Li's Blog

Thoughts, going towards mid-December....

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 11:13:53 -0600

December 6, 2009.

Today is the Second Sunday in the Advent season...the four Sundays before Christmas Day, in the Christian calendar. Regardless of one's spiritual belief system, I've always found it a very meditative experience, to light an Advent candle, each Sunday, and to ponder on the meaning of same.

The four candles of Advent are: Love, Joy, Hope, Peace. Last Sunday, it was the candle of Love. Today, it's the candle of Joy.

Joy is an interesting description...yes, perhaps it can be "extreme happiness", the word "intensity" of emotion could be another way to think of it. A joyful experience, a feeling of joy, elation that lifts one from the mundane...a sense of expectancy might also be a part of the meaning of joy.

Part of it may also involve that sense of gratitude for one's personal blessings in life. We all have stresses and worries, and we also all have small and large moments that make us very glad to be who we are.

I'm reading an interesting book right now, called The Field. It's about physics, and the new discoveries, one of which is the sense that the entire universe is connected by a background energy field, from the cellular to the universe level. I do not have a physics background, and often re-read paragraphs, to make sure I'm understanding the points. Very interesting ideas...remarkably reminiscent of the Sanskrit readings in the Veda. Hmmm....

Meantime, am lighting my candle of Joy, and concentrating on bringing this response into my world. Perhaps, if the discoveries by physicists, as described in The Field, are proven, then I may also be bringing this response of Joy into a larger frame.

Salt Spring Island holiday "events"...enjoy!

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 11:15:31 -0600

December 5, 2009.

Check out the winning entries for best decorated storefront, at recent "light up" celebration: West of the Moon children's store, the Fire Hall, Mouat's Clothing, Love My Kitchen. Lots of talented "runner up" entries, too -- Harlan's Chocolates, Island Savings, Thrift Shop, Pharmasave, Choices, Salt Spring Soapworks! Stroll the Village on these crisp and clear evenings, and enjoy the lights!

Tonight, seasonal songs from north and south, with Frost and Fire, at ArtSpring, presented by Salt Spring singers. Luanne Katz, on marimba, Josh Layne on harp, directed by Mitch Howard, with accompanist Jennifer Howard.

Winter Fest, at Salt Spring Centre, on Blackburn Road, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Dec 12th -- craft-making, musical entertainment (Raffi and more), mindful gift market, scrumptious foods, raffle draw at 3 p.m. This is the 10th annual event, in support of Salt Spring Centre School.

Tree House Cafe is now "enclosed", for year round enjoyment -- check it out!

Sunday, Dec. 13th, 2:30 p.m., at ArtSpring, it's classic jazz at its best, with Sharon Minemoto Trio.

Calvin's Traditional Christmas menu starts on Dec 8th!

Dec 12th, enjoy Salt Spring Concert Band, under Dawn Hage, Music Director, and featuring Danielle Topaz (2009 Solo Competition winner) and be entertained with their Celestial Music, at ArtSpring, 8 p.m.

Catch The Big Small Show at Salt Spring Artists' Gallery on McPhillips Ave. This latest addition to the "gallery scene" is worth a visit!

Deb Toole, the director of Viva Voce, a 78 member group, will be presenting the premiere concert of its work on Dec 11th, at All Saints by the Sea (7 p.m.). The show is replayed at 3 p.m. On the 13th. Tickets available at Salt Spring Books.

Dec 8, 9, 10, at ArtSpring, it's Steel Magnolias, starring 6 extremely talented local actresses. Showtime: 8 p.m.

So many great things to do at this stellar time of year! Enjoy the special Salt Spring scene...

Weather shifts can affect us, too...

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:19:54 -0600

The Arctic Front is now creeping down the Coast, and there's a high pressure ridge that is bringing us clear, crisp days...the mountains are jumping into the sky, the full moon is shimmering a path across the ocean in the evening, and all the stars are vividly "there".

A total opposite turn from the grey wind and rainstorms of all of November (a series of "pineapple express" storms battered the entire Paific Northwest coastal area throughout November), and very welcome, indeed!

Now cold, though, for us.

We are so lucky in this part of the world....beauty everywhere!

This dramatic shift in weather pattern makes me think, though, of how we are affected by our outside worlds. The people damaged by flooding, in the lowland valley areas, close to rivers, during the "monsoon climate" of November, and the endless grey, day after day...it does affect one's attitude, no doubt about it.

We are afflicted by the turning of the seasons, the strange unusual weather shifts globally...look at Northern England, with that once in a thousand year storm/flooding, in the famed Lake District.

At this time of year, then, it's good to remember those who have suffered unexpected loss, of whatever description, and to try to gift those groups who work to aid the world when weather stikes chaos into the normal routines....

Best buy country home on Salt Spring Island....

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:07:19 -0600

Here's a great investment property on special Salt Spring Island!

Listed at $399,000 (Can Dollars), this 3 bed country home, with spacious kitchen, living room with access to expansive covered deck, plus family room is a sweetie cottage style home. The plus? Separate studio -- artist? Home occupation?

Sunny (s/sw/w exposures), private small acreage, a forest and meadow mix (arable land, here), and close to Village services!

Nearby lake and ocean accesses, park hiking/walking trails, golf, all amenities close by, yet in its own serene world.

Listed substanitally below tax assessed value; motivated out of country seller.

Don't miss this opportunity!

www.liread.com

Salt Spring Island & Vancouver Island Christmas "happenings"...

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:45:29 -0600

December 3, 2009.

