May 31, 2008.
A best buy opportunity for an oceanfront on special Salt Spring Island! Three bed/two bath home, designed by H. Schubart (who studied with Frank Lloyd Wright, before moving from California to Salt Spring Island), with a garden level/ocean view self-contained "suite", plus oceanview office. Hot tub by the seaside! Foreshore licence allows one to build a dock, and keep that boat at home! Sunnyy (s/sw/w exposures), extravagant panoramic ocean/islands/mountain vistas, lowbank & easy access to the sea, and a private enclave in prestigious Scott Point area. Don't miss this gem! Unique and beautiful!
May 30, 2008. "May... breathes over us, touching into fullness trees flowers grasses suddenly... lush. Wind... whispers the message, beginnings, the annual surprise of new... growth. Reminding us, too, caught in our winter carapace, that new is always possible, always waiting... may Spring." (L.R.)
May 29, 2008. "Meaning in life is arbitrary. Why ruin the universe with rigidity?" (Deng Ming-Dao: "Tao...Daily Meditations")
May 28, 2008. "Boomer Bubble influences development of housing for seniors." A Toronto based research group notes that the over 75 age group (which it describes as seniors) is growing. The report suggests that developers need to address the needs of the over 75 age group. It also notes that not only is the population of Canada getting older, it's getting more affluent and more demanding about what it wants its homes to look like and the amenities that should be included. Check out the latest Altus Clayton Housing Report for more details! An Angus Reid poll, in Canada, notes that 8 out of 10 Canadian baby boomers (aged 41 to 61) are not hesitant to consider a real estate purchase despite U.S. housing market volatility. According to this poll, a new online survey by Angus Reid Strategies on behalf of Mortgage Intelligence, 21% of boomers surveyed anticipate making a real estate purchase in the next three years. Did you know that the average female home buyer is 29? Seven in ten bought their home as "a good investment". In a new national poll by TD Canada Trust, a portrait of the individual Canadian woman homeowner has emerged as single, financially saavy and most likely to purchase a condominium. The RE/MAX Recreational Property Report will be out in early June - - check out the findings of this up to the minute special report on Canadian recreational real estate trends. I've been asked to be interviewed for the Salt Spring portion of this cross-Canada valuable report (check it out online and in local media reporting). Many areas of Canada are now reporting Buyers Market conditions -- this usually involves an increase in listings, and a downturn in pricings. How does this affect the secondary home / discretionary market of Salt Spring Island & the Southern Gulf Islands? See Li for the details! My Monthly Market Analysis My Quarterly Newsletter
May 27, 2008. For the rest of this month, and all of June, Hastings House is offering a complimentary appetizer or a dessert, when you order an entree. This offer is for "locals". While there, enjoy the sculpture garden "tour". Exceptional! If you haven't enjoyed the Robb & Crawford exhibition, at J. Mitchell Gallery, in Grace Point Square, be sure to catch this -- it's on till June 4th. Friday, June 6th, at ArtSpring, be a part of the Salt Spring Jazz Festival & Copper Kettle Community Partnership Fundraiser --8 p.m., with advance tickets ($20), at ArtSpring Box Office. Presented by Jazz & Blues. Enjoy! Check out the extremely talented Michael Hames at Steffich Fine Art Gallery, in Grace Point Square. Michael Hames and Janet Larkman anchor this Gallery's showcase, and are not to be missed! Don't forget to tune into Randy's Vinyl Tap, Saturdays, 7 to 9 p.m., on CBC Radio 1 (Sirious Channel 137). Enjoy! A new mystery writer, who lives part-time on Salt Spring Island & part-time in Florida, has been discovered. Enjoy her first novel: Margarita Nights. Check out the live music, nightly, at Treehouse in Ganges Village. Summer is here (even if the weather doesn't always cooperate!). A social network (Probus Club) has been formed for retired business professionals. Contact Don Archer for details (537- 1872). There are apparently 4000 Probus Clubs, world-wide, and they're described as: ..."organizations for men and women who have retired from their profession or business and want to maintain a social network with others who have similar interests". Check it out! ArtSpring Gallery / Open Space is showcasing "Beneath the Surface...a sea of possibilities", until June 15th. Donna Cochran, Louise Harker, Barbara McCaffrey, and Gail Sibley are featured. Don't miss this! Longer evenings, warmer days...get out there and enjoy the Island's bounty.
