Oh goody, we get sheared next Saturday and get to walk down North Road to Paradise Island Farm.

These are before shearing, the after pictures will come in the next week or so. Perhaps some from the actual shearing - to be done professionally this time, the shearing that is. Ten minutes per animal is claimed - we shall see.

Tessa's 60th Birthday Party

Claire, Michael and Todd (Claire's boyfriend) along 25 other Gabriolan's celebrated Tessa's 60th in style.

The menu was

Chicken Satays, Spinach Goat Cheese Tarts,

Yam Chickpea Masala  with Rice Pilaf

Pesto Salmon Wellingtons, Grilled Vegetables

Moroccan Couscous Salad

Cranberry Apple Salad

Strawberry Rhubarb Trifle

Lemon Bars.

As Tessa exclaimed - yummy. More picture on spero.smugmug

Spring is finally here

Lots has happened in the last month. We have been really busy switching Michael's medication so he has been home for three weeks. His anxiety level is way down. Still a few glitches but hopefully he is on the way to being more stable. He will go back to Cedar on sunday.

The Odd Couple (female version) has come and gone. The simplest lighting script I have done so far.

I now have to use the glucometer before meals and top up with Humulin so I have become a multi needle diabetic. Really neat USB mini meter though and much sharper 33 gauge lancets.Started Yoga again so that I can be more relaxed.

The third reading of the bylaw enabling the clinic to build a new facility passed on Thursday. It now goes to the Islands Trust executive committee and the minister in  April. Work to clear the land (4.1 acre's donated) begins next week.

Stay tuned we are going back to China at the end of May
http://www.betchartexpeditions.com/asia_china_heritage.htm

 Click here for Spero Family Pictures from Drumbeg - xmas 2010

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Spent 9 days in Florida with Brian and Charlotte. Temps in the mid 20's and clear blue sky's. We returned to -6 nights and currently it is snowing. We had thought spring was on the way, after all all the crocuses etc. are out. I guess not yet. We visited Jessie and spent an hour with her, she might have recognized Tessa and seemed to connect with Michael. Also spent time with Rebecca and her two children Liev and Zara.
More comment and pictures from the beach, Palm Beach Zoo and Morakami to come.

Naomi Waken's poem about our bench at Drumbeg

On the Bench at Drumbeg Park

My friend's father
never made it to the west,
although all his life
he'd longed for that coast,
and the promise it held.
He'd not been the first to fail,
nor is he likely to be the last.
At his death, she had a bench placed
where he might have viewed
the Strait and the mountains beyond
and the dreams on the horizon
which may not have moved any nearer
even if he had made it to the west.
And when I sit on that bench,
I think, without regret, of things
that never came to fruition,
things that promised, and then turned away.
And gradually, sitting on that bench,
my past fades into the mist
on the far islands, and all I'm aware of
is the sun-warmed bench, and my
sun-warmed body, and
the healing power of Drumbeg.

Naomi Wakan
naomiwakan.com

40cm of snow and no power for 12 hours

Photo from 2010 - imagine twice this much snow

An amazing amount of snow fell last night but by this morning it had changed to rain and the temperature had gone up to 5C. We had to cancel the visit from the Boat School auditors - no way I could get out of the driveway. We spent a lovely day reading and the wood fire kept us nice and cosy. I am getting better at cooking on the emergency stove too. The sound of the snow coming off the roof was impressive as it comes down the A-frame with a big swoosh. even Nanaimo got dumped on and Michael had to stay home with no TV! I went down to the village at about 3pm - the store was closed and the whole place was really quiet. The post office was open and my close-up flash kit has arrived . Photos with it to follow.

Entrance Island from Orelbar Point after last nights big storm.

Happy New Year

I hope that 2011 is a great year for everyone. Pictures of the Spero's at Drumbeg by Nick Halpin:
http://www.eyeswideopen.ca/Spero/index.html

Probably the last Picture from the Olympics

 

Original caption by Peter -

"Bugger off, we're watching the game!"