Outer Island RR offers vacation rentals and Bed and Breakfast accommodation on Hornby Island, BC Canada. Wednesday, August 24, 2005. Time has gone by since my last entry and have we been BUSY!!! We have sure packed a lot into the past year... After coming down from the high of our incredible wedding last September, Jed and I found out that we would be expecting our first baby in July!! That was incredible news and put the wheels in motion for many projects around here. Pressure was on to push ahead on our new home and time was quickly passing. Jed turned his focus on the house and pulled a terrific crew together to help out. The winter months flew by in a frenzy of activity and progress. The new house framing was finished, sided, windows and gorgeous doors were put in. Then the huge task of painting all of the buildings took place. For a solid month the painters worked solidly on the new house, the Farmhouse, the Quince Cottage, the chicken brooder, the horse barn, the pool shed and pump house. After that, we even had them repaint the tennis court!! The whole place looks fresh and new and beautiful. We are not quite in the new house but it sure is getting closer! We realized that with our busy schedule and baby arriving that Jed and I should be sure that we got our honeymoon in before it was too late. So, in February we left the building crew behind and headed to Costa Rica for 2 weeks. We had such a great time. We were fortunate enough to have family friends that live there so we were pampered and toured around to some amazing places. The people of Costa Rica are wonderful, the countryside breathtaking and the jungle's incredibly fascinating. The most exciting event of the year was the arrival of our first child, Kalena (Pron. Kalayna)Rachelle on June 17th at 8:30 am. She arrived safely at St. Josephe's Hospital in Comox, 3 weeks early at 6.5 lbs. She is a real joy and growing far too quickly. We are loving our jobs as parents and starting to sort out how to keep up with all of our other responsibilities as well. Thanks to the great support from my parents, we are managing very well. Its been a busy summer with the baby, lots of company, full bookings for the accomodations, many tree jobs for Jed and of course on-going house building. After the season winds down, I think we will be in need for some RR ourselves Monday, September 27, 2004. Our big day finally came for us - September 18, 2004 will definitely remain in our minds as the most special day of our lives. A fantasy wedding really, and it was all very surreal for us and we are still taking it all in. Its hard to say what the most special moment was - there were so many amazing things going on all at once. Being able to spend time with our closest friends and family was certainly a highlight. The big surprise of the day was the appearance of my German parents (from a high school exchange trip) who convinced me that they could not make it over for the wedding. Then, as I walked down the path to the oak tree, there they were. It was then very difficult to concentrate on the task at hand - the ceremony! Being the outdoors people that we are, Jed and I wanted to be married under a beautiful oak tree in our pasture. That was the most important thing to us and the weather leading up to the day was horrible. Cold, rainy, windy. We had a couple of sleepless nights worrying about it, but towards the end of the week we had resigned ourselves to the fact that the wedding would be wet and cold. Getting married in the reception tent was not our idea of the perfect wedding, but really, it's supposed to be about the ceremony, not the setting right? The morning of the wedding, we awoke to more rain, but by 10:00 am or so, it started to clear a bit. By 2:00, it was sunny and the ceremony was at 3:00!! In fact, it was a gorgeous day! My father and I arrived by horse and buggy (talk about a fantasy come true) to drive across our field to meet the wedding party. We had three flower girls - my niece Brielle, Jed's niece Caitlyn and Dove, our mini donkey. The three of them stole the show, which to my relief, took the pressure and focus off me!! I was so nervous about entering, but the setting was so amazing and the girls (including the bridesmaids) looked so beautiful walking ahead of me towards the tree that I forgot to be nervous. It became a very emotional time. Seeing Jed for the first time in his tux just about did me in! My 5 year old nephew stood at Jed's side in his tux and I've never seen anything like it (didn't know they made tux's that small). All of the groomsmen looked incredible! We made it through the ceremony with lots of laughs (Dove decided to eat the isle flowers while we did the signing) and then Jed and I made our exit by horse and buggy. Then it was back for photos and joining the guests at the reception tent in our orchard for pre-dinner cocktails and greetings. The evening then turned into a great celebration with incredible food (thank you, thank you, thank you Ben!!), very touching speeches, an embarrassing moment of the bride falling off her chair at the head table, and dancing, dancing, dancing. It's hard to believe it's all over. It was one of those days that you just never wanted to end. It takes months of preparation and then its all over. Friends came early and stayed afterwards so we did manage to make it all last as long as possible. Its been a couple of weeks of clean up and we are starting to settle into the day to day again. Getting caught up on things is first, and then diving into finishing our house is the next main priority. The construction has been held up for a long time for so many reasons but it looks like now is our time. We will give it our best shot and do as much as we can to get us a nice home to settle in to. Afterall, It is time to nest now isn't it??? Sunday, June 27, 2004. Well, too much time has past since my last entry. This winter went by in a blur with so many activities and life-lessons on the go. We are making great strides towards our addition - it looks really great and we can't wait to see the final result. Jed is determined to do the building as well as his arborist work - which is very busy. He's been a bit under the weather so juggling all his work has been tough. We have absolutely amazing friends who have come together and helped us with some really big building days -concrete pours, framing days, roofing days. We couldn't have done it without them. Big thanks goes out to Stephen, Larry, Kees, Tim my dad Jim. HUGE thanks to all the wives who loaned out their significant others on our behalf. We are truly grateful!! This building process has sure been an eye-opener for me. I've learned that you really can't let your excitement get ahead of you - it is definitely a process and everything takes a whole lot longer than you think it might. It's looking great though. The gardens are looking great around here!! We had a much earlier start to things this year and it has really paid off. We are swimming in raspberries, have gorged on lettuce, spinach radishes and are now starting on peas, artichokes, strawberries, squash flower (yummy battered and fried). Blueberries will be ready any day and we have new potatoes ready. What a great time of year. So the big on the farm is the arrival of our latest member - Dove. Dove is a miniature donkey who stands 30 inches to her back and about the cutest thing you've ever seen. She has an amazing personality and incredibly sweet and gentle. How did we end up with such a creature? Well, believe it or not, Jed has a thing for miniature donkeys and has always wanted one. So, as a wedding present, I got him one. She had to come a bit early so I couldn't wait until our wedding day but he was thrilled!! I'm sure it's a romantic gift somehow! She is a real hit with everyone!! We discovered the other day that her whole nose fits inside my horses nostril! And her hoofs are about the size of a toonie - just slightl...

