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In October of 2009, I wrote a blog post about my re-make of ” I Want To Know What Love Is “. It had taken a long time to get my song on iTunes and other music sites - over a year, in fact, and I was very excited that it was finally available online. It is not easy as an Indie Artist to get music on the “big” sites, so it is always a big relief when it actually happens.
I had received a lot of positive feedback from family and friends on that particular song, so was naturally eager for it to be easily accessible for people. My only disappointment was that I could not secure a license to sell it online in the U.S.A. I have a lot of friends and fans in the States, and many of them weren’t pleased that they couldn’t download the song.
The reason we had such a hard time trying to sell it in the U.S. is, to put it bluntly, because the songwriter does not know who I am. Since I am not famous, my Producer’s requests ( and there were several ) were never responded to. I remember hearing Mariah Carey’s version of the song on the radio one day, and thinking to myself, “I recorded my version many months ago, but because she is famous, hers gets on the radio months before mine does. “ I have no problem with her, I just found it funny at the time that I was still waiting ( for over a year ) after I’d recorded it for it to be available online, then when it finally happened, it was a little anticlimactic, as a huge star had already released a version of it recently.
Anyway, the purpose of this post is to let my American friends know that I received an e-mail from my Producer Jarome this morning, stating that they were finally able to find a way to secure a license to sell a limited number of copies of the song online. So, we have the actual license, we now just have to make it happen. I’m not sure how long this will take, but the minute it is available, I will definitely let you know.
Thankyou to everyone who has already downloaded my version of the song, and a special thanks to my friends in the U.S. who have expressed an interest in purchasing it. Your patience is appreciated, and so are all the kind comments you have made after listening to it on my website. I will keep you posted.
As some of you may recall, in the Spring of 2009, I started talking about wanting an Acoustic Guitar. My Birthday is in June, so when people started asking what I wanted, I mentioned that contributions towards a Guitar would be much appreciated. It really was the only thing I wanted.
I had played Guitar once before in Highschool, in Ontario - my friend Sandra had spent an afternoon teaching me a song I really liked. I wasn’t interested in learning chords or anything - I just wanted to learn that song, that day, and that’s what we did. She played a few notes, I copied then, we strung it together, and that was that.
Since I moved up here to the Sunshine Coast of B.C. 2 years ago, I figured that I needed to find a fairly portable instrument to accompany myself when singing. ( my piano isn’t portable ) When I was in Vancouver, I had some Musicians I played with from time to time, but up here, I don’t know very many yet. I figured it was up to me to find a way to be able to sing, without having to rely on anyone else. I’ve always wanted to learn how to play Guitar, so figured this was the perfect solution.
Not knowing anything about Guitars, I asked a friend from Highschool, Tal Bachman, for some advice on buying my 1st Guitar, since he has a lot of experience with them. He was very kind and patient as I asked a ton of questions, and even broke down what kind of strings, picks etc. would be best for me. I started out only knowing I wanted a black acoustic, but by the time we had many discussions about it, I knew a lot more.
It was decided that I would get a Yamaha FG 720S ( all black) , Jim Dunlop ( nylon ) .60 mm picks, and .10 or .11 gauge ( but no heavier ) strings. Tal felt the body size of that particular model would be good for a woman.
We had been talking about it online for a couple of months, so when June rolled around, and my husband and I were finally able to get into the city, and to Tom Lee, I was very excited. My husband wanted me to actually see the Guitar, and hold it, to make sure it was what I really wanted, before we got it. Of course, I was distracted when I saw a gold glitter-covered electric guitar hanging from the ceiling - and swore it would be my next guitar, after I mastered the Acoustic.
I looked at the guitar I wanted, saw that it was shiny and black, picked it up, and liked the way it felt. I pulled out Tal’s checklist, found my strings, picks, and a strap, and the guy threw in a book for good measure. We got a soft case for carrying, and walking down Granville St. for the very first time with my new guitar in hand, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.
Fast forward just over a year, and my Guitar has had a long sleep. It still has the paper on the strings. I have been thinking about it a lot lately, wishing I had time to learn to play it … and now I am determined to just do it. It’s so easy to let the fact that you work full time, have errands to run, a house to clean, want to spend time with friends and family make you forget that sometimes, you have to make time to do things just for you. This is important to me, it’s something I really want to do, and I’m going to find the time, somewhere, somehow.
