Winter in the Chilcotin Forest

The second day of the second month of the year.

It's a beautiful sunny day today on the Chilcotin Plateau. We've been seeing the tracks and resting places of our resident winter moose for a few weeks now without catching sight of her, until this morning.

We spotted her from the kitchen window in one of her favourite grazing spots, just across the creek where the willow grazing is good.

David got some great video of her which I hope he'll post on Facebook in the next day or two.  She appears healthy and relaxed. She may have been born here.

We have been enjoying our resident winter birds as well.  The chickadees and pine siskins, our three gray jays, the solitary blue jay we call Sammy, as well as those majestic predator birds like the shrike and the Northern Hawk Owl.  We have all the regular winter critters; squirrels and rabbits and weasels and coyotes, and foxes. For 16 years now we've witnessed and photographed our birds and wildlife through every season.  It's been an incredible experience to see them return and depart, to see the increase or decrease in their numbers each year.   And while we provide safe sanctuary for all our birds and wildlife; this is a tiny corner of their world.  We are always sad to see them move on and wish them godspeed on their journeys.

We have at least two more months of winter here in the Chilcotin Forest, but on a sunny winter's day like today, spring whispers in our ears teasing us into thinking it must be just around the corner. 

Here are some pics from our walkabout this morning

Life is good.  We count our blessings every day! 

We are enjoying the pristine beauty of winter (how could we not), and we look forward to Spring, trying not to wish this quiet season away.

The slow melt into spring.

Hello dear ones.

I have been remiss in updating our homestone blog.

It has felt like a very long winter but it's really pretty normal.  

In fact we are right on schedule weather wise.  The first five pics below are from March 15th last year. Following those are photos from my walk about on March 15th this year. A walkabout in the beautiful warm sunshine and now with our new little dog at my side. Life is good.

These pics below are from a month ago (March 15th this year) - with the sun giving me leave to walk without my parka and the little dog back in her lighter sweater.   I don't remember ever being quite so delighted by the return of spring.

It was a challenging winter.  I became quite ill in early November and had a raft of tests and exams through November and December. It was a busy and worrisome time for me and for David. Surgery was planned for mid-January. I was concerned about having a complicated surgery at our small local hospital but I am so glad we made that choice.  My surgeon and her team did an amazing job and I am 100% again.  I can't say enough good things about the care I received in Williams Lake, and from my dear David, my brother in law Vincent who makes his home on our property, and huge thanks to the women in my life who were always available when I needed to talk.  

I am so thankful and I feel Great!! 

And now it's Spring. 

Such a beautiful time of year.  

We are truly blessed. And ever thankful.

And we invite you to be in touch.

Please drop me a line at nicola@touchwoodrings.com.   I'd love to hear from you.

Visit our Touch Wood website (currently being updated, thank goodness) And join us on social media Instagram,  Twitter,  Facebook and Pinterest 

As always, thanks so much for dropping by.  

Blossoms on you!

It's Official. Winter has arrived.

November on the meadow

 We've had our first week or so of snow now, so it's official.

Winter has arrived.

 Our stone circle is looking so pretty with snow caps on the stones.

The fire pit is a welcome addition at the edge of the circle.

  The creek is just beginning to freeze.

 We are truly blessed and so grateful for our quiet corner of the world.

Wishing one and all a gentle start to the season ~ wherever you are in the world.

First snowfall ~ October on the meadow

 October on the meadow

October 8th ~ Saturday morning on the meadow.  We awoke to a grey day that soon turned into our first snowfall of the year.  It's almost noon as I write this post, and there is actually a wee bit of accumulation.  
We're ready too, I think.  For the most part.  And that's mostly thanks to the guys. David and Vincent got the plow ready, the travel trailer drained and pinked up with antifreeze and put away under cover for the winter. Equipment shuffled around ~ that kind of thing. Vince has been working on firewood and myriad other things that need to be buttoned up before we're up to our armpits in snow.
Our little dog is experiencing her first ever snowflakes ~ I hope she learns to love romping in the snow as we do have a longish winter.  

Wishing one and all a very Happy Canadian Thanksgiving weekend!  

Fun Factoid :)  The origins of Canadian Thanksgiving are more closely connected to the traditions of Europe than of the United States. Long before Europeans settled in North America, festivals of thanks and celebrations of harvest took place in Europe in the month of October. The very first Thanksgiving celebration in North America took place in Canada when Martin Frobisher, an explorer from England, arrived in Newfoundland in 1578. He wanted to give thanks for his safe arrival to the New World. That means the first Thanksgiving in Canada was celebrated 43 years before the pilgrims landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts!