tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48658412252087359502024-03-12T19:54:26.521-07:00Oceanwood ChroniclesJessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-80099013627399647052011-09-01T00:01:00.000-07:002011-09-01T00:01:05.586-07:00Dear deer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjrrEVkTftDPvbExf9IIgaj9SlTSpT4HDbvsotDK_dU6-BrFLN7lt2hQri31rxXvFftrC-4et9xBhvbOojsrM4q9JZuSypeKVanJ_rdk-axK5TR7v-uFIoGAebUN1KFGfAippIGqTPVBw/s1600/DSC01925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjrrEVkTftDPvbExf9IIgaj9SlTSpT4HDbvsotDK_dU6-BrFLN7lt2hQri31rxXvFftrC-4et9xBhvbOojsrM4q9JZuSypeKVanJ_rdk-axK5TR7v-uFIoGAebUN1KFGfAippIGqTPVBw/s400/DSC01925.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopxTDhwlom51gAdHxy66droHaq1lqivE5q49NMzzXD8oT0fQDMxb2Z2eOAvhv14gKMFXBOLhpKCmUL75HmtoQqr0sEmKrhDNfOzR7EufJYtaDauH8FYIBaGa5GwPb8U_uv4KGq3Hpzl_H/s1600/DSC02240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopxTDhwlom51gAdHxy66droHaq1lqivE5q49NMzzXD8oT0fQDMxb2Z2eOAvhv14gKMFXBOLhpKCmUL75HmtoQqr0sEmKrhDNfOzR7EufJYtaDauH8FYIBaGa5GwPb8U_uv4KGq3Hpzl_H/s320/DSC02240.jpg" width="186" /></a></div><br />
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?<br />
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Here are some photos of our dear deer doing what deer do best - eating!<br />
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********************************************************************************************************** ******* 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/Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-87220789095961933122011-08-30T00:01:00.000-07:002011-08-30T00:31:20.684-07:00super-yummy kale chips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbVG8I1M8f23ygcSus1PKLrkgxJU-PnUi8yRRp5yyodRQJwiRvwWrs0f6_yeTuP4zWiuNC_GJCo1jwDY6jBMBb1AiwODBKjWbDH084JArAS8OzmqZKhaqT7Pllh-UFaiMSH4lYTy61B6d/s1600/DSC02620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbVG8I1M8f23ygcSus1PKLrkgxJU-PnUi8yRRp5yyodRQJwiRvwWrs0f6_yeTuP4zWiuNC_GJCo1jwDY6jBMBb1AiwODBKjWbDH084JArAS8OzmqZKhaqT7Pllh-UFaiMSH4lYTy61B6d/s400/DSC02620.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbVG8I1M8f23ygcSus1PKLrkgxJU-PnUi8yRRp5yyodRQJwiRvwWrs0f6_yeTuP4zWiuNC_GJCo1jwDY6jBMBb1AiwODBKjWbDH084JArAS8OzmqZKhaqT7Pllh-UFaiMSH4lYTy61B6d/s1600/DSC02620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>It's sunset and time to write again.<br />
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"What's that in the photo?" you ask. <br />
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Oh, you mean that mint tea in my favourite <a href="http://retailshop.libretea.com/Libre-glass-n-poly-Original.html">tea thermos</a>?<br />
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"No," you say, "what's that stuff in the bowl?"<br />
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Oh, in the bowl. That's only my best discovery of the summer -- tahini-lemon kale chips.<br />
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I first tried kale chips made by <a href="http://www.natureprovides.ca/">Agate at Tao Organics</a>. <i><b>Good</b></i> 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:<br />
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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.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbopDyal0014gjico07HffYB457F04EwQBZ75MJVyBHwO-jUI5lt8yDWWqKkuCL9OMuz41TX30BDRx0NqYVBLBfiUCEjb3sxsOlHNbupYLQD1GHnvQoOF0r1oJIy0PKSYOWqzPJ2i265OY/s1600/DSC02624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbopDyal0014gjico07HffYB457F04EwQBZ75MJVyBHwO-jUI5lt8yDWWqKkuCL9OMuz41TX30BDRx0NqYVBLBfiUCEjb3sxsOlHNbupYLQD1GHnvQoOF0r1oJIy0PKSYOWqzPJ2i265OY/s320/DSC02624.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>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.<br />
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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!<br />
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********************************************************************************************************** ******* 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/Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-36192956162101931262011-08-28T00:01:00.000-07:002011-08-28T00:01:00.817-07:00My moment of pen, paper, and peace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSS-GDAxQKbWvnNpwNqlp89PNvbTn1D9qjp5q5_JbCY8IPkcLDtKalN8ORQkMEw-MJ-yh8ncX8P58JtihqEWVDuapyVTtgKnHQik1V2EjmXoaARmHVOVe4D17W2fY7VpFu2EEAe-pBTYcH/s1600/DSC01931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSS-GDAxQKbWvnNpwNqlp89PNvbTn1D9qjp5q5_JbCY8IPkcLDtKalN8ORQkMEw-MJ-yh8ncX8P58JtihqEWVDuapyVTtgKnHQik1V2EjmXoaARmHVOVe4D17W2fY7VpFu2EEAe-pBTYcH/s400/DSC01931.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">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.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Every time I have a "date" with my journal, I love seeing the</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> 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.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">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!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">P.S. I found my <a href="http://www.lamyusa.com/fountain_main.php">"Lami" fountain pen</a> with its 1.9 nib and <a href="https://refills.montblanc.com/a3.php?PHPSESSID=67fa7a3c1a8847cd6787d55347d8d966&levelOne=1&levelTwo=1">Monte Blanc purple ink</a> at <a href="http://maps.google.ca/maps/place?hl=en&rlz=&gs_upl=57l8923l0l9403l19l16l0l1l1l0l1137l1137l7-1l1l0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=The+Vancouver+pen+shop&fb=1&gl=ca&hq=The+Vancouver+pen+shop&hnear=0x5488a15e20ac1c5b:0x50135152a7b0fd0,Nanaimo,+BC&cid=13845710018423370032">The Vancouver Pen Shop</a> (they do mail order) and my favourite <a href="http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/cat_sku.asp?CatIds=&webid=730888&affixedcode=WW">eco-friendly, reclaimed sugarcane fibre (no tree pulp) paper, composition books at Staples</a>, in case you want to give them a try.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">********************************************************************************************************** ******* 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/</span>Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-34379154613353655752011-08-26T21:14:00.000-07:002011-08-27T15:15:48.009-07:00Where have you been girl?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfazEHQxMnu1t1ZTTcuidzmzw-urmbLFxrvXv3CtEeXpbpWGQekbCeXMvOIRAS57aG7DMbFGwhJrsvEx1-MRscYa4GuhtJBRgdQzJaJYMUoFELAdlzjedvOmge2j75DVCBHBUxteJg1Y1Z/s1600/DSC02633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfazEHQxMnu1t1ZTTcuidzmzw-urmbLFxrvXv3CtEeXpbpWGQekbCeXMvOIRAS57aG7DMbFGwhJrsvEx1-MRscYa4GuhtJBRgdQzJaJYMUoFELAdlzjedvOmge2j75DVCBHBUxteJg1Y1Z/s400/DSC02633.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset on the chaise longue, Meee-ow!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>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!<br />
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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.<br />
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Bring on the sun!<br />
********************************************************************************************************** ******* 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/Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-85604695363331714202010-11-22T11:59:00.000-08:002010-11-23T18:48:16.584-08:00on my walk...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6rGuNeEaIDBHjWAkOKzre9BjnWf40Qijdd2cQ8DXBqu7soxcr-668mVMatyMCZYyBMOd5KNrO-jdoSa8lNCNSYTeOjFUkDlhmOaRvCKoRiYsw6p0m5jebUtPD7M0rI83_6CSRR3h9pKx/s1600/DSC06321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6rGuNeEaIDBHjWAkOKzre9BjnWf40Qijdd2cQ8DXBqu7soxcr-668mVMatyMCZYyBMOd5KNrO-jdoSa8lNCNSYTeOjFUkDlhmOaRvCKoRiYsw6p0m5jebUtPD7M0rI83_6CSRR3h9pKx/s400/DSC06321.JPG" width="510" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I had only 24 hours on the island this past week. I said to myself, "Since your time here is so brief, you <b>must</b> 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. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In this post, where I borrow the style from Marie-Louise Gay's "<i>On my island,"</i> I poke fun at myself revealing the gap between: (1) my <b>predictions</b> about my walk that are so </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">grumpy they </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">could rival those pessimistic grumblings of Winnie-the-Pooh's friend, Eeyore: and (2) my cold-on-face-tingling, fresh-air-breathing, spirit-uplifting <b>reality</b> while on my walk. There is no question --after the fact -- that a walk was exactly what I needed, but I had to <i>walk the walk</i> before I knew which voice was true.</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">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...</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 32px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">Do I really want to go on a walk this cold, drizzly, </span></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 32px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">mid-November morning?</span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 32px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">(These were my reasons to NOT walk...)</span></i></span></div></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">On my walk, I will be depressed by the absence of summer greens.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;"> </span></span></i></span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><div style="font: 32.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumhBWOR6OFnA1JD4FtlOCFZdTBP9SvQ3JzyCPc2QkTqbYjXlqlBs1FfmgnKv-mb9NOE7whInO9mS-nj4qDFAERhyphenhyphenLrREOlzNl2iP79wnBiQzWmQ8RGq_k1VeDDsJjNNyxJw7JT5Ofu0Lc/s1600/DSC06250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumhBWOR6OFnA1JD4FtlOCFZdTBP9SvQ3JzyCPc2QkTqbYjXlqlBs1FfmgnKv-mb9NOE7whInO9mS-nj4qDFAERhyphenhyphenLrREOlzNl2iP79wnBiQzWmQ8RGq_k1VeDDsJjNNyxJw7JT5Ofu0Lc/s320/DSC06250.JPG" width="240" /></a></div></div></i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidM6vzdIkenENFEody7j9icfIJvs5nP9ukEyWidxQuWgC_5skGUYr3dPbgwupcHC12H4uhOxdJGEJdr3KVPG_dD8Gj_a7cRYirVYXPpGWkAaJ3Iy_MPDvg9Sxk3t6yto2Ua7rkigZ8dApH/s1600/DSC06304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidM6vzdIkenENFEody7j9icfIJvs5nP9ukEyWidxQuWgC_5skGUYr3dPbgwupcHC12H4uhOxdJGEJdr3KVPG_dD8Gj_a7cRYirVYXPpGWkAaJ3Iy_MPDvg9Sxk3t6yto2Ua7rkigZ8dApH/s320/DSC06304.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 32px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">The whole landscape will be grey and colourless.