Everyone has a place that calms their soul. When things get too stressful, when I get that feeling in my chest where tightness sets in and I can't take a full cleansing breath, when my city becomes so preoccupied with the price of oil and the rise and fall of the stock market so that it occupies my every moment and thought, I know it is time to go somewhere where all these things seem to disappear and become just slight annoyances somewhere in the recesses of my mind. Vancouver Island in British Columbia, where my parents live, is one of the most beautiful places I know. Maybe it's the blue of the water lapping noisily against the shore or finding the only white pebble amongst thousands of brown ones,
Or, it's the amazing array of gorgeous hydrangeas that dot my mom's garden,
Or the scented lavender in my parent's neighbour's garden
Or the hippie houses surrounded by snowball bushes and white geese running away from my lens,
Or my favorite girlfriend's window sill that never changes except for the selection of flowers that grace her little blue vase until they go through all the stages of their bloom.
As soon as I set foot on the Island and I smell that salty, humid air, I feel like I am on a different planet and the hum of life changes instantly.
I am very late on reading every one's blogs and leaving my comments and enjoying catching up on every one's week...but, this was so good. I am on the Island for another 4 days attending a conference...so it's work...but I am staying in a wonderful old hotel in Victoria, in front of a beautiful old harbour, so life is really good.
51 comments:
That was a total visual feast.
I LOVE Vancouver Island. We were there a few months ago, it is so so beautiful. Enjoy your time there. That last photo of your friend's windowsill is wonderful.
How lucky that your conference is allowing you the opportunity to recharge! What a magical place - definitely one place I want to travel to.
There is definitely a need for us all to escape sometimes and let the universe reminds us how great it is. When we remember the vastness and greatness of it all it helps us see things in perspective. Such awesome photos.
So glad you're getting some food for the soul. :-) One of my favorite things: laying on warm grass, eyes closed, listening to the wind in the trees. Never fails.
Your picures are just gorgeous!Those flowers and that window, very appealing to the soul!
Your photos are breathtaking! Hope you're getting a chance to relax and take a breather :)
Thanks for the comment, I couldn't agree with you more. I commend you for all you do...and I hope your friend is doing better!
I hear Vancouver Island is very nice, there are lot of Czechs living. I hope I will make it there one day... I am also curious about the hippie comunity there, just curious, I bet there are Czechs among them as well. I wish you nice conference holiday there.
Just looking at the pictures and reading that post made me want to be there. I don't have a place where I can feel totally calm and relaxed, I need to find one.
sounds blissful Raina. soak it all up so you can retain these calm feelings when you return to the city.
ginny x
sounds and looks amazing
That looks like the the most lovely place. Somehow work doesn't seem so bad, I imagine? Enjoy your time and memories there. Your pictures are, as always, so beautiful.
Oh, such beautiful pictures! Blogs can wait -- you won't be there for long -- enjoy it while you can!
Beautiful pictures and a lovely place to be. I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay. You won the giveaway on my blog, please can you email me your address so i can post you the pincushion. Jane x
The photos are all so beautiful and your writing of everything... well... I just wish I could be there too. I could do with a break in such a beautiful and magical place.
Enjoy :^)
Hello, Thanks so much for stopping by. What a honour to be asked to feature in a magazine, I dont think my head would have fitted through the door, I would have had to tell everybody. What a beautiful place where your parents live, I cant think of anywhere I would rather live than close to the sea. You are so lucky. We are currently experiencing torrential rain and floods in the UK but it is nothing compared to the storms Gustav, Hanna and Ike that have sadly devastated so many people. Byr for now, Mandy
Beautiful!
Life should be that beautiful!
Sounds and looks just lovely.
I should say life is good! What a wonderful location for your conference.
The pictures are beautiful - I particularly like the one with the white geese in the garden.
It sounds and looks absolutely beautiful. I hope you have a lovely and restful stay.
That so makes me want to visit Vancouver...!
Looks beautiful... There's nothing like the ocean...
it sounds amazing, and the lavanda flowers are my preferite, i adore their smell in my closet...
reading your first paragraph describes it so perfectly, that feeling of "i've got to get out of here NOW."
those pictures show it so perfectly, the relaxation and exhale apparent.
beautiful words and images.
lovely. lovely. lovely.
enjoy the rest of your week!
oh my goodness... that is beautiful and peaceful... thank you for sharing.
beautiful photos! it all looks so peaceful and lovely. hope you had some nice relaxing time to yourself away from the craziness of the city!
Enjoy your respite! Safe journey.
I want to be there. Now.
The place that gives me that feeling is by the sea in the west of Ireland, a little village where my sister has a summer house.The lap of the water in the harbour,the tang of salt in thesea breeze,endless walks across the cliffs where you meet onlt the occasional sheep......You've ,made me want to be there.....NOW!
Nice photos, nice place to relax and recharge. I'm glad you got the chance to get away--sometimes it is definitely a necessity for ones sanity!
I'd love to be there right now, it looks beautiful, enjoy!
i haven't been there since i was 12 years old but it was imprinted so distinctly in my memory. enjoy and take a few calming breaths for me!
these photos are even prettier on your blog...I envy you.
Looks so lovely, glad you managed to combine some R&R with the work trip.
Oh it looks so beautiful there and still warm and sunny, (it is yucky, grey and cold here in Scotland) but i am warmed just looking at your photos : ) ty
i've heard such wonderful things about vancouver. i'd love to go someday! i hope you enjoyed your time away.
yes, it's amazing what a relief it is to step away from the hurly burly of the city with all it's stresses and pollution. when you find yourself somewhere else you wonder why you let it go for so long without recharging.
for me, it always feels so good to nip over to toronto island.
Oh so beautiful, I felt calmed and soothed just reading it. I love the ocean and the blue... I'm getting all dreamy just thinking about it.
Dy
Sigh... Sounds and looks heavenly. Enjoy every minute!
Welcome back, Raina! Glad you enjoyed our beautiful province! I like the changes you made to your website!
Maryxo
a place i've always longed to see. simply gorgeous -- even the photos are refreshing! i will vicariously visit your lovely retreat. feeling the need to breath keeps us grounded. be well.
That is very true. I have a place but the problem is you have to fly there and you can't drive. I guess you could boat there. I have pictures on my flickr. It is snake lake.
My family vacationed in Canada when I was in HS and we loved it. The gardens were amazing.
It is a beautiful place - I'm putting it on my long list of places I need to visit.
I stumbled on your site through your comment over at Friend to Knit With. I know what you mean about not having enough hours in the day but if you find yourself tempted, the Amy Butler 'In Stitches' book is on sale through both Amazon and Chapters right now. My copy just arrived through Canada Post today and I'm drooling.
Your photos are breathtaking and I'll definitely be back to visit your lovely blog again soon.
oh uau! what wonderful photos, and what envy... i am turning green here!
Amazing post!
Thank You!!
so beautiful..ah victoria! we were just there in august--you lucky girl!
It looks so beautiful there. You're so lucky to have a place such as that to escape to when needed :-)
what an amazing set of photos!
I've enjoyed your description of this piece of land. It sounds fantastic and soothing... Thanks for letting me travel with you; before this it was only a very slight chance that i could visit Vancouver Island. I feel closer to it now.
:)
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