welcome

Around the World

2011-05-31T18:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon Keith and Isabella arrived to stay for a few days. "Home" is England - but since October of last year, they have been traveling around the world. They have been to Africa, India, China, Australia, and have just driven up the Oregon coast from California to see what Canada is all about. Two very adventurous people, very interesting and inspiring. I love this job!

Morning visitors

2011-05-31T17:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning I glanced out the kitchen window to see mama deer and her two babies nibbling on Marcie's flowers. I raced around, found my camera and after snapping a few through the glass, opened the side door to the kitchen - the better to see you with my deer (couldn't help that one!) I expected that the noise from the door would send her leaping away, but instead she sauntered a little ways off, continued to look back at me steadily and then proceeded to nurse. She has her priorities straight, and she also knows who is in charge (apparently not me).

First Guests of 2011

2011-05-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

I'm blessed. The first guests at the beginning of May were Alan Haig-Brown and his wife Ananya , along with Ananya's daughter Lotus, who was visiting them from Thailand. It was a wonderful weekend, despite a bit of rain. Undaunted, they hiked the Canyon Trail, did a bit of shopping, visited old friends, and still had energy left over for sharing back at the house. Alan was generous with his time and his memories - of his father reading him the works of Kipling night after night in the study, and his mother Ann coming in promptly at 9:30 to call him for bed. And what the rule was for kids wanting to play by the river, "two people always together" (one to return and report if the other had drowned!) Lots of laughs, lots of throat-choked moments. There's a peaceful energy in that study that everyone feels and comments on, the moment they step through the door. It was great to hear how the library was created by both Rod Haig-Brown and Ann, and how the study was used by them all as a family. I so appreciated Alan's sharing - he was just the best guest and so much fun and Ananya and Lotus are a lovely mother/daughter duo. Our conversations were stimulating and very interesting. I was so glad to have met them. The picture was taken on their departure morning, just outside the front door. I hope they visit again soon.

Spring 2011 at Haig-Brown Heritage House

2011-05-11T13:42:00.000-07:00

I am really looking forward to the Bed & Breakfast season here at the Haig-Brown House. This is definitely a full circle experience for me in my first year as Site Manager of this beautiful house. In the 70's I worked at the Courthouse when Rod Haig-Brown was a lay Judge here in Campbell River, and I really enjoyed that experience. And so it is definitely a privilege to be here and caring for this beautiful, peaceful place this year.

The camellia at the front door was in full bloom the first week of May and quite fabulous - and then to top it off, my friend Marjorie presented a beautiful pot of yellow tulips, which I nestled in underneath on the bottom step. Marcie, our wonderful gardener, warned me that the deer would make short work of them. Alas! I didn't listen. But before they munched them, I managed to capture it all with with my camera - and will be dragging the easel out to lay it all down with paint as soon as possible. This property is a painter's delight!

Van Egan 1926 - 2010

2010-07-18T10:30:00.000-07:00

It was several years ago when I first saw Van. He was sitting at a table at the Haig-Brown Festival; the table was covered in books, his as well as others. He sat quietly, watching the crowds with his sparkling eyes. I was drawn to the man because of his obvious awareness and sense of self, tho I felt I had nothing to say that could be of interest to him.

After spotting the billboard which advertised himself and his publications, I stopped at the table and thumbed through some of the volumes. We smiled at each other and exchanged greetings. Then I moved on, feeling a bit sheepish at my shyness, scouring my mind for a topic I thought might be of interest to the man I'd heard so much about.

Twenty minutes later, after winding my way through the fair and considering a topic to begin a conversation, I rounded a tent to find him again - in deep conversation with two other men who had sandwiched the beloved Van between them, chairs close in a triangle which did not allow an inquisitive woman like myself to intrude.

Imagine my delight when, in 2009 and in my position as the B&B host at the Haig-Brown House, I had the opportunity to invite Van for breakfast. Guests of the house were doing a report on Roddy, and wanted to interview Van for the article.

He arrived with his long-time friend, newspaper editor Neil Cameron, and the breakfast table was alive with the informative and sharp discussions of salmon, government, environment, and education. This mostly from Van, as clear and evocative as a man thirty years younger than his age of 83. I was enthralled.

Here's a previous post (within this blog) regarding that day:
http://haig-brownhouse.blogspot.com/2009/09/van-egan-cinda-et-al.html

Please find below a link to the Campbell River Courier Islander, where Neil has published several articles on Van Egan.

http://www.canada.com/Friends+colleagues+recall+Egan+soul+conscience+community/3284695/story.html

Let us all raise a glass to this lovely, lovely man. Here's to you, Van.
Sandra

Mark & Misa, our First Guests of the Season

2010-05-16T20:36:00.000-07:00

Mark and Misako called to let me know they'd be late (first clue).

When this darling couple arrived, they were escorted by another vehicle full of fly fishers (clue #2).

With little hesitation, we made our way into Roderick Haig-Brown's study, where the two of them looked around in dazed awe for awhile. Soon, their mouths closed and smiles formed (third clue) and they relaxed enough to engage in conversation, mostly about Rod and his life here.

Mystery solved; they're avid, nay, passionate-eat-sleep-breath-LIVE fly-fishers!

If you'd like to know something about fly-tying; no, make that anything, anything-at-all about fly tying, by all means, ask Misa or Mark.
Believe me, they will know!

Mark explained the reason for driving their truck all the way from Arkansas (their home) was the seventeen "events" they were visiting in North America, this stop being one of them.
As fly-tyers, they go to huge shows / gatherings / conventions where they sell their flies and / or put out information on their own classes back home, or compete, or simply fish.
As well, Misa is a world champion team leader, currently for the Japan fly-fishing team. They did mention a few fly-fishing club / organization boards which they have been directors of, but I didn't get them all (there were a lot!)

I've inserted a few photos from these two very lively people.

All of the badges were on the couple of shirts that Misa was wearing, denoting her position or where they had been in the world, visiting another fly-fishing meeting.

You can visit their blog to see just how much they love the sport.
http://www.PureArtFlyTying.ning.com

Oh, and did I mention Misa's amazing art? She's a fine art watercolourist, and guess what she paints? If you guessed tied flies, you're right!

Check out her profile on their site for a glimpse into the karayziest space devoted to, well, a devotion! I love it! click on "Misako added 49 photos"
http://pureartflytying.ning.com/profile/Misako

Hard to believe it's been 2 weeks already. Now in New York, they're about to film a TV production on fly-fishing in the Catskills for a Japanese network. Way too much fun!
Mark and Misako, I really hope you get out this way again; don't wait so long til next time! It was pure delight.
Sandra

Aix en Provence, France

2010-05-14T13:02:00.000-07:00

The charming and disarming Martine, from Aix en Provence in France, arrived with her handsome son, Paulin.
He was living and working here on the coast, and the two of them were exploring Vancouver Island together. Martine spoke little English, though she easily understood the conversation, and so there was much hand-waving and body language going on, followed by loud bursts of laughter. Paulin played interpreter the whole time, a job he did well and thoroughly!
It was a great pleasure to have both of you here!

Sandra

Francien & Jan

2010-05-14T12:46:00.001-07:00

Another couple who were left off the blog last fall are Francien & Jan, from Amsterdam.
On the day of their arrival, I was a bit concerned to see them arriving (much, much later than they had anticipated) by taxi, with no luggage.
They'd had an accident on a remote highway, and were just coming from the hospital, where they had been examined in the E.R. Luckily, nothing broken; only bruises.
I immediately put on a pot of soup and found a way for Jan to retrieve their luggage from their demolished car, now in the local towing lot.
He returned with a bottle of wine to share with the others staying at the house, and everyone decompressed in the evening. The next day I drove them to the rental office for another car, and they stayed a couple of days.
Jan and Francien are a beautiful couple who run a B&B in Holland, just outside of Amsterdam, a place which is definitely on my "to-do" list!

Dirt

2010-05-12T20:59:00.000-07:00

Dirt is compost. I love compost. Ergo, I love dirt.

hmmm...
no matter -
I sure do love what compost does to the garden.

The first photo is a view from the kitchen door. To the right is the big maple, and just beyond it (slightly downhill) is the compost bin, crowned by the weed bucket used to toss weeds out of the garden.

In the last week, I've hauled about a dozen wheelbarrow loads of compost into the garden and greenhouse, and intend to haul even more.

The compost pile here is to die for! One slatted box about 250 cubic feet, divided in half by a wall of cinder blocks simply stacked up. The box is built into the hill, so the back side is sturdy, plus easy to access from the topside.

The new greens and scraps are tossed into box #1 where the bottom of the pile is already breaking down into the rich stuff. Along with kitchen peelings and veggie scraps are tossed leftover floral arrangements (all from the property), plus leaves and cuttings and weeds.

No meat, no bones, no dairy.

Yes, I do imagine a dead animal will eventually become dirt (as we all will) but I'm not sure it would break down enough into actual "dirt" by next spring. And I don't want to be the one holding the shovel that brings out the bones.... hmmm...

And no plastic!
Gah!
What industry is making money off of those tiny little labels on every single tomato and pepper in grocery stores is doing remarkably well, I'm sure!
Is there no other way to label the produce?! I'm so annoyed every time I dig into the dirt and come up with another one that someone didn't remove when they peeled their orange.

I really must discuss this further another time.

Anyhoo, end of the fall, and box #1 is flipped into box #2, ensuring the oldest compost (that which is broken down already) will rest on the top, awaiting the spring planting. Meanwhile, the greenest scraps from the top of box #1 are now at the bottom of box #2, breaking down all winter long. Beautiful!

Allow me to relate a small compost story.

As a twenty-something newlywed, I planted my first garden of peas, carrots, and flowers in planter boxes alongside our new deck. With a tiny yard, there was little space to consider having a compost pile, and I wasn't sure what that business was all about anyhow.

At the end of the summer, I took all of the greens from the boxes and simply tossed them into a corner by the fence where some twigs and small branches were. The greens fell over them, and I forgot about them for the winter.
The following spring I was aiming to clean up those branches, and found there a small pile of the richest soil I had ever seen. It wasn't much - maybe a gallon or so - but I had made it!
Well, me and nature... still, it was a beautiful thing.

Man, I love dirt!
Sandra

Spring in the Glade

2010-05-11T22:41:00.000-07:00

Isn't this an idyllic sight?
The ground is covered in Vinca, a.k.a. Periwinkle, a vine which produces small purple trumpet-like flowers all summer long. Sprinkled throughout are Lily-of-the-Valley, and Bluebells - beautiful spikes of purple for spring - and in the upper part of the ground covering can be seen a lighter green patch of 'false-lily-of-the-valley' (Maianthemum dilatatum). These are native plants (the others are not) which offer a smaller, unscented white flower, and heart-shaped leaves.

This is the glade, between the house and Highway 28, also known as Campbell River Road.

In 1936, when Rod and Ann Haig-Brown bought this place, Highway 28 was a narrow dirt track that cut through the wide open space of a clearcut - a completely logged off tract of land that went on for miles.

No glades or bush or clumps of trees; only stumps, occasional fruit trees, and the odd house along the river.

In short order, Ann and Rod planted their own fruit trees and vegetables to feed the family, and crops to feed the cows, sheep, and chickens.
They also busily planted other trees, including the beech trees you see in the second picture.

But back to picture #1; notice the shadowy line running across the lower part of the photo, from the tree on the left. That's known as the daffodil walk, also a "folly" - a pathway that simply ends.
Rod planted the daffodils only months before his sudden death, and so never got to see them bloom. His wife and family decided to distribute his ashes amongst his beautiful daffodils, under the canopy of trees that he so lovingly planted forty years before.
Upon Ann's death, her family spread her ashes there as well, so she would rest with her beloved.
And every spring, the daffodils still offer their charming blooms for the rest of us to enjoy.
Sandra

Jo & Rodney Daw, Photographer(s)

2010-05-08T12:30:00.000-07:00

I must take this space to offer apologies to some of my wonderful guests who stayed last year.
I ask guests if it's OK to take their photo to post on this blog, and almost every single time, they warmly oblige, then seek out what I might have to say about them and their stay via this blog. Last fall, I had several delightful guests (as all of my guests are) tho I did not get to putting their photos on here. For that, I am sorry, and hope to amend my ways - here and in the next couple of posts.

That famous photographer from Turrahna (Toronto) and his funny, talented and gorgeous wife, stayed last fall.

Jo-Anne and Rodney Daw

http://www.rodneydawphotography.ca/

a couple of the nicest people you could ever meet!

They love fly-fishing (you can tell by their website) and love each other as much and more. It's very nice to see people who interact with such mutual love and respect.
Thanks, you kidz, for your delightful visit here.

HBH is open for the summer!

2010-05-08T11:53:00.000-07:00

Spring-time rainbow over Discovery Passage; pot of gold in Campbell River.

Hello!
I'm back at the Haig-Brown Heritage House as the Site Manager and your B&B Host for 2010, and I'm very excited to be here.

We've been busy getting things ready for the summer, including freshening up the house and readying the guest rooms. The blueberries are piled up for pancakes, and the garden is getting ready for my famous tiny tomatoes to serve with breakfast.

Marcy, the gardener, has been busy, as always. The terra cotta pots for the terrace (terraza, in Italian) are planted and standing by in the greenhouse, waiting for a bit more warmth in the weather. She's done up the rose bed to perfection, and the formal lawn looks, well, formal!
And good thing, too - we have a lot of weddings booked for the summer!

Today is simply sparkling!
I photographed the narcissus and bluebells in the glade this morning, and found another broken robin's egg in the driveway. The rhodos are spectacular, and the scented azaleas are busting at the seams ready to burst forth with bloom. Daily the maple leaves stretch bigger and bigger; I'm sure I can hear them grow.

It's been a long, wet winter in Campbell River, and May has been a welcome sight with all the sunshine.

My goodness, I love spring on the coast!
Sandra

Hullo, Sunshine~!

2010-05-08T11:51:00.001-07:00

Sharon, Kiki & Paul, Gigi and Chris

2009-11-11T20:40:00.000-08:00

The very busy summer picked up as the season progressed, and our smiling guests joined us at the HBH.
Here are some of them...

The lovely Sharon, enjoying the weather and grounds, claimed to be refreshed from her stay! It was fun to do some photos in the glade with her. Do come again Sharon!

If you're gonna be a travel writer, you have got to have stamina! Believe me, when I saw Kiki and her photographer husband, Paul, on the go to cover the sights and scenes and delights of their Vancouver Island trip, I was exhausted! Wowee, they were on the go from way before sunup to way after sundown. Finally arriving late in the last evening, they managed to catch a few hours sleep before driving away at 5:00 am to their next destination.

Dianna, Mary, Valerie, and the Pussy Willow Plate

2009-09-28T19:57:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of the company of Valerie Haig-Brown, her sister Mary, and their good friend, Dianna, for tea on a warm and sunny afternoon.

Valerie and Mary had just returned from a week's hike in the mountains of Strathcona Park, an hour's drive from Campbell River.
While the park has a mountain named Haig-Brown, they were hiking elsewhere - this time.

