July 15, 2014: A Cluck Cluck Here!

Today we went on an adventure to the Hamilton Petting Farm. We drove up to a quaint homestead with many animals to meet and greet. We followed the signs into the barn to pay our entrance. Beside the cash register they were selling chicken feed in small brown bags, $1 each. Before we left the cashier stopped us to say, "you can feed anything with feathers." Nana and I looked at each other as if to say,"feathers? Why do we need feathers?" After a few more repetitions we understood the message, you can give your chicken feed to any animal that has feathers. So off we went with our chicken feed. Right in the barn we saw baby chickens and quails, all different sizes and ages. Just outside the barn we came across a huddle of ducks. The ducks were all different breeds but they were a pack; they followed each other, stayed together and starting quacking if one got too far away. Isaac tried giving them some feed but they were not interested. Next we met Silas the goat then Chloe and Sophia, the mini pot belly pigs. The pigs were snorting and rolling in the mud, just as we think of pigs doing. We saw more chickens, all different kinds; there were sizzles and silkies and frizzles. Some were quite funny looking with fluffy heads and pompoms on their feet. The big red chickens loved our feed. They would run to wherever you threw it, clucking frantically and even stepping on each other for a bite of mashed up dry corn. Our next stop was the goat pen where the kids got to feed and brush all of the four legged kids. We continued our tour with more clucking chickens, two gentle donkeys and two magestic horses. The big finale was the kids each got to ride the pony around the yard. But after all that the kids favorite part was still the playground over by the parking lot. They must be city kids!

July 14, 2014: An All Day Beach Day

Today we were headed for the beach. We packed the cooler, slapped on our suits, brought the towels, chose the toys, loaded the wagon, grabbed the BBQ and  drove to the beach. We bring way too much stuff to walk. We started the day at the park and the spray deck. The kids were having a riot with the big slide and the water cannons. The water sprayers only swivel about 60 degrees but Isaac has figured out how to redirect the water with his hand so he can spray in any direction. He gets a few unsuspecting bystanders wet. When our tummies started to rumble Nana started up the BBQ and we had hot dogs for lunch at the park. Isaac suggested that we start selling them for profit and undercut the concession stand to increase sales. We just had lunch. Once our bellies were full we headed to the beach to set up camp. We chose a high spot up by the rocks to avoid being washed away by the ever encroaching afternoon tide. The kids don't like it because they have to walk over the rocks to get to the sand but I figure they will get tougher feet this way. Once we were down at the water Everett was surprisingly the most daring. He went right in, doing his floats and jumping around. Isaac was a little more tentative but he does enjoy the waves and collecting stuff; he found a great collection of seashells and an abundance of crabs. Makenna just did not like the weeds; anytime one would touch her feet she would scream and say "owwwwww!" She stayed on the sand and built some sandcastle villages. By 6 pm we were hot, sticky, sandy and salty so we decided to head home only to return another day. You really cannot beat a day at the beach. 

July 13, 2014: A Fare Day at the Fair

Sunday, July 13 is Qualicum Beach Day! So we drove down to see what it was all about. We parked by the Sand Pebbles Inn, where we stayed for our honeymoon, then walked down the esplanade. There were several booths set up each with a different activity. The boys got their faces painted; Isaac chose Spider-Man and Everett chose Batman. Then we met a clown and got some balloon puppies, Thor, Bruno and Fifi. We stopped to visit with the firefighters and the kids got to sit in the front seat of the big ladder truck. Further down we HAD to stop at The Beach Hut concession stand for a "dog slush". Isaac remembered getting a slush puppy last year and has been talking about it all week. They each got a huge slush and they could not have been happier. Our last stop along the way was the talent stage. We sat for a while enjoying the local blues band. Isaac enjoyed the "electric rock guitar" and aspires to play one some day soon. We had a good time at the fair but we were not tired out yet so we headed to the spray deck and the beach to cool off in the afternoon. This has become our afternoon and evening tradition while we are here and I quite enjoy it. Tonight as we set on a log on the beach, drip drying in the low sunshine after a swim in the ocean, I briefly thought about rushing home for dinner. Then I reconsidered, thinking, "we are on vacation; I would rather be on the beach."

