September 30, 2006. "I do wish I could tell you my age but it is impossible. It keeps changing all the time." (actress, Greer Garson)
September 29, 2006. Tonight is the opening, at Judy Mitchell Gallery, in Grace Point Square, of a LeRoy Jensen retrospective. This important show runs through to October 25th, and is not to be missed! See you there!
September 28, 2006. Feeling the need to move? Ganges Yoga Studio, located in Grace Point Square, offers dance-based classes for adults (ballroom dancing & belly dancing, are offered). Stagecoach School of Performing Arts Dance Program also offers classes in tap, hip hop, ballroom, and ballet/jazz. Check it out, and get going!
September 27, 2006. Don't forget the musical performance by Tsewang, at ArtSpring, on Sept. 29th. His performances are described as a cultural and spiritual journey. While living in India, he trained at the Namgyal Tantric College, the private monastery of the Dalai Lama. His most recent recording was a collaboration with Salt Spring's Daryl Chonka (The Return of the Snow Lion). Creating the backdrop for the Sept. 29th performance is Salt Spring's Perspectral Illuminations (run by local residents Garth Mesz and Daryl Chonka). Tickets are available at ArtSpring & the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Check out his website (www.tenzingtsewang.com) for more information about Tsewang's life and music. See you there!
September 26, 2006. "You gotta try your luck at least once a day, because you could be going around lucky all day and not even know it." (country singer/sausage mogul, Jimmy Dean)
September 25, 2006.
Here's a terrific West Coast Contemporary style home, in prestigious Scott Point area, with ocean views over both Ganges Harbour and Long Harbour. Very private "point of land" oceanview property, with all day sun exposure, and appealing topographical features. Home offers open plan living/dining/kitchen, with family room sitting area, wood burning feature stone fireplace in living room, and ocean and garden vistas from all principal rooms. Vaulted ceiling, skylights, expansive decking! Master/ensuite private "wing", plus two bed/guest bath, and office area. Lots of storage! Double carport, plus large studio space -- perfect for an artist or home occupation or office use. Just move into this beauty, and enjoy the Salt Spring lifestyle. See Li for more details!
September 24, 2006. "The man who views the world at fifty the same as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life." (boxer, Muhammad Ali)
September 23, 2006. The 8th Annual Salt Spring Apple Festival is on Sunday, October 1st, and it's a popular local event that features 15 local farms and the incredible apples of Salt Spring Island. About 350 varieties of apples grow here, most raised organically. The Fulford Hall will showcase a display of over 260 varieties, and over 100 varieties can be tasted at the Apple Luscious Organic Orchard. Tickets are $10 each, students $5 and children under 12 are free. Tickets are only available the day of the festival at Fulford Hall or outside the Ganges Info. Centre. Proceeds go to the Organic Apple Network of Salt Spring Island, to purchase apple processing equipment. Contact Harry Burton (250-653-2007) for more details. See you there!
September 22, 2006. Drop into the Chamber office, the next time you're in "downtown Ganges", and pick up the brochure for Salt Spring Island's Local Organic Food Guide. It lists the Island Natural Growers, and mentions both the Farm Gate Sales and the No Farm Gate Sales locations. Remember that the Tuesday Farmer's Market runs till Thanksgiving, and is held at the United Church Meadow, off Hereford Avenue, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All locally grown and processed foods, here! Enjoy!
September 21, 2006. Do you remember Carnaby Street boutique, on lower Yates Street in Victoria? Rosina is closing the store, after more than 40 years at this location. If you still treasure the heirloom clothing and jewellery, that you may have purchased ages ago, drop by and say hello/goodbye, and see if there are any further treasures to snap up, before it's gone forever. I might wear my "hippie coat" over, just for old time's sake! Enjoy!
