Home Pursuits and a Tour to a Mountain Town

 

Frosty mornings this week, but sunny skies. I won't complain at all as I much prefer the brighter days, even if chilly, to dull grey and rain for days on end. The Hellebores are blooming, and the snowdrops. 

Since returning home earlier in the week there's been laundry to do, groceries to purchase, and cooking. Soup, granola, brownies, plus regular meals. It's good to get back to my own way of eating. 

One sunny morning in Mexico we boarded a sprinter-van with three other couples and drove out of Puerto Vallarta (PV) to San Sebastian del Oeste, an old silver mining town. I learned that PV was once the port for shipping the silver back to Spain in the time of the conquistadores. The road up the mountain was very steep in places, narrow and winding around dry canyons and dusty mountains. Our guide gave a running commentary on the landscape and economics of the area we drove through.

We stopped at an artisanal tequila factory just across the bridge in the above photo. I'm not fond of tequila, and tasting it in the morning just seemed silly. The other couples happily sipped away. Next stop was La Quinta Mary, a family-run coffee plantation where they grow, roast, and sell their coffee beans. I'm not a coffee drinker, but we purchased a bag of coffee beans to grind and serve here at home. The rest of the family loves coffee. 

San Sebastian is a well-preserved town with cobblestone streets, adobe houses, and colourful bougainvillea draped over walls and softening the landscape. 

Through the arch above is the original jail for the town, a dark and damp place. One bed is still there, used by the night watch. 

The local church was light inside, very pretty with blue and white walls and ceiling. Saint Sebastian is venerated as the patron saint of athletics, archery, and plagues. That's quite the portfolio. January 20 is his saint day and the town was gussied up with bunting in red and white. 

Wandering through the streets with narrow passageways, wooden gates, and tiles roofs reminded us both of the mountain villages in Ecuador. Isn't that blue sky beautiful?

The tour included a delicious lunch eaten on a shaded patio. A quesadilla, beans, fresh corn tortillas, chicken with molé sauce, and of course, rice. Fresh guava water was a refreshing accompaniment. 

We've found that taking tours is a great way to learn more about the places we visit. We use Viator - a platform that coordinates with local guides who are very knowledgeable. It's all done online. Our tours in Iceland last summer were organized this way, too. 

I'll be puttering in the house today, but definitely going outside to enjoy the sunshine! 

Arriving Home

 

After a trip, be it long or short, how wonderful it is to walk through my own front door. All the rooms seem to welcome me, enfolding me in familiarity and warmth. The amaryllis above was not at all open 10 days ago. Now it's in its glory and a second stem will flower soon. 

We arrived last night with time to unpack our suitcases before laying our heads on our own pillows and pulling up familiar covers and falling into deep refreshing sleep. 

I've spent the day doing laundry and buying groceries. Roasted a pan of cauliflower and one of butternut squash. Made a creamy broccoli soup with a hint of blue cheese. After doing no chores for awhile, I am enjoying slipping into the routines of house and home. 

Now, as the sun slips lower on the horizon, I've made a proper cup of tea (no tea bag dragged through hot water), and will enjoying catching up with a few blogs after writing this post.

Earlier, I ventured out to the garden to take a good look at the snowdrops now blooming despite the chilly temperatures. 

The Hellebores are also in bloom, heads nodding downwards so that I must tip them up to see them properly. 

Our visit to Mexico was lovely. Tim's sister and her husband live in Puerto Vallarta, and January seemed like a good time to visit them. We stayed in a hotel, spending time on our own as well as with family. It was fun to speak Spanish again, and to be part of the Latin American culture once again. 

I'll share some of the sights we saw on our trip in future blogs. For now, I'm reveling in being at home. 

Popping in to say hello

 

A quick post from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where the sun shines most of the day and the temperature is pleasant, but not hot. 

Sunset over the Pacific Ocean. 

Art on the Malecon walk. 

We’ve been walking a lot and climbed a very steep hill to the viewpoint of El Cerro de la Cruz. Gorgeous views. We’ve seen whales and dolphins, lots of different birds, and iguanas. 

Posting from my phone - my excuse if things look wonky!  

Slow and Calm

 

Happy New Year! I can still say it on this Epiphany, this 6th day of January. Slow and calm describes the past days here, days filled with reading, gentle housekeeping, walks between the daily rainfalls, and visits with friends and family. A lovely week. 

The book stack above is of my new books, some gifts, some purchased by me. I've finished We Three Queens, and am dipping into A Garden A Day every few days or so. There's another stack of library books I returned today and hope to update my reading list on the sidebar soon. 

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, 

for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: 

it is the time for home."