 My First Guitar So, tonight was the first step - I pulled her out of her case, and looked at all the accessories I have to go along with her, flipped through the books again, and held her, imagining how cool it will be to one day, know how to play her.
 Books, Strings, Picks, Strap
I can’t wait to get started playing my new Guitar. I’ll have to shoot some video when I finally get around to removing the paper from the strings - it’ll seem like a momentous occasion, after waiting over a year …
I’ll keep you posted with my progress, but first things first, I have to find a name for her.
Thanks again, Tal, for all your help and advice - it is very much appreciated.
Last week, I had some time off from work, and my husband and I wanted to get away for a few days. We didn’t have much time, didn’t want to have to wait for a ferry or leave the Sunshine Coast if we didn’t have to, so I looked online for some options. As most of you know, I am very much a “details” person. There are specific things I look for in a place to stay, and if a website doesn’t have pictures, chances are, I steer clear of it.
After a couple of hours checking out pretty much all the Hotels, Motels and B&B’s on the Sunshine Coast of B.C., I found a place that looked simply lovely. I recognized the signs that are at the side of the road from the online pics - turns out we had driven past it many times on our way to one of our usual hiking spots ( one I haven’t written about quite yet ) I always thought it looked inviting - even just from the signs, as we drove past before.
The Bed and Breakfast we booked is called ” A Lakeside Retreat “, and is located in Egmont, about a 45 minute scenic drive past Sechelt. We were looking for a few days of peace and quiet, relaxation, and sunshine. When we arrived, our gracious host Rob greeted us, gave us a tour, and showed us to our room - the ” Call Of The Loon ” Suite. Continental Breakfast is included in the price, so he asked us what we would like for the next morning, as a lady brings fresh pastries every day - huge muffins, croissants, or Quiche. The room is stocked with a kitchen area and mini fridge so you can have Breakfast at your leisure in the morning - no set times, and no need to get up early if you don’t want to. There was fresh fruit, cheeses, whipped butter and jams etc., milk and juice and yogourt in the fridge, as well. Dishes are supplied, there is a microwave, toaster oven, sink - everything you could need.
 The Most Comfortable Bed Ever One of the things I had noticed on the website which helped me choose which Suite I wanted to book was a picture of the bathroom. I liked the mirror, so took some pics of it myself, as well. The bathroom was bright, clean, and had a wonderful skylight which added even more to it. The shower was a really good size, which I love - no bumping your elbows.
 Cool Shell Mirror
After ” checking out ” our room, we quickly changed into our bathing suits, and headed out to our deck, which overlooked North Lake. We had our own patio table and chairs, a BBQ, and a couple of Adirondack chairs for lounging in while enjoying the sun.
 Big Deck Overlooking The Water
After a good look around the deck, we headed down the path behind the house to the private dock on the lake. We were happy to see an inviting sight - chairs seemingly just waiting for us to relax in, at the edge of the water.
 Chairs On Private Dock Overlooking North Lake
Before I forget, I have to mention that also included with your stay is use of a rowboat, pedal boat, and a canoe. Both of us love being on the and in the water, so this was a huge bonus for us. The ” little girl ” in me wanted to try the pedal boat first, as I have many happy childhood memories of going out in them with my best friend in Ontario. It was so much fun, pedalling around the lake, exploring the sights that were all new to us.
 Three Boats To Choose From
After that, we did some swimming, snorkelling, and sunbathing, while listening to the birds chirping. It was so incredibly peaceful and relaxing - exactly what we had hoped for. The view from the dock of the lake was beautiful.
 View Of North Lake From Private Dock Rob was just in the process of installing a brand new swim ladder, so we got to be the first ones to try it out while we were there.
 Brand New Swim Ladder
After a day in the sun, in and on the water, and trying out the various boats, we headed back up the path to our suite.
 Path Back To Our Suite
Before freshening up to go have some Dinner, we stood on the deck just outside our Suite again, and took in the gorgeous view of North Lake.
 Our Fabulous Deck - Call Of The Loon Suite
Over the next couple of days, we spent most of our time relaxing, swimming, boating, or just laying in the big chairs up on our deck, soaking up the amazing hot sun.
