More wonderful ocean swimming...

Another great afternoon at the beach then dinner and music at The Sylvia where we also saw our beach friends....it really is a local for us!  Reid James was playing...we always enjoy him.

Reid James at The Sylvia last night.

TripAdvisor's Ten Stunning Sunsets

Cool....but ours rival any of these!

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/InfoCenter-a_ctr.hotelsunsetsEN1

It's BACK!!!!....swimming in the ocean!

I thought I'd had my last ocean swim but we had a super afternoon on the beach yesterday and a couple of swims....then just had to have some pastis on the balcony.

Looks like we'll get more of it today.

Remembering

Another beauty demolished... there is something wrong with this picture!

Built: 1940
First Owner: Rolf Borchgrevink, Vice President, Gardner-Johnson, and wife Dovra
Status: DEMOLISHED

From the Facebook page "Vancouver Vanishes"

Back to school....

I had my first class of my SFU course "Poetic Charm and Imaginary Space:  Exploring the Chinese Garden" and really enjoyed it.  I met a very nice woman who will probably become a friend.  Always a nice bonus when taking a course!  I also learned that there are Chinese gardens in Seattle and Portland.

 Seattle Chinese garden.

Portland Chinese garden.

Vancouver Vanishes

An excellent article in the Province today about wonderful perfectly good homes being torn down.  A complex problem as while I hate to see this happening I also don't believe you can trample on the rights of owners.  As Caroline Adderson says, though,  all this debris going to the landfill hardly fits in with Vancouver wanting to become the greenest city in the world.

She mentions larger fees for dumping stuff in the landfill which is perhaps an option but I think incentives also need to be a part of it.   Now,  here's a thought.  Perhaps a break on property taxes when renovations are done rather than the full value of the renovation being applied.   Why can't there be a two tier system and make it a better deal for taxes if the property is improved by renovation rather than demolished?

http://www.theprovince.com/business/Vanishing+Vancouver+Original+houses+being+demolished/8884091/story.html

Artist Trading Cards....2nd edition....next 6

I was inspired by the Mediterranean and the south of France and of course our wonderful English Bay view.

West End Farmer's Market

Well...it certainly isn't the Carqueiranne market in the south of France.  But then,  that must rank as the best place on earth!  I'm sure Don and Elaine and Susan and Alan who we hosted in our villa there in 2005 would agree.  In fact,  they all kept saying...."why are you taking us anywhere...Carqueiranne is the best place!"

 Prices seemed on the high side....fresh corn a dollar as opposed to 60 cents at the market in Steveston.  Any deals were for folks with a "member's card"....$10 to buy.  The guy playing the accordian added a nice touch.   Also,  rather small.  Trout Lake is apparently quite large and interesting.  Just might give it a try one day.  I don't think I've been to Trout Lake since I was a Vancouver Sun Swim Instructor the summer of 1963.  One of the days of our 6 days a week instructing was there.  The water had so much green stuff in it the kids actually disappeared for a few moments when doing the "Deadman's Float'

 Some wonderful old houses in the area....like almost all parts of the West End.

Loved this church...see it's been designated Heritage.

So cool....congratulations, Susan!

So,  I challenged Susan to do a drawing of a face without a background and this is the result...wow...way to go....fabulous!

Taking a train ride on a stormy night....

Just as Jim and Dick were ready to tee off last night,  thunder and lightening,  so they had a beer instead...good plan!  Then we listened to some more of Otto Lowy's "Transcontinental" programs....just amazing stuff.  We have particularly enjoyed the ones on Aix-en-Provence and Piaf.  Barbara is thrilled with Jim's interest and help and it's great to be involved with getting these wonderful materials a good home and accessible.

From Barbara:

Can't thank you enough for your interest. It means the world to us.

I had such a lovely time with you in your great new flat.

My best to you both. How did you just suddenly drop into our lives? A miracle!

Barbara

Photos from the balcony last night...

Cardero's

We went to Cardero's in Coal Bay to have their "Mussel Mania" for dinner and they don't have it anymore....too bad!  I see the Sandbar is still offering it on Granville Island.  We split a Reuben and had a pint of beer and it worked out to the same.  We do enjoy getting down to Coal Harbour and walking on the sea walk and I love the views of the mountains.   As people have commented though it doesn't seem like a "real" community like the West End.  I think because a lot of the condos are empty since they are offshore investments for people and so you don't see a lot of people walking the streets.

Art Trading Cards...2nd Edition....the first 6!

I wanted to do some cards inspired by the Celebration of Light fireworks and fiddled around with small brushes and even tried toothpicks...no joy.  Then I thought of my "fan brush"....perfect!
.

ATC’s or Art Trading Cards are original works

of art or series of prints from larger originals in

a 2 1/2” x 3 1/2 “ format (size of playing cards).

The idea is that they are never to be sold only

traded.

Lunch with the Vancouver Retired Teachers Association

Jim and I went to the first day of school lunch yesterday.  It was held at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club so I was quite interested to go there since I had never been (Jim has been invited there a couple of times).  Quite the place and a great lunch.  We were at a table where the Walking Group was and they were a very nice group of ladies who invited me to join them on their weekly walks.  We get quite a bit of walking so not sure I'll do that but it would be a friendly group to be with.  And I won a door prize!

