Canada Road Trip: Vancouver Island, at mums house

I arrived at mum’s house the evening of May 20th, where I stayed for 4 days until we left for our mini road trip to deliver some family heirlooms to family in Alberta.

We mostly booped around the house, the garden and local shops (having been here many times before I wasn’t dying to get to other parts of the island). We snacked and chatted and talked about our family tree. Mum has been an excellent researcher and keeper of the family info.

Mum taught me to play Kings Cribbage, a favorite of hers. It’s a mix of scrabble and cribbage. Cool game!

Mum’s house is a so sunny and warm. Watching the birds and reading the morning paper with coffee is delightful.

An incredible noble fir in her front yard. I made spruce tip syrup, I’ve always wanted to try it. It’s remarkably easy and tasty. A very mild flavor like lemons and something indescribable like a healthy forest.

Mum’s gardens are always a highlight. We ate these chives with several meals

While waiting for her car to be serviced we walked around Comox, visited the library, little museum and went out to eat.

An incredible shrimp wonton soup, with a view of the ocean.

One evening we lugged out the big box of family lineage, there were some photos I had never seen. It’s so fun seeing my face in their faces. My relatives are deeply canadian, but hail from the Manchester region of the UK and counties Meath and Louth in Ireland. I hadn’t seen the photos of the Armitt side much. My grandfather owned among other things a gas station. I guess it somehow meant to be that I would someday run a business in a gas station that was built in 1952.

My grandfather’s gas station in Burnaby, BC.

My grandparents Alma Beatrice Wray Armitt. Born 1908 Arden MB. Frank Armitt, born 1911 Salford UK.

My great grandfather, TJ “Jim” Wray, age 24 (Ontario)

Margaret and TJ Wray with their 4 daughters (Violet, Alma, Hazel, Grace), Alma, second from left is my grandmother. (photo taken around 1944)

Great grandparents again. TJ Wray, born August 7th, 1876 in Wellesley Ontario. Margaret Isabelle Cinnamon Wray born May 12th 1849 in Windsor Ontario.

Great great grandparents. TJ Wray’s parents. Matilda Kerr Wray (top right and bottom right) born May 12th 1849, Waterloo Ontario, John Wray born 1843 County Meath Ireland. Top left is Matilda’s sister.

John Wray died 1882 in a railroad accident just over the border in Warren, WI. Matilda married David Gill in 1885.

My grandfather Frank Artmitt. Born 1911, Salford UK (suburb of Manchester)

My great grandmother Priscilla Shaw (Armitt) Heyburne and her mother Priscilla Elliott, UK. Frank’s mother and grandmother. Franks mother Priscilla emigrated to Canada with Frank when he was 7.

My great grandfather Ernest Armitt, born 1868. In front of his Hair Dressing and Shaving Saloon. 32 Meadow St., Manchester UK

My great great grandmother Priscilla Elliott, UK. With baby Frank. I just love this photo, I think it’s the apron and the hairdo.