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"> </span></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 32px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtlzlqM_ZnEpbB0esehLpK89UknepdUqPkzBs_1rOfbZ7A7sIeB4ZLB2ARvCerg8W7TSLQ67KBmwakNLRbPU15IEdOoIlX7nnqZjUbgFkSPEb7ojOmojU9ELMZsObViqk-ZENXB4bd_Qp/s1600/DSC06259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJtlzlqM_ZnEpbB0esehLpK89UknepdUqPkzBs_1rOfbZ7A7sIeB4ZLB2ARvCerg8W7TSLQ67KBmwakNLRbPU15IEdOoIlX7nnqZjUbgFkSPEb7ojOmojU9ELMZsObViqk-ZENXB4bd_Qp/s320/DSC06259.JPG" width="291" /></a></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font: 32.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><br />
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</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font: 32.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>The side of the road will be slippery from the overnight rainstorm...</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font: 32.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"></span></i></span></i></span></div><i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><div style="color: #4c1130; font: normal normal normal 32px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i></i></span></div><i><div style="color: #4c1130; font: normal normal normal 32px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ELpBnTcObIn8qU9whvSHu2-vvLAlk9bc0hyTwXvVBcJcgIuZ8aqzHiaTOpyWCo_PEoAT4ZKyB-e3HD68SfOzlrcHfbzz0MiG7uFFFWPSkMau1tt6ZtLZKKpTkio_mko8UDrlx0Y_kXwC/s1600/DSC06317+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ELpBnTcObIn8qU9whvSHu2-vvLAlk9bc0hyTwXvVBcJcgIuZ8aqzHiaTOpyWCo_PEoAT4ZKyB-e3HD68SfOzlrcHfbzz0MiG7uFFFWPSkMau1tt6ZtLZKKpTkio_mko8UDrlx0Y_kXwC/s320/DSC06317+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32crcsHN7tpoqL4IpzNetNXl1TiVuQ1icaQyu7QyLYj4Fif6ImcLu5iTZxvtGdWRTyK3AvSABMuK3btL8F_Vr3bIh81Li_XCeYbAcsB4jaB6Co6j4bGMUK2pgouZo7ba3FoxMpXQ8YMmE/s1600/DSC06245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32crcsHN7tpoqL4IpzNetNXl1TiVuQ1icaQyu7QyLYj4Fif6ImcLu5iTZxvtGdWRTyK3AvSABMuK3btL8F_Vr3bIh81Li_XCeYbAcsB4jaB6Co6j4bGMUK2pgouZo7ba3FoxMpXQ8YMmE/s320/DSC06245.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font: normal normal normal 32px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>...and all that will remain will be a mix of mud and dead grass.</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font: normal normal normal 32px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font: normal normal normal 32px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i></i></span></div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaKR6MAqOd3SiZ6bHEdvJp_u9chYVINO__HRK4TaPufeNaV8ocfTmeIZqB6NvdEZRAtqfsSZI1T_WOKS2PXJUQoggV9eZR1m3v4y_Begr6OyanGmjVOKoDHiBBhTrhgKgY2ghYWxkGjc4/s1600/DSC06275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaKR6MAqOd3SiZ6bHEdvJp_u9chYVINO__HRK4TaPufeNaV8ocfTmeIZqB6NvdEZRAtqfsSZI1T_WOKS2PXJUQoggV9eZR1m3v4y_Begr6OyanGmjVOKoDHiBBhTrhgKgY2ghYWxkGjc4/s320/DSC06275.JPG" width="263" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQkvYbF4fQJq2Bna-2pHJxiaOK2tISAM7UPE6BPOtuFFJWCSj7BJOLp-eZKRdu1RyYDuzmUB0kU1nFeCIO_kgmKbLdBiHiFIl1R7n-oteUbkYedeQ3nn8fk80XJMgbw9OkDvvU8aN7-7a/s1600/DSC06280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQkvYbF4fQJq2Bna-2pHJxiaOK2tISAM7UPE6BPOtuFFJWCSj7BJOLp-eZKRdu1RyYDuzmUB0kU1nFeCIO_kgmKbLdBiHiFIl1R7n-oteUbkYedeQ3nn8fk80XJMgbw9OkDvvU8aN7-7a/s320/DSC06280.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font: 32.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>I will see only rotten, ugly leaves on the roadside.</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font: 32.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large; font-style: normal;"><i></i></span></i></span></div><i><i><div style="font: normal normal normal 32px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i></i><br />
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<i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvPYM3pQ2CYjkymGlGVI7ATCvMU1G3M4PSBTR9JqNhO4HDmTn2piw8avVHQzO44QQICG706dHhgDh40wbR-z4zQBvYOe6ATb8ZeXmWKQ4HMEHb3Zm18Jcyfvi4RyKHVtTLmZfE_mRjtpu/s1600/DSC06298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvPYM3pQ2CYjkymGlGVI7ATCvMU1G3M4PSBTR9JqNhO4HDmTn2piw8avVHQzO44QQICG706dHhgDh40wbR-z4zQBvYOe6ATb8ZeXmWKQ4HMEHb3Zm18Jcyfvi4RyKHVtTLmZfE_mRjtpu/s320/DSC06298.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jbtr-dROtucRSsYN8DcyuKTWPfSDWmx5KFj_xoDGRJ3TozwOGrc4Zfgg3D6RJ5Oiq0rCDBEe0jnNf6J-LPFA8hM1UTUhnVADvZbapOC0eHByo6arQalHo_In6AWAtRTsMflbpwQNzgUh/s1600/DSC06256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jbtr-dROtucRSsYN8DcyuKTWPfSDWmx5KFj_xoDGRJ3TozwOGrc4Zfgg3D6RJ5Oiq0rCDBEe0jnNf6J-LPFA8hM1UTUhnVADvZbapOC0eHByo6arQalHo_In6AWAtRTsMflbpwQNzgUh/s320/DSC06256.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">And the withered branches will look dead...</span></i></span></i></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBRXtNBVkkFWxLdlXmXLptdL9bwF-rwly8JLUPJcO90jfxIf8sVtG7ptQ6B3ooJ2n5u2nODosUJaeMgzQ7BmzQoC5X8RVOKYsZ9RCjFPUAXukh6lIk84DCOrQmOdMv-6EDMtyO1Pd2WXP/s1600/DSC06253A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBRXtNBVkkFWxLdlXmXLptdL9bwF-rwly8JLUPJcO90jfxIf8sVtG7ptQ6B3ooJ2n5u2nODosUJaeMgzQ7BmzQoC5X8RVOKYsZ9RCjFPUAXukh6lIk84DCOrQmOdMv-6EDMtyO1Pd2WXP/s320/DSC06253A.JPG" width="280" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><i></i></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><div style="color: #4c1130; font: 32.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>...and be </i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font: 32.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>depressingly </i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font: 32.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>bare.</i></span></div></i></span> <i><div style="font: normal normal normal 32px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal;"><i></i></span></i></span></div><i><i><div style="font: normal normal normal 32px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i></i></span></div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 32px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlZ6mXKyi5ha4sgT8aQuZydw03WJ3D0A197kzeP2VtypUhTBhPEOObQc92WSfqzSuYnT2Jjy_ZqOoJ1_9FiwTMj4OCmY7wScZtUY7ia-CtiA6YhBH8oaWc7_RfVcn4ZR0iduEZi4XRsub/s1600/DSC06324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlZ6mXKyi5ha4sgT8aQuZydw03WJ3D0A197kzeP2VtypUhTBhPEOObQc92WSfqzSuYnT2Jjy_ZqOoJ1_9FiwTMj4OCmY7wScZtUY7ia-CtiA6YhBH8oaWc7_RfVcn4ZR0iduEZi4XRsub/s320/DSC06324.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></i></i></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Te7PXPrHkAEHho0QIBl-H7itVnkhazEMNwD1L7oFKJxZJC4QNzUg4I4YjwZF_UJJABCfiRy6d2cNbnh9MDaePLqsId2yMNwZWYMFZcCHF9CaDQh8x5C2n6u0bhL_3nHBlXxyvpw7Vtn1/s1600/DSC06282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Te7PXPrHkAEHho0QIBl-H7itVnkhazEMNwD1L7oFKJxZJC4QNzUg4I4YjwZF_UJJABCfiRy6d2cNbnh9MDaePLqsId2yMNwZWYMFZcCHF9CaDQh8x5C2n6u0bhL_3nHBlXxyvpw7Vtn1/s320/DSC06282.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 32px;"><i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 32px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">I will be bored </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 32px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">by the </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 32px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;">"same old, same old..."</span></i></span><br />
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***********************************************************************************************************</span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrz1GSTm-YgfDn0-9MRdoV9hQZvC6qzJ2qhYVxGY3l6R5GFOyoUUGSFhmGwelO-XrnTZ3bGrgzpq6wYlRbQLqJ1urItCt9dC_0AVRKFAyXL_kedhOwJhjnHSpazzTKSKNDeKh1CoEgY_2/s1600/51J58EMB8FL._BO2%252C204%252C203%252C200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click%252CTopRight%252C35%252C-76_AA300_SH20_OU15_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrz1GSTm-YgfDn0-9MRdoV9hQZvC6qzJ2qhYVxGY3l6R5GFOyoUUGSFhmGwelO-XrnTZ3bGrgzpq6wYlRbQLqJ1urItCt9dC_0AVRKFAyXL_kedhOwJhjnHSpazzTKSKNDeKh1CoEgY_2/s200/51J58EMB8FL._BO2%252C204%252C203%252C200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click%252CTopRight%252C35%252C-76_AA300_SH20_OU15_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><b><div style="color: #333233; font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i>Photo credit</i></b><i>: </i>Photos by </span>Jessica at Oceanwood<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">.</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><i>Book credit:</i></b><i> </i>On my island, written by Marie-Louise Gay, wrote this ironic tale of a child who laments that<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> <b><i>"nothing, absolutely nothing ever happens on my island"</i></b> all the while fascinating and fabulous adventures are happening -- unseen by the sulking child -- behind her back.</span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><i>Oceanwood Chronicles</i></b><i>, </i>copyright 2010 - </span>Jessica at Oceanwood<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">. 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.) <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/">http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div></b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></i></div></i></i></i></i></span></i></i></span></i></span>Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-42915738288284745012010-11-08T12:00:00.000-08:002010-11-08T23:49:53.745-08:00The Brothers<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/jQX2_07ahhUlGxVuAuiU0g?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="400" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xc_sJrKdjDc/TMdyJ120qHI/AAAAAAAAA6k/zdOZmNOZ-vs/s800/DSC04166.JPG" width="550" /></a><br />
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?<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sOazwB6WfOs9c9yIuGqONsGge7WFl-KeyOSqCz2y6YwTWZ6GuEfh-hMQymln-65A05pXHrMGzPQ0slwPyOEwzQ5UgBZEKzva3f3otlHNPwsDQLRAD8uPZViloJ6INZO21qLm_UZOFbhC/s1600/DSC04179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sOazwB6WfOs9c9yIuGqONsGge7WFl-KeyOSqCz2y6YwTWZ6GuEfh-hMQymln-65A05pXHrMGzPQ0slwPyOEwzQ5UgBZEKzva3f3otlHNPwsDQLRAD8uPZViloJ6INZO21qLm_UZOFbhC/s320/DSC04179.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<u>I will tell you a story: </u><br />
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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.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrxqcRaCJzkAU_CHKXkwtsrSYYxw31oomz4BdpMS4QNXXEQbv9d7xnZH4EC2skKZJ92n-EVhAwjTkvxIGI0OauHcPymV6SROb7vGpa6aM8ecLDWtKgREw1Yb6mIcDz96dcmMW2O4cvGyk/s1600/DSC04175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrxqcRaCJzkAU_CHKXkwtsrSYYxw31oomz4BdpMS4QNXXEQbv9d7xnZH4EC2skKZJ92n-EVhAwjTkvxIGI0OauHcPymV6SROb7vGpa6aM8ecLDWtKgREw1Yb6mIcDz96dcmMW2O4cvGyk/s320/DSC04175.JPG" width="267" /></a>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.<br />
