Martin Mars water bomber

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The Martin Mars water bomber was stationed at Sproat Lake on Vancouver Island, but now is destined for the Aeronautical Museum near the Victoria airport. This is it’s last flight, down the east coast of Vancouver Island, over Salt Spring and other islands and over the city of Victoria.

Hawaii Martin Mars water bomber

Click on the picture to see the flyover.

Canada has a lot of forests. This is the largest water bomber in Canada, used to fight forest fires through the years. The Snowbirds escorted it along the way. We waited with thousands of other people on the hills below the airport to watch it pass. When they all flew over our heads, the roar was deafening and exhilarating.

A Late Spring

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The new buds on the branches of the fir trees are bright green this year. That’s not always the case, but it has been a slow spring, still very cool. It is 6 to 8 C degrees/ 43 F in the morning, rising seldom past 10 C/ 50 F in the afternoon. All the colours seem more vibrant.

Even the azaleas are stunning in their intensity. I don’t know if it is the cool weather or what is affecting it.

What is it like where you are?

HOME

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Voice of encouragement at break of day: “Pickup your pack, O Pilgrim, and away!” This doth the voice of Home each new dawn say.

Those who go daily forth are blessed by her, feeling their spirits rise, their pulses stir, for Home is both a magnet and a spur.

She sends us forth each morn with strength to fight, yet draws us to her loving arms at night. O Home! thou art the temple of delight.

Thou art the very heart of beauteous life, a fortress armed against invading strife, love’s citadel for children, husband, wife.

Thou art a garden, fragrant, peaceful and fair, wherein grow blossoms, humble ones and rare, ideals, hopes and dreams all flourish there.

And when the sun is sinking in the west thou art a voice that bids us take our rest against they loving understanding breast.

This is a page from “Homespun” by Wilhelmina Stitch, an old book I found in my mother’s bookshelf, Third Edition, printed in 1933 in Great Britain.

The Homestead

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Well, I have finally finished this memoir, the cover was created from an old family photo of our homestead house. It took quite a while to write it, going back and forth between what I remembered and what I wanted to share. And now that I’ve declared it finished, I still feel compelled to go back and rewrite many parts of it. I guess it will never be perfect and I’ll just have to live with that. 🙂 It won’t be published for a few months.

Back blurb:

This is the story of my family’s adventure. We left the Canadian west coast on Vancouver Island, travelled to the North Peace River area in northern British Columbia, Canada, established our home there, and then left. It is the story of six children who lived this experience and built new lives after the journey ended. Here is how it happened.

Do you have similar memories? Drop me a note and let me know. Best, Sylvie