Edith Sitwell

Our winter has been unseasonably warm thus far. I had a pot of paperwhites on the porch, but they were slow to open, so I brought them inside. Their fragrance isn't as strong as I remember, but still sweet, giving a hint of spring. 

Isn't that a lovely fox? I received a spiral bound notebook for Christmas with the cover drawn by 5-year-old Iris. The drawing was guided orally by the teacher, but the work is Iris' own. Notebooks and other items with the drawings (by each of the children) are fundraisers for the school. I find it so charming, but have not yet decided what to write in the notebook. 

It's taken me all day to write this post between various tasks, and as evening draws in, it will also be slow and calm. I wish the same for you.

Through the Year 2024

 

Twelve photos of the past year, moments of beauty, love, and whimsy. It's difficult to choose just twelve when a year contains thousands of memories. This idea is not my own, blatantly taken from Coastal Ripples. Thank you to B.

January - An exceptionally cold spell had us all concerned about our gardens. The snowdrops showed no signs of stress, but elsewhere the stone fruit crop was ruined, meaning no peaches come summer. We've had a very warm autumn/winter until now and I wonder what lies ahead for the remainder of winter. Snowdrops are beginning to bloom here once again.

February saw us go to the west of our island to explore the tidal pools at Botanical Beach. Lots of wildlife of the bird and sea sort to observe.

March - The scent of Skunk Cabbage in spring wafts from marshy and wet spots alongside trails. Bright yellow and highly fragrant, this plant is unmistakable. We saw this one on a hike at East Sooke Park.

April saw the family gather for the 90th birthday of my Dad, seen here with my grandchildren. A fun time of celebration! 

May - The Northern Lights put on a spectacular show at a beach near us. Seeing the lights dance and sway in the sky was truly a highlight.

June, and we were off to Europe, spending time in Leiden and seeing part of the Netherlands. I was charmed by all the canals and homes in the medieval quarter. Would love to return one day.

July, and our trip continued on a cruise to Iceland and Scotland. Nootka Lupins covered the hills with gorgeous blue flowers. I loved the vast landscapes, the charming towns, and interesting history of Iceland. 

August - A family camping weekend with the tradition of making donuts one day. Everyone helped with the glazing. An indulgent tradition that is a lot of fun. 

September - A camping trip to the Rockies. Hiking, swimming, kayaking, and watching bears watch us filled our days. We live in such a beautiful country.

October and we returned to the wild west coast to watch the waves crash in from the Pacific. Exhilarating!

November - A little girl blowing bubbles in the garden provided a bit of magic. What fun she had making them, and what fun I had watching her delight. 

December has been a busy one. I did complete the pajamas for the grandchildren - flannelette bottoms for the elder three and nightgowns for the little girls. I asked them to bring them here on Christmas so that I could photograph them together. What a fun bunch of lovely humans. 

Wishing you all a joyous beginning to 2025!

The Week Between the Years

 

I sit in the glow of Christmas lights on the tree and the mantel. Darkness fell early on this late December afternoon. It's been a slow and delightful day. A few morning chores followed by a walk. 

There's a smile lifting the corners of my mouth as I ponder the past few days. A beautiful Christmas Eve service with candlelight. Christmas morning with just the two of us. A quiet dinner with one of our children's families while the others celebrated with their in-laws. A Boxing Day gathering with the 13 of us feasting and exchanging gifts. The gatherings continue into tomorrow when my siblings and parents arrive from the mainland for another dinner. 

I mentioned our walk - we went to Tod Inlet. The stream that trickles in summer is a rushing torrent these days. We spied a foam donut bobbing beneath the little waterfall. A perfect circle of foam created by the swirling water. I've never seen anything like it.

Shrubs and deciduous trees are bare and brown. The dull background makes the bright green mosses pop with vibrancy. Lung Lichen (Lobaria pulmonaria) is everywhere, clinging to twigs and trees. Smaller mosses cover trees with soft green.

Early afternoon on this day of dull light made taking pictures tricky. Birds of all kinds floated on the dark water - cormorants, bufflehead ducks, gulls, and others too distant for identification. 

No snow this year. We've had an exceptionally warm December. Who knows what January will bring? We admired the rushing water as we retraced our steps out of the woods. A beautiful bit of fresh air and exercise. 

Home again for a cup of tea and a rum ball or two. I'm in no hurry to bid farewell to this season. There will be a jigsaw puzzle, more mulled wine, and cheering gatherings over the next few days. A lovely week between the years. 

Merry Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas!

Just popping in on the morning of the 24th to wish you all a most merry and blessed season. 

May joy fill your hearts.

"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth, peace among men..."

Traditions Old and New

 

Oh the rain. It drums down on the skylight. There are great puddles on the streets and sheets of water spray when cars drive through them. Indoors, the dark skies have me turning on all the lights during the day. Candle light on the breakfast table adds a special glow. One little granddaughter was over this morning and watched the twirling trees and deer for a long while, her little head resting on her hands.  