July 12, 2014: The Little Falls That Could

Today we went for a hike at Little Qualicum Falls. The views were break taking, accompanied by the roar of the water rushing over the cliffs. We hiked to the upper falls, crossed the bridge and wondered down the trail a bit further. We doubled back when the kids had enough and got some of the best views on the way down. The pictures only give you a glimpse of this beautiful waterfall. 

July 11, 2014: A Night in Paradise

Today was a quiet, stay at home and clean kind of day. So we thought a night in paradise was fitting. A night at Paradise Mini-Golf that is. The kids piled in the wagon and we hiked down to the 36 hole oasis. Isaac chose to play the pirate course with the big pirate ship complete with métis and a treasure cove being the big attraction. Isaac was a serious golfer tonight trying hard to sink the putt then claiming a hole in one after six hits. Everett was a hockey style golfer with rapid repeated hits one after the other. Go Happy Gilmore! Makenna gave each hole her best effort; she got everything lined up, gave about three good hits then gave up, picked up the ball and walked to the hole. Then she placed the ball down about six inches from the hole and hit it in. I like her style. After 18 stellar holes of PGA style golf, we had a ride on the bumper boats. Everett was my passenger while Isaac got to pilot his boat rig. While Isaac was busy squirting water at the onlookers we blasted him from behind getting him wet from head to toe. We all got some good shots in and everyone was wet including Nana the photographer on the side lines. Me and my pirates sure had fun at Paradise tonight! We will return for a rematch. 

July 8, 2014: Beach BBQ

Today was a beach day! All day. We started at the playground and the spray deck. We waited for the hunger sharks to strike then we set up and had a BBQ in the park. Mom bought a small camping grill and it worked perfectly for cooking hot dogs in the park. After lunch we headed to the beach. Tide was coming in so we had to choose our spot carefully. Isaac set out to practice his surfing, Everett collected some crabs in the tide pools and Makenna was covered in sand from her sand castle building. Change that: Isaac had fun splashing in the water, Everett saved a while bucket of crabs by putting them back in the water and Makenna smashed my sandcastles as fast as I could make them. Everyone was tired, wet and sandy so it was a great day at the beach. 

And I got an unexpected end to the day when Gregory sent me on a blind mission to pick up a beautiful bouquet of flowers for our nine year anniversary. What a nice surprise! 

July 10, 2014: Totally Tubular

Today we spent the day with Mark and his sister, Deb at their lot on Horne Lake. And what a day it was. Hot and sunny; not a cloud in the sky. The kids had a great time in the water and out of the water. They were busy down on the dock playing in the tubes and spraying everyone on the battery powered "putt putt" boat. The adults enjoyed a refreshing swim in the clear but chilly lake and then we headed off in the boat. Each of the kids went for a tube ride and enjoyed bumping along in the waves. Mark went slow enough this time and everyone managed to stay on. We docked at a small island across the lake where we all got out to explore. Isaac and Everett had a great time scampering up the rocks and balancing across the rickety bridge. We loaded back into the boat, back to Mark's dock for a little more playtime. As dinner time drew near Isaac asked, "Can we just stay hear?" Needless to say, the kids had a great day at Horne Lake and will be asking to go back. Thanks Mark and Deb!

July 9, 2014: Wondering the Wharf

Today's adventures took us to downtown Nanaimo. We started walking down the esplanade overlooking the harour not knowing where it would lead. We enjoyed looking at the boats and watching the sea planes come and go. We walked down onto one pier and saw a seal waiting for fish. A family threw in a trap hoping for a crab. We wondered further down to find a playground with the best twisty slide. That provided so much entertainment that we had to plug the parking meter again. We wondered back, enjoyed more scenery, more boats, musicians and woos carvers on the sidewalk and of course, an ice cream cone. We had a lovely tour of a beautiful area in Nanimo. 

