Monday, June 20, 2022

A Weekend Away

 


Along the highway curving up our Island, daisies wave in the wind among the long grasses lining the road. In a few places, purple lupins stand tall, just beginning to bloom. And everywhere is green, from chartreuse to emerald, all joyous in the sunshine. 


Our anniversary isn't until next month, but this was the weekend that worked for a family getaway. Sadly, one family had to cancel at the very last minute because of illness. Oh, how we missed them. They are recovering well, and we are thankful.
Above is the view from our hotel. At low tide the beach was exposed almost to the point of the nearest bit of land on the right. We walked out one afternoon, over a kilometre, wading through sun-warmed tide pools and squelchy sand. 


Along a log visitors pile up stones and leave them all in a row for others to add to. 


The weather was not terribly warm, but we did manage both beach time and pool time. Here are the littlest ones enjoying the mud on the beach. I love their hats that protect their delicate skin both back and front. 


Tide pool art. There is so much life to observe - tiny crabs, sand dollars, determined snails, waving eel grass - it's a miniature world. 


There was a visit to the wonderful playground in Parksville - definitely the best playground I've ever seen. So many activities for kids of all ages. And an ice cream truck. Grandpa treated the grands. This picture makes me both happy and sad, as one grand is missing. 


We ate well, slept well (mostly), and enjoyed each others' company. I cut a bouquet of peonies before leaving home to place on the table of our suite. How beautiful they are, so elegantly ruffled and fragrant. 

School is now finished and I have completed my reports. I still have to tidy up my room, and attend graduation on Wednesday. I'm looking forward to spending more time in my garden, and at my sewing machine. Our weather is still rather cool with much cloud. I keep hoping for sunnier, warmer days, but will have to make do with what we have. Experts say this system might break mid-July! That seems very far away. 

29 comments:

  1. Oh, ice-cream! the ultimate treat for kids everywhere in the world.
    The photo with the grands licking ice-cream is priceless!

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  2. A shame you couldn't all be there but these things happen ...
    Your photographs are wonderful and I just love the one with them all enjoying an ice-cream.

    All the best Jan

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  3. Love the daisies and your four sweeties. It sounds like a great weekend although one family was missing.

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  4. Looks like a wonderful getaway, although I understand how bittersweet it must have been with one family missing. Glad to hear that they are recovering well. The little ones in their sun hats are precious. What a great photo. I have only seen a tide pool once in California many years ago. I was totally fascinated and quite enjoyed your tide pool art. I found myself wishing I could reach in there for one of those sand dollars.

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  5. What a nice way to celebrate an anniversary! I'm sad to hear one family had to stay home due to illness but glad to hear they are doing well. I was amazed at all the life you saw in the tide pool, and the ice cream/ grandchildren photo is perfect!

    Our weather got really hot all at once and it's dry again. I'll trade you for some wet and cool weather!

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  6. I love the picture of the two sweeties playing in the mud.

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  7. Hi Lorrie~ What a fun time! Your photographs are just so beautiful! I especially loved the photos of the sweet little's, what beautiful children. The photo of the sand dollars is so pretty, it would be beautiful framed! Thanks for sharing all the beauty!! Hugs, Barb

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  8. Memories at the beach last forever, sights, and the special ocean perfume.

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  9. Love the hats on your little grands. So cute. Glad you could get away. Ice cream is such a fun treat. We might be getting more than one day with sunshine according to the weather reports. Waiting to see it that becomes a reality.

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  10. Ahhh. July will be here before we know it. What a wonderful time the family must have had to be together and just relax. I always enjoy your nature photos and always the children are a joy. I'm not sure which is my favorite--maybe the big scoop of blue ice cream! I'd gladly share some of our heat with you.

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  11. Loved, loved, loved the photos especially the shots of your grands. How cute!

    The photo of the sand dollars is beautiful.

    Happy Tuesday!

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  12. What a beautiful weekend away Lorrie, and Happy Anniversary. The beach looks very enticing, and time spent with the grands is always delightful. I love the Canadian little stone piles, very special whenever we see them. What a great gardener you are, those peonies are absolutely gorgeous. Well done.

