Picture Day - Hoar Frost

A White Christmas

While parts of the country are facing the prospect of a green or at the least a brown Christmas Winnipeg is absolutely covered in the white stuff.  No chance of anything but a white Christmas around here. The past few days in fact have had quite a bit of snow falling and the most gorgeous hoarfrost covering all the trees.  This type of frost is usually rather short lived, only seen first thing in the morning before the heat of the sun melts it away but this time it’s stuck around. 

We’re had a week of overcast balmy days and we are now on day 5 of being surrounded by these lovely dressed tress.  Photographs don’t really do it justice despite my best efforts….ok maybe not my best efforts but none the less there was some effort there, I just can’t capture the magical feeling that hoarfrost contributes to on a near Christmas morning.

The sight of hoarfrost, a freshly fallen carpet of snow, Christmas lights glinting all along the street and the slowly dawning sun really is quite magical.  It reaches a spot deep inside that warms you from the inside out.  You just can’t be cold when you look at such a beautiful sight. There is something about it that is just oh so comforting and peaceful.

Or perhaps this is just me waxing poetic once again about the beauty in nature.  It is after all a bit of a reoccurring theme around here. What can I say I’m a sucker for the outdoors and there is always something new to appreciate around here.  Sure I should be used to the change of seasons by now having lived in Manitoba with its extremes my entire life but inevitably the changes still hold me in awe each and every year.

Ten Canadian Places

Canada has some of the most spectacular nature sites in the world and although I’ve managed to see a few of them I’ve got many more I’d like to see.  I’ve come up with a top ten list in no particular order that I would like to either see for the first time or see again.

1. Niagra Falls, Ontario

One of the most famous, perhaps even THE most famous waterfalls in the world. The sound, feel, scent and sight of the falls is truly awe-inspiring. A great sight to behold it shows off natures true strength and power.

2. Lake Louise, Alberta

The beautiful blue glacier water and gorgeous mountain view say it all.  This is a place not to be missed. A stay at the more than 100 year old Fairmont Chateau would make this the perfect blend of comfort and fine nature to spend a few days in.

3. Bay Of Fundy, New Brunswick

No Canadian can see a picture of the rock formations in the Bay of Fundy during low tide and not instantly identify it. This iconic place has been carved out by natures hand and the results are spectacular.

4. Okanagan Lake, British Columbia

Hrmmm more water.... Another beautiful Canadian Lake this one with the mystery of Ogopogo the sea monster which just maybe lives within it's waters. I love the orchards and vineyards dotting the landscape, the whole area even seems to has a sweet fruity smell.

5. Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland

Towering rock formations, high peaks and low valleys surrounded by bright and colourful fishing villages it brings to mind the very beginnings of Canadian heritage, this is after all the province in which it all began.

6. Cavendish beach, Prince Edward Island

An ever changing landscape wrought by the waves and the wind, the unique rusty sand and nearby heritage sites make this a spectacular place.  Lucy Maud Montgomery brought this place into the hearts of many the world over and it's beauty continues to draw people in.  

7. Churchill, MB

Nothing says Canada like polar bears. A unique and beautiful creature Churchill is by far the best place in the world to see these magnificent animals in their true habitat.

8. Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia

Cabot trail is a long winding road which skirts the edge of Cape Breton Island all the way around. It's winding roadways through some of the most picturesque landscapes available is a drivers dream come true.  

9. Baffin Island , Nunavut Territory

The largest island in Canada it is an almost alien landscape with the most amazing creatures.  Narwhals, harp seals, whales and Walruses can be seen in abundance from it's shores.  These creatures which live in the deep Arctic sea would be quite the sight to be-hold. 

10. The Nahanni National Park Reserve North West Territory

Water falls, canyons, rushing rivers, granite towers it all add up to be one of the most uniquely diverse landscapes found.  Not easily accessible it is a true nature experience not for the faint at heart but with rewards you won't find anywhere else in the world.   

