Friday, August 27, 2010

SkyWatch Friday ~ All in a day

Taking a break and visiting a friend.
The weather for the day seemed to represent how I was feeling....
sometimes calm and peaceful, sometimes chaotic and grey....
but always greatful for where I live
and for my friends and family.
For more wonderous skies from around the world why not join us at

Thursday, August 19, 2010

SkyWatch Friday ~ A perfect day

The weather has been stunning the past three weeks, with blue skies, warm temperatures, and refreshing ocean breezes.
The tides have also been great for swimming, high in the middle of the day.  While relaxing on the beach between swims I looked sideways and was overwhelmed by the simplicity of my view!  I can still feel the warmth of the sun and sand on my body.

We are hosting a ten day silent yoga retreat so cabin building is on hold for another seven days!
For more beautiful skies from around the world why not join us at

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Come on in the water is wonderful...

Just floating around in the ocean on a warm sunny afternoon...
what could be better?!?!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

My World Tuesday ~ Fish and sail boards

My World revolves around a little community on the east coast of Haida Gwaii (aka Queen Charlotte Islands) called Tlell (pronounced tell-lell), meaning "where big waters meet". 
However several times a week we travel to Port Clements , twenty kilometers NW on Masset Inlet to shop, pick up wood from the mill and take the dog for a walk on a different trail!
Friday when we went to "Port" we walked out on the newly redecked dock as we had heard the salmon were running.
Everyone was out trying their luck.



Some were luckier than others.
I was thrilled to see that all the little ones on the dock were wearing life jackets properly done up.
Then this fella put his fishing rod away, went behind his truck and put a wetsuit on and prepared to sail board.
When I turned around he was throughing his sail off the dock.
and then the board....it was about 30 to 40 feet down!
And then there he was, he didn't jump he went down a chain ladder!
He managed to clear the dock and the bull kelp.
He did get wet but the amazing thing was this was the first time he had tried this kind of launch and he is a new sail boarder....have to admit it looked like fun and the day was spectacular!

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Friday, August 13, 2010

Sky Watch Friday ~ Summer on the Dunes

It has been a warm, busy week here with some beautiful sky in the clouds!
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Tuesday, August 10, 2010

My World Tuesday ~ Big Trees!

Walking the Old Growth Alley Trail
This past week has been full of activity on Haida Gwaii with the Tlell Fall Fair on August 1st (I know, I know.. FALL fair?  The Tlell Fair is an ajudicated fall fair but the only time they can get a judge on the island is the long weekend in August, so we are famous for the earliest fall fair in British Columbia!) and last weekend was the Edge of the World Music Festival also in Tlell.
A survivor of the Great Fire
As we run a bed and breakfast it was very busy here, so when you can take a break you do.
Dwarfed by big trees
Thursday we took a walk on the Old Growth Alley trail along the Tlell River.  The forests of Haida Gwaii are a mixed forest of Sitka Spruce, Western Red Cedar and Hemlock, with Western Red Cedar considered the Tree of Life by the Haida and the "money tree" by the loggers.   In 1840 a huge forest fire swept through the southern part of Graham Island and destroyed most of the forest and much of the monumental timber was burned to the ground.  The new forest is mostly Sitka Spruce.
Western Red Cedar
Along the Old Growth Alley Trail there are the remains of some beautiful old Cedar.
Nurse Stump
Most trees when cut start to decompose, Cedar on the other hand will stay sound for 100s of years.  There are huge trees that were cut down a 100 years ago but where too big to move which are now being removed from the forest and being used to make those expensive cedar shakes you can buy for your home!  This stump may be hundreds of years old, birds drop seeds or the winds blow cones into the raagged top and the stump becomes a nursery for new growth, hence "nurse log".  As the cedar finally goes back to the earth the roots of the Sitka Spruce are exposed.
Remains of poles at Skuung Gwaay, A World Heritage Site
The Haida used the remarkable Western Red Cedar for carving their Totem Poles
and their 50' and 60' ocean-going canoes.  The above photo is what is known as a canoe blank.  The tree would be cut down using fire and stone/shell instruments and carved into its basic shape where the tree was felled.  It would then be carried to the river or ocean and carved out and steamed open with hot rocks.
When complete they are beautiful and surprisingly light.
The Sitka Spruce where used during the Second World War to make the Mosquito Aircraft.  The tree is now considered a trash tree by loggers.
They are some of the largest trees found on Haida Gwaii now.  The one above is 17' in diameter and it is considered small!
They never fail to impress.  One of these huge spruce could supply enough timber to frame a whole neighbourhood of appropriately sized homes!
This is my world!  If you would like to see other places from around the world why not join us at

Thursday, August 05, 2010

SkyWatch Friday ~ A beautiful morning

There is a show of the Aurora Borealis(northern lights) over most of Canada this week so I decided to sleep out and catch a glimpse of them.  I managed to see the moon rise at 1:30 a.m. and then promptly went to sleep until just before sunrise at 5:50 a.m.!  I went to make a coffee and by the time a got back the sun had risen!
For more beautiful skies from around the world why not join us at

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