Christmas Countdown

The store decked out for the upcoming holiday season.
This wish tree in the front window.
An urn of glass hearts.
Tapered Candles in "the rack", a fabulous display. Tapers are by Ester and Erik of Denmark. They are smokeless, dripless, and long burning.
Cone shaped pillars by Ester and Erik of Denmark. These are truly the most beautiful burning candle.
Word magnets by Vancouver Island metal artist. These magnets are super strong and beautiful.
Topical leaves and fresh orchids makes a wonderful gift, they will last up to three weeks in your home.


I love Christmas. I don't want to hear any bah humbugs! This is the season for family and friends, food and laughter, joy and yes, sorrow. Christmas brings out our goodness, our sense of hope, and our dreams. This year the front window of Surroundings is a simple group of branches in a pot, hanging from the branches are hundreds of little white cards, each card has a personal Christmas wish. This display started on Thursday November 19th, and will continue to accumulate till Christmas Eve. Please come into the store and put your own special wish on the tree.

Our wish tree will be blessed by a monk on Christmas Eve.

REMEMBERING

My Father and Uncle Jack walking along Wyte Ave. in Edmonton this past summer

My Grandfather, Wallace Baskerville was with the RCAF in WW I, during WW II he worked for Immigration Canada bringing home the war brides. He never told any war stories, it would be years latter, that my father would tell me about Grandpa. Both my parents talk about what it was like to be a child during WW II.

This past summer while visiting my Aunt, I took the above photo of my Dad and his brother, my Uncle Jack. They reminded me, as they walked ahead, so much of my Grandfather. It was like looking at two Grandpa Baskerville's walking up the street. I do not have a photo of Grandpa to post, so I felt this photo would suffice.

I'm walking the dog through the woods this morning when I hear a distant siren. I look at the time on my cell phone, it is 11 am November 11th, I stop and close my eyes. I remember.

Having a Ball

John Vickers, Chairman of the Masquerade Ball is flanked by two exceptional costumes
Laura Dreger of Edmonton with the best dressed man in the room
The best dressed couple
Diversity in masks
My favorite costume!
Laura and Nadine from Langley

Surroundings is a proud Sponsor of the Victoria Masquerade Ball. This year the proceeds went to the Victoria Youth Clinic. The costumes were truly spectacular this year. I want to thank everyone for coming out and making this years Ball a success.

Girl Sunday Ties The Knot

Robert hams it up during the cake cutting
Robert and Linda cut the cake


For the last two years Linda Giles has worked at Surroundings on Sundays. Prior to that, she and partner Robert Kidd owned and operated Still Life on lower Johnson Street (lojo). Still Life is an institution in Victoria's fashion scene. Kidd opened Still Life over 25 years ago, Giles came on board in the late 1990's. They have long been known as the most stylish couple in the city.

The wedding was done in pure Robert and Linda style, held at The Superior in James Bay, flowers by Ramsay and Ramsay, and of course, the bride wore a dress of her own creation. I have to say it was the most beautiful wedding I've ever attended. I only cried twice, oops make that three when Linda gave me her bouquet.

Lots of love to both of you.

Kristiane

Shop Dog

Her name is Ida. She came into my life 6 months ago after a visit to the Duncan SPCA. She has become a fixture at Surroundings, and my constant companion. Ida loves children, as you can see above.

She has eaten the seat belts out of my truck, all my flip flops, the power cord to my mac book, and my stuffed toys ( yes, I own my own stuffed teddies). She will steal the cat food when no one is looking, and has eaten her fair share of home made bread. I still love her to pieces. She is sweet , kind, gentle, and a little brat.

Ida works with me on Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays, so come on in and feel free to give her a good ear scratch, she'll love you for it.

A Trip to My Sister's House

A sculpture done by my sister
The back fence covered in mirror
Entrance to hidden garden

I love going to my sister's home. It is in a constant state of flux. Creativity reigns supreme here, your eye bounces from one spot to the other, purely delightful.

While I wanted to show case her amazing bathroom reno, as luck would have it, it's behind schedule. So we have to settle for garden pictures till my next visit.

My sister, Marjorie, is an artist in her own right and many of the objects found in her garden are of her own creation or those of her artisan friends. My favorite element is the back fence of the hidden garden covered with old mirrors.

Cool Customers

Not all my customers are this cool. Erv Salvador, owner of the Whip Club in Vancouver, gets ready to drive away from Surroundings. In the side car sits Beau (the big guy) and Jake (the little guy). Jake use to work at Surroundings with his lovely owner, Carey Thiessen. Salvador and Thiessen live in Vancouver, and drop in to see us when they are in town.

In The Dog House

The day this dog house was completed, Flinn, a Shepherd lab cross, ran inside and right back out again. Sadly he never quite took to his new digs. The dog house sits unoccupied in a beautiful country garden.

The owner was not dismayed by the dogs rejection. She loves how the little structure fits in amongst her wild garden. She designed and built the dog house to reflect the style of the main house and the chicken coop.

House of the Week

Believe it or not this is a chicken coop. This little structure is fondly referred to as the Chateau du Poulet by the neighbors. When the owner of the property decided to build a new home for her chickens, she wanted it to reflect the architecture of the main tudor style house. This was designed and built by the owner. She told me she wanted all her outbuildings to be beautiful, after all, they are a part of the scenic views from this rural home.

I find it interesting that this little structure is architecturally more interesting than most of the houses being built. Stay tuned for next weeks building, the doghouse.