Hop, Skip and a Jump

This duck did a running start to get airborne, leaving a splashy trail behind.

I'm guessing it's a male Mallard because of the ring around his neck, but the wing feathers made me think maybe it was something different. Anyone good at duck identification out there? -- Margy

Day is done,

gone the sun,

but the tugs keep on working, bringing pulp to the mill. -- Margy

Into each life some rain must fall

As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow so eloquently said, "Into each life some rain must fall. "

This lovely lass wasn't afraid of the misty midday on the Steveston BC docks.

I wasn't the only person attracted to her big bright umbrella. I got the feeling she was a model because a photographer with a large camera and an even larger lens kept following her around. -- Margy

Murals of Steveston BC

Today I'm taking a mini-vacation to one of my favourite lower mainland towns, Steveston BC. I had the opportunity to meet fellow blogger Rhianna. She writes about her float home in a blog called The Eclectic Arc. She's also a massage therapist here in Steveston. As we walked around, I noticed several murals adorning the sides and backs of buildings in this quaint town.

This large mural features Orcas that frequent the Strait of Georgia.

Most murals have a nautical theme, even the side of Village Bikes,

and the Steveston Coffee Company. I just wish I had a brighter day for sharper pictures. I guess I'll just have to come back. -- Margy

Lloyd Kahn Coming to Emily Carr University

Lloyd Kahn is on a BC book tour for Tiny Homes: Simple Shelter. His first stop will be Emily Carr University on Granville Island in Vancouver BC.

Thursday, April 19, 7:00 p.m.
Emily Carr University of Art + Design
South Bldg, Room 301
1400 Johnston Street, Granville Island

Here's more information from their website. The presentation is in partnership with Banyen Books & Sound of Vancouver.

Lloyd will be on Hornby Island on April 22, Denman Island on April 23, and in Victoria on April 25 at 7:00 pm, University of Victoria, David Lam Auditorium in the MacLaurin Building. Check his blog for details.

Tiny Homes: Simple Shelter by Lloyd Kahn is available in many bookstores and online. It has 1,300 full-colour photos of a wide array of small homemade shelters. It's already in its second printing with over 20,000 sold worldwide in three months. It features:

Tiny Homes on Foundations
Tiny Homes on Wheels
Tiny Homes by Architects
Prefabs and Kits
Earthy Materials
Treehouses
On the Road
On the Water (that's me!)

And check out pages 210-211 for Our Little Cabin up the Lake. Quite an honour for our little place in Powell River, BC.

Links for more information and purchasing options:

Lloyd's Blog
Shelter Online
Shelter Publications on Facebook
Shelter Publications on Twitter
Amazon.com
Amazon.ca

Check it out online and get a copy for yourself. Then come meet Lloyd to get your books signed by the master. -- Margy

Bridges of Granville Island BC

Today's bridge post is a three-fer. This week I took a mini-vacation to Granville Island in Vancouver BC. It's a great destination tucked underneath the Granville Street Bridge. You have to weave around a bit on back streets to get under the bridge pillars, but the effort is well worth it. The island has shops, restaurants, parks, a waterfront hotel, the Emily Carr University of Art and Design, a huge indoor Public Market, and is home to Granville Island Brewing.

To the west of Granville Island is classic Burrard Street Bridge spanning False Creek.

To the east is the Cambie Street Bridge, with Science World in the distance. This historic glittering geodesic dome in East Vancouver was originally built as Expo Centre for Vancouver's Expo '86

All three bridges will take you downtown Vancouver for even more wonderful sights, tastes, and adventures. -- Margy

Granville Island Public Market

There's nothing like a farmer's market, and Granville Island has a wonderful one. It's indoors and has lots of booths to choose from for flowers, vegetable, baked goods, coffee and tea, meats, and delis. There are also great places to get a quick late breakfast, lunch, or early dinner. Market hours are 9:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Rather than buy a lunch, I decided to build my own by shopping. I got a glass of fresh squeezed organic grapefruit juice from Fraser Valley Juice & Salad, a fresh sesame bagel from Siegel's Bagels, and a slice of organic BC Alpindon cow's milk cheese from Benton Brothers Fine Cheeses. I took my booty outdoors and found a bench overlooking the water. What a great meal.

I wasn't the only one to think it looked good. One of the ubiquitous seagulls kept me company through the whole meal. A raised palm, and a firm no kept him in his place. But those hungry eyes were hard to ignore. -- Margy