Gabriola Rancher

A Sweet Kitchen

2010-12-16T19:35:00.000-08:00

This is where we made all those Belgian chocolates we sold at the farmer's market. Thousands of chocolates, dark, milk and white had their start here.

We also love to watch the birds from these windows. Over 40 species we have had in our yard over the last 8 years.

This window looks west out to the larger pond. The other kitchen window (to the left of the table, not in the photo) looks into the front yard and the smaller pond

Inside Peek

2010-12-12T14:26:00.000-08:00

The main bedroom has two windows plus the sliding door out to the patio.

Two views.

There is also room for another dresser on the wall with the closet.

Home Office/Bedroom

2010-12-11T07:37:00.000-08:00

This sunny southern exposure room has made a great home office for us. We also have a futon for guests that you can't see from this view. The window air conditioner is no longer there as we no longer are chocolateirs with a stock of chocolate to keep cool.

Inside Glance

2010-12-11T07:32:00.001-08:00

Some of the furnishings are different now, but the space is the same. The door on the left is the side entrance. Backpack not included.

Back Yard

2010-12-11T07:26:00.000-08:00

The back is very sunny, with a patio. The shade canopy is a great place for meals outside or reading a great book. More rock of course!

Our House

2010-12-11T07:20:00.000-08:00

This was taken in summer of course, but once again here is the front of the house.

Once Again...

2010-12-11T07:13:00.000-08:00

Well folks, once again we have put in an offer for another place closer to work. Busy times ahead. We will post a few pictures again, so that you don't have to go to the beginning of the blog if you are helping us spread the word that our cozy home will be on the market soon.

More photos when we are ready to list, but we will add a few today. Here is the wood stove.

Thanks Caroline & Ron

2010-06-05T13:56:00.001-07:00

The hostas from Caroline and Ron are thriving in their new spot under the old cedar.

It is quite close to the pond, as shown in the upper shot, but we managed to protect them from the slugs with copper mesh.

Azaleas

2010-06-05T13:53:00.001-07:00

This azalea was also a bit in the shade, so I may move the box over a bit next year.

Garden colour

2010-06-05T13:39:00.000-07:00

I should have posted this earlier in the month, but here they are at last. The rhodos were a little late this year, as they probably are getting more shade than optimum, but they still were lush with colour and gave us a lot of pleasure.

Fledglings

2010-06-05T13:29:00.000-07:00

The young birds have found a haven in the suet and seed blocks we have just outside the kitchen window. They are protected by the japanese maple, and their parents have been bringing them here to practice feeding. Sometimes there will be 3 or even 4 different species waiting in the tree or sharing the feeders.

The nuthatches were the first, and have made themselves very much at home. Yesterday afternoon one of them decided to move right in, and tried to roost there for the night. However, 3 downy woodpeckers were not ready to turn in yet and disturbed his slumber so he found another spot.

Oh Deer!

2010-06-04T19:18:00.000-07:00

Although deer are daily visiters around here, there seems to be even more than usual right now. The grass is tall, everything is green and there is lots for them to eat. On the way to work each day we are usually seeing 6 or more even before we get to the end of our road.

Earlier in the month a heavily pregnant doe was on the back berm a lot, and there are two hollows in the brush immediately behind us that I have been avoiding in hopes that she will feel comfortable there.

We have seen several fawns from the road, which are still very tiny. We have decided to keep a small camera in the car now just in case. Our neice Deanna shared some fantastic photos (above) of some fawns taken shortly after they were born near her workplace.

A week for wildlife

2010-03-21T13:53:00.000-07:00

The humming birds came back this week, and have been very busy at the feeder. I haven't been able to get a good close up - they are so fast and we don't have a suitable camera, so I am using a free wallpaper. We just love these little guys and I will keep trying to get a shot of the ones who have chosen to live with us.

This week there have been more birds and animals than usual. We usually see a deer or two driving home, and we even had a buck who liked to hang out in the shade of the car port last spring, but on Thursday there were 9 deer on our route home from work. No fawns, but plenty of adults. Our friend Linda found a handsome antler discarded on her lawn.

There must be a herring run because there has been literally hundreds of gulls at the beach at the end of our road, and we saw 14 eagles on a sand bank watching the water. At least 20 seals and sea lions, rolling and waving their flippers. I can hear their barking as I write this.

And of course the frogs are in full throat these days. It is great.

So I am off for a stroll, and this time will bring my camera.

Mallards

2010-03-14T17:38:00.000-07:00

Well, the Mallards are back. They arrived yesterday, and seemed to enjoy the larger pond. They were here again today, so I expect that they will be regular visiters.

