Introducing Paul at "A Powell River Photo Blog"

This Wednesday Friends Day I'm going to introduce a new blog and blogger from Powell River BC. This very new blog is aptly called A Powell River Photo Blog and was started only a week ago on July 12. 2010.

Powell River is a small town, but I don't know the author (yet). What I do know from the recent posts is that it's a "guy" who has lived in Powell River for about 40 years. His name is Paul and he has chosen to start sharing pictures he has taken of our town, the "Pearl of the Sunshine Coast." And I'm very glad for it. Learning more about my new hometown is important and this is a great way to do it.

Paul uses both Olympus E-3 and E-520 digital SLR cameras to shoot his pictures. The quality of both models is evident in his compositions. I keep thinking I would like to try a digital SLR camera, but haven't taken that step yet.

We all started blogging at one time or another. Give Paul your support. Come on over to A Powell River Photo Blog to say hi and enjoy his views of our town. -- Margy

Puffin Cove by Neil Carey

I learn a lot about Haida Gwaii by reading Carolyn's blog Living on the Edge. One recent post was about the ceremony giving back the name Queen Charlotte Islands. In 1887 Captain Dixon named the island archipelago after one of his ships, the Queen Charlotte, named after the Queen of the United Kingdom. On June 17, 2010, the Haida returned the colonial name to the Queen's representative in BC, Premier Gordon Campbell. The official name is now Haida Gwaii (Xaadaa Gwaayaay), the name given to the lands by their original inhabitants, the Haida. Carolyn tells the story (with pictures) much better than I, so please read her post.

The book I just finished reading was Puffin Cove: Escape to the Wilderness of the Queen Charlotte Islands (Hancock House, 1982). Neil Carey and his wife Betty (an adventurer in her own right) went looking for a remote place to live and build a wilderness cabin. They first found their paradise on Moresby Island in Haida Gwaii in 1955 while on a boat trip. They sold their home in California (sounds familiar to me) and built a cabin in 1964 on property they purchased in Sandspit. They started as "Summer Settlers" (also a familiar ring) until they immigrated to Canada to live there full time in 1965. Next came the building of their remote cabin at Puffin Cove on leased land on the southwestern tip of Moresby Island.

Neil recounts life on Haida Gwaii in a different time. Logging and mining were bigger industries, but already starting to decline. No regular ferry service to the mainland made life more isolated and simple in many ways. Neil takes you gyppo logging, hunting, fishing and boating in fair weather and hurricane force storms. You get to meet the people that made their homes on the islands to live a good, but hard life. It must have been something to see wild storms raging on the open ocean from their snug cabin on the protected cove. Today, it is part of the Gwaii Haanas National Park.

Here's some more about Puffin Cove:

Puffin Cove at InsidePassageNews.com
Nearing the End of the World by Lyn Fox
Visited in 26 Feet to the Charlottes by June Cameron
Log of Baidarka 2001 Part V: Moresby Island's Uncharted West Coast
About Neil and Betty Carey on Northword

It's all interesting reading. -- Margy

Introducing Duane Burnett at "Duane's World"

This week for Wednesday Friends Day I would like to introduce Duane Burnett. His blog is called Duane Burnett: Duane's World...Behind the Scenes and from the Heart.

If you want to know anything about the Sunshine Coast from Gibsons in the south to Powell River and Lund in the north, Duane is your man. His profile shows his varied talents:

Duane Burnett is a "community spirit" award winning Master photographer, photo journalist, television host, actor, social networker and more. His images have been seen extensively on the Sunshine Coast and around the world in numerous newspapers, websites, brochures, map guides, magazines and on the big 50ft screen before the local movie theatre starts.

Here's an example, a video that Duane developed to showcase his beloved Sunshine Coast.

