Harrison Lake Cruise!

The day improved to perfection for our cruise on Harrison Lake. Bev and her husband have the perfect boat for cruising with a crowd on the lake.

 

Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale,
A tale of a grateful trip
That started from this tropic port
Aboard this tiny ship.

 

The mate was a mighty sailing man,
The skipper brave and sure.
Nine passengers set sail that day
For a two hour tour, a two hour tour

 

 

 

 

Oh no! Where’s Julie? It took me a while on the boat to notice she was missing from the boat tour…

 

The weather started getting rough,
The tiny ship was tossed,
If not for the courage of the fearless crew
The minnow would be lost, the minnow would be lost.

 

 

 

The ship set ground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle
With Bev and Ellen
The Skipper too,
Lovella, Betty, Char
Kathy and Marg…the Social Queens
with Judy and Anneliese,
Here on Gilligans Isle.

 

No phone, no lights no motor cars,
Not a single luxury,
Like Robinson Crusoe,
As primative as can be.

So join us here each week my friends,
You’re sure to get a smile,
From ten stranded castaways,

Here on “Gilligan’s Isle.”

Thanks for bearing with me in using the good ole Gilligan Island theme song in describing our trip. We were never stranded or in danger and were even treated to wonderful snack on board the “minnow” that Kathy and Marg put together for us. Cheese, fruit, crackers and refreshing drinks were served on board. Another memorable experience with the Mennonite Girls!


 

The Farm Markets Welcomed Us…

We have two farm markets that advertise on the Mennonite Girls Can Cook blog and it was so much fun for the 10 of us to overwhelm them on Tuesday afternoon. We were treated to special greetings and great tours. I wish they were close enough to me so I could shop there regularly.

 

We started off at Neufeld Farms where we were greeted warmly with this great sign that an employee made.

There were so many things I would have loved to buy here if I only lived closer.

At Lepp Farm Market we found another willing employee to take on all our cameras for a photo shoot!

 

We were treated to a great tour that showed us all the wonderful local products that you could buy and enjoy.

Bev bought these baby blossoming zucchinis for us to enjoy at a BBQ at her home on Wednesday Evening.

It was so fun to hear that this great store started as a little corner corn stand!

Oh and our first day in British Columbia it rained all day long with no let up at all! After shlepping about in the rain we headed to Anneliese’s house for our first dinner together. Post coming shortly.

Oh Canada!

Growing up I was immersed in a Russian Community that used cousin, aunt and uncle loosely. We always had more “relatives” then a proper genealogy record would prove. I just inherited 9 girl cousins from Canada. Our cousin connection comes from our love for each other, similar upbringing, blogging, and recipes that our ancestors brought out of Russia and Germany. I will be sharing the wonderful bonding experiences we had during our 3 days together soon.

 

Here are the Mennonite Girls (MGCC) minus me and I now know first hand they really can cook! Starting in the back, Judy from My Front Porch, Marg from Home Again, Lovella from What Matters Most, Julie from Pearls in A Nutshell, Betty,  Anneliese from For Everything a Season, Bev from Kaleidoscopes, Kathy, and Charlotte.

Here’s the same photo with me in it. I borrowed it from one of my cousins who happened to post this same photo spot on her blog. Thanks Judy!

Thank you girls for all the good food, laughter, prayers, and fun we had! Till we meet again…

Photobucket replaced all my photos with ugly black and grey boxes and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.

Outdoor Wednesday ~ Autumn Walks

 

I enjoy walking in the cooler weather that Autumn generally brings.

To see more of the Outdoors visit our hostess Susan at A Southern DayDreamer.

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Tuesday Afternoon in Vancouver, B.C.

Tuesday, afternoon,

 

Tuesday, afternoon,
I’m just beginning to see,
Now I’m on my way,
It doesn’t matter to me,
Chasing the clouds away.

 

Something, calls to me,
The trees are drawing me near,
I’ve got to find out why
Those gentle voices I hear
Explain it all with a sigh.

 

I’m looking at myself, reflections of my mind,
It’s just the kind of day to leave myself behind,
So gently swaying thru the fairy-land of love,
If you’ll just come with me and see the beauty of

Tuesday afternoon.
Tuesday afternoon.

