My Frugal Holiday

I live in a large coastal city but seldom actually get to the waterfront.  I also live very close to many small and larger islands but seldom get to visit or sight see at these places.

This week I fulfilled a small dream of spending some very quiet time in the forest near the water.  Some place where I could enjoy the quiet of nature, the beauty of the ocean and completely relax for a few days.

Though I suggested to my friend that we go as foot passengers over the ferry to Vancouver Island, she preferred to take her car if I would share the cost.  I didn't really want to pay the cost of taking the ferry over but given we were sharing the cost I thought it was a fair deal.  Neither of us had ever been to the venue before and we didn't know whether we would have inclement weather at this time of year. It is not so fun to struggle with luggage through rainy weather.

The cost of ferry for the car and two passengers was our largest expense for the 2 night and 3 day getaway (all costs in Canadian dollars).  Total round trip cost of taking the car over the ferry was $165.00 (or $82.50 each).  Gas/fuel/petrol came to an additional cost of $12. round trip which my friend paid.  The accommodation cost was $137.00 (+ tax) each.

Our rooms included 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners, and several tea breaks each day.  Our room rates included use of the hot tub, sauna and gym (kayaks and bikes too but we did not use those).  The total cost of my portion of the holiday was $225.00.  The only additional cost I had was a $2.00 coffee (one way on the ferry).  Overall, I thought I was getting excellent value for what turned out to be a wonderful period of relaxation.  (My friend's additional cost was $55. because she decided she wanted to buy a fleecy vest with the lodge's logo on it as a memento of her holiday. This cost was entirely optional of course).

There is a variety of accommodation facilities at the "lodge".  There are numerous rustic cabins and several cosy and larger cottages. The place is extremely popular.  The vast majority of guests return at the same time of year, each year and stay in their favourite accommodations.  This makes it challenging to get the booking you would like.  I managed to make a booking about a month ago and I took whatever accommodation they gave me for a 2 night period in late October.

This little rustic, red cabin was my home for a few nights.

The little red cabin in the photo above was my home away from home.  It only had room for two single beds, a small closet, a dresser, nightstand, some lamps and a wood burning stove. Though the cabin didn't have a washroom or heating, it did have electricity and extra duvets were provided.  Washroom and shower facilities were very close by and shared by guest lodgers in a cluster of cabins located near by.  The shower room was well heated and lots of towels and floor rugs were on hand.

I made my bed for the picture.  Even though I was checking out I didn't want two messy beds in the photo.

I thought I would have a lot of free time to do crafts and read the latest of my books, Fall of Giants by Ken Follett.  There was no television, radio or internet service at the hotel but I found myself too busy to read much or do crafts.

Instead I spent a little time reading.  Most of the time I was relaxing in the lounge area and walking around the property and taking photos. I also went several times to the sauna and hot tub and spent a lot of time talking to other guests relaxing in the main lodge.  Most people were exceptionally friendly and wanted to talk to the new comers like my friend and I.

This lovely cabin was occupied by a sweet elderly couple from Ottawa, Ontario.  They were visiting with their son who stayed in a more rustic cabin with his wife.

The grounds had tennis courts, hot tub and sauna, gym facilities, and massage room. All of these amenities were located in different locations on the premises and everything except for massage services is included in the room price.  If you want a massage it will cost an additional $80 per hour. I opted for the free sauna and hot tub instead. 

I enjoy scenes like this.  There was a lot of driftwood on these beaches because the area is unprotected from the winds and waves.

It was foggy during much of my short stay but I didn't mind. It wasn't cold and the views were still very beautiful.

It's always thrilling to walk through old growth, coastal forests. These are "roads" in the photos but I also walked on dirt paths located high above the shoreline.

This is a view of the lodge from the direction of the water. I was taking the photo through the spider web which you can just make out in the foreground.

The path to the sauna and other cabins.

The main lodge had a huge lounge with a gigantic fireplace, a large dining room, a games room downstairs and rooms for guests who did not wish to stay in cottages or cabins.  Lots of boards games (backgammon, cribbage, scrabble, cards) were provided with lots of seating nooks, foot rests, throw covers and cushions for comfort.

