Current Entries June 30, 2009. How interesting that the ship "World" chose to make special Salt Spring Island one of its global ports of call. Last week it was in Seattle. This week: Salt Spring. An event, indeed, and shows that we are well and truly on the "international map". Post internet, geography and time have both been erased. All secondary home/discretionary areas are suddenly of equal weight/equal value. Why choose one over another? Salt Spring Island and the Southern Gulf Islands swim enticingly in Georgia Strait, and enjoy a microclimate called "cool Mediterranean". Vineyards and olive groves flourish, plants and trees that grow in California also grow here, and there are more hours of sunshine year round than in other areas of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Close to Vancouver, to Victoria, and to Seattle, with easy ferry and floatplane access, and yet with a wonderful sense of "apartness", the Islands offer the rural ambiance of yesteryear combined with the immediacy of the 21st Century's digital world. Growth is capped, via strict zoning/density controls, as the Islands are governed by a provincial government body known as the Islands Trust. In place since 1974, the Trust's mandate is "to preserve and protect", for the benefit of all B.C. residents, the environmental and ecological beauties of the Gulf Islands. More information? Interested in viewing properties? Please call, and ask for "Li's list". With access to all listings, from all companies, I look forward to showing you "your" special Island property. In the heart of the best protected boating waters in the world, Salt Spring Island and the Southern Gulf Islands, await your pleasure. How may I help you to discover your Island gem? liread33@gmail.com June 29, 2009. BBC news reports : Bank say banking crisis easing China argues to replace US dollar US consumer confidence up in June House prices decline again in May Oil rises back above $71 a barrel Animal fats pancreas cancer link Alcohol link to one in 25 deaths Cloud clue in space blast mystery US changes tack on Afghan poppies US passes million swine flu cases Court deal strips Madoff wealth Iraq secures cities for US exit Nato resumes Russia military ties G8 'deplores' Iran poll violence Wood harvest puts pandas at risk June 28, 2009. "Worship by cultivating nine fields: Diet. Herbs. Clothing. Recitation. Movement. Meditation. Creativity. Teaching. And most important: Compassion." (Deng Ming-Dao: "Tao...Daily Meditations") June 27, 2009. Tonight, at Treehouse in Ganges Village, catch Synergy -- great group! Live music every evening now through the summer season, at Treehouse. Enjoy! Lumiere, the photography exhibition at ArtSpring runs from today through to July 12th. Exceptional! Don't miss this! Take part in all the great activities on Canada Day (July 1st), too, including the live music and the classic car display at the SSI Elementary School grounds (off Rainbow Road). Skydiving display at noon, too, plus a birthday cake! Those fireworks at dusk (usually somewhere around 10:15 p.m.), are not to be missed, either. Have you been to the Harbour House Hotel lately? New look, new menu, new chef...great al fresco dining, too, with a view that is one of the best on the Island. They grow their own veggies, now, and offer great wines by the glass, and specialty beer and cider on tap. Nightly specials, too. Check it out! Did you know you can follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Plaxo? Look forward to hearing from you! Mark your calendars -- July 4th, catch Dick Dale and Band at ArtSpring (call box office for more info/tickets: 250-537-2102). Enjoy Hastings House's Second Annual Sculpture Trail...enter in off Churchill Road. Some amazing creations to greet you on this magical forest trail. A great concept, and nice to see it continuing for a second season. The seventh annual Lavendar Festival takes place at Sacred Mountain Lavendar, on Musgrave Road location, on July 5th, 9:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Otherwise, farm tours and shop open 10 to 4, for the season.. Enjoy the studio tours, the galleries, the scooter and kayak rentals, the specialty bakery/coffee and tea locations, dining alfresco at Calvin's, at Bocados, at Auntie Pesto's, at Salt Spring Inn, at Harbour House Hotel, at Oystercatcher, at Moby's. Things to do and places to go...ask for "Li's List". Wave, if you see me! June 26, 2009. Looking for that perfect retreat cottage/home, for now, and a superb building opportunity for later? Here it is! In an area of fine homes, on prestigious Scott Point, and close to all amenities/services, yet in a tranquil area, this sweetheart of a cottage (renovated, and ready to move into and to enjoy) awaits your pleasure. Foreshore licence in place; build your dock, and