LAST POST

   I would love to continue this blog, but my duties are getting ahead of my abilities.  I write 2 other blogs and a FB page for the Garden Club, and maintain the garden at St. Michaels All Angels church downtown.   I need time for each of these commitments.




  Since the establishment of the Residents Association I personally feel the blog has served it's purpose in keeping communications between residents open and as positive as possible and now the newsletter from the Residents Chairman should be plenty for anyone to read.  There is also to be an information booklet for new Residents so that the blog becomes redundant!  Management maintains a FB page if you are interested in what's happening at the Park.

  I have truly enjoyed writing my monthly blogs with photos for the Residents and thank you for your trust in me as your "reporter". 

Cheers!

Leslie 

FEBRUARY... MONTH OF HOPE

So for the past month we've had lots of RAIN.  Dripping, dropping, pouring....it's all been included.  Sometimes with wind, sometimes without!
 As I walk around I really admire what is happening here.  People are friendly and dogs well mannered.

 The other day I was talking to a possible  new resident who was thrilled to find a place where her dogs were treated well and it seemed everyone lived "by the rules".  She liked the fact that there was a Residents Association and that management was listening to our voice here.

 The Dog Park is well used now  and the toys there are adequate for most the bigger dogs, but since small ones use much smaller things to play with, owners usually bring theirs in pockets to throw while the dogs run to fetch happily.







Taking a walk on the upper level of the park we find Linda hard at work doing what she does best:  rediscovering the beauty of the original layout!  It is indeed a very well thought out design and the cutback to the original rockery and "river" will be very nice to stroll by when it's done.  This is the PERFECT time, by the way,  to rearrange your own garden!

Garden Club  News

Speaking of Gardens, the Garden Club is getting excited!  We had our first meeting in January to organize a bit and set out basic courtesy measures for all who wanted to participate in this years Garden Club. Everyone who had signed up came and we had a good conversation on how we wanted to proceed.

 Last year was the first year the Club got together. This year many of the residents wanted to have a little bit of space (behind fences) to put in some crops of their choice.  We met a second time in February and had another great meeting with anyone who wanted to speak to whatever question came up. We all got a chance to contribute and then we all left with a place marker for our personal 'site'!

Various members presented thoughts on garden design.  Here Laurie shows us her former gardens on rocky soil.  They sure look like they produced well!

 I think it won't be long before you'll see gardeners from all over the Park trudging up the hill to do the magic that Gardeners have a knack for!  Keep an eye out for further news in this department.  Though things are pretty well divvied up, please let me ( Leslie) know if you'd like a spot for next year.  We'll be adding beds as they become necessary.  I was personally grateful for the assistance that Management gave in encouraging us to apply for needed supplies for the garden structure as they become necessary.






 


In town it is sad to see CHEMAINUS  FOODS close permanently. I really miss walking down River Rd. and over to the store and downtown area.  It seems really empty now and actually sad.  It's pretty on Main St., but there isn't the same atmosphere without the food store.  Yes, Rexalls has some things on hand for emergencies,  but not having that bustle in the middle of the town is kind of a let down when you go.  When I'm in the church garden there is much less bustle and the stores are mostly specialty meant for tourists now.
An old time resident told me to cheer up, as there have always been "cycles" in Chemainus and we just got in on a downswing!


 On the other hand it is nice at 49th Parallel  for coffee and shopping, but it is a much longer walk and carrying home the groceries is doable for now, but I will miss the closer store in another 7 or 8 years!
 As was noted in the Residents Association newsletter, 49th Parallel delivers groceries Tuesdays and Thursdays for free in town.  The phone number is noted in the letter, which is emailed and posted in the Bistro as well as by the mailbox and at the laundry house..

Yesterday at the church I noticed a new sign that said a transportation bus will pick up and take Seniors to shop there for free, with a return trip with groceries.  I'll get particulars for anyone interested.

Of course everyone has noticed the huge structural differences being made on Phase#3.  I was taken aback by all the old trees coming down, but then that had to happen in Phase# 2 also.  I'm sure everyone will be pleased when it's all up and running ( though I warn you, it takes awhile!)

So for now, enjoy the rain of the "Wet Coast" and know it will help revive our lovely flora and fauna.

Cheers,

Leslie

A MONTH TO CELEBRATE TOGETHER

Sorry this has taken so LONG to come out!  I had more stuff to do than I remembered and now it's all caught up it's almost the end of January.  Time to put the photos out along with the good memories!

 We had a wonderful get together in December and it was such good fun.  New neighbors, old friends and lots of great food!  It never fails to amaze me how generous the folks here are with bringing great eats to our gatherings!  Koleen, Karen and I set up the tables and put the tablecloths on.

 Karen and I had the fun of decorating the tables.  Though it was a little misty and drizzling , I was able to  gather  from bushes and shrubs in the Gardens , while Karen put together and set up the centerpieces.  

It was cozy and warm looking when everyone started arriving with food in hand.

I can honestly say everyone had a wonderful time together and Mary won the 50/50 draw, which must have been a nice surprise Christmas gift!

 A little later Len opened the Taphouse at the new shopping center at the 49th Parallell.  Everyone from the Gardens were invited to join in the celebration.  It was really neat to see the groups of people who came.  Some sat couple and couple, others with large tables and some alone who joined a "set" they met there.  I think I saw nearly everyone there enjoying good food and company.