Lots going on this weekend, on Salt Spring Island: WinterCraft, at Mahon Hall, the Fulford Hall and Beaver Point Hall craft fairs, specialty showings in Village galleries (J. Mitchell Gallery, Steffich Fine Art, Starfish Gallery, Frankly Scarlett, Upstairs Bears -- all in Grace Point Square -- plus Martinus' (gems, gold and silver work) collaboration with Ulrike Benner (fabric artist), at Martinus' Seaview Ave studio, plus McPhillips Fine Art Gallery, and the show (Interiors) currently at ArtSpring's gallery, plus Pegasus Canadian Fine Art gallery on the "boardwalk"...so many opportunities to be both impressed by and supportive of our exceptional artists community!

Time to drive the Island, and enjoy the personal artist studios? Even better! Pick up the studio map at the Chamber's tourist info centre (and be sure to thank the volunteers within, for being such good ambassadors for our Island!) and enjoy your meander through these spaces -- remember what the dormouse said ("feed your head")!

If you're near Sidney/Saanich, this coming weekend is also the annual craft fair showcase of uniquely Salt Spring gift ideas (called A Taste of Salt Spring, it's held annually at Panorama Centre).

Feel like a daytrip off Island? Enjoy the Festival of Trees at the Fairmont Empress, and experience the wonderland of lights at Butchart's Garden!

Heading up Island? Essential to see Ladysmith's incredible "light display"...you will be instantly transformed to a Christmas and Holiday wonderland feel!

Remember, too, to generously give whatever you can to the food bank, to the Salvation Army, to the shelters for the homeless, to Copper Kettle...to the "need" in your area.

The economic downturn afflicts everyone, economizing is the watchword for all, and yet it's so important to remember those truly "needy" souls...try to read Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol tale, in its original form.

In my family, we began the tradition some years ago to give donations to our chosen places, in the name of the relative(s) on our gift list. No individual gifts, then.

Remember, too, that if you pass one of those Christmas trees, with gift tags (girl, 11; boy, 8; infant, 6 mos), to take one, and come back with the gift...the unexpected can work miracles....

It is a season of sharing, of creating light, of enjoying good fellowship and cheer, and of practicing the attitude of gratitude.

December "market thoughts".....

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:48:18 -0600

December, 2009.

The closing month of the year brings with it a casting backwards, over 2009, to see what occurred in real estate sales, on Salt Spring Island and on the Southern Gulf Islands. Such "looking back" is an attempt to see if there's a "trend" building that will help to forecast the immediate future.

The catastrophes in financial sectors, combined with the collapse of the housing bubble, delivered a blow of fear, plus significant losses for many people, in September/October, 2008.

This was a global event, and it may be that the internet's shrinking of the world has erased the old axiom that real estate is regional.

No one was immune to the outcomes, in Fall 2008, no matter where in the world they lived.

Although Vancouver and Victoria (primary residence markets) saw some continuing business in real estate sales earlier in 2008, pre-"crash", the secondary home/discretionary markets had cooled off in buyer activity by mid-2006. The recent past:

Discretionary areas on the Coast, including on the Gulf Islands, had attracted a non-local buyer profile, starting in 1999/2000. The internet erased time and geography, and opened up this relatively undiscovered area to an international buyer. This was true for Uclulet/Tofino, Whistler, and other secondary home areas, so not just about the Gulf Islands.

At the same time, a low Canadian dollar (varying between 68 and 73 cents, against the U.S. Dollar, at one point, and hugely undervalued against the then much stronger pound and euro), delivered a buyer who was purchasing second and third homes, in all price ranges, around the world.

The Islands Trust, the provincial government body that is the form of "government" on all Gulf Islands, had capped growth on every Gulf Island back in 1974.

The Trust document controls growth to a predetermined amount, on each Gulf Island, through severe zoning restrictions/non-growth bylaws. The Trust's mandate is: to "preserve and protect" the environmental beauties of the Gulf Islands, for the benefit of all B.C. residents.

The Trust bylaws ensured, then, that there would always be a limited inventory on any Gulf Island, regardless of market trend in play. The Trust created an enclave area, thus.

So, there it was...a "perfect storm" of confluence: low dollar, internet shrinking of the world, a form of government that limited inventory, thus escalating price points over time, a buyer discovering the Pacific Northwest Coast, and especially the beautiful Gulf Islands, in the heart of the best protected boating waters in the world...it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what happened next!

Buyers set markets, not sellers or realtors. Buyers appeared in droves/prices went up.

Between 2000 and 2002, sales volume on Salt Spring rose 60 percent. Between 2003 and 2005, prices doubled, no matter the property type. These were conditions noted by appraisers.

Then, for the Islands, we experienced a "pause" in the dramatic sales rhythm that had occurred between 2000 and 2005.

The Wall Street Journal noted that all of 2006 was termed "stable/inactive", and they also noted it was a global housing market description. What this description meant was that prices and inventory remained stable, and the buyer was "inactive".

In 2007 and in 2008, some sellers here delivered significant price reductions; the reductions did not deliver a corresponding increase in showings nor in offers. When the buyer doesn't want to "act", nothing happens. Buyers, remember, set markets -- not sellers or realtors.

Secondary markets are affected by events in the home areas of the non-local buyer profile, and the "hesitation" on the part of that buyer, from 2006 to 2008, was finally explained by the financial meltdowns of Fall, 2008.

The "present":

Much to everyone's surprise, post-economic meltdown/housing crisis, the low end residential category erupted into activity, around mid-February, 2009. It did this throughout North America, both U.S./Canada.

The actual price point might vary, area to area, as entry level prices reflect location, but the increase in purchases came with the first time buyers and the investor looking for good rental property.

