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We enjoyed a pleasant spring day walk yesterday along the Galloping Goose Trail and through Banfield Park to Craigflower Road. There is a small bank of shops at the corner of Raynor which includes an old-fashioned barber shop, bakery, children’s clothing shop, hair dresser, hemp clothing store and cafe. Our main destination was The Spiral Cafe to see paintings by Philip Willey. The Spiral hosts a lot of live music and makes great coffee. We also picked up some yummy bread and other treats at Fry’s Red Wheat Bread. The frangipani in their almond croissant was amazing.

Must have hot chocolate everywhere I go! This one was great and GJ says his coffee was excellent.

Must have hot chocolate everywhere I go! This one was great and GJ says his coffee was excellent.

An accidental shot in the Spiral; sort of cool.

An accidental shot in the Spiral; sort of cool.

The Spiral Cafe: a great venue for local music and art.

The Spiral Cafe: a great venue for local music and art.

A great group of local businesses.

A great group of local businesses.

One of the newer artisan bakeries in Victoria.

One of the newer artisan bakeries in Victoria.

We walked home along the Westsong Walkway, enjoying the beautiful view of the Inner Harbour.

We walked home along the Westsong Walkway, enjoying the beautiful view of the Inner Harbour.

Another busy week: I completed five new Firehorse Designs pieces to go over to Arrogant Pirate, a new shop carrying my, GJ and other artist’s work. I’m still having fun with pearls, braided thread and reclaimed or cast elements.

Pink, peach and champagne coloured pearls with a few moonstones and a hint of rose quartz. Completed with brushed silver drops.

Pink, peach and champagne coloured pearls with a few moonstones and a hint of rose quartz. Completed with brushed silver drops.

Reclaimed elements, brushed silver drops and moonstones on silver chain, are the focal point of this one.

Reclaimed elements – brushed silver drops and moonstones on silver chain – are the focal point of this one.

Rich dark brown pearls with semi precious stones, silver chain and a heart pendant by GJ Pearson.

Rich dark brown pearls with semi precious stones, silver chain and a heart pendant by GJ Pearson.

I love the hearts GJ cast a few years ago in lead-free pewter. I wear one just on a simple cord.

I love the hearts GJ cast a few years ago in lead-free pewter. I wear one just on a simple cord.

Dark blue-purple pearls of various sizes, moonstones, amethyst and iolite beads and a reclaimed silver cross pendant.

Dark blue-purple pearls of various sizes, moonstones, amethyst and iolite beads and a reclaimed silver cross pendant.

This is another reclaimed pendant, possibly from India. It is silver, inlaid with moonstones and either iolite or amethyst.

This is another reclaimed pendant, possibly from India. It is silver, inlaid with moonstones and either iolite or amethyst.

Pink, peach, white and purple/grey freshwater pearls with a mother-of-pearl dragon pendant and an accent of cherry quartz.

Pink, peach, white and purple/grey freshwater pearls with a mother-of-pearl dragon pendant and an accent of cherry quartz.

As the Arrogant Pirate is in Dragon Alley, I thought the dragon-carved mother of pearl pendant was perfect.

As the Arrogant Pirate is in Dragon Alley, I thought the dragon-carved mother of pearl pendant was perfect.

Another long piece with knotted freshwater pearls in silver, grey and gold colours. The pendant is reclaimed from another older piece which I disassembled.

Another long piece with knotted freshwater pearls in silver, grey and gold colours. The pendant is reclaimed from another older piece which I disassembled.

A close up of the engraved pendant. It may be silver or pewter.

A close up of the engraved pendant. It may be silver or pewter.

Close up of the back of the pendant.

Close up of the back of the pendant.

Glorious sunshine and a biting, but refreshing, wind for today’s walk. Lots to see – flowers, birds, waves, dogs – all our favourites! Here are some pics:

The air is full of the scent of cherry and plum blossoms.

The air is heavy with the scent of cherry and plum blossoms.

It's definitely the height of daffodil season; they are everywhere and abundant this year!

