Day 12: Last Day

We tried to do a bit of everything today as we are leaving in the late morning tomorrow. A bit of tidying, putting the boat away and all the floaties, we smoked three of the salmon, and then eaded to Rathtrevor for one last hurrah. The tide was so far out that after walking for a looooong time, I looked back to our spot on the beach, then looked at the water, and realized I was only halfway. I've used it as exercise time in the past because walking over the rippling wet sand works your legs amazingly. Today I felt lazy, though, and returned to te blankets and cooler for a beverage and my knitting needles. The others played bocce and threw the football. Usually when the tide is out there are large tide pools full of warm water for the kids to play in, but they weren't there this year. So we just stayed hot and dry.

I'll miss looking at sandy shoulders. I won't miss sandy bedsheets, though!

In the evening, the grandparents looked after the five kids and we went out for dinner with Dan and Johanne. We went to the Rod and Gun. Classic Parksville. We haven't been there in years but had such lousy service at the new resort down the street that we decided to forgo the view and actually get treated well. We laughed a lot, drank a little too much, and walked two blocks home to laugh some more on the back porch.

Day 11: More Sockeye

There was another 4:30am wake up to go fishing. This time, Faire got to go. She was so excited, and had a good time, but oh, she was so tired when they returned.

Jay and Dan fileted all the salmon, and I wrapped. Tomorrow morning I'm smoking three of them.

(I call Dan Kenny Chesney because he looks like a country western star when he's dressed for fishing.)

Day 10: Cameron Lake

A day at Cameron Lake. We go to an area that isn't as well-known, and almost always have the beach to ourselves.

The kids ride the tube, or float, or frolic in the cool water. It's so refreshing to take a dip after baking in the sun for a while. Takes the core temperature right down so you can go and bake some more ;)

This year Pop Pop even got back on the skis! The kids were most impressed with their grandfather.

Jay on the move.

Day 9: The Annual Gathering of the Family

Loryl and Barry hosted the annual gathering of the Jarvis clan at their home in Qualicum Beach. This year there were 43 of us. What I love most is that most of us see each other once a year, but as soon as we say "hello", we pick up where we left off. I love this family I married into.

Jason, with Shea and Isla.

Sweet Mira.

The lovely woman on the left is the newest "addition" to the clan. She is expecting twins in November! This will be great-grandchildren numbers 18 and 19 for Jay's grandma.

Al and Jason, admiring the view.

Carl impressed us all with is guitar-playing skills. Al also played a bit, then Marilyn (my mom-in-law) sang later in the evening.

Dan and Johanne. He's like a brother to Jay, and they simply live too far away from us. They are leaving for Australia in January for a year, which means we won't see them next summer. We're trying not to think about that.

Cousins. Dan, Kelly, and Jason. These three always have a great time together.

Faire and her Daddy.

Shea Boy.

Too bad the view was so bad.

haha.

At the end of the night, all the kids got flashlights.

Day 8: Early Evening in The Yard

We are at Rathtrevor Beach at some point most days, but we usually keep to the yard in the evenings. We get a nice breeze off the water, and even on the scorching days, the temperature in the back yard is perfect. The adults hang out on the porch with the daily cocktail (I made sangria tonight) and the kids do their thing in the yard.

Not the clearest photo of Maya and Faire entertaining Isla.

Shea and Carl befriending a neighborhood cat.

Day 7: Dinner Menu

Faire writes up the dinner menu each night on a little chalkboard I found. More grilled salmon tonight. I sense much sockeye in my immediate future...

Day 6: Gone Fishing

Jay, Dan and Carl got up at 4:30am to head up to Port Alberni to fish. They came home in the afternoon with 11 Sockeye! Jay is not a fisherman, and usually his fumbling around on a boat is cause for many laughs. It was no different this time. They still ended up with a lot of fish though, despite, as they said "doing everything they possibly could to lose the fish on the line!"

We have a very helpful neighbor on the Island who loves to fish. He came over when we got home and set up a fish fileting station. His wife wrapped and labelled the fish for us when he was done. All without being asked. Kind people still exist! We invited them over for a salmon BBQ that evening to celebrate the bounty.