keep your boat at home! Open plan living/dining, galley style kitchen, bedroom with a view, bathroom with laundry/storage off, plus loft area for extra guests. Expansive oceanside decking, and a hot tub with a view! Sunny (s/sw/w exposures -- sunsets, here!) and private. A best buy oceanfront opportunity on special Salt Spring Island! June 25, 2009. So, it's interesting, this significant and life-alterating "shift" that we're in, right now. I've shared, in previous blog entries, my impression that the opening years of a new century tend to continue the aspects of the last 30 or so years of the previous century, at least on the surface. The reality of the new era isn't immediately evident, with the turn of a page on the wall calendar! It seemed that 9/11 signalled some sort of change, and yet the daily to and fro, after that shock that we were vulnerable, continued the refrain of "same old/same old". Hitting us in the pocketbook caught our attention, fair and square. The credit crunch/subprime meltdown, the housing bubble/crash, the stock market collapse/losses, and the fear about the insecurity of paper money (all that bailout printing press currency, which continues) -- suddenly we all got it! It's not biz as usual! Perhaps it was all four pillars at once, either toppling or shuddering, that caught our attention? So, this is the 21st Century, the real beginning, not just the calendar recognition. The Information Age. The moment when the content provider has the power position, not the technician. Does that mean we're moving into the Age of the Artist? The internet is the vehicle of information dissemination. It has erased time and geography. The early digital versions, such as websites, with static billboard style information, have been replaced by dynamic and consumer centric options such as Facebook and Twitter. I'm not sure that the label "social media" really explains the power of Twitter. Look at the events in Iran, in the past few days. Individuals, with cell phone camera/video shots, and access to Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, have been keeping the world apprised of revolutionary events. Suddenly, those involved in events no longer need the interpretive function of the "expert" (in this case, mainstream media reporters). So. No need for any "screen" between the event and the onlooker. No need for any interpreter or "expert voice" to comment on an event/an occurrence. Everything evenly weighted, immediate, the experiencer also the reporter, with the point of view of the moment. Mmmm...what about the editing function? Does the onlooker/the recipient know how to rate, to assess validity? The point of the 21st Century, then, is that there is no protective element between the experience and the one experiencing? No skin between the cellular level and the atmosphere? This is definitely not "biz as usual" on any level. Your thoughts? Do you Twitter? June 24, 2009. So many lovely things to enjoy on Salt Spring, at this time of year! This Friday, at ArtSpring, is the opening of Lumiere, the annual showcase of Salt Spring's talented photographers. Opening reception is from 5 to 7 p.m. Wave, if you see me! Mark your calendars for Canada Day celebrations on July 1st, too. There will be a community parade, plus the annual antique car show at the Salt Spring Elementary grounds on Rainbow Road, a Canada Day Birthday Cake, Skydiving at noon, live music and the much anticipated fireworks display at dusk (10 p.m.???) on Ganges Harbour. Enjoy! Did you know that Calvin's Bistro is open for dinner seven days a week, now, and open for lunch Tuesday to Saturday, too? Did you know that Bocados Bistro is now open for lunch, for the season (11:30 to 3:00), Monday to Thursday, as well as for dinner (5 to 9 p.m., Monday to Thursday, and 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Bocados is closed on Sundays. ArtCraft is open, with lovely things on display for your browsing and purchasing pleasure -- many people buy birthday and Christmas gifts at this annual summer showcase of Gulf Islands artistic opportunities. ArtCraft showcases various week long displays throughout the season, and I'm pleased to sponsor the Gold and Silversmiths, and their jewelery artistry, this year. See you at the opening (July 1st)! Did you know that the Salt Spring Marina was successful in its bid to enlarge and to improve its foreshore area/docks? The proposed changes will ensure safety and space to the boating public. Check this out! Have you ever thought of taking a half hour and doing an island tour from the sky? Call Salt Spring Air, and enjoy the bird's eye view of this beautiful Island. Certainly puts everything in perspective! Don"t be nervous...take that kayak lesson, and enjoy the sunset paddle out to Chocolate Island. If you're lucky, the