A Victorian Valentines Day

On Saturday morning Dominic and I woke up early to get ready for our weekend away. He had planned a quick overnight to someplace special but I hadn't the slightest idea where it could be. I packed light and threw on my boots (just in case). 

When we didn't go to the car I was surprised, when we walked past the bus stop I was stumped and when we continued past my office to the waterfront I was worried. Were we staying in downtown? If so, why did I have to get up so early to walk to a local hotel? 

Just then, we were there: The Victoria Clipper Ferry! 

We had admired this vacation option for a year, but had never made a trip down to pier 69 to check it out. What an exciting start to the day! We boarded the ferry and shared a six-seat table arrangement with a chatty Canadian and two UW freshmen on their way to a fraternity Valentines formal. It was a fun ride and before we knew it we were arriving on Vancouver Island. 

We dropped off our bags at the hotel and set out into the misty morning to enjoy the city and search for lunch. We had plenty of love to go around on Valentines Day Eve:

Dominic thoughtfully pre-purchased tickets to the Victoria Tea Festival. It was a lovely activity for a cool, gray day and we enjoyed the exhibition a great deal. There were plenty of tea tastings, tea pairings (with delicious chocolate, scones, danishes and breads) and we even watched a 'cooking with tea' presentation by Chef Heidi Fink. If you come visit us I'll make you a delicious smoky maple salad dressing featuring Lapsang Souchong tea, 'adult flavored' lemon jasmine popsicles and perhaps even some green tea shortbread cookies. 

Tea Festival in the Crystal Gardens

Although we didn't sign up for High Tea at The Empress we did get our photo with this lovely tea connoisseur at the festival. 

The day was a nice opportunity for us to spend time talking, sharing and reflecting on the past six months. We are both amazed by our blessings and thankful for the life marriage has brought us. 

On Valentines Day we woke up to a downpour, but by the time church was over the sky had opened up and the sun was in full force. Victoria really sparkles when it's sunny outside.

We couldn't have asked for a better day to laugh and play in this romantic city of sights and statues: 

We didn't hire a tour guide, we didn't pay for museums, we didn't consult a map and yet we stumbled across the most interesting places walking through downtown. 

Dominic's learning (and practicing his knowledge of) Tai Chi at a Chinese New Year celebration in the square. 

We spent the entire day wandering through neighborhoods. We prayed in Christ Church Cathedral, spied on a wedding at St. Ann's Academy and looked at the window displays at Miniature World. 

The evening ferry departed at 5 p.m. and we sailed to Seattle as the sun set in Victoria.

Happy Valentines Day! We love you!

Tea Time

Today Dominic and I spent time with friends doing what friends do: hanging out.

I decided last week to throw a tea party and gather as many girlfriends as possible for some good conversation and crafting. Dominic enjoyed the opportunity to watch basketball at a friend's house. 

It occurred to me about a week and a half ago that I have a million excuses not to spend time in casual conversation with friends. From 'too busy' to' too many other commitments'; from 'the house is a mess' to 'I'm tired', I've made up all kinds of reasons not to have people over. This all ended with a quick email invite (not even an Evite). I sent out the request to everyone, knowing full well that it would be uncomfortable at first. There were friends from work, church, wives of Dominic's friends and running partners. As it turns out, however, it's hard to turn down tea, and everyone got along really well.

To make things even more fun, at the suggestion of our dear friend Lisa I also made it into a craft party. For Christmas I got some great card-making books from Peg so I taught the group how to make pop up Valentines and let the girls go wild with all kinds of card stock and scrap booking paper:

Obviously I ignored the excuse 'not enough seating', but they promised they were comfortable on the floor...

This day meant a lot to me. A few weeks ago I was at a small group discussion where a woman made a point that Americans have lost our sense of community. That statement alone didn't seem newsworthy, but then I realized that we don't ever know when having people around who know and care how you're doing is important. It's never until something awful happens, like an earthquake or hurricane, that people drop work, stop planning and start caring for others. Why shouldn't creating community be the status quo when things aren't devastating?

Perhaps it was unemployment, maybe boredom, but the villagers in Surenavan were always dropping by for a meal, coffee and conversation. Was it that Armenians didn't have anything to do or is it that they made time for those around them? Was it that they have more time than Americans or that they enjoy hosting more? Whatever the reason may be, I sure wish I wouldn't have forgotten that sense of hospitality so quickly when I got back to the States.

While we were chatting today, we all realized that none of us have family in Seattle. If we can't be close to our parents or siblings-- and even when we can-- I'm sure glad we have friends. 

Valentines masterpieces