May 26, 2008. "Do your devotions make you happy? Is your life a joyous song?" (Deng Ming-Dao: "Tao...Daily Meditations")
May 25, 2008.
Here's a beautiful and private one plus acres of oceanfront, awaiting your development ideas. An exquisite one bedroom cedar cottage/home (renovated completely in 2006) is perfect for that summer/weekender, for now, and the property remains in a "natural" & "wilderness" state, so you may bring your own ideas to any further development. Easy access to a terrific sandy beach -- walk for "miles", here! Sunny, private, quiet, and yet mere minutes to Ganges Village and all its amenities. This gem is awaiting your pleasure. A best buy opportunity for oceanfront on special Salt Spring Island!
May 24, 2008. The Islanders for Self-Government are looking to run candidates for the coming Fall civic elections. They are looking for three solid electable candidates who will support a study on incorporation. If Salt Spring did incorporate, it would still be a part of the Islands Trust, and two trustees would also be elected, to uphold the spirit of the initial Trust document, which was to "preserve & protect" the park-like ambiance of the Gulf Islands, for the benefit of all B.C. residents. What would change, is that the fate of the Island would no longer be in the hands of the CRD (Capital Regional District), out of Victoria, with one elected representative as the CRD director for Salt Spring. The trustees are there to uphold land use bylaws/zoning strictures. Their mandate is not to act as a mayor/town council, although the two current trustees (who ran as one person, and both were elected, when the incumbent wasn't returned) appear to be taking on the responsibilities of an incorporated body. The CRD director isn't meant to take the place of a mayor/town council, either. At the moment, things slip between cracks, and many times it appears as if no one is in charge. The current OCP (Official Community Plan) review, which was brought about by the two current trustees (in spite of the fact that a previous OCP review was completed only 8 years earlier, and which replaced one that had been in place for over 20 years), is attempting to bring in some very profound changes, and not with the concurrence of the majority of Islanders (many of whom don't live here, year round, and who thus do not even know what is currently underway). It might be suggested that the current trustees have an agenda. Accountability would be a feature, then, of the governance of the Island, if the specialized form of a municipal structure (a Gulf Islands Municipality model, which is already in place, successfully, on Bowen Island) came into being. More information? Contact the Islanders for Self-Government group, and find out the details of what it would mean, if Salt Spring became a Gulf Islands municipal area. For more details, contact Ken Marr, the main spokesperson for the Islanders for Self-Government group.
May 23, 2008. Tonight, at Mahon Hall, Monik Nordine presents Swing Shift, a Big Band evening, with guest artist, Bruce Hurn. Tickets $12 at ArtSpring & Acoustic Planet, and $15 at the door. Starts at 8 p.m. Enjoy! An annual scholarship fundraiser is at Mahon Hall on May 25th -- a benefit showcase, to raise funds for a unique local high school scholarship. The M.C. Williamson Scholarship provides funds for students extending their training or education in one of the performing arts. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the silent auction, with the onstage talent opening curtain at 8 p.m. Tickets at Acoustic Planet or at the door. Have you caught the latest show at Steffich Fine Art Gallery? Exhibition and sale of new works by Michael Hames & Janet Larkman runs till May 31st. J. Mitchell Gallery showcases new works by Michael Robb & Ronald T. Crawford through June 4th. If you haven't seen the sculpture show, hosted by Salt Spring Woodworks, in tandem with Hastings House, then don't miss this. A very unique venture! A vocal jazz weekend is to be held at All Saints by the Sea on May 30, 31, & June 1st. A weekend of artistic transformation, this Jazz Choir Workshop culminates with a Sunday Public Concert. Workshop: $100 / Concert Tickets: $10. Call Debbie at 250-537- 5071 for more details, and to register for the workshop. Mark your calendars -- Saturday, June 15th is the BCSPCA Annual Garage Sale. For pick-up or information, call 250-537-2123. Take the plunge! The Rainbow Road indoor pool is ready to go! Songs of the Salish Sea, at Artspring, 8 p.m. on May 24th (tickets $20 / $15), with Valdy and Kathy Stack (&, from New Zealand, Graham Wardrop). Enjoy! Treehouse Cafe's live music is back -- something different every evening. Check the chalk-board, and enjoy the incredible sound talent on this Island.
