Brannen Lake

The day started out cloudy and dull, but gradually brightened in the afternoon and about +5 C.

I was out briefly, and drove around Brannen Lake. The snow is quite low on Mount Benson.

There isn't much access to the lake - I only know of this little road down to the water.

The lake is very high after all the rains, flooding into the fields.

At the south end of the lake is the Nanaimo Correctional Centre - it used to be called the Brannen Lake Penitentiary. That is part of it on the right of the picture.

Back home - the view from my window at sunset.

Flower of the day - I am not sure what these are called - but they bloom all winter.

Yesterday in Victoria

I drove to Victoria yesterday with Lovette...... It was horridly windy and poured cats and dogs all the way to Duncan, but then the sky began to improve and by picture time it was mostly blue.

After our errands and shopping, we drove around so I could take some pictures. This is the sunny Inner Harbour.

A quick stop in Beacon Hill Park

It was warm and sunny - 11 degrees C (what's that? 52 F...) - sweater weather.

The flower beds are full of winter blooms.

We couldn't see the Olympic Peninsula on the other side of the Strait. The harbour master's boat is just at the freighter's bow.

Then up to the Lieutenant Governor's gardens - the helebores were quite spectacular.

It is beginning to darken with clouds again. This is the view from the gardens down towards the sea.

Back on the sea route, the wind is kicking up.

Flower of the day - I knew I would find these! The snowdrops are out in many gardens. Spring is coming!

Cow Bay

We went to Cowichan Bay several days ago.

As usual, the skies were gray......

This is looking towards the 'town' and the marina.

We walked out on the maritime museum pier. There are quite a few houseboats tied up here.

The snow was quite low on the hills and the air was cold that day.

An old boom boat painted up - definitely easy to see in the fog!

This is the end of the museum pier.

Along the pier are small buildings holding old outboard engines, canoes and other maritime memorabilia.

It looks like wood smoke - do you suppose there is a stove inside?

This is the view from my window today - stormy - lots of wind and rain.

Flower of the day - a poor little pansy in one of my flower pots is trying to come out.

Happy New Year!

It is time for resolutions. I only have two - I am GOING to lose weight and try to put up more pictures for all of my friends who tune in faithfully as long as I keep putting them on-line. I know I have promised this many times before - hopefully 2008 will be better! Rain is promising to take a picture each day - a 365 challenge.

The photo above was taken a couple of days ago, from my window.
Today was gray, but any coast winter day when it doesn't rain is a bonus.... I stopped at Piper's Lagoon, briefly. It was quite mild out, and I wished the tide had been out so I could easily get to the hump across. There were several families out for winter walks.

It was quite windy at the beach, but a family with kids, picnic basket and pails and shovels seemed to be enjoying it.....

The south winds have brought up lots of interesting seaweed. Does anyone know what the pink stuff is?



My favourite photos in January are of flowers. These winter rhodos are out on Hammond Bay Rd. This is what living on the Island is all about!

My Christmas tree

Yesterday I put up my tree, and the grandkids - mostly Aidan - decorated it. My tree is decorated with a collection of stars and snowflakes.

It really needs a bit of work - I like all my favourite stars to be shown at their best.....

For example, this very delicate one was purchased at the gift shop by the crypt in St. Paul's Cathedral, London.

This one I bought at the Christmas store in Rothenburg, Germany - a medieval city on the 'Romantic Road'.

And at the top, a star from China bought at the cloisonne factory near Beijing.

Outdoor Christmas Challenge

Well, it seems that I am the only one with the Christmas pics. You see, I am the sort of person who (almost) always follows the rules...... So here are a few assorted pictures from this week.

I really like the Cameron Island decorations. If I lived there I would decorate, too. Luckily, no one on my street puts up lights, so I don't have any guilt at all.

Every year I drive around McGirr Street. I don't think the decorations are quite as spectacular this year, but every year this house in a cul-de-sac off McGirr has the same six white boomers pulling Santa's sleigh.

This house on one of the north end streets (I was lost when I saw it) has very eclectic decorations. Something for everyone!

This snowman was at Russell's Market.

While driving around Victoria I spotted this decorated tree. Now these are perfect decorations for Christmas!

The Snow Challenge

Yuck! I hate snow. This isn't a mild dislike - I truly HATE it. You see, I lived for 30 years in northern BC where we had nine months winter and three months poor sledding - or, to put it another way - almost winter, winter, still winter and dust. When I moved south I swore I would go where people asked if the car was electric when they saw the cord and 3-prong plug out the front. When it snows on the Island I am very annoyed, even insulted.
So, when it snowed last week I wound up the furnace, put on the fireplace and didn't move out of the house until it rained and the snow was all gone. All the pictures below were taken through my windows, which accounts for some of the low quality!

The snow came down one afternoon as big as toonies - no, much bigger....

My flowers had been trying to keep blooming until this landed.

My computer desk is in front of the window, and just outside this window I have a bird feeder and a hummingbird feeder. There was lots of action on the snowy days! This is a finch, of course.

The juncos are cute little birds. They always look clean and tidy.

Some of the finches looked anything but tidy. They were all puffed up to keep warm.

The rufous-sided towhees are my favourite visitors, but they are difficult to photograph because they are always in motion. They have a sassy character.....

The hummers were very busy feeding on the snowy days. Funny - I just realized from the picture that I don't have the perches opposite the feeding places - the poor things have to keep flying to eat!

This hummer spent time sitting on the tree on my deck. This picture doesn't show how tiny he is.

Then I went to the back of my house. On the hill behind my fence there were two deer plowing through the snow. They have a path there, but I imagine it wasn't as easy for a few days. The second one is partly behind the tree - a little buck.

It is sad, but I guess it really is winter. I shall go to Victoria tomorrow and see how many flowers I can find blooming to make me feel better.

Go and see what Rain and Dilling and Krista have done.