Duane can be found just about everywhere. I follow him on his Sunshine Coast BC Canada Facebook Fan Page to keep up with the happenings all along the Sunshine Coast. Here are a few ways you can find him online too:

Duane's Website
Duane's Blog
Duane on Twitter
Duane's Facebook Profile
Duane's Facebook Fan Page
Sunshine Coast BC Canada Facebook Fan Page
Duane Burnett on YouTube

Head on over and check things out. And Duane, keep on keeping on. We on the Sunshine Coast love you! -- Margy

Friend Recognition

Last week I had a very nice surprise. Diane, one of my reader friends, included the Powell River Books Blog in the Versatile Blogger Award at her site. Thanks so much Diane.

Diane is a "southern gal" at heart, but now lives on a tree farm in the Oregon mountains. Her blog, Thinking about it ... shares stories about her life on a tree farm, her wonderful family, arts and crafts, cooking, and a favourite of mine, books. To find out a little more about her and to read some of her great stories, please visit her blog.

The guidelines for accepting this award are…

Thank the person who gave it to you.
Tell 7 things about yourself.
Pass the award on to 15 bloggers, whom you have recently discovered, and think are fantastic.

Seven things about Margy…

1. I was born in "rural" Compton where my grandparents lived on the remnants of a large truck farm where they grew produce to sell at the farmer's market. It's definitely not rural any more
2. I've always loved horses. I had two in my teens and two just before we left LA.
3. I became a private pilot in 1981 and fly a Piper Arrow.
   
4. I was the Director of Technology for a school district for seven years.
5. I'm enjoying learning how to become more self reliant.
6. I became a Canadian permanent resident to live full-time at my float cabin.
7. I want to write a book about off-grid living.

I would like to pass the Versatile Blogger Award along to some of my newest blogger friends. They each have a different focus and style, so click on the links and take a look.

1. Gerry's Soap and Stuff
2. Mandy's The Journey, The Adventure
3. Catsngrams' My Life and the Rest of the Story
4. Hay Bale Happiness' Living Simply, is Simply Living
5. Diane's Day to Day
6. Stacie's Simply Stacie
   
7. Lorie's Gotta Dig It: A Garden Journal
8. CompostPyle's Cabin in the Woods
9. Denise's cook. eat. think.
10. Tracy and Her Crew's Bless Ewe Homestead
11. Fiesta's Quilting Fiesta
12. Fran's Bonnie of Clyde
13. Duane's World ... Behind the Scenes and from the Heart
14. Tanya's Little Village Naturals
15. Andrew's Burdr

I hope you enjoy visiting these sites as much as I do. They are all Versatile Blogs for sure. -- Margy

The Golden Spruce by John Vaillant

One place I want to visit is Haida Gwaii (formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands). This island archipelago is 90 km (56 miles) by ferry from Prince Rupert on the northern British Columbia coast. Speaking of ferries, I get some of my best books about BC in the gift shop on the ferry between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale on the Sunshine Coast. On a recent trip, I found The Golden Spruce (Vintage Canada, 2006) by John Vaillant.

The Golden Spruce was a 300 year-old yellow-coloured Sitka spruce located on Graham Island in Haida Gwaii. It grew from a minute seed that sprouted around 1700 to a massive tree "sixteen storeys tall and more than six metres around." This amazing biological wonder was the result of a rare genetic mutation that thrived along the bank of the Yakoun River in a rich, fertile lowland called a "spruce flat."

Vaillant likens the Golden Spruce to the bumblebee which can miraculously fly despite less that aerodynamic characteristics. With limited chlorophyll in its needles, the carotenoids (the same substance that makes fall leaves turn red, yellow and orange) shine through. Not surprisingly, this unique tree had special significance to the Haida First Nation people. It also made it a prime target for Grant Hadwin, a former logger turned environmentalist. The Golden Spruce is the story of the tree and its demise at Grant Hadwin's hands in 1977, but it's also so much more.