The couple in the foreground immigrated to Canada from Israel and have been visiting the lodge for about 30 years.

On Saturday nights there is a jam session and dance for the guests. The menu is posted outside the dining room each day.

Weather on the way back was much improved. The sun was shining brightly.  However on the ferry ride it was very misty and foggy.

As we approached Horseshoe Bay, the sun was shining again though you can see some mist over the water. By the time we got to the city, the fog was rolling in.

Though the weather looks miserable it really wasn't that bad and the sun did break a few times over the course of our stay.  Sleeping in the little cabins was not cold either and we only had to build a fire each night as we prepared to retire. My friend enjoyed herself so much she wanted to return soon. Of course I enjoyed it too so we've already booked a return trip during warmer months before the summer begins.

Next time we will park the car at the ferry before boarding as foot passengers and then catch the lodge van on the other side.  The cost would be $27 (each) to park the car for 3 nights plus an additional $15.  to have the lodge to pick us up in their van once we disembark the ferry.  The total cost per person for getting to the lodge and back would then be $42.00, instead of $82.50 (each + gas/fuel/petrol).  We hope to extend our stay by 1 night which will increase our accommodation cost slightly.  If we wanted to save a few dollars more we could take a city bus to the ferry.  The savings for this approach is very minimal when compared to parking the car and sharing the cost of the parking.  It is also less convenient for transporting the luggage.  Another way we might shave a few dollars off the trip is if my friend's sister joins us.  We would save about $15. a night with a 3rd person sharing.

I don't know if I will be a lifetime guest of the hotel but I will certainly be enjoying the time I do get to spend there.

October in Vancouver

“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.” 

~ George Eliot

The Canadian Maple leaf.

I'm joining up a bit late with Our World Tuesday hosted by the lovely Lady Fi.

Skywatch in October

After a period of rain and cold in September we ended up having  marvelous weather for most of October.  I am so happy about that.

I took these skyshots on a day when I thought the clouds made a very interesting pattern against the sky.

I hope you enjoy them.

Have a wonderful Friday and a great weekend.

I'm joining in with Skywatch Friday here.

A big thank you to our wonderful hosts Sylvia, Sandy and Yogi.

CAL #3

“My mother taught me many craft and household skills but she never taught me to crochet. 
For that I have to thank her, as it meant I had to teach myself.” 
~ Pauline Turner

Well our Canadian Thanksgiving is over for another year.  It is always a fun holiday and a time to reflect on our blessings.  It is also time to check in with Ladybird Diaries and Chrissie Crafts again. They are the fabulous ladies who are hosting a crochet-a-long every week on Thursdays. Join in if you can.

I am working on an afghan with 4 basic colours (2 different blues, cream and gray) in a number of variations.

I did not have a lot of free time this week but I managed to make 6 hexies.

Slow and steady is better than nothing at all :-)

Notice the bumble bee and hexie (honeycomb) pattern on the tablecloth?

The three hexies on the right side of the photo are completely finished but the other 3 on the left still need to have the ends woven in.

 If you are joining in with Ladybird and Chrissie, I will be peeking in at your progress.

Happy crafting!

Thanksgiving Weekend

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Hello everyone! It is Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada and it has been a busy week so I haven't had a chance to post for a few days.

First up in the week I received a very nice package in the mail from my blogging friend Caroline at Lonicera's World  (please take a peek at her blog).  She wanted to do something nice for my mother who is dealing with the challenges of transitioning to a new care facility.  Thank you Caroline.  You are a sweetheart.

This delightful package contains truffles and shortbread biscuits. Mom will be so pleased when I am able to deliver them soon.

Right now I am investigating a new home group and Church body and I very much enjoyed getting to know people at the new places. They seem like a fine bunch. I even met some Africans from Uganda, Zimbabwe and Ghana which was a nice surprise.  Those of you who know me, know I have a heart for missions in Kenya and Africa in general.  Finding some "real" Africans at the worship service yesterday was unexpected and very welcome. There were more people from Africa who have recently come to Vancouver and are attending the Church.  Of course I only managed to meet a few of them but if I decide to make this my Church body then I will likely meet more of them.