 

Tuesday, afternoon,
I’m just beginning to see,
Now I’m on my way,
It doesn’t matter to me,
Chasing the clouds away.

 

Something, calls to me,
The trees are drawing me near,
I’ve got to find out why
Those gentle voices I hear
Explain it all with a sigh.

ht: Moody Blues

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Mosaic Monday ~ Vancouver, B.C.

 

All of these views were taken at Stanley Park in Vancouver, B.C. this past Tuesday. My daughter Katie and I drove up to Canada from the Seattle area for the day.

To see more mosaics or to join in with your own mosaic visit Mary at The Little Red House.

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Eating Our Way Through Two Countries!!

 

My daughter Katie and I set out on a rainy adventure through the top left corner of the U.S.A. to Canada on Tuesday. Just before we got to the border of the U.S.A. and Canada we stopped at the Blackberry House Cafe in Blaine. Friends of ours own the cafe and we wanted to check it out since we were in the neighborhood. What a great spot for some good eats and good coffee. We had a little visit and bought some fresh bread to take home. Make sure you stop by sometime at H street and 3rd!

 

Here are the owners and our yummy breakfast. Aaron is a pastry chef. Sorry the photo is a little blurry…

They let us across the border after a few questions as to our purpose for visiting the fine country of Canada. We told them we were visiting to go to lunch. They wanted to know where we planned to eat. We said “Stanley Park”. They wanted us to be more specific so we said, “The Teahouse Restaurant in Stanley Park”. That was the right answer so they let us proceed!

 

I think our food choices at the Teahouse Restaurant look like something you’d get served on Top Chef. Don’t let the name of this restaurant fool you. It’s not about the Tea here but it is about some very good food.

After lunch we spent some time at the Aquarium in Stanley Park and then enjoyed seeing some beautiful views under dry skies before we headed back to the Border.

When we got to the border we were asked some more questions to see if we were worthy to re-enter our country. They were concerned about agricultural products. They wanted to know where we ate, too. I’m wondering if the Border Patrol are compiling a book on most frequented eateries in Canada…

 

After all those questions about food we got hungry again and stopped at Taco Lobo in Bellingham. Lovella had given this spot a good review and she was right. We got there at 4:45 and ordered our food and as our food arrived the place filled up to overflowing.

If nothing else you can rest assured if you ever travel with us you won’t be hungry!!

And just for the curious if you have a smooth border crossing you can make it from my house to Vancouver in 2-1/2 to 3 hours.

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Oh Canada!

Tomorrow is my daughter’s last day off before her last quarter of University starts so since I’m in town we decided to head up to Vancouver B.C.  Sure the forecast says that it will be the coldest rainiest day this week but hey we are adventurers. We’ll don our gortex and sensible shoes and see what we can see through the rain and wind. We’re headed for the Teahouse at Stanley Park for lunch. It’s not your traditional Teahouse so we won’t be having high tea but we will enjoy some good eats.

I apologize for not getting around these days. My time here is short and there seems to be so much more to do here then at the little condo in Southern California. Hope you all are enjoying the first full week of Fall. I’m enjoying being cold! Blessings…

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

Window Views ~ Washington State Ferry

My Window Views this week were all taken on a Washington State Ferry from Anacortes, through the San Juan Islands to Sidney on Vancouver Island, Canada.

 

Our ride was mostly misty, moisty, foggy…

 

 

 

Another Ferry through the mist…

 

As we approached Vancouver Island things got brighter.

 

For more Window Views or to join in the fun click here. Thank you Mary for hosting this event…

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.

More from Butchart!

Welcome to my Outdoor Wednesday brought to you from the land of our lovely neighbors to the North…Canada!!  Please visit Susan at A Southern Daydreamer to see more outdoor posts…

I’m thinking this post will also be my Outdoor Wednesday Post but I’m going ahead and posting it now. There are so many wonderful things to see at Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island. Warning: This post has several photos!! I caught some flack for not having any photos of me on this post so I’m adding this one of Dear and I…

If you ever get a chance I would highly recommend a trip to Butchart Gardens!

Photobucket is holding all my photos that I stored on their site from 2007-2015 hostage replacing them with ugly grey and black boxes and asking for a large ransom to retrieve them. It is a slow process to go through all my posts deleting the ugly boxes.