May 22, 2008. "All that we experience is subjective. There is noa sensation without interpretation. We create the world and ourselves; Only when we stop do we see the truth." (Deng Ming-Dao: "Tao...Daily Meditations")
May 21, 2008. Green...it's the colour of the present moment. Go Green! is the message of the 21st Century. Some suggestions: " * egg your plants on. Water that has had eggs boiled in it is enriched with calcium. Pouring it on your garden, once it's cooled, rather than down the sink, will save a little water and feed your plants. * Magic pan It takes the same amount of time -- an energy -- to cook a stir-fry as it does to reheat the typical prepackaged meal, and that's not including the energy used to create the prepackaged meal in the first place. The stir-fry will almost certainly taste much nicer and be better for you. * Unplugged. Electronic appliances can consume almost as much energy during the time they're on standby mode as they do during the relatively small proportion of the day when they're actively being used. Unplugging electronic equipment can cut your household electricity bill by up to 10 percent. This is particularly important in the case of pieces of digital equipment, which often use more energy than their analogue equivalents. * Thoughts at the check-out. Ask yourself whether the item you're about to buy is something you really need. Will it make you more fulfilled? If not, try doing something else to nurture yourself instead, like eating good food, doing something special with a friend, going for a walk, or planning something you've been interested in for ages. * Crumb-free keyboard. When you're at work and need to go out to buy lunch, relax and eat your food in a cafe, instead of taking it back to your desk -- you won't need to use any packaging, and you'll be more relaxed when you get back to the office. * Thrive in an urban jungle. Modern furniture and electronic equipment can emit enough chemicals to make the air in our homes and offices more hazardous than the air outdoors. Some plants are particularly effective absorbers of these harmful pollutants -- clean up the air indoors and brighten your work and living space by surrounding yourself with spider plants, Boston ferns, rubber plants, and palms. * Read all about it. Newspaper is one of the easiest materials to recycle. Every time you recycle a pile of papers a yard high, you save a tree from the chop. * Anyone for coffee? Next time you're after a caffeine fix, look for shade-grown coffee. The farms its grown on support many more bird species and other types of wildlife and require much less fertilizer than full-sun plantations. * From field to fork. To ensure that your food is as fresh as possible, buy direct from the person who produced it. Shopping in farm shops or at farmers' markets also guarantees the best possible return for the farmers, rather than most of their profits going to supermarkets. * Clear winner. If you have the option, always choose products that come in glass rather than plastic containers. Glass is far less resource-hungry to produce and easier to reuse and recycle than plastic." (1,110 Ways To Save The Earth: Joanna Yarrow).
May 20, 2008.
Looking for an authentic "West Coast Contemporary" design? Here is the loved home of Robert Bateman, Canada's renowned wildlife painter. Superb studio space, plus nanny suite, plus guest/inlaw "wing", plus terrific oceanside master "suite". Entertainment size living and dining, library, den, country kitchen with breakfast area, and lots of storage (wine room, too). Many unique features, here! Private, sunny (s/sw/w exposures), crushed shell and sand cove, kayak boathouse, easy care "natural" landscaping, with that wonderful Asian/Scandanavian blend -- a blurring between interior and exterior spaces! Panoramic oceanviews! Designed and custom built by H. Schubart (who studied with Frank Lloyd Wright, and who moved to Salt Spring Island in the 60s, from California), this gem awaits your pleasure!
