Vancouver Island Gatherings.

As I mentioned a bit before, a couple of weeks ago I was carried off to British Columbia to make a promotional video for a Gluten Free Health & Wellness video going on up there.  It was a new, exciting, and terrifying  opportunity - a lot to get done with the 3 weeks I had to work with.  I've been waiting to post until I finally got all of it finished, and I can finally say it's done!  I officially shot, composed, directed, and edited my first real video!   I compiled all of the leftover footage that (largely) wasn't used in the original video to stay inspired and offer a small thank you to all the people that helped me out while I was over there!  They were so patient and kind during the whole thing and I hope this video documents, despite the hectic moments, all of the fun I had while I was out there.

Also, if anyone is interested in the promotional video, here it is!

It's finally done, weeeeeee, now I can really explore Brooklyn!

fort, townsend, washington

Before all the madness of filming, being shuttled around to different places, and doing my best to be a video director, cameralady, editor, and everything else - I had a birthday.  I reserved one special day before my first job to spend time with my deer friend, tucked up in a little cottage on the olympic peninsula.

My only request for my birthday was to take a walk in the mossy woods.  After being so long on the east coast, any time I saw a photo of the mossy, misty northwest my heart would hurt just a bit.  So, Melissa heard me.  We walked through the cedar and pine to an abandoned fort on the hill.  A magical overgrown place, sometimes painted the most beautiful, muted colors.

And, I hate to say, but while the rest of the continent was enduring snow and mostly below freezing temperatures, my birthday was graced with sunshine.  I even got to take my coat off for a bit.

meadow lark

Shot in dreamy Port Townsend.  Right now thinking of the Olympic Peninsula, or British Columbia, makes my heart hurt a little.

indoorsy

Hours with this girl are generally like stepping away from reality and into a cozy dream.  My first morning there we stayed in our pajamas, turning on the soft music and warming up a breakfast of egg and biscuits.  Although I hadn't really seen much of her new hometown yet, we decided it was best to keep the pajamas on, turn on the childhood movies and spend the remainder of the morning painting. 

Beforehand, my days in Vermont were becoming increasingly filled and I was accruing a debt of self- care time.  So, this time in Port Townsend was doubly appreciated.  If only all my days could be filled thoroughly nested inside with a warm cup of tea, a paint set, and sweet music.

Plus with autumn coming, I had fun, in the afternoons, making sweet potato and apple soup, and trying out a pumpkin crisp recipe!

port townsend, wa

... where the fawns roam freely in the street, the air is always crisp, and all moments happen along the water.  We had a sweet, quiet few days - playing music and singing on driftwood by the ocean, marinating in coffee shops, taking long walks - the usual.

Our time together is always special and refreshing in a way that I feel is quite rare.  Something about being together allows me to relax and let myself go - feel more. It is something that I can only appreciate after we've parted, and I notice the small transformation that occurred.

Also, geez, are you seeing this place.

a few more...

It's raining here in Nelson, BC.  I've been sipping my coffee and watching the clouds envelop the mountain peaks, silver wisps floating just above the lake.  This greyscale of mist and cloud and fog are what I'll miss most about British Columbia, they give all the shades of green a depth that quiets and softens, I don't think I'll know a landscape that is quite so humbling.

And Nelson is just the wonder that I remember - a small mountain gem of a town, not too big and not too small - complete with two sweet food coops, the friendliest people and a setting that there aren't really words for.  I've only been here 14 hours and I've already had multiple in-depth conversations with the locals. While I was settling down last night the thought popped in my head, "I want to settle here one day."  But, who's to say what will happen.

Anyway, here are a few more photos from last weekend's trip to Washington.  I'll post crossing-Canada-road-trip footage as soon as I can!

clayoquot island

Once a year the Clayoquot Island preserve opens up their land to visitors, having ferry busses running back and forth from the small oasis of Tofino to the even more magical Clayoquot Island.  The people who live on this island are living truly off the grid, nourished only by the land and sea.  For a day I pretended I was one of the people.  I travelled the mossy forest boardwalks that led to caves and streams, sat by the lily-pad ponds, and laid for so long in the sand.  Humming and watercolor painting, I fantasized that I was the one living in the sea wench cabin and my day consisted mostly of harvesting the herbs outside and crafting by the water.