otters and the seals will keep you company. If you haven't been down to Burgoyne Bay, to amble the trails near the old barn, that take you to the actual bay itself, then you've missed a pleasure. This was the park buy-out, from a couple of years ago, and there's a lot to enjoy here, too. An overlooked part of the Island, and so close! And, of course, the Ruckle Park experience remains unparalleled. Looking for up to date real estate information? Drop by my office, across from the Ganges Marina, in Ganges Village. Look forward to meeting you. It's Summer...enjoy! June 23, 2009. Was thinking the other day, how often we are so involved in our own interior dialogues that we often don't notice who's in front of us. "How are you?" is almost a meaningless addition to "hello", and we don't really expect an answer. Even when someone asks us that question, we often just say "fine", and pass on, or perhaps share a few more words about something...maybe the weather? maybe something in the news? Our culture does not encourage a more current "report" to what's really going on. Often, people passing by have heads down, or are looking far ahead, anything not to have eye contact with those also taking up space on the sidewalk. We never know the burden that others may be carrying, as we wait in a line to pay for our groceries, or wait at the bank machine for our turn, or wait at the gas pumps, or...so many places where we could smile at those around us. A pleasant expression, and a smile, could be making someone's day a little easier. Do they have someone at home who is ill, perhaps terminally, or it could be a handicapped situation? Is there a divorce going on, someone has lost their job, been downsized, or there's trouble at school with a child? A parent is absent, or ill? A moment of kindness, of time, the simplicity of a smile, which acknowledges even to a stranger that we noted they were taking up adjacent space to us...it can make a big difference to how someone continues through their day. It's not important that we know the outcome, but it is essential that we "pass it along". "It" being, of course, that positive energy that a smile delivers. Your thoughts? Always welcome! June 22, 2009. "Pattern and creativity Are the two poles of action." (Deng Ming-Dao: "Tao...Daily Meditations") June 21, 2009. Here's a terrific oceanview custom home, on 6 + private and sunny acres, with sunrises and sunsets! Close to lovely beach, to golf, to tennis, to theatre, and to all amenities/services, yet in a truly tranquil world of its own. Dramatic living, library/den, oceanview dining, cook's dream kitchen, solarium/breakfast area off, with wonderful master/sitting, with ensuite, in its own private "wing", and two bed/guest bath in its own "wing". Formal entry/foyer, plus separate laundry completes main level. Lower (daylight) garden level offers spacious storage, games room, large workshop area, wine room, plus guest bath. Easy access from all principal rooms to generous decking, on both main and garden levels, plus to patio areas. G azebo with a view, plus firepit for cosy evenings admiring the stars. Hot tub with a lovely ocean and mountain vista! Fenced veggie garden, plus orchard (enjoy your own peaches), detached double carport, plus zoned for sep. guest cottage and sep. studio, if desired. This is a beautiful home, on an exquisite property. Be self-sufficient here! June 20, 2009. Well, here it is, officially the first day of Summer, and also the longest day of the year. I had to be in Vancouver yesterday afternoon, on business, and so went over by floatplane, on Salt Spring Air, and came back the same way, early this morning. It was pelting down rain in Vancouver, and I've arrived to blue skies, patchy clouds, sunshine on Salt Spring Island! It is true about that microclimate! Saturday Morning Market in the Park is in full swing, the marinas are full of luscious boats, ArtCraft is open, and is showcasing a retrospective of Judy Weeden's work, ArtSpring Gallery is also open and showcasing some of the terrific Masterpiece Weekend works (40 artists involved, here). All of the Ganges Galleries are open, and are a part of this: Pegasus, Jill Louise Campbell, J. Mitchell Gallery, Steffich Fine Art, Martinus Jewellery Studio & Gallery, ArtSpring Islands Art Centre, Galleons Lap Atelier - Gallery, Hastings House & its Sculpture Trail, Stone Fish Gallery (the Salt Spring Fine Art Initiative group). An exceptional weekend...don't miss any of this! Pick up some cheese, some artisan bread, fruit, water, and away you go to Ruckle Park, or to Beddis Beach or to Vesuvius Beach and enjoy the day! A day for a picnic! Maybe take some kayak lessons, and paddle out to Chocolate Beach? Or, simply enjoy dining al fresco on the many patios and balconies available, in our terrific array