Brock House Summer Fair

We've missed this as we've been in Victoria during the time it takes place.  Very old world British summer fete.   A "big band" playing as we entered,  Morris dancers complete with the "reaper" figure....chased one little girl and clacked his big horse teeth.  She was thrilled and scared...rather like Richard was when Jim did the Incredible Hulk impersonation.  White Elephant,  and of course, books, books, books.  Very good quality books...Jim picked up a couple of course.

Then a drive around Spanish Banks and UBC and to the University Golf Club  to share a burger (they have wonderfully juicy burgers) and were treated to wonderful views of the course as well as bagpipes and a wedding taking place.

Then a swim....water was warm and great but a coolish breeze so enjoyed my hot shower.

 Home made crafts.  I always wanted a rocking horse and a dollhouse so am always attracted to these items when I see them.

 Just love the view from the Brock House grounds.

 Jim looking for books along with many others...

 Morris Dancers and the reaper figure on the left.

I haven't seen an old Volkwagon like this for a while.

Happy Birthday, Jim!

Jim's birthday today and since there's a big event with road closures on in Kits we went to Las Margaritas yesterday for lunch...excellent as usual and had our favourite server.  Off to the Brock House Fair today to see what books they might have.

And of course Don and Elaine gave Jim the perfect present and one I love too....these two books and snacks.  Well,  there was Roger's Nut Corn as well but that got scarfed down a few days ago.   We were just at the Vancouver Museum's exhibit "Sex in the City" and reading about the Penthouse so that is perfect and we both really like Pauline Johnson...thanks, Guys!

Fish and Chips on the beach last night

Richard and Emily suggested fish and chips on the beach for dinner last night and it was a great idea.  We learned Rain City closes at 7:30 pm for their take out window but C-Lovers was open for take-out of course and  the food is really better and more choice...halibut,  haddock, cod, salmon, oysters, shrimp (we got halibut and haddock) and the real bonus is you can get mushy peas!

For Mary and Susan and Chris (and for Ian and Beau of course)...loved this cartoon!

More photos from The Drive

The last three photos from the Caffé Calabria...oldest Italian Coffee House on the Drive

Lunch on "The Drive"

Took our car in for servicing so had them drop us off on Commercial.  We went to a new restaurant for us...called Havana and had our first mojito....been hearing about all the mojitos Patty and Terry drank in Cuba so figured we should give it a try...excellent refreshing drink.  I had cioppino and Jim had jambalaya...both very good and the patio had just the right amount  of sun.  Always lots for the eye on The Drive.

Liked this store display in a toy store.

Our mojitos...the mint makes it very refreshing.

My cioppino...I actually gave Jim two of the mussels since he was drooling over them.

The patio of the "Havana" and they had lots of cool photos...this one of Castro smoking a cigar.

Herons fledging the nest

We've been enjoying watching these young herons fledge the nest and testing their wings.  A good view from our balcony up on the 6th floor.  We didn't see this action from the mezzanine.  A part of their behaviour seems to be an aggressive facing off and poking each other...the two in the tree were doing this.

Old friends, new friends...

Yesterday we had a really enjoyable chat with these folks we met in the Sylvia a couple of weeks ago and this morning we had coffee with Hayne,  an old university friend.  Great to catch up on each other's lives over 40 odd years on.  Hayne is the fellow who took the photos just before we got married.  Great to see him again and he brought over this really cool plant...Campanula Get Mee.  Just love it.

A special birthday present....as always!

Elaine always manages to find these perfect birthday presents and this year was no exception!  But I think it is the first year she liked what she bought me so much she asked Don to buy it for herself as well for her birthday which is tomorrow.  It will be the first time in many years that we have not been together to celebrate our birthdays but we will be celebrating in two weeks time when Don and Elaine come to visit.

Thank you so much, dear friend!

I just love these red (love this red!)  bone china mugs with various versions of the very well known French "Le Chat Noir" and some wonderful herbal teas were included as well.  Within minutes of opening Jim and I were enjoying a mug of tea.

I googled Le Chat Noir and came up with this interesting information.  I knew it was a cabaret of some kind but didn't know the history.

http://www.frenchaffair.com.au/fun/chatnoir.htm

And that led to looking at the homepage of this blog "The French Affair"  and it's really quite neat.  I've signed up for their newsletter and their previous newsletters have lots of interesting things about all things of France and French.  So,  yet another gift!

