Sunny Skies of Comox BC

One sunny spring day, Wayne and I took the ferry from Powell River to Comox. Sometimes we need to access "big city" services and the closest can be found across the Strait of Georgia in Comox or Courtenay. Both have quaint shops, restaurants, lodging, big stores, medical services, and much more to offer.

Comox was our destination this trip.  Before taking care of some business we had a hearty breakfast at Smitty's Restaurant and a stroll down to the Comox Bay Marina. I just love the snow capped mountains in the background, the brilliant blue sky reflected in the calm water, and the wide variety of boats.

These colourful canoes and dinghy look all ready for visitors to enjoy on a warm spring or summer day. -- Margy

The Ocean is Our Front Yard

The ocean is the front yard for Powell River, BC. But up here we call it the salt chuck or just plain chuck. Powell River rises from the shores of the Strait of Georgia.  This protected stretch of ocean runs north from the Canadian border between the southern tip of Vancouver Island and the mainland. It flows past the beautiful Gulf Islands all the way north to the Discovery Islands near Campbell River.

Our ocean is a busy marine highway. Tugs pull heavy loads of containers, sawdust, and logs. They travel day and night in all kinds (and I mean ALL kinds) of weather. From my condo window in Powell River, I can watch the pleasure boats, tugs, cruise ships, and fishing boats passing north and south. It's like a parade, day and night.

You can take ocean adventures on the Strait of Georgia in Wayne's books Up the Strait and Farther Up the Strait. For more information, I invite you to stop by www.PowellRiverBooks.com. -- Margy

Overnighter to Hope, BC

If you've been following my blog, you know that I take mini-vacations whenever I can. My most recent trip was to Hope, BC, home to Sto:lo First Nations and former Fort Hope of Hudson's Bay Company. My starting point was Mom's place in Bellingham, WA. An hour and forty-five minute drive took me past the farms and dairies of Whatcom County to the Sumas border crossing.


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Borders are political, not changes in topographical or environmental conditions. The farms and dairies continue through the Fraser Valley.  Starting near Agassiz, Canada Highway 1 loosely follows the mighty Fraser River into the Coastal Range.  Almost immediately, the lush river plain gives way to sheer granite walls.

Sometimes you can't pick your travel weather in the spring. My overnighter was cloudy, then rainy, so I didn't get many pictures. That means I will be returning soon to this lovely BC town.

Everywhere you walk, you will see chainsaw carvings. Hope claims to be the Chainsaw Carving Capital of the World.  There are also many historical and cultural wall murals. Here's one that was on the back of the Muskwa Gallery.

I walked around town for several hours before showers began. At the bookstore called Pages I found several items of interest. First, the last two cookbooks to complete my Family Circle Encyclopedia of Cooking.  Now I have all sixteen. I also found a Farley Mowat book to add to my collection, and a unique book called Strong and Independent: A system of food storage and homesteading by Yarrow Alpine of Salmon Arm, BC.  It was published in 1983 and is quite a classic. The total for all my treasures was $8.00.

After my town tour I went to Joe's Restaurant for an early dinner and brew, and then next door to the Windsor Motel for a quiet night.  If you get to visit Hope, I recommend both. -- Margy

Saving Geraniums Through Winter

Each spring I purchase geraniums to go in my planter made from a repurposed BBQ. By early summer, they are blooming in profusion. But come the first frost, they are nipped down. I've tried mulching them with newspaper and extra soil, but that alone didn't keep the roots alive through winter.

I'm not one to give up easily. I needed something more to keep the freezing air away and warm the plants on sunny days. I also needed to allow rain water to enter so the soil didn't dry out too much.

I thought of a greenhouse type structure.  What could I use?

I started by mulching the roots with crumpled newspaper. This provides pockets between the soil and the outside air.  Then I tied a piece of fairly thick plastic over the top.

I snipped a few holes to allow rain to dribble through, but not so many that all the warmed air would escape. It was good that I constructed my makeshift greenhouse when I did. That night was the first heavy frost.  You can see frozen moisture underneath.

This spring I removed the plastic and trimmed back the dead leaves and stems. One of the plants was brittle, but three had moisture in stems near the roots.  Two were even sprouting new leaves in the warm spring sunshine. I won't know for awhile if they will fully recover, but I say this is a qualified success in saving my geraniums.

Do you save geraniums over winter?  What strategies do you use? - Margy

Welcome Home Stumpy

Last winter we lost two stumps from the log boom in front of our float cabin. The boom provides protection from wind waves and boat wakes. The stumps are decorative, but the deep roots also help settle rough water. It's a sad day when we lose a stump.

We assumed the stumps floated down the lake to the dam that generates electricity for the paper mill in Powell River. There, the salvage guy gathers floating wood for removal. Last week after a trip to town we were shocked to see the stump that broke loose last December. We grabbed its broken rope still attached to the heavy metal staple on the trunk end. Using our Campion runabout, we towed our wayward stump back home to his rightful place.


We thought that was amazing, but what happened next was beyond belief. Back in January I wrote about Stumpy. We saw him get away, but weren't able to tow him home because of his unusual shape. We bid him goodbye, thinking he never would return. Then lo and behold, there he was floating right back to us from the Narrows.

We let the current and breeze bring Stumpy home.  Then, with just a little nudging with the bow of our boat, we got him back in place on the log boom. Stumpy has the deepest root structure, so his spot in the middle is an important one.

But his buddies immediately gave him the cold (and rainy) shoulder.

It's not nice to run away from home.  Hopefully Stumpy has learned his lesson. -- Margy

Chainsaw Carvings in Hope, BC

A week ago I took a mini-vacation to Hope, BC.  It is only about an hour and forty-five minute drive from Mom's place in Bellingham. That makes it an excellent destination for me.  Years ago, Wayne and I landed at the Hope Airpark to camp after attending the Abbotsford Airshow. This trip was a solo getaway by car.

A pair of cougar guard the entrance to Memorial Park.

Hope boasts that it is the Chainsaw Carving Capital of the World.  That must be true. Everywhere around town you'll find fabulous sculptures.

River otters frolic in the Rotary Centennial Park.

Here's a nice video by showing the results of the 2012 Chainsaw Championships.  Looks like the 2013 event has been cancelled. I'm not sure why.

I plan to return when skies are sunny to get some even better shots. -- Margy

Snow in the High Country

Someone forgot to tell Mother Nature that it's spring. She's still letting it snow in the high country.

But I guess that isn't a bad thing. Next summer we'll appreciate the extra snow melt when the rains leave and the lake needs more water. -- Margy