May 19, 2008. Salt Spring Island & the Southern Gulf Islands are secondary home markets. A lot of things occurred around the same time, and melded together, to create this non-local marketplace. The Internet, which has been a strong factor in real estate sales, for several years, erased geography. This allowed real estate listings to be viewed by a more global audience, and ease of travel created the ability for someone to live in London, England and to commute for the "summer season" on Salt Spring Island, say. The low Canadian Dollar against the much stronger U.S. currency, for so many years, also made the Island a "good deal". When someone purchased an oceanfront estate style parcel, in 2002, they might have been purchasing when a Canadian dollar was at 68 cents, against a U.S. dollar. A euro or a pound went farther, too, when translated into a Canadian dollar. The climate, here, which is known as "cool Mediterranean", is very appealing, as is the location in some of the best boating waters in the world. Proximity to three major centres (Vancouver, Victoria, and Seattle), with good ferry and floatplane year round scheduling for access, is another alluring factor in a choice for Salt Spring or another Southern Gulf Island. The Islands Trust, a provincial government body, in place since 1974, with a "preserve & protect" mandate, for all the Gulf Islands, means that growth is controlled or prohibited, and this has made the Islands a pleasing park-like environment, with strong environmental controls. It's also made the Islands a "protected investment" area, as a result of the stringent zoning restrictions in place. With a cap on growth, a buyer appreciates the fact that a purchase on a Gulf Island ensures that the Island "look" will remain pretty much as when viewed/purchased. This is also an alluring factor behind the decision to purchase, in this area. Simple economics reminds us that limited supply coupled with strong desire to purchase usually translates into higher price points. This is the case on the Gulf Islands, too. Initially summer places, for Vancouver or Victoria or perhaps even Washington State residents, the Gulf Islands have become second and third home options for many seasonal residents, and the price points for land on same have escalated over time. Although people do retire to their Island homes, many of them retain retirement venues in other parts of the world, and might choose to live on their Gulf Island property between May and October, and then go to a sunnier clime for the winter season. The Internet, which allows for a global buyer to discover this area, and the initial suppression of the Can. dollar, from the 90s through to 2005/06, and the ease of travel to allow for that global resident to arrive, without difficulty, combined with the beauty and the mild climate, and the superb boating waters...one can see why the Islands have been discovered. The "sweetener" is that the Islands Trust, this provincial government body, retains the soft useage re development. This is not an area that can explode in growth. A secondary home marketplace, however, means that one must look to events and conditions in the home areas of the buyer profile, to understand the cycles of sales, here. Local B.C. rhythms do not necessarily translate into a secondary home market area, and conditions in a primary residence area, such as B.C. cities, do not apply to a secondary market. It also takes time to achieve a sale, as that global buyer first has to hear about this area, then make arrangements to travel here, to view, and, while here, they will also check out other coastal communities, "just to be sure" that a Gulf Island decision is right for them. It can take two trips, and often three, before a decision "for" a Gulf Island takes place, and because the buyer comes from out of province/perhaps out of country, in the main, these visits have several months between them. It can take one to three years, then, to sell any property in this secondary home market, and it's not based on price or property type. A secondary home market is a discretionary market, and the buyer is in control of the "where" and the "when" of all sales transactions. Patience is required, of both sellers and realtors. A realtor must guard against local market manipulations, and make certain that their advice to their sellers is based on "big picture" thinking, and on a serious understanding of the dynamics of a secondary home market area. More information? See Li!
