Tony came rushing into the rental home "Jeannine, I have someone you have to meet."  He swung the homeowner's telescope from it's angle to the dusky sky to flat across the saltwater inlet.  He peered through.  "Come here," he beckoned - I peered through.  "You would like her," he said. 

Driving apres-hike the next day, I asked Tony to stop at a small Sooke community art fair.  I browsed thru a tent of photos from Asia & India, New Zealand, this island, then *surprise* Tony introduced me to the artist - my must-meet!  We purchased a couple items, she gave us a couple items, she chatted with our girls.  She gave us her business card:  her own photo of a hobbit house, backed by her self-portrait hugging a huge tree - Boy, does my husband know me well!

About sunset, I packed my camera and paddled with Tony across the inlet to surprise Mary.  She welcomed us with *that smile of hers* and immediately offered us seats on her blanket & found us cups of wine & we sat in the golden hour light to chat.  She brought out her  sketch made the sunset before: there were Tony & our little Zoe & Joy pictured in their red kayak.  She had put herself in the picture, facing away, sitting on driftwood, with the wide & hazy island sky in front of her.  My family had intruded into her scene at the perfect moment to be sketched in :)  I asked to take her photo for both my website and hers, and she gave us her sketch to keep the memory :) 

Mary Coakley of Vancouver Island, my new friend, will be a pleasure to keep up with!  Some of her beautiful work is here:  http://maryecoakley.photoshelter.com  Her adventure blog is here: https://marymattsadventures.wordpress.com    
Peace!