Picture Day - Fall at Oak Hammock Marsh

A Drabble - Days Of Chaos

I seem to have entered into a slip stream, in which my days are disappearing at an alarming rate and chaos reigns.  My desk is covered in crafts, schoolwork and plans interspersed with miscellaneous junk.  I step outside and that same chaos greets me; topsy-turvy weather, multi-coloured trees and even geese which fly south one day and north the next.  Nature itself is in a state of chaos. 

I can’t help but ask myself then, what does the chaos represent? Outside I know the chaos is a representation of a seasonal change, perhaps it is the same inside as well.

Look Up

I have fallen into the habit of reading articles on my phone while I walk in the forest or listening to music when I jog.  I head outdoors first thing in the morning because the dog needs walking but I’ve always found it to be a pleasant way to kick off my day. It has rarely felt to me as if it were a chore despite it being something of a necessity because I choose to look at it differently.

However I’m not watching where I’m walking lately and the idea of this morning walk being a nice way to welcome in a new day is slipping into habit and something I just need to do.  In other words it is slipping into the realm of chores no more pleasant than scrubbing the tub.

What brought about this realization was on my walk back down the forest path this morning when I finally looked up.  Less than a dozen feet off the path stood a doe and her fawn, they were grazing contentedly on the grass in a manner which suggested they had most likely been there awhile.  Probably they had been there when I passed the first time heading up the path and I simply hadn’t seen them.

I do often speak negatively about the local deer population as they can be frustrating to live near.  They do after all manage to do some pretty significant damage to my gardens each year.  It is awfully irksome to see your garden in full bloom one day only to find nothing but stems the next.  Despite that though I still find them to be beautiful animals to see and I’m always enchanted by the sight of a buck or a fawn.

I haven’t been seeing them though I’ve been too distracted looking down to look up and it makes me wonder how many other creatures I’ve missed recently.  I don’t recall what the last bird I saw was, if the owl which sometimes perches along the path has been there, if the butterfly population is still going strong or if there are as many 4 leaf clovers as last year.

I’m missing out on welcoming in my day surrounded by nature at its finest and it’s time to leave the distractions at home and remember to look up again.

Narcisse Snake Pits - Picture Day

About an hours drive north of Winnipeg is a unique place called the Narcisse Snake Dens.  Each year tens of thousands of red sided garter snakes come out of their winter dens located here and for a few short weeks the ground is literally covered in them. Manitoba has a lot of limestone and as it turns out the subterranean caverns left behind as spring melt runs through the rock is the perfect place for these snakes to den in over the winter months.  No where else in the world that is home to such large numbers of these snakes and it is quite the sight to see.    

Big Job

It’s been a long week and I’m feeling the burn today.  I’m absolutely unequivocably spent.  Monday afternoon ten yards of dirt was delivered.  Since then every evening has been spent slowly moving the mound to the countless low spots and places in need of fill and am I ever tired.

My backyard has never exactly been well graded in fact when we first purchased this house the yard was in some serious need of attention.  A large portion was in fact dirt, full of chunks of mud and clay. At the time our focus was on getting the interior of the house redone, bathrooms, kitchen, and what not and so we simply threw some grass seed at the problem.

I eventually added my garden and we have made small improvements as time went on.  The grading and smoothing out of the lawn itself though has been something we’ve avoided.  Last summer with such constant high heat and lack of rain the soil pulled away from the foundation of the house and left a big gap in which water pooled and so there was no more putting it off.

If we were going to get a couple of yards delivered to fix the problem around the foundation we may as well get enough to level the whole yard. It’s coming along quite well although I seriously underestimated the effort required to full fill this task. 

We are not only grading the yard but also moving around some of the major structures or areas of the yard such as the fire pit.  I’m also slightly adjusting the gardens configuration, adding trees and plants and removing a very old and very thick concrete sidewalk. 

All together it’s a rather big job which at this point I’m just hoping I get done sometime this year with my back function still in place.   Also it would be really nice to be able to get the car out of the garage.