 Adirondack Chairs On Our Deck There was also a recently added Games Room, which was great for night time, or would also be good if the weather wasn’t cooperating ( or in Off-Season ). There was a Pool Table, a Dart Board, a Poker Table, CD’s to listen to, books to borrow, and movies to watch from a comfy couch, or to take back to your room.
We would definitely go back to A Lakeside Retreat again. Rob was a wonderful host - he made sure we had everything we could possibly need, then left us alone to enjoy the peace and quiet, which is precisely why we went there. There were a lot of personal touches that showed just how much thought he had put into every detail of the place.
I look forward to the next time we are fortunate enough to have a couple of days to sneak away to ” A Lakeside Retreat “.
Thanks again so much for everything, Rob !
If you read my blog post ” Take A Hike - Part 1 ” a while back, then you already know that my husband and I spend a lot of our free time hiking up here on the Sunshine Coast of B.C. That particular post was about one of our favourite hiking spots - Smuggler Cove, which we have probably been to more times than any other place up here, so far.
There is another place we have been to quite a few times, but I will write another post about that one some other time. Today, I want to discuss the newest place we have discovered for hiking - Francis Point. The drive there is probably another 10 - 15 minutes past Smuggler Cove, but it was sure worth it !
 Francis Point Provincial Park
The start of this hike is much like many others around here - fairly flat, and you head right into the forest. Going in, I had no idea that this was going to be a very different hike than I was used to. This is an area that has had relatively little human contact - there is even a section that the public is not allowed to go in, for the sake of preservation of delicate mosses and lichens etc.
 About Francis Point
Not too far into the hike, you come out of the trees, and are basically walking along a cliff overlooking the water. I love being in the warm sun, so this was awesome for me. I am used to spending most of our time hiking under the cover of tall trees ( and I often get cold because of that fact ), so this was both a surprise, and a treat for me.
 Looking Back On The Trail
Since moving to the Coast, one of my newest favourite trees is the Arbutus. I have seen quite a few on various other hikes, most of them medium in size, and generally they have been on their own. On this hike, I saw some taller Arbutus trees, and they were grouped together more.
 Beautiful Arbutus Trees
Most of the trail is pretty straight - forward, and not too difficult to navigate. There are some tricky spots which require a bit of fancy footwork, and a hand from a friend, but nothing too bad. Sections of the pathway have little wooden posts and ropes, to remind everyone to stick to the trail - there are delicate plants that need to be spared being destroyed by a careless mis-step. Anything you want to photograph is close enough that you can do so with a decent lens - there is no need to stray from the marked path.
 Marked Path at Francis Point
My favourite part of the hike was when we got to near the end. You pass a little ” lighthouse ” ( very small ) and a bit later, you get to the end of where you had been going straight, and have to turn to the left. This is where the giant Arbutus Trees live - many growing almost sideways, bent by the force of the wind on the unprotected cliff, overlooking the water. These were by far the largest Arbutus I had ever seen. They made me think of one of my dearest friends, as they are her very favourite tree. ( I hope she smiles as she reads this ) I hope one day to show them to her.
 Tall Arbutus Trees at Francis Point
Once you get to the big Arbutus trees, the trail continues, and gets much trickier. It appeared to be the most logical place to stop and turn around, as it was late afternoon, and we had a long hike back out. We stood there at the end for a while, marvelling at the size and beauty of these incredible trees, and admiring the view of the water from the rugged cliff.
 Trail Getting Steep
It is a good thing I brought my newly acquired backpack - we had been out there for a long time, and needed to find a place to stop, and have a snack. We picked a sunny spot on some smooth flat rocks, perched on them, had some cashews and water, and enjoyed the view.
I usually tend to like to go to familiar places, but am very glad my husband suggested we try hiking at Francis Point. It is definitely a hike I would like to do again, and I would love to take friends there when they come and visit. I think it may just be my new favourite place to hike.
It’s been a couple of weeks since I have written a blog post. I’d like to say it’s because I’ve been out enjoying the Summer weather, but there hasn’t been much of that yet around these parts. We are still waiting for some hot, dry weather to arrive, but probably shouldn’t hold our breath for that one … we’d be better off to just hop on a plane for Vegas. 