Note:  I find it a funny coincidence that I began reading Bill Bryson's "Down Under" (about his adventures in Australia) a week or so ago,  then the reading choice for a book club discussion I plan to attend is a novel written by an Australian and takes place in  Australia,  and then The French Affair blog is written by a woman in Brisbane...

And the livin' is easy....

A warm balmy night and perfect to sit out in Dick and Susan's lovely garden and enjoy steaks cooked to perfection (well,  ours and Susan's were...Dick likes his well done :)  by Dick and local raspberries (best I've had in a long time) and ice cream.  Good conversation, good wine,  good food,  good weather....does it get any better than this?

Susan does wonderful paper art and has inspired me to make up ATC's (Art Trading Cards) to exchange with other artists at their monthly swap.  It's a group she belongs to and sounds like fun.   She showed me ones she has made and also ones she has collected.  Just an amazing variety of imagination and ideas....wow!

Susan's art blog:

http://passionforpaper-passionforpaper.blogspot.ca

An ATC is a miniature, original piece of art with only two rules:
- the size must be 2 1/2" by 3 1/2 "
- it must be traded, never sold.

Swiss artist m.vanci stirnemann  is hailed as the father of ATCs.  Inspired by sports trading cards, he created and showcased 1,2000 works of art in this format at a Zurich gallery.  He refused to sell the cards,  but offered to swap with anyone who brought in a similar size art piece and...a movement was born.

I just love this idea and I have a start....I have painted my favourite and signature Cerulean Blue for a background.   Now...to paint...?

West Vancouver today

I wanted to pick up the book the Vancouver Newcomer's evening bookclub was reading for this month, "The Light Between the Oceans" by M.L. Stedman so we decided to pick it up at Indigo in Park Royal and explore West Van a bit.  Ended up in Dundarave Village for a super lunch outside on the patio at the Red Lion Bar and Grill.  Definitely worth a return visit and would be very cosy inside on a rainy day. Lots of cool looking photos of West Van in the old days.

The restaurant beside it also looked very good and has a really interesting seafood menu,  The Dundarave Fish Market.  Also,  a very inviting outdoor patio.

Driving back along the waterfront we came across The Beach House right on the water....must give that a try as well.

Definitely lots to explore and we can take a short cut through Stanley Park on the way back and miss traffic and have a beautiful view.

 I think this was the most attractively laid out antique store I've been in....mostly crystal, china, and silverware.  I was quite intrigued by this peacock tea set...haven't ever seen anything quite like it.

 On the patio of The Red Lion.  Beautiful hanging baskets all over the area.  Patty,  the Campari umbrella photo is for you.

Mary,  the monkey puzzle tree is for you.  Lots of interesting old houses around.

The last great bookshop according to Macleans....I agree.

We went into McLeods on Pender today.  Jim had a bunch of books that were doubles or ones we'd picked up for free or 50 cents or less.  Don,  the owner,  gave him $110 credit.  I picked up  some mysteries and Jim picked up some things he wanted...still some money left.  It really is quite the bookstore and the Macleans article is really worth reading.

Certainly attracts all types.  During the half hour or so we were there no money passed hands but he had three staff on in addition to himself and lots of people came in including on guy who said he was "having a stroke" and needed to get his blood pressure down.  He asked where the "exercise section" was.  Don replied there was no exercise section.  He then asked where the "Martial Arts" section was.  Don pointed it out to him.  After browsing through a couple of books he said,  "I don't think these will help" and left.

http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/03/23/the-last-great-bookshop/

Don's desk is here...the space where all the papers are.

A glorious day

A couple of wonderfully warm swims in the ocean and a fabulous sunset.  I've been reading  Bill Bryson's "Down Under" and he recounts a visit to a place in the Outback called White Cliffs and comments that it would take a sum in the low zillions to settle there until he saw the sunset.  A local said he never intended to settle there but found the sunsets hard to give up.  I would find these sunsets we get from our apartment now hard to give up too!

In the evening Jim went and played pitch and putt and I attended the monthly dinner meeting of the Vancouver Newcomers Club (for women new to Vancouver)  and joined up.   As the woman who sent me a welcome email today said "As you have, no doubt, observed, this is the most fun-loving, open-minded group of women around"

I would definitely agree...a very lively and friendly group and I'm looking forward to participating in some of their activities.  They have a daytime book club which is discussing "The Paris Wife"  which I read a while ago and enjoyed.

Oh...did a post a photo of a sunset yet?  :)

Finally, a warm swim in the ocean!

