Would you like to walk to work with me today?

I have a nice 20 minute stroll so it’s nothing too strenuous, I promise.

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My driveway is very long and it is mined with puddles. If you’re not wearing gumboots, step carefully.

This is the upper pond. (above photo.) It has a few mallards that frequent it and it also breeds incredibly enthusiastic frogs. And mosquitos. And tiny moles that the kittens catch and chew on in front of the sliding glass door, so we can watch them crunch their little bones. It’s rather disgusting.

Then we walk down a little hill to The Pond, the biggest on the property.

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Please wave hello to our neighbours, although they are rude enough to poop on our pathway. They and the Scare-Crew have the most terrific battles in the blueberry field. They curse at us when we walk too close and they never stay for tea and cookies. (They are not our favourite but their kids are really cute.)

As we come out of our driveway, we are greeted by Port Browning Inlet which should be named something a little more magical.

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And I must direct your attention to our boat which floats so nicely on the mooring buoy. (below)

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Yes it’s the little sailboat with the blue decking and blue boom cover. I haven’t been to visit her for a while and I miss her so I send my love and a little kiss over the water to her. Blow a kiss with me.

We have some beautiful arbutus trees around here. These trees are only native to the coast of BC and California. Their bark is always peeling like a sunburn. And their arms, when they are bare, go red and always look like a limb with no skin to me. Their wood is very very hard, like iron, so when an arbutus tree falls (because you can’t just cut them down willy-nilly) it must be split very quickly or it becomes very difficult to split.

Look up with me and see these beautiful trees.

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Then we round the corner and we leave the ocean and we get a view of the fields.

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These fields are sometimes occupied with horses, cows, geese, vultures, hay bales. And always crows, field mice, and what we fondly refer to as skunk-head birds.

There is a little tree growing out of one of the fence posts which I love. I cheer for, I greet with glee. It is my Charlie Brown tree that I admire every day I walk past.

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By this time, we’re almost there. But the best still comes. There is a huge Oak tree with mossy clothes and Old-Man’s-Beard dripping off the branches. Unfortunately I could not do justice to this tree in my poor photo skills, but beside the Oak, there is a windmill that brings water up for the cows.

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And now we’re at work and I have to leave you here to walk back home by yourselves. Think you can find your way?

Thanks for joining me. It was nice to have the company. Hope your day started just as good as mine!