Christmas 2017 and New Year 2018

Happy New Year 2018.
Spent Christmas on Gabriola this year and we actually have a white Christmas. Around zero centigrade.

Past three years trips.

 Last three years of trips - just to catch up.

https://spero.smugmug.com/RV-trip-2017

https://spero.smugmug.com/Indonesia-2016/Orangutans-Camp-Leakey-Kalimanta/

 https://spero.smugmug.com/Dubai-2015/Seychelles-2015/

I'm back . . . .

Wow an even longer time since I was here last. Christmas is coming and Michael is already on Gabriola. We have Bob's annual Hanukkah party on Saturday, I am in Christmas Carol on Sunday and after that we have Rogers birthday party. So still busy.

Its been a long while since I blogged. Its the Halloween fireworks tonight so maybe some pictures. Its been an incredibly damp October so lots of mushrooms, old friends and some new new. This might be elfin saddle.

In March we went to China for the third time

Pictures from three weeks in South Western China

http://spero.smugmug.com/China

Spero's on Chinese TV in 2011

Seems like our trip in 2011 to the Chaoyang Basin in remote Western Liaoning Province was on China TV. We visited the Sihetun Geopark Fossil Site where late Jurassic shales hold fossils that have contributed much to what we know about the evolutionary transition from reptiles to birds. 

http://www.bpxww.com/83037330037800960/20110609/2467364.shtml

Copy link to a new browser tab. It does work directly from the blog.

Cousin Sue's visit to Gabriola

Orlebar Point

Sue and Tessa

Sue and Michael at Cathedral Grove

Rathtrevor Beach

Sue visited for 4 days. It didn't start well as her float plane was delayed for 3-4 hours by fog and rain but it did clear up. She left us to fly to Winnipeg en route to Churchill to see the polar bears.

Two days in White Rock with Susan and Paul

Arriving on the Fraser River (near the airport) at 11:20am on Thursday after a delightful trip via Pirates Cove on Cortez. (Photo by  Susan B.)

Crescent Beach

A well earned sample, or two! The Wellbrook Wineries 

Wellbrook Winery

Wellbrook Winery

Britannia Shipyard

Britannia Shipyard

On the Board walk at Britannia Shipyard in Steveston   

Britannia Shipyard - http://www.richmond.ca/culture/sites/britannia/about.htm 

I screwed up the tractor mower again!

The blade picked-up straw and hay just as I turned the blade off. When I turned blades on again it jammed and the belt drive seizedup and dark black smelly smoke erupted. Mower back with Henry again. Cant mow any more now anyway, we are in high fire alert, first shift only and if it doesn't rain we will go to extreme.

Gabriola Theatre Festival

A busy weekend. Thursday night dress rehearsals. Friday afternoon "Billy Bishop"; Friday evening Son of a Bitch Stew"; Saturday afternoon "The Old Maid and the Thief (Mennotti opera); Saturday evening "The Trashion Show"; Sunday afternoon "The Housekeeper" and Sunday evening "Jacques Brell".

The Housekeeper rehearsals:

Barred Owls

Woken on Wednesday morning by two barred owls at 5am. They stayed all day and into the evening but then moved on. More pictures at http://spero.smugmug.com/GabriolaLife/Barred-Owls/24545718_jD4sSx#!i=2004380181&k=nK4jMpT

Paul and Susan's visit to Gabriola

Paul and Susan float planed to Gabriola on Wednesday. We had great weather and did a lot of sight seeing. Also met and enjoyed Jane and Roger.

Susan has an album of her pictures from gabriola at:

 http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151972422080531.882072.879135530&type=1

Medicine Wheel 1970's Reunion - Gabriola

Medicine Wheel setting up for the evening gig (7pm at the community hall). There was a reunion circle in the afternoon and an amazing number of pictures and "hippy clothes"  from the 70's on display. Hopefully copies will go to the Museum

Butterfly Bush

Our butterfly bush really does attract butterflies - who knew. 