The two sisters, both around 70+ years, are more fit than most people I know and they happily glow with health.
They proceeded to tell me tales of hiking, camping, and having guides who double as the "heavy lifters".

Good to have along, considering Mary broke her collar bone on a previous trip and had to hobble out of the trail after dark, only to overnight at the Strathcona Lodge until someone could deliver her to hospital in the light of day.
Regardless of the 'heavy lifters', I say Brava! girlfriends!
These are resilient women!

Dianna, bless her heart, came by a little later and we brought out the photo albums, plus a small memoir from a lady named Lorraine.
I wrote of Lorraine and her sister Vi in a previous post, about how they just re-discovered each other after over 60 years.
Lorraine was adopted away from her Campbell River birth family at the age of 4 months, when Vi was 4 years old (Mary Haig-Brown, about 10 years old at the time, had wished she could care for the baby).

The memoir was written by Cecil and Rupert Fitzgerald, two brothers growing up in 1915 Campbell River; Cecil was Lorraine's grandfather.
The connection comes full circle yet again: one of Dianna's good friends is Dierdre, another Fitzgerald of whom Lorraine was (of course) unaware. On this warm and sunny afternoon, over tea, they were all brought together in conversation and, a few days later, in person.

I spoke with Lorraine this morning and she breathlessly told me of meeting Dianna and Dierdre and their wonderful time sharing stories, family history, photos, and laughs.
Lorraine always has a smile in her voice, and today was no exception.
She is in touch with her sister Vi every single day, either by email or phone, and they see each other often; there are also plans to spend more time with Dierdre and Dianna.

On another note, there's the Pussy Willow Plate...
Ann Haig-Brown had a particular set of everyday china with Pussy Willows as the pattern. It's less fussy or frilly than most china patterns, something I find quite lovely and charming.

The set here at Haig-Brown House has very few pieces left, and resides on a shelf in the kitchen, apparently close to where Ann kept them in days past.

Here's Valerie with the story of the plate: "Our sister Celie has a cabin along with five others on a small lake in the woods north of Kamloops. When I was there on my way to the coast we visited one of her neighbours one morning. Celie went inside and came out waving the plate with delight. The neighbour man takes great pleasure in feeding the three or four local dogs meals morning and evening (somewhat to the annoyance of their owners). He gives each dog its food on a separate old plate. One of them was the pussy willow plate, so, of course, we rescued it. The man's wife is an "antiquer" and said she would keep an eye out for pussy willow in the future -- there may be more on the way!"

While here, Valerie recounted this tale and, just as dramatically, pulled the plate out of its wrapping upon the story's climax!
Ta-da!
So this is the only dinner plate here of that design, and while it's not of the original set from HBH, it will reside close by.

*Note for all you collector types out there: Please don't think the Haig-Brown House or Museum at Campbell River are collecting the set; we are not.
This was a generous act on the part of Valerie (and the dog and its host!) with a humourous bent, and we are all greatly appreciative. I hope our readers understand that we're not hunting the set down; thank you very much for the interest.

Lastly, I'd like to comment on the charm, grace and ease of Valerie, Mary, and Dianna.
Full of high spirits and jocularity, yet relaxed and great listeners, my visit with them was so very enjoyable. And every story was worth hearing!
Sandra

More Good Company...

2009-09-28T19:16:00.000-07:00

The talented and handsome Todd and the beautiful and charming Rena called themselves 'Water Fanatics', drinking a whole lotta the stuff. Healthy, too, they are. On a bit of a getaway, they were here to relax and take some time out to walk the trails and breathe in a whole lotta fresh air, too. It was really nice to have the pleasure of your company, you 2 water babies; do return!

Michael just wanted to fish... take some time and fish... relax and fish...
His high-pressure job (sorry, if I tell you, you'll have to go into the witness protection programme!) not only offers him time off to travel back to his family in New Zealand, and California, and Ontario, but also encourages him to use up his "air-miles", so he dropped in to have a night or two and a spot of fishing. Proof is in the pudding, er, photo. Here's your "Atta Boy!" for the day, Michael!

My current fave model is the wonder woman, Daniela, from Germany. She was on a one-woman mission to experience Canada, and she was doing just that!
During a grizzly bear tour out of Campbell River, she was invited to a Potlatch, for a once in a lifetime experience - and she couldn't go.
No matter what we tried, the timing just did not allow her to change her plans without shelling out hundreds of dollars in booked tours and accommodations down the road. We made calls, pleaded, created 'just-in-case' alternate plans, and she even had a fellow Deutchlander (sp?) come to her aid to help get her to said Potlatch, but to no avail. Uris finally got her to the bus and she had to go on her way. Sad to see you go Danielle; I hope you can come back. Maybe we can find another Potlatch for you to attend.

Someone who did manage to get to the potlatch were the 2 lovely ladies, Karen and Cheryl (sorry I didn't get a photo!) who drove up from Victoria to attend the 2 day affair. The Sewid family raised a new totem pole in Campbell River to honour a family member (I'll find the details to post here very soon).
Sandra

Haig-Brown Festival

2009-09-28T18:45:00.000-07:00

The Haig-Brown Festival, which coincides with World Rivers Day, was held yesterday, September 27, 2009, on the Haig-Brown Heritage Property.

With vendors of food, musicians on the stage, river-rafting tours for swimming with the salmon, book-sellers and book collectors, plus games and attractions for children, there was something for just about everyone.

We had fly tying fellows, and fly tying women, and fly-casting lessons on the formal lawn; salmon were 'printed' on paper and salmon were on posters and cards and informative pamphlets; water flowed down the river and flowed through little demo troughs to show where all that water goes when you flush or wash, and how streamkeepers keep the streams.

Tours were conducted through the study and house, and others toured through the Kingfisher Creek, and the heritage property proper.

People ate cake, and fishburgers; cookies were for sale from the Ann Elmore Women's Transition Centre to the tune of the current wage differences between men ($1.00 per cookie) and women (.75 per cookie).

Children played, and ran, and ate, and tickled fish, and, alas, lost a balloon or 2.

There were readings from Rod's books, and quotes from him to and about Ann, and many words were said about / from /for / because of them. Consequently, tears were shed - joyfully, thoughtfully, sadly, gladly, in memory, and honourably.

There were contests to enter, and awards to be awarded. Many people were honoured for their efforts in Green stewardship, and given the recognition they so heroically deserve.

Thank you all for attending on this grandly gorgeous day, with fall leaves falling and sunny sunshining, and keeping the spirit of the Haig-Browns' aglow. We are all better off for them.
Sandra

The Company We Keep Here

2009-09-25T20:50:00.000-07:00

Wolfgang & Rocky

When she first knocked on the door, I suspected a lilt in her conversation which was totally unfamiliar.

No wonder... it was English with an Irish / German tinged tone.
Darling Rocky, this Irish lady, speaks fluent German. Good thing, too.
Her husband, Wolfgang, is Austrian who speaks a little English.
I understood him and we conversed O.K., tho he thought his English language skills were a little shy.
Here's your "Attaboy!" Wolfgang, for doing so well with me.

Matthias & Jana

were traveling from Germany and exploring Vancouver Island.
Both are librarians, tho I've learned such job titles are more flexible than ever.

Each work in differing capacities, though both work electronically with research and library archives, and seem to rarely touch books, let alone 'check' them in or out of a library!
My, my, times are different.
Ann Haig-Brown was the librarian at Campbell River's Senior High School for many years and might not recognize her old position any more... perhaps these two find that funny...

Sandra

Grape (Bubblegum) Jelly

2009-09-23T21:05:00.000-07:00

In the glassed-in porch is a grape vine which was planted around 1944 by Ann and Rod Haig-Brown.

The plant grows in the ground outside, then twists its way through a removed pane of glass, and crawls inside the upper reaches of said porch with a thick, woody arm.

Leaves and tendrils wind around the windows and ceiling, dripping with bunches of deep purple fruit.

This is a Concord variety, called "Campbell's Early".

My research reveals the naivete of North American farmers; because Campbell's Early gets its dark purple colour long before being ripe, it was often picked too soon so lost favour amongst grape growers.

Too bad.

When these ripened, they smelled sooooooo sweet and succulent. I kept wondering who was making Kool-Aid, or where the grape bubble-gum was, because the sweet scent wafted gently through the house, creating many sweet dreams.

And so, dreaming of the very best jelly, I harvested.

Now, you may recall a previous post of mine, re: my jam making skills, or lack thereof (sigh).

I was determined to do right this time, so carefully put together the ingredients, measuring and planning, and scheduling my time.

Apples have much of the required pectin for thickening, so I used Transparent Apples from the orchard here.

I also used some 'natural' pectin from the health food store. I was on my way!

Jars, lids and rings were counted, washed and sterilized, labels created, calculations made, ingredients meted out... I was ready.

Colours and aromas were abundant, and the boiling began.

After the appointed amount of time, I began the "sheet test", upon which the decision is made when the jelly is ready, or thick enough, or jelled sufficiently.

A metal soup spoon is dipped into the boiling fruit then held up to see how the running drops meld together, or whether they even do.
One is waiting for the last 2 drops to run together and hold as a single, large drop, and stay. That is, not drip off the spoon.

How very scientific!

Easy, right?

The appointed amount of time came and went, then came and went again.

Still my spoon was not holding the 'sheeting' action as described, and so I boiled it more!

*note: of course I was using new spoons each time, especially after licking the bubble-gum flavoured jell after each test. Running out of spoons, I began washing them after each test*

Finally, a bit frustrated, I made the decision to jar it up, whether it was thick or not.
This time the spoon was held over the sink instead of the steaming pot of fruit, and the sheet test proved positive!

Aha!
I had been holding the spoon over the steam, not allowing it to cool a bit to thicken the drops!

Why don't these instructions specify?!

In the end, I made a second batch, which did not jell as well either.

I don't care if it's a bit runny; that makes it more 'spreadable'.

For sure, I will not be entering any jellies into any fall fairs any time soon, tho that's all right; they are tasty and naturally sweet, and still smell like bubble-gum / Kool-Aid. Yum!
Sandra

...and I had them for dinner

2009-09-21T21:46:00.000-07:00

If it's wild and exotic, we'll either eat it or invite it out for dinner.

Oscar Wilde

Michael and Aurelie

2009-09-16T19:36:00.001-07:00

Late one night - around 10:30 p.m. - a young man knocked at the door. With his heavy French accent, he inquired about room availability and cost. I had no rooms, and he seemed to find the cost somewhat prohibitive anyhow.

With a little dancing in the way of 2 differing languages, I realized he was looking instead for a place to camp overnight. He and his girlfriend wanted a camp-ground, and, he stressed, "A showering place."

I informed him of the provincial camp-ground one kilometre up the road, but I was unsure if they had shower facilities.

"People come here, to Haig-Brown House, for breakfast sometimes, for $15.00", I said. "If you find no showers there, you can shower here if you buy breakfast." Michael was delighted, and went straightaway to tell Aurelie, his girlfriend. They sped off in the night.

When they didn't show next morning by the appointed time, I figured they found other arrangements.

They were just late.

Arriving an hour after my suggestion, I cooked them breakfast while we had interesting conversations, mostly with trying to interpret each others colloquialisms. We, or rather they, had many laughs as I tried to pronounce "Aurelie"; the 'r' is not rolled on the front of the tongue, but in the back of the throat: Oh / reh / leh.
Finally, I called her 'Oh'.

As it was my perfect niece's 17th birthday, and she had been an exchange student in Quebec last year, I asked Michael and Aurelie to sing her happy birthday in French. Our phone call woke up my niece, who giggled for the whole of the very long French conversation, and when the phone was finally relinquished to me, she laughed and stated she hadn't much idea of what was said because she was still so sleepy. No problem sweetie; we all enjoyed the moment.

Michael is traveling in Canada for a year, and Aurelie was here for only weeks. She'll be coming back, around 2010 Olympic time with her 1 year work visa.

Visit Mike's blog for more of his Canadian / North American tour, that is, if you read French.
http://mikecanadatour.over-blog.com
Sandra

Ellie... oh, yeah, And Her Family!

2009-09-10T22:03:00.001-07:00

Jesse's enthusiasm on the phone was apparent, and he called back to confirm everything.

"My wife Sarah and I, our 2 kids, and my parents-in-law, Lance and Susan", he said as he described their group.

The plan was to drive from Victoria and stay overnight, including a dinner out in Campbell River.

My concern had been having small children negotiating the tall, steep stairs in the house but with his relaxed attitude (and now the grandparents joining them) I was soothed.

I need never have worried; little Ellie (Elizabeth) was the most thoughtful, sweetest, well-mannered child who climbed the stairs carefully. Later, I watched warily as she took her grandfather's shoes up to him. Each step came up to her little knee, yet she hoisted herself up, all the while holding the sandals that together were as big as her head, calmly talking as she did so.

Her little brother, Isaac, slept most of the time. When he did awaken he smiled, and hardly made a peep! I would love to have heard more from him.

Arriving in the afternoon, the big boys immediately went fishing. Ellie joined her father and 'Papa' and hung out at the river's edge, again relaxed and thoughtfully making her way around the rocks.

Filleting fish and finding freezer bags was next on the agenda, plus lots of walking and fresh air for all.

I wish they could have stayed longer, just 'cause I fell in love with those darling children... oh, and I really enjoyed the adults, too. Seriously!
Sandra

You must visit www.montesphotography.com to see what some of those grownups do!

Children Laughing & the Wedding of Erin & Wayne

2009-09-10T21:26:00.001-07:00

If you want to laugh, watch children at play.

Erin and Wayne held their rehearsal at Haig-Brown House the evening before the wedding. Included in the crowd were several small children who laughed non-stop as they ran on the lawn and kept me giggling the whole time.

Next day there were children everywhere, popping out of wagons, running barefoot up and down the lawn with beautiful red silk baskets, giving each other flower petals, eating flower petals, and giggling.

None of this interrupted the gorgeous ceremony. A lovely young attendant pulled the wagon holding a smiling toddler, and the bridesmaids in red satin were perfect. Erin was simply beautiful as she floated down the aisle to meet Wayne, both of them beaming with smiles.

Having babies, toddlers and children everywhere makes for a bubbly occasion. We should have this age group more often!

Congratulations Erin and Wayne! I hope you enjoyed the rest of your celebration and wish for you celebration for the rest of your lives together!
Sandra

Lena & Mark's V-Dub

2009-09-06T21:37:00.000-07:00

The 'baby' was the van.

The mint condition Westfalia, only a few years old, was their home-away-from-home as Mark and Lena worked their way up the coast from Washington state to tour Vancouver Island and beyond.

Popping in for a quick overnight stay, they headed off early after breakfast for more of the coast.

Hope you two will come for more of a stay next time you're in these parts!

Until then, take care.
Sandra

Linda's R&R

2009-09-06T21:23:00.000-07:00

Another quiet guest was the exquisitely beautiful Linda.

On her way to a retreat for a little R & R, she was escorted by her family to HBH (Haig-Brown House) after they had dinner in town.