Crocus and Tree Frogs Herald Spring

2010-02-15T19:07:00.000-08:00

Just in time for Valentine's Day, the tree frogs have come acourting again. The crocus are showing colour, the robins are nested and now we have the frog chorus. Only a few so far, but they seem very pleased with the new pond. Very shy, the frogs are hard to spot, so no photo yet. Until then, here are some of the brave spring flowers.

Spring is inching in

2010-02-06T20:19:00.000-08:00

Well, the pond has filled in nicely, and it is clear that we will be able to plant the upper edges as it has not come anywhere near the top rim. The overflow pipes are working well. We haven't decided on what to plant yet, but things are greening up so I'm "pondering" the question.

Lately I have been thinking a lot about Michael, our nephew who moved to the high Artic to work in Resolute and Grise Fiord as Canada's most northernly social worker. I mentioned him in my other blog as well. I can hardly imagine the hardship that the original settlers faced when they were forced to move there to help maintain Canada' claim on the far north. He says that the sun peaked through today, so I can't help think of the contrast with our own weather.

The robins are back now. They have busy eating the pyrocantha berries, and are pecking the ground, gathering nesting materials. There was a flock of about 2 dozen starlings today, and last month we saw quite a few of the finches at the feeder. I keep trying to catch the nuthatches at the window feeder but I can't get a clear photo through the glass.

So inspite of what the ground hog says for the east coast and central Canada, spring is on the way. The daffodils have quite visible shoots, as do the crocus, and the heather (picture above was taken today) is almost radiant.

Boxing Day

2009-12-26T15:18:00.000-08:00

A lethargic fog leans on Gabriola today. Perhaps reflective of how many people are resting and digesting in a post celebratory haze.

The birds, however, are very active. Dozens of chickadees and nuthatches are swooping and bobbing in to share the feeder. We have been greeted today by all five regularly visiting woodpeckers – the brilliantly red headed Red-breasted Sapsucker, quietly domineering Northern Flicker, oh so perky and punky Pileated, the curious Hairy and the diminutive Downy.

We use both suet and seed blocks, and the apple tree by the pond still has some fruit clinging to the boughs so there is enough for all the tree climbers. The junkos and towhees prowl beneath the feed posts and trees for stray nuggets and seeds dropped in haste.

The seed block immediately outside of the kitchen window gives us closeup views of the bravest of our friends. Although so small, the chickadees are the most frequent visiters here. They often peer in at us, or keep one eye alert for any sudden movement. The Downies also remain quite calm although we are less than a metre from them. The nuthatches merely move to the other side of the block and pretend we aren't there. Out of sight, out of mind.

Tomorrow I will try to add a photo of the birds myself, but in the mean time here is one of a chickadee from wildbirds unlimited.

Planning for spring

2009-11-14T09:41:00.001-08:00

It can rain a lot here - as you can see from the water level in the pond, and it hasn't really started yet. So we like to have some colour to counterbalance the grey days. I don't mind the rain - we need it for the wells and I appreciate the moderate climate, but it does help to have some visual brightness.

The pyrocantha (above, taken yesterday) is doing well, so we have planted another under the big cedar. It has white flowers in the spring, and the berries last for most of the winter. The winter heather will be flowering soon, it is just in bud now.

But we haven't yet decided on what to plan in the pond area. On the edges there are several areas awaiting planting in the spring such as the lower photo.

Suggestions are welcome!

It's been raining so....

2009-11-13T17:22:00.001-08:00

This is a view of the smaller pond, with the little stone bridge and the larger pond behind it. We haven't hit the real rainy season yet, but as the next fortnight shows rain every day, I expect it will fill soon.

Vintage Malaspina Galleries

2009-11-13T17:10:00.001-08:00

This view is from the point looking back towards the house on Gabriola. You can see how large it is.

You can see other shots of the galleries by photographer Kevin Oke at http://www.kevinokephotography.com/wordpress/2009/04/malaspina-galleries-gabriola-island-british-columbia-canada/comment-page-1/#comment-20957 , including one a high tide and one of the porous sandstone floor.

For Dad

2009-11-13T16:57:00.000-08:00

Today is my father's 83rd birthday and he asked about Gabriola. He lives in Nova Scotia, so hasn't had the chance to see it. So I will be sending him the url so that he can get an idea of what it is like here. Happy Birthday Dad.

One of my favourite places here is Malaspina Galleries, and I am sure that he would love it too. He is a skilled photographer, and in fact when I called him today he was working on Photoshop. I am afraid that I haven't inherited that talent, so am using a photo of that K and M of http://knittingbunny.blogspot.com/ kindly gave me permission to use. This view is towards Sunshine Coast across the Georgia Strait. Thanks M & K.

The Galleries are sandstone, and have always been a popular spot - with the Sneneymexw/Salish people, then the european settlers, and now with tourists and locals. But recently the cave roof collapsed in some spots, so it has been closed. You can still see it from either end, but you can't walk on it.