of restaurants and coffee houses. We are so lucky, here! And you are celebrating the first day of Summer doing....???? Enjoy! June 19, 2009. "After completion Come new beginnings. To gain strength, Renew the root." (Deng Ming-Dao: "Tao...Daily Meditations") June 18, 2009. The definition of 'wide open spaces' in both 5 bedrooms & 23+ expansive acres. Top quality workmanship, high ceilings, & extra large rooms. Ocean & mountain views with fenced pastures, great walking / riding trails, prized rock quarry, and forested permiter. All day sun, all year round. Inspired rock meditation garden, designer guest cottage (B&B ?), detached studio / workshop. Close to all amenities, yet quiet & private. A rare find! June 17, 2009. Here is a lovely "walk on beach" oceanfront opportunity, at the tranquil "south end" of Salt Spring Island! Main home offers formal entry/foyer, plus open plan living/dining, with country kitchen and spacious pantry off, plus solarium with sliders out to expansive oceanside decking. Master sitting room, with walk in closet, private garden deck, and large ensuite completes this level entry main level. Lower, "garden level" offers large separate laundry, plus two ensuite bed sitting rooms, and another bedroom. Lots of storage! Access to patio and to beach from garden level accomodation. Hot tub with a view! The plus? A separate entry one bedroom guest/inlaw "suite", with ocean vistas. Decking, patio areas, easy access to beach...a terrific summer retreat opportunity! Would be a "perfect B & B" option, or a corporate retreat, or a lovely family getaway. Perfect year round retirement choice, too, and a professional couple would enjoy working from home, here. Close to all amenities, and yet in its own serene world. Enjoy! June 16, 2009. BBC news reports : Big economies 'stabilising' - G8 Indian factory output up in April Japan stocks close above 10,000 'Unpredictable' swine flu spreads Concerns over older mother tread Experts close to roots of greying Tyhoons trigger slow earthquakes Microsoft to give away anti-virus Australians demand climate action Zardari condemns 'brutal' Taliban Obama pledges aid for Zimbabwe Malawi welcomes Madonna adoption June 15, 2009. "When you drink water, Remember its source." (Deng Ming-Dao: "Tao...Daily Meditations") June 14, 2009. Looking for some interesting things to do off island, on a "day trip" adventure? Heading Sidney way? Don't forget the Butchart's Gardens. At this time of year, their Rose Garden is not to be missed. Enjoy lunch or dinner or their delectable afternoon tea. Haro's Restaurant at The Pier Hotel, on the w.f., in Sidney, is also a great place for dinner. Lots of bookshops to explore in Sidney, plus art galleries and collectibles locations. Fun to peruse! Victoria itself? The B.C. Museum is always a winner, and it's great to play tourist and do the Government Street shops, including, of course, the best bookshop ever (Munro's). Fort Street's Antique Row is still fun to do, and if you're there for dinner, the ever wonderful Cafe Brio continues to inspire. Afternoon tea? Yes, the Fairmont Empress is still "the one". Duncan? Well, all those vineyards in the Cowichan Valley are worth a wine tasting expedition. The organic bakery in Cowichan Bay will always be on your list! The cheese shop next door is also "local", and a winner. Dinner? The Grapevine in Maple Bay, right on the ocean, and with an incredibly talented cook, is the place to go. Going Nanaimo direction? It's fun to do the "lower road" routes, and take in Chemainus, the town of murals fame, and also to wander the time tunnel of Ladysmith, plus drop down onto the Cedar Road and do the Yellowpoint loop. Lunch or dinner at the Crow and Gate Pub is a gem, too. Don't forget to check the playbill at Chemainus Theatre...dinner and a show is a lovely idea, too, and it all works, ferry wise, on a Saturday night. More ideas? Call anytime! Easy to do all of these things in a day, and it's so nice to come home to Salt Spring, at the end of all the adventuring. June 13, 2009. Looking for four private and sunny acres, on the ocean, with a lovely beach (easy access to same), and with warm swimming water? Superb and panoramic ocean vistas, with sunsets forever! Dramatic home, a "west coast contemporary" design, has been substantially upgraded by current owner. Detached double garage, plus incredible detached outbuilding...keep those classic cars, here, and also the boat plus trailer. Home offers master/sitting, with magical ensuite (ocean view from the tub), in its own "wing". Guest bed/bath, with fireplace, on main level. Garden level offers separate guest/inlaw "suite", plus terrific studio (perfect for an artist or a home occupation use). Oceanviews from all principal rooms. An appealing driveway winds invitingly through private forest and