Her high-stress profession causes Linda to seek the occasional break in a quiet spot where she can decompress and do something completely different.
Think about it, folks; what would you do to rid yourself of the frenzy of the workaday stress? Dance naked under the moonlight?
Shear sheep? Dig ditches? Chop wood & haul water at Hollyhock? Automatic writing? How about Fencing?

No doubt each has their own way to smooth off the frayed edges of nerves and fingernails, and for some it's dropping into HBH for an overnighter and fresh breakfast next morning.

I hope this stay was a good start for you, Linda. See you next time.
Take care.
Sandra

Gary and Chris

2009-09-05T21:26:00.000-07:00

This father / son duo spend a few days each year on their bonding getaway.

I was intrigued by this as few adult men (that I've known) share a family love between them like these two did.

With respect and honour, Dr. Gary fished with his son, Chris, and I sensed the feeling was reciprocated fully. This quiet pair were intent on just that - fishing - and not much else.

A pleasure to have you two gentlemen here. Please come back.
Sandra

The Wedding of Sherri & Lars

2009-09-05T20:27:00.001-07:00

On a beautiful August afternoon, this most handsome couple wed.

I peeked through the French doors to photograph the procession of gorgeous bridesmaids in elegant black cocktail dresses and holding deepest red velvety roses.

The girls had marshaled in the study as a few details were worked out on the other side of the house; namely, boutenniering all of the boys.

The bride was perfect and shiny. Her smile sparkled, as did the sprinkle of freckles across her nose. She glowed as her mother and father escorted her down the green grass aisle.

Then, meeting her groom at the foot of the formal lawn overlooking the summery river, Sherri and Lars exchanged vows, rings and kisses.

Amidst it all, the guy who stole the show was the ring-bearer, a child of 3 or so with blond curls and sly smile.

The bride was stunning, the groom handsome and happy.

The final surprise was the gift to them of the classic Cadillac as their get-away limousine.

Congratulations, Sherri and Lars! Champagne and celebratory toast to you and your future!

Enjoy the photo story.
Sandra

Van Egan, Cinda, et al

2009-09-01T08:17:00.001-07:00

Left to right: Neil Cameron (editor of Campbell River's Courier Islander Newspaper), house-guest Martin, Joyce (Martin's wife) , Cinda, Delbert (her husband), Van Egan

It was a thrill for me to have a Globe and Mail Newspaper food and travel writer come to stay!

Cinda Chavich - newspaper columnist, food and travel writer, photographer, author of five books - and her husband Delbert - photographer and videographer - had a 1 night stay on their way to Port Hardy, where they would board a small plane for a coastal camp to watch grizzly bears.

Those two kept very busy, as they interviewed Van Egan over breakfast (and afterward for several hours) about Van's life, his books, and his longtime friendship with the Haig-Brown's. The interview was recorded by pen and paper, digital-video recorder, and photos.

I was thrilled to hear Van recall stories as he sat in Roddy's chair in the study. Even as an 80-something year old and recovered from a stroke, Van's memory is vivid and his stories clear and concise.

With grace, charm, and a modicum of impish wit, he imparted his wisdom on fishing, aquaculture, conservation, government and public stewardship, and of course, his old fishing friend, Rod Haig-Brown.

Van's eyes are bright with the enlightenment of an educated and knowledgeable man. He taught sciences in Campbell River's high school for many years, therefore working alongside Ann Haig-Brown (she was the long-time high school librarian).

If you ever have the occasion to pay Van a visit, he would probably welcome you in and, maybe over a cup of tea or a whiskey, tell you a story or three.
And he lives next door! Actually, two doors over.
Anyway, this accomplished man has penned a half dozen or so books and below are some links to his editions - and more...
Sandra

http://www.haigbrowninstitute.org/centenary/2008-articles/35-hbc100/131-van-egan-news-article-globe-and-mail-2008.html
http://www.ariverneversleeps.com/backissues/spring05/reviews.shtml
http://www.abcbookworld.com/view_author.php?id=7122

http://www.bartlebysbooks.com/shop/bartleby/33408

Egan, Van Gorman.

TYEE: THE STORY OF THE TYEE CLUB OF BRITISH COLUMBIA.

Ptarmigan Press, Campbell River, BC: 1988. First edition, 1/180 signed by the author. 4to. 208pp. Illustrated, plates, some in color. Imitation burgundy leather, publisher's slipcase. Fine.

USD 400.00 > other currencies
ordernr.: 33408

bookseller: Bartleby's Books (USA)

Shadows of the Western Angler
by Van Gorman Egan

Memoirs on Roderick Haig-Brown commemorating the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Hard cover, dust jacket printed and deckled on acid and chlorine Cougar Natural Opaque paper. Only 1,000 copies printed.

Comes with special pull out in envelope in the inside back cover featuring the color photo of the flies mentioned in the book, two hand drawn maps by Haig-Brown of the lower Nimpkish River and a copy of the 1956 Sports Illustrated cover with Van Egan on the front catching a five pound brown trout.

Comments about the book:

"Shadows of the Western Angler was there when we picked up the mail. What a wonderful book. I am proud to be part of it and very pleased to have a copy."
-- Valerie Haig-Brown.

"Van Egan's warm, lovingly burnished memoir of a lost friend in a vanishing Eden is an important contribution to British Columbia's rich legacy of conservation literature by one of its most respected voices."
-- Stephen Hume, The Vancouver Sun

The Calm Amid the Joy

2009-08-31T19:23:00.001-07:00

Oh, that Martin!
He was so enthused by his visit to HBH and the study where Rod wrote most of his books, I thought he might actually start jumping in his excitement.

Joyce was the cool one.

She sat back and smiled, looked slowly in his direction at his enthusiastic remarks then returned her gaze my way.
Shaking her head a little, her comments were something like, "Martin's the book collector." Or, "Martin's the Haig-Brown historian."

So cool and so sweet. Joyce, Martin and I had many laughs and the whole visit was a great time for me.

And then Van Egan, Roddy Haig-Brown's good friend, neighbour, and fishing buddy, came for breakfast on their last morning here and I think they enjoyed that very much.

More on Van Egan next post.

Martin, I'll have that photo of the study to you asap.
See ya next time, you 2! Take care.
Sandra

Kayaking at Killer Whale Kamp

2009-08-31T18:49:00.001-07:00

With the children safely ensconced with the parents, Jenifer and Nathan left their busy work behind in Vancouver and drove to HBH for a fast sleep.

Next morning, they were out the door for an early Quadra ferry, and on their way to killer-whale camp in Robson Bight.

Jenifer and I hardly had time for a few minutes of conversation while I made breakfast...

The Orca Base Camp, operated by Out For Adventure of Quadra Island, is just the thing for busy folks who only want to paddle, and then return to the same camp (instead of setting up and taking down each day) for a meal prepared by experienced outdoors-people and friendly guides.

"Our ecologically friendly camping site is located in the heart of Orca territory yet completely off the beaten path and directly across from the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve. This allows us to look towards the reserve without being hampered by the one kilometer boundary that encompasses the surrounding waters."

Visit
http://www.outforadventure.com
for more fun and adventure!
Hope it was a wonderful trip, you two. Come back again!
Sandra

Flame, Sun & Fireworks

2009-08-31T18:29:00.001-07:00

Flaming Tomatoes

These are a variety of Beefsteak Tomatoes and display a pattern akin to racing cars with flames pumping out the top. They're huge, heavy, plentiful, plus they are delicious! With a full, meaty flesh and flavour, I think I've found a fave.

Surreal Sunflowers

This one stalk has produced about 6 sunflowers now, and shows no sign of stopping. Glad the bunnies (grrr!!!) didn't eat this one.

Floral Leeks

A couple of leeks were left in the garden from last year and bolted, causing these beautiful sprays of bloom, like ethereal balls of fairy fireworks. Here's hoping they'll last a long time for the pleasure of their company.

Ducati

2009-08-28T18:11:00.001-07:00

He may try and look mean, but he's a teddy-bear of a guy - articulate, worldly, artistic and professional.

He called himself 'high-maintenance' then with a big smile, removed a very large cigar from the leather deux détenteur de cigare and lit it up.

Kurt arrived on the Ducati, an Italian racing-style bike - the Ferrari of the motorcycle world - and one which he's worked on himself; customizing, tuning, toning.

He's created a system of shocks on his bike to allow for the grips to rise or lower, according to terrain and need; quite unique I think (see photo 2).

For fresh air and a new slant on the world, Kurt left his Victoria home for a very fast ride along the Island Highway and came to rest at HBH.
The evening spent at the foot of the lawn, watching the river flow and easing through the stogie, seemed to have the desired effect of relaxation.

I was simply taken by the bike (you may know how much I enjoy a bit of chrome and a good motor) and am well aware of the Ducati's rep, having experienced one on the Gold River Highway, a.k.a. Highway 28 which runs past the property here.

That stretch of road, with its isolation and wide curves, has been on Easy Rider Magazine's top ten list of best highway rides in North America and the beauty of the ride alongside several long, slim lakes with the Vancouver Island Mountain Range always on the edge of your vision is heavenly. Plus the odd scare of a bear or deer keeps the blood pumping even more.

Speaking of pumped blood, Kurt told me of his eagle encounter as he burned along the highway.
Eagles eat carrion, or roadkill, often in the roadside ditches which makes them hard to spot right away.
As he came around a corner, the eagle took flight from the ditch, and Kurt barely saw it out of the corner of his eye. Already into the curve and leaning the bike over for it, any major maneuver would have been devastating to the balance, so Kurt ducked and hoped for the best. Good choice! He might have been knocked over or at least had a scratched helmet if he hadn't ducked his head.

Goes to show, trouble can happen anytime, anywhere. Let's be careful out there.
See ya next time, Kurt. Rubber down.
Sandra

George & Beth

2009-08-27T21:26:00.001-07:00

OK, you two, time to give the lawn back now...

The very adorable Beth and George wanted their photo snapped while standing in the middle of the sweeping formal lawn.

It does kinda look like they're home, doesn't it?

I'm sending this to all of their friends to remind them of what their place really looks like....

...oh, well, we tried.

Curious and inquisitive, they really seemed to enjoy the study (as well as that lawn!) and Beth had tales to tell of her own heritage-style house in Ontario where she grew up.

The HBH reminded her of it in many ways and we talked long about these old farmhouses, their orchards and fields, creaky staircases and dark, dank basements, plus grandparents who lived there and put up with the grand-kids and their antics.

Beth and George, it was lovely to visit with you in the study. I hope you enjoyed it as well.

See you next time.
Sandra

A Good Man...

2009-08-27T21:19:00.001-07:00

I do believe that when a man makes the romantic arrangements for the upcoming 14th wedding anniversary, the woman has got to hang on to this one!

Helen knows this to be true, and looks like she does plan on keeping that man, Larry.

It was a great pleasure to hear him call, with all surety, to make the arrangements for the room and their evening out. Perhaps Larry should be offering some lessons to a few other fellows...

I hope you two had a sweet anniversary, and I look forward to having you return to HBH anytime!

Sandra

Alan and Anya Haig-Brown

2009-08-27T20:18:00.000-07:00

I opened the door just as the fellow was knocking. Instantly, he put out his hand, and, with a big smile, said, "I'm Alan Haig-Brown, and I used to live here."

Delightful from the first moment!

Alan smiled and laughed and thoroughly enjoyed himself and the conversations between me, him and his lovely wife, Anya. They told me of their beautiful marriage ceremony here years back, and all of the intimate, thoughtful and spiritual segments which made up the 2 hour, 3 location nuptials on the property.

This time, Alan and Anya were passing through town, on their way up island, and only had a short visit. Too bad. I was taken with them, their charm, wit, and grace.

As we chatted and reminisced around the yard, I asked Alan to relate the story of the cottage, which now stands dilapidated alongside the drive.

He explained the origins of each section. The larger, sturdier part was the garage and the added wing was a work shed.
When he was 18 with a new young wife, he asked the construction crew who had just finished the highway out front for the now empty work shack. Upon their consent, he hauled the shack from the new highway into the yard, alongside the old garage, and attached the two. He then shingled the new addition with hand-made cedar shakes.

On this day he pointed them out to me and exclaimed that he had made them all - himself - by his own hand. He's still proud of his work. And so he should be (the photo - above - was taken in front of the shingled cottage)

After many years of creating and editing a number of west coast trade magazines, Alan says, "Now I just write and make pictures." He's published several books. All of this, and more, can be found at a couple of his websites / blogs:

http://www.haig-brown.com
http://www.tideandcurrent.net

As for the beautiful and inscrutable Anya, she works with The Food School and the two of them split their time between New Westminster (just outside of Vancouver) and Thailand.
Sandra

Bacardi Lightnin!

2009-08-27T19:00:00.000-07:00

A couple of the nicest guys you ever wanna meet -
these lifelong friends, Lee the pilot (left) and Bill the teacher (right) parked the boat in the drive overnight to be fresh for their road trip to Gold River next morning.

They were on their way to fish for salmon and halibut on the 'outside' via the inlet from the west coast which holds Gold River, the town.

Bill has no idea where the boat got its name; that happened to be on it when he purchased it. Both he and Lee claim they are instantly recognizable on the water, and not just because of their handsome good looks!

Come back for another stay, guys!
Sandra

My Bountiful Harvest Begun

2009-08-27T18:07:00.001-07:00

My thumb is not green (see photo).

However, I'm lucky - and have a fabulous friend in the gardener at HBH (bless your heart and your cotton sox, too, Marcy!).

Notwithstanding the
deer
slugs
rabbits (don't get me started!)
fungal diseases of plants, or whatever other disease they can get
heat
overwatering (my bad... sigh)
birds (they eat the tiny new shoots. Who knew?!)
and now, judging by the piles of scat in the orchard, bears -

anyhoo... where was I? Oh, yeah -
Notwithstanding all of the predators on my attempts at produce, I've actually managed to grow something!

Aren't they pretty?! (OK, enough of the interrobangs...)

The zuke is from a plant Marcy gave me, and the tomatoes are 'grape tomatoes' which are a whole hekuvalot larger than grapes, and very, VERY tasty.
yum
Sandra

Ciao, Carlo!

2009-08-27T17:30:00.001-07:00

Ah, if only Ann were here today! Ann Haig-Brown spoke Italian very well, and might have enjoyed a conversation in the classic romance language - in her own home.

When Carlo booked the room over the phone, his beautiful accent did not interfere with his perfect English; indeed, it was charming.

Since his work (steel fabrication machinery) causes him to travel much of the world , it also allows the odd perk of a day to fish. That's why he dropped into the Campbell River via HBH.

During our conversation, I sensed this man is another fisher who does it for the joy of the sport, including being in the river, not just snagging the animal.

Once again, I offer a hurried snapshot of a guest as he quickly gears up to fish the river early in the morning! Hope it was great, Carlo. Come back again! Ciao!
Sandra

Texans At The Door

2009-08-21T21:31:00.000-07:00

When they knocked on the door, it was a late sultry afternoon in August. They looked a little wilted and all seemed a wee bit flaccid.

After inspecting the rooms, a brief family meeting, and realizing there wasn't much else up the road, they each took a bag upstairs.

