Three Months Done

for another fun month of sharing your photos and commenting on mine! I am not sure how this month, with more days than last, sped by even faster than last month---but it has (in my humble opinion) and now we are a quarter of the way through the challenge! Here's hoping next month brings those of us just leaving wintery weather lots of sunshine with warmth! Right. On to April. Only 275 more photos to go this year!

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#336 Trash or TreasureObviously worn or intentionally worn? That is the essence of Shabby Chic. You either love it or hate it. Trash or Treasure. Although not the current decor of our cozy home, I think treasure! This fabulous chair is currently for sale in a unique country furnishings shop in our neighbourhood that my MIL and I visited this past week.

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#302 SteepleSt. Ann's Academy, the former Convent and Boarding School in operation between 1858 to 1973, is now a Provincial Heritage Site. It is a welcomed public green space in the downtown core--walking distance from the Inner Harbour. Currently, it houses some Government offices, is available for private functions, is open for public tours, and is used for public events and festivals. Upcoming: The 5th Annual Easter Egg-Stravaganza will be held on the grounds April 12. Perhaps if I'm available, I shall find time to wander down and try to get a picture of the famed, but elusive Easter Bunny!

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#300 SpringA sure sign that Spring has arrived in our city: the appearance of the blossoms that I look forward to seeing (and smelling) each year! To see more fragrant blooms, please visit my other blog by clicking HERE

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#316 TeethThese pearly whites are found on the Mungo Martin house at Thunderbird Park. This traditional big house (a tourist landmark) is located right downtown and displays an impressive collection of totem poles of the First Nations people of Coastal British Columbia.

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#305 Street ScenesMore pics that were taken at Miniature World

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#72 Curvy

Over 20 mammoth fossil specimens, which were found on the south end of Vancouver Island near Victoria, are on display at the local museum where this famed Wooly Mammoth replica (with his curvy tusks) resides.

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#231 Perfect AlignmentLines in the groomed Zen Garden are perfectly aligned.

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#301 StairsThe real reason "STAIRS" could not be used in my previous "PINK" post! LOL My "From Ground Level" theme had already been used and I wanted to use this Butchart shot to fit a theme from the list without using a freebie!

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#234 PinkPink or Purple. I chose pink, but maybe it's more purple. Oh well! Either way, it is a gorgeous viewpoint within the Sunken Gardens at Butchart Gardens to take pics from.

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#118 Garden The Sunken Garden at Butchart Gardens. BG is a National Historic Site of Canada. This world-famous garden tops my list of recommended tourist attractions for our area. They are stunning to see year round but even more so when they are bursting with colour during the summer! Oh, and their Japanese Garden in the Fall is a MUST SEE...as is the Magic of Christmas over the holidays...As an annual pass holder I have taken countless pictures out there--some of which can be found on my primary blog HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE Absolutely gorgeous spot to go for a walk and to stop & smell the flowers!

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#339 Trio

This trio of stone art also captured at Butchart Gardens

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#338 TriangleTriangle-shaped garden art found at Butchart Gardens

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#204 Nursery RhymesThere was an old woman who lived in a shoe...
and there she is whipping them soundly before bed.

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#209 On the WaterNot our favourite touristy thing to do, but very popular nonetheless. Located on the water in the Inner Harbour. The Live Dive Show is definitely a hit with children of all ages! To visit their website: Pacific Undersea Gardens

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#337 Travels

Gulliver's Travels that is! I have yet to read the book (first published in 1726) by Jonathan Swift but it is a classic that is on my to-read-one-day list! It is another delightful diorama we found at Miniature World

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#288 Sleepy or SleepingAlthough not my favourite dwarf from the Snow White story, Sleepy fits the theme perfectly and was also found during our visit to the Royal London Wax Museum

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#257 RegalNothing quite so regal as royalty, and these wax figures of Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana and Prince William can be found at The Royal London Wax Museum (just a few of the many Royals displayed) It is located downtown on the Inner Harbour and is another spot one can visit during the 'Be a Tourist in Your Own Home Town' event. Queen Elizabeth II, the present monarch of the Commonwealth, is officially titled the "Queen of Canada" and has reigned since 1952. You'll see her on our $$ too!

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#91 Fairs or Amusement ParksEarlier this month Victoria hosted it's annual "Be a Tourist in Your Own Home Town" event where one can see the sights, tours and attractions of the particpating places either free, or discounted when a $10 ticket is purchased. It is a popular event that has been going on for years. These pics were taken at Miniature World (one of the more popular tourist spots and one of my favourites spots to take the kids, but us big kids enjoy it too!)

