Let Music fill the air

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Let life come to you.

I guess that's what I have been doing. Just letting life come my way. Of course, amidst this life that we live - there are bumps in the road but - keep the faith because  there's glory over the hill. In this case, glory came with a phonecall.
 A weekend invite to The Gulf Islands and the sun is scheduled to shine!

Phone rings.....
it's my girlfriend shannon, from highschool.

Can I come over to the island to stay at her cottage?
love to!   
hockey crazy vancouver
 the ferry donned the flag!

made it over to galliano island on the ferry.  it was about an hour.   not long at all.
nancy  (who is another friend from
highschool) was able to make it too.  Fantastic!  3 single girls with lots of catching up to do.     so i left my car in tswassen and we drove in hers with our 2 dogs.  

nancy.


shannon met us on the  galliano side of the ferry.
Yeah ! - how do we get so busy with our lives that we forget to spend time with great old friends......   
First stop...breakfast and coffee.
we had eggs benedict at the local eatery
just as soon as we got off the ferry.
nancy noticed the cheeky sign of course but really,
it's good advice.

posing for pictures that make absolutely no sense is my specialty.
these guys are good subjects.
willing anyways!

There is no reason not to hug
"a man of style"

 we planned to have a good time but.....   try to keep it clean
(oh ya.  whatever)

And here we arrive at the home away from home.

this is where we spent the whole day
on the deck.  in the sunshine.
 We never seemed to run out of things to talk about.  that's just girls i guess.   nancy always remembers everyones names and crazy details.  she  could seriously write a column of who's who in west van.  she makes me laugh.   shannon is the business woman.    she has worked so hard and i am proud of her.




It's all good.

The sky is the limit.
this tree is right off her front deck.
Shannon's place is beautiful.  She has been remodeling and it is paradise.
very beachy.  white with pale blue tones.
completely relaxing.  truly a get away.


The main living space.
guest room for nancy
& sadie.







Nancy's dog sadie.

Cottage decorating.







The view from the deck

Cookin chicken...  
evening meal on the deck

of course, sea shell wind chimes
Let's celebrate getting together!
Champagne mornings & sangria afternoons.


Me & charlie's private suite.

now an Island dog.

I loved this bed.   so cozy.
 you look out windows to open water

the shower and sink area of my suite.
Shannon.    she is one smart girl.
she deserves a place like this.
really.


lunch girls.... because sun and sangria with no food
is never a good idea..
nancy is always our voice of reason.
sightseeing the island

evening & we lit shannon's lanterns in the tree.


Sunday we figured we would go for a walk.  Shannon's neighbor said it was about a 20 minute walk through parkland to get down to the beach.
                               perfect.  let's do it.

well - not really.
turned out to be 4 km down and 4 km back.


On the way down to the beach.
not sure how far.....

it was hot.  we had 1 bottle of water.  2 dogs. and flip flops on!     we passed bees buzzing in tons of yellow broom bushes and just missed stepping on a snake on the road.   

green grass and vancouver rain
means garden snakes.
harmless but i still don't like them.
We saw this abandoned car in the trees off the path.. but still no beach.

i thought this would be a great photo
shoot location.
we were too scared to look inside
could be something in the trunk
you never know.

I had no idea that the pavement was so hot on the dogs feet and my pooch ends up with a sore foot.
he is favoring his foot and licking his paw when we finally reach the beach.   

so what to do.....  

i have to carry him all the way back.
almost had a heart attack.
he weighs 40 lbs!

 The girls sacrificed most of the water for me.
good friends.  they even offered to carry him part way - but i was covered in dog hair and it was just not something I could put them through.   So they carried my camera and documented the ordeal.
This is where i almost died.
poor charlie....he knew i was trying to help him
but i just couldn't carry him every step.
I was never so happy to see the car.
 Its amazing what you can do when you have no other choice...

all in all it was a great bonding weekend for us girls again and we caught some sun and some exercise too.
our thoughts are this...  let's do it again soon -
or let's go to italy together!  (of course)

and yes,  love can move the universe.

We raced off to catch the ferry home and gave shan a big hug
for being so great to have us and our dogs.

black cherry ice cream before we leave is a must.
so we just threw calories to the wind.


















It sure is....

7 comments:

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Well hello there....oh thank you for your visit tonight AND this fabulous tour of your time with the girls....your photos are SO STUNNING and great memories. The time we spend with family and friends is by far one of the best experiences in life. YOUR RETREAT IS GORGEOUS!!!
Thank you for you kind words. Are you having a fab summer???? I AM!!! Then school starts in September, but I am milking every minute for what its worth! PEACE! Anita

C'est moi Claudette said...

I clicked on every pic to get a better look. WONDERFUL weekend Julie. Would LOVE to meet these special girlfriends one day.
Shannon has a lovely, cozy place on the Island WOW.
Too funny seeing chubby Charlie on your back. I can see why he needs a diet, lol. You looked exhausted.
Again, I'm sorry to hear about old Turbo. May he RIP.
He had a good life with all of you didn't he?
I hope you bought your ticket by now. Less than 24 days. Yeah, come on get here already.
See you soon.
xoxoxoxo

~CC Catherine said...

Sweetie, What a RIDE of a time with your high school buddettes! SO LOVED the entire narration of your time with them. The part / pics of Charlie are PRICELESS - I cannot believe you carried that 40 lb baby all that way... WOW... This is such a great memory to share with everyone - made me feel like revisiting my own highschool year with some old friends. Nothing like it. :) Even though I'm not your high school friend, :) I can't wait to make our own memories with the Summer Breeze gals in just 4 weeks. Can you believe it? Can't wait! Did I say I can't wait. Also LOVE your upshots of those trees with what appears to maybe be a BLUE MOON shot - is that what they call it? I LOVE THOSE! Bringing my camera on the trip and can hope our late nights you can make me as good as you with your tips you'll teach me on all the BOOK stuff! :) You smartie - YOU REALLY ARE! If you wrote a column, I'd read it - truly I would. I ADORE your writings! Love you Jewels - see you SO VERY SOON! Hugs & Kisses to the M&Back! ~CC

Teresa said...

How fun is that? You take the most amazing photos, they could all be postcards! What a beautiful place for a girlfriends weekend. Hope you're having a nice summer.
Big Hugs from Georgia,
Daisy Duke

wendy said...

I can pretty much DITTO what everyone else said. It appears a lot of your summer will be spent "hanging with the girls" and making memories.
Old friends
and New ones.
Your friends place looks absolutely beautiful. She looks like she was a very gracious host for sure.
Can't wait for us to make our own memories at Claudie's.
You are a loving pet owner to carry Charlie all that way. No wonder you were passed out on the road (tee,hee)

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