Almost immediately, the boys and their dad left, heading off for a walk while mom, Mary, had a nap.

A half hour later, over a glass of wine, she and I were laughing and chatting, like old chums. Mary brightened considerably, confessing that, like myself, she hardly indulges in alcohol - though apparently this was hitting a good spot!

It wasn't until much later when her husband, Phil, proposed a toast to his wife, wishing her "Happy Birthday!" Aha!

I made ice cream for all of us, and we indulged heartily - lots of smacking lips, mmm's, and wonderment over the Clodhoppers in the dessert.

Zack, 14, was mesmerized by the ice cream making process I use and then told me of his cooking exploits. It was great to hear of a young man so interested in the culinary arts. Both he and his brother, Eric, were friendly, interested, and interesting!

This photo might not show it, but these young men had the wonder of the world in their eyes, along with parents who were calm, understated and patient. I compared their parenting to my brother and sister-in-law, who I think are the best parents in the whole wide world.

Mary turned the same age as me (no, I'm not telling). When they were leaving, she brought out the exact same camera, and we seemed to speak from such familiar experiences and toward similar vision.

And while not born Texans - though that's where they currently reside - I'll always think of them as such.
I hope the whole Vancouver Island exploration, including the whales, was the best holiday!
Come back again please.
Sandra

Tony

2009-08-21T21:21:00.001-07:00

Tony called to arrange a room for himself for 2 nights.

When he arrived, he kindly introduced himself, brought his bag to his room, and I hardly saw him again.

He went fishing.
Out at the edge of dawn, back for a bite of breakfast whenever I had it scheduled, then gone again.

I hardly saw him at all until late in the evening, when he came back in to retire to his room.

Then he would do it all again. Always with a smile on his face.

After 2 days, he returned to the lower mainland, I assume to return to work.
Then he called and came back again, this time for 1 night. His son and grandson are also here, so he fished with them at the edge of dawn, and then he was gone again.

He called once more, but I was sorry to say that the rooms were all booked up for that night.

Looking forward to Tony's return - again.
Sandra

Sugar Plums a.k.a. Sticky Business

2009-08-21T21:03:00.001-07:00

After picking the Golden Plums a few weeks ago, I made Ginger Plum Jam (which I previously posted here).

With so many perfect ones I wanted to somehow preserve them and happened upon a recipe for Sugar Plums.

This recipe hearkens back about 500 years, when one way to preserve fruit was with sugar... lots and lots of sugar. Lots of sugar.

This would have been very dear; sugar was a rarity then, and close to worth its weight in gold.

Nowadays, I find sugar in everything, and normally shop carefully, always reading the labels, to try and avoid at least some of it.

However, I wanted to see if I could have Sugar Plums dancing in my Christmas dreams so here's what I did..

SUGAR PLUMS

Using a heavy bottomed pot, I layered about 20 plum halves , cut side down.

The recipe said to "cover the layer in sugar", which I did.

Then the next cut-side-down layer, "cover in sugar", repeat, and again.

I had 5 layers, which amounted to over 80 halves, and 1/2 of my big bag of sugar!

Next step: turn the burner on low and very slowly heat the pot of plums and sugar and eventually bring to a slow boil, a.k.a. "walme".
I believe it's pronounced 'wawm'

Do not mix, move, or disturb the plums. The whole point is to infuse the sugar into the somewhat delicate plums and have them retain their shape.

After finally coming to a boil - this takes about an hour or more - boil only for a minute.

Well, that's hard to measure, as the boil starts very gently, and takes so long to go through the whole mix it's hard to determine when the boil started, and whether it's even 'boiling' or simmering, or really getting started...

After the boil, very gently transfer to a wide dish; in this case, a 9" x 13" glass baking pan.

Let sit, undisturbed, for 3 days.

After 3 days, carefully return the sugar and plum mix back to the pot, and bring back to a very slow 1 minute boil.

Once again, this takes up to an hour.

After the boil, transfer back to the wide glass dish.

Repeat 3 times.

Yes, the recipe says 3 times. For a total of 9 days.

That means having this now thick, syrupy mix, full of glossy bits of fruit, attracting ants, for days at a time on the counter in the heat.

The recipe even addresses this, suggesting to put the dish into a water-filled pan which is bigger than the glass dish.

The water then is the moat over which the ants have trouble crossing.

Quite appropriate having a moat, considering how old the recipe is.

After the second or third boil, the fruit was the colour of deep russet or cabernet sauvignon, or darkest cherry wood and extremely beautiful.

And this is when the situation got sticky.

Next step:
Remove the plum pieces from the syrup. Hmm?

Using a slotted spoon to remove the pieces was pretty simple.

Putting them on the mesh rack was fairly straightforward. But it was my attempt at sorting and peeling each off the other where things got a bit sticky.

Trying to keep the plums from bunching up and drying into one sweet reddish gob gave me big fingers, as the syrup and the fruit bits stuck and made the job a little, um, sticky.

Finally, they were sorted and spread, on one wire rack, and allowed to drain and, hopefully, dry.

2 weeks later
Still, the fruit was 'wet'. Mostly, very sticky and covered with the now cooled syrup, and even more fragile. Heavy sigh.

The recipe says to coat the pieces in sugar(!) and transfer to a container for keeping, where they would keep for a year or more. I guess so!
I filled a bowl with more sugar.

Peeling them off the wire rack was another exercise, again singling out the small halves, now breaking or stretching into long sticky stretches of fruit.

Coating in sugar made them no less sticky.
They soaked up the sugar and still remained wet, so I filled another bowl, this time with powdered sugar (or castor sugar), and tried that type.
Still no difference.

Once again, big fingers. I pushed on.

Between peeling with my fingers and scraping with a food scraper, the plums were finally peeled, separated, coated, and layered into separated tiers in a container.

I hesitate to put a photo of them up here.

They're no longer gold, nor red.

They are now a muddy brown, all rolled into little lumps. I've never licked so much sugar from my hands, making myself sick. The leftover syrup has the tartness of the plum skins and is used for pancake syrup for something less sweet.

My final comments on Sugar Plums?
Never, never attempt to do this unless you have someone looking over your shoulder who has the experience and more positive results!
I shall update around Christmas to see if there is some kind of magical change in the Sugar Plums. Perhaps the Sugar Plum Fairy will wave her magic wand and make them all... well, prettier or lovelier in some way.
And maybe she'll make all that fuss and muss go away.
Sandra

Shaun and Senella's Wedding Photo Shoot

2009-08-18T18:51:00.000-07:00

When Shaun, the groom-to-be, came by several weeks back to book the grounds for his wedding photo shoot, Senella the bride-to-be was not with him.
On the day, as she stepped from the 1940 Cadillac, her arm in his, she was amazingly radiant. They both were.
Such a lovely sight, this very happy couple.

Indulge me for a moment, because the Cadillac was a vision, too! I'm a nut for chrome and hunt out car shows just to shoot the shiny stuff, specially a figurehead like this one.

On that sweltering day, one of the hottest in August, the amazingly radiant bride kept her cool the whole time (several hours worth) of the photo shoot.

So did her attendants and the perfect little flower girls in their perfectly crisp white dresses, though occasionally a wrist went a little limp.

Some removed shoes to stand - or crouch to avoid wrinkles - on the lawn's cool grass.

With so many great places for photos here, Ingrid the photographer kept busy with her creative edge.
She loves her job, and is always upbeat.

For those interested, feel free to call the Haig-Brown House to arrange for your wedding photography shoot, or book the day for your ceremony - 250-286-6646
Plan ahead!
Dates for 2010 are already going fast!
Sandra

Sarah, Sue, Thomas & Kali in Bella Coola

2009-08-16T15:53:00.001-07:00

Sarah called from Port McNeil, on the north end of Vancouver Island. They had just disembarked from the ferry, having sailed from Bella Coola earlier that day. All four were tired, and looking for a restful stop for the night in Campbell River, knowing they'd be pulling in to town after 10 pm.

I had just enough room for them and when they showed up, all went to bed pretty quickly.
It was the next morning that we really got to meet and talk, over fresh blueberry pancakes and maple syrup.

Taking their leave from Bella Coola could not have been more timely; just hours after their departure, the town was given an evacuation alert due to forest fires. Sarah commented that while there, water from taps was sporadic and colourful.

Sue and her teenage son Thomas were here from Chester, England, to visit her cousin Sarah for a few weeks in Victoria, plus the Bella Coola trip. I asked Tom how traveling with "all these women" was for him.

He didn't seem to mind, and was a pretty happy fellow overall. Did you make it to Poland, Tom?

His cousin, Kali, also seemed a happy traveler with a nonstop smile on her face as well. Is this a family trait?
Whatever the traits, it was sweet to be able to accommodate all of you and a lovely pleasure to meet you all as well. Happy travels and come back again!
Sandra

Danish Joes

2009-08-16T14:56:00.001-07:00

Those boys from Copenhagen are lively, funny, and were just here for the fishin'!
Too bad their bags didn't show up with them on British Airways and instead, limped in on a local airline 48 hours later.

So Peter and Lars went shopping for t-shirts in the "Joe" department at Zellers, armed themselves with new toothbrushes and razors, and that ever-industrious fishing guide, Ken Moreau of Single Spey, came through with all the gear needed for a day on the river.

Peter creates his own line of fishing rods and tackle (?)... actually, apologies on my part: I'm not the fisher, so all of that gets a bit tangled, kinda like my fishing lines. Anyhoo, here's Peters' website so you can see for yourself:
http://norsker.dk
While most of the site's in Danish, I find the language quite similar to English plus the site is full of photos and easy to navigate. Well done Peter!

Lars, on the other hand, is the comic who is a writer, who models, who speaks Russian and flawless English (as does Peter) and is very generous with his boots. He takes direction well and works hard (see previous post: "The Days Are Just Packed") and not at all self-conscious.

They seem to have fished all over the world! Russia, Ireland, Quebec, Iceland, and the Pitt River here in BC.
According to the photo I took, they have halos while at the Campbell...

It was great having you guys here, and I hope you'll make it back to this neck of the woods again.
Sandra

The Man, The Fisher Man and The Facts, man

2009-08-15T11:59:00.000-07:00

The man, not the fisher man, was how Dennis put it when he described the article he was writing. "Those who know him, know him as the fisherman; I'd like to portray how the man, Roderick Haig-Brown, lived his life."

Dennis stayed a night and asked me many, many questions about the Haig-Brown's...

what I knew of their lives (varied, educated, au natural, community, neighbourly, interesting, social)
their work (pro-active, visionary, valuable, compassionate, sensible, hard)
the books (he wrote about 25; I say "about" because some were published posthumously and he collaborated on several, plus wrote hundreds of essays and papers, as well as a number of magazine articles)
house (they purchased it - including the almost 20 acres around it - 13 years after it was built by the Pidcock brothers, Reg and Herbert. Rod and Ann finished the upstairs, the basement, added onto the kitchen, built the library, added the carport, and made additional modifications both interior and exterior)
money (there was none. Or very little. For a very long while. They worked hard to make money, and early on traded dairy and vegetable produce for sundry items)
food (mostly, they grew their own, milked their own cows, fished for their dinner...)
kids (there are four: Valerie, Mary, Alan, Celie, and they all have children of their own)
friends (goodness, where to begin! Innumerable!)
families (Ann was born in Seattle, to a Canadian mother and American physician father, and Ann loved her family dearly. Rod was born in Lancing, Sussex, England, loved his family very much as well, and lost his father in WWI)
likes (or loves! Ann loved everything Italian, made several visits to Italy, re-configured the terrace at HBH to resemble a terraza and apparently spoke Italian. Rod liked the colour red, and loved writing!)
dislikes (Ann did not like red. Rod did not like the water pump at the house in the early years....)

And pictures. Dennis took many, many pictures of anything and everything Haig-Brown. Dennis is nothing if not thorough. His quiet insistence and pursuit of the story was evident. I answered what I could; apparently there's still much for me to learn. In the end, I encouraged him to research Wikipedia and a few books since I was starting to say, "I'm uncertain about this fact or that fact..."

Looking forward to seeing the finished story, and to see how the factoids look when put together under the influence of the writer's quill. Let us know, Dennis, how it all turns out! See you next time.
Sandra

Terry & Derek - Like the Beauty of Birds

2009-08-14T21:26:00.001-07:00

She was a bride out of ancient times, when "hand-fasting" was the name of the ceremony, and such natural charm and grace was the norm - sans makeup and accoutrements.

Enigmatic in her beauty, with a most handsome husband at her side, they were surrounded by love. This new couple was serene, sharing a peaceful demeanor, quietly arranging the positions with the photographer, gathering attendants or parents to pose for another shot.

Perfect young children suddenly ran along the lawn, and just as suddenly slowed and sought shade from the heat, and occasionally dipped a finger into the goldfish pond.

The wedding party sought shade as well, going into the glade for photos under the canopy of trees, seeking coolness in the evergreens.

They all glided softly around the property and found their way back to the cars (likely air conditioned). As they drove off to the wedding reception, it seemed like quiet birds were taking flight for a skyward path to another land.
Sandra

Romancing the Fly

2009-08-12T13:56:00.000-07:00

Often I see the silent passion in the eye of the fly fisherman who knocks on this door.
Doug had that look.
His soft-spoken words and respectful demeanor belied the depth of feeling for the state of the art.

After a very early morning at the river, he returned for breakfast. Since he intended to depart for the river again immediately after eating, I suggested he simply leave his waders on to make life a bit easier. For that he was grateful and so, in the dining room with the white tablecloth on the beautiful wood table that Roddy built, sat the passionate fly-fisherman - decked out in his waders.

He did remove his hat upon entering the house, so it wasn't until he geared up again that I noticed the tiny flies hooked into the band, obviously made with such attention and devotion - and they were now a part of the outfit. Somewhat like standard trim on a uniform.

Doug explained 2 of them to me.
One was from a dear friend, someone he had brought to this area a few years back. His friend was ill then, and has since passed away. Though Doug had planned this current trip as a present to himself for his 50th birthday, I had a sense he was celebrating his friend as well.

The other fly was from a local fly fishing guide, Ken Moreau (Single Spey Fly-Fishing Adventures http://www.bcflyguide.com/), who tied the fly for Doug last time he was here. This too had an honourable place on the hat-band.

Perhaps Roddy smiled at the gentle man sitting at breakfast in the dining room in his waders.
Perhaps he would have smiled at the gentleman's way as he set off for the river once more, reminiscing on past dear friends. I think they would have enjoyed each other's company.
Sandra

Elizabeth

2009-08-10T08:28:00.000-07:00

The charming and beautiful grand-daughter of Rod and Ann Haig-Brown - Elizabeth - was here a while back.

I took this photo when she returned from a workout. Fit and fun, she (smart-girl) brought her bike from Vancouver to use while here.
Of course, the HBH is only minutes from downtown by bicycle, and simply minutes from almost any other point of interest in this area.

As a devoted member of the Haig-Brown Institute, it was only natural Elizabeth should work in the study while here for a couple of days. While here, she was also very helpful with our wireless computer system.