It’s definitely the height of daffodil season; they are everywhere and abundant this year!

A trio of darling Hooded Mergansers.

A trio of darling Hooded Mergansers.

A Great Blue Heron waits patiently for a meal.

A Great Blue Heron waits patiently for a meal.

Big waves and the water was a magnificent colour. A tiny bot of Ogden Point and the Sooke Hills in the background.

Big waves and the water was a magnificent colour. A tiny bit of Ogden Point and the Sooke Hills in the background.

A big brown dogs enjoys the beach with his human. Lots of frolicking canines of all shapes and sizes in the off-leash area too.

A big brown dog enjoys the beach with his human. Lots of frolicking canines of all shapes and sizes in the off-leash area too.

A dark grey day walking home from friends was brightened when we entered Summit Park and saw the meadows full of crocus and other spring offerings.

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One of my favourite Victoria coffee establishments is Habit. Their newer location in the Atrium Building is nice and always busy, but I still love their original shop, just a couple blocks from us, on Pandora Avenue: great coffee and snacks, beautiful art on the walls, awesome selection of magazines to read and purchase, cozy windows seats from which to watch the city. Both locations offer an authentic local experience and dedication to their craft.

Habit Coffee, 552 Pandora Avenue, Victoria BC

Habit Coffee, 552 Pandora Avenue, Victoria BC

The hot chocolates and triple chocolate cookie are obvious in their deliciousness, but don't be fooled by the plain look of that muffin: lemon, lavender and wild blueberry – just divine!

The hot chocolates and triple chocolate cookie are obvious in their deliciousness, but don’t be fooled by the plain look of that muffin: lemon, lavender and wild blueberry – just divine!

Seems like it was just Christmas, but spring is definitely in the air. One of the sure signs is when the festivals at Centennial Square begin. This weekend is Le Festival de la Francophonie de Victoria. They had a great couple days friday and yesterday in the sunshine; music, food, balloons, all the ingredients for a fun time in the square!

One of the great musical acts from yesterday. Where there is outdoor music, there will be small children dancing!

One of the great musical acts from yesterday. Where there is outdoor music, there will be small children dancing!

First balloons of spring.

First balloons of spring.

This will be the last one for a bit…

A second wire-caged coin (Canadian Centennial Dollar, 1967) by GJ with small champagne-coloured freshwater pearls and miscellaneous semi-precious stones.

A second wire-caged coin (Canadian Centennial Dollar, 1967) by GJ with small champagne-coloured freshwater pearls and miscellaneous semi-precious stones.

Was only supposed to be one piece, but there were enough goodies for two.

It only looked like enough for one. I did have add some smaller grey pearls to complete the second piece.

It only looked like enough for one. I did have add some smaller grey pearls to complete the second piece.

GJ made a wire cage for this beautiful 1921 American dollar coin and I hung it on a strand of gorgeous pale grey freshwater pearls.

GJ made a wire cage for this beautiful 1921 American dollar coin and I hung it on a strand of gorgeous pale grey freshwater pearls.

The second shorter piece with sterling silver clasp.

The second shorter piece with sterling silver clasp.

Rich tones of copper and brown in pearls and semi-precious stones with a lead-free pewter cast pendant by GJ Pearson.

Rich tones of copper and brown in pearls and semi-precious stones with a lead-free pewter cast pendant by GJ Pearson.

Close up of GJ's cast body.

Close up of GJ’s cast body.

Plus, it’s too stormy out for adventuring. You can see more of Steven’s and GJ’s work on their websites. GJ also has a Tumblr blog.

A tropical underwater inspiration for this long necklace which incorporates three silver cast pendants by Steven Mehle.

A tropical underwater inspiration for this long necklace which incorporates three silver cast pendants by Steven Mehle.

A close up of the silver cast starfish and sand dollar pendants by Steven Mehle.

A close up of the silver cast starfish and sand dollar pendants by Steven Mehle.

Today's piece will incorporate a GJ Pearson cast pendant.

Today’s piece will incorporate a GJ Pearson cast pendant.