MILD MAY....SO FAR!

BC  Dogwood

Near St. Josephs School

 Some have asked me what the beautiful tree is that is now in bloom and it is the BC flower, the Dogwood.
  The dogwood and arbutus are especially present on the Island in pockets of suitable habitation.  When we first came here there was a HUGE dogwood right about where Bonnie lives in phase 3.  It was cut down when the expansion happened, though it is against the law to cut down a dogwood.  They are a protected species, but once it's gone it's gone....

My yummy bowl...

Liz and Merrilee  are supreme scoopers!

Glad to help..Sharon and Ursel and Maureen help Hilde...

We've had a few get togethers since I last wrote, though I wasn't able to attend them all, the biggest by far and most popular was our ICE  CREAM  SOCIAL, put on by our Social Committee.

Richard, Dorothy and Charles being served

 The weather cooperated beautifully and everyone who could possibly make it was out.  It is such a nice reason to step out and meet your neighbors, new or old!


Our hard working group of ladies dished up a delightful do-it-yourself bowl for only $2.00!  As you can see it was probably worth 4 times that much elsewhere, if you could get it at all!
 If you are looking for something to join, may I suggest the Social Committee could always use volunteers to set up and serve these great get togethers.  Especially our newcomers...everyone gets to know you when you join in!

Trevor and Corina joined with new residents

Barry and Karen Kimmerly enjoy the day with us!

The Garden area is getting cleaned up and put together with the tireless efforts of our Garden Club!  Everyone puts in time to make it an enjoyable effort and anyone wanting a bed should contact Agnes Aaberg #334 on Cherry Lane.

Changes are happening so fast, it's hard to remember what things looked like "before"!  The new homes in stage 5 are rumbling in and being fitted up with decks and porches...I've met so many walking their pets, but it gets harder to remember names and pets as the place fills up so quickly...I AM trying, however!

Brian introduces Sybil

 On Tuesday we had our annual update from the Safety Committee with Sybil again speaking to us of updates to the booklet she gives out for emergency preparation for our area. 

If you do not have a booklet from MidIsland Emergency Coordinators and Managers, ask at the office for one.  It will help you to understand how YOUR preparedness will help everyone else in times of emergency.  YOU must prepare...food, water, essential clothes, a grab bag.  All these are described in the booklet.  Be Sure you get one!

The next item of interest is the new postings across River Road . Cedar Ridge, a Private home park, has banned use of its access road to the public.  This includes us.

Originally this access was made to accommodate the residents who were living at the end of the Lane. This arrangement was made years ago when the development started.
Since then our development began and 7 years ago the traffic didn't bother anyone, so nothing was done.
Since Phase 2-6 have come in, however, it is understandable that the noise and constant foot traffic is annoying to the extreme to those whose bedrooms face the Lane.  When we walk and talk with our animals, it disturbs their peace, and because we are now FAR bigger with FAR more pets, they've had enough and have posted the signs.  
PLEASE respect them and detour through Askew Estates on the public roads through to the Hermits Trails.  It isn't that much further!
 In any Community the right thing to do is to respect your neighbors right to peace and enjoyment of their investment, whether across the street or anywhere you could be heard or seen.


People have asked me if this is legal.  Yes, it is legal. Just because we've gotten used to using it, doesn't mean they don't own it! They have a right to cut off anyone elses access unless they live at the end of the block or in the Cedar Village proper. 

This brings me to the suggestion ( as we have had their people use our dog park and stroll into our pond areas) that we too have it clear that this is not a Public area.  Many feel it is and come with bags of bread for our ponds and wildlife....which WE have to live with!
At the entrance to Cedar Ridge is this signage:

 
 

That would put an end to the constant sight of people "walking over" with their animals to use OUR Park for their pets! Hopefully management will see this need soon and do more than just a little unreadable paper up informing the Public that ours also is Private!

 

 But for now it's turning beautiful and is supposed to be for some time....ENJOY!

Cheers, 

Leslie

 

MARCH and APRIL MUSEINGS

View from Our Porch 

Springtime beauty is never far away from our Garden setting!  Whether we've been here since the beginning or just arrived, we all enjoy our good fortune in coming to this lovely spot!

The Spring this year is about 2 1/2 weeks later than in past years.  It has been raining almost like November with no end in sight!

I thought some would be interested in seeing some old photos from when we first came to the Gardens ourselves in July 2011. You will recognize some areas, but others are no longer there. This particular place was cleared for Phase 2...it became the road through phase 2 and up the hill.

 

 We stayed for 3 nights, met Jane and Dave Hobson, who had just moved from Powell River and relocated here and assured us they were happy as clams!  They were extremely helpful to us, as we had a LOT to do in order to come down from Smithers! 