I've been thinking about traditions and have concluded that no matter how much we plan to do the same things each year, it's impossible. Children are a year older and so are the adults. People change. Circumstances change. 

I love Christmas music and began playing it in mid-November. Then I had that ear infection. It's gone and I feel great, but my plugged ear continues. The doctor told me it could take 6 weeks or more before the pressure equalizes and I regain full hearing. Meanwhile, music is not enjoyable. Sounds reverberate in my head. Singing sounds odd. I cannot bear to listen to music in a church. So, this will be the Christmas without music. Sad, but it's just one of those things. 

However, the little granddaughter I mentioned earlier loves to sing. While she colored stars today I heard her singing the chorus to "Angels We Have Heard On High" - the long drawn out "Gloria in Excelsis Deo" sung so sweetly, with perfect pitch. And my heart melted. A little gift of music. 

Something new I'm doing this year is painting an Advent calendar along with Harriet de Winton on Youtube. Each morning there is a new little design to draw and paint with watercolour. Some of my squares are more successful than others, but it's a personal treat that I look forward to doing each day. 

There are still plenty of traditions to enjoy in the days to come. Despite people never being quite the same from year to year, doing the same things builds connection, establishes values, and is lots of fun! 

Wishing you unexpected gifts today. 

A Visit to Butchart Gardens

 

On a chilly night we donned down-filled jackets, toques, and gloves for a walk through Butchart Gardens, known worldwide for its magnificent flower displays. In December the garden is transformed by thousands of lights twinkling brightly to enchant young and old alike. 

The voices of carolers travel through the clear cold air in perfect harmony. 

Children and adults have fun at the tree whose lights react to clapping, becoming brighter as the noise increases. The Rose Carousel is always a hit with the younger set. We skipped that this time but wouldn't dream of passing it by if the grandchildren were with us. 

Visitors have fun looking for characters from The Twelve Days of Christmas in clever displays throughout the gardens. My favourite are the Three French Hens enjoying tea with the Eiffel Tower in the background. 

More than one visitor looks in vain for the last characters - the twelve drummers drumming. They are not visible until one leaves the gardens and passes under the lighted arches with those drummers perched merrily above. 

My younger daughter and I made Rum Balls one day. They have become a family favourite and it's hard to stop at one. Doing things together is also a Christmas tradition. 

Tim and I decorated the tree and remarked how quickly the years have passed since we had little ones excited about hanging ornaments on the branches. Memories surge. "Remember where we bought this ornament?" "So and so made this for us." Christmas is a time to remember friends and family, and events of long ago, or just last year. 

I made this ornament many years while living in the jungle of South America. How I longed for the Christmas weather I was accustomed to. Now, I still wish for snow. We see so little of it here on our west coast island. 

It's mid-afternoon as I finish this post. Strong winds have howled around the house all day, with spatters of rain to change it up at times. I've been baking, with Tim's help. He's becoming a great sous-chef. Shortbread, Chocolate Cherry Cookies, and Butter Tarts are cooling and headed for the freezer. Light is fading fast and soon we'll close the blinds, turn on all the twinkling lights and stay cozy while the weather does what it will. 

Boats, Baking, Books, and Candles

 

The days pass, busy but not frantic. The rain has let up for a few days and there have been patches of sunshine. Clear weather on the night of the lighted boat parade meant no raincoats. We walked along the waterfront and marina before dark. How calm the water, reflecting those tall masts perfectly. 

We stood on the pier and waved at the boats going by. Happy voices called out "Merry Christmas" from shore to boat and boat to shore. What fun it is to be part of a crowd of people intent on simple joys. 

I baked cookies this morning - Rugelach - a Christmas favourite. They are small and two made a nice accompaniment to my afternoon cup of tea. 

Our postal system is on strike and it doesn't look like things will be cleared up before Christmas. I'm writing cards for those I can hand them to personally, but otherwise, cards are off the list for this year. I feel for the small businesses who rely so heavily on mail orders at this season. 

I tied up an old German hymnbook with the musical notes along with my grandmother's old German hymnal, with no music score. My grandmother's hymnal was published in 1895 and has her father's name written in it with Chortitza - the colony in Ukraine where he once lived. 

Scented candles don't appeal to me very much, but Frasier Fir by Thymes is one that fills the house with scents of fir and cedar. I like it very much and a small votive like the one on the books above lasts for a long time. 

It's late in the day now and I've still not published this post. It's time to do so and settle in with my book. The fire glows and pools of lamplight cast warmth just where we need it. Wishing you a quiet evening and a lovely day.