Janly's Canadian Retreat

  I note that it is 10 days since i last wrote on here and for the life of me cannot think of where the time has been used or what i have achieved.  I do know a few things ; i attended  a 2 day workshop on Icelandic embroidery; i have completed about 4-5 new drawings that  use materials not fully employed by me before; i have joined up with a group with whom I do outdoor sketching ; i have been doing figure drawing every week with a fabulous support group; I have walked on new ground and seen sand carving ; I have walked a bunch but not enough and i have really enjoyed finding the pleasures of reading after a long absence of several years.; I have booked my final days away from here for 2 nights next week . It has also been a tough time assimilating with life's challenges . So i hope i will post photos of some mentioned ,because even though I temporarily  occupy this tiny edge of British Columbia , everything i will mention more fully , took place with 2 miles o...

I am not exactly sure what inspired that heading that tries to be sentimental , but somehow it feels right. I have come to a new place in my sense of presence here  in this country . I am seeing just a tiny piece of one corner but I feel right about being here. In simple terms, there are a whole lot of enormous trees that are the landscape in this region and it feels as though each one is the voice of the people living here . Even though its a very easy thing to say, and of course i have not researched it beyond the end on of my arms, Canada is a country of quietly mindful people who are one of a seriously solid voice saying, "leave us alone" Surrounded by these magnificent old growth douglas fir trees  makes me feel reassured that planet earth can sustain and correct the mistakes and misguided choices of so many. I think that a frequent view of vast expanses of water, helps to  create a sense of endless calming assurance that the planet is in safe hands. That is to ...

look at these!!!! looks like a bridal bouquet   a jigsaw puzzle love that bold edging these 6" daisies hold their when against all the tulips  there are so many views across the gardens like this  Monet would have a field day  this garden was created in an old limestone quarry . the depth of the sunken garden cn be seen here . These are tulips!!!! wow more wow   Because I really want  to see as much of this special piece of Canada as i can, I have resorted to rent a car for another 3 days. I picked up the Toyota RAV yesterday afternoon and today I made my THIRD visit to The Buchart Gardens. The gardens are world renowned  but my interest is the full realisation that they were modelled on the European model of 19th and  20th. century gardens, often rather formally planted each season using  the concept of the parterre that is alive and well here.  Today, if i thought i knew about tulips, I was on a learning curve !!! First of all, th...

  It's a long time since i have been in a place where Easter bears significance on the calendar and in the lives of many . Lauren and Kate tell me that have not seen hot cross bun in a long time; this cinnamon flavoured ,a glazed currant filled and yeasted bun with a pastry (not icing sugar) cross on the top. I think there may be some to find in Virginia. Here in BC Canada, there is a reduced bus service, some shops are closed and churches have Good Friday services. I was hoping to walk to the local bakery and get a hot cross bun but they are closed. That is to say, this is a recognized national holiday. This quiet reflection on life as part of my retreat on this day has taken me to Greek Easter 1972. I  had recently arrived with a massive dose of culture shock , in my new Job as a  live-in English teacher for 2 young boys in Xania, Crete. Many of my stories  relate to this experience at age 22 but finding that Greek Easter is the most important  festival o...

 C atching up with news is essential when there is so much to share . The spring weather here brings bright sunshine but still a cold wind that is deceiving even if  the light is so uplifting . The native wild flowers are just fabulous , providing carpets of blooms that really do justify that grass mowing should be postponed until after the performance . A favourite for me that is new to my collection of floral spectaculars  is the giant fawn lily that stands up to 8 inches or so, sometimes with a double head.. They  are be to found on every place that plants grow, from garden grass to rocky cliffs side.  I went to USA for a few hours last week. This adventure entailed a ferry boat ride from Victoria to Seattle which takes about 2.5 hours of plain sailing on the calm waters of Strait Juan du Fuca . I had chosen a Thursday to travel as my last chance to renew travel insurance but it was a free day with late evening hours at the Seattle Art Museum. This  was ...