A red letter day yesterday as I really enjoyed our swim in the ocean and went in twice.  The ocean water seems to have turned the corner for warmth.  Think it will stay warm now with the heat predicted.  The regulars at our Paradise Beach are starting to appear and it's fun to chat with them again.  Quite a little community down there.

And then of course there are the hordes at the main beach at English Bay....great to see so many people enjoying themselves but enjoy having our private little enclave just across the street.

 Lots of swimmers out yesterday.

Loved the late afternoon shimmering on the ocean...a  lazy day enjoying our balconies.

Stanley Park named best in the world by TripAdvisor

I would certainly agree with that and NYC's Central Park comes second....also a choice I agree with.  Definitely these wonderful parks make these fabulous cities even more fabulous.

A beautiful fresh sunny morning and enjoying all the boats and action here.  Looking forward to being on the beach today....and a cooling swim.

Stanley Park turns 125 years old this year and various events are planned for August.  Even though there are parking costs for families unlike in our day growing up it's still a wonderfully inexpensive place for families to enjoy the outdoors.

http://www.theprovince.com/travel/Vancouver+Stanley+Park+named+world+best+park/8598286/story.html

 View last night.

View this morning.

Out to New Westminster today

We really love taking the skytrain out to New West as you see great views of Greater Vancouver and how it has changed.  Then lunch at the Paddlewheeler Pub by the Fraser River.  We saw this boat and its owner who is obviously embroiled in some kind of battle.  It does seem like this 100 year old fish boat should be preserved.  New West is another world in that the pubs still have outdoor smoking areas.  We made sure we were well away from this area this time round.

http://www.royalcityrecord.com/business/Chief+Skugaid+adrift+Larco/8001676/story.html

Having a chat with the owner.

Then to the Salvation Army Thrift shop where Jim got a pair of jeans he liked for around $11.

Jim went for an ocean swim when we got home but I'm waiting until things warm up just a bit.  Spent the rest of the day and evening  just sitting on the balcony in the sunshine, enjoying the view,  and watching the world go by.  Nice to get the sun back again.

It's all so cosmopolitan...

Seems like The Sylvia is continuing its Thursday music over the summer...yeah!  We saw Reid Jamieson on Thursday....we always enjoy him....gives a fun lively show.

http://www.reidjamieson.com

And we had an interesting conversation with folks at the next table...a woman from Quebec was there first saving a table for friends,  then her friends came in,  fellow was Suisse and the woman French from Brittany and then later a woman we know from the groups of regulars from our paradise swimming beach came in to join them.  She's from Italy.  It was fun to speak some French!

Red Truck Ale,  views over English Bay,  good music,  decent food (their steak sandwich is back....we split one) and good conversation...

And then back to a great sunset....does it get any better than this?

Visit with an old friend

Our old university friend, John, came for drinks and snacks after his class yesterday and brought a lovely bottle of Port.  Lots of laughs as usual and we're very pleased for his partner, Nourdine, as he is the Executive Chef at an interesting new restaurant close to us called "Ten Ten Tapas".  It sounds like a great concept and is in a great location along the seawall.   There was a Groupon offered this week so we plan to go this weekend and test it out and hope to be in the sunshine given the location.

http://www.tententapas.com

One of the things I served as a snack were these freshwater prawn skewer I bought at Safeway recently.  We were all in heaven at the taste and John is a gourmet.  Definitely recommended.  I brushed on some olive oil then after baking squeezed a bit of lemon juice and sprinkled some Herbes de Provence on them...fantastique!

Free pair of jeans thanks to Fats Waller....

Richard and Emily came for dinner last night and had a neat story to tell us.  In our clean up we had given Richard some old vinyl records we had and one of them was a 1934 Fats Waller.  Emily noticed a contest in the Georgia Strait that was offering a pair of any jeans in the store (just happened to be the store in Gastown where Richard buys his jeans and his jeans just got a hole in them) to the first three people who showed up Sunday with the oldest records.  The Fats Waller made the cut so Richard got a $200 pair of jeans for free!

I don't think I've ever seen Canada Geese babies but Richard and Emily had a "visit" by some goslings and Richard took some photos.  We were all surprised they were so yellow.

Richard with his new free jeans.

Granville Island

Went over on the little ferry today.  For some reason I thought the Dragon Boat races were around there but I guess more around the Science World area of False Creek.  Had fun listening to buskers,  watching a juggler,  checking out the houseboats.  Split a seafood sampler of fish, chips, shrimp, calamari, oysters, and onion rings while listening to a free concert put on by the TD Jazz Festival now in town for the next week or so.