Because if this one is ringing, we’re probably all in big trouble. It’s the bell on the Bowen Queen — Gabriola’s replacement ferry, which we have while the Quinsam is being repaired and spruced up and whatnot.
That’s Haramac in the background, but you can’t see the clouds of whatever it’s contributing to the air we [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island, ferries No Responses yet
The weather on Gabriola right now is more like spring than winter, and the nettles agree. Last year it was March when I noticed that the island’s nettles were ready for picking. This year? Baby nettle plants are already a couple of inches tall in many parts of the forest. Head out to your favourite [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island, native plants, photos, weather No Responses yet
I’ve seen all sorts of things rusting away on Gabriola, but this is a first for me. What is it? My primary consultant on Things Mechanical says it’s a steam engine — perhaps a steam-powered tractor, or a steam-powered plough, or maybe just an engine that was hooked up to something and used in place. [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island, history, photos 2 Comments so far
The ever-fascinating Northwest Coast Archaeology blog has some Gabriola content today: Rock art on Gabriola in 1792. The blogger, qmackie, has found this image in the University of Washington’s digital collections.
Well, Gabriola, where could this be? The image label says near Descanso Bay. I’d say Malaspina Galleries, but I don’t think there is any [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island, history 7 Comments so far
What do we all know about foam in Gabriola streams?
Well, ok. I know nothing, other than seeing masses of foam in streams all over the island. I rely now on your expertise. What do you know, wise and wonderful readers?
Is this evidence of polution? Dish-soap getting into Gabriola’s streams and wetlands? Or is there some [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island, environment, photos 5 Comments so far
A fun and interesting friend visited last week (I am trying to convince her to start a Gabriola blog, though I don’t know if she’s realized that yet) and we wound up talking about small houses. Here’s one she showed me: the Glidehouse. The company behind it uses phrases like sustainable, modern, modular homes. Looks [...]
Filed in lifestyles 6 Comments so far
I went looking for a map of Gabriola streams and wetlands. This isn’t quite what I had in mind, but it’s useful nonetheless: Gabriola Island Local Trust Area Freshwater Ecosystem Map (.pdf). It’s from the Islands Trust, of course.
Filed in Gabriola Island, Islands Trust, environment 2 Comments so far
Did you know that the RCMP is thinking of removing staff from some island detachments, and/or amalgamating detachments? I didn’t, but then, I don’t go to Islands Trust meetings; apparently this was discussed at the December Trust Council meeting.
The Islands Trust has just published a letter (.pdf here) that Sheila Malcolmson sent to Attorney General [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island, Islands Trust 2 Comments so far
Gabriola’s forests are green all through the year, and sword ferns are part of that display. But they have their brown parts, too: underneath the green, near the ground. I’m impressed at how beautiful the dead parts are.
Filed in Gabriola Island, native plants, photos No Responses yet
I planted garlic in the fall, since it seems like the perfect crop for me (I love garlic, and it doesn’t need much work) and for Gabriola (it doesn’t need much water in summer, either). By the time I was done, I think I planted something like 190 cloves. Most of it is Gabriola Garlic, [...]
Filed in food, gardening No Responses yet
We have lots of power outages on Gabriola. Power was out for 8 hours last week, 7 hours last night, and several times today.
When I’m prepared, the power never goes out. When I’m unprepared, then it happens. So, based on my research, the key seems to be this: if I have a candle lit and [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island No Responses yet
You know that place in the Elder Cedars (S’ul-hween X’pey) Nature Reserve where the waters run deep in winter-time? The trail goes through it, and if you’ve tried to get past in the rainy season you’ll have wished that you’d taken hip waders or a small boat with you.
GALTT (Gabriola Land and Trails Trust) put [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island, photos, trails, weather No Responses yet
I don’t know what they are, and I’m too tired to look them up. But aren’t they pretty? Up and down the waves they go. I wish I were as immune to cold water as they must be.
Filed in Gabriola Island, birds, photos 5 Comments so far
I think I’ve found an agarikon fungus on Gabriola. Please take a look at the photos and tell me what you think.
I blogged about agarikon last month, and have been looking around for agarikon on Gabriola ever since. Who could resist looking for such a rare and interesting thing? I wondered if I’d find any, [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island, mushrooms One Response so far
These antlers are in the middle of nowhere in the Gabriola woods, where they mark a trail junction.
When I began to explore the obscure trails, I was always so pleased to find another set of antlers. It felt like a treasure hunt. Now that I think of it, finding new delights in the woods always [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island, photos, trails No Responses yet
Now this is just too much fun and comfort to miss. (Or I am easily amused?)
Next time you’re in Nanaimo, stop in at the Flying Fish. (It’s at the corner of Bastion and Commercial Street.) Go try the Zero Gravity Perfect Chair. Sit down, pull the lever on the left armrest, and push back. More, [...]
Filed in Nanaimo No Responses yet
From the Times Colonist: Search engine rolling over writers.
Imagine that a giant monster invades your country. But the beast is not gobbling up people or homes.
It’s devouring our books.
That’s what most writers insist is happening with Google, the Internet search-engine behemoth. Since 2005, Google has been digitizing the world’s books. Reportedly, its ultimate plan is [...]
Filed in Gabriola people, books No Responses yet
Ha! What does one say about things like this?
Filed in Gabriola Island, photos 2 Comments so far
This is amazing. Somebody put a bell jar over some bees, and the bees proceeded to build a hive inside the jar. See their construction project, step by step, through the glass.
Birdchick.com has photos and a video of another bees in a bell jar project. And if you want still more unusual bee content, see [...]
Filed in insects 3 Comments so far
The other day at Drumbeg I spotted some broom plants bearing tape that says invasive plant management. The tagged plants looked kind of sickly — are they being poisoned with chemicals, or what? It looks as if some kind of experiment is underway.
I know there’s been a huge effort on Gabriola (thanks, GALTT) to remove [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island, environment, invasive plants No Responses yet
Perhaps you’ve noticed that dogs left in cars are often barking dogs — particularly here on Gabriola, and particularly in the parking lot at Folklife. Some days you can come out of Village Foods and hear four different sets of dogs barking. It’s often the tiny ones who make the most noise.
There are quiet ones, [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island, dogs No Responses yet
BC Ferries will be messing around at the Gabriola ferry terminal again. They say:
Starting mid-February and continuing through the end of April, BC Ferries will be upgrading the electrical service at Descanso Bay Terminal on Gabriola Island. Improvements will be made to the terminal’s electrical supply and to the shore-to-ship power capability. The work will [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island, ferries No Responses yet
If you put up a sign on Gabriola — even on your own property — that sign will vanish if somebody doesn’t like it. (Or maybe it will be modified, as one sign on government property was.)
This no hunting or trespassing sign used to be on a tree. It’s been ripped down and left in [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island No Responses yet
It was a cloudy day when I saw the eagles here. There were about 20 of them, all perched in this dead tree, looking eerie and beautiful all at once. I wondered what on earth causes so many eagles to have a conference in a tree.
It was a dead sea otter on the rocks, [...]
Filed in Gabriola Island, photos No Responses yet
If my property on Gabriola didn’t have a house on it, I’d be thinking seriously about small house designs. (Had you guessed?) Here’s an interesting one:
…the Osprey is approximately 523 square feet of efficiently designed living space with one bedroom, one bath, a large great room and integrated decks that provide a generous living area [...]
Filed in lifestyles 4 Comments so far