the home is at oceanside, with lovely lawn and easy care landscaped grounds. Most of the land is in "natural" state, with arbutus groves and cedar/fir forest. So lovely! So close to town, and yet in its own serene world. June 12, 2009. Summer weather continues, even though the calendar still reads late Spring! Wonderful! Check out the ArtSpring showing of Florence Roberge's paintings, "A Tuscan Harvest". The show runs to end of the month, from 10 to 4 daily. Don't forget that the live music, nightly, plays at Treehouse in Ganges Village (tonight, catch Vaughn Fulford and the Folke Fiendes. Tomorrow is Stephanie Rhodes, and Sunday offers Alan Moberg, with Alan Miceli on Monday. Enjoy dinner or dessert and coffee while you listen. One of Salt Spring's treasures! Renowned potter, Judy Weeden, holds a retrospective celebrating 40 years of ceramic art. Catch this at Mahon Hall, starting tonight, with the opening of ArtCraft. Enjoy! Tonight also sees the grand opening of Pegasus Gallery Framing, at the corner of Robinson and Upper Ganges Roads (3 to 7 p.m., with refreshements offered). Don't forget to mark your calendars for the exciting Masterpiece Weekend, on June 19, 20, 21, at ArtSpring. Opening night celebration is on the 19th, from 5 to 10 p.m. Sponsored by Salt Spring Fine Art Initiative, with 40 artists on display. Salt Spring Jazz Festival runs from June 18 to 21st. So many good people playing here...try to catch them all, at the various venues. Moby's Bar & Grill showcases Uncle Wiggly"s Hot Shoes Blues Band at 8 p.m. on the 18th. Catch Jazz Jam Session at Market Place Cafe at 7 p.m. and Woods, Wall + Cowan, at ArtSpring Galleries, from 9 - 10 p.m., both on the 19th. On the 20th, at Centennial Park, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., enjoy Swing Shift in the Park. The June Katz Trio plays at Salt Spring Winery from 3 to 5 p.m. At ArtSpring, at 8 p.m., enjoy Two Much Guitar (Oliver Gannon & Bill Coon). The 21st wraps it up with Jazz Guitar Workshop, at GISS Music Room, from 10 a.m. to noon, and then Treehouse Cafe showcases Jose Sanchez Latin Band, from 7 to 10 p.m. This is a great line-up. Wave if you see me! The Hastings House Sculpture Garden returns for another season. A totally enjoyable and inspiring walk, through very beautiful land. Private tours of the Sculpture Garden, by appointment, begin June 23rd. Every Tuesday, at 1 p.m., a brief half hour walkabout will take visitors through the Sculpture Garden grounds, before setting them off to discover the public trail. Call Hastings House for more info (250-537-2362). Don't forget to catch the Century of Canadian Art, 1909 - 2009 show at Pegasus Gallery of Canadian Art. Show runs till end of this month. ArtSpring's annual Treasure Fair, its main fundraiser, takes place on July 16, 17, and 18th. Mark your calendars for this, and don't forget to contact ArtSpring's volunteers for this event, if you have some classy castoffs, or would donate something lovely, like dinner for two at one of the premier restaurants in town, etc. Silent and live auction events, here! Also mark your calendar for Salt Spring Woodworks opening, on July 3rd. Their show is called Inside/Outside. Always so many talented woodworkers on display, here, with wonderful and unique pieces. Museum quality, in many cases. Don't miss this! The sounds of South America will fill All Saints by the Sea, on June 17th, as part of the Music and Munch series. Featuring Alvaro Sanchez, the music begins at 12:10. Enjoy! Look forward to seeing you, too, at the Precious Metals display, at ArtCraft. Opening is on July 1st (Canada Day!), and I am very pleased to sponsor this event. More things to do/places to see? Call anytime. Ask for "Li's List". June 11, 2009. "Nothing is meant to be. There is no predestination." (Deng Ming-Dao: "Tao...Daily Meditations") June 10, 2009. The statistics to date, in the real estate markets in this coastal area, show an increase in sales volume, in the lower end residential options, with a reappearance of the first time buyer to the marketplace. This is most evident in the primary residence/city markets, where there is a "local" buyer profile. Government program for first time buyers, plus historically low interest rates, price reductions by sellers, and a climate where banks will once more lend, have all created this more buoyant real estate scenario, and just since mid-Feb to early March. A secondary home/discretionary market, such as that on the Southern Gulf Islands and Salt Spring Island, follows a quite different rhythm. An investor buyer did appear in the early Spring months, too, and the main sales were also in the low end residential category. Undeveloped land and high end options remain quiet. No one "has to" come to a Gulf Island, and the choice to buy now or to wait a bit longer rests with the buyer. Prices have reduced, it appears, between 15 and 30 per cent, depending on location and property type. A price reduction alone, though, does not appear to be the trigger to action, in a secondary home/recreational area, as it might be in a city market. However, the shorter "season" in a resort based/discretionary market might also be a factor -- on Salt Spring and on the Southern Gulf Islands, the "grid of activity" falls between first of July and end of September (short and intense!). People may make offers in later months, but often they viewed the property in those intense 3 months. Thus, our recreational marketplace may enjoy the same outcomes as the city markets have experienced already, but just a bit later. More info? Call anytime (liread33@gmail.com) Thank you! June 9, 2009. Here is an authentic character home, a true "gentleman's residence", designed and built by an Englishman in 1940. Beautifully maintained and upgraded by current owners (only the second owners), this classic Georgian style home, on ten private acres, awaits your pleasure. Many unique features, and irreplaceable finishes. Wood floors, custom wood windows, high ceilings, formal living, formal dining, renovated kitchen (2004) in keeping with home's style, library/den, laundry, guest bath, formal entry/foyer complete the main level. Upper level offers four bed/two bath (master ensuite). Garden level basement offers generous storage, wine room, workshop, and is plumbed for further bathroom. Sunny (s/sw/w exposures), private, close to all amenities and to golf, tennis, theatre, lake, beaches, this gem is waiting for you! June 8, 2009. I think Canadians, who live on the Coastal Rim of B.C. (the famed and beautiful Pacific Northwest Coast, sharing the drama and inspiration of the best protected boating waters in the world), always await the "summer season" with delight. The Canadians who shiver in a "real winter" climate (basically, the entire country, except for this thin coastal rim on the B.C. Lower Mainland, the Sunshine Coast, Vancouver Island, and the magical Gulf Islands between, drifting in the Salish Sea (now called by the more mundane Georgia Strait), they all point out the fact that they might have long months of snow and cold, but they get lots more sunshine. The grey, mild and rainy winters of the coastal rim are famous, too! Ah, but summer...it's a mindset, not just a season, on the Pacific Coast. I like to tune into the golden oldies station, out of Vancouver, when driving from a to b to c on my island home, and inevitably, with the first whisper of summer (even when the calendar still reads Spring) one hears the allure of Mungo Jerry and that reggae flavour..."In the summertime...de-de-de-dah-dah...when the weather's fine...de-de-de-dah-dah...". I end up singing along, and the promise of long days (sunset is after 10 p.m.), the fact that you can drive with all the windows down, and the air is warm, that you can dine al fresco on restaurant patios or at home, that you can swim in the ocean and laze at the beach, that the stars are amazingly close on glimmering nights, that you can kayak on pearleascent water, that the eagles teach their young to fly, right in front of one, that the entire rhythm of the universe seems so relaxed and energizing...ah, but you see, it's summer on the Pacific Coast! Pacific...that means "peace", doesn't it? Enjoy! June 7, 2009. Here is an elegant home, on the oceanfront, awaiting your pleasure. The acreage is in "natural state", with easy care landscaping around the home. The dramatic custom designed home offers spacious living, country kitchen with breakfast area, library/den, two offices, plus three ensuite bedrooms, and two guest rooms/bath, plus a powder room for guests. Large professional laundry, plus family room and studio area...perfect for an artist, wishing to work from home, and to offer a gallery space on site. Detached double garage, for those classic cars! In a quiet area of fine homes, close to all amenities (golf, lakes, equestrian centre, tennis, park hiking/walking trails, shopping & all services), this beauty offers European flair...a home with appeal forever! Sunny, private, on community water, easy access to ocean (warm ocean swimming in this area), and pleasing marine vistas. Enjoy! June 6, 2009. "Be still to know the absolute. Be active to know the outer. The two spring from the same source, All of life is one whole.". (Deng Ming-Dao: "Tao...Daily Meditations") June 5, 2009. Mark your calendars for June 19, 20, and 21st, and make sure you catch the Masterpiece Weekend -- 40 works by 40 artists. At ArtSpring, with an opening night celebration on the 19th, from 5 to 10 p.m. This is a Salt Spring Fine Art Initiative! Don't miss this! Who is the Salt Spring Fine Art Initiative? Jill