Mastodon is very techy. It’s getting good traction there.

Just be sure to wash and block before connecting the blocks.

I love making samples, so working up 8 x 8” / 20 x 20 cm samples of a lot of different stitches is fun for me.

There’s an old Bernat pattern that I have for an Afghan made of squares of very many different classic crochet stitches. It’s a great practice and skill building project.

If you choose a good palette of solid colour yarn, it works out nicely. If that kind of throw isn’t the kind of thing you like in your home, they’re always a gift or charity option.

Another excellent European product is Weleda from Germany.

We switched to that for lip balm because Burt’s Bees has soy in it and we had a family member with a sensitivity.

For hand and body cream, we’re just trying Nova Scotia Fisherman now. So far, after just a couple of weeks, it’s great.

For facial skin care, have been using Maritime Naturals for a couple of years. Excellent product.

Haven’t tried this one.

Can recommend BioVert. We’ve used their fragrance free laundry detergent for many years.

Nature Clean, another Canadian company, has oxy bleach and stain remover strips that we like too.

Ling is a tool for advanced learning in my experience.

Excellent at what it does though.

Camino is a Canadian brand brings in fair-trade and organic chocolate. Gluten-free also.

They have semi-sweet, bittersweet, unsweetened and vegan white chocolate chips.

https://camino.ca/product-category/baking-products/chocolate-chips/

Available widely.

Although you didn’t ask, there is a fantastic Canadian cake decorating brand that has sprinkles etc. Many are free of major allergens too.

https://sweetapolita.com/

Parksville is likely far more commercial and developed than you recall.

But the beaches remain.

Here are some suggestions with a kids lens:

Vancouver Island

• get mid Island then over to the west coast

• Parksville - large sandy beaches to dig in

• ferry to Denman Island and then to Hornsby Island - fossils! https://hornbynaturalhistory.com/category/fossils/

• Qualicum Beach - gravelly and lots of seniors, but a great place to see bald eagles picking up clams and oysters, dropping them to break them open and diving to eat.

• Cathedral grove on Hwy to Port Alberni, accessible old growth forest

• Alberni - old forestry interpretation site with a logging train in the Cherry Creek area

• Drive to Tofino - an adventure in itself

• Long Beach

• whale watching

If you go to Vancouver, many of the classic stops are worth it

• the Aquarium
• Whale watching
• Grouse mountain gondola and mountain top
• Capilano suspension bridge and the fish hatchery and environs
• Seabus
• UBC museum of anthropology