May 18, 2008. "Contemplate in the morning, Pull weeds in the afternoon. The joys and labor of a single day Are part of a whole journey." (Deng Ming-Dao: "Tao...Daily Meditations")
May 17, 2008. Catch the Round Salt Spring Sailing Race, this weekend! Watch the start in Ganges Harbour this morning, see them go by Beaver Point, by Isabella Point, or Burgoyne Bay, or see the fleet emerge from Sansum Narrows into Stuart Channel, at Cranberry (Bader's) Beach, or go past Vesuvius, round Southey Point, and then straight down Trincomali Channel (anywhere along North Beach or Walker's Hook Roads will find good vantage spots), past Nose Point and Scott Point, and back down Ganges Harbour towards the Sailing Club & the finish! (The Round Salt Spring Sailing Race, an annual event on the Victoria Day Holiday Weekend, is seen as the "crew shake-down" for the famous Swiftsure Race, out of Victoria, held every Memorial Day Weekend (last weekend in May). If you've never seen this race, try to catch its start, at the opening of the Inner Harbour, into Juan da Fuca Strait, on May 24th. Exciting!). After the Salt Spring race starts, wander the Market in the Park, take in the Galleries (Pegasus, Steffich Fine Art, J. Mitchell, Frankly Scarlett, enjoy lunch in the Village (Bocados Bistro, Calvin's Bistro, Auntie Pesto's, Salt Spring Inn, Porters at the Harbour House Hotel, Rendezvous Cafe across from the Salt Spring Marina), then drive the Island's coastal roads, while tracking the race, and enjoy the studio tours en route. Depending on the wind, the race can take up to Sunday evening to finish, or, if it's brisk on the water, it can be all wrapped up by the early hours on Sunday morning. Feel like being a crew member? Talk to the Sailing Club, and see if you can't be involved in their racing schedule (Sundays in winter and Wednesday evenings in summer), and be ready for next year's race! Lots going on this weekend, the traditional beginning of Canada's "summer season" -- Victoria Day holiday weekend. Enjoy!
May 16, 2008. BBC news reports : Chinese plane business gets wings UK economic outlook 'worsening' Big fall in French factory output Burma cyclone raises rice prices Michigan's 'one state recession' Bank says credit fears overstated Microsoft contests $1.4bn EU fine Citigroup to shed $400bn assets Playgroups 'cut leukaemia risk' Scientist make weight loss claim Chocolate 'may cut diabetes risk' Tomato dishes 'may protect skin' Tree-lined streets 'cut asthma' Nature's carbon balance confirmed Next decade 'may see no warming' Alarm at Google Yahoo partnering Does online video threaten the net? Electronics' 'missing link' found Bush offers $770m for food crisis Fresh fears over Chilean volcano Tanks rejoin Moscow V-Day parade Schindler list survivor recalls saviour Chinese virus infections rising Identity 'at risk' on Facebook
May 15, 2008. "Rice Noodle and Vegetable Stir-Fry: preparation: 10 minutes cooking: 10 minutes serves 2 2 oz. rice noodles 2 1/2 teaspoons coconut oil 1 red onion, sliced 8 oz. rehydrated soy chunks or tofu 2 tablespoons soy sauce 8 lychees, peeled, pitted and quartered 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 1 cup finely sliced cabbage 1 cup bean sprouts 2 1/2 teaspoons blackstrap molasses 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped To serve: * nori flakes * sesame seeds * lime wedges (optional) 1. Soak the rice noodle in boiling water for 4 minutes, then rinse in cold water and drain. 2 Heat a wok or large frying pan until very hot, add the coconut oil, then the onion and soy. Stir briskly to sear on all sides until golden. 3 Pour in the soy sauce and stir to coat the mixture. 4 Reduce the heat and add the remaining ingredients plus the drained noodles, stirring until hot. 5 Transfer the stir-fry to warmed serving bowls, sprinkle with the nori flakes and sesame seeds, and serve with wedges of lime, if desired." (Vegan over 90 mouthwatering recipes for all occasions -- Tony Weston and Yvonne Bishop).
May 14, 2008. "Which came first, Experience or meaning?" (Deng Ming-Dao: "Tao...Daily Meditations")
May 13, 2008.
Looking for an exceptional oceanfront property? Here's a wonderful 9+ acres, a forest and meadow mix, with an architect designed & updated "west coast contemporary" home (designed by H. Schubart, who studied with Frank Lloyd Wright, and who moved to Salt Spring from California, in the mid-60s). Terrific dock in place, zoned for guest cottage and studio space, wonderful private hiking/walking trails, old growth forest on the property, plus pond and pasture. Lots of options here, for further development, or enjoy "as is", and just move in and experience the Salt Spring ambiance! This is a spectacular property! 700 + feet of oceanfront, and dramatic ocean / islands / mountain vistas (see the Olympics from here!). Enjoy!