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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.<br />
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<div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">**********************************************************************************************************<br />
******* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"> credits and links</span> </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> *******<br />
***********************************************************************************************************</span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo credit</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: Photos by <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><i>Jessica at Oceanwood</i></span>.</span></span></div></div></div></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, copyright 2010 - <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Jessica at Oceanwood</span></i>. 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.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;" title="bright heart singing">http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></div></div></div></div></div>Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-69686101046061488192010-10-26T15:04:00.000-07:002010-10-26T17:18:08.012-07:00priceless works of art<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/QjVC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xc_sJrKdjDc/THweq-Dn0uI/AAAAAAAAAwY/ymYx5V7gEkU/s512/DSC04614.JPG" /></a><br />
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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?<br />
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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.<br />
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<div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">**********************************************************************************************************<br />
******* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"> credits and links</span> </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> *******<br />
***********************************************************************************************************</span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo credit</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: Photo by <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><i>Jessica at Oceanwood</i></span>.</span></span></div></div></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, copyright 2010 - <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Jessica at Oceanwood</span></i>. 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.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;" title="bright heart singing">http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></div></div></div></div>Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-72159138952124790442010-10-12T12:00:00.000-07:002010-10-12T12:00:03.024-07:00drupes, druplets, and dreams<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/MFFI" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xc_sJrKdjDc/THwdZl1PW7I/AAAAAAAAAwA/FLNWh-1IUMA/s512/DSC04630.JPG" /></a><br />
<br />
It is October and we are savouring the fruits of summer. Though the blackberries on Denman Island this year were relatively small and the harvest modest in size, my family still managed to freeze enough for our winter smoothies. For years we have shredded our bodies and torn our clothes to harvest this late summer bounty so we can enjoy summer sweetness over the long winter.<br />
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One reason for the success of the blackberry bramble is that it can keep producing as long as it gets bee visits. The more the bee visits the more <b><i>druplets</i></b> -- juice filled berry bumps -- on the berry. Our relatively small berries this year tell us that our blackberry blossoms had fewer bee visits, most likely due to the very wet -- and cool -- Spring and Summer months.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWQiJQxl_QN2JYpwEhDts9_RKIYgaVA2RfPWz7qPqjF-oPYIaztzp_sYBLfY3_605sbn_kIfsW1A_t0n2OV3rwNSTdcYCMi5QHCMTQcAjXYI5ZAxNwTNxzkKt7iUj5Hbd6T5mOY5UKmdi/s1600/DSC04657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWQiJQxl_QN2JYpwEhDts9_RKIYgaVA2RfPWz7qPqjF-oPYIaztzp_sYBLfY3_605sbn_kIfsW1A_t0n2OV3rwNSTdcYCMi5QHCMTQcAjXYI5ZAxNwTNxzkKt7iUj5Hbd6T5mOY5UKmdi/s320/DSC04657.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I love the word, <b><i>druplets.</i></b> It reminds me of the poetic term: <i>couplets</i>, as in, <i>rhyming couplets,</i> only for a blackberry poetry "jam" we would compose using <i>juicing druplets</i>. A <i>druplet</i> is the petite version of a <i>drupe</i> -- a stone or seed surrounded by fruity flesh. A peach is a classic <i>drupe</i>. I did't know anything about drupes or druplets until writing this blog entry. How could I have feasted on fruit all these years and and never heard of drupes or druplets?<br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">As the weeks of summer finally came to an end, our blackberry bramble continued putting out blossoms "just in case" it was able to grow through a warm and sunny early Fall. The first photo is one such late blossom that I found just beginning its hopeful cycle amid dozens of neighbouring dead stems that have long since dropped berries to the ground or surrendered its ripe jewels to picking fingers. Unfortunately, with so much rain and cool weather this past September, the bees visits no doubt were too few to allow the blossom to form fruit druplets.<br />
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Our valiant blossom -- the blackberries' gamble on warm Fall weather -- grows amongst brown leaves and rotting berries but, nevertheless, dreams of what <i>might be.</i> It does not permit <i>what is</i> to silence its perfumed call to the bees and or diminish its delicious beauty. I am inspired by this blossoms optimism in action. Maybe next year we will have an "Indian summer" and the blossom's gamble will pay off? I hope so.<br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">**********************************************************************************************************</span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">******* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span> credits and links </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> *******</span></span></div></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">***********************************************************************************************************</span></div></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Image credit</span></i></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">s: Photos by <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><i>Jessica at Oceanwood</i></span>. </span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><br />
</span></span></div></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span></b></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, copyright 2010 - <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Jessica at Oceanwood</span></i>. 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.) </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;" title="bright heart singing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></span></div></div></div></div>Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-59795787256939882972010-09-28T00:42:00.000-07:002010-09-28T17:11:03.028-07:00Which came first?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQX-3bSrxl-C5RVequFiSMJPuQupEhQ6MKk0SGmrUHzy1FqMMbr5hdndrCmPgn8gWn_JmakE0DLmpwviVljrigor1W1dwV5BYsn9YSwYv00Lk_ymyRrqqQTYktnRMj6llGuY0Lgx8MqMR/s1600/oceanwood.blogspot.com+2008-05-16+7-28+PM.com100_9966.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQX-3bSrxl-C5RVequFiSMJPuQupEhQ6MKk0SGmrUHzy1FqMMbr5hdndrCmPgn8gWn_JmakE0DLmpwviVljrigor1W1dwV5BYsn9YSwYv00Lk_ymyRrqqQTYktnRMj6llGuY0Lgx8MqMR/s500/oceanwood.blogspot.com+2008-05-16+7-28+PM.com100_9966.JPG" /></a><br />
<div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Walking on the beach one summer night, I spotted this gnarly oyster shell covered with barnacles. It was obviously bashed up by countless tides and crashing waves. It had a dull, brown patina left over from various sea weeds and slimes. It was ugly. In different mood or rushing through a different moment in my life, I probably would not have bothered to even glance at it. Even now, I am not sure why I found this shell interesting enough to photograph. Maybe I was just itching to experiment with my camera.</span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In any case, as I crouched down low to focus on my unlikely subject, I was stunned to see that the vertical patterns of the barnacles in the foreground of my photo were remarkably similar to the ferry dock architecture in the background. Now I wonder, which came first, the dock or the shell? </span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 19.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Because I shifted my perspective and was willing to get eye to “eye” with this humble and homely shell, I have a beautiful image that fascinates me whenever I come across it in my photo library. </span>In taking this photo, I feel I have recorded an age-old "conversation" between the ocean and its shore dwellers. Can you hear what each "speaker" is saying?</div><br />
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<div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">**********************************************************************************************************<br />
******* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"> credits and links</span> </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> *******<br />
***********************************************************************************************************</span></span></span></span></div></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo credit</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: Photo by <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><i>Jessica at Oceanwood</i></span>.</span></span></div></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, copyright 2010 - <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Jessica at Oceanwood</span></i>. 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.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;" title="bright heart singing">http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></div></div></div>Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-16976820112423949892010-09-14T12:00:00.000-07:002010-09-14T23:27:36.046-07:00moon rise for purple martins<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DuFTlHqDKJwxyO1JqkWKjg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xc_sJrKdjDc/THsqEU4gheI/AAAAAAAAA3w/OY-XSBw5N_k/s500/oceanwood.blogspot.com%202010-08-24%208-15%20PM.comDSC04529.JPG" /></a><br />
A luxuriously full moon rose over Buckley Bay's resident purple martin birds this past month. As the moment of dusk was upon us, the stubbornly grey day that had been dampening our spirits, finally relented and allowed its moody clouds to slip away on a cool end-of-the-day current. As the final light of the day dwindled, the sky blushed deep violet and russet pink, wrapping us in an atmosphere of peace and beauty as soothing as any velvety duvet. I imagined the purple martins tucked snuggly in their little homes, nodding off as the late summer moon ascended in the evening sky so it could keep watch over the sleeping birds.<br />
