Rhapsodies, spiritual musings, and practical advice on Island Living


Thursday, September 1, 2011

Dear deer



A sure sign that I have left the city and have arrived on Denman Island is that there are deer everywhere. I suspect each animal has a tummy full of nutritious, organically grown garden treasures: rose buds, lettuce, beet tops, just ripening tomatoes, (do they ever go after the over-zealous zucchini?) from my neighbours' gardens. The deer have no doubt figured out the best way to steal into lush gardens looking for moments when -- just this once -- dedicated  gardeners forget to close their gates. Also, I often see the deer feasting on an endless supply the greenest lawn grass (thanks to the clouds frequenting the skies this season) I have ever seen in the month of August. I wouldn't be surprised to see that with all this excellent deer dining available that their fertility rates go up and we find ourselves with more foals next year. Perhaps next year there will be a bumper crop of spotted wobbly-legged twins?

Here are some photos of our dear deer doing what deer do best - eating!


********************************************************************************************************** ******* Oceanwood Chronicles credits and links ******* *********************************************************************************************************** Photo credits: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood. Oceanwood Chronicles, copyright 2010 - Jessica at Oceanwood. Creative commons attribution, non-commercial sharing only (translation: feel free to quote me in context or use this entry but please always credit me for my work, thanks.) http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

super-yummy kale chips

It's sunset and time to write again.

"What's that in the photo?" you ask.

Oh, you mean that mint tea in my favourite tea thermos?

"No," you say, "what's that stuff in the bowl?"

Oh, in the bowl. That's only my best discovery of the summer --  tahini-lemon kale chips.

I first tried kale chips made by Agate at Tao Organics. Good doesn't even start to describe these awesome chips. I even brought two bags with me to Oceanwood this summer. But those darlings were so delicious that they were gone in a finger-licking flash with no hope of more until I returned to the city in September. Since I could not wait that long for more kale heaven, I improvised my own recipe. You just HAVE TO try these for yourself. Here's how:

1) In your largest bowl, add a huge scoop of tahini, the juice of one lemon and some tamari to taste. Blend the mixture well with a large rubber scraper. Add enough water until you have the consistency of a thick gravy that still sticks to the walls of the bowl.

2) Rinse and shake off all the water from a bunch of kale (any variety). Holding on to the stem of a leaf in one hand, "zip" the leaves off with your other hand in one fast motion. Discard the ribs and stems and rip the leaves into large pieces.

3) Lightly crush some leaves into ball, then dredge the leaves through the tahini mixture. After each leaf is well-coated, lay out on dehydrator trays or cookie sheets. Dehydrate for 4-6 hours in a dehydrator or 2 hours in your oven set to the lowest setting. Store kale chips, gently packed, in air-tight jars to prevent them from grabbing moisture from the air and getting soggy. Now you are ready to enjoy your very own kale chips with a large mug of your favourite tea. Bon appetite!

**********************************************************************************************************       *******                Oceanwood Chronicles credits and links              ******* *********************************************************************************************************** Photo credits: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood. Oceanwood Chronicles, copyright 2011 - Jessica at Oceanwood. Creative commons attribution, non-commercial sharing only (translation: feel free to quote me in context or use this entry but please always credit me for my work, thanks.) http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/

Sunday, August 28, 2011

My moment of pen, paper, and peace



Even though I have been swamped with professional work, I have kept one very important date each day with my favourite fountain pen and composition school book. If, on a particular day, the sun was out, I would RUN for the chaise, writing supplies in hand, and soak up as much vitamin D and summer brightness as I could while writing before the clouds returned or my other duties pressured me to get back to work.


Every time I have a "date" with my journal, I love seeing the ink -- "concord grape" purple is my favourite colour these days -- generously spill across page after page of these cheap, cardboard covered books that I use for writing my journals. Hmmm, I am wondering, which is more lovely: cracking open a brand-new book? flipping through my journal nearly full? racing through my thoughts with pen flying across the page? daydreaming and doodling on the plain brown cover? Or adding a completed book to the stack of other similarly scribbled volumes? It's too hard for me to decide. I love it all.


I don't know what I will do with my growing collection of composition books brimming with my lived life. Will I even read them? Maybe. I DO know that the act of writing in these journals has helped me be a better observer. I see, hear, and feel more as a result of taking the time to put words to what can sometimes speed by barely reaching my awareness. Becoming aware -- writing my Self into awareness -- is my best way to practice counting my many blessings and showing gratitude for this Beautiful Life. If you are in the mood for a writing session, why not join me? Grab your pen and book -- or sit at your keyboard -- 4:00 PM (tea time) and sunset each day and we'll make it a date!