John Vaillant artfully weaves together the history of Haida Gwaii's discovery, Haida inhabitants, logging practices in British Columbia, and the life of Grant Hadwin. The author is a master at blending facts and background information into a story that grabs the reader. I enjoyed it very much even though the event itself was a sad occurrence. If you are looking for a book that gives an unbiased depiction of logging and life in remote areas in British Columbia, I highly recommend The Golden Spruce.

My friend Carolyn lives in Haida Gwaii and blogs about her island paradise. You can read more about an insiders view of Haida Gwaii at her blog Living on the Edge. -- Margy

Introducing Rhonda at "Down to Earth"

This Wednesday Friends Day is a little different. I am passing some love back to Rhonda at Down to Earth. I got back from the cabin yesterday and found that over 1000 visitors had come to my blog, and it was all because of a post on Rhonda's amazing blog.

Rhonda lives in Australia and writes about simple living and getting back to the basics. Her motto is "preparing for the future by relying on the past." My friend Margaret in Powell River introduced me to Rhonda's blog, and now it's my pleasure to introduce her to you.

Rhonda is an excellent writer. She encourages her readers to engage with her posts by asking thought provoking questions. She gets lots of comments that are as interesting as the posts themselves.

Here are some of Rhonda's posts that I've enjoyed reading and using as a resource:

Liquid Soap - make your own
Old Fashioned Pea Soup - yum!
Home Production - fresh cheese
It's My Second Birthday - successful blogging
Simple Living in Retirement - really important
Garden grows the spirit - make it yours

Rhonda has so many great posts you'll just have to go browse for yourself. She has everything organized by topic, so the information you want is only a click away.

In addition to her blog, Rhonda sponsors a well used forum called, of course, the Down to Earth Community Forum. If you're like me, forums are fun for finding information and new friends at the same time. The categories include home made food, self reliance, home and family, cutting back, and "a farm in my backyard." Stop on by and introduce yourself.

Thanks again Rhonda for making my day by hosting a post about my float cabin, kitchen and garden. If you would like to see it, click here. Then stay awhile to get to know Rhonda a little better. -- Margy

Introducing Cactus Jack Flash and the DOR

So far all of the bloggers I've introduced have been human. This week for Wednesday Friends Day I am honoured to introduce Cactus Jack Flash, a handsome and well loved Appaloosa.

The Journeys of Cactus Jack Splash is written by Cactus Jack Splash, but each post gives tribute to his other half, the DOR (dope on a rope). If you've ever lunged a horse you know what that means. I have a fond place in my heart for horses and horse people. I've had three. Misty came along when I was a teenager. Even city girls dream about horses. Burke was Misty's foal that I raised through high school. Then came Cowboy, one of the best presents my husband Wayne ever gave me. Now I'm horseless, but love to ride when I can.

The DOR is none other than Dr. Synthia Parish-Duehn who can also be found on Twitter and Facebook. Here are some posts to introduce you to my bogging friend Cactus Jack Flash and the DOR.

• Riding with a Bit -- that's CJF himself
  
• Skywatch Friday -- the DOR herself
• Happy Birthday Mushboy -- every stable depends on one
• Gathering of the Herd -- the DOR's that is
  
• Freedom Speaks Saturday -- another horse's views
• Little Blue Tarp -- my Misty hated those too

You will also find Cactus Jack Flash and Synthia as guest authors in Grit (Rural American Know-How) Magazine with interesting articles such as "Horse Accessories: Does My Saddle Make My Butt Look Big?"

Ride on over to the "Grumpy Old Horse Ranch" and say howdy to Jack, the DOR, Mushboy, Shandy, Freedom and all the other steads. -- Margy

Introducing Susannah at "Wanderin' Weeta"

This week for Wednesday Friends Day I would like to introduce Susannah, better known as Wanderin' Weeta.

Susannah hails from Delta in the Lower Fraser Valley. That's part of the Coastal British Columbia mainland. Her blog is called Wanderin' Weeta (With Waterfowl and Weeds). It is aptly named because many of her articles and photographs are of plants and bird life, but you will also find a host of other nature based topics mixed in for good measure.

Susannah's profile gives you a hint about her good sense of humour and positive outlook on life. She says that she's "as weird as necessary for sanity, as sane as kids and grandkids permit, and a lover of birds, green stuff, tiny beasties and oddities generally." Every time I visit Susannah's blog I know I'll learn something new and experience this wonderful land through her outstanding photographs.

Here are some favourite posts I'd like to share:

• Five dozen babies (master of the miniature)
  
• Of Old Growth and New Life (book review & forest info)
• Why do we call it vacant? (takes time to sees what others miss)
  
• Rock Flipping Day (a fun activity for young and old)
• Two-faced Hermit? (Susannah has unusual pets)
• Self portrait in a cat's eye (great closeup)

Susannah is an author and has two books available online. The first is Fire in the Bedroll, an autobiographical account of a marriage gone wrong. The second is Susie, a collection stories of her childhood growing up the the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Both are available at LuLu.com. In addition, Susannah can be found on Flickr (her wonderful photos) and Twitter.

Head on over to Wanderin' Weeta for some great photographs and information. I know you will enjoy it as much as I do. -- Margy

Introducing Kent at "The Tiny House Blog"

This week for Wednesday Friends Day I would like to introduce Kent from The Tiny House Blog.


I was surfing the Internet several years ago looking for information about float cabins. I was fortunate enough to find Kent's great blog. He's a fan and researcher of small houses and cabins. As he says in his profile:

The goal of the tiny house blog is to discover the different options available for a person looking to down size into a tiny house or cabin. I will be looking at different type of construction, from logs, to yurts to modern and the unusual. I will also do book reviews, look at alternate energy for heat and electricity.

Since the blog's inception in May 2007, Kent has worked towards this goal. And now, almost three years later, there are lots of styles and information to choose from such as:

• Tiny House Concept
• Earth/Cob
• Floating Homes
• Log Construction
• Tiny Furnishings
• Your Story
  
• Construction Articles

Kent's personal research into small houses and cabins has resulted in a wealth of information that would be helpful to any small house or cabin owner, or dreamer. Sign up for his free Newsletter and he'll send you a free directory of resources.

In addition to his blog, there's a Tiny House Forum where you can share your own tiny house or cabin and connect with other like minded people. You can also keep up with Kent's posts via Facebook and Twitter. Isn't technology great?

Kent has been a great supporter of Powell River Books and my blog. While you are visiting his site you can read more about our cabin up the lake in his Floating Homes category. There are several feature articles that have given us great coverage. I can't count how many other websites have picked up those posts and reproduced them. Thanks so much Kent for all of your support over the years. -- Margy

Introducing Elaine at "A Scattering"

This week for Wednesday Friends Day spread your wings and fly with me up north to Woodstock in southwestern Ontario, Canada, to meet Elaine at A Scattering.

I first found Elaine's blog through two of the memes I've already mentioned, Skywatch Friday and That's My World. I always look at Canadian and Pacific Northwest entries first. There's something special about learning more about places you know or want to visit.

Elaine loves birds and photography, and has blended both together nicely on her blog. She keeps a running list and so far in 2010 she has fourteen, all with links to All About Birds, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website. In addition, she loves to read and travel. We have two other things in common. First, both of our husbands are writers. Hers is freelance and travels a bit, giving Elaine a chance to take photos in different locales. And we both love cats. Her cat is Gray (by name and colour) while mine is black with the unusual name of Stick.

Elaine is originally from Newfoundland, a place Wayne and I visited last summer. We only missed her by a few days when she also went there for a visit. That would have been loads of fun. Her blog posts followed in our footsteps part of the way. Here is a picture of a spot we both visited, the Seaside Restaurant of Trout River in the magnificent Gros Morne National Park.

