Green and Brown

The woods felt exactly like late March today.  Damp and mild, the air was thick with mist in some spots.  Rocks and fallen logs were slick and the moss and ferns were still vibrant green.  The creeks and streams were high, full of run off from all of the rain we have been getting lately.

I walked through the marsh, and up through the woods and rocks, to the top of the rocky hill that overlooks the marsh.   I saw plenty of evidence of animal activity, paths through the leaves, and places where logs had been rubbed bar and branches broken.

As I made my way back down the hillside, I could hear the water from the stream rushing.  I came to it and made my way along it, moving toward the first beaver pond.  The beaver pond is not a pond any more, since the dam is no longer there.  It`s a small valley, surrounded on all sides by steep high banks with a stream running through it.

It`s quiet here and one of my favourite places to visit - probably the place I escape to most.  As I walked back out through the trees and across the fields the fog came in heavier.  I could feel water droplets settling on my eyelashes.  I needed the walk today - a quiet time before the flurry of activity and excitement that Christmas brings.

Making Ice

As I mentioned in a previous post, this time last year the ice was in and here to stay.  The season has been so mild that we are still pretty far away from "ice in".  The lake is cold, though, and ready.  All it takes is a few hours of below zero temperatures for the ice to start forming.  Below is a picture of a calmer area near the shore where you can see thin patches of ice forming on top of the water.  This thin ice moves with the water, wind and currents and if the lake gets too rough, it will dissipate once again.  

Smaller ponds and marshes were frozen this morning.  The photo below is of the marsh below Swords.  Winter is trying to take hold, and may this weekend with snow and colder temperatures in the forecast.  Come Monday, it will all go away again, there are more mild, rainy days on the way.

Just a Little Bit Easier

A few weeks ago we had some lovely snow and I thought it was the beginning of a white Christmas season.  It has however, been raining ever since.  I love snow for Christmas, but I just can't complain about this.  The last two winters were so brutal, so cold and snowy, that I really feel like I can't handle another winter just yet.

It has been raining most days, with temperatures ranging from just above zero to ten degrees Celsius.  One again, I'm not complaining.  I am enjoying this extended fall weather.  It is easier to do things outside, go places and to keep the house warm.

This time last year we had a frozen lake and two feet of snow,  We did experience a thaw right around Christmas, but winter came back with a vengeance in January.

While I have grown to love snow since moving here, and will miss a sparking white Christmas morning, the mystery and loveliness snow adds to Christmas Eve, and all the winter activities that we enjoy so much, if the trade off is an easier winter season...well, I'll take it, but just for this year.

Christmas Tree

Christmas trees are magic.

There is comfort in the glow of the light,  and wonder held in its branches.

I love our tree. Years ago I decided on a white, glass and metallic theme and haven't looked back.  Before kids, I was known to decorate and redecorate the tree twice, and once THREE times.  I don't think I've ever told anyone else that but for my husband.  I was that set on perfection.

Now I am just happy to get it up in a timely manner, and you know what?  It doesn't look that much different or any less perfect that the years I redecorated it multiple times.

I hope my kids get from our tree what I do.  Hope and light, mystery and magic.

 

 

Our Mystery

Saturday morning, Clare woke up saying "owl, owl, owl".  She was pointing at the window in our room and over the edge of the bed.  She seemed surprised to find there was no owl in the room and was clearly trying to tell me that there was *something* going on in that room.  We lay in bed for a little while, and she kept on with "owl" and pointing.  To the ceiling, to the window, and continually to the floor beside the bed.

  

This morning, upon waking, Henry and I found a feather in our living room.  It's a few inches long and is not from one of our down comforters or jackets, Nor is it a craft feather.  It definitely came in from outside.

 

I'm not sure exactly what is going on, but as Henry said, "we"ll have to keep our eyes open!"

 

 

 

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, if I wanted to see a fantastic sunrise, I needed to plan. To get up early and go somewhere outside of my house. Once upon a time I lived in a subdivision. Up until we moved to Maple Lake, I had lived in subdivisions all my life. I didn't realize how much it was changing the way I thought and acted until I moved here.  

Now I can wake up, look outside and see something wonderful. Something that inspires and sustains me.  

A few weeks ago, my Grandad was visiting and told me that I'd changed since we moved. I know I have. I feel like moving here has helped me move backwards in time- back to a time of more hopefulness and inspiration, childlike wonder and a feeling that anything is possible. 

All thanks to a sunrise.  

Moving Through Time

It's 5:50 a.m. and I am awake, drinking coffee in my kitchen.  The ice is so loud this morning that I can hear it inside.  It's -14C.  The ice becomes louder as the temperature drops. 

The Christmas tree glows behind me and the coffee maker continues on it's annoying tick, tick, tiiiick that I only seem to hear when no one else is up.  Time is ticking, too.  It's now 5:53 and I wait.  This morning I am waiting for the phone to ring - hoping that I will be called to teach.  Supply teacher worries.

I haven't written in six months.  It's not because I haven't had anything to say, and it's not because I have been too busy.  I don't know.  My attention is divided, I suppose.  Time slips away and while I am constantly filled with words, I often struggle to let them out. 

This morning I was moved to pick up a pencil and put it to paper, which is the way I used to start all of my writing.  A simple pencil and paper.  And with that, Clare is stirring and my time here is done.  5:57 a.m.

From the Weather Book

December 21
Clear and cold.
 
December 24, 25
Snow, warmer temperatures.

December 28

December 31
Lots of snow!

January 1
-20

January 4

January 6, 7, 8
Major snowstorm with blizzard conditions.

 

 

January 9

 
January 11
Rain.  Melting everywhere.

January 13

January 16

January 20, 21, 22
Cold! -28, -30, -30

January 24
Cold, blowing snow.

January 25
 Snow!  Another day spent digging out.

January 26
-32 upon waking.
-25 and snowing.

January 28

January 29
Another load of snow.

Solstice

The winter solstice is upon us, which means today is the shortest day of the year.  From here, the days lengthen, the light changes and the earth begins the slow creep toward spring, though today is the fist day of winter.

 

What a different year it has been for early winter weather.  In both 2011 and 2012, we had open water on the lake this time of year.  The snowfall has been unbelievable and the temperatures have plummeted.  We will have a warm up for Christmas it seems, but the snow will remain, with much more in the forecast.

 

 

From the Weather Book

 It's been an unreasonably cold and snowy December and we are certain to have a white Christmas!


December 5
Snowy morning.

December 6
A bit of a warm up.  Water over the ice.

December 7
Cold again, with snow in the evening.

December 8
Light snow.

December 9
Wind and snow.

December 10
Piles and piles of snow! Still under a snow squall warning.

December 11

December 12

December 14
Flurries most of the day.

December 15
-25C in the morning.

December 16
-30C!

December 19
Much warmer, and much easier to keep the house warm!  -5C.

Snowed In...

...but it's so very lovely.

Ice

The ice is finally here to stay. 

Last night it was loud.  Booming and cracking and buckling in the dark. 

This morning we headed out into the sparking bright day and checked it, and did some playing.

A buckle in the ice.

 

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from Maple Lake

Christmas has just passed, but I consider Christmas though New Year's "the holidays".

Hope you are enjoying yours.