June is a very busy month for me, and my family - lots of Birthdays, and Anniversaries. This year, June was a very special month - my Parents celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary, and my Mom, her 80th Birthday. I was fortunate enough to be able to take some of my holiday time so that we could meet up with some other family members, and help celebrate these very special occasions. It was so nice to be able to be there.
We had a lovely dinner out together, and spent a few days visiting, chatting, playing cards - all things we used to do when we were all living under the same roof. It’s funny how things you used to take for granted as a child, feel so much more special when you don’t see everyone as often as you’d like to.
I have always admired my parents for the fact that they have been happily married for so long. Even when I was little, I never heard an unkind word, or a raised voice in that house. They were, and still are, a loving, kind couple, who taught us so many important things about how to treat others, how to be compassionate, patient, understanding, honest, hardworking, modest and humble - all traits that I hold dear to this day.
My Mom’s health hasn’t been the greatest in the past few years, so getting to witness her turn 80 made me very happy. She is one of the sweetest, most gentle people I have ever known, and seeing her in such a fragile state is one of the most difficult things I’ve ever witnessed. I am just so very grateful for every day we have with her.
It was good to see so many family members in one place. The hard part is always saying “Goodbye”, not knowing when you will be able to see them again. For now, I am just thankful that we were able to help celebrate these very important events.
I have been going to Karaoke nights at the Sechelt, B.C. Legion for several months now, and I have to say, it is always a really fun night out. Every week that I go, I am amazed at how friendly and supportive everyone is, regardless of what style of music you sing. If someone sings a song that people like, the dancefloor gets packed. Since singing and dancing are two of my favourite things to do, I always look forward to my Karaoke nights.
Recently, it was announced that they were going to have a ” Sunshine Coast Karaoke Idol ” Contest at the Legion. I have been to enough Karaoke nights there to know that there are some extremely talented singers around, so I didn’t think I would try out. I also don’t really like competition, or being judged in public, so was definitely shying away from the prospect of auditioning for the Contest. They held 3 weeks of auditions - the first week slipped by, then the second, and I still didn’t go. I was worried that the “good ” feeling we all had on our Karaoke nights, that warm, encouraging feeling, may disappear in a competitive setting. I didn’t want things to change. I probably had at least 10 reasons why I shouldn’t audition. ( in my own mind )
I thought about it long and hard, about how much I love to sing. I have been up here on the Sunshine Coast for just over 2 years now, and haven’t really ” put myself out there ” musically, yet. It was so easy in Vancouver - I had lots of contacts there, knew a lot of musicians etc, and there were always places to play. Being still fairly new to the Coast, and quite shy, I hadn’t really talked to very many people about my singing. I decided that it was time to at least try and get myself heard a little bit. I had to start somewhere, and what better place than a friendly, familiar environment?
So, on the third week of auditions, I gave it a shot. I made it in, and at the end of May, our Contest began. I met some wonderful ladies along the way - all of whom clearly love to sing. It was so nice to get to know them, and see the joy in their eyes, and the beautiful smiles on their faces, as they did what they love best. There is nothing quite like watching someone doing what they are truly passionate about - it is an amazing sight to behold.
The weeks went by, we sang different genres each week ( which challenged us, and helped us grow as vocalists ) and we all helped each other get through our nerves, which were aplenty throughout the Contest. This past Friday, June 11th, it was down to 3 of us, and we had the Finale.
 Laura, Heather and Krystal I would like to thank everyone involved with the contest for making it so much fun for all of us. It was great experience for us in front of an audience, and it helped us try new genres we may not have otherwise attempted. A lot of hard work and preparation went into getting things running smoothly, and everyone learned a lot along the way. Richard Lachance deserves a special ” Thankyou ” for running the show, and encouraging us all to try out - nobody worked as hard as he did at making this thing happen. It is because of him that we’ve had so many fun nights out at Karaoke over the months gone by.
 Jac, Dani and Bob
We had great Judges ( see above photo ) who all had good advice to give us, and we all appreciated their honesty. We even had a couple of last minute judges have to step in on occasion to fill in, and they did a wonderful job, as well. There were several other people involved with the event, helping things go as planned, videoing for us, and all the way through, giving us encouragement.
