seasons greetings

Thank you

for a wonderful christmas morning beach walk

along the shoreLINES of craidelonna

this weeks holiday warm weather

has made for a rather colourful NOT WHITE season

our 2009 holiday sunset

Art - dak-O-ta

the bull kelp field in the ocean waters in front of craidelonna

has stirred a fondness to this beautiful sea plant

this consignment request to artist
has created a"bullkelp like" image
this holiday season's newest gallery artwork

by dakota hamilton

ART -Caitlin Ambery

welcome and introductions to caitlin ambery

and her vibrant "WHALEs PLAY "

(with kayakers in sooke basin)

original acrylic painting

this magical piece is created by a young victoria artist

who blessed our path and now lodge...

check out this very exciting link on youtube

from our local friends at west coast outdoor adventure rentals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M-ScKMzFHk

notice also in this photo

the new works of frederic baldwins - new maple burrel platters

adorn the craidelonna main room fireplace

ART - Patricia Carley

a resurgence in the appreciation of FABRIC ART

has made Patricia Carley a celebrated local artist
with a new twist to an ancestral art form

CRAFTSman - Peter Elves

Peter has created

a grand cedar slab bed

for the sunRISE bedroom of Craidelonna Lodge

build from the timber of a cedar that was fallen on the property a few years ago these slabs have had a long haul journey up the hillside of Craidelonna, to the mill for plaining in Sooke, then back to the workshop for its' design & creation, then the final journey back down the hillside ..

ART - Sue Perello

one hundred walks on the beach
provide the working materials
for creator Sue Perello's
beachwood frames



the detail of craftsmanship
( artist christopher lucas painting reflectes in mirror)

ART - DAKoTA Hamilton

original gold leaf de'copage'

"northern princess"

created by DAKoTA Hamilton

stands silent at the end of the hallway

guarded by her art by nature

"the warrior"

created by Steven VanVugt

ART - Frederick Baldwin

the wood turnings of :
Frederick Baldwin

this little bird from salvation army story

has laid "three eggs" with some help from Fred

his candle art carvings are smooth polished & a wonderful gift

beautiful accent with detail to natural beauty ...

ART - Christopher Lucas

the artwork of numerous local artists

now fills the spaces of craidelonna

shipping is available for guests who wish to

encouraged our local talents and the arts

introducing a few of the works of:

Christopher Lucas

During the month of October...

this blogg will be dedicated to the artists

whose works decorate our spaces

http://christopherlucas-art.blogspot.com/

Sunny September WEDDING

the joining of

mcgrath & domingo

with love in their eyes

surrounded by their intimate circle

of family & friends

seamus & liz

were married today

at a sunny day ceremony

ocean front at the craidelonna amphitheater
the couple & guests dined on a sumptuous six course meal

prepared by the folks at

http://www.foodforthoughtcatering.net/
the room was set using the outside benches & tables
seating a festively decorated room seating 44 guests

the HUT

the HUT has emerged

refreshed and set inside the forest lushness

the new exterior completed in local reclaimed board&baton cedar

the newly covered deck/veranda provides glimpse of the ocean
and the ultimate privacy of forested cosiness and nature
created for the rugged at heart...
this woodsie cottage has cold water only
and an outside composting toilet

there is a queen size bed located by ladder to a loft
above the modest kitchen that leads to the outside patio

this two room cabin has a front seating room
that can hold an additional blowup bed when needed

remote privacy & seclusion

Hannah & zacH WEDDING

today our bride and groom planted at fruit tree

( an isu persimmon from Hannah & zacH )

exotic and different much like its planters

under the umbrellas of their guests

the couple was determined to their quest

an inspirational ceremony amidst the downpour of rain

we stood warmed by the love in their hearts

then all retreated to a fine dinner in the main room of the lodge

with fireplace crackling and candles glowed

a magical rainy day wedding

precious moment are planted

with Hannah & zacH

the FRUITS of our labour

this season's golden plums
were shared and enjoyed fresh with numerous guests
it was mentioned how magical it is to take and eat direct from the tree
( fruit does not only come from grocery stores with sticker codes on them...)
some of the plums were preserved to a sweet/zesty plum sauce


the anticipate kiwi harvest looks great for the fall
these little ones will fill with falls rain
and be excellent by the beginning of winter for picking

back to basics ... back to NATURE-al

SUMMER's SUNSHINE

"the life of a cat"

lazy SUNNY SUMMER days

soWell finds the best warm morning sunbeam spots ..