A set of cards by Jill Louise Campbell from Saltspring.  This series is called "Walking Through Europe" and I quite love the colours and subject matter even though the paintings aren't quite to my taste. I see she sells these packs of cards for $24.50.

A few Yacht Club scenes...started off a very dark day but sunshine later.  The last one is the carpet...guess they had it made specially.

And Gerry Tiede gave a super slide presentation and talk on his teaching experience in Zambia.  He and his wife had done this before and this time took a number of other teachers with them...wonderful work they are doing.  And he also showed us slides from a couple of safaris....amazing photos.

A few more photos from Steveston

Of course we hit the bookstores Steveston Books and Village Book and Coffee House.  Always just wonderful to see two thriving small bookstores.   Steveston Books always has lots of interesting new local titles in addition to used.  Reading in the Globe and Mail about the Abbey Bookstore in Paris run by a Canadian ...is an English language bookstore with lots of Canadian titles.  The owner says it's easier to run a Canadian bookstore in Paris than it is in Canada.   Sad but true.

 Yes....I think this about says it all.

 Loved the simple colours and design.

 I hope they preserve these heritage gas pumps.

Window boxes and books...great combo.   I miss my window boxes from our Victoria house.

 Making a turn a round we ended up on Yoshido Court,  a delightful cul-de-sac with smallish detached houses on smallish lots.  What a terrific idea for "density".

Everyone and their dog in Steveston yesterday...

Hard to believe this was our first time this year out to Steveston since we do enjoy this village very much...it just totally works and they've done such a good job with it all.   Lots of dogs probably because dogs seem to be allowed on most patios....good on them!   Next time I must remember to bring a cooler because of the wonderful fresh seafood being sold off boats.  There was a market and I did buy some corn which was like Silver Rill and the best we've had this year.

 Quite different looking sea urchins from the south of France.  Not tempted...need to be basking in the Mediterranean sun and drinking that wonderful white wine from Cassis.

 These sole were $10 for the basket of them...a devil to clean and skin I think.

 The tuna looked great!

As did the live crab....

 And shrimp...

Perhaps not the last ocean swim....

I had a wonderful swim in the Second Beach Pool yesterday and then in the afternoon we went for a swim in the ocean...still quite warmish so not over yet!  On my way back from the pool the rock balancer was creating quite a stir with a rock he had balanced on the edge of the seawall....amazing!  Some Japanese tourists were particularly impressed and gave him quite a donation.

Off to Las Margaritas for lunch and saw this very cool car Nissan made just for the Japanese market hence the right hand drive.  We see  a few of these around and always admire them.  We didn't realize they were called the "Figaro" until we saw this one parked.

Stanley Park, how do we love thee?

Editorial in the Vancouver Sun today:

http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion/editorials/Editorial+Stanley+Park+love+thee/8855528/story.html

I feel very blessed to live beside this wonderful park that has meant so much to us and our families over the years.

Paintings mentioned in the editorial.

 Jack Shadbolt

 "Winter Moonlight"  Emily Carr

E.J. Hughes

Sun back again...

A dull day to begin with so went to The India Bistro for their lunch buffet and Kingfisher beer...great stuff...then off to see the movie, Blue Jasmine, which we really enjoyed.  Certainly borrowing heavily from "Streetcar Named Desire".   Then rather surprised to see such wonderful sunshine already.  So glad folks are getting a great Labour Day weekend.

Old friends, new friends...

Nigel and Leslie were in town yesterday,  staying at The Sylvia,  an old romantic haunt of theirs, and came to visit.  Really great to see them!

And then in the evening I went to the Vancouver Newcomers Evening Bookclub where we discussed "The Light Between the Oceans"....a very lively discussion and a great group of ladies.  Next bookclub we're reading "Obasan" by Joy Kogawa which I read many years ago but will look forward to reading again.  The person hosting got a Bookclub Set from the library for us so no hassle about getting the book.  She also lives in Gastown close to "Japan Town" so we'll take a walk there before the discussion.  Mentioned about "Snow Falling on Cedars" which has a similar theme and that I read it during the Blizzard of 1996 (there is a big snow storm in the book) and then home to experience this extreme thunder and lightening storm with torrential rain!

Another "Celebration of Light"...

We got quite the thunder and lightening storm last night and rain was streaming down Beach Ave.  Apparently they closed Victoria Drive at Powell Street because there was three feet of water!

Not my photos...we mainly got large bright flashes.

"The Cat is Sat"...another Henri le chat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8jJuTYfa_E&feature=em-subs_digest

I'm impressed

Our Vancouver Sun didn't arrive today...the first time that has happened in the three years we've been here on and off.  I phoned and made an automated missed paper complaint and within 15 minutes it arrived and the carrier let us know.  Now,  that is service!  I guess being in a high density area helps but
we certainly got fed up with the Times-Colonist and all their carrier problems and production delays and came close to actually cancelling.  

We did have the Globe and Mail so had something to read.  A few weeks ago we got an offer we couldn't refuse....8 weeks free Globe and Mail,  no credit  card info,  we have to phone to keep it going.

Not a fan of the F word but did find this pretty good....