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That evening, while all we weary travellers waited for the ferry from Denman Island to arrive, I remembered some videos I had taken in the exact same spot the previous year. On that summer solstice day in June, 2009, I had arrived early for the ferry and had some extra time to watch the very busy colony of winged martin families go about their day. I grabbed my old Kodak Easy Share camera from the back of the truck and captured some of the martins' calls and their flights back and forth to their human-made "condos" as they fed their hungry chicks. I have collected together those little snippets of videos into the following 5 minute YouTube.<br />
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Though far from ideal, my camera's tiny auto focus motor added many mechanical sounds that sharply contrasted with the gorgeous songs of the martins. Oh well, such is life with an instant camera... I am glad, nevertheless, to have had my handy camera nearby so I could capture this day in the life of these purple martins.<br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I was very lucky when, half way through my video, a man "who really knew his birds" observed my keen interest in the birds and so taught me ways to identify individuals and highlighted some of their intriguing habits. You will hear some of his comments on this video.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">By the way, if you look very carefully into the far distance of this video, you will see a shell fisher harvesting clams at low tide.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I hope you enjoy sharing my visit with Buckley Bay's bustling purple martins.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">**********************************************************************************************************</span><br />
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">******* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span> credits and links </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> *******</span></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">***********************************************************************************************************</span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Image credit</span></i></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">s: Photo and YouTube video by <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><i>Jessica at Oceanwood</i></span>. See my other videos on my <i>Oceanwood Chronicles</i> YouTube channel: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/oceanwoodchronicles?feature=mhum">http://www.youtube.com/user/oceanwoodchronicles?feature=mhum</a></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span></b></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, copyright 2010 - <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Jessica at Oceanwood</span></i>. 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.) </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;" title="bright heart singing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></span></div>Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-12999764625793925182010-08-29T22:25:00.000-07:002010-09-14T01:15:55.296-07:00my magic flute<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/kTr3" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xc_sJrKdjDc/THsp7k2o2-I/AAAAAAAAAsU/WbPbCKjI4Zs/s512/oceanwood.blogspot.comDSC04374.jpg" /></a><br />
<div><div><div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Spirit of Denman Island has a habit of knowing what I need most and arranging for me to get those needs met. For example, my daughter has started learning to play my guitar that I bought </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">with my bus girl wages when I was in Grade 10. Watching her strum along with the easy D and A chords, and then strain and stretch her growing fingers to get the difficult G chord, has made me very sentimental for all the music I used to play in high school. Of course, like every budding guitarist coming of age in the 70s, I played a heap of Beatles, Jim Croche, and Eagles songs. For some reason, I was really into playing and singing along to the love song, “I don’t know how to love him,” from the musical, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Jesus Christ Superstar</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. Go figure...</span></div><div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I, also, played first flute in the concert and stage bands. My Dad bought me the best flute he could afford but it was a mediocre instrument. I had to wrestle with it just to get a decent sound. A year ago, I found my old flute and thought I would get it professionally tuned-up and give it a go again. But the flute technician declared that it was not worth putting another penny into the relic. So I put my flute revival aspirations on the back burner. Then again, a couple of weeks ago, my inner high school teen said, “I wanna play the flute again.” But since my flute was dead never to be resurrected, I put the thought of playing out of my head for the</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> second time. That's when the Denman Island magic took over.</span></div><div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/6ybU" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xc_sJrKdjDc/THtEJE7UfHI/AAAAAAAAAvc/1ww-WGm89Kg/s512/DSC04379.JPG" /></span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Last week, driving down East Road, my husband and I saw a yard sale sign. On a whim we decided to check it out. And there IT was -- a shining Gemeinhardt flute -- for sale. With tingling hands and a big-time-dread in my stomach that I might have forgotten how to play, I opened the case, assembled the flute; thrilled at its just-right-fit and perfect balance in my hands; put it to my mouth; and blew. It had a gorgeous tone, in spite of my unpracticed muddling. To be sure the price on that flute -- though reasonable -- was more than we could afford on our very limited budget. With a sigh, I lovingly packed up the flute and returned it to the seller, told her it was a “beauty.” On the drive home, my husband, Mr Wonderful, talked with me about how I had been wanting to resume playing the flute. He said it was important to follow my urge to play the flute again. So with his encouragement, I drove back to the yard sale and purchased the flute. Imagine my finding the flute I always dreamed of playing when I was in high school band right there in a yard sale on Denman Island! What are the odds?</span></span></div><div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/6jvl" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xc_sJrKdjDc/THtDxp_eKNI/AAAAAAAAAvU/N1mTXwegHRI/s512/DSC04380.JPG" /></span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The woman selling her flute threw in a copy of “Flute Method: Book 1” (1936). A week later I picked up 2 more flute books at the Free Store: “World’s favourite easy to play pieces for flute” (1962); and “Elementary Method Flute or Piccolo” (which let's just say is so old it could have been used to play bedtime tunes to dinosaurs). And now, with my three antique music books helping me clear out the cob webs that have gathered in the 30 years since I last played, I am playing duets with my daughter. And just like a cobra that is coaxed higher and higher by a snake charmer’s flute, as I am playing, it feels like my inner teen musician rises up, flashes me a Peace sign, and whispers, “Cool!” </span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My new "magic flute" has touched a young place in my heart and helped me meet my need to play music -- and that is definitely "Cool!"</span></span></div><div style="font: 12px Helvetica; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">**********************************************************************************************************</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">******* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles credits and links </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> *******</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">***********************************************************************************************************</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo credit</span></i></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">s: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span></b></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, copyright 2009 - 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.) </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;" title="bright heart singing">http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"></span></div></div></div>Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-25713907992833178622010-07-24T10:30:00.000-07:002010-08-31T13:18:45.588-07:00impossible to be bored<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/V3lHu3MCeLucadF1UWrZSw?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="375" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xc_sJrKdjDc/THspd5TBXKI/AAAAAAAAArA/Luq6dzbutsk/s400/oceanwood.blogspot.comDSC03567.JPG" width="500" /></a><br />
I began my practice of "visual journaling" today. I sat down -- right here beside this tarnished maple leaf caught in some seaweed -- and started to sketch, not to be good, not to produce a work of <b>art</b>, but to be <i>PRESENT</i> -- fully present -- a conscious witness to all that was happening at the beach. I sat for two sessions with my book and pencil crayons sketching and <i>Being Present</i>. I loved this practice.<br />