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#292 Snow or IceMalahat Viewpoint Summit looks over the Saanich Inlet and BC Gulf Islands and this is how it looked a week ago. from the VancouverIsland.com website:

Named after the Malahat First Nation, this rugged region of heavy forest and steep cliffs is traversed by one of the most beautiful roadways in the world.

First cut as a cattle trail in 1861, it was upgraded to wagon-road standards in 1884, and became a paved road in 1911 - the Malahat Drive climbs to a summit of 356 metres (1,156 ft).

In spite of the highway, the Malahat is of great ceremonial significance to the Malahat First Nation, whose ancestors used the caves for spiritual enchancement - this mountain is one of the most sacred sites on southern Vancouver Island.

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#96 Feathered or Feathers

This hawk met an early demise when he crashed into the windshield of my brother's truck late one night years ago...he now lives on thanks to a talented taxidermist!

TAGGED

For those of you that tagged me for the 6th folder photo--> I completed this for my primary blog earlier this month and you can see my pic/post HERE. I am back home after a week away and plan to visit your blogs and see your pics soon and post a few of my own too.

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#250 RainbowThis rainbow banner adds more colour to Fan Tan Alley. Fan Tan Alley is located in Chinatown, within walking distance of downtown Victoria, and is a very popular place to visit. Chinatown is full of little alleyways and courtyards and each time I visit the area, I stumble upon a new little nook or cranny that I didn't know existed before. It truly is a special spot to explore! Lots of neat little shops and spots to meander through. Mah Jong, Fan Tan and Dominoes were popular gambling games played during the 1800s and Fan Tan Alley is said to have been named because of the various card rooms located along this alleyway. In the picture below you can see the sign showing the entrance to Fan Tan Alley.

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#85 Entrance

Gate of Harmonious Interest-->this impressive 11.5 m (38-ft) ornamental gate is the entrance to Victoria's Chinatown, which was established in 1858 and is the oldest in Canada. It is the only Canadian Chinatown that has a complete history, dating from the first Chinese arrival in Canada to the present. It's overall theme is Unity in Duality: the Golden Dragon, a Yang element, and the Red Phoenix, a Yin element. Red symbolizes joy and festivity while gold symbolizes wealth and prosperity. These colours, together with the blue-green colour of the Qing Dynasty (symbolizing growth and peace) represent the harmony of the elements. In particular, the red and gold represent the union of heaven and earth. Bells are hung from the corner of the gate and when they chime in the wind, it is believed that they ward off evil spirits. On each side of the gate are two stone lions that guard and protect Chinatown (female on the right and male on the left which also signify the balance of Yin and Yang) and apparently there are time capsules located in their bases. Usually it is a busier place, but I wandered down early in the morning before most of the shops or restaurants were open in order to get some challenge pictures.

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#193 Musically InclinedThe Victoria Conservatory of Music is a Richardsonian Romanesque building where the musically inclined can be found! Designed by architect Thomas Hooper in 1890, this magnificent heritage building is also within walking distance--we definitely enjoy living in such a central location surrounded by such beautiful historic places.

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#35 Bridges or Tunnels

and the view from the bridge:

this gorgeous park is walking distance from our home and is very popular with tourists and locals alike!
To see/read more, click HERE

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#111 From Ground Level

these beautiful colours are emerging...these flowers are a sure sign to me that SPRING REALLY IS on it's way!

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#153 How About This Weather?Yes, it's still winter, but spring did start to show itself to us last week...then yesterday, it snowed all morning creating confusion for commuters, pedestrians and flowers alike! Found this colourful little survivor in what was left of the snow today while out walking in a local park. Very sunny and very cold here today.

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#126 Graffiti or Mural

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#115 FurryThis squirrel was oblivious to me, the crows, the sea gulls and the snow as he feasted on whatever he had found!

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#123 Go Fish!These colourful cut-outs were painted by students at a local school and mounted along the playground fence.

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#167 LaundrySorting socks is easy when they are all the same brand! (photo cropped, colour removed, matted and framed)

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#28 BlueTwo beautiful blue pottery pieces waiting to go into the oven are filled with our scrumptious dinner. This photo (taken earlier this week) is of our Spicy Bell Pepper Stew. I will try to get caught up again this weekend viewing all your photos and posting more of mine! **Also, for those that need to, don't forget to Spring Ahead tomorrow night---> it is Daylight Savings time once again!**