Going South

We are ready to go. We are pointed in the right direction. In the morning we will start out on our journey to the desert. While we won't really miss the winter we will miss our grandchildren, but adventure calls to us. We anticipate the quiet open spaces and many wonderful hikes. We'll be back by spring, rejuvenated by our winter away.

White Christmas

A white Christmas, what a treat! We had the usual feast with family, a little tree from our acreage, stockings stuffed with little gifts and the laughter and gleeful shouts of small children. What could be better!

It is Officially Winter

We know that under all this white is green, we aren't used to this, two nights ago it was -16 on my doorstep. Eric Boulton of Somerset Farm has been keeping statistics on Gabriola weather for over 40 years and says it hasn't been this cold since the late 60s. The temperature has risen again now and we aren't far from the breakoff point between white and green. Still, it will be a white Christmas.

Winter in Wonderland

Though not a record it is unusual to have so much snow and for so long, but really it is kind of fun. An excuse to stay home (the kids love it) and sip tea by the fire, we still like to go out to shop. The Village Shopping Center was bustling with activity and looked beautiful under its blanket of snow.

A Night Out at the Roxy

Although snow is on the ground, the highways department does an excellent job of clearing the roads so we had no trouble making the concert at the Roxy. This small 50 seat venue hosts many different events including plays, concerts, films and classic movies on the 14 foot LCD screen. The seats are red plush from an old movie house and comfortable chairs and couches, and the atmosphere is inviting. We attended a Tom Marcus Bluegrass Special, featuring two members of the award winning Tumble Weed (a favorite from our past), Chris Stevens on banjo and Trisha Gagnon on standup bass, plus Tom Marcus on guitar and John Reischman on mandolin. It was lots of fun!

Snow Day

Our weather channel, normally showing a tranquil blue screen, sounded an alarm, flashed a red screen and warned of severe weather. Most Canadians would be in danger of falling down with laughter to think that 20 cm of snow and -7 degree weather would be considered severe but we are on the wet coast and have got a bit soft. My ladybugs are still lounging around inside, but outdoors is a winter wonderland. We got the sled out and packed up the babies and went outside to enjoy it, I even made a snow angel, we may get a white Christmas this year!

Bug on a Bug

Every so often ladybugs congregate on the warm south wall of our house and have a huge hatching of young, a number of which come in through the window and hang out in our home. This one was found resting on a little VW bug.

Cookies Galore

Each December for the past few years Carly and I have enjoyed baking cookies. Not just a dozen here and there but masses of cookies of many different of varieties. Of course our family can't eat them all so we package them up into assortments and deliver them to everyone we know and can find at home. It is a nice way to keep in touch with people and it makes them smile.

Berry Break

Even in December you can pick berries on Gabriola! These little berries are on an evergreen blue huckleberry bush. Native to the west coast they can be found at the edge of clearings and along roadsides. The foliage is often used in floral arrangements. They are not usually grown commercially because of the low fruit yield but they are high in antioxidants and delicious. Occasionally I find a bush that is loaded with plump berries and make it a regular stop on my daily walks.

Descanso Bay

A calm December day in Descanso Bay with ducks swimming and the MV Bowen Queen making its 20 minute crossing from Nanaimo. This vessel is temporarily replacing our MV Quinsam which is undergoing the first phase of its midlife upgrade. The Bowen Queen works well for our island except at extremely low tides when it cannot access our terminal.

Over the Moon

Dianna Bonder came to Gabriola with her husband to raise a family and continue a successful career as an illustrator and writer. Her art is beautifully whimsical and her books, written for young children, are a delight. Dianna is a 2008 recipient of the gold Moonbeam Children's Book Award for her Alphabet book 'Dogabet'. My granddaughters love her books!