Why are there penguins in the fridge?

oceanwood101_0061wtmk, originally uploaded by Oceanwood.

We have had a family of penguins living in our fridge for the past year now. Actually, I am rather fond of them. There's Mama, Papa, baby brother, little sister, and, of course, a rebellious teen in our penguin family. Our daughter, Emily, first started our family's penguin-in-the-fridge tradition when she read a book called -- not surprisingly -- Penguins in the Fridge ( by Nicola Moon). Emily reasoned if one child could have a fridge full of penguins why not her?



Having this odd, flightless family as permanent tenants in our fridge has always reminded me of Beakman's World. Do you remember that crazy, fast-talking, mad scientist with black hair that stuck straight up who would perform wild and amazing experiments for children, all the while kibitzing with his not-so-distinguished giant lab rat, Lester? No? Well my google search today revealed that he is still on TV (20 years as a mad scientist is not a bad career track). I found this strange little icon from the Beakman's web site: do you recognize that tiny face?



If you have ever seen Beakman's World, you might recall that whenever he needed corny comic relief, the show would be interrrupted by a scene of a fridge. The fridge door would open and reveal two Abbot-and-Costello-like penguins who would tell really bad jokes. For example, one penguin would say to the other penguin, "Don, I am the only one I know who orders an anchovy pizza and says hold the pizza!" Don't ask me why but I loved those penguins. Emily loved them, too, and felt that every fridge should have joking penguins. Only she did not stop at two, but instead, created a whole pack-o-penguins (by the way: what is the name for a group of penguins? A herd? pride? flock? or what?)

In case you are considering inviting penguins into your fridge, I have to warn you, dear reader, that having penguins in the fridge is not always easy. Our penguin family does present some challenges to managing the fridge. For example, they move around quite a bit and can get lost behind the milk-- or worst squished -- behind the pickled herring jar (actually we don't have pickle herring in our fridge but I just felt this story needed at least one reference to herring so I made that part up). Or their little penguin feet can step in some fridge goo and get hard glued to the spot and require some serious rescue efforts to free them. And not surprising, we have to keep a close eye on the rebellious teen penguin to make sure no other teens are invited over for wild belly-sliding, fish-gobbling, all-night parties. You never know what could happen when that fridge door closes and the light goes out.

On the whole, however, even though extra care and supervision is required, I would still say a family of penguins living in the fridge is more than worth all the added effort. And after all, who can resist those adorable eyes?

link to Nicola Moon's book, Penguins in the Fridge

http://www.amazon.ca/Penguins-Fridge-Nicola-Moon/dp/1857937937/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213159079&sr=8-2

link to Beakman's World web site

http://www.beakmansworldtv.com/

**********************************************************************************************************
*******           Oceanwood Chronicles                                 credits and links             *******
***********************************************************************************************************

Photo credits: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.

Oceanwood Chronicles, copyright 2008 - 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/

Gray by any other name -- is still gray

I am sitting here at my desk in the heart of the West Coast Rain Forest. It has rained and Rained and RAINED, day after day for more days than I can count right now. I feel as if I have seen only two colours lately -- the omnipresent gray of the sky and the brilliant emerald green of all the freshly drenched, new growth on trees, shrubs, and grasses. In a way, the intense "wow!" of the green balances out the "ho-hum"of the all pervading gray of the sky. 

I hate to "pine" for something else than what exists in the Present Moment, but I found myself looking wistfully at this photo of our barrel of dry grasses taken one August. On that summer day it was sunny, hot, and dry. I think it even might have been too hot that day. I realize I can't quite recall that sunny, hot, dry feeling anymore. Today, like yesterday and the day before, I have been feeling cold with all these long days of rain. Three weeks ago back in May, in an optimistic mood, I turned off the heat in our home; but today, I finally gave up hope of an early summer and turned the heat back on. I hate to admit it but I can't put my turtle-neck sweaters away yet for the season, so they co-exist in squished quarters with my summer clothes in the closet. I don't want to complain about the weather so, instead, I have tried some distraction techniques.

At first, as a way to idly occupy my mind during this unprecedented precipitation, I started to think of a new shade of gray each day: gray, dark gray, gloomy gray, grizzly gray, and then back to gray, again. But this tack, frankly, was depressing me. As a result, the last few days I decided to reverse the trend and think of uplifting words, such as: glorious gray, grand gray, gorgeous gray, and generous gray.  The growing list of positive adjectives helped me -- a bit -- by making me to look more at the subtle and complex variations of gray; I am grateful for that new perspective. The disappointing news is, however, I am running out of inspirational adjectives for the many shades gray that can be experienced here during the rainy season. And we seem to have more rainy days in the forecast.



