. At least that's what I learned from The Magic School Bus. Point is, it seems like an awful waste of time to sit around doing NOTHING besides working and being miserable in order to get away for a few minutes. If my calculations are correct, we spend a lot more time saving money than it takes to spend it, and that time might as well be awesome too, otherwise we're going to get old and die and look back on those few good minutes of traveling we had one time, probably, a little bit. So for those of you who haven't been to Salt Spring Island, those of you who haven't been in a long time, those who live here and have the i-hate-this-place-itis, or those of you who are homesick for it because you're off having adventures and wishing you were somewhere else...Here is a postcard from a summer day on Salt Spring Island. Yep, I've finally foudn a cure for Island Fever. Sort of. For now.

Anybody wanna buy a house?

On the way to Ganges. Its finally summertime.

Just a few boats in the harbour...

Iced coffee. A morning staple.

Stopping by the old workplace. We can't seem to stay away, even on our days off.

Saturday market. The guy on the left picks up garbage by donation, just because he wants to make the town prettier. Welcome to Salt Spring.

Anna hard at work at the Market stand.

As you can see by the trays scraped clean, they have good food, and plenty of people in line all day.

Jasper at his Freebird stand. He and his brother make these shirts and sell them in the market and at their parents' store. When they're not playing gigs with their band, The Barefoot Thieves. You can listen to their album, and/or buy a digital copy at their Bandcamp page here. I highly reccomend doing so.

More market scene. The Centre for Child Honouring is what our local resident Raffi works so hard on. Although we all remember him best as the Baby Beluga singer..

This flower got handed to my mama for free from some kids in the market. Each plant has a different word attached to it. This one is "Love". Again, Welcome to Salt Spring.

The beach at Southey Point.

Starfish...I mean, sea stars......as if calling it a starfish is going to offend it.

Vesuvius beach. That is the ferry that goes to Crofton terminal in the background.

There are a LOT of starfish here.

Unwinding with some wine and a hunky man at the end of the day.

Watching the clouds go by before the sun goes down.

Watching the sunset with friends at Baker Beach

Our friend and her blanket on the trail to yet another beach

The boys cooling off by jumping off the government dock near the ferry terminal. It was collllllldddddd.

Lake time, as it usually is.

A Barefoot Thief serenading us. Yes, his feet are bare.

Sometimes at the end of a long day, you just want to jump off a cliff. Here, we can.

California Baby Love

Another Postcard coming your way from California. The last time I wrote from there, Ryan and I were just about to embark on our big Central American adventure. This time was back to normal. No sight seeing, no relaxing, back to the big whirlwind family trips. Every family member, five towns, two (big) goals, one week. And I must say, we rocked it.

Of course, no matter the occasion, it always feels good to get home. Its like the second we land I can smell it, I can feel it, and with all the gold in them thar hills, you can't help but see it too.

We started with Anna in San Luis Obispo. The daunting task of moving her out of her dorm flew by with only a few difficulties. It was hot, crowded with graduates and parents, and there were a LOT of stairs, but we somehow fit everything in the car - Anna included. My mom and I spent any spare time getting ready for our other main goal, which was my big sister's baby shower. We had the location and food all set, but we really rallied and got all the favors and games ready JUST in time.

The shower went as smoothly as it possibly could have. You know with big family functions, there is usually some kind of drama. Someone cries, someone storms out, someone does something drastic, but at this one we all remained smiling the whole time. It was really an accomplishment. Really. The hour before the shower was the stressful moment when my mother compared me to those brides who freak out because of a ribbon thats the wrong shade of blue. "WELL IF SHE WENT TO THE EXTENT TO SPECIFY THE SHADE OF BLUE, THE OTHER PEOPLE REALLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUTTING IN AT LEAST ENOUGH EFFORT TO MAKE IT THE RIGHT FREAKING SHADE OF BLUE!" ....Yep. Some of the favors I had ordered didn't come, some of the cupcake order was wrong, and through some miscommunication, the guest of honor contacted us an hour and a half before the shower from the venue wondering where we were. After some slight cardiac arrest on my part, everything smoothed out and we pulled it off JUST in time. The family came together as we haven't in a long time, so a big thanks to Baby Emma and Erin for making that happen. We pulled the whole night together at Cattlemen's. A cozy table for eight quickly turned into a party of 18 at the longest table in the history of tables.

The end of or trip was easy and quick. We ran up back to the home turf, Willits, for a day and a night. Had to see the peeps, ya knoooww? It felt too quick, as it always does, but this time it actually was. Its especially hard to come back to the island when the sun is shining down there and the ferry drags you back through the mist into the land of eternal winter. I think Anna was having a hard time doing it willingly. I don't blame her.

The entire trip is hard to sum up beyond that, so I took pictures for you! Some captions will do a better job at explaining things than my brainstorming will.

Cousins: Myself, Anna, Zack, and Katelyn. One of the moments at the shower when I had a moment to be IN a photo.  I didn't have much time to chat and hang out while I was running around so much, but it was still good to see everyone.

Traveling light. This never happens. Makes it so much easier.

South Bound. Feels good.

San Luis Obispo Farmer's Market on one of Anna's last days in SLO

Morro Bay, where my Mom and I stayed

Just near Hearst Castle. This is what I love about California.

Erin's baby shower at Legend's in Santa Rosa. Beautiful venue.

Snackies for the shower, also provided by Legend's. Crostini, fresh veggies, wrap sammies, and fresh fruit.

Tea light favors for Emma. "Here is a candle for you to light, once the stork has made it's flight, With the flicker of the flame, say a prayer in Emma's name."

Emma's quilt squares

Table settings. An invitation, a favor, and some bubbles!

Rubber duckie, you're so fine

Cupcakes of legend. From Sift in Santa Rosa. Way too good.

Well, at least they WERE.

Loot.

Notes for Emma. Everyone wrote something for her and hung it on the line. They blew in the wind all day it was so sweet. 

Nonna Amy and Mandume passing out prezzies.

Relieved that everything went smoothly.

Armstrong woods with the fam

Never gets old.

Trees are cool

The oldest tree in the grove. 1400 years old.

Uncle John's cocktail. Sooo good.