 
 

We enjoyed the large Koi that came to the waters edge.. Hank was also here, dipping down to try and catch a meal! I remember Jane telling me that I'd better keep an eye out overhead because though beautiful to look at, Hank carried a Pile of Stuff that he dropped indiscriminately on anything below!!

After moving in in early November (finally...it was cold!) we had our first visit from our daughter and family. This photo was taken where a road ran in front of this spot but became the place where Sharon and Carlo live.

These little orchid like flowers used to be in abundance throughout the forested area that we now live in.  They are original specimens

that used to grow near the Waterlily Pond when I first arrived in July 2011. After the great pushing over and burning of the trees in phase 2 I realized that some of the original Island flora and fauna would probably not make it so I went into the forest and dug out a few specimens to replant and try to save.  It worked beautifully!  They are the first Spring flower that is Island indigenous that blooms...though more exotic plants that thrive well also come, this is a fairly rare original plant. Maureen ( lives near the back entrance in the only RV in the area) showed them to me when I first arrived and identified them with her knowledge of Island plants ... 

First planted 2013

Because I wanted others to see them too I planted them in my garden area nearest the Laughing Pond.  They're in bloom right now if you'd like a peek....Please do not disturb the area, but you are welcome to look! They are planted behind the trees in both these photos.The second photo was taken in 2013 when I planted the garden there. If you look at the size of the plants planted then and what they look like now, you'll get an idea of how quickly the plants grow here!

Since I last wrote Phase 6 has been exploding with the sound of chain saws and trucks, while Phase 5 is moving heaven and earth to accommodate those who are coming into the area. I must say, I'm not keeping up very well with the influx... my brain gets addled trying to keep people and pets straight!!

 Again I was saddened with the felling of all the luxurious forested areas of the Park.  100 year old trees bleeding their fragrance out while dying has an emotional response in my heart....

I've never been quite as upset with tree felling before I came here!  I also know that you can't leave these trees to stand alone or they will fall, so it is with a heavy heart I see and smell what at this point looks like carnage!

So many memories of camping with our kids in these woods..of friends who lived in their 5th wheels and walked daily up to "snob hill"! that was just a joke, as we all loved wherever we lived. I am very pleased with the sections of trees that will remain looking beautiful for newcomers.  Some will not make it for sure, as the roots have been totally disturbed, but some will and hopefully will retain the flavour of the Gardens.

 

 For those of you who are seeing the 3rd incarnation of our Garden area...this is not what it will be!

Diana pours the drinks..

Saying goodbye is hard...

Hilde, Donna and Lois!

  

We had a going away get together for Linda Dawson, who sold her home and took Jinks away to Edmonton!  She will be back to visit, but we miss her quick smiles and darling pet!

The following week Agnes Aaberg and Liz, her sister, held a class on making sauerkraut.  I decided to try it, as did several others. We had a great time with a very good instructor who was prepared with everything we needed to begin. 

 
 Listening and watching is the best way to learn a new skill.  Though I had made it in the past myself, I learned how to effectively help my skills by adding things I'd never imagined in order to make the kraut taste very flavorful and add benefits to eating it.  I found adding GINGER and GARLIC as well as beets and carrots made a beautiful pink kraut and it tasted yummy!!

Diane and Barb imitate...

Agnes has a grateful bunch!

And now the homes are rolling into Phase 5 and dump trucks and  gravel trucks come with them. 

 

 Though it is rainy most the time this past month, the work goes on as quickly as possible!  Homes are being placed and people are moving in even without some amenities... 

Barry and Karen Kimmerly also moved out of the Community on April 1.  Before she left I told her I'd post an "ad" for her Cookbook.  I know it's on the GARDEN VOICE, but I'll post it here too..


Cook Book

Want to be healthier but don't know where to start?

I read something the other day about ensuring our children never hear the word 'diet' again. Why give one word so much power? I am on a diet, you are on a diet, we all are on a diet. How can I be so sure? Because a 'diet' isn't something you go off of, like a prescription. A diet is what you eat, day in and day out, whether you plan to eat that way or not. So when people ask me what kind of 'diet' I follow, I always tell them I follow the one I am already on... the way I like to eat is the way I want to eat. The fact that I feel better than I have felt in years only serves to tell me that I am on the right 'diet. If you would like to buy my cook book ($20) which contains 123 healthy, gluten- free, processed sugar-free and added salt-free kitchen tested recipes contact me: karenkimmerly@gmail.com 

Here's to a happy, healthy Spring!

Cheers!

Leslie