The next picture is the 3 of us anxiously awaiting the results of the voting.
 The Ladies Wait For The Results
Thankyou to all of our friends, families, co-workers, and even complete strangers that came out and supported us with their clapping, cheering, and votes. It really meant a lot to us to have so much love and support from all of you. As I mentioned earlier, we were all quite nervous, so having so much positive energy around helped us a lot !!!
 Top 3
I would like to thank all the Contestants as well, for sharing their talents with us, and being so much fun. It never felt like a competition ( thank goodness ) as everyone was there for the same reason - to have fun, and do what they loved to do. We all cheered for each other, and felt the ups and downs as each of us had good or bad nights over the last few weeks. I am so glad to have met all of you ladies - not only are you very talented, but you are very sweet, kind people, as well, and I hope we will stay in touch.
A big thanks to the fabulous Community - spirited photographer ( and so much more ) Duane Burnett, who showed up at the Finale to take some pictures of us on our big night. You can always count on Duane to be there for any special event on The Sunshine Coast. You can see some more of the Finale pictures here. All in all, competing in this contest was a really great experience for me. I overcame some fears, forced myself to do things I was uncomfortable with, and eventually, even got over my nerves. ( even if that only happened on the very last night. ) Most importantly, I met some wonderful people along the way, whom I hope to sing with again some day very soon.
Thanks again so much to everyone for supporting us in our love of singing !!!
Some people are really negative all the time, while others seem to be able to find something good in anything life throws their way - I am somewhere in between. I am no longer young and naive - I have lived life and seen some pretty unpleasant things, and am smart enough to realize that no one is immune to bad things happening from time to time. On the other hand, I do believe that it is possible, if you dig deeply enough, to find something good in even the things we consider bad.
That being said, not all blog posts can be happy and uplifting. It is great to share things in your life that make people smile, but that is just one part of reality. Sometimes, you have a day, a week, or even longer, that just isn’t that great. Those are the times that you find out who your real friends are - the ones who really care about you do not run away just because you’re not all bright and cheery. Sure, we can all fake a smile if we need to, but why would anyone want you to pretend like that ? Real life has ups and downs - that is just a fact.
I have been feeling pretty burned out lately - tired and stressed. I wish that people could work less ( but somehow still be able to afford to pay the bills ) have more free time to relax, take care of themselves, and spend quality time doing things that they enjoy. ( and with the people they love ) It is far too easy to become negative in your outlook when you are sleep-deprived, and have too many worries on your mind.
A couple of nights ago, I was sitting in a chair, and I started feeling a strange sensation near the top of my spine, which travelled up to the base of my neck, fairly quickly. I gasped in pain, as it seemed to come out of nowhere. My husband turned to look at me, wondering what was wrong. I quickly told him my neck/upper back were seized up, and I could barely move. I went to bed early that night, thinking I may have just pinched a nerve, and could “sleep it off “.
( I was wrong. ) I woke up yesterday morning, and was in even more pain. There was no way I could work, so I had to call and let them know. This, of course, causes me more stress - feeling as though you are letting others down, making things harder for them etc. I knew I had to try and relax, and rest my body, but it was just one of those days where things weren’t meant to go so smoothly. It was the annual day of window washing at our complex, so we had guys on ladders and on the roof all day, ( making noise, of course ) and we couldn’t open the windows, so no fresh air to breathe. As I lay there trying to sleep, the doorbell rang. My husband was out getting me some back pain medication, so by the time I was able to get up and go to the door, there was only a notice there, saying our gas had been turned off, due to a leak in a nearby home. It listed a number for us to call to get it lit again. I guess that hot bath I was going to soak my back in would also have to wait. When my hubby returned, he put in the call, and it was late afternoon before we had our hot water restored ( after yet another doorbell ringing ). So much for a quiet day of rest. It almost seemed like a joke - but not a very funny one.
I was determined that I would be all better this morning, but my body disagreed. I woke up with my neck and back still stiff and sore, knowing full well that going back to work too soon would only make things worse. Once again, I had to call in, and once again, it made me feel badly. Why is it that many of us can’t just accept that sometimes our bodies are trying to give us big hints that we need to slow down, relax, and be good to ourselves ? When we need rest most, we worry about anything and everything else, except ourselves, our own health and well-being.