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/dKFj5agTVEIDXEnn3EQ1uA?feat=embedwebsite" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="375" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xc_sJrKdjDc/THsp1lklDrI/AAAAAAAAAsE/Mdfi3ITgDII/s500/oceanwood.blogspot.comDSC04333.JPG" width="500" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Here is my journal page. The first day I sketched this leaf in the surf and coloured it in with my water-soluble pencils. Then, the second day I used a brush to blend the colours with water and inked in the text with a fountain pen. This one maple leaf is now forever in my memory -- and heart.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I originally wanted to write, "it is impossible to be bored on the beach," but shortened it to fit on my page. I am </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">endlessly fascinated by the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> beach and its many tide pools. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">For me, it is truly impossible to be bored at the beach.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">**********************************************************************************************************<br />
******* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles credits and links </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> *******<br />
***********************************************************************************************************</span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo credit</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">s: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.</span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, 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.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;" title="bright heart singing">http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></div></div>Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-76078113076572027532009-09-27T20:38:00.000-07:002010-08-31T13:19:17.457-07:00Dandelions<blockquote><i><b>plump bees twirling on small and humble blossoms like hippopotami pirouetting on a lily pads.</b></i></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FX_W4nIX-EIml0yGSoEwNA?feat=embedwebsite" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="375" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xc_sJrKdjDc/THsp6KnHVmI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/MBTACkmUNUY/s400/oceanwood.blogspot.comDSC04367.JPG" width="500" /></a>We have so many dandelions in our lawn that our neighbours' fret and beg us to mow our lawn before we contaminate their lawns with the weeds. Who can blame them for their weed angst? We have more dandelions than grass. If you can have a "pride of lions" then we must have a "prairie of dandelions," a fact that has not gone unnoticed by our local bees who flock to our plentiful weeds.<br />
<br />
"May I have this dance?" asks a hopeful bee.<br />
<br />
"Why yes," is the dandelion's reply as its tall and slender stem then bends under the ungainly weight of the bee as the the two dance a bumbling pas de deux. The bee rides the dandelion in a graceful arc --- Doooown -- until dandelion head nearly touches the ground and then springs back -- UP -- as the bee hops off to find its next dancing partner. Waltzing dandelion-bee couples can be seen by the dozens all across my lawn each summer day: plump bees twirling on small and humble blossoms like hippopotami pirouetting on a lily pads.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/LALMU-HYKHLbMSxG6hwikQ?feat=embedwebsite" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_xc_sJrKdjDc/THsny4TpErI/AAAAAAAAAlc/2GxZX0Cj4sg/s320/oceanwood.blogspot.com100_8630.JPG" width="300" /></a>One summer the wasps were numerous and nasty. We erected a 10 foot square tent (nylon roof, 4 screen sides, and no floor) so we could picnic outside without harassment from the striped snipers. At the end of the summer, when we folded up our tent, we discovered a perfect square of grass in the middle of our dandelion prairie. Every dandelion had disappeared inside our tent footprint! Ruling out differences in rainfall and sun exposure, we determined the difference between the <i>survival</i> outside and the <i>disappearance</i> of dandelions inside our tent was that we had inadvertently screened out visiting bees along with the annoying wasps.<br />
<br />
Without the bees, the dandelions simply vanished, dramatic evidence of the interdependent web of life. I don't know whether to be grateful for this new found, pesticide-free method of weed control or to sit in awe of the fine-tuned relationships between species that abound in Nature.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">**********************************************************************************************************</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Utopia,'Palatino Linotype',Palatino,serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> ******* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles credits and links </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> *******<br />
***********************************************************************************************************</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Utopia,'Palatino Linotype',Palatino,serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Utopia,'Palatino Linotype',Palatino,serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Utopia,'Palatino Linotype',Palatino,serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo credit</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">s: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.</span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Utopia,'Palatino Linotype',Palatino,serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Utopia,'Palatino Linotype',Palatino,serif;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, copyright 2009 - 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.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;" title="bright heart singing">http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Utopia,'Palatino Linotype',Palatino,serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif;"></span></div>Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-67874485273344843122009-08-27T14:13:00.000-07:002010-08-31T00:03:41.898-07:00Proper use of a hockey stick<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QQXbFIp1kk3ahboGhEmaJw?feat=embedwebsite" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="400" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xc_sJrKdjDc/THygPTWkuPI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/J1T6E3JSwuc/s400/100_9939.JPG" width="266" /></a><br />
At the risk of insulting most of my Canadian country women and men, I will now reveal the proper and ultimate use for a hockey stick - blackberry picking. Oh sure, there is no question that a hockey stick comes in pretty handy for those slap shots and whipping a puck around the ice. But the hockey stick only begins to come into its own subtlety and sophistication in the blackberry bramble.<br />
<br />
From use as a walking stick as you gingerly make your way through the uneven ground and trecherous thorny vines, to bringing too high or too low berries into reach, the hockey stick is where it is at. Why flip a rubbery puck to a team mate when you could extend your stick out to an impossibly out-of-reach, perfectly plump, cluster of blackberries and serve them up on the blade of your hockey stick for easy picking? Really this handy picking friend should have been named the blackberry stick -- but don't let the wrong name stop you from using this indispensible tool.<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_PqG9BPiFq3xN2PO1gzOGA?feat=embedwebsite" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img height="190" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xc_sJrKdjDc/THygXdW9ZoI/AAAAAAAAAzU/tSx_E9VlZiI/s200/100_9943.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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As in hockey, you will need to wear the correct uniform to complete your blackberry picking gear. My tried and true choices are both fashionable (as in Denman-Island-Free-Store "fashion") and very practical.<br />
<ol><li> gum boots for stomping vines and keeping vulnerable ankles safe from giant sharp thorns in the under brush</li>
<li>long pants to cut down on vine damage to the legs (jeans work best)</li>
<li> short sleeve loose shirt so you can more easily back out of a vine snag</li>
<li>yogurt container on a string to catch your berries as you work</li>
<li>big round shallow bowl (berries can crush each other in a deep bowl), big enough to hold enough berries for one "batch" of jam.</li>
<li>eye protection - vines can snap back into the eye.</li>
<li> <b>No </b>iPod or mp3 player. You'll need your ears open and available to hear nearby wasps!</li>
</ol><br />
This year is a bumper crop year. So grab your hockey stick and other blackberry gear and get picking. Yum!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Utopia,'Palatino Linotype',Palatino,serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">**********************************************************************************************************<br />
******* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles credits and links </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> *******<br />
***********************************************************************************************************</span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Utopia,'Palatino Linotype',Palatino,serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Utopia,'Palatino Linotype',Palatino,serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Utopia,'Palatino Linotype',Palatino,serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo credit</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">s: Photos by Jessica and Luna at Oceanwood.</span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Utopia,'Palatino Linotype',Palatino,serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Utopia,'Palatino Linotype',Palatino,serif;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, copyright 2009 - 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.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;" title="bright heart singing">http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Utopia,'Palatino Linotype',Palatino,serif;"><br />
</span></span></div></div><div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial,Tahoma,Helvetica,FreeSans,sans-serif;"></span>Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-45405653905510428972009-08-26T14:53:00.000-07:002010-08-31T13:19:44.371-07:00conditions are perfect<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ecFwlJelHqztxBvzT4qLDA?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="375" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_xc_sJrKdjDc/THyo1tQCUxI/AAAAAAAAA0E/8IrZYP-itb0/s1600/100_9942-1.JPG" width="500" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ULDt1fkJSKkv3Inai_jgXg?feat=embedwebsite" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="320" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xc_sJrKdjDc/THynW0oXEPI/AAAAAAAAAz4/2_rCKpPH5tQ/s320/100_9955.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