Here are some favourite posts I'd like to share:

• Newfoundland 2009 (of course!)
• C is for ... comfy (her cat on ABC Wednesday)
• Tonight on the Trail (nature at its best)
• For the birds (nesting Mourning Doves)
• Today on the Trail (winter walk)

Take some time to browse through A Scattering and see all of great photos and information Elaine has to offer. Join to follow her blog and you won't miss any of the great shots. -- Margy

Special Wednesday Friends Day Awards

Last week I received a blogging award from Pacy. Pacy Crochets is a new blog I've started following. I like Pacy's posts because she is trying to live a simple life similar to mine. I especially like her helpful information about gardening, cooking, sewing and frugal living. Pacy selected my blog along with eleven others to receive the Sunshine Award. Thank you so much!

The rules of accepting this award are simple:

• Put the logo on the sidebar or within a post
• Pass the award on to 12 bloggers who brighten your day
• Link to the nominees within your post
• Let the nominees know they received this award by commenting on their blog
• Link back to the person who gave you this award as a way of showing your appreciation for being appreciated.

Now, I would like to highlight twelve blogging friends that I haven't yet featured on Wednesday Friends Day.

• Ah...The Cottage Life - Lorac is in Georgetown, Ontario. The title tells it all. There are beautiful pictures, history and tours of the region, nature and much more.

• Vanishing History - Not very active, but this blog has lots of great information about logging history in and around Powell River, BC.

• A Place I Call Home - SmalltownRN hails from Vancouver Island, BC. She loves getting out to enjoy this magnificent island paradise and sharing it's many interesting critters.

• Tiny House Blog - Kent offers everything related to living large in small spaces: designs, manufactures, methods, products and the people behind them

• Bellingham Daily Photo - Lizziviggi shares wonderful photos and tidbits about Bellingham, Washington, my "vacation home" so to speak.

• down--to--earth - Rhonda comes from "down under" with a wonderful blog about simple living in all its aspects, plus a unique feature called "You, Me and the Kitchen Sink."

• Little Homestead in the City - A unique concept of bringing simplicity and self-sufficiency to the heart of the Los Angeles basin.

• Lloyd's Blog - Lloyd is an author and aficionado of unique homes and architecture in the Pacific Northwest and Canada.

• Outhouse Capital of Canada - Dave is an avid amateur astronomer and eclipse chaser from Oliver, BC. Right now he's on a North America tour. Nice (and warm)!

• Slow Coast - David from Powell River and Tom from nearby Texada Island in Coastal BC share their views on important issues, living in harmony with nature and lots of tips about sustainability.

• Vintage Log Cabin - Bill and Denise share their excitement of living in and improving an older log cabin and living life to the fullest.

• Palos Verdes Daily Photo - Tash captures spectacular views including many from locations that give me fond memories from my hometown near Los Angeles, California.

So put a little Sunshine in your life and visit these great blogs. -- Margy

Introducing Nydia at "Bringing Up Salamanders"

This week jump on a jet plane and fly farther south for this week's Wednesday Friends Day, all the way to the southern hemisphere, near Rio de Janeiro to be specific. It gives me great pleasure to introduce you to Nydia and her blog Bringing up Salamanders.

Nydia and I started reading and commenting on each other's blogs because of ABC Wednesday. It's another meme that's sponsored by mrsnesbitt from the UK and assisted by a team of supportive bloggers.

Nydia is a Brazilian wiccan single mom. She was born in Rio but has moved to more rural Petropolis to be near family.

View Larger Map

Nydia includes lots of information on her blog about herself and her son Lucas. It has been fun to see him grow up over the years with all her loving care.

Here are some of my favourite posts.

• E is for Einstein (an ABC Wednesday post)
• Mom's honey bread factory (a Christmas tradition)
• The New Broom (a traditional ritual)
• N is for Nature (beatiful gardens in Petropolis)
• By Lucas (Lucas takes a turn at blogging)
• Hands of a Wonderful Artist (Brazilian sculpture)
  

Like Margaret in Powell River, Nydia has an Etsy online shop to sell her hand made crafts. Her site is called Carioca Witch and can be found by clicking here. Her items are "witchy" and can be customized to meet your personal requests. Each item includes a description of its purpose.