I will add another post soon to show the scale.

More Rock of Course

2009-10-31T18:28:00.000-07:00

As you can see, we do love our rocks. At the edge of the pond we have one beauty that will be a focus point for the dryscaping we will do later this fall and in the spring. We have mulched in the area since this photo was taken.

The Pond

2009-10-31T18:20:00.000-07:00

We are one of the areas of Gabriola that doesn't need to worry about water in the summer. We have never run dry, but in the winter we get a LOT of run-off from the hills behind us. We have a drainage ditch on all 4 sides, but we also have a small pond in the front. There was a lot of silt in it, so we decided to have it dug out. Then we decided to re-enforce the walls with rock. The project just kept growing! We still have a lot of work to do on it, but the main rock work is done now. There are spots to plant in the spring to add colour and keep down the erosion even more.

Snow, Snow and more Snow

2008-12-29T10:38:00.000-08:00

Mother Nature sure had a surprise for us this year. We received a record snowfall, and had far colder weather than we've experienced so far. Usually the snow only lasts for a day, or two at the most, and some winters there hasn't been any at all. But this year we got a white christmas well in advance. We lost power for a day, but were well prepared so we were fine. However, the pipes also froze, so we had to add heat to the pump house. Everything is working well now, and we fared better than some of our neighbours who lost their eavestroughs. More snow is due to come for New Year's, but here are some pix of the snow of 2008. You can see how deep the snow is by comparing the earlier photos of Buddah under the star magnolia bush in spring and the rock herons in the back yard in summer. The second picture is in the backyard, and you can see that the snow is still falling.

We are still here and happy about it

2008-11-12T07:05:00.000-08:00

We have delayed the move, since the other place had mice. I have been pretty busy, but might start this up again now that we have unpacked a lot of our things. Here is a view of part of the back yard, just off the bedroom patio doors. This was originally the vegetable garden, but it was not well drained so we will build raised beds next year (hopefully) and put in a memorial zen garden. This is for Y's parents, K's mother and K's cousin Pauline.

The other photo is an inuksuk built on the beach which is about 5 minutes walk from our home. The tides have taken it away by now, but as you can see, we do love our inuksuit.

Hopefull we will add things periodically when we have time, so that all our family and friends have an idea of what our home is like.

What great friends

2008-10-10T06:46:00.000-07:00

Our friends and neighbours have been so supportive around this whole process. They helped us pack and sort and clean to get ready for showing the house, and even offered us storage space. Brought us home made soup so we didn't have to worry about making lunch too! This is such a great community, so we really want to make sure that we are able to continue to live on Gabriola.

We had wanted to be less car dependant, and to be able to walk to work. However, when we had the house inspection done on the duplex we had in mind, it just was not acceptable. So we withdrew our offer and took our own little home off the market for the moment. But we will still be looking.

Since we have boxed up a lot of stuff, it will be a good opportunity to paint, even if we don't move for a while. And frankly, every time I walk into the house I realized how much I love it, and how hard it will be to leave here. It is a bit of a relief actually, as the other place did not have the character and the loving care we have put into our home.

We love inuksuit, and have built a number of small ones around the yard and into the pathway. One of the meanings of an inuksuk is to help people find their way home. They are also good resting places. So it really does seem appropriate these days, our little sanctuary.

We also have placed a couple of inuksuit into the gravel pathway, as shown in the photo. This one of two in the front path, and we have another in the back near the canopy. Next time I'll show a photo of the back.

We'll miss these trees

2008-10-04T08:20:00.000-07:00

It is time to pick the last of the apples soon. There are three apple trees, a plum tree and a pear tree. (Although we are visited by quail and guinea hens, we have not yet had a partridge in that pear tree!). The 5 blueberry bushes have turned red in the back corner, as has our Japanese maple out front. We also have two very large regular Maple trees and two mature cedars. But my personal favourite is the star magnolia. The photo shows it in the spring, but we enjoy it all year round. There is also a yellow tulip magnolia in the back, and a pink tulip magnolia by the winter pond. Oh yes, and the rhodos. They are marvelous in the spring too. I shall have to see if I can find an old photo of the rhodos and add that later.

Now I must get back to packing!

We love this little house but it is time to move on

2008-10-03T07:01:00.000-07:00

We fell in love with this house six years ago, and know that it was the best decision we ever made. It has been a joy to be here - on this wonderful island, just a few minutes walk to the beach, and the perfect size for us. It is really hard to think about moving somewhere else, but we have just had an offer accepted for one of the units in the 55+ townhouse complex which will be walking distance to work for both of us.

I will be keeping everyone up to date on our progress, and paying tribute to our little dream home which we will soon be putting on the market.