First Skiff of Snow

I can’t believe it but we’ve already had our first skiff of snow. It started yesterday, snowing, then raining (melting the snow), then sunny, and back again. We have the strangest weather that blows through. Then it snowed again, then stopped. Here is what I found this morning

The amazing thing is it didn’t melt overnight, because the ground is not frozen yet.

We have some micro-climates around us. Today it was pelting rain on the uphill side of the house. But when I looked out the window of the same room, toward the downhill side, it was sunny and clear. Rained like that for about an hour, but clear out the other window.

How do you explain that? I can’t. πŸ™‚

Eagles chapter two

The eagles have been very busy. They have continued to increase the size of the nest until we could no longer tell if Mama was sitting on the eggs, if there were eggs. Here’s what it looks like now, nearly twice the size as it was in March when I last posted, cascading down the tree, hooked on 3 or 4 branches now.

My husband and I were standing on the driveway talking when an eagle flew low overhead and landed behind a high rock. Eagles don’t do that as a rule, they stick to the trees unless they’re after something. A minute later, it flew off with something in it’s claws, went to the nest briefly, then darted into the nearest tree. Here it is resting in the tree.

We climbed up to see what he was after, and found a large clump of moss torn up. He must have placed the moss in the nest as a cushion for the eggs. Does that mean the eggs are yet to be laid? We don’t know. Wish I had a mirror fixed in the tree that would show me what’s in the nest. πŸ™‚

What do you think is going on? Drop me a comment.

Signs of Spring

I went for a bike ride yesterday, for the first time this year. The rain had stopped, and although it wasn’t sunny, it was a nice day. And as I rode, I saw some signs of spring.

The ferns are growing like mad.
The moss has stopped hibernating and is sending out numerous bright green shoots.
The ocean spray has grown tiny leaves and the blossoms are getting ready to burst.

My Mom always called this bush spyria. When I moved back to the west coast, I got a book of plants of British Columbia, and although most folks call it ocean spray, Mom was right– spyria is the correct name. I shouldn’t be surprised. πŸ™‚

What is happening in your neighbourhood? Any signs of spring yet? Drop me a line and let me know.

Happy Valentine’s, my gift to you

The Lies He Told Me, book one of the series, is on sale for the next four days, at .99 cents.

When Chloe Bowman’s husband disappears, never did she imagine that in the midst of the search to find him, she’d discover she didn’t really know this man at all. She’s left alone with her young son and a time bomb on her hands. Lurking in the shadows is the mysterious Rainman.

Police Detective Ross Cullen was already investigating Chloe’s husband when he disappeared. But the deeper Ross digs the less he knows, and the more he’s attracted to the young wife as she struggles to put her life back together. Can Ross break through the Rainman’s disguises to solve the case so he can be with Chloe?

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Grab book one of this bestselling series while you can!

Good Neighbours

We had a big snowfall after Christmas that lasted several days and nearly snowed us in. One of our neighbours has just moved here and I haven’t even met him yet. But he plowed the whole road and cleared access, as the public plow usually fills in our road entrance and blocks us in.

Then a second neighbour very kindly plowed our long driveway as he cleared his own.

A third neighbour has a creek running through his land that empties into the ditch that parallels our road and drive. Here it is now, a gentle stream.

However, as the snow melted, it became a regular torrent. This neighbour noticed the water was backing up and about to flood the road and might wash away the barn below. He spent his time clearing the blockage and branches along the streambed, following along the road and down our drive to prevent our driveway from being washed out as well.

I was out for a walk the other day and this is what I observed.

This tree stump has been by the side of the road for a while, witness the moss. But the spoon has only been there for a few months. Someone found the spoon and put it there in the hopes that the person who lost it might see it and be able to reclaim their utensil. It’s a tiny act of kindness that touched my heart. Especially in these times of pandemic and hostility that seem to surround us, acts of kindness mean a lot.

What do people do in your neighbourhood? Drop me a line and let me know.