Flora of Strathcona

First Day of School

East Van

Banyan started Kindergarten this week.  He's an old pro with two years of pre-school under his belt.  No need to make a fuss, no need to stop and pose for my camera.  Georgia thought it was her first day and sat right down next to Banyan and all the other kids in circle time.  She's one going on five.  She loves her big brother and would probably follow him any where. 

The Generous Heart of a Little Boy

Banyan is an incredibly thoughtful boy.  He has a passion for serving people and making sure they are comfortable.  If you have ever been a guest in our house, I'm sure you have experienced Banyan's hospitality.  First he will bring out his multi-coloured ikea plastic cups and pass them around, then he brings out his Papa's special juice and pours a glass for every one.  Next, it's time to divvy up his stash of granola bars, apple sauces, throat lozenges, pickles, olives or what ever happens to be with in his reach.  Feeling cold?  No problem, Banyan will bring you a pile of blankets then jump all over you until you can't take it any more.  He will even set up the sofa bed incase your tired.  He also knows it's nice to give flowers to people.  It took a whole summer of training him not to pick every flower in sight but the flowers were very pretty and it allowed me to use every single vase in the house.  Lately, Banyan has been leaving little gifts and handing out treats to our neighbours.  This morning he got dressed, ate some banana bread and said, "see you later".  I inquired where he was going and he said he had to make a delivery of figs to the neighbours.  "Oh".  Of course he had picked the hardest, most unedible ones, so I helped him out a little.  He took the dish of freshly picked figs and banged on the neighbours' doors at 8:20am. When Banyan gets an idea, we just go with it.  If he's determined to do something with or with our our help, might as well help him do it right.  

TIEV 2

One of my photos has been selected to be published in This Is East Van 2 which I am thrilled about.  My photo will be showcased in the gallery show as well.  I love this project because I love East Van.  

Little Man

Banyan had these glasses kicking around his room so we decided to do something fun with them. We dressed Banyan up in his vintage suit jacket and vintage sweater vest, which was his Father's when he was just a wee lad, slapped on a bow tie and voila, a little man.

Curb Side Book Store

Free stuff.  Need I say more?

Yesterday

I found this piece in an alleyway just off the bicycle route on Adanac.  It was such a large piece and the alley way was tight so I had to take several shots to get the whole picture.  A few days after I took the photo, it was painted over.  I'm usually not fond of most graffiti but personally, I think this wall looked way better with this then the sloppy mess that was painted over it.   At least this piece had some artistic style and thought put into it.  

East Van Love

The Drive...

I would walked by Tony's Deli several times a day on a daily basis for four years when I lived on the Drive.  I always wanted to take a break and sit in one of these chairs and enjoy a nice cup of whatever and eat a delicious bowl of something else and just be part of the café crowd on Commercial Drive.  Somehow, I never took the time because I was always on my way to somewhere or in a hurry to get back back home.  At least I have this picture to keep the day dream a live.  

Harvest Festival

Every fall the Strathcona community puts on the Harvest Festival which includes a pie tasting contest, live music, crafts, and other things to do with the fall harvest.  We arrived late so we missed the pie but we got there just in time for a community hay fight.  It was awesome.  Who ever thought to dump a giant pile of hay in the middle of the park was a genius.  It never got old throwing hay in people's faces.  It was such a great feeling to be part of a tight knit community.  Even the little girls got themselves together and organized their own potato sack race.

Near the end of the fest, I was chatting with a friend when suddenly we heard a roaring noise and saw black smoke billowing into the sky.  An old wooden heritage house caught fire at the end of the park and everyone started running towards it.  I think it's so crazy that people throw themselves right in front of danger to get a good look.  It didn't take long for the fire department to put the fire out and no one seem to be hurt.  All the commotion kind of killed the party but made it extra memorable.

What's so special about East Van?

Everything.