So, please, help me in reclaiming and renaming this drab colour we call gray.  I would love to have your "gray" suggestions to add to my list and keep me inspired until the clouds become emptied of all their rain and leave us to bath in sunshine once again.

 **********************************************************************************************************

*******           Oceanwood Chronicles                                 credits and links             *******
***********************************************************************************************************

Photo credits: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.

Oceanwood Chronicles, copyright 2008 - 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/

Maiwa Handprints blends art and ethics

Maiwa fabrics, originally uploaded by Oceanwood.

When I recently had to purchase new bed coverings for our vacation home on Denman Island, I knew right away I wanted to go to Maiwa on Granville Island. I have always admired the strong ethical foundation of the owners' business practices. And the fabrics are gorgeous, unique, and humble in a way only handcrafted fabrics can be. While distinct designs grace every surface, each cloth has creative variations in how the dye has soaked into the cloth or tiny differences in the "resist" patterns.

The result of all this careful hand working is that the beholder's eye endlessly delights in looking at the cloth spread out on the bed. Maiwa truly allows one to blend Art with Ethics to create a peaceful and beautiful sleeping environment.

Below is our comfy bed decked out in a playful blend of "sea blue floral" and "chocolate spiral" covers.






I discovered a few years ago that Maiwa recounts their artisans' textile production stories in a DVD series. My family have all watched, with awe, Maiwa's DVDs on the natural dye, embroidery, and weaving processes of communities all around the world. My young daughter has been able to learn about the geography of the countries where artisans engage in grassroots textile practices, as well as, learn about the unique magic of natural dyes like indigo. Our favourite scene from the Indigo DVD is when an artisan takes a brownish-yellow, soaked and twisted cloth from the indigo dye vat and shakes it out into the fresh air. As the oxygen in the air reaches the dyed surface, the cloth changes from yellow to indigo blue right in front of your eyes revealing the true magic of natural dye chemistry.

And just today I discovered a podcast series on the Maiwa website called, "Voices of Cloth." I have downloaded each one and can't wait to listen to more textile stories.

If you would like to learn more about the remarkable stories of textile communities around the world; or learn about Maiwa's fair-trade practices, or just drop in to see Maiwa's remarkable store at Granville Island, I recommend visiting their web page at:

http://www.maiwa.com/index.html

**********************************************************************************************************
*******           Oceanwood Chronicles                                 credits and links             *******
***********************************************************************************************************

Photo credits: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.

Oceanwood Chronicles, copyright 2008 - 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/

When city life gets tough - daydream.

sea snail on bladderwrack, originally uploaded by Oceanwood.

When the grind of city noise and speed start to erode my sense of well-being, I find it is time for a sentimental daydream. I suppose I could go for one of those Grand Dreams of becoming rich and famous, or embarking on a round the world trip, or envisioning how clean and tidy my house could be if I dedicated a serious bit of time to the task. But those seemingly impossible-to-obtain daydreams don't transport me out of the hustle and bustle of city life.

My daydreams -- the ones that really pour therapeutic ointment on the "blisters" I get as I rub up against traffic, concrete, and deadlines -- need to be tiny, perfect, little moments in my memory -- like this little snail I observed one day at low tide. It was one of the first warm days of Spring; and the seaweed was absolutely fresh and glistening in the almost setting sun. Heron and gulls occasionally flew by. It was a quiet moment. The ferry was across the sound. There was only a slight wisp of a breeze. The ocean barely made a sound as it kissed the shore.

And right there -- right on the seaweed in front of my foot -- was this little world of sea life. Many tiny snails slid across huge-for-them bladderwrack pillows. And in particular, this little snail caught my attention and posed for a photo. It was so small that I could not bend down far enough to see its body outside the shell. I needed to see this photo before I could really see the tiny creature. Now looking at the photo I am there --back on the beach -- once again receiving the gifts of the Ocean's tidal abundance, the Air's gentle salty fragrance, the Sun's enchanting sparkle and warmth, and the Shore's peaceful, rocky presence.

Of course, I plan on continuing to cultivate and perfect my Grand Dreams of what accomplishments and treasures this Life could have in store for for me. But when I need to heal my body's city-weary aches and disconnection from Nature, I will set aside the Grand Ideas and, instead, reach for a tiny, little daydream to soothe my Soul.