P.S. I found my "Lami" fountain pen with its 1.9 nib and Monte Blanc purple ink at The Vancouver Pen Shop (they do mail order) and my favourite eco-friendly, reclaimed sugarcane fibre (no tree pulp) paper, composition books at Staples, in case you want to give them a try.


**********************************************************************************************************         *******                       Oceanwood Chronicles credits and links               ******* *********************************************************************************************************** Photo credits: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood. Oceanwood Chronicles, copyright 2011 - Jessica at Oceanwood. Creative commons attribution, non-commercial sharing only (translation: feel free to quote me in context or use this entry but please always credit me for my work, thanks.) http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/

Friday, August 26, 2011

Where have you been girl?

Sunset on the chaise longue, Meee-ow!
Where have I been? I've been working and working and --yes, working. But last night I finished my professional work so now I am FREE to doodle on my blog, cook up a storm, and sew some masterpieces from the greatest fabric supply store of all time -- The Free Store. Let's agree to not talk about my mountain of laundry and messy house, OK? I'll use my domestic Jedi powers and say, "These are not the chores I need to worry about..." There isn't that better? There is just me and you and some mighty delicious writing and photography ahead of us. Yum!

Oh, its good to be back in summer vacation world. I hope you have been keeping well and getting out into the sun whenever you can.

Bring on the sun!
**********************************************************************************************************                     ******* Oceanwood Chronicles credits and links ******* *********************************************************************************************************** Photo credits: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood. Oceanwood Chronicles, copyright 2011 - Jessica at Oceanwood. Creative commons attribution, non-commercial sharing only (translation: feel free to quote me in context or use this entry but please always credit me for my work, thanks.) http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/

Monday, November 22, 2010

on my walk...

I had only 24 hours on the island this past week. I said to myself, "Since your time here is so brief, you must go for your walk from downtown to three corners and back; you will regret it if you don't go." But another part of me -- too tired from my journey -- complained and stalled and made up a list of excuses to not go out into the cold, damp world outside. 

In this post, where I borrow the style from Marie-Louise Gay's "On my island," I poke fun at myself revealing the gap between: (1) my predictions about my walk that are so grumpy they could rival those pessimistic grumblings of  Winnie-the-Pooh's friend, Eeyore: and (2) my cold-on-face-tingling, fresh-air-breathing, spirit-uplifting reality while on my walk. There is no question --after the fact -- that a walk was exactly what I needed, but I had to walk the walk before I knew which voice was true.

My inner gloom-forecasting "voice" is shown below in italicized text and my body's "voice" (my feet on the pavement, hands on camera, and eyes looking around) is represented by a series of photographs. I have  made no effort to reconcile the contrast between my two "voices." I only have recorded them as faithfully as I can and let them have their way with each other. I hope you will enjoy coming along on my walk...


Do I really want to go on a walk this cold, drizzly, mid-November morning?
(These were my reasons to NOT walk...)




On my walk, I will be depressed by the absence of summer greens. 






















The whole landscape will be grey and colourless. 















The side of the road will be slippery from the overnight rainstorm...

...and all that will remain will be a mix of mud and dead grass.

I will see only rotten, ugly leaves on the roadside.










And the withered branches will look dead...



...and be 
depressingly 
bare.









I will be bored by the "same old, same old..."




... and there will be nothing -- absolutely nothing -- to photograph.
So do  I really want to go on my walk?














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Photo credit: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.
Book credit: On my island, written by Marie-Louise Gay, wrote this ironic tale of a child who laments that "nothing, absolutely nothing ever happens on my island" all the while fascinating and fabulous adventures are happening -- unseen by the sulking child -- behind her back.
Oceanwood Chronicles, copyright 2010 - Jessica at Oceanwood. Creative commons attribution, non-commercial sharing only (translation: feel free to quote me in context or use this entry but please always credit me for my work, thanks.) http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/

Monday, November 8, 2010

The Brothers


The two deer in this photo frequented our lawn over this past summer. By the looks of their antlers, they appear to be the same age -- and I am guessing they are brothers. Perhaps they are the all-grown-up, speckled, twin fawns we ooohed and aaahed over on Spring Break?

