Normally, we try to escape the winter for a bit. Somewhere warm, somewhere exotic, somewhere that forces you to slow down and take in the sights and adventures. But this year, with everything going on in the world and a real desire to focus on the house and yard, we decided to do things differently. Instead of one big trip, we’re spreading it out. A few smaller breaks across the year. This past week and a half was the first of those, using a mix of banked time, vacation days, and a couple of weekends stitched together. I’ve got some more time planned for August, and maybe something around Christmas too.

And honestly, it turned out to be one of the most rewarding “holidays” I’ve had in a long time.

My in-laws came to visit, and while it wasn’t long enough (it never is), it was time well spent in all the ways that matter most to us. We’re not really the sit-around-the-table-for-hours type. We talk while we work, catch up as we go, and wind down in the evenings playing games with Xander, a few rounds of You Don’t Know Jack and plenty of laughs along the way.

They jumped in and helped in a huge way (as they always do (seriously…thanks so much you guys!!)) with everything we had going on outside. It made a massive difference. I also got to spend a lot of time doing something I genuinely love, cooking and grilling for everyone. And my mother-in-law absolutely spoiled us with home baked cookies and muffins. The kind of simple, thoughtful things that just make a house feel even more like home.

Most of our time was spent outside, tackling the garden. This wasn’t a small refresh. This was a full demolition and rebuild of what the previous owners had left behind. We reshaped it, redesigned it, and made it something that finally feels like ours. On top of the main garden overhaul, we also created our berry oasis. And that came with a bit of a battle. Removing what felt like an endless sea of daffodils and Spanish bluebells to reclaim the space. So while I tackled the main garden build, they focused on removing the immense jumble of plant life from the second garden space. In its place, we’ve now got raspberries, saskatoons, blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries and now affectionately refer to it as our Berry Oasis. It is still early days, but you can already picture what it will become.

We kept the momentum going with pruning the apple, plum, and peach trees, and even planted a new cherry tree. There is something about that kind of work that just feels good. You’re not just fixing what is there, you’re setting things up for the future.

The greenhouse got a major change too. It was usable before, but half of it was taken up by a large dirt bed that didn’t really fit how I like to grow or start things. I prefer plug trays and small pots, so we cleared all of that out and built a second bench to give us more usable space. It is a bit rough right now, mostly recycled wood and very much a “good enough for now” build, but it works. Down the road I’ll make it look nicer, but at this point, function was the goal and we got there.

We also made a pretty big change out front by removing the front fence (had to get the truck to pull it out, it was so overgrown with weeds and grass and the base!). It completely opened up the space and changed the feel of the yard. It is amazing how taking something away can make everything feel bigger.

After my in-laws headed home on Friday, we spent a couple more days finishing up. Tidying, small fixes, those last little touches that always seem to take longer than expected. There will always be more to do (irrigation system, mulch for pathways, front porch entrance, grill alcove, firepit seating and much more still to come) but for now, things are good to go. And then we wrapped the whole thing up in a way I didn’t originally plan, but ended up loving.

Our first 10K marathon! (walking)

We took part in the TC 10K in Victoria on Sunday, and it was massive. Over twelve thousand participants, plus organizers, volunteers, and crowds lining the route. Just people everywhere. I’ve walked long distances before, even up to 15 to 20 kilometers back in New Zealand, but this was different. There was a time limit, no real breaks, just keep moving. I set a goal to finish under two hours and crossed the line at 1:53:17. I was pretty happy with that.

Looking back, this holiday wasn’t relaxing in the traditional sense. If anything, it was busier than my normal day to day life. But it was still relaxing in the way that matters to me. Being outside. Building something. Improving our space. Working with my hands. That is the kind of reset I needed. 12 hour days, basically outside the entire time. Magnificent.

And somehow, even with all of that, there’s still more I haven’t even touched on yet. We made time to get out and explore, visiting the The Hand of Man Museum and the The Raptor Sanctuary (Birds of prey), and heading up island to Port Alberni and Cathedral Grove. It wasn’t all work. We still carved out moments to just enjoy each other’s company and show my in-laws around this incredible island we’re lucky enough to call home.

That part of the holiday deserves its own space though, so I’ll save those stories for another post coming soon. 😁

And so, even with all of all that work, it still felt like exactly the break it was supposed to be and exactly the break I needed.

Remember, you only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough. Step outside, build something with your own hands, take in the small wins along the way, and I’ll catch you next time.

Much love, Rob ❤️

Before and After pictures