The Start of Winter 2017

Winter is here and the days grows cold.  Indeed!  Winter arrived Dec 21st as you know, and we have been having bits of snow off an on ever since.  So far, and thankfully,  no more than 3 inches at a time.   Here is a shot of our driveway.

One of our local lakes - Josephine,  is frozen over now as you can see.  This is the lake that the kids usually have their hockey games on.

And of course my blog post would not be complete without a photo of Ajax, this time in the snow at Josephine Lake with Mt. Gardener in the background.

Christmas 2017

What do I want to write about Christmas?   Well, once upon a time I looked forward to Christmas with childlike wonder and excitement. I loved the anticipation of decorating the tree, singing Christmas carols, writing and sending out Christmas cards, spending time with friends and family, giving gifts I had carefully chosen or handmade. Where did this delight and magic go?

Perhaps I should just cut myself some slack. This year and the past have not been particularly easy.  I have been very drained for a number of reasons, so drawing on Christmas spirit and goodwill this year felt like a huge effort, like I was spent ( and I don't mean the money!)  Ha ha.   Not trying to be a downer, just being honest!

But I do long for those Christmases gone by and wish I could bring the enthusiasm and pleasure back to life in me.  Perhaps I will in time for next year.   But time changes everything.  Christmas has always been about bringing family together.  Sometimes this doesn’t always happen, but there needs to be a way.   Chris is not one to budge, so that is also a factor.  His astrological sign is Cancer – with the symbol of the crab:  The crab carries its home on its back, and Cancer is about setting up a cozy and safe space and not going too far.  I’m going to work on that for next year – either we will go to Campbell River, or to Chilliwack, or we will have some sort of gathering at our place.  Probably the latter. 

Thank God though, for extended families, friends and neighbours.    We spent a lovely Christmas afternoon and dinner at our friends, Bob and Susan, just up the road.  Their daughter Lauren came from town with her beau Andrew and his mom Voyka, and Susan’s 93 year old mom Marilyn  came from Courtenay.  

Fortunately the snow stayed away and we were able to make it up their steep driveway.  It was a lovely Christmas, and dinner was perfect.  Bob cooked the turkey in such a way it melted in your mouth.  We sang a few carols, had a few bevies, took turns wearing the musical antlers, and had lots of laughs.

Christmas at Our Place

Yes, we have Ajax!  Sorry but he's here to stay -  for all of you who are not dog lovers.

 He likes to be part of everything, but in a non-intrusive way.  He's a gentle dog.

  He guarded the presents under the tree.  No Chance for Santa at our place!!

And this year I owe a big thanks to my friend Sheila for restoring my big black cat!

Christmas Morning

What can I say!  Chris made my favourite breakfast! 

Poached smoked Alaska black cod with poached eggs.  I skipped the toast.   Yummmmm!

A Care-Free Spirit is Ajax

Yup - that's Ajax.  Fancy free without a care.  Coming up to 17 months next week, here are a few photos from the last  week.  Some days he is amazingly good, and other days he is like a kid on sugar and out of control.  But he's lovely most of the time.

As the Fog Lifts; Or - After the Fog

At this time of year, November, December and January, it can be very depressing;  the sun going down early, long dark and grey weather.  Fog!   But when the blanket of grey lifts,and we do get a glimpse of sun,  its nature at it's best.  Getting out and walking is such good therapy all around.

 Bowen's Mt. Garden looming over Grafton Lake!

On top of a bluff overlooking Georgia Straight and Vancouver Island.

On top of the world at the Cape. Its magical.

Walking in a Fog - A Different Perspective

Do you ever walk in in the fog?  You can see what’s in front of you and a bit of what’s around you, but you can’t see what’s in the distance.  

Well, the fog arrived on Bowen last week and stayed.  It didn’t stop my walks, in fact, they were exhilarating and made for some great photos.  

 

It made me realize that sometimes I feel like I am living in a fog.  I know what’s going on in the here and now, but I can’t see the bigger picture.  Like you can’t see the forest; you can only see the trees.

 

Now I've never been one for walking in fog, but I am really enjoying the freedom in the forest, so the foggy walks were exhilarating.  After a while you become sopping wet.  My hair was wet, my jacket was wet and my pants were wet!   But you keep walking deeper in the fog until you become the fog.

 Ajax loved it.  I could tell.  It was his first fog, and it came with new smells and new sensations.

  Oddly, Ajax was never really that wet, not like me.  Perhaps he just shook it all off.

   My favourite foggy forest picture of the week is below.

 

The Shortest Day of the Year

And also the longest night!  December 21st, - winter solstice - has arrived.  And with it a blast of cold air and snow.

Though most refer to the solstice as an entire day, in reality, the solstice is a single moment: when the sun is directly above the Tropic of Capricorn.   This year, it occurred at 4:28pm.   From this point in time, periods of daylight will once again begin to grow longer.  Thank goodness for that!  Ajax and I were out walking when the solstice occurred.  I never noticed anything spectacular, but it sure got dark quick.

Back home, Chris had already turned the Christmas lights on in the driveway.  Kind of a cozy feeling.

Ajax - 16 months!!

So hard to believe this pup is already 16 months old.  He still acts like he's 6 months, only much  stronger now at 90lbs.   Below are the latest shots this weekend:

In the Saturday misty rain:

Relaxing at the top of a hill waiting for me to catch up!!  (as usual)

Always waiting for me to catch up on the trails.

December Beginnings

Well the calendar rolled over this weekend and here we are in December.  Not much happening in  the garden or around the house, so we have to step outside the box to the world around us.  On my way to the Cape early this morning to take Ajax for a walk, I couldn't help stop to take a photo of the fresh snow on the Sunshine coast. I love mornings.

 At Cape Roger Curtis, Ajax and I first hit Huzsar Creek to maximize our morning sun dose.

 

 And later, we ended the day with this beautiful sunset from our secret bluff. A good day today.