Louise Campbell Fine Art Gallery, Pegasus Gallery of Canadian Art, Martinus Jewelry Studio & Gallery, ArtSpring Island Arts Centre, Stone Fish Gallery, Salt Spring Arts Council, Galleons Lap Atelier - Gallery, Hastings House & Sculpture Trail, J. Mitchell Gallery. Well done! Looking for some outdoor adventure ideas? Whale Watching safaris with Zodiak Marine Tours (250-538-7188), car and scooter rentals with Salt Spring Car Rentals (250-537-3122), kayak tours & bike rentals with Salt Spring Adventure Co (250- 537-2764), skippered sailing charters with L'Orenda Sailing (250-538-0084), destination diving with Oceans Alive Dive Centre (250-537-0099), fishing trips for the family with Salt Spring Marina (250-537-5810). Enjoy! The opening of Lumiere, with exceptional photography works by the many talented photographers/artists on this Island, is on the 26th, with a reception from 5:30 to 8 p.m., at ArtSpring -- don't miss this terrific show! ArtCraft opens for the summer season with a sneak preview on June 12th. The ArtCraft Showcase exhibition sponsorship program continues this year, after last year's success with this venture. I am very pleased to sponsor the Precious Metals: Fine Balance showcase, which opens on July 1st. Speaking of July 1st, it is Canada Day, remember, with the parade, lots of events (check the Driftwood for times and places), a classic car show, and the fireworks in Ganges Harbour, as soon as it's dark enough (after 10 p.m.???). If you missed Hastings House's sculpture trail, last season, you can catch it this year. Wonderful works on display, and a joy to wander the garden and forest trails at Hastings House, itself. The Salt Spring Woodworks were the guiding light behind this sculpture trail addition to the Island's charms. Al fresco dining choices? Harbour House Hotel, Calvin's Bistro, Salt Spring Inn, Bocados Bistro, Auntie Pesto's, Rock Salt Cafe (in Fulford), Seaside Kitchen (at Vesuvius), Moby's (reopened, with new owner, as an oyster bar/grill), & for a lighter palate choice: Rendezvous Cafe, Cafe Talia, the coffee stop at Fernwood Dock (just opened this year), Jana's Bakeshop, and if you don't feel like cooking, don't forget Bruce's Kitchen (Eat in/Take out), Pasta Fresca, Pomodoro's Pizza...we are spoiled here, aren't we! Pegasus Gallery Framing's grand opening is on June 12th, from noon to 8 p.m. Drop by and say hello, and check out this new facility (at corner of Robinson & Upper Ganges Roads). Refreshments served at the opening! The very talented Nick Bantock has created ten drawings and a cover for a re-telling of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. I did, at one point in time, study English Lit, and did teach same at the high school level. One of the high points for me was always reading and discussing Chaucer's wonderful capture of his medieval world. You can see Nick Bantock's originals on display at his Forgetting Room Gallery, in Merchant Mews, beginning tonight, at 7 p.m. Did you know that Fulford's Rock Salt Cafe is included in the "Where to Eat" 2009 book??? If you haven't been down for dinner, don't overlook this gem. Have things to donate to the annual ArtSpring Treasure Sale? This important annual fundraiser needs your help. Call Lauretta (250-537-4017) or Paul (250-537-1898). The Arts feed the soul...so important to help out in any way you can. The haphazardness of the Fulford to Swartz Bay ferry timings continues until the regular ferry returns to service, on June 25th. Michael Ableman at Foxglove Farm is setting up a centre for arts, ecology, agriculture. A summer workshop schedule is now available. For a list of workshops/and to register, go to: www.foxglovefarmbc.ca Phoenix Elementary School presents its first international fair event, at the Drake Road school site, with a silent auction fundraiser as a key component. It's today, from 1 to 6 p.m., and is a critical fundraiser to help keep the school in operation. Be there, if you can! Lots to see and to do...it's an active island in the summer season, and the heat wave of the past few days has jumpstarted that summer feeling! Enjoy! June 4, 2009. Looking for an oceanfront estate? Here it is, and it's on superb Salt Spring Island! In two titles, both waterfront, and being offered as one "unit", this pastoral seaside gem awaits your pleasure. The mid-60s main home has been lovingly maintained and upgraded, and is on one w.f. titile; the adjacent w.f. parcel offers a cedar cottage, with a foreshore licence in place -- build your dock, and keep your boat at home! Lawn, meadow, easy care flower and veggie garden (deer fenced), plus forested perimeter -- very private! Sunny property, a tranquil haven, and yet close to town and to all services/amenities. Lovely "walk on" beach! Close to the Sailing Club (this is not a marina!), where one