Prices reduced between 12 and 30 percent, depending on property type and location, between late 2008 and late 2009. It went from a seller's market to a buyer's market. Inventory in entry level options remained very "thin", however, with most owners not wanting to be sellers, unless they "had to". As sales occurred and inventory cleared out, some areas experienced multiple offers (mainly city markets) or else the buyer had to come up in price to meet the seller's desire. The close of 2009, then, in that entry level property category, has seen a solidifying of prices. The saavy buyers who acted between Sept 2008 and April 2009 did the "best" in buying at their offered price point.

There did not seem to be a "trickle up" effect in sales, this time. The higher end residential, the luxury segment, plus undeveloped land, plus commercial options all remained sluggish.

Every now and again a specific "niche" parcel would sell, but this was not sustained, and on the whole, on the Gulf Islands, as in all other coastal areas, the business was done in residential/entry level properties.

The future:

The media, which reported horrendous gloom in Fall, 2008, suddenly switched to euphoric reporting by Summer, 2009.

The reporting made it sound like all real estate had suddenly bounced back. Not so. It was only busy in that "beginner" segment/or investor-rental category.

This still appears to be the case. It remains slow in the upper end properties, and few raw land sales take place. Commercial sales are also very slow.

Meantime, gold and commodities are the flavour of the month in the equity markets. Interest rates remain low. Government bailouts continue. A fear that currencies are under attack, and that hyperinflation is on its way, may encourage further real estate purchasing -- hard asset investment simply as a means to preserve capital.

With significant price reductions continuing to somersault through the upper end properties, and continuing worry about preserving capital if cash is the next bubble, and with continuing low interest rates, we may see buyers deciding to get off the sidelines, out of cash positions, and into purchases in the upper end residential and in the raw land segments. This may now be seen as "where the bargains are".

Certainly, all properties are more affordable, and buyers may deliver a significant further price reduction at the point of the offer. If the seller is seriously for sale, they will have to accept.

It does appear that an international buyer may be back, looking to pick up estate style holdings, at prices that might be half what they were valued at, two years ago. This is a feature of all areas in North America, so there it is again -- real estate trends are increasingly global and regionality seems to have been erased by the indefatigable search engines.

As the "real" 21st Century continues to evolve under our feet, with its on/off, act/react instantaneous world, we are getting more nimble at living with uncertainty.

So important to keep practicing peripheral vision, though, and to fight against tunnel vision. Just stepping back a few paces allows that more panoramic view, and thus the creative solution can spring forward.

In times of shift/change, there is enormous opportunity. As humans, we have a creative sense that is both entrepreneurial and positive. Fear inhibits. A cautious optimism can reinvent.

As we float into 2010, with all its challenges (early days of societal shift are always challenging!), let's meet it with an open-handedness and a willingness to explore new ways of dealing with change.

I always like that Buddhist challenge: "start where you are".

Looking for excellence in knowledge of Gulf Islands properties, both of inventory and of market trends? I look forward to connecting you with your special Salt Spring Island or Southern Gulf Islands property.

How may I help you to buy your Salt Spring Island dream property? With access to all listings, I will make certain that you "see it all", so that you will be in a position to make that all important "informed decision". The Islands Trust has created a "protected investment" area, by having capped growth on the Gulf Islands. Call me, and find out what that means for you.

Looking forward to your call!

liread33@gmail.com

Thoughts about avatars...reality...on a rainy November day....

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:51:22 -0600

Hmmm...just watched a show on robots. The illusion of reality seems to be on "body language", which is a strange concept, asap!

Even though the "face" of this robot is a mask a la Darth Vadar, it has a personality.

What does that mean?

If an object mimics the human condition, and one has empathy for the object, as one might have for the "live" version, what does that mean? What is it, then, to be human? What are the responses of the observer?

I love the constant unexpectedness of the 21st Century, which is just being created now, now that we are relinquishing the desire to stuff the 20th Century models into the new terrain of the 21st.

So, if we can create avatars that mimic the human experience, and the avatar world enjoys an emotional response, what does that mean?

What is it to be human?

Well, we may think we have the answer to this conundrum, but do we, in this blurred universe that the digital world has delivered to us?

Hmmm...am pondering the singular question of these opening days of the 21st Century...what is it to be "human"?

How wonderful, in our culture/our time, that I can even ask the question.

Lucky me, to be here, to be here "now".

The holiday season is upon us...enjoy the lights!

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:09:02 -0600

November 29, 2009.

Today is the first Sunday in Advent...don't forget to light the first of the four candles of the Advent Season: the candle of Love.

So important to bring light into this darker time of year, as we drift towards the shortest day of the year, and the beginning of "real Winter"...officially, it starts on December 20th.

Did you miss Santa's arrival, yesterday, via floatplane (Salt Spring Air)??? You get a second opportunity to greet Santa and his elves, when they visit by boat, closer to Christmas. The boat comes from Bellingham, with stops in the San Juans and on the Southern Gulf Islands, finishing up on Salt Spring Island. This is an annual treat, and not to be missed! Interesting, too, that Santa crosses boundaries!

Wintercraft at Mahon Hall, Fulford and Beaver Point Halls with their annual craft fairs, ArtSpring gallery offerings...next weekend, begins this annual artists showcase. Lots of gift ideas!

Special seasonal dinner menu at Calvin's Bistro!

The Village is full of light and cheer...enjoy the season!

Oceanview acreage for sale, on Salt Spring Island! Sunsets!

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:00:35 -0600

Here's an opportunity to enjoy an oceanview acreage, close to town, zoned for main home,

separate guest cottage, and separate studio!

If desired, sellers will pass along their proposed house plans.

Sunny, quiet, sunset view of ocean. Pond on property.

