Out of the fog!

How time flies! Well, the fog has finally lifted and here’s a sight at the harbour last Friday after school. It was good to at least see shades of pastel.



On the weekend, I ventured out into the back yard since the fog had lifted and most of the snow had melted ~ not all, mind you.

Here’s frog beside his mushroom, looking forlornly at the rose garden!



As I was checking out this part of the garden, something was not pleased by my presence as is heard in this video:



At first I couldn’t spot the critter, but I finally did see it running up and down the trees seemingly madder than a wet hen. I took a few photos, but they didn’t come out very clearly ~ Suddenly it jumped over and landed on the bird feeder in the neighbour’s yard. I wish I had caught that leap on camera!



Here’s an interesting remnant of winter which I lifted out of a covered folded garden chair. It looks like an ice sculpture of a cruise ship I think.



I meandered my way to the front garden, and discovered this:



What do you think it is?

There were also some signs of spring tucked here and there:








The dark-eyed juncos were happy to find their bird feeder free and clear ~



I noticed a new visitor in the cherry tree watching them flit around, and I managed to get a photo of this Varied Thrush.



Here’s another photo I took the next day:



Later on I noticed a funny little bird hopping around on top of the bird feeder ~ it was up, down, all around...










Until at last it showed its face ~ a Black-Capped Chickadee ~ Isn't it sweet!



We have been fortunate in not receiving the onslaught of snow expected today as “Canada was grasped by another arctic front” (weather forecast talk), however it was icy cold and windy. Brrrr.

My new job is going along well, but I am ready to flop when I get home, hence the lack of blogging! I have noticed it being lighter in the mornings and evenings though ~ tomorrow, Jan 28 Sunrise 7:52 a.m. Sunset 5:07 p.m.

How does that compare to where you are?

Fog Blog

Freezing fog has been the norm for the past few days, but come the weekend the fog will be gone ~ blown away, actually by a roaring wind coming via an arctic front ~ and snow flurries. Oh, joy! I'm taking Nikki's idea of a filtered front window and bring some blue California sky to my world.



Work continues to keep me busy. I'm feeling much more at home there, however with the longer day, I find that I'm still in transition mode. Once the weather improves, I hope to walk to work which is something I'm looking forward to. In the meantime, I'm just glad it's a short drive.

Journey to the Sun!

The forecast is for sun!



Well, what is this then?


and this?




even Photoshop didn't help!



Enough of the fog ~ time to journey to the sun...

We didn't have to go far before we saw the blue sky and sunshine ~



Looking back we could see where the bank of fog began (or ended) ~



A clear blue sky ~



However, the dark grey ridge of fog was noticeable along the coastline and against the mountains ~



We drove on in the sunshine ~



We decided to drive up a mountain road, and saw an interesting sight ~ a women on roller blades being assisted up the road by her team!



Nice to see the clear sky, sunshine, and snow ~



However, soon the road became a bit slippery, so we decided to turn back ~



Back towards the fog ~



and into the foggy village ~



where everything was socked in ~



and where did the beach go?!



Although it was lovely to see the sunshine, fog can be beautiful too!



The weekly forecast ~ well, we'll just have to wait and see what it really turns out to be ~

Busy!

Just checking in to say I have been so busy during the last two weeks since starting my new job. It is going well, but by the end of the day, I've had enough of computers and haven't felt like blogging at all!

As the duties in the job become more familiar, I may feel more like getting back into blogworld!

The weather has been cold and foggy, with the odd beautiful morning like the photo in my header that I took yesterday from the parking lot as I arrived at school. We are promised some sunshine during the next few days which will be a pleasant change. The snow has gone except for a few icy lumps left from piles made when clearing. I'll have to look around the garden this weekend and see what all the snow has done to the plants. I have noticed some broken branches on the mock orange bush and the the large hydrangea seems to have been totally flattened. I have seen little signs of spring here and there, which is reassuring!

Making tracks!

Yesterday I was making tracks, and today keeping track ~ one more day off! But I wasn't the only one making tracks ~ my son noticed an interesting set of tracks when he looked out of the upstairs window. There were recognizable tracks, such as those left by a neighbourhood cat; there was a line left from melting snow that had dripped off the washing line, and then there were the other tracks! The imprints are quite far apart and the only thing we can think of is that they were made by one leaping deer ~ What else could they be ~ any thoughts??



After yesterday's busy work day, I did not do much of anything today, although for some reason I fancied a plum pudding! It still looks like Christmas, so why not? Before long the kitchen counters were filled with various fruits and nuts, the food processor and mixer were busy, and after a few hours of steaming, the smell of spices filled the air! Yum.



The sun did come out yesterday, but because I was indoors (working ~ have I mentioned that before!!!) I didn't reap the benefits of a lovely outdoor day. No more snow fell today, but the temperature hovered around the freezing mark, so nothing melted either! The snow is now ice crispy, and if you kick it (to get a clump out of the way when you are parked at the workplace) it hurts your toe!! Ouch!

Tomorrow I will try to investigate more thoroughly the mysterious tracks ~ which reminds me ~ I wrote a poem about following tracks in the snow once, wondering if the trail would grow cold.... ;)

Happy New Year!

I woke up this first day of 2009, looked out of the window, and said..."You've got to be kidding!" because it was.............................. snowing!

I quickly turned on the weather channel and realized there was another weather alert! I felt like crawling back under the covers, but I was invited to an annual January 1 lunch. I phoned another couple who where going, and they said they'd be happy to pick me up in their 4 wheel drive which they did. Yay! So I had a lovely luncheon, getting together with a group of people (like a second family) who I hadn't seen for awhile ~ ranging in age from 3 to 87!

The storm didn't amount to much and the sun is supposed to shine tomorrow. Did everyone hear me? Sun!!! However, I have to go into work tomorrow because it's my last chance to get the office in tip top shape, unless I want to spend the weekend in there. No thank you :)

I spotted a little bird outside on my deck during the ongoing snowstorms ~ and I think I know exactly how he felt ;)



As Flighty informed us, Plot 124 enjoyed a Hoppy New Year, too, but while London was sleeping, this is how it actually happened ~



One never knows what goes on at the allotment plot when no one is there!

Here's to a splendid 2009!