Yesterday the clouds broke apart and the Sun blazed onto the scene to warm and brighten our summer day. Dark and dramatic clouds combined with the intense light of a bold, setting sun to create the perfect conditions for photography. The light and shadows played and conspired to create a drama out of even the smallest details. The interplay of sun and cloud kept every sight fresh and compelling.</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
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How could I resist the temptation to capture the drama with my camera?</div><div style="margin: 0px;">:o)</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
</div><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">********************************************************************************************************<br />
******* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles credits and links </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> *******<br />
********************************************************************************************************</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo credit</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">s: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, copyright 2009 - 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.) </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;" title="bright heart singing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/</span></a></span></div><br />
<i><b><br />
</b></i>Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-88573418667807007422009-08-24T13:53:00.000-07:002010-09-19T21:37:43.223-07:00New puppies in our neighbourhood!My daughter and I visited our neighbour Barbara at the Hawthorne House B&B and played with her two new puppies. They are half maltese/half yorkie, 9 weeks old and teeny tiny. We were absolutely enchanted with their gentle ways and fun puppy antics. One of the pups, Buddy is looking for his new family-to-be. Buddy is so cute and loving, I bet it will not be long before he finds his home-sweet-home. In the meantime, we can enjoy the puppy frollicking. :0)<br />
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<div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">**********************************************************************************************************<br />
******* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles credits and links </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> *******<br />
***********************************************************************************************************</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><strong><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo credit</span></em></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">s: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><em><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span></strong></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, copyright 2009 - 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.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;" title="bright heart singing">http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></div>Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-32356204114245719682009-08-22T14:26:00.000-07:002010-08-30T17:38:31.317-07:00Piercy's Barn turns 100<img alt="antique washer board" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-81" height="375" src="http://oceanwoodch.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/101_0061.jpg" title="antique washer board" width="500" /><br />
The Old Barn turns 100<br />
<br />
I loved wandering around at the 100 year anniversary party for the Old Piercy Barn. I was fascinated by the old pieces of farm and house hold equipment in Piercy's Barn Museum. I thought about all the modern conveniences we have (and ) while I meditated on how time consuming it must have been doing the family laundry with a washer board and hand crank wringer. I can see how home making duties would have been a full-time, all day activity. Now if I could just get my pre-teen to appreciate just how how easy she has it when it comes to chores like laundry duties. :0)<br />
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<img alt="antique stove at Peircy's barn" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-82" height="375" src="http://oceanwoodch.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/101_0059_edited-1.jpg" title="antique stove at Peircy's barn" width="500" /><br />
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<div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">**********************************************************************************************************<br />
******* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles credits and links </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> *******<br />
***********************************************************************************************************</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><strong><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo credit</span></em></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">s: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><em><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span></strong></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, copyright 2009 - 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.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;" title="bright heart singing">http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></div><em><strong><br />
</strong></em>Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-26517451118468404672009-08-19T20:48:00.000-07:002010-08-27T19:47:06.520-07:00BC Ferries Open House - Cable Ferry<img alt="jamm at oceanwood.wordpress.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-128" height="375" src="http://oceanwoodch.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/100_9978.jpg" title="jamm at oceanwood.wordpress.com" width="500" />I attended the BC Ferries Open House to discuss the feasibility of the Cable Ferry from Buckley Bay to Denman Island. I brought along my little voice recorder that I use for choir rehearsals and made an audio recording of the entire meeting.<br />
<br />
You can listen to my recording of the meeting by clicking on the link below:<br />
<blockquote><strong><em>In providing this unedited recording of the Cable Ferry Meeting, I am neither endorsing -- nor protesting -- the continuance of the Cable Ferry Feasibility study.</em></strong></blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.archive.org/details/BcFerries-CableFerryFeasibilityMeeting" title="Cable Ferry Feasibility Open House, 20August2009">http://www.archive.org/details/BcFerries-CableFerryFeasibilityMeeting</a><br />
<br />
<strong>Special note:</strong> This is my first ever podcast so please be patient if the link breaks or I need to redo this podcast in the future. I will do my best to keep this audio recording available to all. If you have any difficulties accessing the file please comment below on this post and I will receive an email alert.<br />
<br />
For more information about the BC Ferries Inquiry into the feasibility of the Cable Ferry, please contact Sarah Cotton at BC Ferries Corp.<br />
<br />
For more information about obtaining a copy of this audio recording, please contact: Jessica at Oceanwood Bed and Breakfast by commenting below.<br />
<br />
<strong>Audio recording description:</strong><br />
<br />
BC Ferries, Cable Ferry Open House held at the Senior's Hall on Denman Island, B.C., 20 August 2009. This approximately 90 minute mp3 file is a raw, unedited, audio recording taken by Jessica at Oceanwood Bed and Breakfast. Please note the first couple of minutes involve loud shuffling noises while the hand held recorder was turned on and a chair in the front row was found to rest it on. The meeting begins approximately 2 minutes into the recording.<br />
<br />
<strong>Note about sound quality</strong>. This meeting was held without the benefit of a microphone. Speakers from the BC Ferries panel and from the audience had to speak loudly to be heard. You may need to adjust your volume accordingly to hear all speakers.<br />
<br />
I am making this audio resource available to the public to give fair and equal access to the information discussed at the meeting. In providing this unedited record of the Cable Ferry Meeting, I am neither endorsing -- nor protesting -- the continuance of the Cable Ferry Feasibility study.<br />
<br />
For more information about the BC Ferries Inquiry into the feasibility of the Cable Ferry, please contact Sarah Cotton at BC Ferries Corp.<br />
<br />
For more information about obtaining a copy of this audio recording, please contact: Jessica at Oceanwood Bed and Breakfast,(***make a comment below***)<br />
<br />
This audio is part of the collection: <a href="http://www.archive.org/details/opensource_audio">Open Source Audio</a><br />
<br />
Artist/Composer: <a href="http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=creator%3A%22Oceanwood%20Bed%20and%20Breakfast%22">Oceanwood Bed and Breakfast</a><br />
Keywords: <a href="http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=subject%3A%22BC%20Ferries%22">BC Ferries</a>; <a href="http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=subject%3A%22Cable%20Ferry%22">Cable Ferry</a>; <a href="http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=subject%3A%22Denman%20Island%22">Denman Island</a>; <a href="http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=subject%3A%22British%20Columbia%22">British Columbia</a>; <a href="http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=subject%3A%22Open%20house%22">Open house</a><br />
<br />
Creative Commons license: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/" rel="license" target="_blank" title="CC0 1.0 Universal">CC0 1.0 Universal</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">**********************************************************************************************************<br />
******* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles credits and links </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> *******<br />
***********************************************************************************************************</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><strong><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo credit</span></em></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">s: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><em><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span></strong></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, copyright 2009 - 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.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;" title="bright heart singing">http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></div>Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-57006078939358234192009-08-16T14:38:00.000-07:002010-08-27T19:36:39.830-07:00Squirting "gooey ducks"We walked over this patch of merrily squirting "gooey ducks" on our low tide walk. Our clothes were soon soaked by the orchestra of giant clams' veritable water park of dancing water squirts. Here is a short video clip of their collective efforts.<br />
<br />