**********************************************************************************************************
*******           Oceanwood Chronicles                                 credits and links             *******
***********************************************************************************************************

Photo credits: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.

Oceanwood Chronicles, copyright 2008 - 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/

Do deer eat daffodils?

When we first moved part-time to Denman Island, we naively planted a garden of peas, corn, rhubarb, an apple tree, and some flower pots. In one night, while we dreamed of our summer harvest, the local deer said, "Yummmm, thank you very much!" and --except for the rhubarb --not a single sprout remained. The Denman deer must love new residents and rookie gardeners who spread out such extravagant buffets of new plants -- perfect pleasers for the discerning deer's palatte.

When we sang our surprising-to-no-one lament about our ravished garden, our wise neighbours counselled us to plant daffodils because "deer don't eat daffodils." Eager to be once again be communing with the land, we planted three varieties of daffodils. What success! We are happy to say that every year the daffodils come up wearing their glorious colours and celebrating the arrival of each new Spring; and as far as we have observed these beautiful sign posts that Winter is truly over steadfastly remain in their pots and not in the belly's of hungry deer.

So now we successfully grow daffodils, dandelions, and rhubarb -- not the crop I imagined when starting my Island garden but one that has been approved in negotiations with the local deer committee. We have since discovered that not every Denman Island daffodil gardener is so lucky. Ask around the Island and it is not hard to find stories of deer eating daffodils. So "do deer eat daffodils?" ...the inquiry continues ... but in the meantime we have discovered that asking the question is good grist for deep philosophical debate amoungst Denman Island folks.

Stayed tuned for our next rookie Island gardeners inquiry into, "Do deer think rhubarb is rhubbish?"

Read a plaintiff letter to tulip-eating-deer at http://librarianavengers.org/2006/04/06/letter-to-the-deer-that-ate-my-tulips/

Read about varieties of deer resistant plants at http://www.deer-resistant-plants.com/

**********************************************************************************************************
*******           Oceanwood Chronicles                                 credits and links             *******
***********************************************************************************************************

Photo credits: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.

Oceanwood Chronicles, copyright 2008 - 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/

Wild beauty

Open up to the Wild Beauty of Denman Island.

"Wild broom blossom", originally uploaded by Oceanwood.

Do you sometimes find your eye has grown fatigued by the regimented standards of beauty we are bombarded with by the popular media? Have you wandered city streets and carefully groomed suburbs and felt uninspired by the "curbside" views? On Denman Island Mother Nature invites you to slow down and take in her Wild Beauty.

For example, the wild broom is an "invading species" that is now happily asserting its rights all over the globe. Many folks curse the dreaded broom and try to quell its zest for multiplication by uprooting it whenever possible. But heedless of humans' attempts to influence its spread, the broom proliferates abundantly with "exploding" seed pods and celebrates unabashedly with gorgeous sun-yellow blossoms. The photo here shows an unusual "spicy" red variation to the traditional yellow blossom.

I think there was a time I would have walked past this plant and just thought, "hmmmm, weed -- must remember to dig that out..." But on this day, with my camera in hand, I was riveted by the exquisite beauty and spicy individuality of this lone broom on our land. In many ways, the plant life on Denman Island offers similar "exquisite beauty and spicy individuality" if only we trade in our city vision for a fresh Island perspective. So while you are on Denman Island, slow down and really take in all the wild beauty surrounding you.

**********************************************************************************************************
*******           Oceanwood Chronicles                                 credits and links             *******
***********************************************************************************************************

Photo credits: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.

Oceanwood Chronicles, copyright 2008 - 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/

Oceanwood Waterfront Home opens!

We are off to a great beginning!

"Leap of Faith", originally uploaded by Oceanwood.

We are opening our family retreat on Denman Island so others can share in the magic of Island life. This blog is for you if you are interested specifically in making reservations to stay at Oceanwood Waterfront Home or if you are just wanting to learn about natural living on a B.C. island. There's lots to learn and love about life on Denman Island.

Come back frequently to this blog to read, see photos, or listen to podcasts about Island life. Topics will include: water conservation, natural gourmet and vegetarian cooking tips, flora and fauna on Denman Island, social events, Island etiquette, the bliss of the Reusable Store, ways you can protect the sensitive Island environment, etc.

I hope you will find these blogs informative and fun, so without further ado, our blog begins...

Yours sincerely,
Jessica

**********************************************************************************************************
*******           Oceanwood Chronicles                                 credits and links             *******
***********************************************************************************************************

Photo credits: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.

Oceanwood Chronicles, copyright 2008 - 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/