relaxed and soaking in the views of blue blue skies...hot august days

with cool evening ocean breezes in the evening

SUMMER IS AT CRAIDELONNA...

sowell has left the planet

7th December 2009

form to formlessness

this ancient creature

my friend

Alex & Dan

Alexandra Simpson & Daniel Cunin

were married today

their guests released many monarch butterflies

at the ceremony of their marriage

the love within this beautiful couple

shines for all around them....

JULY GARDENS

the gardens are in full glory

blooms and color everywhere

http://darshanphotography.com/

the gardens

The gardens are full of life

with butterflies scampering from flower to flower

the neighbours honeybees
http://www.tugwellcreekfarm.com/

are enjoying the kiwi blooms and honeysuckle

SWIFTSURE

the 66th annual International SWIFTSURE Yacht Race

a sunny beautiful afternoon for a race & a ride on the ocean
166 yachts took to the strait today

passing by the front of Craidelonna

Woodsie Cabin Restoration

this week has begun renovations/restorational face lift

to the WOODSIE CABIN

located beyond the toilet herb gardens

of parsley/ chocolate mint / cilantro/ chives /sage & oregano

Pampered Fruit Trees

hidden from all but the exploring guests

three espaliered fruit trees have found a home
with a glass roof and full southern exposure

* red haven peach

* Apricot

* early red Nectarine

a BEAUTIFUL rainy day WEDDING

from morning into the afternoon a sprinkling of rain persisted
bench seating was set for 60 guests under the veranda
protected from a drizzle of wet

a violinist & cellist played wonderful music..
the clouds parted as the newlyweds were married
in front of the ocean - under the sky that held it drops

until the guests were seated for their dinner in the dining room

... and then it poured....

a rainy days' wedding blessing - warmed by the love of

Meaghan & Shane

HUMMINGBIRDS in the HONEYSUCKLE

hummingbird have found "nectar nirvana" in the honeysuckle bush

creating a very small nest for their safe home

inside are two tiny "jellybean" size eggs
this new housing development is located
above the dining table of the side deck..

(THANX GUEST LAURA SCHNEIDER FOR CLOSE UP PHOTOGRAPHY)

RUBARB & fruit trees

"grandpa's" rubarb plant

emerges from the ground
heralding the beginning of spring
this season has seen the planting of numerous fruit trees

- red haven peach ( espalier )

- apricot ( espalier )

- gravenstein red apple

- triple apple graph

with spartan/junagold/royal gala apples

- dessert fig

- flemish beauty pear

- lots of varieties of blueberries (early/mid & late season producers)

- asparagus & potatoes are also now in the ground

this seasons gardens reflect more sustainable local food security

http://solutions.viu.ca/affordable-sustainable-living-resources/local-movie-island-on-the-edge

RAINbows

thanxs to guests erin & scott for the wonderful photo

outside the window of the sunset bedroom

"rainbow over the lighthouse at sherringham point"

a majical blue day of march

EAGLES - " love is in the air "

the eagles have been mating all day today !!

furniture

handmade cedar luggage racks and side tables

create a new look for the sunrise & rookery bedrooms

functional art with solid clean lines

and a new shelf in the sunset bathroom...

guests have spoken and we have listened

a space to place "bathroom gear"

ever changing...

getting better..

thetrench

thanxs today for a water line trench that now extends to the lodge
this new line trenched deep into the earth protecting it the few days of winter's freeze that this hillside gets
- today was the first day for "tony's-trench "

it was once said "in all things one should even sweep a floor with the same passion that michaelangelo painted the systine chapel ceiling" -it is all about the details