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.

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.

August on the Meadow

Oh my goodness ~ it's been too long since I posted on the Homestone.  
Life is crazy good.  

David and I just returned from a long overdue and wonderful holiday which we spent visiting family and old friends who we don't see often enough.  
Most of our time was spent in the southern end of the province where summer days are hot and the nights are equally as warm. We were so pleased that it was rainy and cool for the first leg of our journey.  It allowed us to work up to the hotter weather that arrived. 

We got in some wonderful visits, good hugs and conversations and home cooked meals with folks!  We have vowed to get away more often.  

Arriving home to our cool mountain meadow was wonderful too.  It's so great to have Vincent here.  He is the caretaker and steward of our 'solar powered idyll' and having him here means we don't worry about a thing when we take some time away.  


The hummingbirds are due to leave soon. Their numbers have already dwindled.

The swallows that are left are mostly raising their second broods and so there are still little ones in flight school and learning the ropes on how to be swallows.
We have three blue herons who are enjoying the fishing in Mackin Creek and lots of other birds about; finches, siskins, blackbirds, thrushes, nighthawks, kingfishers... and of course our community of marmots. 

It is socked in today on the meadow with weather reports of thunder storms this afternoon. This morning we lit the kitchen wood stove ~ just to take the chill off.  Is that fall in the air??
The potatoes are flourishing in our new outdoor garden area, we have loads of greens that are keeping us well fed.  Chard and Kale and boc choi and chives ... herbs and sunflowers. Corn and beans too though we likely started these guys a bit late.   There is always next year :)  

For now, we are tucking in and getting back to work with much to catch up on.  Emails from so many wonderful people to respond to and rings to build and summer projects to resume.

Here is a sweet pic David got of two of our marmots who were having quite a conversation on the path down by the creek the other day.  Well, that's a quick update. 
As always, thanks for dropping by and much love. Have a great August!  
As ever, Nicola and David

April on these 48 acres.

K.  I changed my mind.  I can't quit our Homestone blog.  :)  I just can't.  Especially at this time of year when there is so much beauty to record and share.

And so ... I'll continue on with our Warmth of Wood Blog and this 'home on the meadow blog' with perhaps a little less frequency.  

While it is now the second of May ~ I want to share some pics from April on the meadow.

This is such a spectacular time of year.  The arrival of spring.

 we pressed our little flat bottom boat into service to enjoy

 our naturally flooded meadow ~ which gives us a shallow lake for about a month this time of year.

  

 A wonderful and very different way to explore these 48 acres.

Mr Beaver doing what beavers do

  and some forest floor pics

  

                         

 Life is good.  We are so blessed ~ and ever thankful.

Soon, some 'May on the Meadow' pics.

and a quick moment with one of our late April arrivals.

A Slow Motion Spring

It's the last day of March! Spring is just now springing from the snow packed ground. The melt has begun and the birds are returning.  The male Red Winged Blackbirds have been joined now by the females and their mellifluous conversations fill this 48 acre bowl we call the meadow. 

Our first arrival Canada Geese are back.  Yesterday the most magical thing happened ... I was standing outside on the grass when I could hear them honking from over a mile away. As they flew over the house and out toward the hay field, I said "hello you guys, welcome back" and they did an abrupt turn around and flew back over top of me ... so low... closer than I've ever had them come to me in flight ... I knew it was their hello.  

Spring is nothing short of miraculous!!  It's so amazing to be witness to the natural world waking up from winter, a world we know so well after all these years.
We watch for the first Dandelion.  And yesterday, there she was ~ her yellow flower open to the sun.

There have been a few ducks dropping by but the creek is still frozen in lots of spots and the hay fields hasn't yet turned it's snow pack into the temporary lake that we, and the waterfowl, look forward to.  

The warmth of spring is quite a bit later this year than last.  We enjoy the slow melt to spring ~ the slower it goes the more we can enjoy the change of season.  Spring in slow motion.
This is what it looked like last year on about the 28th of March.  And what we have to look forward to.

As you may know, I have written two separate blogs since early in 2005.  I believe it's time to join these two blogs into one.  And so, I am not abandoning "The Homestone", simply moving it all over to the Warmth of Wood blog.  

Our Facebook page is titled; Touch Wood Rings, 48 Acres.  It's an ongoing conversation about what's happening around the meadow and about the work we do (Touch Wood Rings) and the people we have the pleasure of working with.  

I sincerely hope you will join us at the Warmth of Wood  and also follow along on Facebook if you are one of the millions of people who use social media. With love and thanks.  Nicola (and David)