LITTLE VALLEY: AVA THOMAS

Our young residents reflect on the home they’re growing up in.

 

 

 

My name is Ava, and I am ten years old. I was born in Vancouver and moved to Cumberland with my mom and dad when I was seven. I remember the first time I ever visited Cumberland, before I lived here, and the old-timey feeling I got from all the heritage buildings. It was also the first time I ever tried Love’s Ice Cream, and it was so delicious I almost fainted. My all-time favourite flavour is Lovely Lemon Square. Living in the Comox Valley brings me so much joy. I love to go on hikes, climb trees, and swim. In summer, my family and I like to goto the lake. Most days, when it’s warm, my dad and I go for a swim straight after school. I especially like to swim underwater; I take a big breath and dive in. I look for fish and try to swim as fast as I can. There are so many interesting places to explore in our area with different landscapes. You can go to the ocean, lake, river, forest, and mountains—all without having to go too far. I go to Cumberland Community School. It has two amazing forest areas that my friends and I like to run around and build shelters in.

I have a big, fluffy, grey, white, and black Maine Coon cat named Billy. Our family adopted him from the SPCA last year on Halloween when he was only eight weeks old. He is the best cat in the world.

I enjoy playing in my yard because it has lots of space and a big cherry tree to climb. There are so many juicy cherries in early summer, and we spend hours each evening picking them all. We try to grow as many delicious types of food in our garden as we can. I love to watch my mom plant herbs, radishes, kale, lettuce, berries, and flowers.

I have a giant trampoline that I like to bounce on because it feels like you’re flying. Some of my friends and I tried to camp out on the trampoline last summer, but we had to go inside because mosquitos were biting us so much!

One thing that I am really into right now is learning about wilderness survival and archery. I’m trying to learn to identify medicinal plants in nature, as it will come in handy when I live in the woods when I’m older. I recently saved up for a new bow and quiver. The bow is taller than I am! I look forward to practicing and improving my skills at the archery range at the Fish and Game Club this year.

Over the Christmas holidays, we walk through the village and deliver homemade gifts to friends. I like to build snow forts and then come inside and drink tea and read books. I love reading because it allows you to enter another world. I love snowy walks in the forest, the glowing lights, being warm and cozy, and spending time with family and friends. Winter, to me, is the most joyful season.