Victoria Day Weekend

Whew! What an action-packed, 3-day weekend we had. On Friday we grilled some amazing salmon that I marinated with fresh ginger, maple syrup, salt & pepper. I also threw an eggplant on, some asparagus & 3 types of bell peppers for roasting. We had a great meal, washed down with an Australian chardonnay. Although Miki stayed very clean with all 5 of her bibs on at once, she still helped Papa clean up in the kitchen, as you can see in the photos. On Saturday we went to a live concert - sponsored by the Nanaimo Mother Baby Society - for families. The musician, well-known here on Vancouver Island as being a 1-man virtuoso who sings, plays the didgeridoo, the guitar and drums, did not fail to impress nor entertain. It was fantastic & Miki was mesmerized. Lots of kids of all ages, spinning, jumping & dancing. Then, on a rather dreary and chilly Sunday morning, we went to New Castle Island for a 6 km. walk around the Shoreline Trail. It was a walk that E and I have been wanting to do since we moved here but never found the time. It took us longer than we thought (pushing Miki's chariot is most likely the culprit) but our picnic lunch with a view was awesome and the clouds cleared by the end of the day. Yesterday was Victoria Day - a holiday for all of Canada. Miki and I took a bike ride to the local grocery store while Mama baked up a "tea snack" storm: sweet potato bread, lemon poppy-seed muffins & buttermilk muffins. The rest of the afternoon was devoted to lawn care, gardening & vacuuming the car.