Friday was the day of errands. Like a nesting bird I collected things I needed to make this cabin my home. I combined the effort with a tipsy figure eight sightseeing tour of the island -- the figure eight, not me.

I started out a the bottom and headed up the right side stopping first at the SSI cheese company where David runs one of the most commercially successful food ventures on the island. He has been making goat and sheep cheese for a number of years and it is sold all over BC. He has the quality and the packaging down --citrus adornment on this, truffle infusement in that. The sheep were all about the place with their little lambs in tow. It is amazing that they really do look like the little stuffed animals but I guess less so given the toys are usually MADE FROM WOOL. I bought a chunk of chedder like sheep's milk cheese and a goat feta. On the road out I stopped to see David's chickens and I filmed this for my friend dk.

dk is an encaustic painter and specializes in chickens. you can see her work at www.dkhaas.com.

Next stop, Rendezvous patisserie, but I couldn't find it. How ironic. Rendezvous is a french bakery owned by Bruno and Brigitte whom I met at the farmers market in the fall. They sell yummy little sweets, tartes and crepes. I have some pistachios for them and I am hoping Brigitte and I can hit the kitchen and put them to use. I guess that means I will actually have to call them. Hmmmm.

Next ,off to Vesuvias on the upper west side where I was hoping to find an open sign hanging aside The Seaside Restaurant. I parked and was hit square in the nose with the smell of victory. Crunchy battered fried fresh cod with slaw, salad and chips. I let restraint rule and had just one piece but extracted a personal commitment from my superego to come here again next week.

On the way to my next stop, the Northend Farm, I found a road leading down to the water. I wanted you to see this.

At Northend Farm, 6 very large barking dogs charged the Subaru. Reason told me a merchant would not set free killer-dogs to greet the customers, so I opened the door. Sally had a freezer with 10 of the largest chickens I had ever seen. Stewers for sure. She also had lamb for sale at a great price so I stocked up. Like everyone else I have met, she wondered what I was doing on SSI. People seem genuinely interested in my process, though I imagine some of them roll their eyes as I walk away. But given that so many are here from somewhere else, I think mostly they wonder if my story matches theirs.

As I made my way from the top right of the figure eight I stopped midway home in Ganges to visit the natch and stock up on veggies, spices and other hippie dippie things, many of which came from Califormia. Made me wonder if i knew any of the farmers. Next time in, I am going to chat with the owner, a CA transplant herself, and find out who her suppliers are. At this time of year the only local veggies in the stores come from below the earth. I know they are growing greens here, but I am not sure where to find them. So for now, I am begrudgingly eating California grown. How ironic.

PS. It is important to support the local young artists on the island. I picked up this painting from Liam, age 6, for "0 cents please." It's entitled "Nana's house in the woods."