Summer Storm

I forgot how much I love a good storm.  It’s been an unusually dry summer so far and besides a few sprinkles there hasn’t been one all summer.  I’m certainly not complaining as it’s been fabulous, and the mosquitoes haven’t been around much.  They started coming out for a short while but quickly disappeared again in the endless heat. 

It was not that big of a storm compared to the window shaking wind whipping all night kind of storm seen in past years but it was enjoyed all the same.  In the late evening the sky suddenly went dark and big black clouds started rolling in. 

My husband and I went outside as the darkness moved in from the west and the wind started to pick up. We both started going around the yard lowering hanging plants, picking up the cushions from the patio furniture and throwing light weight things into the garage.

Then we stood arm in arm and just watched. The fresh somewhat sweet smell of damp air carried on the wind.  We listened to the great and constant roll of thunder echoing around us.  Watching as the lightning lit up the layers of clouds making intricate patterns in the evening sky as the clouds moved and ebbed along.  

There is a spell-binding quality to a stormy evening sky that pulls me in, makes me want to be quiet and watchful.  There is something to be said for standing in nature’s path knowing safety and warmth is a step behind you should it get to be too much.  

Bonfire

I want to smell the scent of an evening bonfire.

Taste a perfect marshmallow roasted to just the right shade of brown; crunchy on the outside and oh so soft and sweet on the inside.

I want to feel the softness of slightly dewy freshcut green grass between my toes.

I want to see the flames dance see the story they tell, the lightning bugs twinkling through the trees.

I want to hear the crackling sounds of the fire, the quiet gurgle of the fountain and the sound of friends around me.

I want a moment of peace and tranquility when all is right in my world. 

Picture Day 1

 Spring has Sprung

 The trees are budding,

The snow has almost gone

And the water is flowing

The first hint of color 

As the moss turns green

The ground is slowly warming
                                                                                 And something is growing in my garden

I'm going to start having a picture day each week, I've started doing some writing other than on my blog and need that extra bit of time so picture thursdays it is!

Morning Journeys

Where we live is one of the most naturally beautiful areas of Winnipeg.  We live in the community of Charleswood which is a unique suburb which feels more rural then urban.  The community at large seems to put a premium on outdoor life and tends to be populated with rather down to earth people.   The yards are large and open, we have ditches rather than sidewalks and some streets remain unpaved gravel.  We are right on the edge of Charleswood and our street is bordered by the Assiniboine forest.   There are only homes along the west side and forest on the east, it is an amazing view. 

This morning is particularly nice, you can feel the weather changing and it is quite warm for a February day. In Winnipeg we treasure each day that shows a hint of the spring to come, the days leading up to spring are often interrupted by bouts of winter cold so we enjoy each nice day as fully as possible. 

Every morning I walk our dog, Chase, through the Assiniboine forest.  It is a very peaceful and gorgeous time of day.  The sun is resplendent hanging just over the horizon providing everything with an ethereal glow.  The only sounds are the birds and the soft crunch of my footfalls on the packed snow. There is a faint buzz of cars but the sound simply blends in and reminds me of the sound of the lake and the waves in the distance.

 I often hear the hoot of a great horned owl who lives somewhere near the path I walk each morning.  It’s a unique sound and I always try to catch a glimpse of him.  He has awfully good camouflage and is pretty hard to spot.  More often than not I will see a few deer foraging for food and they will watch me as I approach before eventually deciding to run off with a flick of their ears.  It is amazing how softly they move through the trees considering their size.

I love my morning walks even when we are experiencing a bitter cold snap.  There isn’t a better way to wake up then to the sounds and sights of nature.  Each morning I walk away from our busy lives for a few moments and take in a deep breath of fresh air and am able to prepare for the day ahead.  It is a whole new world when I walk through that first arch of trees. I know when I return from that world that it is never far away and at any time I can go back and feel renewed once again.