Our beautiful Farm House is a ranch-style cedar home decorated with antique artifacts and furniture. It is a home laden with French doors that provide access and views to the orchard, pasture and pool deck. The Farm House offers: 4 bedrooms with high quality linens and down comforters (or non-allergenic alternatives). 2 bathrooms with showers. Full kitchen with all cookware and dishes including microwave and dishwasher. Living room with loft. Cable TV, stereo, VCR, games and books. Seasonal swimming Pool (pool is also available for use by other guests and owners between 10:00 am - 7:00 pm). Yard games - Bocce, Croquet, Horseshoes. Seasonal fruits, vegetables, herbs, eggs and chickens are available for you to purchase fresh from the farm. Summer time guests can treat themselves to a delicious Outer Island breakfast - Our breakfasts are quite special so be sure to bring your appetite! 'What do I do? Hike, bike, swim, play tennis? Collect treasures and spy on the starfish while you picnic on the beach? Swing in the hammock, sit on the porch with a good book? Breathe the country airlisten to the silencesmile. I've come back every year since I found this heaven. I take my family (who adore Outer Island) but I really go for me.' Margot Jones, West Vancouver, BC

Our cozy Quince Cottagethe perfect work retreat or a quiet place to ponder. The cottage provides you with: 2 bedrooms with high quality linens and down comforters (or non-allergenic alternative). Indoor bathroom with shower. Full kitchen with all dishes and cooking utensils. CD player, TV/VCR (no cable), games. Swimming pool (between 10:00 am and 7:00 pm). Cottage guests can treat themselves to a delicious Outer Island Breakfast - Our breakfasts are quite special so be sure to bring your appetite. A week was not enough! Outer Island is a quiet and beautiful spot and Karen is a warm and welcoming host. To say nothing of her breakfasts, which are to die for. What do you mean I have to go back to the city to work? Dale Drewery, Arts Entertainment reporter, CBC News.

 Central situation
 Credit cards accepted
 Facsimile services
 Ironing facilities
 Kitchen
 Smoke-free guest rooms
 Private park, garden, courtyard
 Quiet surroundings
 Clock/radio
 Fridge
 Private/Ensuite bathroom
 Swimming pool
 Tea and coffee making facilities
 Phone at reception
 TV sets in rooms
 Tennis court
 Patio, summer terrace
 Cheques accepted
 Common room with a TV set