Landscaping would create great privacy on this 3+ acre parcel.

It's a "best buy" on special Salt Spring Island, awaiting your pleasure.

Great holding property. Motivated seller.

Bring your architect, and let's walk this gem soon!

www.liread.com/1640.htm

Oceanfront cottage, with dock, on Salt Spring Island...

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:03:09 -0600

Here's a terrific opportunity for a waterfront buyer on special Salt Spring Island! This great dock awaits your boat...

Currently, a panabode cottage is on site, tucked into one side of the property, two bed/one bath, plus an adjacent double garage (also panabode construction). This winterized cottage/home is tenanted, so 24 hr. notice to view same.

The huge plus of this property is that it is very private, enjoys s/sw/w exposures, has a dramatic panoramic ocean, islands, mountain viewscape, and the best building site for a new home is waiting your development ideas.

Enjoy the cottage dwelling for now, keep your boat at your own dock, and build your dream home later.

A best buy opportunity, in a premier area of Salt Spring Island.

www.liread.com/1432.htm

The Nylons play Salt Spring, Tuesday...Santa arrives on Saturday...

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:20:47 -0600

November 23, 2009.

Here's a treat...the Nylons perform at ArtSpring tomorrow evening, November 24th (call the ticket office for details!), with their terrific Christmas concert! Yes, it's gloomy/stormy on the outside, but it's definitely full of flair and fun on the interior. Be there!

Don't forget to enjoy Mona Fertig's show at Mahon Hall...this is also the venue for the book launch of the second in her series on B.C. artists. Mona, of the famed Mothertongue Press, will be on hand. We are so lucky, here on Salt Spring, to have such talent in our midst.

Light Up is the 27th, and Santa arrives on the 28th (first trip for him...via floatplane, Salt Spring Air. An annual event, and lots of fun for children of all ages. Have to admit, I enjoy a Santa sighting, year after year.

Still feeling a little "grinch"-like? I defy you to be a curmudgeon about this season of glow and lightness, after a trip to Ladysmith. It's so close...a short ferry ride from Vesuvius to Crofton, and a meander down the "old road" through Chemainus, and then you're at Ladysmith. Go in the "main entrance" off the Island Highway, and be totally amazed at the lighting of this town. It wins the best decorated town award, for B.C., year after year, and you'll see why. It needs a couple of passes, slowly, in the car, to really appreciate all the effects.

If you find yourself in Victoria, then it's the Festival of Trees at the Fairmont Empress...if you have time, enjoy Christmas tea here, too. The trees are to benefit the B.C. Children's Hospital...you get to vote for your favourite, with a $2 donation. Lovely to wander the Edwardian splendour of the Empress, and to soak up the trees of light.

Remember, too, that it's so important this year, perhaps more important than ever, to give as generously as possible so that those less fortunate can share our pleasure. If you've never read Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, but only seen the film versions, then perhaps check this out. In a time of need, financially, Dickens quickly wrote this classic, and it has yet to be surpassed as a message of the importance of caring for others.

Put up those lights, have candles at dinner, put out the dark....

Santa comes twice to Salt Spring Island...

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 11:01:31 -0600

November 21, 2009.

Mark your calendars! Santa has a busy schedule, on Salt Spring Island, on November 29th. He arrives, via floatplane (Salt Spring Air), at 1 p.m. Children are welcome to greet him at the floatplane dock! At 1:10 p.m., Santa travels aboard a Salt Spring Fire Dept Truck, and heads to Mahon Hall. From 1:15 to 3 p.m., free photos of the kids with Santa, at Mahon Hall. (Will also be Arts & Crafts activities, Cookie Decorating, big screen Holiday Videos (courtesy of Island Star Video), hot cocoa & goodies). Enjoy! (A non-perishable item or a donation to the food bank would be welcomed).

The IODE is celebrating 95 years of service on Salt Spring Island. So many groups have received help from the fundraising and generosity of the IODE membership, over the years. Don't know much about this group? Check it out! New members welcomed.

Mother Tongue Press launches the latest in their "artist series". This is the book launch of the second Unheralded Artists of B.C., with the opening of the show taking place on November 21st, today, at Mahon Hall. The show remains open until Nov. 28th, daily. Don't miss this, and be sure to speak with Mona Fertig about the impetus behind this series. You'll be glad you did!

At Fulford Hall, on Nov. 28th, enjoy an all-star old-time band, and one of the best callers in North America, for a night of dancing. Never been to an old time dance? You have a treat awaiting you! Admission is $10 at the door, music begins around 7:30 p.m., and Fiddleworks will be providing the concession for the evening. Have fun!

Moby's live music: tonight it's Jazz/Folk/Blues, with James Conway (8 to 11 p.m.), and Sunday it's Jazz (Wanda Nowicki and Friends) 7 to 10 p.m. Enjoy!

Don't forget Scrooge meets the Duke, tonight at ArtSpring, at 8 p.m., with a 2 p.m. show tomorrow, Sunday.

Yes, the Christmas Light Up Decorating Contest takes place again, with judging on Nov. 27th. Such talent on display in the shops and banks...a pleasure to wander the Village.

Salt Spring's newest gallery opens in Grace Point Square, on Nov. 27th, with open house on Saturday, November 28th (11 to 4). Artists in attendance - refreshments served. Called Starfish Gallery & Studio, the space joins J. Mitchell Gallery, Steffich FineArt Gallery, and Frankly Scarlett -- all gems in Grace Point Square. Enjoy dinner, too, at Bocados Bistro and Auntie Pesto's.

Chef's Creations and Live Music, every weekend, at the Harbour House Hotel Tonight, it's Vaughn Fulford and the Folke Fiendes!

