Real life getting in the way of blogging

In my wanderings about this city and minglings with friends, I keep imagining blog posts I intend to write about what I'm seeing and doing, and then not getting to them. Maybe that's a good sign, though. I'm enjoying life rather than writing about it.

Another bright, sunshiny day here in Victoria. (However, if you are thinking of moving here, please edit that comment out and say something negative instead about this city, because one of its virtues is its smallness. Now that I'm here I find myself worrying that too many people will overwhelm it and turn it into a typical large city, which would be such a pity.)

Yes, another beautiful sunny day, but there are occasional wisps of fog today in our neighborhood. They come and go and will be good for the garden, which we've had to water about every other day since we took possession almost two months ago.

Yesterday after church we were invited by a neighbor of ours to come swimming with her, her daughter, and twin five-year-old grandsons, to a small hidden gem of a lake about five minutes from the church. We spent a couple of hours there, swimming, lolling in the sun, and watching the kids frolic in the water. It was lovely to spend time with these little boys, in particular. They are identical twins and one is a little nix-nooks, which the other is more demure and biddable, both altogether delightful. We were told this little lake is one of many in the region that is known only to locals and those who know about it are eager to keep its beauty a secret so it doesn't get crowded. We feel lucky to have had its secret shared with us.

Thursday our friend Susan from Salt Spring came and was our first over-night guest. She used to own a condo in James Bay and took us walking in the neighborhood, showing us some interesting sights we had not yet stumbled upon on our own. I continue to marvel at this neighborhood: so many quaint older homes in beautiful states of preservation, riotous gardens, quiet laneways.

We came upon an allotment garden – how I would love to get a plot in one of these! – and marveled at the density of the growth there, flowers and vegetables. Huge dill, the biggest dahlias I've ever seen, and a fig tree covered with small maturing fruits.

Friday night we were invited to a pot luck by local women from the PWCA, the camp we've attended at Cowichan Lake several times in the last four years. What a wonderful time we had! The hostess lives in an adorable small, cottage-like house in West Vic, with a huge back yard, most of which is planted in fruit trees (apples, figs, cherries) and vegetables. The food was magnificent: sangría, fresh fruits, many salads (so appreciated on a hot summer day), roasted corn and barbecued chicken, followed up with several desserts including chocolate cake, lemon cake, and bumbleberry crumble.

Sunday there was a classic car festival down near the inner harbour. Although we didn't go down there ourselves, it was almost unnecessary to do so, because the whole city was full of the vintage autos being driven around in the warm sun. We saw dozens, but unfortunately I don't have many photos as I was driving when we passed most of them.

Tonight we are doing our first dinner party, with Orleen and Dennis coming over for lasagna, which we plan to eat on the patio. Our living room furniture arrives Wednesday (halleluiah!), but if it turns cool we can Plan B will involve the dining room.