If you get to the 2016 Olympics in Rio you just might meet up with Nydia and Lucas. If you do, give them a big hug for me. -- Margy

Introducing 2 Tramps at "Tramp's Camp"

This week for Wednesday Friends Day we are heading south of the border. No, not Mexico - the States. When you move to Canada "south of the border" takes on a whole new meaning.

Today I would like to introduce you to my friends Tramps 1 and 2 and their blog called Tramp's Camp.

Tramp 1 (Mr. Tramp) and Tramp 2 (Mrs. Tramp) have a place in the Oregon high desert. I'm not sure how I bumped into their blog several years ago, but I immediately felt they were kindred spirits.

The Tramps both like gardening, cooking, travel, the outdoors, lots of stuff I enjoy. They had a wonderful old Bassett Hound named Angus that unfortunately is no longer with them. But he had a wonderful life hanging out with the Tramps and enjoying the outdoors. R.I.P. dear Angus.

Some of my favourite posts by Tramp 2 involve cooking. She has some amazing recipes, especially for the BBQ. She even has a wood cookstove. I am so jealous!

Here are some posts I would like to share:

• Smoked Rib Roast (the title says it all)
• Care and Feeding of a Pet (not what you would expect)
• Is it Really a Bargain? (grocery outlet shopping)
• Dutch Oven Breakfast (the real kind over a fire)
• Growing Upside Down Tomatoes (now that's cleaver)
• Bread, Bread, Bread (no knead bread)

So head on over to Tramp's Camp and meet Tramp 1 and 2. They've always got something fun going on. -- Margy

Introducing Jenn at "My Muskoka"

Hello readers. It's Wednesday Friends Day. This week I would like to introduce you to another Canadian follower. Her name is Jenn and her blog is called My Muskoka.

Like Carolyn, I first discovered Jenn's blog through the SkyWatch Friday meme. I also bump into her on That's My World Tuesday. Now I'm one of her Blogger Followers so I don't miss anything. Jenn is a retired teacher, so we have that in common. She lives in Muskoka, Ontario, Canada. That's where they have real winters, not like our wimpy West Coast cool season.

Here are some of my favourite posts:

• Snow Squalls (a sample of her fine photos and videos)
• Camera Critters (I love her cats!)
• Raccoon Trouble (I can relate to that)
• G8 in Huntsville (probably tighter security than our Olympics!)
• Snapping Turtles (OUCH!)
• Cottage Life (now that's living)
  

Jenn is the author of a very important book. Living and Dying with Dignity chronicles her poignant and often difficult journey while caring for her ailing aging parents. This is something many of us "baby boomers" are experiencing. It's hard to know what's best to do when the roles start to reverse. When do you encourage independence, and when do you step in? Where do you turn for help for aging parents, and where do you turn for help for yourself through a stressful time? Jenn's book lets you follow along in her footsteps and ends with helpful resources. While the book is set in Canada, the process has no borders. In addition to her website, you can find more information at her other blog Living and Dying with Dignity. The book is available online in Canada at Chapters and on Amazon.com in the States.

In addition to her blogs, you will find videos by Jenn on YouTube as J3nnyj1ll's. So stop on by and say hi to Jenn in any of her many locations. I'm sure you'll find her posts and movies are as much fun as I do -- Margy

Introducing Carolyn at "Living on the Edge"

Hello readers. It's Wednesday Friends Day again. This week I would like to introduce you to another Canadian follower. Her name is Carolyn and her blog is called Living on the Edge.

Carolyn truly lives "on the edge." Her home is on Haida Gwaii, also known as the Queen Charlotte Islands off the west coast of British Columbia. Wayne and I've always wanted to visit Haida Gwaii, but haven't made it there yet. I get to see lots of the beautiful scenery on Carolyn's blog.