July 7, 2014: Eagles and Owls and .... Turkeys?

Today we took an adventure to the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre in Errington, British Columbia. We arrived at this familiar place, quickly toured the lobby and initial displays then made our way to the two main attractions. First the boys beetled over to the captive bred black bear who was resting and grooming himself in his pen. His name is Knut and sightings of him are somewhat rare. In the numerous times we have visited the centre, this is only the second time we have seen him. He was being a little shy still and mostly showed us his backside with a few glimpses of his face. After a close encounter with this giant teddy bear, we sauntered around to the flight centre. Here we were delighted to peer upon four eagles, injured but recovering and preparing for release back into the wild. Through the small windows in the wall you can see these majestic birds perched, flying and sometimes eating from the pond below. Isaac remarked that one of the bald eagles was younger than the others because of this brown head feathers. After the flight centre we toured the other habitats on sight for birds that cannot be released back to the wild. We saw golden eagles, barn owls, doves, red tail hawks, peregrine falcons, ravens, and turkey vultures. We continued our tour in the newly renovated grounds to see ducks, turtles, and geese. On our way back around we had a surprising and absolutely hilarious encounter with .......two turkeys. These hideous but beautiful birds were strutting everything they had and putting on quite the show. They were gobbling, throwing back their heads and making a comical cackle that made the kids laugh. Of course the kids joined in on the turkey play with imitation which resulted in a ten minute conversation that entertained all other onlookers. We had a great time at this wildlife sanctuary, saw animals close up and learned new facts; we will be strutting back here one day soon.

July 6, 2014: Putting the MOOOO in Mooberry!

Today it was overcast and raining but we decided that this west coast weather was not going to get in the way of a good time. The kids decided to go to Mooberry Farm. We had been here before so upon our arrival the kids knew where to go to get there own scavenge hunt brochures from the sign at the front gate. Isaac wasted no time in going to the first stop even before I read the clue. He used the hole punch to mark his sheet and off we went to find all of the animals. Along the way we found rabbits, baby cows and momma cows, pigs, horses, goats, donkeys and sheep. Everett plugged his nose for most of the day but he managed to keep his breakfast down despite his dislike for the farm smells. The pigs put on a great show running circles around the pig pen then crashing into each other. Makenna liked petting the baby cows but did not like when they tried to lick her with their rather large tongues. The boys enjoyed climbing on the tractors, petting the donkeys and brushing the sheep. All of the kids got a chance to bottle feed a lamb and boy could she drink. One full bottle took about four minutes. The real highlight of the day was milking time for the cows. First we watched the girl in the milking stalls, working with the machinery to milk eight cows at a time. What a procedure! Those cows loved to be milked and they loved the feed even more. Some of the cows even started pushing and shoving in the stalls to get a nibble of their neighbors feed. We watched as the girl milked two rounds of cows and then she asked if we wanted to milk a cow, by hand. Isaac quickly volunteered and jumped down into the milking area right away. The girl shows him how to do it and he got right to work. He was a natural. Everett gave it a try and Makenna even reached in a gave the cow a squeeze. My city kids did very well at being farm kids, for a day. 

July 4, 2014: The Journey West

Our adventure started today with a five o'clock departure. The van was packed, we woke up the kids and hit the road for the drive west to Parksville. The kids were still sleepy but too excited to sleep until the dark road twisted and turned enough to make them go back to dreamland. They slept until Hinton where we stopped for a donut break at Tim Hortons. We carried on again through Jasper and Valemount and then found a nice spot in Clearwater for a picnic by Dutch Lake. Then we made a straight away all the way to the ferry. We were not going to make our ferry reservation but we going to run out of gas. Google helped us find a gas station in Vancouver and we managed to catch the 7:30pm ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo. Abroad the ferry we had our traditional White Spot dinner and ice cream for dessert. Once we docked in Nanaimo it was only a short jont up the road and we were home. Parksville is our new home for a month. And we are very glad to be here.