The Olympic Mountains boldly rise above the straight.
We’ve been seeing several hummingbirds along the waterfront this year.
Just as the hummingbird left, this fellow arrived singing a jolly song.
The gorse is in bloom all along the waterfront.
From Clover Point looking across Ross Bay at the homes on Hollywood Crescent, with Heron.
Walking along Ross Bay and enjoying the colours and textures of the shore and water.
Big Fluffy Blossoms…
… and Big Fluffy Bluebells.
We tried a new coffee bar yesterday called Shatterbox. I had read a great review of them on page 14 of the Spring issue of EAT Magazine. I thoroughly enjoyed their Dark and Spicy Hot Chocolate which was really sublime; the smell of cinnamon and then the rich creamy chocolate followed by the warm sensation of chili, all perfectly paired. And it was really hot (temperature); I’m less fond of lukewarm hot chocolate. GJ says his Americano was delicious, nice and strong, just as he ordered it. Shatterbox Coffee Bar is at 950 Yates Street, Victoria BC – right across from Harris Green Village.
950 Yates Street, between Vancouver and Quadra.
A small, but bright and airy space. Not much seating inside, but a nice patio.
All the shiny tools of the trade.
My gorgeous Dark and Spicy Hot Chocolate, so satisfying.
A nice strong Americano and a beautiful Mocha.
Picking out nesting sites in the big trees by the stone bridge.
This one was trying to break off willow branches.
On our usual walk along Dallas Road, just below Beacon Hill Park, on a grey but perfect spring day we saw this lovely view looking toward Washington State. Too bad the ship was not under sail!
Perfect silhouette on the horizon.
My lovely sister was in town last weekend. We took a break from organizing family paperwork to hike at one of Victoria and area’s beautiful Regional Parks, Witty’s Lagoon in Metchosin. I’ve been visiting this park since I was very small; it’s a wonderful place to hike. At this time of year, there are a lot of small streams and the Sitting Lady Falls was magnificent.
The first stream we came across, pouring and pooling over the rocky outcrops in the forest.
Sunbeams and spiderwebs.
Skunk cabbage pushing its way through the winter debris.
The trickle of streams through the forest.
A tiny forest fairy door.
Stream running beside the path.
Sitting Lady Falls.
Magnificent spring greens.
A twisty Arbutus tree.
A large growth of skunk cabbage at the edge of the mud flats.
Shorebirds, possibly Greater Yellowlegs.
Another twisty tree.
…and it represents my jewellery and GJ’s art! Just across the street is the lovely Dragon Alley which has 12 live/work town homes, most of which currently have shops or services in their ground floors. Arrogant Pirate is the newest of these. Opened by our friend Maelynn, the boutique has unique, one-of-a-kind art, jewellery, antiques and oddities. Steven Mehle, whose shop and studio is in Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia, has his jewellery represented as well as mine. In a later post, I will showcase more of the shops and services in this unique tiny alley in Victoria BC.
Our journey with Arrogant Pirate began when GJ was asked to create the boutique sign.
The lights are low to capture the light cast by GJ’s newest sculpture, “Trip to the Moon,” a lamp and kinetic sculpture.
GJ’s “Little Sister” sculpture among some of his paintings and drawings.
One of GJ’s hand-cranked flying machines atop one of the locally-made showcases.
A close-up of GJ’s latest piece, “Trip to the Moon.”
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