We were met at the door or the counter by really nice staff who proceeded to explain how the food worked!  We got to pick from a basket for our appetizer and from another for our entree.  Charles and I got a nacho appy and then he got seafood and I got a pizza.  Wow.  I took home some for later! The   whole experience was very "UpTown" and a welcome new place to have locally.

 Since then we've been enjoying the rain!  And it is soooo pretty when it rains and all the trees sparkle when the sun hits them.

 I have a creative writing piece that our grand daughter wrote that I'd like to share, just for fun.

                                           DOGGIE  BAGS

A businessman is walking down the street.  In front of him is a little old lady walking her small Schnauzer dog.  This man is walking as fast as he can, because he's going to be late for his most important business meeting of the year.  As he walks he suddenly smells something everyone dreads to smell just before a meeting!  DOG
 POOH.
 So this man arrives at his meeting ( that he's already late for) and is walking in at the same time as trying to clean his shoe.  He smells gross and his meeting goes down the drain.

  How would you like to be that man?  I'm sure we've all stepped in some unwanted gooiness before!

PEOPLE! pick up after your dogs, it's not that difficult! even if it's a small one! I know that one day these could be way better smelling streets.  I know some of you people don't care, but this stuff is hard to get off the shoes!! Think about it...you may think, "oh, he's just a small dog. I don't need to be his personal cleaner", but  YES YOU DO!  Some people don't have time to go all the way back home and wash off their shoes.  Sometimes people who have lots of money like to buy overly expensive shoes.  Respect the Street!
 Another reason you should pick up after your dog is that other dogs will come along and see the other dogs waste and decide to see if it tastes good.  Before you know you have a pooch addicted to doggie droppings!  That's the way dogs get worms. 

 Well, at least the Vets will be getting better pay...

   So this is why you should pick up after your dogs.  I've got two words for you people:  DOGGIE BAGS!

 Though we are doing pretty well with this issue, a reminder is always in order!  

 Have a great day!

STRIDING FORWARD!

Since my last post several exciting things have happened that I need to pass on immediately.

First off we had the Jazz night, which was a tremendous success!
You can read more on the Facebook page for Chemainus Gardens, but these photos given by Karen Kimmerly get the feel of it a little.
Karen took a course to be able to serve drinks, the setup was nice for seeing the band and, from what I understand, only the lighting was a bit of a problem.  I'm sure a fix will be forthcoming for the next event, as the overhead fluorescent lights were the problem, the regular lights were fine, but too dim for the musicians to see by!  Seems a few "booklights" would be the solution or something like that.

 


After that total success ( more will be planned I bet) we had a small but great showing of jewelry that Judy Smith brought to Karen Kimmerly's home on a Sunday afternoon. The featured jewelry was designed by Krista Smith! Karen, always noted for great food, had a nice little spread for those attending and I understand the party was also a good success!

 
 



 Judy shows all the pretty things she brought...the girls love them!

















A meeting with Management at the Bistro with 2 reps from the new Residents Association brought a new and more open dialogue between those in the Park and those owning or Managing the Park.  Everyone was pleased with the outcome and old attitudes can be put to rest.  We are looking forward to good or even great results from this new relationship.
A new bulletin board for notices from the Residents Association and Suggestion box in the Bistro is now a reality.It will be checked weekly and anything to the Management should be clearly marked, as we won't open it then.

Mostly everyone is aware that on Tuesdays, at the Bistro, we have a coffee hour.  It is so much fun and anyone is welcome!

 This is a time to meet your neighbors and friends for a friendly chat once a week.  Sometimes it really makes my week!
The    VICTORIA TIMES COLONIST   is always available, as well as a puzzle table set up for everyone.  Books on the shelf are loaners and if you're looking for a coffee or tea or hot cocoa, it's all there for much less than downtown at $1.00 a cup!

Come up anytime to enjoy a time alone or with a friend.








On Thursday evening the new  Emergency and Disaster Committee met at the Pavilion with 22 people joining for the first open meeting to discuss Emergency Preparedness with representative Sybille Sanderson.

Booklets were given out to test us "first" instead of last.  This being to show us how little we are really prepared for an earthquake, fire or flood PERSONALLY.
I could tick off about 4 things I'd done in this regard, but nowhere near what I should have. Great suggestions were given by Sybille for water, food and a "grab and go" bag.  Because we live in an Earthquake zone we had a lot of discussion about what to do... some of the things you learned as a kid aren't always right anymore! I was surprised to learn to stay inside, not run outside!

Sybille

many more surprises for me, too, in the area of home fires. Do you close your bedroom door at night?  You should!  It can mean precious extra minutes of oxygen for your lungs to enable you to get that bedroom window out and yourself too!
 I encourage EVERY member of the Community at Chemainus Gardens to come to the next seminar.  We are encouraged to act as a Community during disaster.  The Army won't be there, but your neighbor will be.  If you do your part, it makes it easier to come together for times you need each other.

And a happy-for-her-sad-for us farewell to Pamela Kimmerly. She has moved on, but is only a short distance away, so we'll see her again. Best wishes for a happy home to her! In her beautiful home we have Al and Laurie Foster now....so Welcome to them and their dogs, Willie and Waylon....

Cheers!