Fulford Community Hall's Christmas Artisan Fair is Friday, Dec. 4th (5 to 9 p.m.), and Saturday the 5th, 9 to 5 p.m., and Sunday the 6th, from 9 to 4 p.m. Shop for gifts from Salt Spring's talented artisans, and enjoy fabulous food and decadent desserts, between browsings. Don't miss this, and don't forget to bring a donation for the foodbank. Appreciated!

Did you know that Calvin's Bistro has a 3 Course Special Dinner menu, for only $18.999, called November Blues? Enjoy! Offer expires on Dec. 5th, as Calvin's famous Traditional Christmas Menu starts on December 8th. Book for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve special dinners at Calvin's.

Today is also the Anglican Parish Christmas Bazaar, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at All Saints by the Sea, in Ganges Village.

Remember to tune into the local community radio station, too (check out the lineup of programming on their website (www.cfsi-fm.com) at 107.9 on your fm dial.

Yes, it's November, but there's lots to see and to do...enjoy!

Wintercraft opens on Dec. 4th, on Salt Spring Island...

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:57:49 -0600

November 20, 2009.

Mark your calendars, and take part in the opening of Wintercraft, at Mahon Hall, on December 4th.

Lots happening, with craft sales / artists offerings...gifts for your special ones.

The following was emailed to me, from the organizer of Wintercraft (the alternate to ArtCraft, in the summer season):

"Wintercraft, along with two other traditional Salt Spring Island craft faires at Fulford and Beaver Point Halls, will open concurrently during the weekend of December 4, 5, 6. This festive, weekend-long, island-wide, market of merriment offers an impressive selection of the the finest handmade arts and crafts from the Southern Gulf Islands.

Handmade gifts range from; pocket and kitchen knives produced in Salt Spring Island's bronze foundry, high fashion wearables in silk and local fine wool, earthy & elegant tableware, afforable & astounding jewelry pieces, luxurious body products and everything in between.

The weekend events taking place range from; the seasonal, sell-out lamb feast at Beaver Point Hall on Friday, December 4th to crepes, lunch and decadent desserts produced full-tilt, from two community kitchens all weekend in Fulford. Wintercraft provides live music, weekend workshops and the widest selection of heartwarming gifts from stocking stuffers to dazzling presents Dec 4 - 20th. Travellers to the island please note that only Wintercraft runs through to December 20th.

Fulford Hall: Dec 4 - 6th
Beaver Point Hall: Dec 4 - 6th
Wintercraft at Mahon Hall, Dec 4 - 20th"

Enjoy all these venues! It's our "holiday season" and it's full of elan and verve, island style!

An idea for gift-giving...

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:12:25 -0600

Gift giving...it's a pleasure to choose something "special" for those on our list. Family, friends, significant others...holiday celebrations carry such meaning, and the annual quality of same allows for a mix of memory and actuality.

As we get beyond the small children/grandchildren timeframe, though, with its expectation level of surprises under the tree, perhaps we could think about a different kind of gifting?

What about helping with the organizers of turkey dinners for the disadvantaged, those alone on small incomes, those who do not easily "fit" into society's norms? What about helping at food banks? How about hampers and gift packages for those who will not have a celebration this year? What about making up blanket/sandwich packages for street people? What about dropping into hospitals, perhaps reading to long term care patients, most of whom will be on their own?

To give funds and / or time, in the name of someone on our list, who can't help personally, is a gesture that will be very pleasing to most recipients. We all want to help out...it's a natural human reaction.

As we go into this holiday season, with its celebratory nature, let's also remember those who are alone, lonely, seemingly abandoned. Simple things can so "lift" their spirits, and isn't that what this main celebration is all about? Sharing?

"Pineapple Express" rain...and more rain...and still more rain....

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:10:50 -0600

Wow! We're in the middle of a "pineapple express" storm, here.

It's almost noon, and everyone has their lights on, driving...so glad I put up my fibre optic tree and a string of Xmas lights, at the office...helps cheer up the glooming grey.

A pineapple express is our term for the storm, straight from Hawaii, across the Pacific and into the Pacific Northwest Coast region. High winds can also accompany this, it's very mild, but it's the rain....comes in sideways, very "thick", and flooding can be a problem.

Can't see the top of the hills surrounding the Village...lost in fog/low cloud. The forecast says this is going to be with us for the next five days.

I have bright yellow rain clogs, plus an old fashioned yellow slicker that has a hood, and comes down to my ankles. Umbrellas don't cut it!

I know it's November, and supposed to be rainy and grey skies, but I'm glad there is a holiday celebration looming, so I can put lots of lights "everywhere"....sparkle is what's needed!

Feathers, not paws...a pet, just the same!

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:00:03 -0600

New friends....no, not the two footed kind (although those are always welcome!).

For several years, now, I've been the caregiver for a handicapped relative. They have finally had to leave assisted living, where they were able to be in their own space, and go into a care facility. Big changes, and difficult to digest consistently, though good that 24 hour care is available.

My discovery? The relative had a bird, a yellow and gold parakeet.

I'm an animal lover, though it's always been cats and dogs, never birds, and have rescued a lot of animals.

The bird and I looked at each other.

I asked around, to see if any bird lovers out there might like to adopt another. No takers.

So...you guessed it!

The bird is now sitting in my office, in a new cage, and I have a book on my desk titled Home Bird Care Guide. At night, I cover its cage, so if it hops around it won't set off the motion detector alarm at the office!

Have to admit, it's a cheerful sound and I might be imagining it, but it seems to pay attention to what I'm doing, and seems to be chirping welcome, as I walk into the office every morning.