She entertained me with stories of her grand-parents and family, and commented on how things might have looked or been arranged while Ann and Roddy were here, which I found quite fascinating.
Her comments made me see through another point of view just how the house might have felt or been lived in...
Sandra

Adventures in Friendship

2009-08-08T11:22:00.000-07:00

From the start it was obvious they were not a couple, simply good friends having a really great time traveling up the wet (yes, I said wet) coast.

Andrew and Louise were here from Melbourne, Australia for a couple of nights, exploring Vancouver Island as they headed north.

Pictured here, at the river in front of HBH, Louise is dutifully holding a brochure from the house. Attagirl!

Having landed in L.A. (after a grueling 30 hours on the plane!) they traveled north and weren't intending to turn until Prince Rupert, when their trail would head east toward the big parks in the Rockies.

As a first for me, I unfortunately managed to misplace a T-shirt while doing their laundry, which I found just an hour after they left. I'm returning it, post-haste!

Meanwhile, have a great time in Canada and come back again, although next time, you might want to push me aside and do the laundry yourselves...
Sandra

"As A Driven Leaf"

2009-08-05T10:04:00.000-07:00

Finally! This post was postponed as I waited on a particular library title - "As A Driven Leaf" by Milton Steinberg, with forward by Chaim Potok.
Skimming the forward and the prologue, I can't wait to read it!

Steinberg, "a Conservative Rabbi in New York, wrote (in 1939) this fictionalized account of an early Talmudic sage in ancient Jerusalem, around 132 C.E. (aka Common Era, or A.D.). However, most scholars, including Potok, believe this drama - a conflict between religious and pagan ideas, between faith and reason, between postulates of creed and science - believe this to be the story of Steinberg himself... and his hero was a heretic." [sic]

Theology, its evolution, history, and its impact on its followers are simply magnetic to me.

Why believe what we do?

Why believe anything at all?

Why worry about it all so much?

Take Dan Brown's titles, The DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons, and their current popularity. It's obvious we have a fascination and inquisitive bent toward the layers which comprise those cakes of religions and the tart flavours of politics within - enough so that feature films are created on the theme.

I digress from my guests, tho. These vivacious people (left to right) Penny, Mike, Debbie and Steve, all medical professionals, stayed overnight after a Broughton Archipeligo kayak trip. Delightful, energetic, and very interested in the titles within the HBH library, they inspected a tome or two and the conversation turned to the above mentioned title, as Steve was currently reading it.

I was smitten and immediately ordered it from the local public library.

The foursome were simply delightful in their enthusiasm toward life, and all things to challenge. Quite a competitive bunch, I'd say, from the avid and active breakfast conversations! (Paddle harder, Mike!)
I was very glad to have had you all at the house, with such energy and smiles to spare.

Thanks for choosing HBH; I hope you'll return sometime!

Sandra

Ginger and Gold Plum Jam

2009-08-04T18:44:00.000-07:00

When I was just 3 feet away from a raccoon with a plum in its mouth, I figured it was time to pick...

...standing in the kitchen, I turned toward the window which the Gold Plum Tree leans against. The tree-trunk is a foot from the glass and there, putting a second plum in its mouth so it could retreat, was a raccoon in broad daylight. Nimbly, it went down the plum tree - head first!

Well, I squawked and, within hours, had 2 buckets of the beautiful fruit - and a glowing sunburn.

Early next morning, with the ladder restored to its place, a couple of plums still in the tree for the wildlife, and the picked plums washed and measured, I found a Ginger & Plum Jam recipe which seemed to call for a lesser amount of sugar. Since I'm not the expert jam-maker, I don't really know what the right amount is, though prefer to use less of the white stuff.

But now I know why there's so much; without the sugar, it's a bit like syrup instead of jam-firm. Never mind; it's still great!

For those wanting to give it a try, here's the recipe, which I made three batches of.

Plum Ginger Jam or Ginger Plum Jam
4 lbs ripe purple-skinned plums, pitted and cut into 1-inch pieces (about 24 plums)
(*note: I used Golden Plums, unpitted, as they are clingstone, and measured 4 hefty cups instead of weight)
1/4 cup water
3 cups sugar
1 cup peeled, coarsely grated fresh ginger
1 cup candied ginger

Combine plums and water in a Dutch oven, and bring to a boil.
(*note: I used a very heavy bottomed pot; this helped prevent scorching)
Reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes or until tender.
Stir in sugar and ginger.

Cook over medium heat 40 minutes, until thick or a candy thermometer reaches about 210.

Stir mixture occasionally. Do not overcook or mixture will scorch.

At this point you can cool it and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks.

And that's where the original recipe ends.
However, this is what I did:

I poured the mix into a colander and put on the rubber gloves.

Wading through the still hot jam, I strained the pits out with my hands and the use of the colander.

Pouring the mixture into jars while the lids were boiling in a pot of water on the stove, the end was in sight! By this time, the busy day had stretched into the afternoon, the temperature in the kitchen was around 90ºF+ and I, like my wicked sister, was melting, Melting, MELTING!

Next: instead of using a hot-water bath to seal the jars, I put them in the dishwasher. hmmm...
Yes, that's a tricky bit of business. Not all of the jars sealed, and those that did not are in the fridge and will be eaten post-haste - guaranteed! In future I'll use the hot-water bath on the stove.

Final step: labels. I make most of my own, and just happened to be doing some artsy-fartsy photos in the back yard with slow shutter speeds, blowing leaves, and a sunset. At right is the page of labels, now on most of the jars.

All in all, I'm very happy with the product - mostly because I've made something edible which is from the place here, and I survived! Yay!
Sandra

The Days Are Just Packed

2009-08-04T17:16:00.000-07:00

Wowee, have I been away from the blog!

Hard to believe it's been 2 weeks since I've posted anything, and I've missed it! I like writing, yet it seems to be the last thing on the TO - DO list.

Way too many
photos to take
people to meet
things to discuss
swims to take
weddings to go to
books to read

watermelons to eat
BBQ's to attend
kids to play with
naps to take
animals to feed...

Hey, that all sounds like a whole lotta fun. And it has been.

I've titled this post after a Calvin and Hobbes book which has the 2 of them on the front cover (under a summery tree by a fishin' pond, and next to the obviously crashed and trashed red wagon) deeply asleep in a sound afternoon nap.

Ahhh, yawn... and so it goes.
Hope you're enjoying your summer as well!
Sandra

p.s. Thanks to Lars, my house-guest and model. Good job on the hard work!

Ladies Who Lunch or "Ladies Who Tea & Croquet"

2009-07-22T16:42:00.000-07:00

Babs (that's Barbra Streisand to the rest of you) has typified the gloved, upright-pinky-finger, teacup-holding social classiness of particular women. Awash in chiffon and feathers, they lunch with their friends, and are immortalized in her song called "Pretty Women / Ladies Who Lunch".

HBH has ladies who may not be lunching but laugh and giggle over tea and scones.
And then they play croquet!

Last Sunday, the colours around here were magnificent - scarlet, magenta, fuschia, royal, and ruby...
The ladies wore pearls, diamonds and gemstones, and sported feathers, birds, lace and organza. And those girls (dare I call them 'girls'?!) played croquet with the gusto of seasoned Sicillians at Bocce or Boules.
Having such fun I would not have been surprised to see one of them light up a cigarillo and take a turn at a flask.

Perfetto!

Croquet is hosted at HBH several more times - August 2nd and 15th - by the summer students from The Museum at Campbell River. Reservations can be made by calling the Museum - 250-287-3103.
Sandra

Pretty women
Fascinating
Sippin coffee
Dancing, pretty women
Pretty women
Are a wonder, pretty women
Sitting in the window or
Standing on the stair
Something in them cheers the air
Pretty women
Silhouetted
Stay within you
Glancing stay forever
Breathing lightly, pretty women,
Pretty women
Blowing out their candles or
Combing out their hair
Even when they leave
They still are there
They're there

Sipping coffee
Here's to the ladies who lunch
Everybody Laugh
Lounging in their caftans and
Planning a brunch
On their own behalf
Off to the gym
Then to a fitting,
Claiming they're fat
And looking grim,
Cause they've been sitting
Choosing a hat
I'll drink to that!

Pretty women, fascinating
How they make a man sing...

Ornithology

2009-07-22T16:23:00.000-07:00

That energetic bird-watcher, Glen, was here with his wife, Elizabeth, as they stopped over on their way back to the lower mainland. Having just finished the ferry trip from Bella Bella, where they visited his sister, to Port McNeil, they were then driving south to catch another ferry at Nanaimo.

Glen knew birds just from their song or the faintest of colour variation on a wing-tip. I was very impressed.

He was also up very early the next morning to go for more bird-watching, while Elizabeth slept.

A charming and engaging couple, we had very interesting conversations! Whether in the study, over breakfast, or at the picnic table outside, I greatly enjoyed them all!

Glen, thank you for the pocket bird book you left me. I'm still in awe of your ornithological expertise. However, according to some, bird-watching is not ornithology, tho an ornithologist has to watch a bird.
Sandra

Coffeecake & CREW

2009-07-22T16:09:00.000-07:00

Recently a group of ladies known as CREW (Campbell River Educated Women) came to enjoy my fresh baked brownies and morning coffee. Most of them, though long-time Campbell Riverites, hadn't toured the beautiful grounds or heard of the Haig-Browns' subtle impact on this lovely city. It was a fun and interesting morning for me, as that is one of the pleasurable duties of my position as manager. It was as enjoyable for me as it was for them.
I look forward to serving up coffee, cake, and history again.
Sandra

Güeta Morga!

2009-07-21T18:19:00.000-07:00

I know how to say, "Good morning!" in Swiss / German now, thanks to the newlyweds from Switzerland.

Thomas and Karin - the loveliest young couple - have been in Canada for a couple of weeks, and plan on a few more days.

Truly explorers, they drove over from Calgary, planning on looking at the island from top to bottom and side to side, and also up and down, as in the hiking trails on Mt. Washington.
Too bad the fog was over the mountaintop. However, the birds were there to eat out of their hands while walking in the misty bogs.

Their first evening was spent whale-watching off Campbell River; upon their return, they enjoyed the sockeye salmon dinner which my family and friends had picnicked on earlier.

I really enjoyed the time Thomas and Karin spent here, laughing all the time in our astonishment at the similarities in languages. Truly a delightful pair!
Sandra

Intrepid Gardener

2009-07-21T16:51:00.000-07:00

Known by some as 'the Best Gardener in Campbell River', Marcy has been in charge of garden maintenance here at HBH for almost 25 years.

As that youngster, she came to work for Ann Haig-Brown when the then-current gardener was moving away.
Spending her first day with Ann, Marcy was a bit unnerved by the situation as Ann stood over her and watched. And watched. Marcy pulled a weed; Ann observed.

Apparently all went well.

Shortly after her start, Marcy brought up the subject of several plants which the previous gardener said, "...had to go." Ann's comments were thoughtful; she replied that she would like to see those particular plants stay because she truly liked them. Sounds like that's the moment when a friendship was clinched for sure, as Marcy pointed out to Ann, "It's your garden. You make the decisions, and I'll follow through for you, whatever you decide."
Or it could have been the time when Marcy pointed out a particular strategy for dead-heading roses, which Ann was pleasantly surprised to hear was her strategy as well!

Marcy showed up weekly, stepped into the kitchen where Ann was having breakfast and the conversation began with Marcy's questions of what to do that day.
"After about a year, Ann looked at me over her bowl of oatmeal and said, 'I think you should know by now what needs to be done!' So I guess any kind of apprenticeship was over - I was in."

This wonderful relationship continued for 5 years, with kindred spirits rooting deeply with the plants at Haig-Brown House. They spoke 'Trees' together and understood the reverence of ancient Druid mythology for Oak, Ash and Hawthorn and considered these to be sentient beings.

Before Ann's last trip to Vancouver, she left Marcy a note as usual, and just as usual, signed it, "Love Ann."
In reply Marcy placed a note for Ann (also signed with love) expecting her to read it upon her return.

Days later, Marcy did not know that Ann had returned and then been taken quickly to the Campbell River hospital, where she died the next day. As such, another note from Marcy, wondering where Ann was - once again signed with love.

Between them, the gardens were, are - and will be - a place of beauty, charm and delight. Marcy seems like a very precise old soul, who fanned the embers of friendship with her ancient chum and continues the work that together they loved.

Marcy's education is varied and diligent. She has a degree in horticulture, and dances ballet weekly; kickboxing is a weekly exercise (on top of all her gardening jobs in town); she keeps her own acreage of gardens with her husband and pets, selling much of the produce at a weekly market, and still she manages fantastic canoe trips into isolated rivers deep in the northern mountains for weeks at a time.

As a former student of Sybil Andrews (Campbell River's famous lino-block artist) Marcy was taught to 'see' when Sybil "...put me to work, diving into oil painting." She continues to work in lino- and wood-blocks and her award-winning art is superb in its minutiae detail.

With her positive outlook and sunny smile, I hope she finds the joy in her heart for gardening here for another 25 years.
Sandra

Tag, Bambi! You're It!

2009-07-21T16:03:00.000-07:00

One of the funniest sights I have ever witnessed is the scene-straight-out-of-a-cartoon-movie; a game of tag by the twin fawns.

Many evenings, after 8:30, I catch a glimpse of something running on the grass, and it's normally the kidz in the middle of a game.

They look very much like puppies having fun, chasing each other then running away and back again.

They run around the yard in the old orchard, around the greenhouse and garden, and up the little hill to the maple, or into the brush alongside the river. They come together, little mouths hanging open and tongues showing, facing each other, catching a breath.

Then, one will leap straight up, kicking heels, pirouette mid-air, and hit the ground running once again.
Within seconds the other will give chase or run in the opposite direction, bounding to cross paths beyond the greenhouse and finally come to rest in the shade or alongside their Momma to catch their breath again.

Often at this point, one will try to nurse, which Momma won't allow. She'll sniff a rear-end or two, and inspect an ear or 3, then move onto a new branch to chew.

As she wanders across the property, I can just hear her words - "Come on, you two! Keep up with me, or that lady following us with her camera will have you for dinner! Let's go!"

At the same time, the kidz are listening to me talk loudly and inviting them to come closer.
Occasionally they take a couple more steps toward me, looking at me with head lowered and ears forward, wondering again whether I have another apple to entice them to pose. So far I've managed to get to about 12 feet before Momma says something, then the kidz start their game of tag once more.

I wish I could hear her. There's no sound from Momma, yet there's obviously some communication. She keeps a close eye on me, and I believe she started toward me a couple of times when I was getting too close to the kidz. I wouldn't want to entangle those sharp little hooves, nor a protective mother's wrath.

As they wander off to the next juicy plants in the shade I wave goodbye, and bid farewell; see you tomorrow evening. Take care crossing the road!

Sandra

Writing & Roddy

2009-07-18T14:04:00.001-07:00

The writer in me has occasionally been coy, or shy, and at times adventurous & exuberant.
Other times the writer is lazy or incoherent - that's when I make 'it' separate, distancing 'it' from 'me'.
And it has also been spot on.