May 12, 2008. If you love classic cars (& I do!), then mark your calendars for Father's Day in June. Qualicum Beach, on Vancouver Island, hosts an incredible car show, on their streets, on that day. It's a winner! Make a day trip out of it, and try a pub style dinner at the Shady Rest, on Qualicum Beach's seaside, or, en route back to Crofton, and the ferry back to Salt Spring, try the Longwood Pub, in Nanaimo, or the Crow and Gate pub in Yellowpoint, just south of Nanaimo. Some other suggestions, for some "off island" adventures? The Cowichan Valley wine tours, lunch at Merridale Cidery or at Cherry Point Vineyards. Dinner at the Masthead Restaurant in Cowichan Bay, or the Grapevine Restaurant in Maple Bay. The restaurant that took over Gossip's location, in downtown Duncan, is worth a visit (it's just up the street from Volume One bookstore). The restaurant at dockside, in Genoa Bay, is another suggestion. Or, visit Butcharts Garden, especially in June, to experience their wonderful rose garden. Lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner is served, here. The Saanich Inlet vineyards are a further option. Dinner at Haro's Restaurant, in The Pier hotel, on Sidney's oceanfront, is a great choice, as is the Swiss Bistro on Beacon Avenue. On Memorial Day Weekend, the annual Swiftsure Race, out of Victoria, takes place -- don't miss this! Salt Spring hosts the Round Salt Spring Sailing Race on the Victoria Day Weekend, the week earlier -- this popular weekend race is often considered as the "shake down" cruise for participation in the famous Swiftsure Race, the following week. Lots to see and do! Ask for "Li's List" for other suggestions, both on Salt Spring Island, on the other Southern Gulf Islands, and on Vancouver Island. Enjoy!
May 11, 2008. BBC news reports : UK property lures India's super-rich Central banks warn of inflation Central banks in new credit move Deutsche writes down 2.7bn euros US house prices show steep fall Painkiller may cut dementia risk 'Seven genetic types of ME' found Fat cell numbers 'set for life' Climate prediction: No model for success UN sets up food crisis task force China virus toll continues rise Are there too many 'white boxes'? Students turn to web plagiarism
May 10, 2008. If you haven't dropped by Pegasus Gallery, to view their renovated gallery space, and to appreciate the Century of Canadian Art exhibition, don't delay -- very impressive! Located off the boardwalk, in Mouat's character building, next to Volume 2 bookstore. This is Mother's Day weekend, and the Potter's Guild is having a one day show and sale, today, at Mahon Hall. Hastings House is offering Sunday Brunch, and Calvin's Bistro is open for Sunday Dinner, for a Mother's Day celebration. Feel like a day trip off Island? Why not make it a Butchart's Garden tour? Afternoon tea and lunch or dinner is served at the Gardens, now. In Saancih Peninsula, with vineyards en route, for some tastings. Or, if the Cowichan Valley is on your radar screen, what about a Vineyard Tour, there? If you're driving through Cowichan Bay, there's that great organic bakery, there, and, next door, the local cheesemaker's shop. The Cherry Point Vineyard offers lunch, now, and the Merridale Cidery, in Cobble Hill, also offers lunch, and dinner on the weekends. Go exploring -- it's Spring! On Island? Picnic time, at Ruckle Park, and take in some studio tours en route -- truly talented artists on this Island, and it's good to be a tourist in your own home area. You'll be amazed! Enjoy!
May 9, 2008.
Here's an exceptional oceanfront property on prime Old Scott Road, one of Salt Spring's premiere addresses. Level entry main level offers a formal entry/foyer, a formal living and dining, with panoramic ocean viewscapes. A terrific solarium/entertainment space, off the dining room, offers easy access to the spacious oceanside deck. A country kitchen with breakfast area, mudroom/laundry space, plus a lovely master/study with ensuite (hot tub right off the deck, here!), completes the main level. Lower (daylight) level, also with great oceanview decking, offers games room, two guest bedrooms with bath, plus a separate guest/inlaw "suite". A great workshop area here, too (home occupation use?). The plus? A dock (keep your boat at home!) plus an oceanside summer house. Easy care landscaping, totally private, sunny (s/sw/w exposures), and appealing marine views. It's ready to just move into and enjoy! Don't delay on this gem!