Hmmm...do parakeets mimic sound? Have to investigate...

Meantime, am thinking of a name...Penny? Polly? Patty?

Will let you know.

Mid-November events, on Salt Spring Island....

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:24:45 -0600

November 15, 2009.

On Salt Spring today? Check out Fulford Hall for the great gift ideas...artists are there, with their giftcreations. Candles, Skincare products, Kitchenware, Luxurious body lotions, Kids' toys, Chic baby boutique...and more! 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. -- Shop Locally is the tag line (and support islanders and their home-based businesses). See you there!

Don't forget it's Jazz night at Moby's (7 to 10 p.m.).

Today, at 2 p.m., is also the last show of the Having Hope at Home play offering (at Mahon Hall). Enjoy this Community Theatre production.

Bach on the Rock is also today, at 2 p.m., at All Saints by the Sea...tickets from ArtSpring (250-537-2102).

Mark your calendars: Scrooge Meets the Duke is at ArtSpring Theatre, on November 21 (at 8 p.m.) and November 22 (at 2 p.m.). The Newman Family Players and Swing Shift present the Billy Strayhorn/Duke Ellington "Nutcracker Suite" and selections from "Christmas with Scrooge". A fun event!

November 17 to 29th, catch the interpretation of five dynamic Salt Spring artists, of "interiors". At ArtSpring's Bateman Gallery, the five artists are: Louise Goodman, Megan Manning, Gillian McConnell, Hamza bin al-Wathan, and Stephanie Denz. Opening reception, with artists in attendance, on the 20th, from 5 to 8 p.m. Such talent on our Island!

The annual Christmas Light Up Decorating Contest is on Friday, November 27th. Categories are Best All Round, Best Use of Lights, Most Creative, Best Use of Materials. Salt Spring Businesses step forward every year, and it's always fun to see the creativity that goes into the windows we walk by, every day.

So many great businesses in the Village...have you been into Laura Roveda's Windflower Moon lately? Lots of super gift ideas, here, for your nearest and dearest, and also treasures for your own enjoyment. Windflower Moon's logo is: Gifts for the Spirit. Check out the Zen alarm clock, the crystals, the gift books, the specialty jewellery, the clothing, the cards...etc.

A softer time of year, a time to slow a little, and to notice the treasures we rush past in the busy summer months...our friends and neighbours are on display, in the Village...enjoy!

This Monday will be my last Monday Morning show on the community radio station (www.cfsi-fm.com) -- streaming audio off the website is the way most people listen, as the 107.9 fm only works if you're in the range of the single tower on Island. I've really had fun doing the two hour show, every Monday, and so appreciated the people who agreed to get up early and come in to be interviewed (most chose the 8 to 9 a.m. time slot!). I had help with the production side (I'm not a techie, and the station makes the presenters also do the "mechanics" of the broadcast) was Mark Voyce, co-owner of Bocados Bistro,in Grace Point Square. Mark has film experience, and is taking on a position with the production of a new film, so will be off island during this time. That means I will be losing my valued "side-kick", and techie guy. Seemed a good moment to bring the Morning Show to a close, and let someone else step to the plate of keeping the Island and the talented Islanders "front and centre".

New owner at Cafe Talia, takes over this next week...if you've been on the Island for some time, you will remember Louis Renaud, and Luigi's. Louis is returning to the food biz, and plans to retain the charm of Cafe Talia. Welcome him, next time you're by for cappucino.

Enjoy the Island's "winter pleasures".....

Getting ready for the holiday season...lights are important!

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:32:38 -0600

Holiday decorations and lighting are starting to show up in my area.

No shopping malls where I live, so it's up to the individual retail merchants to do the decorating.

At this darker time of year (on the shortest day of the year, which isn't that far off, it's dark here by 4:30 in the afternoon), it's a pleasure to see the lights showing up.

We would have to invent a celebration for this season, if it wasn't already in place...to spill light into the darkness is a message of hope to all who pass by.

Our local weekly newspaper usually has a "theme", and the best decorated window at a store, or a bank, or an office, gets the prize. One year, the local credit union, who had a lot of separate offices facing the sidewalk, decorated each one like a Victorian shop window...the butcher, the baker, the dressmaker...they deserved to win! Such creativity bounces out at the passersby, and, again, brings pleasure to all.

It can be lonely at this time of year, for those who are by themselves, with only memories of "fuller" celebrations. To enjoy the lights, to walk the Village and admire the windows...it's a simple thing, but can be very meaningful.

In these more uncertain times, with stress and duress visiiting many people afflicted by the economic downturn, it's essential to remember to practice the simple things, and to light up that darkness that lurks in December.

To remember, too, that the foodbank and the hamper program from the grocery stores, and the gift tree from the bank (pick a suggestion, from the tree, and buy a gift for that person...boy of 8, girl of 11...that kind of thing), all need our extra help at this time of year.

Charles Dickens understood the point of the season...instead of watching a film or cartoon of same, why not read the original, and pick up a book or find it at the library. A Christmas Carol was written by Dickens at a very troubling time in his life, when he desperately needed money...out of his adversity came a classic with an uplifting message.

Remember to light the lights!

Transition times...a little of this/a little of that...

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:58:14 -0600

In a transition time, there is "everything" occurring.

Difficult to sort out the trend, then, when there's a whirling cloud that spits rain, sometimes, and other times parts to let in some rays of sunshine.

I read in media reports on real estate, in my larger region, that it's the best it's been in several years, that sales are flying and multiple offers are the "norm". Then, it turns out that all the activity is in the first time buyer category, or investor buyers, looking for good rentals. There's a price ceiling, then.