Today, inspiration was visual - a beautiful moment which Roddy actually created.
Stepping into the large room which looks into the glassed-in porch, I espied this lovely scene.

Upon the table which Rod built were the books he wrote, and, beyond them, was the space where he first wrote when he lived here. Inside that space is the grape vine which he and his wife planted, with sunlight shining through panes of glass, whose frames they painted and that they took care of to view the yard where their children played.

No doubt the sun still shines in about the same place, and the grape probably has a style not lost from its own youth. The styles of the books may differ slightly in jacket and font, but the titles remain the same, and I could almost smell that pipe...

Sandra

Lightening in My Eye

2009-07-18T13:43:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe it was almost 2 weeks ago, since the thunderbolt is still etched in my optic nerve and that part of my brain which 'sees'...

12:30 A.M. Every single window in the house was open because of the heavy heat and humidity.

When I smelled the rain I awoke and started upstairs to close windows, tip-toeing so as not to awaken the overnighters in the "Guest Room". By the time I finished up there, I could hear them talking quietly and then their window closed.

After closing all of the windows downstairs, that distant rumble was easier to hear, and along came a flash. Then a huge roar of a thunderclap, immediate lightening, and the rain hit! It came down so hard and fast it sounded like hail.

I opened my curtains, crawled into bed and watched the window. The rain and thunder and lightening were right there, right over the river. The opportunity was presenting itself, so I got up, retrieved my camera from its case, and pressed the lens to the window with the shutter open for 4 seconds.

With each second the storm moved on and I managed to photograph only the blinded clouds, with just the trace of a bolt in the brightest image (lower left corner). There was one bolt of lightening which blinded me, a split second after my shutter closed, before I could press the button again. ah, the one that got away...

These photos are all from around 12:45 a.m. tho they're lit up like a dark and stormy day.
Sandra

GoFish

2009-07-17T08:43:00.000-07:00

GoFishBC.com is the 'Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC' - a smart and efficient group out in the public, teaching folks the best ways to go fishin' in the 21st century.

The Haig-Brown Institute helped bring these guys to town to put on fishing classes for kids (who had to bring an adult along). Matt (pictured, left) and Mike (right) are enthusiastic and dedicated to showing the best ways for people to enjoy putting a line in a stream or pond, and they travel all over BC to do so.

Mike is the full timer, and Matt's the summer student - bit of a newbie though he's found the light at the end of the rod. Big smiles all 'round when speaking of the joys of fishing, and demonstrating that fun to the kids.

Good job, you guys! Looking forward to having you back at the house next time.
Sandra

Tied Green Tomatoes

2009-07-13T21:05:00.000-07:00

Well, my blue (or yellow, or orange, or purple, or pink...) thumb is getting a tinge of green to it, as I learn something new each and every day in the garden as that intrepid gardener, Marcy, has shown me a trick - or 20!

One of the latest is how to keep your tomatoes up.
Yup; up.
I thought they needed a cage to 'lean' on and after that you just hoped they wouldn't flop too heavily onto the ground.

Apparently not.

If they're in a greenhouse with any type of rafter, you lynch them. Hang a very long length of string or twine evenly over the rafter, and use each end to gently wrap around the tomato stalk.
Easy peasy!
The stalk feels naturally sticky, like velvet is sticky, and the tomatoes are held up as they grow while the string is growth friendly.

Now it looks like we have "Tomato Puppet Theatre" about to open!
Sandra

Great Dad, Great Daughter

2009-07-13T20:56:00.000-07:00

When I first saw my guests at the door, I did not realize they were a father / daughter pair. Adult, respectful, vital, healthy - I thought they were traveling friends. Fresh from a 5 - day kayaking trip to Desolation Sound, Ken and Leah stayed overnight then zoomed off to whale watching in Telegraph Cove (north of Campbell River about 3 hours drive) then returned for another evening. I'm glad they did; very pleasant company, and it's nice to hear of other parts of Canada - they live in Toronto.
Hope you had an uneventful flight home, you 2.
Sandra

Happy people...

2009-07-13T20:50:00.000-07:00

The guests at the house lately are all smiles. I guess going to a wedding, or totally on vacation is good reason to smile...
Walter and Carla were in town for the lovely intimate wedding of their friend. They were all smiles, all the time, and especially thoughtful, as they made no noise at all when returning from the party, post-reception in the wee hours! I really enjoyed having them here.
Sandra

Royal Purple

2009-07-02T16:11:00.001-07:00

More from the rosebed...

At the bottom end of the rosebed (closer to the river) are some of the most unusual poppies I've ever seen. These fringed purple Papaveraceae are tall, noble, and fleeting. Sounds enigmatic and quite apropos for this garden.

Here are photos from the same evening, with poppies at different stages.
Sandra

Old Lady 'Alchymists'

2009-07-02T13:54:00.000-07:00

I am enchanted by most flowers but especially so by "Alchymist" in the rosebed.

As if crooking old fingers to indicate they have secrets to tell with raspy low voices, they draw me to them.

Approaching, I see the characters of old ladies within the cabbagey blossoms - gossiping heads bent together, crinkling their mouldy eyes at me. Others are isolated, in high colour and gaping.

Peering into these faces, I find the softest wrinkles in skin tones of pink and peach and tan, and not at all frightening.
Instead, the 'crone' myth lives here - not only are they old, they are wise.

Gently fostering tender new buds, teaching and imparting wisdom to them, the crones know to do so expeditiously; they will soon wilt, then dry, then fall back to earth. Ashes to ashes and all that.

At first the tender new buds are lovely and naive and unaware of the precious lode of lore within them.

They blossom and open wide and, unbelievably, become even more beautiful in their maturity. Perhaps that's when they know... instinctually sensing to divulge to their new buds before the inevitable.

Obviously for me, this parallels the female human condition.
It also brings me to a poem - a favourite of mine by, of all people, Tennessee Williams from his play, "Night of the Iguana".
Thank you for indulging me.
Sandra

"How calmly does the orange branch
Observe the sky begin to blanch
Without a cry, with a prayer
With no betrayal of despair.

Sometime while night obscures the tree
The zenith of its life will be gone - past forever
And from thence, a second history will commence.

A chronicle no longer gold
A bargaining with mist and mould
And finally the broken stem
The plummeting to earth and then
An intercourse not well-designed
For beings of a golden kind
Whose native green must arch above
The earth's obscene, corrupting love.

And still the ripe fruit and the branch
Observe the sky begin to blanch
Without a cry, without a prayer
With no betrayal of despair.

Oh, courage, could you not as well
Select a second place to dwell?
Not only in that golden tree
But in the frightened heart of me?"

Yay! Canada Day!

2009-07-02T13:49:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, July 1st, was Canada Day and I, proud Canadian that I am, joined my family (and several thousand happy citizens, it seemed!) at the waterfront to be entertained by the fireworks. Just before the sparks flew, I saw the flag hoisted above a camper in the nearby parking lot, with dusky sky and a streetlamp as backdrop.
Happy Birthday Canada!
Sandra

Damsel

2009-06-24T18:19:00.000-07:00

We have many dragonflies here and some strange ones indeed. However, this is a simple and straightforward type, probably a damsel-fly, caught inside the window on a sunny day.
Sandra

Time Traveling

2009-06-24T17:52:00.000-07:00

This mornings' downpour brought out the David Niven types!
As I looked out the kitchen window, I thought I was transported back a few years, and drawn into "Around the World in 80 Days", with the loveliest old British racing car in the drive, holding 2 handsome men. The passenger (John) jumped out and asked for a brief tour of the study. The driver (John's son, Duncan) parked the car and 'zipped' the cover over the cockpit and seats.

They explained the tour they are part of...
Dozens of similar cars, shipped to Vancouver from around the world, are involved in a 3 - week tour from Vancouver north to Dawson City and within the Arctic Circle. They traveled up through the Rockies, then back down to Vancouver via B.C.'s interior and secondary roads. Next, they drove to Vancouver Island, and have been up and down the island. Now on their way back to Vancouver (city), with stops to visit other car enthusiasts in Parksville (also on the island), these two fly-fishers decided to pull in here to visit Roddy's place.
It was all quite exciting, and I believe they left far too soon! Here's hoping they and the family can find time to return as guests and have a more in-depth tour.
Sandra

Top photo: unzipping to get into the cockpit.
Second photo: John as passenger
Third photo: Duncan driving, and John
Fourth photo: Departing out the driveway

Running Girl

2009-06-24T17:36:00.000-07:00

The lovely Sarah, the latest house-guest, was here for a couple of days. Traveling alone (her friend took ill at the last moment), she seemed to enjoy the trails plus the wildlife-boat tour for several hours along the coastal shores. Photographing her was easy as she's very pretty (and single, I hear, guys!) and stays fit.
Thanks, Sarah, for your visit; I really enjoyed our conversations. Hope you enjoyed Long Beach!
Sandra

Happy 45th Anniversary, Don & Sandy!

2009-06-22T17:30:00.000-07:00

Don and Sandy, from interior Washington state, were here for 2 nights celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary. They were given this as a gift from the Methow (pronounced 'mettow') Valley Fly Fishing Club, Washington, of which Don's a very active member.
From the moment they arrived, I was impressed by Don's knowledge and enthusiasm for Roddy and his writing. Thus far I've been honest about what I do not know on the subject of the Haig-Browns, and Don felt duty-bound in pressing me into that end of service! Many times I repeated, "I don't know, but I'll find out" and no doubt he'll hold me to it - won't you Don?
Once again I saw a passion in the eyes of a fisherman who held a Roderick Haig-Brown book in his hands as a young man. I'm beginning to understand the force which held the reader of Silver or Panther or Measure of the Year and shaped a young man's dreams and vision and career to come.
Don looked at me several times with that force as it emanated from his heart and soul. He told me of visiting the property here 5+ years ago, before it was a Bed & Breakfast, and he had walked down the formal lawn to the riverbank, believing that was where Rod himself would have fished. Don had stood there and wept, having made this pilgrimage of sorts and finally seeing what Rod would have seen - and loved.
Don and I and his wife Sandy spoke at length on the reasons for fishing, specifically fly-fishing, and the reasoning for its impact on the soul of a man, or woman. We all agree that it's so much more than just catching a fish. There's that meditative sense, the cool embrace of fresh air, seeing places which are gifts to see or seeing them at rare times of day, standing in the pulse of the earths' circulatory system, smelling rain or sun, and knowing where your food really comes from. Oh, and once in a while you bring that food home.
We also spoke of the skill and practice in fly-fishing, something I'm beginning to look forward to (I've only practiced casting a couple of times) and we talked of how not to be a fly-fishing snob and instead, being aware - aware of what it takes to acquire a skill, and all that the word 'skill' implies.
On another note, I apparently had on my intuitive antennae and sent them to the 'perfect' places for meals and other entertainment, i.e. our Museum @ Campbell River.
I'm delighted with having met this lovely, gracious couple who make such scintillating conversation. Thanks, you 2, for being here. Have a safe and enjoyable journey home to that beautiful place in the mountains. And, Sandy, "Thank You!" Wotta sweetheart!
hugs to you both
Sandra

Look up... bzzt... waaay up

2009-06-21T19:43:00.000-07:00

Seems the wildlife is getting wilder, 'specially in the greenhouse.
Yesterday morning, I happened to look up... waaayy up... and found these critters in a rafter of the greenhouse, creating one of the biggest wasp nests I had ever seen. It was the size of a cabbage and growing, and they were the quietest clutch of wasps. I didn't hear them; I simply thought I'd better look up, as it had been days since I had done so.
Wow!

There are red arrows in the photos to show the openings of the nest.

No doubt they could sense my hackles going up, as my skin tingled and I tippy toed out the door, because suddenly I could hear them. Or was that my Spidey Sense kicking in?

Anyhoo, I called Marcy, the gardener; she would know what to do - and, after she and her husband quit laughing, she told me, though I didn't like it. Aiming to keep the grounds chemical-free, this is the plan: you wait until dark, as the wasps are quiet then and somewhat docile in the cool. Then you zap the nest with water from a hose (in the dark! No flashlight, as that will alarm them) and keep on zapping the downed nest with the hose - in the dark.

Oh, did I mention you do this ALL in the dark? Well, since it's about the summer solstice, I waited til 10:30 pm to go out, dressed as I was in my wasp-fighting combat gear; you know, all black, long sleeves tucked into rubber gloves, pants tucked into thick sox, hat, neckerchief... er, right? Isn't that what all crime-fighters, er, I mean, bug-fighters wear?
Just one more thing, said Marcy; there's a guard. A what? A guard; it stays outside on the nest, and raises the alarm if they're endangered.
Oh. Great!
Sure enough, at 10:30 at the summer solstice, the sky is still light, and I could see the silhouette of the nest, PLUS as I ever so slowly opened the sliding glass door of the greenhouse, the guards' silhouette appeared on the edge. The position of the wings made it seem like an animal with ears flattened.
Then, within seconds, there were a dozen or more crawling all over the nest. I stopped.
Somehow this just did not sit well with me, and the hackles once again rose to attention - mine and theirs.

I foresaw myself flailing around in the dark, hose and water going wild as I tossed it at the oncoming horde , me trying to run out of the garden, flinging the gate as I ran, tripping on the uneven ground, finally crawling to the house and, upon closing the door, I would look back only to realize the deer would now enter the open gate (and greenhouse) and eat every single thing in there.

hmmm... I decided to go to bed (and have a worrisome, sleepless night because of this) and call my brother in the morning. He would be able to help, fearless man that he is!

Little did I know, he IS the expert! Funny what you learn of your family, even after all these years. Paul showed up, even dressed in his nice weekend clothes, and proceeded to do exactly what I was told to do, and in the middle of a hot day, when the wasps are at their height of activity!
It's unfortunate I had to go out for an hour, as that's when Paul took care of business so I was not witness to it. Therefore, I'm unsure if he was as unruffled as he says he was... Upon my return, he coolly told me the nest was in the compost, no chemicals had been used, and now the tomatoes were watered because of the fray. And, that he had done this many times before, and still hasn't been stung. Sure enough, there was the broken and wet nest, with hundreds (!) of wasps ready to hatch.
Whew!
Thanks big brother; I owe you big time.
Just one more thing; they're baaaack. Yes, they've tried re-building twice now, and I've sprayed the new bits of nest off both times. Where is the queen in all this?! She must be pretty powerful to keep these guys (girls?) going in the same spot over and over. Ah well, I'll go out and spray them with the hose again late tonight. Maybe they'll get the message. And I'll spray them at dawn tomorrow morning, just to enforce the message. And I'll get Paul back here, you guys, if you don't get the message!
Sandra

Bambi

2009-06-19T17:55:00.000-07:00

You might think this is a great photo of a tree! But look closer...

Yesterday, I spotted another brown movement on the drive just below the kitchen window, and, once again, a fawn was passing through the driveway. Alone, it seemed unsure of which way to go, turning one way then the other. Finally it literally tip-toed into the path in to the glade. Yes, tip-toed. Putting its head lower, as if sniffing the air, then gingerly putting out a foot (hoof?) and slowly putting the other front foot out, one slow step, then another, as if sneaking up on the pathway, it finally disappeared beyond the hedge and into the glade.