May 8, 2008. Tonight is the opening night of the exceptional Graffiti Theatre's latest production: "Born Yesterday". Call ArtSpring re ticket info., and other dates (537-2102). Morley Myers Gallery (# 7 - 315 Upper Ganges Road) is showcasing the latest works of Morley Myers and David Kalef. Don't miss this! If you haven't caught the latest show at the newly renovated Pegasus Gallery (A Century of Canadian Art: 1908 - 2008), then don't delay! An exceptional presentation. St Joan, by George Bernard Shaw, continues at the Chemainus Theatre, until May 17th. It stars a Salt Spring actress! You can do this on a Friday or a Saturday, including dinner & theatre, and then return on last ferry. Enjoy! Did you know that Coastal Living has designated Salt Spring as one of the top ten artist colonies in North America? Check out the April issue, which gives publicity to a new Fine Art Tour planned to kick off in mid-May. WordPlay presents Arms and the Man, one of George Bernard Shaw's earliest writings for the theatre, on Sat./Sun., May 17 & 18, at 2 p.m. Free admission. The Salt Spring Potters' Guild is hosting a tea and sale of its members' work from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Mahon Hall, on Saturday, May 10th. Check out your own calendar of events, and participate! So many talented people, on this Island -- be the appreciative audience, and support their work and efforts. Enjoy!
May 7, 2008. "Power Shake: about 1 cup prepared fruit, such as berries, mango, banana, papaya, peach, apricot, melon, or kiwifruit. 1 cup low fat yogurt 1 cup fruit juice, such as orange, apple, pineapple, or cranberry 1/2 cup slivered almonds 2 tablespoons honey 3 - 4 tablespoons wheat germ a pinch of ground cinnamon Serves 2 Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve with a straw. This shake will keep in the refrigerator for 2 days. Variations: * Use 1/2 cup silken tofu instead of the almonds. * Replace the fruit juice with low-fat milk, soy milk, or unsweetened coconut milk. * Omit the wheat germ and use rolled oats instead. * Add other flavorings before blending, such as 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, a dash of almond extract, or 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger. * For a thick shake, add ice cubes before blending." (new vegetarian bold and beautiful recipes for every occasion -- celia brooks brown with photography by philip webb).
May 6, 2008. Money laundering legislation, brought in by the Federal Government, will bring changes to all Real Estate transactions in Canada, by June, 2008. Real estate agents will have to collect data on all of their client base, involved in real estate transactions, as of June 23, 2008. The Real Estate Council of B.C. has noted this in their latest report to all licensees. "Licencees will have to keep a client information record for every purchase or sale of real estate. A client information record will set out the client's name, address, date of birth and the nature of the client's principal business or occupation. If the client is a corporation, licencees will also need to keep a copy of the part of the official corporate records showing the provisions relating to the power to bind the corporation regarding the transaction. Currrently, if a licensee has identified an individual before, the licensee does not have to do so again if the licensee recognizes the individual. Once the changes come into effect, if licensees have doubts about the information collected concerning an individual's previous identification, licensees will have to identify that individual again." (Report from the Council, April 2008). Please contact the Real Estate Council, directly, re this matter, if of interest to you, as a potential purchaser or seller of real estate. The Real Estate Board, in your area, can also be contacted, for further details. Salt Spring Island, and some of the Southern Gulf Islands, come under the jurisdiction of the Victoria Real Estate Board, for example. More details? Contact Li.
May 5, 2008.
Here's a terrific one level home for retirement, in an appealing & private area, with design flair. Master with "ensuite", plus guest bedroom, plus office/den (could be further bedroom, if desired), lovely open plan living/dining, with country kitchen, plus family room and mudroom/laundry, second bathroom. Vaulted ceiling, skylights, pleasing formal entry/foyer, decking and patio areas to follow the sun (e/s/w exposures, here). Easy-care landscaping, around home, and your own forested area (trail to lovely Duck Creek Park walking trail, just steps from this pretty property). Close to all amenities, to golf, to beach accesses, to lake fishing, to park hiking/walking trails, yet in its own serene space. Ready to just move into & enjoy!