I also learn, by digging a little deeper, that secondary home/discretionary markets haven't experienced the city/primary residence dynamics. One can put a second home on hold, in a worrying market moment.

As usual, the media isn't quite "right" in its reporting. This could be a result of the reporters not being realtors, and so they don't think to differentiate the layers of the business. Busy? Great! Let's go to press!

The difficulty with this broad sweep is that it makes sellers in the higher end wonder why they aren't finding themselves rushed off their feet with viewings! It also makes it difficult for the realtor to explain the changed circumstances since August 2008, and why price reductions need to be in their minds, as they assess the marketing of their unique luxury category properties.

In rural markets, the same dilemma...the realtor has to explain why the city busyness isn't transferring to the retirement/recreational markets, with the same briskness.

Transition times see everything, remember, and eventually it evens out to a broader and more consistent rhythm.

Good that there is an uptick, no matter where it's seen. Many buyers remain nervous about acting, and so that more euphoric media reporting might be the thing that propels action, from all those "should I wait? should I act now?" fence-sitters.

I see them there, rocking back and forth on that pointy picket fence of indecision!

If anyone mentions the inflation word, will they topple?

9 + oceanview acres await your pleasure, on Salt Spring Island!

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:41:32 -0600

Here's an exceptional holding property, for your investment protection.

Close to Ganges and to Fulford Villages, and to lake and ocean beach accesses, and to park hiking/walking trails, this 9+ acre gem enjoys a wonderful serenity, and excellent all day/year round sun exposure.

Sunsets from here, too!

Ocean, islands and mountain viewscapes at your doorstep.

Private!

Drilled well developed, driveway roughed in...this is definitely a "best buy" opportunity on beautiful Salt Spring Island!

Bring your architect, and let's walk this one soon. Zoned for main home, separate guest cottage, and separate studio.

In an area of fine homes...enjoy!

www.liread.com/1491.htm

Thoughts, as year draws to a close....

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:12:32 -0600

There's something about the shortening days, with light disappearing by 4:30 p.m., in just a couple of weeks time, as we march to the shortest day of the year, that makes one ponder the recent past.

So many changes were thrust on everyone, it seems, in a span of about 15 months.

Bank failures, job losses, disappearance of venues that one would have expected to go on "forever", bailouts that make currencies appear valueless, wars that erupt throughout the world, collapse of housing markets with subsequent losses of homes...stability is a word that appears to have evaporated on the winds of shift and change.

So important to remember that we are larger than our surround sound. The roller coaster of life brings ups and downs. We are tested at every turn, especially in our digital on/off, act/react world. Barely time to assess, to ponder...immediate response is often required of us.

It sounds like a platitude, but it is the benchmark of all the great philosophies of the world...our attitude shapes our responses and therefore creates our reality.

As we go into our holiday season, with friends and family at our sides, if not in reality then in thought, let's also ponder how we may go forward into the coming New Year, with a sense of purpose and an expectation for "good".

It's not a "pollyanna" response. It is sending out into the universe a positive energy. That old adage that "what goes around, comes around" is a truth. We get back what we send out.

Change brings opportunity, if we are open to "see" it, and to welcome it. It's coming anyway...as Heraclitus noted, back in Ancient Greece, "change is the only constant".

Good to welcome it with positive response.

Visit Li Read at her Salt Spring Island office...Li has the info for the Southern Gulf Islands!

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:50:59 -0600

If you find yourself in "downtown Ganges", on special Salt Spring Island, please drop by my "seaside village" office and say hello! Full real estate information package awaits you...real estate supplement, maps, detail sheets of all listings, from all companies, and weekly updates on what's for sale / what has sold.

My office is located at the corner of Lower Ganges Road (the main street) and Rainbow Road, and there is parking behind, off Rainbow. I have a great view of the Harbour, and the Boardwalk, and Ganges Marina.

With access to all listings, from all companies, I look forward to showing you all properties in your preferred category. It's important to me that buyers who work with me "see it all", so that they can make that all important "informed decision". I work for the best interests of my clients.

In this secondary home / discretionary marketplace area, which describes all Gulf Islands, including the largest and best serviced one in the Southern grouping (Salt Spring Island), it does take time to decide "for" both an Island and then a property on that chosen Island. I do take time, with my client base, as it's a serious and an important purchase. There's always time to '"get it right".

Potential impact of the Islands Trust bylaws on a property, water quantity and quality, if on a well, sun exposure, sense of quietness, proximity to amenities, zonings (agricultural land reserve?), etc. -- all questions that require answers. Also important to know market trends, past trends and projections for the future...again, questions deserving of thoughtful answers. A real estate purchase is an investment.

Now associated with Sea to Sky Premier Properties (head office is based in Whistler, and there are auxiliary offices in West Vancouver, in Squamish, in White Rock, in Victoria, and I am a branch office on Salt Spring Island), I am the Managing Broker of the Salt Spring office.

Sea to Sky Premier Properties is affiliated with Christies Great Estates, which opens up a global/international market to the Gulf Islands, through my office's presence here.

Sea to Sky Premier Properties is also a member of the Luxury Real Estate group, another international venue. As an individual, I was invited to be a Regent of the Luxury Real Estate group, and so act in an advisory capacity.

Real estate as an industry has seen significant changes over the past few years; an outcome of the "internet revolution", of course!

Up to the mid-1970s, companies were in charge of information, and realtors were considered employees. After the mid-70s, it became an agent centric model of business, and this was put in place by Dave Liniger of Re/Max. Many other such "agent centred" companies sprang up. With the advent of the internet, however, the old referral system offered by such business models changed.