On that note, I should get back into bed and try and heal this body of mine. Today seems a little bit quieter, and if I’m lucky, maybe I can actually get some much-needed rest, and clear my mind of anything negative.
I know I just wrote a blog post a couple of weeks back about a recent hike to Smuggler Cove up here on B.C’s beautiful Sunshine Coast, but we went there again last weekend, and saw some cool creatures. The weather has been warm and sunny here lately, and I just couldn’t help myself - the urge to wander into the forest and along those trails again was too strong to resist. ( besides, the housework can wait for a rainy day, right ? )
 Smuggler Cove Sign
The first thing I said to my husband as we started along the trail this time was ” I hope we see some snakes today ! “. I have always liked snakes since I was a little girl. When I lived in Chatham, Ontario, one of my public school buddies had a couple of big snakes - he told me they were Anacondas - and we’d often wrap one around my neck when we went to my house for lunch. My Mom always made me take it right back to his house, for some reason. Anyway, my point is, I feel pretty comfortable around them, and find them to be both beautiful, and fascinating.
 Garter Snake As you can see, I got my wish that day. Within 10 minutes of starting our hike, we came upon an open spot in the trees where the sun shone through, and found a bunch of common garter snakes basking in the afternoon sun. There were several tiny babies, but they were far too quick to get a picture of. This guy was up in a nearby tree. I also saw a green snake, but couldn’t get a closeup, as he was a bit farther away.
 Green Snake
I was pretty happy to have seen so many snakes - I guess what they say is true - if you ” put it out there ” that you want something, it may just very well come to you. That was the first time I had seen a green one there, or garter snake babies - they were very cute.
One of my favourite parts of the hike is near the end when you get to the cliffs overlooking the water. I have a tendency to crawl down all over the rocks, hoping to see some underwater life. Yes, my husband and I both Scuba Dive, and can see these things any time we want when diving, but I find it particularly interesting to try and photograph them topside. This is obviously rather challenging, since you have to factor in the wind etc. The next shot makes me laugh - to get it, my husband perched on a rock, I had to sit on his lap, lean forward as far as I could, and he had to hold me tightly by the waist. The things we’ll do for a picture.
 Starfish Surrounded by Limpets You can see the purple starfish, but you may not recognize the limpets surrounding it. I don’t think I’ve ever really seen limpets before, and I had to ‘”Google ” them to find out more about them. Here’s a closer look at some stuck between the rocks at low tide:
 Limpets at Low Tide
This next guy got stuck up on the rocks when the tide went out:
 Purple Starfish
These are just a few of the many creatures we encounter during our hikes. We mainly take pictures of flowers, trees, odd looking mushrooms and various mosses, and of course, the shots of the water from the cliffs, but catching these creatures in their natural habitat is pretty cool. Most people that use the trails around here are very respectful, and make sure they don’t get too close as to disturb these wonderful living things. I am looking forward to our next chance to get lost in the forest, and maybe catch a glimpse of something new. It sure is a good way to leave the stress of the ” everyday ” far, far behind.
When I was a young girl taking piano and singing lessons, my teacher encouraged me to write songs, as well. I had always written a lot of poems, short stories etc., and was fairly certain of my ability to string words together. I have always been a very meticulous person in pretty much all I do, and writing is no exception. ( thus, brevity is not my strong suit, as anyone who knows me well can tell you:) I like to be extremely descriptive, and not leave out even the slightest detail.
As a teenager, I wrote a lot of poems, most of which, admittedly, were about boys. ( and mostly concerning unrequited love ) I found that by far, my best writing came about after some boy had broken my heart. Probably the only thing I miss ( emotionally ) about being a teenager, is the ability to feel so deeply. Everything seems so incredibly important, symbolic, life-altering, at that age. When the one you adored left you, ( or showed no interest to begin with ) it seemed as though you could never possibly feel that way again, ever, in your entire life. Ah, the drama - it’s nice to be able to look back on it now, smile, and shake my head…
There is something to be said for taking raw emotions like sadness, hurt etc. and turning them into powerful lyrics. Songwriters have obviously been doing it forever, which is why, to this day, a favourite ballad can tug at our heartstrings. When I wrote as a teenager, the intention was purely therapeutic - it was my safe way of letting go of my sadness, and I definitely had a lot of that, which meant I wrote a lot. I still have an old folder full of all my poems and stories, which I found when I moved almost 2 years ago. I found it fascinating being able to read them, thereby “climbing” back into my own teenage brain, and feeling so many intense emotions . It was kind of cool, actually.