The pastor was a very down to earth and welcoming guy.  I sense a pastor who is really working to accept people as they are and teach his congregants the same.  In other words, one is working toward building a body that loves without condition and judgement.  His communion message yesterday resonated with me as well.  It was about how Christ's message of eating and drinking in remembrance of him is really about breaking bread and eating with "family" as equals.  As members of the body we are all equal members of that family and we should be working toward seeing one another as human beings.  Not looking at one another where we see the colour of one another's eyes or skin. When we do that, there are still barriers between us.  We then had communion where each of us served one another.  We then had an opportunity to pray for one another as needed.  I am not doing justice to the message but it was a beautiful one.

One of the women I had met at Bible study a few days previously was seated behind me during the service.  She invited myself and several other congregants to lunch at her home.  Though I couldn't make it for the spontaneous invitation,  I was very touched. This has never happened anywhere, at any church I've ever gone to before. People these days seem to have a hard time showing hospitality to anyone.  I remember when I first came to this city, people were always inviting one another for lunch or dinner.  These days people still want to do that but most are too pressured for time.  But in this Church, I noticed the pastor was very much focussed on the message that we (the Church family) need to gather around tables (not just once or twice but on a regular basis) and eat and fellowship with one another.  Much of the family gathering will be done in individual homes and groups because the Church body is too large to enjoy eating all together every Sunday.

Other than that I have been busy making a few more pieces of my crocheted afghan. I didn't do so much this week but I did make some progress.  I also finally started sewing mom's quilt sandwich together. I am having some challenges with that one. Despite being very careful to smooth the backing fabric it keeps bunching up even while using a walking foot. I have had to redo a few little pieces here and there. I really will have to look into quilting spray glue.  I used it in the very first quilt I made and it made a world of difference.

I'm having people for buffet turkey dinner tonight.  So for now I've had to roll up the quilt and put the sewing machines away.   

My turkey is soaking in a bit of cool water because the core is a bit frozen.

The stuffing is ready to be put in the bird. I make it more moist than some people do. When it comes out of the bird it is very moist and tasty. These days everyone says don't cook the stuffing in the bird but I've never had any problems and neither did my mother when she used to cook the turkey.

Several hours later this is the cooked bird. I took the cover off the roasting pan for the last 20-30 minutes. It looks like I got it just in time.

I haven't had a chance to take any Fall foliage photos this year except for this one. I hope to go out early this week and get more if the weather cooperates.

I'm grateful for a number of things this year:  family, a mother who is still with us though I don't get to see her often, friends and the ability to make new ones, an opportunity to connect in a good church and home group, shelter, food, sunshine (because we often get rain), good books and good projects, and news that my friend's mother in Africa is doing better physically.  There are so many other things for which to be grateful.

If you are celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend, I wish you a wonderful time.
If you are not celebrating Thanksgiving, I hope you will have some time to reflect on your many blessings.  Even if things are not going well in our lives, there is always someone who is struggling with even worse things. It doesn't make our pain any less but it can help us to keep perspective and to be grateful for the things that we do have.

I am still trying to help Elvis in Kenya get enough funds to finish the medical studies he is currently enrolled in. Not a lot of support has been raised but whatever happens, I trust the Lord will somehow meet the needs. If you can pray or give that would be awesome. You can find out more to the top right of my blog.


Be well until next time.

CAL Update #2

I've joined in with Ladybird and Chrissie Crafts for a crochet-along. This is my 2nd update. It's given me the little push I needed to get started on an afghan throw for which I've had the yarn for a year or two.

So far I've made 30 + "hexie's" and woven in all the ends. I had to re-do 2 of them because I'd missed a petal outline in them. These were two of the first one's I'd made.

I started to stitch the hexie's together to get an idea of what they might look like. Then I got the bright idea to pin the pieces together with quilting safety pins. This way I can reposition hexie's if I decide I want a different layout. I'm hoping this will work as I've never done this before.

I'm liking how it is coming together but I will be repositioning a lot of these pieces.

Here are more "hexie's" and yarn waiting to be turned into more hexies.

Success & Gratitude

If you wish to succeed in life, make perseverance your bosom friend, experience your wise counselor, caution your elder brother, and hope your guardian genius.

