I spent this past weekend on Vancouver Island with my parents, who live in the beautiful Cowichan Valley. This is always a nice respite for me from busy Vancouver life, and I enjoy seeing the recent projects that my parents are involved in, and visiting some of their favourite spots in the community.

Like the rest of Vancouver Island, and many of the surrounding Gulf Islands, the Cowichan Valley is rich with artists and crafters. My Mother is a member of the local Spinners and Weavers Guild, and is currently working on weaving some beautiful baby blankets (among several other projects).

My Dad is a member of a local preservation society that works to protect a rare ecosystem, and he took us on a little tour of the Cowichan Valley Garry Oak Preserve. We saw some beautiful wildflowers and a couple of bluebirds that are about to be re-introduced into the region.

We picked up some beans at the Drumroaster, a fantastic cafe whose owners are vastly knowledgeable about all things coffee related. They roast their own beans and offer a variety of brewing methods.

Before we went home, we had to visit the fabulous Crow & Gate pub in Cedar, close by to Nanaimo. This has been a favourite of our family for many years, and it never fails to disappoint.