Here are a few new pieces from the last few weeks. All have gone to Arrogant Pirate in Victoria and are available there.

Anklets with gorgeous teardrop pearls and brass bells. Firehorse Designs, Victoria BC.

Anklets with gorgeous teardrop pearls and brass bells. Firehorse Designs, Victoria BC.

Piratey anklet of silvery pearls and wooden skulls. Firehorse Designs, Victoria BC.

Piratey anklet of silvery pearls and wooden skulls. Firehorse Designs, Victoria BC.

Bracelet of blue-grey pearls and moonstone. Firehorse Designs, Victoria BC.

Bracelet of blue-grey pearls and moonstone. Firehorse Designs, Victoria BC.

Larger jade rounds with small jade drops and aventurine flower detail bracelet. Firehorse Designs, Victoria BC.

Larger jade rounds with small jade drops and aventurine flower detail bracelet. Firehorse Designs, Victoria BC.

Double row of woven small green jade with aventurine flower detail bracelet. Firehorse Designs, Victoria BC

Double row of woven small green jade with aventurine flower detail bracelet. Firehorse Designs, Victoria BC.

Bracelet of grey, silver and gold pearls with Baltic amber heart. Firehorse Designs, Victoria BC

Bracelet of grey, silver and gold pearls with Baltic amber heart. Firehorse Designs, Victoria BC.

 

Sea tones stone bracelet. Firehorse Designs, Victoria BC

Sea tones stone bracelet. Firehorse Designs, Victoria BC.

There are so many great shops, restaurants, and boutiques in our Old Town/Chinatown neighbourhood of Victoria BC. Dogs in the Bakery is one of my favourite. Located in vibrant Dragon Alley, Dogs provides toys and novelties for your beloved pooch as well as house-made healthy treats, including custom birthday cakes.

The sign still says High End Dog, but royalty or average pup, Dogs in the Bakery has something for you.

The sign still says High End Dog, but royalty or average pup, Dogs in the Bakery has something for you.

Roxie and Max are always ready to great you warmly, whether human or canine.

Roxie and Max are always ready to great you warmly, whether human or canine.

Delicious nibbles for pup; great as gifts too.

Delicious nibbles for pup; great as gifts too.

Special treats.

Special treats.

Lots of sizes and colours!

Lots of sizes and colours!

Waiting for friends on a blustery day.

Waiting for friends on a blustery day.

The Olympic Mountains boldly rise above the straight.

The Olympic Mountains boldly rise above the straight.

We've been seeing several hummingbirds along the waterfront this year.

We’ve been seeing several hummingbirds along the waterfront this year.

Just as the hummingbird left, this fellow arrived singing a jolly song.

Just as the hummingbird left, this fellow arrived singing a jolly song.

The gorse is in bloom all along the waterfront.

The gorse is in bloom all along the waterfront.

From Clover Point looking across Ross Bay at the homes on Hollywood Crescent, with Heron.

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.

Walking along Ross Bay and enjoying the colours and textures of the shore and water.

dkn_TCAndHerPillow2

Big Fluffy Blossoms...

Big Fluffy Blossoms…

... and Big Fluffy Bluebells.

… 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.

950 Yates Street, between Vancouver and Quadra.

A small, but bright and airy space. Not much seating inside, but a nice patio.

A small, but bright and airy space. Not much seating inside, but a nice patio.

All the shiny tools of the trade.

All the shiny tools of the trade.

My gorgeous Dark and Spicy Hot Chocolate, so satisfying.

My gorgeous Dark and Spicy Hot Chocolate, so satisfying.

An nice strong Americano and a beautiful Mocha.

A nice strong Americano and a beautiful Mocha.

dkn_SleepyTC

Picking out nesting sites in the big trees by the stone bridge.

Picking out nesting sites in the big trees by the stone bridge.

This one was trying to break off willow branches.

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.

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.

The first stream we came across, pouring and pooling over the rocky outcrops in the forest.

Sunbeams and spiderwebs.

Sunbeams and spiderwebs.

Skunk cabbage pushing its way through the winter debris.

Skunk cabbage pushing its way through the winter debris.

The trickle of streams through the forest.

The trickle of streams through the forest.

A tiny forest fairy door.

A tiny forest fairy door.

Creek running beside the path.

Stream running beside the path.

Sitting Lady Falls.

Sitting Lady Falls.

Magnificent spring greens.

Magnificent spring greens.

A twisty Arbutus tree.

A twisty Arbutus tree.

A large growth of skunk cabbage at the edge of the mud flats.

A large growth of skunk cabbage at the edge of the mud flats.

Shorebirds, possibly Greater Yellowlegs.

Shorebirds, possibly Greater Yellowlegs.

Another twisty tree.

Another twisty tree.