Here are some of my favourite posts:

• Gaaysigaang (caring for our oceans)
• A Haida Pole Raising (wonderful carving and ceremony)
  
• A Walk in the Woods (Haida history)
• End of an Era (a new ferry for Haida Gwaii)
• The Cats of Parliament Hill (I knew I picked the right country)
• Sea and Sky (beautiful Haida Gwaii)

I first discovered Carolyn through her posts on SkyWatch Friday. I participate in this meme whenever I have a good shot. It's lots of fun to see skies from around the world.

Carolyn is quite the traveler. She went house sitting for friends in Ontario and right now she's with family in Toronto, giving us great posts and pictures from a different perspective. One thing I love about Carolyn's posts is that she give you lots of information and history. Head on over to Living on the Edge to see what treasures she has to offer. -- Margy

Introducing Betty at "Mud Creek Mama"

Wednesday is Friends Day. This week I'm proud to introduce the Blogger Follower who is my most faithful reader. Her name is Betty, better known as Mud Creek Mama at her blog of the same name.


Betty and I bumped into each other online several years ago. We then discovered we lived in the same town, Bellingham, Washington. Because of that, we decided to meet each other in real life. Since that first coffee in Old Fairhaven, we've become very good friends. We love to meet and window shop, especially at a used bookstore called Eclipse.

Here are some of my favourite posts:

• Me Through the Years (get to know Betty)
• Dot (Betty's friend and aunt of a Powell River friend)
• WWU Stretch Training (Betty is faithful at exercise)
• Saturday Market (I love the Farmer's Market)
• Photoshop - My First Picture (Betty loves photography)

Last summer Betty had a wonderful sailing experience on a Tall Ship called the Zodiac. She wrote three exciting posts with pictures: Sailing on the Zodiac, More Pictures from the Zodiac and Last Post from the Zodiac. The Scooner Zodiac provides public and private sailing tours from Bellingham. Betty's was a three-hour tour of the bay. I could feel her excitement through her wonderful pictures and narrative.

Not only is Betty my good friend, but she's also a great fan of Wayne's Coastal BC Stories. She's read all of them and that's quite and accomplishment. Wayne always loves to hear her comments, especially here on the blog.

Betty likes to hike around the lake and woods near her home, bake, garden and take lots of photographs to share on her blog. So, head on over to Mud Creek Mama and say hi to my good friend. You can also visit her at Facebook. -- Margy

Introducing Margaret's "Thistle Garden"

Blogging has become a large part of my life. I use it to share memorable events, cooking experiences, living the simple life off the grid in a floating cabin in Coastal BC, and of course, Wayne's books. But what would blogging be without you, my loyal readers.

When Blogger started the Followers feature, Margaret over at Thistle Garden became my first "official" follower. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to her.

Margaret lives here in Powell River and we meet in real life as well as through our blogging. Margaret lives in a semi-rural part of town and has a large garden and chickens. She's an inspiration to me when it comes to simplifying life and getting back to the basics. Here are some of my favourite posts:

Switchback Trail at Wildwood Hill
Carrot Cake (you can taste it at the diner!)
Swiss Chard (inspired me to plant some)
50-mile Diet (eat local)

Margaret does a lot of sewing and crafting. You will see lots of her projects on the blog. You can also purchase some of them for yourself at her ETSY shop online.

If her life isn't busy enough, Margaret and her husband Art just opened a restaurant here in town. It's called Magpie's Diner and they serve breakfast and lunch six days a week. If you make it to Powell River, stop by for a sumptuous treat.

One other thing we have in common is floating cabins on Powell Lake. And not just any cabins. Both of ours were hand built by our good friend John.

Head on over to Thistle Garden and say hi to Margaret. And Margaret, thanks for being my first and very faithful follower. See you for breakfast soon. -- Margy

Powell River Books Joins Blogland Lane

You're probably like me. Reading one blog leads to another, then another, and so on and so on (as the old haircare product ad goes). That's how I met up with Marion from 150 Mile House here in BC at her blog Herbal Connection.

