Just a few minutes drive from home are rural homes, acreages, hobby farms, dairies, fields of hay and horses. Woodwynn Farms is situated here; 193 acres purchased with the goal of becoming an integrated community, designed to help those who are battling with addictions, homeless, and in need of support. It's modeled on the San Patrignano community in Italy. In such an idyllic setting, away from the downtown lifestyle, hurting people will be supported to heal and move beyond the addictions that bind them. Unfortunately, the organizers are meeting with opposition from the neighbours - a "not-in-my-back-yard" kind of opposition.
This past Saturday Tim and I spent a couple of hours there. Tim moved furniture and tossed hay bales, I washed windows in the barn - which is being re-purposed as a farmer's market. We were part of a group of about 250 people from our church (Saanich Baptist) who spread out in various locations around town, cleaning, painting, gardening - doing whatever needed doing. It's a way for us to Serve our City.
Sunday afternoon we enjoyed a family meal together. My niece and her son are visiting for a few days. I am so very grateful for the family we have - and the times we can enjoy together, laughing, talking, or just soaking up the lovely sunshine as we ate dessert on the lawn.
Mid-afternoon Tim and I, along with my niece and the baby, strolled along the waterfront in Sidney. This dashing pirate, looking out to sea, invited a photo.
Apples blossoms against the ocean: a perfect harmony.
How has your weekend been? Busy? Relaxing? Sunny or wet, I hope you've been refreshed.
Joining in with Mosaic Monday, hosted by Mary at the Little Red House.
Oh how very lovely! Even all that moss on the roof looks charming. :0)
ReplyDeleteThose community projects to help others really are great. Glad you were able to participate! What a great weekend you had!
The Retreat sounds as if it is a wonderful idea and I hope that they have much success. I don't understand the opposition if nothing has happened yet to cause concern. Give it a chance, folks. It also looks as if it is in need of TLC and lots of it. Tim may be putting on a new roof soon. =D Fantastic photography, Lorrie, how peaceful greens are. They say that pinks and blues are the most immature colors. Fine. But the apple blossom against the ocean is delightful.
ReplyDeleteHow nice that so many people participate in this community project.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind comments that you left at The Garden Spot. You did have a busy week end. I love the picture of the apple blossom with the blue ocean in the background. Have a good week.
ReplyDeleteThe community project sounds amazing! You live in such a beautiful place!
ReplyDeleteJenniferxox
Wow! You had quite a day.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my new art site! It is nice to "meet" you!
Hope you have a blessed week!
It is wonderful how the community all comes together to work on projects. It is a feel good thing. Looks like a wonderful weekend. Lovely photos!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great thing! Photos are so telling with the blanket spread out for relaxing. Project sounds like heavenly work!
ReplyDeleteIt's fantastic that your church holds a day of service for everyone to participate. The retreat sounds like a perfect place for healing and helping. Hope it is able to continue to serve those in need.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice community service you do! Your town is lovely, looks like a wonderful time with your beautiful family.
ReplyDeleteHi Lorri, Sounds and looks like you have a fantastic weekend. Family and friends make them so special. Hope you have a great week:)
ReplyDeleteI love this chatty post and the heart of the post-creator. Nice mosaics from life.
ReplyDeleteWhat a busy weekend you had - and wasn't the weather just perfect for it all!?
ReplyDeletelove the last one. really perfect harmony :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful mosaic of photographs - it looks so lovely and tranquil. The retreat sounds like a wonderful idea and I hope it's successful
ReplyDeleteA project such as that should be supported, but there will always be those who turn away, or make a fuss. I do hope it suceeds.
ReplyDeleteWoodwyn Farms sounds like a wonderful, well needed concept and I hope they have much success. It was so nice of you and your husband and other members of your church to help them this past weekend, Lorrie. Their grounds made lovely mosaics!
ReplyDeleteYour niece's children are adorable!
Your weekend had a good mix of work and pleasure; I imagine the two overlapped! I love the apple blossoms with the lovely blue background.
ReplyDeleteI love the way you go out into the world and help others. You are an inspiration to me.
ReplyDeleteMy weekend consisted of travelling to Vancouver to watch my daughter (the one who was diagnosed with cancer 9yrs ago and was told she had 2yrs max to live!) run the BMO Half Marathon!
Lovely pictures! Sounds like you had a fun weekend! :)
ReplyDeleteAmber
You packed quite a bit into your weekend. I hope that the farm gets off to a good start and the community excepts the benefit of it being there. Wonderful post Lorrie. Valerie
ReplyDeleteWhat a great place!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week,
Markus
Your post is inspirational Lorrie. It's wonderful that your church members would volunteer their time to help their community. I'm sorry to hear that the zoning has been turned down for the farm. If only those opposed could trust and lend a helping hand to those who are suffering the world would be a better place. Not one of us have lived who has not been helped by others. We're all better because someone gave us a chance or supported us or stood by us through troubled times. It's wonderful to see that the San Patrignano program is free to those who seek help with their addictions.
ReplyDeleteLove the old farm photos!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a wonderful place being planned. And there is nothing better than people working together on a project such as you all did on Saturday! Lovely photos!
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