HOLIDAY CHEERs

Seasons Greetings

&

Happy Holidays

the kiwi gardens on property

provided such an abundance of fruit this season

there was enough to create dozens of jars of holiday gift

KIWI/RUM DRIZZLE

holidays

holiday greetings
welcome to the families & friends that will gather over the next weeks

snowlines

FIREWOOD...

on a crispy winter's day

brian has a moment to buck up the base of a large dry spruce

- into another couple cords of firewood -

craidelonna hosts 3 open hearth fireplaces

(in the lodge main room/sunset bedroom /cottage)

& the wood burning sauna

SNOW !

craidelonna woke up to
a white fluffy covering of SNOW!!
magical in its simplest of beauty
this white stuff transforms the property into a winter wonderland
ready for the holiday season

bbc canada

- the bbc canada -

101 meter CARGO SHIP

(gibralter flag )

a new neighbour for the weekend !!

anchored just beyond the kelp bed

this cargo ship was a few hundred meters away

by night its lights were like a small village on the sea...

an oceanfront horse ride

an oceanfront horse ride

craidelonna is tucked on the forest point

(back left of photo)

thanx joyce of "driftwood stables"

for the beautiful photo of a ride with guests on tour.

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/1b080/dcb2f/4/?o=2

rob & becky JASPER

this morning began with a lite mist and a bit of rain

wetting the decks and stone theater seating

then magically at noon the sun came out...

speed drying everything in moments

the wonderful JASPER/VIMINITZ wedding

took place outdoors over looking the ocean ...

private cottage hottub

the private deck of the cottage

with secluded hottubbie for two

SEPTEMBER SUNSHINE

sunshiny days of september
building cozier outside spaces
hammocks and new tables with benches
now add to the adirondack chairs of the veranda

richard & christine

the groom in uniform with his groomsmen

await with anticipation for the bride & her ladies

as the the rain & clouds parted into a sunny day miracle

the piper played on from the roof top decks

for a lovely ocean front wedding

with fifty close friends and family

jodi & tristan

when girl meets boy...

there are smiles everywhere

the MAYOVSKY's

the sun shone upon the newlywed's samantha & grant

on their special day 8-8-8

mikki & kevin

the bernier's were married on craidelonna soil today

together they stood amongst the colourful august blooms

on the new garden staircase

a marimba played in the background sheltered by the trees

to a flurry of champagne corks popping

the new couple was welcomed

by fourty of their closest family & friends

guests dined and dance

till the early morning hours on the outside decks

Orcas !!

Today the “Super Pod” was in the strait off of Sooke.

Over 88 Salmon feeding Orcas were travelling West today

with lots of breaching & playing around

this summer has been an abundant season with whale sightings

from the decks of craidelonna

thanks to the folks from sooke coastal explorations
http://www.sookewhalewatchingsooke.com/

for some "boat front" photos of today's passing whales

with sooke/craidelonna coastline in the background.

M & M wedding

the beautiful bride emma's

moment of anticipation

before wedding her groom mike

surrounded by family & friends

and bridal party on the beach

thank you scott for cool photos

http://www.turnbullphotography.com/

cedar slab outside dining table

from an old cedar that was taken down two seasons ago

a live edge cedar slab table

has been carved and created

along with a beachwood "king & queen chair set"

with benches that seat 14 guests

carried into place with seven strong men

this unique piece is located on the new dining deck

wave railing

the final touch to the iron wave railing

was a smile from "nancy the blacksmith"

summer wedding

Introducing MR & MRS CRAIG BUSHELL

"with this ring i thee wed"

the summer wedding season begins

on a sunny bright clear sky day

with the private & intimate wedding of

Craig Bushell

&

Aileen Dougan

stone turret

emerging from the ground

the final stages of blast rock form a stone turret

a new slate staircase that winds its way behind the ampitheater, between the new decks..

could be ideal for a grooms entrance...

endless staining

gwendolynn finds herself detailing the oddest of tiny spaces with jennn's help the final stages of the deck & staining is completed

western red cedar stain brings the new surfaces to richness.

funky stools

greg innes has once again added his creative flair & artistic touch to the property with the addition of four cool bar stools for the new cedar slab bar over looking the ocean.

bull kelp railing

nancy the blacksmith -"smitty"

has descended onto the property

with forge/anvil & hammers
the beginnings of the bull kelp railing to the cottage stone staircase
- metal roots attach to rock -
a artisan masterpiece begins...

stone work

stone work continues on the new staircase of the east deck

curvaceous lines of stone waves
Today the local blacksmith sets up her forge to begin the addition of rod iron railings for the stone staircases . . . . . . . ( pictures to follow)

beach log garden works

beach wood railings emerge along the new garden pathway

pete has combed the local beaches

searching / finding and hauling

unique pieces to set in place along the new hillside step trail

the garden pathway staircase

the addition of beach wood carried from the ocean front

is added with care throughout the garden staircase

"a work in progress"

wedding days

first wedding of the season

charlotte & batien
celebrate their love with guests

a festive wedding table

for a feast with 18 special guests

slate puzzle

slate is being laid finding its place in the landscape puzzle

a new garden staircase

the creation of a winding garden staircase

has begun today

and continues up the hillside