Cheesy photo opps

Doing yoga with Woody, resident dog and meditating at the beach near Spotligh Cove.

Fire on the Island

Since Saturday, there has been a fire in the south part of Galiano Island. The island does not have a very big fire department - like many small communities, it relies on volunteers from the island.
More details at:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2006/07/24/fire-galiano.html

There are very strong winds that are making things even more of a challenge for the volunteer fire fighters. Let's hope for a little rain soon.

Hazy dazy summer

We're in the midst of a heat wave on the islands, hot and dry, 30-35C. I love it, different than humid Ottawa days. I've been checking out different beaches on the island with Jen, one of the owners of the B&B. Some pebble beaches, some sandy beaches. Yesterday, we found a little slice of paradise, off the south end of the island, sitting on rocks at high tide, water up to our thighs, drinking beer and taking in Galiano at its finest. The sun sets pretty late here, usually around 9:30 or 10:00, so days are long and beautiful. I'm starting to brown up a little and lose the winter white skin.

Today, it's just me at the lodge. I've picked some blackberries (soon apples and pears will be ready; I'll miss fig season by a few weeks). When it cools down, maybe I'll make some berry muffins. It really is heaven here - amazing landscapes, wonderful people, amazing food (and laundry and internet!). My hosts are amazing too.

I'm really loving the time on my own. I have plenty of time to do my morning breathing and yoga practices and then a few hours of work before beach time.

There are mice in my room downstairs, they love to dance around at night. I felt bad setting traps last night, but they have been keeping me up all week!

I do feel a little isolated at times. Some call it the island bubble; the mentality that all that is life is right here, or a 25 minute drive into "town". But it's good for a short time.

Galiano Island - where the living is mellow

I think one of my biggest challenges in life is learning to have some down-time, on my own. It's almost too mellow here these days!
Yesteday, I raked sheep poop off the trail - it's used for fertilizer. Can't say I want to do that again ;o)
And today, I helped out with a wedding - set the place settings for 40 guests, did some cleaning and had an astral energy scan by Karen, who is also staying here. We'll stay at the neighbour's place tonight, just in case the wedding is noisy and goes late.
Now, 3:00pm and I'm trying to decide what to do with myself. Maybe a walk to the beach to do some reading and tanning. It's been cold in the evenings, not used to this coastal weather.

Yoga Boot camp part 1 completed, I survived!!

So I haven't been so good with my blogspot. But I purposely avoided the internet for the 2 weeks of my course - didn't want to break the routine, be connected, etc.
But I'm back on-line today from Galiano Island.

Thoughts on the yoga experience:
Oh my god, so intense! From 5:30 am to 9:30 pm, going, going, going.
I have learned so many things, met amazing people and have definitely gone through an amazing and powerful transformation. I cried a few times, but it was a really positive experience, letting myself be a little vulnerable in front of people, dealing with some difficult/sad things that I have been housing for a while - a cleansing experience.

Speaking of cleansing, part of the program was Shat Karma, external cleansings. Things I would have never done before, but have accomplished here:
Cleaning my nasal passages with a watering can
Scraping my tongue with the blunt edge of a knife
(passed on the water vomit exercise...)

I am so glad that there is a break in between: time to catch up on my sleep (am so sleep deprived), spend time outside, absorb all this amazing information and prepare to teach a breathing/meditation practicum and yoga class to other students in August, what a challenge!

So now, ready to have some down-time on Galiano Island, helping out at a B&B for 2 weeks, http://www.bodegaridge.com/, that's where the little photo is from. It's about 20 minutes by car to town, a bit isolated, but very funky, mellow and beautiful: a couple of cats, some dogs, rock sculptures, lots of trees and deer roaming around. There will be a wedding here on Saturday, so that will be an interesting experience to help out with that.
Amazing places to hike here, to think, to study and just have fun.
Hope all is well in Ottawa, I love having your comments.
xoxo
PS Trisha, no lilacs at this time of year, maybe in late July.