could also tie up one's boat, after joining, if one didn't wish to build one's own private dock. Lots of options! This is an exquisite property, on community water system, and truly a unique and irreplaceable offering. Note: exclusively listed with Li Read. All appointments to view through Li. June 3, 2009. Many different points of view right now, about the state of real estate, post "meltdown". Deflationary scenarios are front and centre, with an emphasis on holding net worth in cash. Inflationary scenarios, with an emphasis on the printing presses creating endless paper money, backed by more paper, backed only by a government, and the threat of hyperinflation (thus erasing the value of cash as an investment vehicle), sits on the opposite side of possibility. This side favours purchasing of good hard asset/real estate vehicles to protect one's discretionary income. Two completely opposing points of view. The only certainty is that there's no roadmap in our backpacks! So, this is the 21st Century? No script? That's pretty unnerving! In the 19th Century, a Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard, spoke of "Either...Or". No middle ground; no "grey area". If the 20th Century allowed the mirage of some vague middle ground as a possible position, then the 21st has delivered us back to an earlier age, but with a different emphasis. Either this...or that. It's an internet/digital age. A binary world. On...off...on...off...either...or.... Data has no value until interpreted. Then, we have information. Somewhere in our brains we have an editing function. So important to give it some exercise, to make it limber and vibrant, to make it wake up and give us that "yes...no...on...off...true...false...yin...yang"...a response that promises a direction. Either...or...right...wrong,,,up... down... A reality check? So, here it is: the 20th Century certainties vanished with 9/11, and have continued to evaporate with societal meltdowns: major companies collapsing, financial institutions faltering, stock markets in freefall (erasing net worth), housing bubbles crashing (whose idea was it, anyway, to commoditize a home?), jobs lost, savings vanished...where will it all end? We seem to be in one of those schism moments, just the way it was described in Charles Dickens novels, as he tried to show the collapse of the centuries old Agrarian world and the birth of the "new world", the Industrial Age. This is supposedly the Information Age. I think it's just beginning. On...off...on...off...right...left.... "In my ending is my beginning", said a pivotal poet of the 20th Century, T.S. Eliot. He also wrote: "Not farewell, but fare forward, Voyagers". Now, that's a positive direction! No one has the road map. No one knows what to do. There are no experts. We've all been assuming that there was a Wizard of Oz, with all the answers. All along, we've been the one with the knowledge. That's pretty liberating! Such opportunity is right in front of us. This is a time for creative and inventive thought. It is a time to look forward, and not to try to recreate the past. Wherever we stand, we have the option to recreate our position. That is so exciting! We are in charge. There is no "them"; there is only "us". So, with no grey area, just "either...or", there's also personal responsibility? We choose how to "be"? Mmmm..liberating!. And yes, that has something to do with chosen lifestyles, and that's how we get back to real estate. Read all of the guru newsletters, check out the data, and, in the end, you decide...it's about choice, about thoughtful decisions. There are no experts. There's just "you", and what works for you, right now, in the moment we stand in. Open your mind.... Check it all out, know your terrain, search out the facts (google is a master at "the search" for raw data), and, in the end, trust yourself, and make your decision. On...off...yes...no...now is not the time to buy...now is the time to act... You decide! When you're ready for a realtor to help in the interpretive function of making sense of the raw data, please give me a call. How may I help you to buy your special Salt Spring Island or Southern Gulf Islands property? liread33@gmail.com June 2, 2009. BBC news reports : Oil prices continue rally to $66 Germany picks Magna to save Opel Indian growth unexpectedly strong US economy shrinks at slower pace Rise reported in UK house prices Eurozone inflation at record low Millionaire numbers 'have halved' Q&A: Are my savings safe? Routine aspirin benefits queried Ground truths: Predicting the 'big one' 'Lost' music instrument recreated US launches cyber security plan Irish economy 'is not all gloom' June 1, 2009. "What is an archer Without a target?" (Deng Ming-Dao: "Tao...Daily Meditations")

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