~ Joseph Addison

Sometimes I view success in life as just having strength to get through the days.  

Don't you?

Then there are other times, when, success in life means some great achievements you've been working toward.

I've been fighting illness for some time with the coming change of weather. It wouldn't be so bad but for the fact I've been having great difficulty sleeping, I'm working long hours on multiple projects, doing a lot of reading, keeping up with the day to day household needs and missions.  Last but not least, I've got a lot to do concerning looking after my mother's urgent care needs. 

I just started to feel good about things and then something happens to take the wind out of my sails and cause me stress.

Soon things have to change but I keep putting one foot in front of the other in the meantime and ask God to help me because the hill often seems too hard to climb.

Mombasa sunset.

It is also at times like this that it is important to take time to reflect and consider the blessings in our lives despite the difficult patches, trials and challenges.

Very soon it will be Thanksgiving here in Canada.

I have much to be thankful for and I am very grateful for all the many blessings which I do have.

A new friend asked me what I was doing for Thanksgiving.

He was having a last dinner with his aunt who is transitioning to a life of retirement and soon for him a lot of what he has come to know and rely on as his annual holiday rituals will change. He is missing it before it has disappeared.

Life often brings changes for us. While we have certain people in our lives that we love to spend time with, it is important to appreciate them and let them know how much we love them.

I am having a dinner this Thanksgiving with a small group of loved ones.  Amongst other things I have to do this week (like crocheting, sewing, working on a community project, sending Christmas cards to my sponsored kids, following up on care needs of my mom and touching bases with friends), I will be getting things organized for the dinner.

What about you dear reader?

Do you have Thanksgiving plans?
What ever you do, I hope you enjoy and appreciate those you spend time with.

"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things 

which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has."

 ~ Epictetus

CAL and Today's Images

A few days ago I came across a Crochet-A-Long (CAL) at Ladybird Dairies and decided to join in.

I'm new to the African Flower pattern and I quite like it. I didn't choose vibrant colours like a true African flower would probably be.  I've selected muted shades in gray, off-white and a couple of different blues. I like the combination.  These yarns were purchased some time ago with the intention of making a throw but I wasn't terribly sure what pattern to make.

Now I've decided and participating in the CAL with Ladybird and Chrissie Crafts will give me some motivation.

Here are the pieces I've made so far.

I will try to make progress each week and link up with Chrissie Crafts on Thursdays. Why don't you join in if you like crochet?

After the heavy rainfall of the last few days it was so nice to get some glorious sunshine today. I was also super excited to find these real flowers on my way to meet a friend.

This photo gives a glimpse of the Fall colours on a busy city street. You can see downtown highrises in the distance.

This ballet school is an institution in Vancouver. The original operators are now retired and the daughter who is also a dancer has taken over.

I'm just experimenting with my camera in the next photos. I know I can get clearer macro shots if I practise.

A Glorious End to a Rainy Day

A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.

~ Albert Einstein

I've been mentioning heavy rains a lot in my posts of late.  That's because we've been experiencing heavy rains far too early in the season.  The heavy rains came on too suddenly after the very hot summer.  Normally we have a beautiful Fall season first. I love Fall and I don't want to miss the leaves before they all fall to the ground.  Heavy rains can make them fall before their time.

 

I was so pleased to see the sky which turned a magnificent light pink and purple at the close of day on Wednesday.

It doesn't take a lot to make me happy. 

Nature and her beauty always brings a smile to my face.

Joining up with Skywatch Friday. Thank you to all who visit and leave comments.

Downtown

Don't hang around and let your problems surround you
There are movie shows downtown
Maybe you know some little places to go to
Where they never close downtown

Lyrics from "Downtown", sung by Petula Clark in the 1960s

The Vancouver International Film Festival is happening in Vancouver again this week and continues next week.  There are so many wonderful films to choose from.

How does one make a choice?

Well in this case, one of the ladies I know looked for a 'feel good' film for a number of ladies and she came up with

"Fanie Fourie's Lobola"

It's another fantastic film from South Africa. It'll make you laugh and it will make you tear up too. 