<object height="350" width="425"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xDbsbTn-s9c&hl=en&fs=1"> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xDbsbTn-s9c&hl=en&fs=1;rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"> </object><br />
<br />
For more information, this is what Wikipedia has to say about geoducks:<br />
<br />
The <strong>geoduck</strong> (pronounced <span title="Pronunciation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:IPA_for_English" title="Wikipedia:IPA for English">/ˈɡuː.iːdʌk/</a></span> "gooey duck"<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoduck#cite_note-0">[1]</a></sup>), <em>Panopea abrupta</em>, is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species" title="Species">species</a> of very large <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seawater" title="Seawater">saltwater</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clam" title="Clam">clam</a>, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_%28ocean%29" title="Marine (ocean)">marine</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bivalve" title="Bivalve">bivalve</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mollusk" title="Mollusk">mollusk</a> in the family <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiatellidae" title="Hiatellidae">Hiatellidae</a>.<br />
<br />
The shell of this clam is large, about 15 to over 20 cm in length (about 7 to 9 inches), but the extremely long <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siphon_%28mollusc%29" title="Siphon (mollusc)">siphons</a> make the clam itself very much longer than this: the "neck" or siphons alone can be one meter in length.<br />
<br />
To read more about geoducks click here:<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoduck"></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoduck">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoduck</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">**********************************************************************************************************<br />
******* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles credits and links </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> *******<br />
***********************************************************************************************************</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><strong><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo credit</span></em></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">s: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><em><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span></strong></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, copyright 2009 - 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.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;" title="bright heart singing">http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></div>Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-1702295211938299632009-07-26T13:56:00.000-07:002010-08-27T19:47:41.779-07:00The beauty of shells<blockquote><em><strong>Every shell is an accomplishment of elegance, design, and pinache.</strong></em></blockquote><br />
<em><strong><img alt="jamm @ oceanwood.wordpress.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-90" height="375" src="http://oceanwoodch.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/100_9969.jpg" title="jamm @ oceanwood.wordpress.com" width="500" /><br />
</strong></em><br />
<br />
I love walking the beach and admiring the intricate little world of sea shells. These opalescent former homes for various animals invite me to be small again and full of wonder. Who lived in this little place? What sea creatures did it encounter as the tides rolled in and out? Every shell is an accomplishment of elegance, design, and pinache. I consider it my solemn job as a humble beach wanderer stop, admire and applaud every architectural masterpiece!<br />
<br />
<img alt="jamm @ oceanwoodch.wordpress.com" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-84" height="375" src="http://oceanwoodch.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/shell-in-shell.jpg" title="jamm @ oceanwoodch.wordpress.com" width="500" /><br />
<br />
**********************************************************************************************************<br />
******* Oceanwood Chronicles credits and links *******<br />
***********************************************************************************************************<br />
<br />
Photo credits: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.<br />
<br />
Oceanwood Chronicles, copyright 2009 - 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/Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-29257174311257533252009-07-22T10:55:00.000-07:002010-08-27T19:38:25.011-07:00I wish I could write songs like Valdy<blockquote><strong><em></em></strong></blockquote><br />
<blockquote><strong><em>Oh I wish I could write my songs,<br />
a great big mountain<br />
of my very own songs,<br />
Oh I wish I could write songs like Valdy.</em></strong></blockquote><br />
<a href="http://oceanwoodch.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/0827091701_2.jpg?w=225" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="0827091701_2" border="0" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-161" height="300" src="http://oceanwoodch.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/0827091701_2.jpg?w=225" title="0827091701_2" width="225" /></a>I attended a fabulous song writing workshop led by Valdy. Wow! What a great experience. Valdy created an atmosphere of trust and safety that made it easy to risk sharing my own work. And what a treat it was for me to have Valdy sing some of his own creations to our small private class. Even though I use my writing skills for prose and poetry, this song writing workshop expanded my skills and got me thinking about trying my hand at song writing. Below is a my playful first attempt at a song :0)<br />
<br />
Many thanks to the folks at the Denman Island Arts, my lovely classmates, and of course Valdy for a lovely two days of inspiration and fun.<br />
<br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong><br />
<strong>I wish I could write songs like Valdy</strong><br />
by Jessica at Oceanwood<br />
<br />
What a monumentally huge<br />
Grand Canyon of a chasm<br />
divides the inside of me<br />
from the outside of you.<br />
<br />
Oh I wish I could sit down<br />
and pick up my guitar<br />
fool around<br />
Oh, I wish I could write songs like Valdy.<br />
<br />
I face my monumentally huge,<br />
Great Mother of a chasm,<br />
I walk over to my side<br />
of that scary wide divide<br />
and call out to the world:<br />
<br />
“Hello out there....there... there?”<br />
And I hear a welcome sound<br />
come back to me through the air<br />
<br />
“Yes over here, hi ... hi ...”<br />
And I am thrilled by the reply<br />
cause I've got this mountain of stuff<br />
but sharing it kinda tough<br />
If only I could write songs like Valdy.<br />
<br />
I have a book and some songs<br />
over here, inside of me<br />
And I holler,<br />
"How do I get this stuff<br />
over to you .. you ... you?"<br />
<br />
You say, “try a trebuchet.<br />
A trebuchet? Eh? I say?<br />
Do you mean a catapult?<br />
Where do I get one of those?<br />
<br />
You say, “build it, of course and<br />
and start flinging your stuff over.”<br />
<br />
I say, "Oh, ......................"<br />
Can I get back to you ....you...you?<br />
Oh, I wish I could write songs like Valdy.<br />
<br />
So now I'm reading up on physics<br />
and leverage and flinging<br />
cuz I got a monumentally huge<br />
Grand Canyon of a distance<br />
dividing the inside of me<br />
from the outside of you.<br />
<br />
And all of this book<br />
learning<br />
and back breakin’<br />
construction<br />
They wouldn't be<br />
necessary<br />
If only, if only,<br />
if only I could write my songs like Valdy<br />
<br />
(...rit...)<br />
Oh I wish I could write my songs,<br />
a great big mountain<br />
of my very own songs,<br />
Oh I wish I could write songs like Valdy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">**********************************************************************************************************<br />
******* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles credits and links </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> *******<br />
***********************************************************************************************************</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><strong><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo credit</span></em></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">s: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><em><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span></strong></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, copyright 2009 - 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.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;" title="bright heart singing">http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></div>Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-82956146133706588752009-07-21T20:00:00.000-07:002010-08-27T19:38:54.885-07:00Composting crib for branches<img alt="101_0027" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-51" height="257" src="http://oceanwoodch.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/101_0027.jpg" title="101_0027" width="500" /><br />
<br />
I asked our friend and professional logger, Duncan Stewart, over to help us limb some dangerous branches and remove branches that had begun to obstruct our view. I was so impressed by his conscientious methods and great care he took with each and every branch.<br />
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As soon as the work began, I realized I would soon have a branch problem: what should I do with all the branches and greenery on the ground. I did not like the idea of a pile for burning: one, because it was a big mess; and two, the pollution involved with burning slash. So out of necessity I created this thatched "crib" for naturally composting the branches.<br />
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<div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">**********************************************************************************************************<br />
******* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles credits and links </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> *******<br />
***********************************************************************************************************</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><strong><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo credit</span></em></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">s: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><em><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span></strong></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, copyright 2009 - 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.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;" title="bright heart singing">http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></div>Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-89297049884936465852009-03-30T12:17:00.000-07:002010-08-27T19:48:59.609-07:00Awed by herring<strong><em>Last week our family witnessed the wonder of the herring run. We stood in awe of this poetry-in-action and marveled at the miraculous dance of this Interdependent Web of Life.</em></strong><br />
<blockquote><strong><em>The eagles soared over head…</em></strong></blockquote><br />
<img alt="oceanwood waterfront home" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-41" height="336" src="http://oceanwoodch.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/101_0090.jpg" title="oceanwood waterfront home" width="500" /><br />
<blockquote><strong><em>The sea birds craftily herded herring in shore by “smack” landing in series on the water to form a semi circle “corral” and then gobbled up their catch…</em></strong></blockquote><br />
<img alt="101_0151_2" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-43" height="374" src="http://oceanwoodch.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/101_0151_2.jpg" title="101_0151_2" width="500" /><br />
<blockquote><strong><em>A family of 6 sea lions rolled and feasted only a few metres off shore…</em></strong></blockquote><br />
<img alt="101_0109_2" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-44" height="375" src="http://oceanwoodch.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/101_0109_2.jpg" title="101_0109_2" width="500" /><br />
<blockquote><strong><em>Female herring deposited roe on the shore side seaweed while male herring fertilizing the roe with “milt” creating a milky cover making it hard for birds to see the herring’s activities…</em></strong></blockquote><br />
<img alt="101_0136_2" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-45" height="375" src="http://oceanwoodch.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/101_0136_2.jpg" title="101_0136_2" width="500" /><br />
<blockquote><strong><em>The next day, fertilized herring roe lie in the sun waiting for the tide water’s return.</em></strong></blockquote><br />
<img alt="100_9941" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-46" height="375" src="http://oceanwoodch.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/100_9941.jpg" title="100_9941" width="500" /><br />
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<strong><em>May we always be blessed with the miracle of the herring run.</em></strong><br />
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<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;"></span></i></b><br />
<b><i></i></b><br />
<b><i><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">**********************************************************************************************************<br />
******* </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> credits and links </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> *******<br />
***********************************************************************************************************</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo credit</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">s</span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, copyright 2009 - 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.) </span></span></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;" title="bright heart singing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/</span></span></span></a></span></div></i></b>Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-42474130725665149142008-06-10T18:14:00.000-07:002010-08-27T19:40:58.199-07:00Why are there penguins in the fridge?<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oceanwood/2419316956/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/2419316956_6688f0fa1a.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oceanwood/2419316956/">oceanwood101_0061wtmk</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/oceanwood/">Oceanwood</a>.</span></div><br />
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 -- <em><strong>Penguins in the Fridge</strong></em><em> (</em> by Nicola Moon). Emily reasoned if one child could have a fridge full of penguins why not her?<br />
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<a href="http://oceanwoodch.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/51zfag5bq8l_sl160_aa115_.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-38" height="96" src="http://oceanwoodch.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/51zfag5bq8l_sl160_aa115_.jpg?w=96" width="96" /></a><br />
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Having this odd, flightless family as permanent tenants in our fridge has always reminded me of <strong><em>Beakman's World</em></strong>. 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?<br />
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<a href="http://oceanwoodch.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/icon1.gif"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-37" height="48" src="http://oceanwoodch.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/icon1.gif?w=48" width="48" /></a><br />
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If you have ever seen <strong><em>Beakman's World,</em></strong> 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?)<br />
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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.<br />
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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?<br />
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link to Nicola Moon's book, <strong><em>Penguins in the Fridge</em></strong><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Penguins-Fridge-Nicola-Moon/dp/1857937937/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213159079&sr=8-2">http://www.amazon.ca/Penguins-Fridge-Nicola-Moon/dp/1857937937/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213159079&sr=8-2</a><br />
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link to <strong><em>Beakman's World</em></strong> web site<br />
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<a href="http://www.beakmansworldtv.com/">http://www.beakmansworldtv.com/</a><br />
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<div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">**********************************************************************************************************<br />
******* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles credits and links </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> *******<br />
***********************************************************************************************************</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><strong><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo credit</span></em></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">s: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><em><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span></strong></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, 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.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;" title="bright heart singing">http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></div>Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865841225208735950.post-53694780269763484042008-06-09T20:17:00.000-07:002010-08-27T19:41:32.126-07:00Gray by any other name -- is still gray<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;">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. </div><br />
<img alt="dry grasses of August" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-40" height="225" src="http://oceanwoodch.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/100_1848.jpg?w=300" width="300" /><br />
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I hate to "pine" for something else than what exists in the <em>Present Moment,</em> 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, <strong>dry</strong> 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.<br />
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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: <em>gray, dark gray, gloomy gray, grizzly gray,</em> and then back to <em>gray</em>, 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: <em>glorious gray, grand gray, gorgeous gray</em>, and <em>generous gray</em>. 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.<br />
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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.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">**********************************************************************************************************</span><br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">******* </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles credits and links </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> *******<br />
***********************************************************************************************************</span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><strong><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo credit</span></em></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">s: Photos by Jessica at Oceanwood.</span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div></div><div style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Schoolbook'; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;"><em><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oceanwood Chronicles</span></strong></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, 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.) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" style="color: #d52a33; text-decoration: none;" title="bright heart singing">http://oceanwood.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></div></div>Jessica at Oceanwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17564828612421809396noreply@blogger.com0