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  13. Sweet time together. I have a married daughter who lives 12 hours away. We don't get to see them often so I understand the sadness of missing them at family gatherings!

    Hurray for grandpa's who buy ice cream!

    Happy Anniversary to you and Tim!

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  14. How wonderful to get to spend time together and hope the one that was sick is better now. Love the little miniature world you captured in a photo! How amazing! Oh and the mud....love playing in the mud!

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  15. Popped in from a mutual friends blog. It's always fun to meet new bloggers. Sounds like you had a wonderful getaway. Cute pictures of the little ones. Your Peonies are beautiful.

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  16. As always, your photographs are stunning. I took the time this morning to click on each one on my laptop to see it closer. Such art! I agree with the above commenter who suggested that the tide pool photo should be framed!

    Of course, the grand photos warm my heart! So sorry that one was missing on this special trip! With our large family (and some living far away), it seems there is always someone who is not here. They are always missed!

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  17. It seems as you had a very nice time together. I love the pictures of your grandchildren, mine are coming in August.
    Your peonie is beautiful !
    It will be nice for you to end the school days !

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  18. Hi Lorrie,

    What a nice getaway for you and Happy Anniversary to you both. That is a gorgeous peony!! I love the tide pool art, and I'm amazed to see those sand dollars; we never find those on our beaches. All your grands are darling, and those two youngest are adorable. :D :D I'm sorry part of your family was sick but glad to read that they are recovering. Wishing you a lovely week there in Canada; I believe we're getting your hot weather -- in spades. Take care, Lorrie!

    Hugs,

    Denise

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  19. It is hard to have one set of family missing, but I hope there will be other occasions when you can be together.
    I have always wondered exactly what a sand dollar was, thank you for the photo.

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  20. Lorrie, this looks as though a lovely time was had by all, especially the little ones enjoying their ice cream.
    Your peonies are glorious - and to me, they truly are the 'Queen of the Garden.
    We are back up in the 9o's for the week - so hot. Reminds me of coastal VA. Lorrie, our anniversary is next month also. 50 years on July 1.
    Have a beautiful week and enjoy the summer days.

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  21. Lovely getaway with the family, I am sure that the family that could not join you were equally disappointed too. Iris looks as if she is really enjoying her blue icecream.
    Very hot here, I don't like to complain, but a bit cooler suits me better.

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  22. I do hope you are getting a bit more sunshine this week. Finally today the sun began to shine here. What a lovely get-away to celebrate an anniversary. Happy anniversary. I love the tide pools and taking flowers for your room.

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  23. It sounds like a wonderful getaway! I am sorry that one family could not make it. Your plans for the summer sound perfect.

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  24. What a soothing and cheerful post, Lorrie!
    So many beautiful photos... The one with piled stones is one of my favourites but the one with little cute faces enjoying their ice creams is indeed priceless.
    Happy Midsummer!

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  25. How fun to get an early getaway for your anniversary, Lorrie. I love seeing the kids and enjoying ice cream is the best. I went and treated myself to a yogurt swirl after my lunch today.
    How nice that you'll be retired again!! I read in your previous post that your daughter will be teaching Spanish. She follows in her mother's footsteps.

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  26. How nice to get almost the entire family together for such a nice kind of get away. The grands sure love their ice-cream - well, who doesn't? I love the pictures from the beach, especially the log with the cairns. We saw something similar on a beach along the Sunshine Coast some years ago. I hope your weather will become more summer-like very soon. Mid July sounds very far away indeedn.

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  27. Lorrie - daisies are coming up all over around our house; blooms have not yet formed - I am hopeful! Love the pictures of your grands. I have been thinking about ice cream lately, but it has been much too cool to get inspired! We are still waiting for summer to arrive!

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  28. Lovely photos...

    Lovely trip all round...

    For those able to make it....

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  29. Staying quite cool-ish here too... But better than heat/humidity...

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