secondGemini

in the trees

massive.... and bright green!  no, this isn't some sort of tribute post to chris sheppard, but a glimpse into the trip lauren and i took up to parksville last week.

i hooked us up with the sweet sweet industry rate at tigh na mara, which got us a deluxe oceanview suite.  it was amazing.  right on the water, king bed, jet tub and a full kitchen.  brilliant.

one of the things we both really wanted to see while we were there was cathedral grove.  after we checked in, we hit the road again for a beautiful scenic cruise right past cameron lake... which was like glass.  why i didn't stop to get a few shots is beyond me.

we walked, strolled, ambled and meandered the Cathedral Grove path almost 3 times while we were there.  stopping to look at things we missed the first couple of times, and to take pictures.  of course she takes a few pictures of everything as we casually mosey... and i'll fire off 57 shots of one thing to get it "right" then shuffle along and do the same thing again and again.  ah well. =)

once we got our fill of giant trees (and I mean freaking huge!)  we made our way to Qualicum Beach to get some fresh seafood.  we drove right to the marina and picked up some enormous prawns and some scallops for dinner.  mmmmm.....

after taking our freshly "caught" dinner back to the suite, we went back into town for a quick bite and then a round of mini-golf.  we had lunch on a patio at a place called "The Rod and Gun."  classic.  pretty good too. 

happy to have nice cold pint of stella in ma belly, we hit up the mini-golf.  well, she kicked my ass.  straight up.  not to mention getting a hole in one on the pirate ship, WHILE she was wearing an eye patch that she brought.  that girl has pirate blood in her i tell ya !!

not wanting to leave the complex completely defeated, we hopped into the bumper boats for some hilarity!  hahahaa, man i want those things in my yard one day.  so much fun.  i managed to get her pretty good with the squirt gun that those things come armed with... but that's not to say i didn't get my fair share.  the kid in the green shirt was a crack shot with that thing... and for some reason he felt like pickin' on me.  i'm sure he and lauren were in cahoots!

anyway.... back to the hotel for balcony chillin', champagne, snacks, and then to the grotto spa for the mineral pool, hot tub and concierge lounge.  we had the whole grotto to ourselves for about 2 hours.  it was amazing.  that place is fantastic.

now completely relaxed and zoned out, we made dinner.  and lauren brought ALL the fixins!  grilled veggies, yummy cheeses, strawberries, prawns and bacon wrapped scallops.  positively divine!

we can't wait to go back.  i hope to get up there again in november maybe.
just awesome.

LEafy

i hadn't planned on picking up my camera today... as the list of things to do is a mile long.  but when it's been miserable for a week, and you wake up on a sunny morning... you too might be inclined to go hang out in the backyard for a bit. 

while soaking up a bit of morning sun.... i noticed the light reflecting off one of mom's plants buried deep in the massive garden she has here. 

i've seen alot of shots with beaded water on vibrant green leaves, but i've never captured one of my own. 
i guess i can check that one off the list.

orange purple green

yeuss... actually.

Blue Door

it's been so long since i posted i don't really even know where to begin.  so why bother!?  i've been playing with alot of photos, and i have so many to post, but with nothing really to say.

so, here i am.... sitting at my command centre in photoshop watching the clouds roll by hoping... nay praying that it will not rain tomorrow and the sun will shine.... as tomorrow is the Raft.

man oh man.... i sure hope the weather pulls through for us this year.  this is the one variable i could do without for this occasion.  it pretty much makes or breaks the event.  we'll see how it goes... but it's not looking good.  plus some key players aren't able to come join us on the lake... which makes me sad. =(

but who knows what might happen between today and tomorrow.
in the mean time.... here's a blue door in James Bay.