I grabbed my camera and quietly went out the squeaky door and walked up the driveway, where I took these photos. The fawn, about 2' feet high, seemed uncertain and nervous and obviously alone. No idea where Momma was, and little fawn turned to go into the wood beyond. I quickly left so as not to scare it onto the road.
This is one of three fawns I've seen lately. I believe the ladies, Buttercup and Clover, are the new mothers, tho it's hard to tell one from another.
I'm looking forward to getting some photos of the 2 and 3 year old bucks which have been striding through here lately. They still have velvet on their new antlers and the pair I've seen move quickly, heading either to or from the river.
Sandra

The Perfumed Air

2009-06-17T20:33:00.000-07:00

The gardens are a never-ending source of pleasure.
Finally it rained heavily last night, and today the ground was saturated and the trees and gardens were humid in the heat. This also holds the wonderful scents of the trees and shrubs, plus the thick perfume of the flowers. Once again, I wish I could convey those beautiful scents to you. You'll have to settle for more photos...
Sandra

and now, for your pleasure...

2009-06-17T20:29:00.000-07:00

Enjoying the colours, scents and simple beauty that flowers can bring; for your enjoyment, here is what I found...

Kingston Couple

2009-06-17T19:28:00.000-07:00

The very kind and gentle Carol and Roger from Kingston, Ontario visited a couple of days ago. They're now on the Aurora Explorer, venturing around the coast as the cargo vessel hauls supplies into and out of remote places on our rugged mainland coast. If they find the time to re-visit here - and we're all hoping they will - I'll certainly update with their adventures!
Sandra

Garden Singing

2009-06-17T10:42:00.000-07:00

Plants are growing
Guests are coming & going
Fawns are showing
Learners are just a learning
Can't you hear the birds a singing
Trying to learn that song!

The veg patch has its ups and downs. Perhaps my thumb is more purple or blue than green... one eggplant has succumbed to something, and I think it got a cucumber as well (talk about Invasion of the Plant Snatchers!) - several lines of carrot seedlings have mysteriously disappeared (hmmm... I reiterate...) - a row of unnamed Chinese vegetable has gone south as well, and a whole 2 rows of volunteer potatoes have sprung up! Luckily, those last ones have sprung up in the last unweeded, unplanted corner.
Hey, wait a minute! Do potatoes eat other veggies?!

Couple of new items in the veg patch: I framed the tripod of tangled walnut branches (see photo) and planted a fave of mine, nasturtiums, underneath. Soon the whole thing will be climbing with them!
I know that's poor grammar, but I liked it, just like my little song at the beginning. It's a bit of a take on an old song with lines like,
"...bells are ringin'
Secretary's singin'
Preacher's justa preachin'
Can't ya hear the sisters shoutin'
Tryna learn that song..."

The bush beans are going great guns, and I replaced that orange plastic fencing along the snow peas with good old wire (see photo).
My wonderful big brother, Paul, planted some small sunflower plants for me today as well; I made lunch.
Sandra

Adventurous All Ages

2009-06-14T09:35:00.000-07:00

Some adventurous guests have been here this past week...

Caroline, a.k.a. 'Caro', and Chris, the beautiful Brits from Guernsey, were kayaking for 5 days off Quadra Island (a 10 minute ferry ride from Campbell River) and exclaiming about their excursions, the wildlife, the food (how could I compete with breakfast Hollandaise sauce prepped over a campfire?!), and the weather.
They had the best of all worlds, and the enjoyment they expressed was delightful. Hope you two had an uneventful and safe flight home, and will consider a small detour via Campbell River on your honeymoon.

Tony and Gail made the trip from Oregon specifically to visit the Haig-Brown property. Seems Tony's boyhood was so inspired by Roddy Haig-Brown and his writing that Tony pursued a career with environment and conservation, plus became the fisherman he is today.
His eyes lit up when he saw Roddy's books in the study, as he looked upon Roddy's hand-made desk and the words he wrote there (in long-hand) and saw the detail of the flies which Rod tied at that desk. I was touched and inspired by Tony and his passion.
The one evening they stayed here, I escorted them through the study after dinner, which was also after dark. Since daylight makes such a difference, I suggested another visit in the morning before they leave. Gail took me aside, looked at me with determination and said, "Oh, yes, please. Tony would love that very, very much!" She showed a devotion reminiscent of another woman who once resided here...
Gail's discipline is apparent - as a retired teacher, she related some of her own adventures of taking courses plus teaching around the world. There may be few countries she has not explored. The final fact which greatly impressed me was her health; into her 60's, she's a marathoner. Yes, runs marathons, all 26+ miles of them, all over the place. Name a city, and she's probably done it. Way to go, Gail! Do come back, you 2!
Sandra

"Deep Currents" - thank you Valerie

2009-06-13T16:46:00.001-07:00

This book is a must-have for those interested in Roddy Haig-Brown, Ann Elmore Haig-Brown, Campbell River, conservation in B.C., and their histories.

Reading the romantic biography of Roddy & Ann Haig-Brown entitled, "Deep Currents" has been a warm and cozy ride on the way-back machine. Their eldest daughter, Valerie (picture by Jim Coutts, from the books' dust jacket), has written a lovely account of her parents via their prolific and detailed letters. From their births, formative years, families, adventures and educations, meeting each other in a book store, and the deep devotion which is apparent within the words written to each other, Valerie has laboured over a most beautiful piece which brings me to tears at least every chapter. I'll be finished within days and do not want it to end.
Highly recommended for those who wish to 'understand' the lives lived within the enigma.
Sandra

Wonderful Guests

2009-06-10T17:15:00.000-07:00

Some of my lovely guests this last week were Kim and her mom, Phyllis - from B.C.'s lower mainland (just completing a 5-day cruise aboard the working vessel, "Aurora", which carries cargo to camps and villages in the remote coastal areas), plus Bob and Chris - from Rugby, England - also winding up a 6-week whirlwind tour of western Canada. I neglected to get a photo of Kim & Phyllis (sorry girls!) but remembered to get one of the Englishman and his lovely wife.
Lots of laughs over that crazy coffeepot incident (or 3!)! No, I won't forget it for awhile...
Sandra

Bathing the Fish

2009-06-07T18:44:00.000-07:00

The little goldfish in the pond are receptive to me now. As I approach, they swim toward me and school around that side, waiting, I'm sure, for me to turn on the tap.

Bath time for the fish.

They struggle and swim into the little current the showering water creates, then go 'round the pond following the current as it moves the water. I try to do this twice a day to make sure it's aerated / oxygenated and fill it to the brim. It's this last act that makes them such smarty-pants - the goldfish can now swim over the plant leaves and rest there. Something new to them, it looks like a game of chicken to me; one rests there, looking like a kid saying, "I'm the king of the castle..." and all that goes with the taunting, until another comes along to push it out of the throne.

The rest of the time the fish go low and use the plants to stay out of the sun.
They are goldfish; research shows they are not koi, which are less hardy and more susceptible to disease. That's why you probably had a goldfish in a little bowl when you were a kid; they didn't die easily when you forgot to feed them. As well, the goldfish are adaptable to less oxygen in the water, which happens in a pond. And also why I bathe the fish. Puts little smiles on their faces.

The Haig-Brown's had the pond put in many years ago when they returned from a trip to Italy. Quite taken with terraces and all things terra-cotta, this grassy corner became the terrazza; squares of concrete for the floor outlined with moss or gravel, then the pond (apparently with a slope to create a deep end) surrounded with terra cotta bricks embedded into the concrete, upon which are more terra cotta pots full of flowers. It's quite lovely at just about any time of day, even in the dark with candles lit.
Sandra

Dear Daisy Deer

2009-06-07T15:40:00.000-07:00

It's decided then; the doe who is so friendly is now Daisy... Daisy Deer, no matter how many buttercups she eats, and I'll tell you why.
While I gardened all day yesterday in the veg patch, Daisy sauntered alongside the fence, then meandered over to the shade of the firs & maples, then wandered back toward me, then slowly disappeared out the drive. Ergo, no fawn, and I found myself calling her Daisy all day. So, that's her name.

But Baby butts in...
While reading the paper over coffee at the kitchen table this morning, I thought I spied a small brown dog bouncing through the driveway right alongside the house; I was wrong.
It was the new fawn! Bounce, bounce, bounce, one way, then bounce, bounce, bounce, the other way, then back, then big bounces back to the path and into the glade. I went outside to peer into the glade, and saw the little one nursing with mom - who I automatically addressed as Buttercup. She was nervous. Seems a bouncing little baby is a handful, er, hoof-ful (sp?)... anyway, not wanting to disturb breakfast or scare them off toward the road, I left them to the cool and shade. A few hours later, I did notice both of them now bouncing around in the upper part of the driveway, and scooting back to the glade; someone was returning from walking their dog in one of the upper paths. Let's hope Buttercup is careful to show rambunctious Baby how to cross the road.

No pic's today. Many B & B guests tonight, and lots of drop-ins today to survey the grounds, both for Sunday afternoons and future weddings... looks like it'll be a beautiful summer full of brides!
Sandra

Buttercup? or Clover?

2009-06-06T08:57:00.001-07:00

Not sure if there are 2 doe's (which is highly likely) or 1 doe who hides her fawn...

Two days ago, I watched a doe rather restlessly lying under the maple in the shade, no doubt feeling the record-breaking heat; she then sauntered along the driveway. By late afternoon, I was escorting a couple of ladies who had dropped in for a tour. As I pointed out the cooler glade beyond the rhodos, we saw a doe rise up and then the tiniest fawn follow her, on what seemed to be wobbly legs. The doe immediately went into the wood, and the fawn giggled along behind.
Then last evening, this doe (pictured) was easily grazing in the buttercupped and clovered field of the orchard. She wasn't nervous at all, and allowed me to get very close, about 12 feet, so perhaps she's not the new mother. No matter; she's just as pretty, though my view of her did darken as I watched her attempt to eat roses through the fence!
Now, to decide which is which, and whether to name them. I chose 'Buttercup' for this one, and perhaps 'Clover' for the new mom, should I spy her again.
What name do you prefer?

As I write this, I observe a rabbit in the same field of buttercups and clover. Perhaps they're showing up again because the weather has cooled; during the last week of 30+ Celsius / 90+ Farenheit, I hadn't seen any and suspected they were cooling off in the underbrush or gone on holiday to the lake (hah). Now the one I'm watching is busy feeding in the field and making its way toward the vegetable garden. Guess it's time to go weeding!
Sandra

Game On!

2009-06-03T16:02:00.000-07:00

Praise the sports of the land
And water, each one -
The bath by the beach, or the yacht on the sea.
But of all the sweet pleasures
Known under the sun
A good game of Croquet's
The sweetest to me.

- Thomas Mayne Reid

"It is no game for the soft of sinew and the gentle of spirit. The higher and dirtier croquet player can use the guile of a cobra and the inhumanity of a boa constrictor."

- Alexander Humphreys Woollcott

________________________________________________________________________

Queen of Hearts: Now, where do you come from?
Alice: Well, I'm trying to find my way home...
Queen of Hearts: Your way? All ways here are my ways!
Alice: Yes, I know, but I was just thinking...
Queen of Hearts: Curtsy while you're thinking. It saves time.
Alice: [curtsying] Your Majesty, but I just wanted to ask you..
Queen of Hearts: I'll ask the questions! Do you play croquet?
Alice: Why, yes, Your Majesty.

Queen of Hearts: Then let the game begin!

_______________________________________________________
cro·quet (krō kā′) noun

an outdoor game in which the players use mallets to drive a wooden ball through a series of hoops placed in the ground
the act of croqueting

Etymology: Fr, dial. form of crochet: see crotchet
transitive verb, intransitive verb croqueted -·queted′ (-kād′), croqueting -·quet′·ingin croquet, to drive away (an opponent's ball) by hitting one's own which has been placed in contact with it

__________________________________________________________________________
A canon of American croquet has always been, to quote Archie Peck, 'A better tactician will always beat a better shooter.'
__________________________________________________________________________

Croquet Time!
Ya think?!

That's enough of the clues; now here's the down-low...
(but I just wanna know - who the heck is Archie Peck?!)

The Museum at Campbell River summer interns - wait for it - Tye, Tyson, and Taryn (truly!) are raring to show all a good time with Croquet & Tea on the Lawn at HBH. Sundays will be the day to play, or picnic as you watch your playmates swinging about the yard, aiming mallets and hoping for straight-through-the-wicket shots.

It's obvious to me that my knowledge of the game is sorely lacking, so I set out to learn something regarding the rules. It was quickly apparent that there are quite a few to choose from!
See for yourself...

"North American Six Wicket Rules, as used by Croquet Canada and developed by the U.S. Croquet Association."
or, if you're from across the pond, perhaps "Association Rules from The Croquet Association (England)"
or maybe you're a golfer! Even better, as there's now a game called, "Golf Croquet... with rules, as used by Croquet Canada and USCA..."
And I hasten to add the "Nine Wicket Rules: Backyard Variety, as used by Croquet Canada", though that could not be for professionals! It simply wouldn't be cricket!
And lastly, don't let me forget the "U.S. Croquet Association: Rules of Several Forms".

So, if someone challenges your way of playing the game, may I suggest you offer them a litany of choices and then leg wrestle for the outcome. That might be the only rule you'll both be familiar with.
And while you're at it, visit these websites, in case you have a hankering for the pro circuit.
www.croquet.ca
www.croquetworld.com

Sandra

Loving Honour

2009-06-03T15:38:00.000-07:00

The delightful Pam and David were my guests on Monday evening. When they first called, speaking with such joy and English charm, I thought they must be on their honeymoon because they sounded so happy and adventurous. Upon their arrival, they bounced up the stairs, had fun choosing a room, then breathlessly inquired after a restaurant, and smiled and laughed on their way out the door to eat. I had to know more. When they returned I served herbal tea on the terrace, lit candles, and, under the moon, asked of themselves. Married 17 years (and it sounds like they're older than me, tho they certainly look a lot younger!) it sounds like they've traveled the world and enjoyed every moment. David tells funny and amazing stories with his sharp wit; Pamela is a wonderful and well-respected artist (www.PamelaKnight.net) and the two are great company. What was most noticeable was the warm and loving way they treated each other; there was a deep and gentle honour I could feel between them.
Pam and David, thank you for choosing Haig-Brown House! I thoroughly enjoyed your visit here, and I do hope you return some day.
Here's your picture, taken by Marcy, our intrepid gardener.
Sandra

Ev'n Song

2009-06-03T13:09:00.001-07:00

The weekend was a blast, as well as a blast of energy, so it's nice to have a day at the posted speed limit!

Actually, that 'day' began last evening, while I was putting the veggie garden to bed. The ev'n song of the robins echoed in the dusk, the doe strolled through the driveway on her way to the stream and I do believe there were bats flitting about, hunting bugs.

