Sunny Comox.....

After we took in the Shellfish Festival in Comox, we wandered around town taking in the sites - like this condo development with the deck of a boat serving as a patio for one of the condos......
















There was a street hockey tournament under way - how Canadian - 3 separate "rinks" and 6 teams battling for supremacy.......













Then we walked down to Filberg Park, where a driftwood sculpture greeted us.............
















Turn of the century log buildings graced the gorgeous grounds.......
















this gazebo and arbor lay before us..........











A lovely walkway to the beach....and many weddings use the park, for obvious reasons.....










The beach is just beyond the lawns........and there are beautiful gardens and walking paths everywhere......











Maggie's cousin, Jane, was our guide....she comes here often to walk.......












Before you get to the historic house, there is a shed affair that houses a Tea House, overlooking the beach....









and the beach stretches all the way to a spit a little further down the road, which ends in a Sea Cadet site, which used to be a navy base......







This wonderful house, known as Filberg Lodge, was built in 1929, and altho it was closed the day we were there, is home to the Filberg Festival on the August long weekend, an annual event with 4 days of music, artisans and food.......








Really a lovely place, started as a cottage for Robert Filberg and his family and was eventually their permanent home. When he died in 1977, he bequeathed the property to the Vancouver Foundation, to be used in perpetuity as a park.....









the walkway along the beach in one direction.......













and in the other direction.......











then we drove to the spit we could see from the beach, and while on one side it is fairly calm, the open side had big breakers in the wind.........








We collected some nice driftwood pieces for Ingrid and Maggie's garden, and before Ingrid blew away, we piled back in the car and drove home........

Shellfish Festival in Comox

 My apologies.....this is a dreadful picture....they were all blurry.....but I wanted to record the amazing dinner we enjoyed for Maggie's birthday last Sunday. It was a gourmet meal, including a fabulous salad, brats and ribs, lots of laughter and especially warm birthday wishes to our Maggie!











This past Friday, we gathered at our house for Michele's dinner party....:-)  as it was the annual drive by of vintage cars, which goes right past our house. Michele made chicken, ribs and cake, Bill made appies, Ter made potato salad, I made Caesar salad, and despite the rain (we ate inside) we did get out to watch the cars go by after dinner.........






Then we braved the elements to sit in the gazebo (blankets and all) - with the electric fireplace cranking out heat - and finished our dessert and wine outside. Hardy Canadians, eh??????










Sunday we headed up to Comox with Maggie and Ingrid to take in the annual Shellfish Festival - and altho it was very windy and cool, no rain, it was well attended!






Held at the Marina Park, I forgot to take pics until we were leaving.....duh!!.....but there were amazing booths with oysters, scallops, clams, gooey ducks, halibut, rock fish, crepes with strawberries and whipped cream (ok, that is not seafood) - cooking demonstrations, displays from the Fisheries Dept, Hydro, community groups and lots of kids and dogs!!

Evening market, dinner and aging.........

Every Tuesday evening in Parksville, throughout the summer, there is a street market - crafts, organic veggies, clothing, jewelry, gifts, toys....the works.













oh - and FOOD - hot dogs, chips, ice cream, Texas barbeque, smoothies....you name it.......

....even organic, vegan, Mexican food......!!!!!!!!












this market was the first of the season, and it had been cool and rainy all day, but it was fairly well attended.......









the streets are closed to traffic, so people wander around taking in the booths, listening to live music, and enjoying the social atmosphere.......










this couple sang and played for the evening...great!









and we managed to get out of there with only a couple of purchases....new kitchen shears, nail clips and tweezers.....................3 for 5 dollars!!!










Oh oh.....the old blonde mare has received her Gold Card!!!!

Can you say "DISCOUNTS"  ????????????

June in Parksville......

OK, Mother Nature....the deck is ready - gazebo, outdoor dining, lounge area, barbeque area....now where is the sun and the heat.......??????















June 5 was Venus crossing the sun......totally cloudy day until just before the cross was to happen....so went to the beach to watch.........










We enjoyed what there was of the sun.....the beach is lovely in any weather.........















Still lots of snow on the mountains behind Parksville.....









so I made southern fried chicken, a big bowl of raw veggies and blueberry tarts for our picnic.........fleeces and all.........










and behind us there were a gazillion young folks playing in a volleyball tournament, despite the cool cloudy weather........!










Next picnic was at the 100 Stairs (a staircase to the beach, above which sits 11 benches for people to enjoy the view)...with SUN.......!!!








and during the hour or more we were there, we saw 18 eagles......wow......and altho the camera is poor, there is a juvenile sitting in the top left branch of that tree right in front of us.........









and 6 on the beach - one on that big rock - fishing, eating whatever the tide left, and providing a treat for we eagle lovers.