I have always been a pretty private person - I like my privacy, and respect that of others. I don’t think I ever intended on letting anyone else read the things I had written - they were just for me, to try and deal with disappointment, and any other negative emotions I may have been feeling at the time. I firmly believe that incredible things can happen if you have the ability to harness any negativity you may feel, turn it around, and redirect it into something positive, and powerful. I would like to do that with some of my words from the past, and even some from the present.
Doing cover songs is always fun - you get to sing songs you know well, and love, but as an indie artist, a vast amount of time and expense is required to cut through all the red tape to get yourself heard that way. My last single took us nearly a year to get on iTunes, and even then, we still couldn’t get on U.S, iTunes, due to licensing agreements specific to the songwriter. In short, if you are not “famous” already, few care to give you a chance.
Anyway, my point is that, although I wonder if anyone would really want to hear what I have to say, I am going to get back to writing some lyrics this Summer. Worst case scenario - I work through some negative emotions … best case, I write about something real that someone else can relate to, and maybe even dance to.
One of the main reasons we chose B.C.’s Sunshine Coast as our new home almost 2 years ago, was the fact that there are so many places to walk, hike, and kayak. The older we get, the more we realize that you can’t lead a sedentary lifestyle and remain healthy. Fresh air, sunshine and exercise can do wonders for the mind, body and soul. Although most people know I am a ” City Girl ” to the core, I must admit that living up here has helped me learn to relax a little bit, and deal with stress in constructive ways.
We have several places up here that we like to go hiking. Today, I’m going to talk about Smuggler Cove. It has an interesting history, and is a very enjoyable hike.
 Map Of Smuggler Cove One thing we really like about Smuggler Cove is that it is less than a half hour drive past Sechelt, so you don’t have to go too far to feel a million miles away. It usually takes us about an hour to walk in, and an hour back, but that is with lots of stops for pictures along the way. If you walked without stopping, it would probably only be about 45 minutes each way.
 Beavers Flood The Trail There is a marshy area when you start the hike, followed by some often-flooded areas, due to the resident beavers being hard at work building their dams. This past year, some new walkways were built, making it easier for all to cross the more difficult spots.
 Interesting Tree
There are definitely a lot of opportunities for some pretty cool pictures, if you have the time and inclination. The scenery changes after the marshy, flooded areas, and starts to become more rocky, heading uphill. We often see little snakes as we walk along.
 Little Snake
One of the things I like best is looking up at how tall the trees are in the forest - I often take shots pointing my camera up at the sky. It is sometimes hard to fathom just how long these beautiful trees have been alive.
 Tall Trees
When you get part way along the trail, you see the actual cove where Smugglers came to hide themselves, or their illegal booze. When the tide is low, you can climb down fairly close to the water, and see colourful starfish just below the surface.
 Smuggler Cove
As you get towards the end of the trail, there are a lot of gorgeous Arbutus Trees. I had never seen these trees before, and now they are one of my favourites, as they have such a distinctive look to them.
 Arbutus Tree
When you get to the end of the trail, there is a rock bluff overlooking the water. We often take lunch with us, spread out a blanket, and enjoy the view for an hour or two. It is very peaceful there, and I never tire of watching the sun sparkling on the water.
 End View
There are often boats in the Cove during the Summer, as well as an abundance of Kayakers.
 Kayakers
When I need to escape the daily routine of life, Smuggler Cove is a wonderful place to go. There is so much to see, and it changes each time you go back. I have thousands of photographs from hiking this trail over the past couple of years, but I never get tired of taking those pictures. I find the light is most beautiful in the late afternoon - just a warm, golden glow.
 Sun Sparkling On The Water
I am so grateful to have such a gorgeous place to escape to when I feel the need. The best part is, I can actually sleep fairly well after a good hike, and to this chronic insomniac, that’s a pretty good bonus.
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