Suddenly it's a consumer centric model of business. It has been reported that 89% of all real estate transactions start with an internet search. The consumer goes direct, now, seeking information about an area, about listings in that region, about realtors to work with. Lately, in Canada, the mls system, which is there for the benefit of agents with listings, is under pressure to allow any seller to put up their property offering on that system, for a flat fee. This kind of shift from agent to consumer control is profound, and will leave everything "changed".

A recognition of such important shifts, and a desire to be of service to my client base, is what created my wish to affiliate with the Sea to Sky Premier Properties group, as I continue my real estate career. It's important to be in a position to allow innovation, and partnerships with offices, not necessarily a part of a franchise model, is, I think, the future of this industry.

The internet, which erased time and geography, did create the "global village" forecast by Marshall McLuhan, back in the 60s and 70s. We haven't really yet seen the outcome of the internet revolution, but it's definitely already clear that the consumer of any service is in charge. That includes the service of real estate.

This control by the consumer of a real estate offering means that the role of the realtor has changed, too. No longer the expediter of knowledge, the realtor has become more of an interpreter. An editing function, for all that raw data!

How may I help you to discover and to purchase your special Salt Spring Island and Southern Gulf Islands property?

I look forward to your call! "Your Interpreter Connection for Salt Spring Island and the Southern Gulf Islands...Li Read."

Mayne Island oceanfront point, 64+ acres...totally unique!

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:44:35 -0600

Here's an exceptional offering...perfect as an extended family retreat, or as a corporate retreat!

Subdivision may be possible, on this oceanfront point of land. Current owners do not wish to subdivide, however, and are offering a splendid 64+ acres, as they have enjoyed it since the early 1950s.

Cedar, fir, hemlock old growth forest on this parcel, plus arbutus and garry oak groves.

Predominantly lowbank oceanfront, 1000s of feet of same, with wide sandy bays, smaller coves, and exceptional land. Walk your own trails!

Very softly developed...current owners have camped here, and preserved the essential natural allure of the land.

Excellent sun exposure (east/south/west), with superb ocean, islands, and mountain viewscapes. Very private and quiet...like your own private island, and yet it is on Mayne Island, a ferry accessed opportunity, and so enjoys easy access/all amenities nearby.

Meadow area, heirloom orchard, historic cabin on approximately 7 acres that has been "opened up" (in the 30s??).

In the heart of the best protected boating waters in the world! Bring your architect, and walk this one soon...it is unique and irreplaceable!

www.liread.com/1479.htm

November 11th...Remembrance Day, in Canada...

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:56:03 -0600

November 8, 2009.

This coming Wednesday is the November 11th recognition of those who have served their country, in the military, who went to war when it was required, and in many cases, did not return.

Those who survived gather to remember, and civilians do the same.

No soldier seeks war.

I've often felt that we are "prisoners of our time".

The First World War, referred to at the time as The Great War, was meant to be the war that would end all wars. It did sever a way of life, completely, and the ensuing despair did bring forth a hedonistic party animal lifestyle in the 20s, often described as a time of largesse.

The 30s, for those who study history, was marred by another time of societal severing...the Great Depression created dissolution of families, businesses, lifestyles.

The Second World War, in the forties, required enormous sacrifices, once again. For those of military age, or living in a country that was suddenly occupied by another country, it wasn't necessarily a "choice" to act in a particular way.

That is what I mean by being a "prisoner of one's time". Things afoot, on a large scale, can certainly get a response from us, but we didn't necessarily create the conditions or put something in place. We are, though, always, in charge of our attitude to events that occur in our finite time span.

No matter what we may think of military activities, no matter what we may feel about evocative words such as "war" and "peace", we can all remember and respect courage.

People in their time, and we don't always fully understand previous time periods from the platform of "today", reacted with patience, with courage, with selflessness, with caring...it is always important to remember valour, an old-fashioned word, yes, but a very real thing.

Locally, the Cenotaph service in Ganges Village, at Centennial Park, is a way to observe sacrifice and valour, and the individual actions that helped to create our way of life, today. If you are able to attend, be there, and show your support.

Another moment in our community's annual life.

Things happpening on Salt Spring Island, early November...

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:06:08 -0600

November 7, 2009.

Tonight, at Fulford Hall, a fun evening of hot Cuban rhythm and dance with the Jose Sanchez Cuban Party, part of the fund-raiser for Terralingua, awaits your pleasure! Traditional Mexican food plus a silent auction of 50 items supplied by local businesses. Call 250-538-0939 for more information!

Sunday, November 15th, shop locally and support islanders and their home-based businesses -- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Fulford Hall. The perfect gifts, for family and friends, await your browsing pleasure.

All Saints by the Sea is showcasing the talented Chris Jarrett, in a concert that begins at 7:30 p.m., tonight. Tickets are available at Salt Spring Books. Classical to Jazz is showcased by this unique pianist.

November 13th is the date when Seonagh Odhiambo will be on island, offering a movement development workshop for dancers and non-dancers. For more information about this event and the overall project in bringing artful attention and healing intent to St. Mary Lake waters, check out www.islandinstitute.com (the project will evolve over the coming year, with a grand presentation in June, 2010).

Terrific that Richard Murakami was honoured, recently, as Citizen of the Year, on Salt Spring Island -- very well deserved award!

Don't forget to listen into my Monday Morning radio show, on the new community station. If you're in tower range, you can catch it at 107.9 fm, or, if not, it's streaming audio off the website (www.cfsi-fm.com). It's live, I interview lots of Islanders, and Mark Voyce, of Bocados Bistro, in Grace Point Square, is my co-host/producer. Any glitches get to stay, as it's not taped! 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. every Monday. Thank you!