I read about Blogland Lane at her site and then went on over to check it out.

"Blogland Lane is a new neighborhood where everyone is welcome to live, share, play, create, inspire, build, & visit."

Wayne is the published creative writer in our family, but I enjoy writing as well. I thought this would be a good place to try some more fictional tales. But they say, write what you know. So, I've towed my float cabin to a lake near Blogland Lane to site #997. While I'm up the lake (for reals) this week, I'll be thinking of stories to tell. Then you'll have to be the one to decide, is it fact or is it fiction. -- Margy

Online Friends Join Us Up the Lake

Sometimes I think I spend too much town time on the Internet. Of course, I spend quite a bit on my blog and reading other people's posts. Then there are forums, YouTube, Flickr and just plain Google. It can become addictive, as you probably know. But it has also introduced me to some really great people along the way.

I first discovered a picture of Jordan water skiing while searching about Powell Lake. Then I stumbled onto a video about his family's summer vacation up the lake on YouTube. And most recently, I've been reading Jordan's tweets. This year, we were both at our cabins (which are amazingly close) at the same time. So Jordan and his sister Janis stopped by to say hi and have a cuppa.

Jordan grew up in Powell River and has been coming up the lake for as long as he can remember. It's part of his heritage. Now he lives in Vancouver, but gets away from hectic city life at least once a year. This time is extra special. He's introducing his son to the lake for the first time.

Staying in a cabin up the lake is a whole lot different life than Jordan's web-based media and marketing career. But he's comfortable and happy in both roles. Wayne and I enjoyed hearing about what Powell River's been like over the years from two members of a very large and extended local family. Thanks Jordan and Janis for stopping by to say hi and to welcome us "newcomers" to the neighborhood. Oh, and the Kokanees were great! -- Wayne and Margy

Because of spam targeting this post, I've moved it to a new location.

Previous Comments:

Jenn Jilks -- It is a small world after all!

Shelley -- You can meet the nicest people from blogging! Sounds like you definitely did! :-)
(I've met 5 so far!)

Jordan -- It was great to meet you too, Margy! And Wayne's gift was incredibly generous (seen in the above photo). Unfortunately, I injured my leg skiing, and mostly immobile for the rest of the week. We're coming back though; we'll stop in and say hi when we're back, 3rd week of August. I'll bring my son and my dad, and some more Kokanees. Cheers, Jordan P.S. My brother read your whole book while up the lake. Many can make this claim I'm sure, but it's the first full book he's read in eons, so that's something.

Margy -- Yes, Shelley and Jen, it is fun to meet people in the real world. I haven't met many yet (Margaret at Thistle Garden, Betty at Mud Creek Mama and now Jordan) but they have all been as great in real life as on the web. Hey Jordan - Looking forward to your next visit and the cold ones. Glad your brother liked the book. I even like reading them (that is after I do all the editing) because the stories are about people and places I know. Tell him for the next trip he can read Farther Up the Lake and go for a world's record or at least his personal best.

Introducing Mud Creek Mama

In several of my posts I've mentioned my good friend Betty from Bellingham. I met Betty on MySpace. Since then, she's been my blog's most faithful reader. Last June, we met in real life and she's as wonderful in person as she is online. When I'm in Bellingham we like to get together and shop in Fairhaven.

Last week when I came down the lake from the cabin I logged on to see what was happening. One of the first things I discovered was that Betty has started a blog of her own. I am honoured to introduce all of you to my friend Mud Creek Mama.

By the way, in this post you will meet Dot, the aunt of a friend of ours in Powell River. It really is a small world after all. Dot makes quilts, hats and mittens all year long to give to charity. She's an amazing woman that I hope to meet some day.

Welcome to the blogosphere Betty. I look forward to reading your posts and learning more about your interesting life. -- Margy