May 4, 2008. Earth Day was celebrated on April 22nd. Concern for the environment has become a mainstream concern, in North America, as people worry about the effects of global warming. Rising food prices, with potential for civic unrest in undeveloped countries, is another concern. The 21st Century has no roadmap, with easily marked crossroads. Clearly, if nothing else, these early days of the Century are reminders that the old paradigms simply no longer "work". Sometimes, individuals give up on individual actions, feeling that small things don't count, governments don't listen, nothing can be done at this "grass roots" level. Think about it, though -- if Ghandi hadn't begun his exemplery life, with his non-violent political action, India would not have been born as a country, in the late 40s. If the Dalai Llama hadn't persisted, as an individual voice for Tibetan culture and religion, would there be this dramatic global recognition of Tibet's issues? On Salt Spring Island, one person galvanized an entire Island, and a rainforest acreage was saved as parkland, for all time. At the close of the film, Schindler's List", there was a line quoted from the Jewish Talmud ("if you save one life, you save the world entire"). If we treat the Earth as an entity worth saving, then all of our individual efforts will succeed in a preservation of the Earth. We will be "stewards". Without bringing forth our individual response, our individual "work", to creating a "green environment", how can we expect governments to do anything? In a democracy, we the people are the government. Your thoughts? What did you do on Earth Day, and what are you doing each and every day to create a sustainable world? There's no one else!
May 3, 2008. Recently, the Vancouver Sun newspaper (April 26th edition) had a front page article on 15 Real Estate myths & realities: The report was as follows -- 1. Albertans are buying up B.C.'s recreational property -- reality. 2. My home's assessment tells me what the property is worth -- myth. 3. Real estate prices in Greater Vancouver can't keep going up, they're too high already -- myth. 4. Spring is a good time to buy or sell a residential property -- reality. 5. A bathroom or kitchen renovation is the best way to add lasting resale value to your home -- reality. 6. Swimming pools are negative when it comes time to resale -- reality. 7. More than half of all Lower Mainland houses will soon be worth more than $1 million -- myth. 8. A house with a south-facing backyard is likelier to appreciate more than the equivalent house facing the other way -- myth. 9. New condominiums are commonly flipped for a profit before they have even been occupied -- myth (but not quite as definite a myth as others on the list (speculators do "flip"). 10. You can save money by buying a "fixer upper" and renovating -- reality. 11. Buying a home outside the city and commuting to work is a good way to save money -- reality (but not quite as definite as others on this list (one can buy more for less, in the suburbs, but costs of commuting need to be weighed). 12. Buying an additional property to rent out is a solid investment -- reality. 13. A home that has been staged using professional design principles to make it more appealing to buyers sells for more -- reality. 14. The bank owns my house -- myth. 15. You've just sold your house and have made a ton of money off it -- reality. Check out the article, online (vancouversun.com), for the reasoning behind these quick one-liners!
May 2, 2008.
Here's a superb rendering of the Frank Lloyd Wright design ethic, with that blurring between exterior and interior spaces! The original home of H. Schubart, who studied with Frank Lloyd Wright, and who moved to Salt Spring in the 1960s, from California, this "West Coast Contemporary" gem has been lovingly restored. On a mini-point of land, with easy access to the oceanfront, this beauty offers a dramatic living room, dining off, country kitchen with oceanside breakfast area, sep. laundry (with that ocean view!), gallery hall linking the superlative entry/foyer with the master "wing". Master/study, with dressing area and super bathroom, also gives onto another bedroom/study (could be his and hers master "suites", or, great guest space (has own entry). Lower (garden) level offers two further bedrooms, ensuite, plus office and storage. There's a great workshop space (perfect for an artist or home occupation use). Separate double garage, though constructed later, was also designed by H. Schubart, the architect, and is in keeping with the main home's design. Easy-care landscaping, "natural" look, maintains this design ethic. Totally unique, and totally beautiful! Located in one of Salt Spring's premiere areas, with s/sw/w exposures. Enjoy!
May 1, 2008. "Why yearn for a promised land? The true land is in the heart." (Deng Ming-Dao: "Tao...Daily Meditations")
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