A salute to Teo

Teo Mocchi had posted a photo of a green door....it reminded me of another Italian green door in Venezia.  I love the green shutters & doors of Italy.

Check out Teo's blog.

Here's an article by James Martin.   Buying shutters.

James has a blog worth checking out... Wandering Italy.

Red Leaf

I found this leaf at the Cherry Hill winery near Cowichan Bay....it was so red I couldn't resist. . .

New bird house and today's blossoms

My birdhouse just arrive from Orcas Island.  I love it!!

Sad to say, I don't think any bird will ever call it home...I can't stand to let it sit outside.  So, if you know of any bird that wants to live inside. . . .

This time of the summer presents the gaudiest of blooms.  The fire orange daylilies are real stainers....and the hydrangeas can't decide what color to become.

My new MyPublisher book

I just finished a book with all of my Washington/Vancouver Island images....you've seen them on my blog. But, it was fun arranging them into a book.

When you go to the link type in the order # M728605
Then on the next page they ask for a password....1216543
Ta da....

MyPublisher link.

Mendocino Headlands - Whiffen Spit BC -Birchwood Lake NJ

My two favorite walks...Birchwood Lake in New Jersey and Whiffen Spit in Sooke, Vancouver Island.
An easy journey for a morning walk.

Birchwood trail takes us on a loop around the lake. Whiffen Spit is a narrow strip of land that goes about a mile into the bay at Sooke....it's almost like walking on water.

At Birchwood Lake we've spotted blue herons, hawks, snapping turtles....and DOGS!
Whiffen Spit there was a bald eagle watching over us in a tree.

I wish Whiffen Spit were closer...then we could alternate walks!

PS
Help!!
How could I possibly forget about the Mendocino Headlands walk. It is so spectacular!
When Paul & I went for our walk around Birchwood he reminded me. . . .

Point Ellice House-Victoria

The Point Ellice House has been occupied by the same family since the 1870's. All of the furnishings are exactly as they were in the 1800's. Usually when a house is restored, many of the furnishings are items that were ' of the era', not actually the family possessions. The house is very small by todays standards and it seems even smaller because it is stuffed with furnishings.

The O'Reilly's had three children two boys and a girl, Kathleen. Kathleen never married she spent her entire life at Point Ellice.

It's interesting...when the house was built it was surrounded by countryside...now it is a tiny oasis centered in industrial blight. Not nice land surroundings...the entrance from the water is lovely.

For a detailed tour click on the link and go to 'Point Ellice history' ...then click 'BC Heritage Virtual Tour'. You'll see the floor plan and additional photos.
Here's the link.

ps...we had a lovely tea in the garden...definitely delicious!

If you are interested Michael Weishan has written a lovely book about the family and the house. "From a Victoria Garden".

Victoria

Victoria was an amazing little city. Not only is it a very pretty city, but is was easy to navigate and park. We had such a good time exploring some very odd places. One of them is Miniature World. Paul loves miniatures...he had a great time. I was intrigued by the exit door. A link to Miniature World.


Another terrific find ....I loved this place, the Victoria Bug Zoo.
(Make sure you scroll to the bottom of the page and click on"click here to have a peek at the zoo".)
I learned so much about insects....I was surprised how long we stayed...it was fascinating!


The Victoria Harbour Ferry offered two different tours.... harbour or gorge. We decided on the gorge. It was a great way to see Victoria from the water. I loved the seaplanes...Victoria Harbour is a seaplane airport!
Check out the site for Victoria Harbour Ferry.

We stayed in Sooke about forty minutes from Victoria. While we were in Sooke we drove to Point-no-Point resort for dinner. Every table had a pair of binoculars for wildlife viewing...I spent the entire dinner watching a bald eagle....maybe not the ENTIRE dinner, I did fill those wineglasses. I had the most amazing crispy confit of duck leg with a cherry compote. #1 duck ever!!
Check out Point-noPoint.

Sooke Museum Garden

The hydrangeas were as large as a basketballs & the clematis was thick with blossoms. Then I came across the most interesting flower...its head bowed to the shadows. I was curious, so I peeked under it's purple petals and found the most amazing structure.....this odd creature is called a Lenten Rose.
Here's some more info about the Lenten Rose.
More info about Hellebores.

A link to Sooke Museum.