Day 5: Local "Fooding"

I can only go so long without my typically local diet. It feels wrong to eat any other way now.

So today the five of us headed into Qualicum for the Farmer's Market. The huge, annual St. Mark's Fair was happening as well, so we browsed a bit, ate mini doughnuts (hey, it's a Fair!) and listened to a great Australian singer, Kim Campbell. Bought his CD, some locally spun alpaca yarn for my upcoming cool-weather hat, some berries, and veggies, even a set of wooden mind-teaser toys, and felt oh so much better about life in general. When we left the house, the kids were miserable to leave their cousins, but after a very short time, they forgot about it. I bring them to markets or to the grocery store with me as often as possible. I want them to know where food comes from, and how much work it is to have a meal end up on the plate. And they rarely complain when we're there. I let them choose ingredients and they try new tings. And we spend quality time together. Win-win.

On the way back home, we stopped at Qualicum Cheeseworks. Yum. I love their cheese, and their farm. The kids got to visit with the animals, and I stocked up on local pork. Their breakfast sausages are soooo good, if you're into that sort of thing. I wish they'd bring their meat to the Vancouver Farmer's Market.

Day 4: Floating Down The River

We're packing the van with 9 people and every floatie we can find to spend the next couple of hours floating down the Englishman River to where it meets the sea.

The camera is staying home for this one!

Day 3: The Mermaid

Back at the beach. Isla got buried in sand to make a mermaid tail.

Yesterday while I was knitting in the sun, the family next to us were passing around cold Coronas. I was admittedly a little jealous. So this was my beach "snack" today!

Day 2: Rathtrevor Beach

Hands down, our favourite place on Earth. It is so huge that there is space for everyone, even if everyone wants to play a game of beach baseball. Or beach bocce. Or beach football. Or throw a frisbee looooong distances. We have done all those and more. We know the best spot and it's even quieter than the rest of the beach. Two years ago, we put the ashes of one of our favourite men out to sea here. A year ago, dear friends married here. This is our place.

Day 1: Big, Deep Breath

Ahhh, we're back to the Island, where in the summertime, the livin' is easy.
Down the road from our house is the Parksville Beach, which is being developed with much controversy. One nice addition is a boardwalk. However, we were shocked by how much busier the beach was now that access is so much easier. Ahh, always a downside...

I got to sit in the breeze and knit while Jay headed into the water with the kids. You can go on forever without it passing your knees and it's a lovely temerature.

Okanagan Memories: On the Dock

We had a whirlwind weekend in the Okanagan at Sarah and Padra's place. They were kind enough to open their home not only to us, but also to Jay's cousin Dan and his wife and two kids from Edmonton. We holiday together on the Island every summer. This year we met for a weekend in Kelowna before continuing on to Parksville. There were 14 of us in all, so there was much laughter, chaos, and good food (if I do say so myself!). But nothing was broken, and nobody squabbled, and there was luckily a boat big enough for us all!!

Each day found us down on the dock. A double kayak, two longboards, numerous floaties, water fight supplies, and a cooler with cold beer kept us happy and occupied!

A view of the dock from up on the porch

A relaxing float

Jay and Dan out on the longboards.

Maya takes Faire and Kai for a ride.

Johanne finally convinced a pensive Shea to go for a kayak ride. It takes him a while to warm up to trying something new, especially on the water. But he enjoyed it, and was out on the kayak often after this first ride.
Shea and Kai. Ahhh, today, out in a kayak together; before we know it, out in a car (ack!)

Maya

Shade was hard to find at certain times of the day. We made a makeshift cover for Isla (except for these cute little toes that I couldn't resist snapping a photo of!

Okanagan Memories: Out On The Boat

When we weren't on the dock (or eating!), we were out on the boat

Isla and River look out over the water.

Padra and Juma, driving the boat.

Faire and Kai on the tube.

Padra

Dan

Carl up on skis. The beginner ones were so great for the kids.

Check Kai out!

Family

5 of the 8 kids up front (the party section)

Sarah and the star of the weekend, Juma baby. I love this photo!

Me and my girl Sarah, working on our tans. I learned that hanging out over the back edge of the boat is, indeed, a great way to tan your ass and keep cool at the same time. Just so you know ;)