A few pictures from our holiday

We went out to Victoria for the second half of the holidays, to visit Stephen's mom and sisters (and assorted spouse and children, as well).

First stop, of course, is the dining room table for a cup of tea. I made this cosy for the giant pot as a wedding gift when Arthur was a baby, so 14 years ago? Fifteen? Anyways, it is still just as lovely as ever, though used-looking and not pristine. The star dishcloth was this year's gift.

I also caught up with this old friend, a fair isle concoction I made nine years ago. It was tossed aside onto the guitar case in the heat of the action. Stephen's sister and niece were singing and playing guitar and generally whooping it up! 

Meanwhile, out the window, a pileated woodpecker was pecking. 

Our first real outing was to Sidney By the Sea, a formerly industrial town that is keen to be tourist-friendly. There is a beach
 

with much beach glass, as befits a place where they just threw waste on the shore in the olden days

and the Ocean Discovery Centre

with green sea anemones

and whale hand bones

and divine orange jellyfish in a spectacular blue tank

and a community centre complete with theatre, and we enjoyed them all. The afternoon was spent at the panto, a crazy Cinderella story. Here we have some of the stars of the show, after the performance, I believe. On the far left is the evil stepmother, except she was an aunt in this version. She was horribly, horribly, horrible. Then we have Lady Gaga, who was at the ball, and an ugly stepsister, except I think s/he was a cousin. Buttercup, her name was. You can just see the purple hair of Violette, her sister! Those two were really the highlight for me, I think, even dancing in high heels and showing off their hairy legs. 

And that is enough for now. The big fun involved going out on The Boat, a 42-foot cruiser, up the Saanich Inlet. That will be our next instalment!