Victoria Mother Daughter Trip

Sarah surprised me totally with a trip to BC over Canada Day. That’s for Mother’s Day, birthday and Christmas all rolled into one. Besides Canada Day and the tea, she also lined up a photographer to follow us around Butchart for these photos I’ll treasure forever.

: We broke into “Oh Canada” at least six times over the weekend.

: Mr. Canada in his all his hockey and maple leaf glory. All he needs is a Moosehead beer, eh?

: We were part of the Living Flag, in front of the Parliament building, along with several thousand Canadians. Singing “Oh Canada” again!

: Sarah is smart enough to do the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle completely. In pen!

: The Fairmont Empress lights up regally at dusk.

: Tea at the Empress definitely requires an extended pinkie finger.

: Delicate finger sandwiches, almost too pretty to eat.

: We ordered some Veuve Clicquot with our tea, in honor of the French Canadians.

: How terribly clever of the Queen to power her royal wave with a solar purse.

: Butchart Gardens, the pride of Victoria BC for over 100 years.

: The sunken garden, built on top of an old limestone quarry.

: My girl.

: Art Deco gazing ball, very popular in the 1930’s.

: Don’t you love a no maintenance garden? They must trim those perfect boxwood hedges every day.

: My favorite photo.

: Standing at the tori, a Japanese gate usually found at the entrance to a Shinto shrine, where it marks the transition from the mundane to the sacred.