Slow

Thanks to all who have visited GDP this year.

Sun

Enjoying a break from the rain

Redwood

Man At Work

Bruce Somers quietly goes about building some of the coolest structures on Gabriola, like this one down at the south end.

Post

I meant to go to the post office today, I really did. But the rain was too relentless and the woodstove was too warm so maybe tomorrow.

Hawk Owl's Workbench

My neighbour Hawk Owl gave me a wonderful old Pentax film camera awhile back so I used it to photograph the workbench in her studio.

Angel By The Ocean

Peace on Earth

Treats On Aisle Three

Not A Reindeer

ABC Wednesday > W is for Wool

My wife and I get our eggs from Taylor at Paradise Island Farm. And lately we've been getting some of the woolen goods as well, including a pair of handmade felted alpaca wool slippers that are without a doubt, the warmest thing I've ever put on my perpetually cold feet. Like wearing a sleeping bag.

Every tourist that comes to Gabriola snaps a pic or two of these beautiful animals (the farm is right on a main road) but probably not with black and white film in a 50-year-old camera.

Global ABC

445

Hank Rides On

Gabriola said farewell to Hank Sirlin today and the Celebration Of Life took place in the same room where he left us, at his home overlooking the sea. The house overflowed with friends, neighbours and relatives who shared great stories about our pal. Hank founded the Green Bikes Program which is how I came to know him and for me, those public bicycles will be his legacy.

Sunday Signage - The Post and Beam

Chair in the Woods

Skywatch Friday #62

Approaching the ferry terminal after a run to Nanaimo. If the sky looks a little grainy, it's because I had some ISO 800 colour film in the Leica.

Global Skywatch

Village Lights

ABC Wednesday - V is for Virtuoso

There are so many great musicians on Gabriola and today we have one not previously featured: Leah Hokanson has chops for days on classical piano but she also plays, sings and writes in the jazz idiom. When not at the keyboard, she runs Lulu, a wide-reaching local performing arts organization. The woman on the left is Deb Vitek, an in-demand oboeist doing page-turning duty for Leah during this concert.

Global ABC

Walking The Dog

Play Station

Sunday Signage > No Swimming

Shauna and Nathan

Shauna McAllister and Nathan Tinkham during a recent show at The Roxy. Their version of Hank Williams I`m So Lonesome I Could Cry was as good as it gets. The girl can sing!

Command Center

Controls of a working man's boat

A Hummingbird And A Turkey

Woodbox

The fine art of staying warm

A Boat Face

Access Diving

The Last of Fall

The leaves are pretty much gone now.

Sunday Signage > 1463

Living Roof

The cob wall at The Commons got a living roof this year. And speaking of The Commons, locals be sure to get your tickets for next Thursday's benefit concert at The Phoenix.

Skywatch Friday #61

Global Skywatch

Portia and Myles

Portia Boehm and Myles Black performing at The Roxy

ABC Wednesday > S is for Storyteller

Ivan Coyote is a national treasure. She's famous for her live performances (storytelling) but her novel, Bow Grip, is easily the best fiction I've read this year. She was on Gabriola recently for the 7th annual Poetry Gabriola Festival. Let's hope she comes back soon.

Global ABC

-11C

Not really cold by Canadian standards but pretty darn chilly for Gabriola in November!

Snowscape

My front yard

Sunday Signage > Private

Snow on the Ginkgo

This morning, Gabriolans awoke to the first snowfall of the season. We may be in for a cold winter.

Island Books

I love this store. I also appreciate the fact that it's right next door to the library!

Rocks And Water

ABC Wednesday > R is for Reverie

Global ABC

Poets By The Sea

This year's Poetry Gabriola Festival was over-the-top in a good way. Amazing! And the beautiful setting (Dragon's Lodge) helped to make it so. Click HERE to see a slideshow of the whole weekend. Locals, mark your calendar for next year!

No Traffic

Sunday Signage > Eydie Gomme Rocks!

Seaside silliness on the last day of the Poetry Gabriola Festival

Alphabet Soup

Served up this afternoon at the Poetry Gabriola Festival.

Poetry Gabriola Festival

Here's a snap from last night's opening ceremony of the seventh annual Poetry Gabriola Festival. If it looks like fun, it was! Islanders, this is a not-to-be-missed event so get on over to Dragon's Lodge this weekend and check it out.

Remembrance Day

This photo is from last year's event at the Memorial Cairn

Butterfly

Old Wagon

This was probably a delivery wagon in Nanaimo about 100 years ago

Ivy

Sunday Signage > Museum

Gabriola Museum website

Rain Doll

Waiting in the drizzle at GIRO