Most years I see a doe and twins in our neighbourhood. Though, I have never seen those twins stick together as they grow up and hang out as adults-- especially not two bucks. I wonder what keeps these two in each others company.

Deer are everywhere on Denman Island. I find driving the roads at night to be an exercise in extreme vigilance and is more challenging than the typical night time city driving. At least in city driving the usual threats come from other drivers, who mostly -- thank heavens -- stay in their prescribed lanes. But deer can leap out into my truck's way at seemingly random moments and follow zigzag paths that I find unpredictable. I never know from which road-side bush a deer might bound. As a precaution when driving at night, therefore, I am on full alert expecting chance deer encounters. The deer have trained me to expect the unexpected. I like that these beings have force me into greater alertness when driving -- an admirable habit that I wish could follow me into the city on all those very long and boring commutes.

I will tell you a story: 

We live in an earth home which means our roof is covered in grass. We are one of the very few people on Denman who have to mow their roof. One dark, new moon night, I was just settling down into bed, with my baby asleep beside me; my cat curled up at my feet; and my husband away on a business trip. I was still getting used to solo-parenting my new babe and was feeling new-mom-nervous and edgy. I turned out the light and lay down. My feet began praising the sensation of no longer being stood upon while my back started revelling in the total absence of bending, twisting, and carrying, when I heard a thunderous "BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM," from overhead.  Now I have lived in apartment buildings, and stayed in hotels, and I can assure you that these were not those kind of BOOMs. These BOOMs were much louder and scarier.

So ignoring the objections of my wrecked back, I bolted upright, clicked on the light and sat paralyzed, my heart racing so fast I felt like I was having a heart attack. The cat, also, sat up stiff and alert mirroring my alarm. But a few seconds later, I heard a further: "plunk, plunk, plunk, plunk" from above my ceiling. And a few seconds after that, an additional round of "plunk, plunk, plunk, plunk." It took me only a moment to figure out the source of these noises. I burst out laughing: a doe and two fawns -- not unlike the two brothers above -- were taking a short cut across our roof to find some night-time grazing. I was incredulous that our doe's graceful, pencil thin legs could drum up so much deep sonorous sound from our roof top. And I was enormously relieved to hear those fawn-leg echos confirming the exact nature of the wildlife above my head. It took me sometime for my adrenaline levels to subside and for me to get to sleep that night as I lay awake visualizing the family above my head going about their domestic life.

That night, I might have lost some precious mommy-sleep but its an experience I will never forget. Now whenever I see a deer gracefully leap over neighbour's fences looking apparently "light-on-their-feet," I bring to mind the lead-heavy sound I heard overhead that dark night. I marvel at how strong a deer's legs must be to launch that much weight so high into the air. Sometimes, on rare occasions over the years, I have heard encores of deer's drum rolls on our roof; only now instead of fear, I feel only awe at living so close with Nature.

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*******           
Oceanwood Chronicles                                 credits and links             *******
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Photo credit: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.
Oceanwood Chronicles, copyright 2010 - Jessica at Oceanwood. Creative commons attribution, non-commercial sharing only (translation: feel free to quote me in context or use this entry but please always credit me for my work, thanks.) http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

priceless works of art



Autumn is here. Thanksgiving is past. Winter holidays are a long way in the future. More days than not are wet and cold and the fog is growing fond of rolling in and hanging around for a while. When the damp grey outdoors start seeping into my bones and bringing down my spirit, I grab my camera and go looking for colour. A fallen leaf -- perfectly formed -- brazenly brings colour back into my day. Why would I look up into the bleak and sodden sky, when I can look down at priceless works of art that lie strewn upon my path?

Living on an island means that no matter how gloomy the weather, I need to practice looking for Beauty right here, right now. No riding into town, surfing the net, or watching DVDs. Walking in nature, camera in hand, my eyes open for the exquisite contrasts in colour that are so abundant in Autumn, keeps my spirit alive and well and reminds me to be thankful for these natural  blessings.


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*******           
Oceanwood Chronicles                                 credits and links             *******
***********************************************************************************************************
Photo credit: Photo by Jessica at Oceanwood.
Oceanwood Chronicles, copyright 2010 - Jessica at Oceanwood. Creative commons attribution, non-commercial sharing only (translation: feel free to quote me in context or use this entry but please always credit me for my work, thanks.) http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/