Tim's Ulpanayana to Pandit Tejomaya

Spent a lovely morning on the beach at Orelbar Point with about 60 other people to celebrate Tim's Ulpanayana to Pandit Tejomaya. The heavy rain ended just before the ceremony and it got brighter and warmer as the ceremony progressed. I think that Tejomaya means "one who is radiating light". Very appropriate for Tim.

More pictures at this link

Edgware then and Now

Edgware 1926 - Edgwarebury Lane and Mowbray Rd

Edgware 2012 - Edgwarebury Lane and Mowbray Rd

I lived on Mowbray Rd until I was 19. It was across from a farm in in the 1940's and even more rural in 1926. But oh brother look at in now.

Medicine Wheel Reunion on Gabriola

Hear ye hear ye!

Many of you shared experiences with Medicine Wheel musical collective in and around Gabriola BC in the 70s. We invite you and everyone else who would like to celebrate the spirit of the 70s to join us for a Medicine Wheel Reunion here on Gabriola the last weekend in July. 

The main event will be held at the Community Hall on Saturday July 28 from afternoon to evening, with other more informal gatherings over the weekend.  For the Concert/Dance portion of the evening, of the original eight members, we have six confirmed, including: Kelly Cavanagh (huckle), Frank Patrick (Straw), David McVittie, Cher (Starshine), Chris Sherlock and me.  We are bringing in my son Josh Gellman (bass, charango, keys, etc.) and Luke Nixon (drums) so we will have at least eight people!  We will also invite some other locals and former members to sit in, so it should be a special evening of music old and new, plus lots of other activities.

We are sending this message to spread the word to those of you who would appreciate being here for the event.

Please send it on to others you know who might like to attend.

This is a special inclusive event.  All ages and all kinds of folk are invited to attend and participate.  We are inviting our aboriginal community from Nanaimo (Snuneymuxw Band) to come and present songs and stories.  We are hoping that some of Gabriola’s next generation (our kids!) will also contribute to the musical activities.

This event is in collaboration with the Gabriola Historical and Museum Society, who have already been gathering materials and documentation of the “hippy” era on Gabriola.  If anyone has pictures, audio files, video (I guess that would be Super 8 movies!) and so on, please either send them along by email or bring them along on loan.  The Museum will have a display set up at the Community Hall, and have resources to help gather, scan and store whatever is brought.

For those who are planning to come, if you can make arrangements for yourselves for places to stay that would be great.  If you need assistance, please reply to this message and we will see how we can help.

Schedule July 28

• 3 PM:  We come together for the preliminary celebrations with the native community presentation.  Then Gabriolans and others from far and wide, past and present, will share stories and experiences of the spirit of the 70s through a “Medicine Wheel Community Circle” facilitated to maintain focus and time.  

• 5 PM:  Vegetarian dinner around 5 ...breaking bread together 

• 7 PM:  Music and dancing till we get too tired and run out of fun 

Come one and all.  We look forward to seeing you again, being together and celebrating and sharing music!

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“Let the music keep our spirits high.” – Jackson Browne

Sincerely,

Paul Gellman, Gabriola resident 'Medicine Wheelie'

with help from Tsiporah Grignon, Paul Grignon (including the great poster!), and Amy Block

Gabriola Home Garden Tour - Nanaimo Shaw TV channel 4 - YouTube

Gabriola Home Garden Tour - Nanaimo Shaw TV channel 4 - YouTube

Published on 21 Jun 2012 by ShawTVCentralVI

People help people as local home owners and gardeners come together to raise funds in support of services and organizations on their island. Visitors can go behind closed gates and doors to see some of the more unusual and fascinating places this area has to offer. Melissa Hall has the story which first aired June 2012.

Gabriola Gourment Garlic — Home

Gabriola Gourment Garlic — Home

Supportive Lifestyles Milk Carton Boat Race in Nanaimo