Clover and Grass

Autumn has floated in with the September breeze, settling like a cool crisp blanket over the city.  The sun is hot but is quickly mellowed by the arctic air pouring down.  I wish I brought a sweater to cover my bare arms.  I drop my son off at his first day back at preschool.  It's a new beginning, a new classroom, and new faces.  I have one hour before I can pick him up.  It's just long enough to walk to the thrift store and let a tea cup fumble out of my finger tips and smash brilliantly across the floor.  No one seems to notice except an old chinese man who pauses for only a moment to watch me smile and collect the broken pieces.  I lay the the tea cup in it's new form back on the shelf wondering if this was the cup's true destiny, never to be used as a tea cup again.  I continue past the once useful but now forgotten to pick up my son...

I pack my camera every where I go, searching for a moment of inspiration, a moment of intrigue, even if I am only walking through my neighbourhood where I've walked a million times before.  I doubt  I will see something new.  What could possibly get my attention that hasn't already?  As I near the end of my walk, I notice swaying in the autumn breeze, clover and wild grass so delicate and unconstrained.  This is a moment I want to keep forever.

MacLean Park

Some friends came by on Saturday and we ended up at the splash park.  

It was a perfect summer afternoon.   

Early Morning Walk-About

When I first moved to Australia, it took me a few months to adjust my internal northern hemisphere clock to a southern hemisphere clock.  I would generally wake up at 4:30am to the sound of a thousand cockatoo's squawking.  It sounded like a tree full of monkey's going crazy.  By 5am I would slap my runner's on and go for a run through the woods, up Mount Coottha and into the neighbouring area of Ashgrove.  I discovered the great Australian walk-about was addicting...

I love venturing out early in the morning when most are still in bed sleeping.  I love seeing the roads barren and feeling a stillness that hangs in the air.  Because I was up at 6am feeding my little baby, I thought why not?  I left her with McKay, slapped on my runners and enjoyed an early morning walk-about.   I saw people in their pyjama's (barely awake) walking their dogs, extreme athletes working out at the gym and my favourite....the group of old chinese people practicing tai chi.

As I was walking toward MacLean Park, calming traditional chinese music floated passed my ears.  At first I though it was coming through an open window somewhere but when I crossed the street, I was pleasantly surprised to see the slow moving silhouettes in tai chi form as the morning sun sparkled over the horizon.  It brought me back to Hong Kong where I loved to watch the old people practice tai chi at Victoria Park amongst the large population of feral cats.  The music made the whole experience.  It kind of carried me away into some ancient memory of existence.

Discovering this early morning practice at MacLean park made time stand still for a moment.  I was taken to my home away from home but soon returned to East Van once out of sight.  It was a subtle reminder that my neighbourhood slowly dissolves into China Town.   I love where I live.

I also saw this...

The hamburger caught my eye, I thought it was a clever yard sale sign.  It makes me want to check it out.  Apparently it's all day saturday too since there is no specific time :)

I almost made it home in my dream world when some primitive male decided to whistle at me....do I look attractive in my sweaty work out clothes and messy bed-head hair?  Is my post maternity body that stunning?  I can't stand it when I get whistled at, it gives me the feeling that women are viewed as cheap object.  Thanks a lot GUY.

My Hood

I love the neighbourhood we live in.  Each time I walk through it, I find so much inspiration from the vibrant colours, the history of the heritage houses, and the spontaneous creativity posted along the way.  It's the kind of people living in the neighbourhood who are enjoyable to meet.  I love that Strathcona is home to many artists which only adds to the vibe.  I love East Van.  I'm just going to put that out there right now.  I think there is something incredibly special about East Van that can't be fabricated in other parts of the city.  It's raw, unpretentious, and inclusive.  

Hollyhock Heaven

I went a little ape taking photographs of flowers on Sunday.  I probably took a hundred while walking through the Strathcona community garden.  The lighting was awesome.  The setting sun back-lit the leaves and pedals of the plants.  My favourite photos of the day were the hollyhocks.

   

They remind me of my mom who use to grow them out side of her bedroom window.  Her's were dark violet mixed with some reddish purple hues standing tall against our light green house.  I found my self more drawn to these delicate pink ones for their ethereal quality.

Photo Shoot!

We took advantage of a sunny day last October and went on a photo shoot.  We walked around our  little east side neighbourhood, looking for great spots to take photos.   

My son and I are making a series of photographs where we take pictures of each other taking pictures of one another. 

We definitely got a few good ones...