September 20, 2006. "The only time you really live fully is from thirty to sixty. The young are slaves to dreams; the old servants of regrets. Only the middle-aged have all their five senses in the keeping of their wits." (writer, Hervey Allen)
September 19, 2006. Southern Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands offer custom wine tours, and it's a treat to take part in same at this harvest time of year. On Salt Spring, it's Salt Spring Vineyard and Garry Oak Vineyard, in the lovely Fulford Valley. On the Outer Islands, there's Morning Bay Vineyard on Pender Island, and Saturna Island Family Estate Winery on Saturna. Saanich Peninsula, on the outskirts of Victoria, offers: Chalet Estate Winery, Sea Cider Vintage Cidery, Marley Farm Winery, Winchester Cellars, and Starling Lane Winery. Sooke offers Tugwell Creek Honey Farm and Meadery. Cobble Hill and the Glenora Valley, in Cowichan Valley area, on Southern Vancouver Island, south of Duncan, offers Merridale Ciderworks, Glenterra Vineyards, Divino Estate Winery, Cherry Point Vineyards, Venturi-Schulze Vineyards, and Blue Grouse Estate Winery. Cowichan Valley North offers Zanatta Winery, Godfrey-Brownell Vineyards, Echo Valley Vineyard, and Averill Creek Vineyard. The Central Island offers: Thetis Island Vineyards, Rocky Creek Winery, Northern Vancouver Island offers the following, for your interest and pleasure: Comox Valley and Hornby Island: Middle Mountain Mead, Hornby Island Winery, and Carbrea Vineyard and Winery. The Pacific Rim boasts Chase and Warren Estate Winery. Everything is just a ferry ride away, and some of the best is right here, on lovely Salt Spring! Enjoy, at this special time of year..."season of mists and mellow fruitfulness" (Keats).
September 18, 2006. I've always thought it was wonderfully Salt Spring-ish to have an Island currency, with the bills having been designed by artists. Salt Spring Dollars have been recognized by Canada's Central Bank as a unique community currency. It's the Fifth Anniversary of Salt Spring Dollars being used as local currency, accepted by supportive merchants (over 200 of same, and still growing). It helps local shopping to be a supporter, as the dollars can only be spent on Salt Spring. The Salt Spring Monetary Foundation is a not-for-profit society, whose objective is to maintain a local currency for community projects and to promote local commerce and goodwill. The bills are designed by local artists, are are considered to be gift certificates. While not legal tender, they are redeemable upon demand in Canadian currency. Each Salt Spring Dollar is backed by a reserve fund in the form of cash, term deposits or gold. For more information, contact the Salt Spring Monetary Foundation. What makes Salt Spring special? Lots of things, but the creative currency designs are certainly one aspect of it!
September 17, 2006. "Early signs of middle age: Work is hard. Distractions are plentiful. And time is short." (historian, Adam Hochschild)
September 16, 2006. Fall Fair today, at the Farmer's Institute grounds, on Rainbow Road. On again, tomorrow, too! See you there!
September 15, 2006. Don't forget the book launch and reading, on Sept. 24th, from 3 to 5 p.m., at the Lion's Club on Bonnet Avenue, just outside Ganges Village. Mona Fertig and Robert Hilles will read from their latest works. These are accomplished and renowned poets, in our midst -- yours to enjoy and to be entertained and provoked, thoughtfully, by. See you there!
September 14, 2006.
Super Schubart "original", updated beautifully, and with the best view on the Island! Three bed, three bath, open plan living/dining/kitchen, decks to follow the sun (sunrises to sunsets), and treed and private property (easy care/natural landscaping). Close to town, yet a serenely private ambiance. It's a gem! A best buy price, so don't delay on this one! See Li!
September 13, 2006. "All of us failed to match our dreams of perfection. So I rate us on the basis of our splendid failure to do the impossible." (writer, William Faulkner)
September 12, 2006.
True Salt Spring Island character charm, in this woodsy three bedroom / two bathroom home, on the seaside. Spacious and totally private land, with wonderful trees, easy care landscaping, pleasing lawn leading to the dock and the sandy beach (swim here!). Studio, garage, greenhouse and wonderful sunrises and sunsets. The plus? A separate and adjacent title, with oceanview, plus cottage. A wonderfully evocative property! Enjoy!
September 11, 2006. "Stand at the precipice, That existential darkness. And call into the void: It will surely answer." (Deng Ming-Dao: "Tao...Daily Meditations")
September 10, 2006. Tomorrow is the anniversary of the event that many people think of as the true beginning of the Twenty-First Century. It's interesting that the day before what has become known as "9/11", people who probably had "good addresses", and who worked for companies with the most prestigious office address in the world, enjoyed their lives as they'd done for several years. One cannot foretell change. After that date, it was clear to all, in this reminder moment, that we are not immortal, that we can be afflicted by events beyond our control. Only recently did I see the image of the falling man, from one of those twin towers. Apparently, the newspaper that ran this image decided not to keep featuring it, and so many people may not have seen this photograph. It is both appalling and involving. The man is swan diving to his death. At what point did he realize that he was not going to be saved by firefighters, or helicopters, or anything mortal? Unknown, just as his identity is not known. Let us all spare a thought for those who are caught up, unawares, in history's events, and who lose their hold on this earthly plane, by means not in their control. Absence is always a shock. Memory is the link from person to person. Let us remember, tomorrow, the victims of historical evil, no matter where or when.