Here's a shot of the orchard last evening (once again, 6 images stitched together for a very wide view) from the garden gate. At about the middle is the house, hidden behind branches; to the right is the cabin, built within several years of the house (late 1920's), and between them and a bit lower is the compost.
I point this out because the top of that slope was once a rail grade, before the Pidcock brothers bought the property and built the house.
Around the end of the 1800's, most of these areas were logged and the companies delivered the logs via rail cars to a depot known as a 'log dump' several kilometres east of here. There, the logs were 'dumped' into the water to be graded and valued, then bundled and rafted together in 'booms' to be delivered to sawmills along the coast.

I'm tracking down information on when the rail bed was dismantled; the house was built in 1923 and apparently the rail tracks were gone then. I'll keep you posted on my findings.

Pictured here are some of the newest arrivals in the garden - beans and peas. The peas reach for that bright orange netting which they'll cling to as they climb.
The beans? Not so lucky. As bush beans, they're expected to fend for their own stature, with no leg up, tho in the photo one is overseeing the newly broken ground of its brethren. Perhaps that's how they make it, after all.

A couple more images...
A last fleeting moment with bleeding hearts (their season is finished) which managed to poke through the very invasive mint, and hang a pendulous bunch of florets, now going to seed.
And a glorious blast of fireworks-style colour, courtesy of the rhodo jungle(!) in the centre of the driveway. Also in that shot are the white froth of the commonly-known-as 'bridal wreath' (Spirea vanhoutte) plus a cascade or 2 of yellow wisteria, brought together in a whisper of evening warmth. Rabbits were watching me from beneath the cover of the rhododendron...
Sandra

Tina & James Wedding plus HBH stories...

2009-05-31T21:19:00.000-07:00

The wedding of Tina and James...

Saturday was warm and breezy and perfect for a ceremony beside the river. I set out white flowers in the house watering can on the front step to welcome the bridal party and guests, and did all those little errands necessary to make the details fall perfectly into place. The bridal party's friend, John, manned the gate to direct parking, and the groomsmen, resplendent in tux's, sunglasses and perfect smiles, mingled just as they should.

The wedding of James and Tina was simply beautiful, with the bride escorted by her father down the formal lawn to a white rose covered arbor looking over the riverbank. White chairs were set facing the river and the music carried over the gardens and onto the river. In fact, the folks across the river stopped everything to take it in as well.

Congratulations Tina and James! You are such a lovely couple.

Here are photos from the ceremony and the photo shoot afterward, some of which took place in the orchard.
Sandra

Bed & Breakfast House Stories
This is a most wonderful position to have; I meet people from all over the world (so far China, England, the U.S., all parts of Canada, and it's only been 1 month!) and share stories just as varied. But this story is from the very back yard of the Haig-Brown's themselves...

Today I escorted 3 people through the house. They had stopped by on Saturday, and after seeing the wedding under way, opted to return at a quieter time. And we are all glad for that.
Vi (I would guess in her 60's) related how she grew up next door to here, in a house her grandmother had owned since its beginning, and she told me of the last time she had visited here and had tea with Ann Haig-Brown on the then-grass terrace. Vi was 12 years old.
Then she pointed to the other woman in the trio (the third being Vi's husband, Benny) and explained this was her sister - whom she had just found 1 month ago!
Lorraine had been given for adoption at 4 months old, when Vi was only 4, barely remembering playing with her as a little baby.
Apparently, Vi had begun looking for her sister 10 years ago, and even been close several times without even knowing it. You see Lorraine was raised in Rossland (interior B.C.). Vi, while living in the lower mainland as an adult, had a very dear friend from Rossland. After the sisters rediscovered each other, Vi mentioned this fact to her dear friend and asked if she had known Lorraines' adoptive family. The friend replied that her younger sister was the one who had played with Lorraine as a child... and so it goes. That weird yet interesting phenomenon of 6 (or 3) degrees of separation... There were many other interesting little notations, too many to mention here, which seemed to have relationships between them and their families and friends, mostly dates of births / anniversaries / names / places / etc. Today, these three had huge smiles all the time they were here, and reminisced about the lives lived, and not lived, in the fields and river here. It was a lovely and loving sight.
Sandra

Lumbermen / Pond / Gates

2009-05-28T15:40:00.000-07:00

An occasional sad point of any garden is the old, broken or rotten tree which must come down. Such is the case with several here on the property, namely the walnut, the sweet cherry, and the 2 willows at the bottom of the lawn. All were riddled with woodpecker holes and leaning, acting as safety hazards over many of the publics' heads. The city and the museum had arborists, etc., look them over quite some time ago and make those hard decisions.
The trees were carefully taken down a couple of weeks ago and since then, replanting is complete for the willows and the walnut.
The cherry wood has been sent to a mill as well as carvers, to become goods "from the Haig-Brown property". Pictured here are the men in rec't of some of the cherry, ready to go to the mill.

Readying the terrace today for tomorrow's wedding ceremony, I was happily interrupted by a group seeking a quick tour of the house and study, to which I obliged. Knowing I'd return shortly, I propped the hand-held water sprinkler over the koi pond, the water running wide open from the hose. The koi (or carp, or goldfish, depending on your point of view) love the fresh water falling like a rain shower, especially on a hot day as this; racing around and swimming into any currents created by the flow, they seem to drink it in, so to speak. Luckily, my tour was short, as the pond was soooo close to overflowing when I returned that I believe the fish were actually looking over the edge! But they were happy!

The beautiful corners of the yard have captivated me today, and I offer the results of what I saw here. One shot includes the lower corner gate to the orchard, alongside the river. The image includes 5 or 6 pictures, stitched together to give the whole view, and includes the yellow wisteria.
A couple of other images are those charming corners including gates, paths and more flowering trees.
Sandra

Spring leftovers -daff's, trilliums, apple blossoms

2009-05-25T17:23:00.000-07:00

I'm putting up some images here that are leftovers from spring. That's when I'm fond of saying that folks can find me rolling around in the mud with camera in hand, to shoot the spring flowers (but that's on the hiking trails in these parts, as I look for the ever elusive 'pink fawn lily').
Not so muddy here, tho; these are shots of the Haig-Brown grounds. Looking through the gate to the glade, you can see a bit of the church through the trees (it's across the road) where at least one of the Haig-Brown children got married years ago. The other shots of daffodils are all within the glade, looking one way then the other.

The trilliums were so profuse in a plot alongside the koi pond, it was hard to decide which ones to shoot; they mesmerized me as they beckoned.

Also included is a photo of the perfumed apple blossoms which rested on the west side of the house, almost covering the kitchen window. Delicate in scent and fragile in strength, it's hard to believe those tiny freckled blossoms produce big, strong apples!

There's a shot of the gate to the river as well, surrounded by snowdrops. Odd angle to get a good shot of, as there are steps from the lawn down to the gate, which sits just atop the high-water mark. Perhaps that's where Rod & Ann decided to call the house "Above Tide"... the house is just far enough up river from the mouth to be "above the tide".

I'll bring more photos from nice weather days, as it rained during my photo op today, so I opted to not photo, and sowed carrots instead. 3 kinds, too.
Plus planted 32 of the teeny-tiniest little Jalapeno pepper plants in the greenhouse. My thumb is not green (just dirty!) so let's all send them lotsa lovin' - they may need the help! The 2 pickling-cucumber plants are a little heftier and I think they like their southwestern corner, plus that they're next to the tomatoes.

Interesting to watch the house across the river today, as a faller knocked down some trees. It seems obvious the homeowner wanted more light; while the house faces due south, it's almost surrounded by evergreen and maple forest. The very careful faller dropped the trees up-hill, away from the river, tho kinda close to the house! For those of you who worry about the trees coming down - it's OK. The Wet Coast grows them very fast. It's a jungle out there! Sandra

Wedding photo session, continued

2009-05-24T16:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's lovely photo shoot was very sweet to see... a happy, smiling baby, a fairy-princess of a flower girl, gorgeous maidens attending the bride, and handsome men, who knew how to handle a baby!
The couple were breathtaking, as you can see here. Photographers had the situation in hand and made sure all opportunities were pounced upon - lots of hard work put in for the best shots - always on the lookout for that snuggled kiss between the new couple.
It was cool in the glade amid the alders and firs, and the bluebells and lily-of-the-valley kept the little bugs a secret - some of the wedding party managed to find them as they flew about in their disturbance.
A very busy flower girl was always ready for her closeup, running between attendants, adults, and papparazi, er, I mean photogs. Then, waking from a nap, the smallest member of the group was quickly given a fresh bottom by dad, then hugged all 'round, and smiled the whole time. He was very happy to be here!
On another note, the garden is coming along, thanks to Lesia and John. She's put in tomatoes and eggplant in the greenhouse, and potatoes (2 varieties), regular peas & sugar peas, beans, beets, swiss chard, and an oriental broccoli (?) in the garden. My turn to sow the carrots, find some lettuce and do some weeding! But hey, I've been watering...
Sandra

Wedding photo session

2009-05-23T22:10:00.000-07:00

aahhhh, the bride was stunning, and the groom so proud... and all is right with the world.
The photo session was so beautiful, and I was honoured to be able to take a few photos as well. Here are a couple of the shots; I'll be back tomorrow with more.
Sandra

Warmth of Spring

2009-05-22T14:25:00.000-07:00

Wonderful, warm weather! A beautiful day here has the Magnolia busting its little seams, pushing out every last flower on the tree, and littering the formal lawn with petals.
The rhodos are busy showing off, and very timely, too. A year ago a bride-to-be had planned on her photo shoot here tomorrow, so the flowers are just right.

As the breeze pushes around the deep green maple leaves (branches heavy with the new leaves and the last of those pendulous flower clusters) I'm reminded of climbing such a tree as a child. Ours was also 3 feet across at the base, with long branches like arms waiting to put on a sweater.
One of my favourite flowers here is the peony (oh, what am I saying; I love them all!). Before the bud blooms, there's a sliver of the petal which cracks open the green casing, and shows its colour in a fractional width. The one here is like the deepest red silk, with a hanging drip of dew.
The bluebells and narcissus have had their show, and currently limping through these warm days. Just like the daffs have, they're bidding adieu now, and starting to retire - though their perfume is still strong on the warm breeze.
The weekend promises to be busy with gardening; planting tomatoes and other Nightshade plants in the greenhouse, plus tilling the garden soil and seeding carrots, beans, peas, beets, and potato buds.
Great food for the summer.
Sandra

H-B House is open!

2009-05-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

Haig-Brown House is open and running, at full tilt I might add.
My name is Sandra and I'm the 2009 Site Manager and your B&B Host at this incredibly beautiful heritage house.
My moving in (still a work in progress!) has been exciting, and, with the help of those of the Museum at Campbell River, a lot of fun.
Among the many joys here is the ever-changing garden. Ann Haig-Brown was an ardent gardener and created the formal lawn, lined with rhododendrons, the magnolia, and a variety of other trees and annuals.
I photographed many spring flowers and it looks like that fun little task will be ongoing.
Now, the peonies are popping open, the rhodos are festive in petticoat colours, the dogwood is blooming (though technically not a flower) and a number of other plants whose names I'm just learning about are budding and blooming.
Hopefully, my pictures do them justice, though there's no smellovision here, so you'll simply have to imagine the heady, aromatic scents which the air is full of here! Pure aromatherapy!
A deer got in the other evening by not only jumping a gate, but also breaking off one of the additional upright 'sticks' which have been attached to prevent just that! One determined deer...
Now, it's time to plant the vegetable garden, after re-wiring the rabbit fence around the perimeter. Looking forward to fresh garden veggies!

Just keep swimming......

2008-06-19T13:14:00.000-07:00

I've been busy scouting the Campbell River for summer steelhead, hence the lack of a recent post. For you see, I was given the opportunity to aid in the release of 28,000 summer steelhead smolts into the Campbell - what a thrill! The smolts were around six inches long and came spewing out of the hose at an alarming rate. I was sporting a pair of hip waders and could feel the bewildered smolts bumping in and around my legs. I knew they were pretty fish, but these guys were magnificent. Their color changed from a sea blue to a light green depending on where the sun caught them. The enhancement project is organized by a group of volunteers and is privately funded through their fund raising efforts. This was the third year, so it is quite probable that the first years release will be finding their way back up the Campbell River this summer. Steelhead were one of Roderick's favorite fish, it is a shame that his home river has been without a summer run for over ten years, however, there is now hope that the Steelhead Society's efforts will change that. To use a quote from the movie, "Finding Nemo" I hope those little guys, "just keep swimming".

Battle of the Bunnies

2008-05-13T12:47:00.000-07:00

Just before he left Campbell River, "Brian Brett, this year's Writer in Residence" forewarned me to watch out for more rabbits around the Haig-Brown property. It seems he spotted them in broad daylight doing what rabbits do best - making more rabbits. Still being somewhat new to country living I didn't think too much about the consequences, other than "won't their babies be cute."

Then later this spring, my neighbor who regularly tours the trails next door with his dog Lady, was out enjoying a sunny day. I was working in the vegetable garden when I heard a ruckus and found him ordering Lady to heel. It seems Lady found a littler of baby bunnies stashed off the trail and by the time I got there had killed one.

I looked back and saw my dog Charlie was preoccupied with something - it was a little teeny bunny. Charlie's head was tilted to the side, his ears were up and I suppose he was confussed - all he was interested in doing was sniffing its rear end! The poor bunny was trembling, I dragged Charlie away and went back to Lady and the stash to see if there were any left. I know at least two got away but most definitely one did not.

I took some spinach over to where the stash was and thought at least when the parents come back they'll find some food. I wasn't sure what was going to happen to the little ones running around now parentless, potentially helpless.

However, since this incident I've become aware of the situation in Kelowna where the rabbit population has grown to an epic sized proportion. The city of Kelowna has allocated $54,000 to combat the bunnies. I've learnt that female rabbits give birth to as many as seven babies every...thirty-one days. Apparently people dropping off their unwanted domestic rabbits into the wild rather than the SPCA has made the problem worse. With this being said, I suppose I should have offered Lady the spinach it seems she has done us all a favor in reducing our potential rabbit population by one.

Home Sweet Home......

2008-04-23T15:38:00.000-07:00

Charlie and I are back and have settled in at the Haig-Brown house. I'd like to thank everyone who visited and contributed to a wonderful first season last year - I have many great memories.

This year, I am donating produce grown on the property to a local Women's shelter, The Ann Elmore Transition house. The shelter was named after Ann (Elmore) Haig-Brown due to her tremendous contribution to women in need. I've invited residents of the shelter to help tend to the garden and share in the growing process.

Returning guests will notice the addition of a new greenhouse as opposed to the makeshift one I used last year, which in the end was held together primarily with duct tape. The greenhouse is a result of the contributions by local businesses such as: Windsor Mill Sales, Island Ready-mix, Rockin Robin Trucking, Habitat for Humanity, Home Hardware and the Museum at Campbell River.

The project would never have happened with out the hard work and creativity of Discovery College who donated the time and energy of their lead instructor and his construction and framing students who built it.

Thanks to all of the above-mentioned people for their generous donations and support - it's a wonderful start to this 2008 season.