Silent Sunday

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Kid-Friendly Places to Eat in Victoria BC

Now, eating out with children in tow is not every parent's favourite past-time. (I generally try to avoid it- along with Emergency visits in the middle of the night and yeast infections). But, occasionally, we all need to feel human again. So, if you're contemplating a bite to eat beyond the safety of your own kitchen, here are three very different (but equally reliable) kid-friendly places to eat in Victoria B.C.

1) Crumsby's

I hope you've already discovered Crumsby's (tucked away in Estevan village), because it's definitely worth a visit. Not strictly, a "play-cafe", it is very much geared to preschool kids: from the toys and the mini-cups and saucers, to the step stool and change-table in the bathroom.
For kids, what small person wouldn't enjoy spilling tea (or apple juice or milk) from their very own teapot? And child-sized cupcakes too.
For parents, it's perfect on a rainy day, when you simply must get out of the house-their direct-trade coffee is amazing and you might even get a few uninterrupted moments to enjoy it, while your kids explore the (mostly Melissa and Doug) play equipment.
Oh, in case your interested, they serve more than just cupcakes too: check out the menu here.

2) Fisherman's Wharf

Food aside, Fisherman's Wharf is a great family destination on a sunny afternoon: a fabulous playground (with equally fabulous view), houseboats, float planes, clear, deep water teeming with marine-life, plus a handful of resident seals.
And then there's the fish and chips...
Whether you choose Barb's or the Fish Store (our favourite), you'll get your money's worth: an adult 2-piece portion easily caters to one parent and one small child (although, at four, Jem really needs his own serving if we're not to feel hard-done-by).

 

 

 

3) The Veranda at the Empress

 

Not an everyday choice but, if you're feeling fancy, the Veranda is hard to beat (and not as pricey as you might fear). Being outdoors, it easily absorbs noise, mess and manic bursts of activity. And, with both the grounds and the hotel to explore, there's plenty of scope for table-breaks. In addition, staff provide colouring sheets and crayons, and there's a reasonably-priced kids' menu with all the usual suspects (although Jem preferred our mixed appy plate-olives, prosciutto and cheese-to his burger and fries). The summer 2012 menu will be available online soon.

Morning

Today's post is inspired by Tara's Gallery. (If you want to join in, you can find out all you need on her wonderful blog, Sticky Fingers).

Mornings used to be so stressful: 

  

Wake up; doze; wake up; doze; crawl from bed at the last possible moment; shower, grab a piece of toast and run for the train. All the time fretting about what needed to get done that day.

Now they go something like this:  

As soon as my eyes open, a small boy opens his mouth. "Morning Mummy. Let's get up and dress as cowboys and hog-tie the Ninjas and fly to Neptune and come back to bed and have stories and ..."

You get the picture.

Of course, some days, I dream of the old, off-to-work routine. 

(I used to shower? Every morning?)

(I used to sit all alone on a train for twenty minutes? Really, all alone? Twice a day?)

(I read the paper, filed my nails, stared out of the window and thought my own, uninterrupted thoughts?)

But mostly (sleep-deprivation aside),  I prefer Jem's approach: why worry what the day may bring when there a million marvelous things you can do before breakfast?

Motherhood

Before I had a baby, I thought cloth diapers were a great idea. 

(You know, those teeny-weeny white ones that could barely catch a sneeze).

 Before I had a baby, I thought I needed seven hours sleep. 

(This is the first/last time Jem slept in his own bed).

Before I had a baby, I thought my husband was a wonderful man. 

(Now, I know he's a saint).

So, what has motherhood taught me? 

To (really) appreciate my own mother. 

To (really) admire my husband. 

To (completely, utterly, unconditionally) adore the funny, little creature who's lassoed my heart so tight that at times I can barely breathe.

And I've finally learned to grow up. (Almost).

Happy Mothers' Day :)

Stay-at-Home Economics

I want (amongst many things):

- an iPad

- a pair of mini Uggs (preferably tan)

- a clear, vinyl shower curtain (with blue and green patterned fish, available from Home Hardware for $29.99)

But I'm a stay-at-home mum and, on one salary, we can't afford any of these things. (Okay,  maybe on a good week we could stretch to the shower curtain).

So, I make do with an ancient laptop (circa 2001), a pair of flip-flops, a murky grey curtain for the bath and my four-year old son, Jem. 

Today, he played in his hand-me-down paddling pool in the backyard, while I pruned and weeded and dipped in and out of his adventures: the Beer Barbosas battling the Navies, all swimming for their lives as the Lagoon Monster barfed lava from his bot. 

And my heart swelled with riches I'd never imagined I needed. 

Now, I know I'm lucky to be able to stay home- we're church mice but at least we eat- and I know not every mum would thrive in my place. But me, I wouldn't have missed a moment. 

Not even for an iPad.

Procrastination

Today's the day I start writing my new novel.

So far, I've slept in (as much a co-sleeping four-year old allows); I've dropped said four-year old at preschool and walked the long route home; I've written the grocery list and checked the reviews of last night's American Idol.

And I've watched an hour's worth of rain soaking into the garden. 

Now there's twenty minutes left 'til pick-up time. Just enough for a quick post. And a pretty photograph that has nothing to do with anything:

(But we did have a lovely year on a houseboat on the Thames. I really should write about that sometime...)

So, tonight. Tonight's the night I start writing my new novel. 

Honest.

Free Things to do with Kids in Victoria BC

At last, a bit of sun, a bit of heat...

To celebrate, we thought we'd share three of our favourite, free things to do in our beautiful city this Spring/Summer.

1) Trafalgar Park 

 

Leave your car, or bikes, at the look-out on King George Terrace, absorb the view  (Mount Baker, Trial Island and the Olympics) then follow the path (or navigate the rock-face) to the small cove below for some of the best beach-combing in Victoria (anemones, limpets, crabs, starfish, chitons, and even a resident otter family).

View map

 
 

2) Playfair Park

 

Perfect for a May day picnic: easy parking (off Upper-Quadra), easy walking through Bluebells and Rhododendrons (great for hide-n-seek plus an inviting tangle of low, clasp-able branches for small, wannabe tree-climbers), and a playground to boot. What more do you need? Well, I suppose you could always splash out on supplies at Wildfire Bakery en route...

View map

 

3) Government House

 

 

An old favourite:feed the ducks and search for turtles; make a wish in the rose-garden fountain; sample the flavours in the herb garden (when no one is looking, of course); climb through the rock garden and launch leaves over the miniature waterfall; then run wild through the Gary Oak meadow.

View map