Merry Christmas Everyone 2017!

The Winter Solstice 2017

We enjoyed a cold sunny day on this winter solstice in our backyard.  Some of the remaining autumn leaves glowed yellow and golden from the sunshine that is lower in the horizon.  When dusk arrived some high clouds moved in and were beautifully pink.

We're All Heading Home 2017

We moved up north for almost six months as we both had teaching positions.  Our contracts were completed and we're all heading home to our place in the south.  Our families were looking after our gardens and house and what a wonderful adventure and memories we will always have.  The trees have almost shed their leaves and last years autumn left a more vivid impression of colour.

Happy Thanksgiving Day Everyone!

Autumns Return 2017

Autumn returned on the west coast and it sure didn't feel like an autumn day today.  Most of the leaves on the trees in the forest, back country and parklands haven't even changed to their fall colours.  The sunlight still feels warm and all the oak trees are dropping their acorns and the squirrels are collecting those nuts for winter.  We visited our friends in the city and the chestnut tree leaves are still green and not the yellow-brown of autumn.  Their prickly bur are still attached to the branches.  When a gust of wind comes along, they'll drop and smash open their seed vessels on the sidewalk below releasing their chestnuts.  The squirrels enjoy burying them to eat later under the snow and people come along to collect them for decorations.

A Lovely Labour Day at Ruckle Provincial Park 2017

We spent three marvelous days on Salt Spring Island with some of our friends which we haven't seen in many years.  The island is really not easy to reach but well worth the ferry trip over and the farmers market was selling lots of very interesting produce and art work; especially paintings.  We had a lovely picnic on Sunday in Ruckle Provincial Park and we painted in the heat of summer with the lovely cool sea breeze around us.  Our Labour Day was spent back at this park with the beautiful forest before we headed back to the ferry terminal and came back home to the mainland.

Nothing Will Stop The Roses Now 2017

Nothing seems more brighter,
Than this pink display of wild beauty,
Surrounded by leaves which grow in thousands of green moments,
For summer takes place and stays forever it seems,
A nootka rose blossom blazes in this early sunlight,
For soon more will burst from their sleeping rosebuds,
Just tight from that cold May spell,
And all the birds of song will play to this warming land,
Too claim back and feed on with relish,
On this glorious day.

  Enjoy our summer solstice day of wonderful sunshine and  daylight!

Victoria Day in Walbran Valley 2017

We arrived very early on Vancouver Island and spent most of the day at Walbran Valley.  Later, we visited our friends back in Victoria and we had a pleasant walk through Beacon Hill Park.  The cherry-blossom trees look lovely there and the petals in some areas were like pink carpets blowing in the wind.  Vancouver Island was sunny and mild on this beautiful Victoria Day holiday.

Cape Scott Provincial Park 2017

We just came back from a long stay with our relatives in Port Hardy.  While up there we camped for a week in the wonderful Cape Scott Provincial Park and the nights were quite cold.  Because of our cold weather no wildflowers yet and everything's delayed by around four weeks.  The new growth of leaves in the forest look so pretty and I love those soft pastel shades of greens that everyone enjoys painting.

It Seemed LIke Spring at the Rivers 2017

We went today to see the Nicomekl and Serpentine Rivers and the weather looked sunny but it was still cold...it seemed like spring at the rivers.  Springs just around the corner and lots of rain and we still had snow weeks ago but the plants and leaves are beginning to show their true beauty.  We saw quite a few of the tidal ducks and some signs of nest building.  When the red-winged and yellowy-headed blackbirds and tree swallows finally arrive these wetlands look so much more inviting and colorful.

The Day of Ice on Trout Lake 2017

Snows drift down in silence,
As our motions soar,
We'll cross this lake,
But with our feet of blades,
And they'll kiss this beautiful stage of ice,
We thus skate along in perfect grace,
Leaving elegant paths of melted splendour,
Only to hush and float us forward and onward,
The distant views of mountains,
Decorated with tops like icing sugar cakes,
So clear as this arctic chill threatens none today,
The ice sheet chamber echoes,
With the watery mass below,
For eventually this wonderland will change back to the lake we know.

Our 2017 Discovery Pass

We were pleased today to receive our 2017 discovery pass marking Canada's 150th. Birthday.  Anyone who enjoys Canadian national parks, historic sites and marine conservation areas will really like this free pass.  You can order one of these passes online at their site.

That Beautiful Deep freeze 2017

The west coast is looking so wonderful and in a deep freeze.  We travelled through the Fraser Valley today and visited some relatives.  I love how the land and vegetation and everything exposed to this arctic flow; was thickly glazed and sparkling with an icy film.

The New Year of 2017, as well marks the celebration of Canada's 150Th. Birthday!

Everyone Happy New Year 2017!!!