I've seen 4 South African films in the last 2 years and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed every one of them.  There are some wonderful films coming out of South Africa. I hope they continue to put out such spectacular work for all to enjoy.

Here is a trailer and if it happens to visit your city please do try and see it.

While I was in the vicinity of the theatre venue I snapped these photos because I think it's always interesting to take a peek at the places where other people live.

As you can see, it is still raining here and it rained quite heavily as I made my way to the venue.  When I came out it had stopped raining. Tomorrow we will have sunshine and it will be nice to have respite from the rain.

I'm always fascinated by trees growing at the top of a building.

 

I like the variety of roof lines in this photo.

This is the same as the photo above but I like how it came out blurred.

I was trying to capture the mountains behind the red wall but once I crossed the street the mountains were out of view.

I really like the art work of the Madonna above the windows. It graces the front of a restaurant that I've yet to visit.

Every year the city holds it's Remembrance Day or Armistace Day services in the small park across the street (where you see the tall, cylindrical cement structure).

I like looking down at this colourful scene.  Clearly this wall had some focussed attention from grafitti artists.

The mountains are on the other side of the inlet. Also the community of North Vancouver is directly across. You can take a sea bus (ferry) at the terminal just to the left of the photo (red brick building peeking out).  It's a nice short ride and you can see a lot from the waterfront.

The brewing company building anchors one end of the Gastown neighbourhood. Gastown is where Vancouver began and it is now a lovely tourist area.

 I took a lot more drive by photos but they didn't turn out.


I hope you are having a great week so far!

Next Project

Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.

~ Roger Miller, Author

It's still raining here in Vancouver and quite chilly for this time of year.  I am still fighting some bug. I'm not so sick that I can't do anything but I don't feel so energetic and I have a bit of congestion.

It's good weather for reading which I have done a lot of this past week. I've read 2 and a half books this week and started two others. I've also put these books on hold at the library and will be picking them up later this week.  Normally I don't read quite so many books.  While I am in the mood for it I might as well get my reading done.  I literally have hundreds of books on my 'to read' list  and so I'll be busy for years to come. I keep adding to the list as I learn about  new books too.  It doesn't really matter if I read all of them.  The main thing is that I keep reading and challenging myself to read more each year.  Hopefully I will enjoy most of the books on my list.

The first in a series of books that follows the fates of five interrelated families (American, German, Russian, Welsh & English) as they move through the dramas of WW1, the Russian Revolution and the struggle for women's suffrage.

Follows the fates of five interrelated families--American, German, Russian, English, and Welsh--as they move through the dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for women's suffrage. - See more at: http://vpl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/2137499038_fall_of_giants#sthash.sNOAu9cy.dpuf

Follows the fates of five interrelated families--American, German, Russian, English, and Welsh--as they move through the dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for women's suffrage. - See more at: http://vpl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/2137499038_fall_of_giants#sthash.sNOAu9cy.dpuf

Follows the fates of five interrelated families--American, German, Russian, English, and Welsh--as they move through the dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for women's suffrage. - See more at: http://vpl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/2137499038_fall_of_giants#sthash.sNOAu9cy.dpuf

A twist on a travel memoir, Sarah Turnbull was supposed to spend a week in Paris but she meets Frederic who invites her to visit and what results becomes this story

A book by a highly acclaimed new author.  In her own words the book is about a "family saga that takes place in a fictionalized province of the Balkans. It’s about a female narrator and her relationship to her grandfather, who’s a doctor. It’s a saga about doctors and their relationships to death throughout all these wars in the Balkans."

These books ought to keep me busy for awhile.

During the rainy season it is also good to do some craft work. I did enough quilting last week, and still need to do more.  But in the meantime, I've started on my next project. I hope to finish it within the month but am not quite sure how it will all come together.

I'm not following a pattern. I will make all the pieces and attach them once I feel I have enough. I'm not sure how big I want to make it. This might be a gift and I'm keeping all the pieces in the same colours (two shades of blue, grey and off white) though the colours are not used in the same order in every piece.  Once the pieces are blocked and finished, they will more closely resemble hexagonal blocks.

I hope your week is going well.

Checking in with Our World Tuesday today.