September 9, 2006.
Dramatic oceanfront property, with an exceptional character country home, built in 2003, awaits your pleasure. Just move in, and enjoy this beauty! Three ensuite bedrooms, library, office, wonderful kitchen, formal dining, and oceanview living (gas fireplace). Cherry floors, beautiful window treatments, space for an elevator, for easy access to the upper level living spaces, oceanside decking with viewscapes that soar and please. The plus? A separate guest/studio, with oceanview. Private, sunny (s/sw/w exposures), panoramic viewscapes, and a design ethic that elevates the soul. You will be totally charmed! See Li today for that appointment to view this beauty.
Sept. 8, 2006. "The great man is one who never loses his child's heart." (philosopher, Mencius)
September 7, 2006. Tomorrow is another chance to catch Harry Warner and friends, playing Celtic music, from 2 to 4 p.m., at the Salt Spring Vineyards. Have you checked out the Harbour House Hotel's new menu? Don't forget that they're open for breakfast, too, from 7 a.m. The breakfast menu is available till 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. image poems -- new paintings by Stephanie Denz, are on display at the Salt Spring Woodworks until Sept. 17th. Don't forget the Que Bola magic show, at ArtSpring, at 8 p.m. on Sept. 9th! Salt Spring Island's Paws for a Cause takes place on Sunday, Sept. 10th, at Mouat's Park, between 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. The Group Walk takes place at noon.
September 6, 2006. Mark your calendars for the Fall Fair -- September 16th and 17th. Definitely worth a trip to the Island, if you're nearby, to check it all out! Crafts, flower displays, agricultural gems, horse trials, sheep dog trials, lots of food from the Island's farms, games and pet displays for the kids, the 4-H displays...it's not to be missed! The "old Island" is still alive and well, and there for your enjoyment at the annual Fall Fair (held at the Farmer's Institute, on Rainbow Road). See you there!
September 5, 2006. "Sometimes you may have to pull back from trying to save the world and just try to save the piece of the world that belongs to you." (actor, Joe Mantegna)
September 4, 2006. It's the last holiday Monday until the Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend, in early October. The last burst of summer pleasure is with us! Bicycle down to Ruckle Park, go swimming in Cusheon Lake, beachcomb at Drummond Children's Park, hike on Mt. Tuam, kayak in Burgoyne Bay or paddle out to Chocolate Island, in Ganges Harbour. Meet friends on the boardwalk, enjoy lunch or dinner at Oystercatcher or La Cucina or Artist's Bistro or Auntie Pesto or Piccolo's, or Calvin's Bistro...dine alfresco, while you can. Enjoy! (School starts tomorrow!)
September 3, 2006. "It is blazing hot today. Valley heat is drawn to meet the coast. The cool days of autumn dance with false summer. White within black, black within white." (Deng Ming-Dao: "Tao...Daily Meditations").
September 2, 2006. This is the Labour Day Holiday Weekend, the last of the "summer weekends". School starts on the 5th, and another year is underway. It's odd how most of us still start the "new year" with the way we remember that "back to school" moment. September to June was the "year", and it remains that way, in spite of the January to December calendar year. Upcoming, in September, on Salt Spring, is the wonderful Fall Fair (the third weekend in September). If you've never been, you're in for a treat. The "real" Island flavour! Don't miss the sheep dog trials on the Sunday, and the horse show on the Saturday. See you there! September can be as wonderful as August, weather-wise (cool mornings and evenings, and hot afternoons), but it does get darker earlier. A beautiful month, and, as the poet Keats promised, a "season of mists and mellow fruitfulness". Enjoy!
September 1, 2006. "I'm incredibly lucky to still be around, doing all the things I want to do and getting extremely well paid for it. There's a parallel with golf -- a lot of it is in the mind, and the moment you start to lose the enthusiasm or appetite, it affects your judgments and decisions. And then you stop performing well. I think enthusiasm and appetite are more important than anything." (actor, Sean Connery).