Friday Five: Between the Storms

Yesterday, Thursday, dawned clear and cold, cold being a relative term. There was a little frost. However, the sky was clear and blue, a sight not seen in awhile here. I ventured out to my garden to see what might be happening. 

1. In the midst of repetitive wind and rain cycles, under the dark soil, life is stirring. The first snowdrops are beginning to unfurl their creamy bells. Bluebells and chives poke green shoots upwards. It's all very heartening.

2. Moss thrives. I like moss and don't mind it on rocks, paving stones, and in shady places. My husband dislikes it on the lawn. He applies lime to combat the moss. I transplant bits of it to where I think it would look pretty. Not on the grass, though. Marital harmony is important. 

3. While I love moss, I have a love/hate relationship with succulents. Perhaps I just don't know enough about growing them. Hens and chicks just appeared in my garden and I do like them, but tend to leave them to do their own thing. If I fuss with them, they sulk and look poorly. In the winter, with all the rain, they turn red. I thought they looked very pretty tinged with frost yesterday morning, nestled among the moss. Do you have succulents in your garden? 

4. Oh, little rosebud, I fear for your safety. You looked so lovely in the sunshine, but today wind and rain is lashing furiously. Be brave. There's a change coming from the north. Several days of below freezing temperatures. In typical fashion, newscasters are saying we will experience the coldest weather of the century. That's really not saying much as the century is only 20 years old. Perhaps we will have snow. That I won't mind, but the rosebud might.

5. Storm chips. Have you heard of them? A couple of years ago when we had a snow day off of school, I craved potato chips and took a walk through the snow to get some. Apparently I am not alone. There is a #stormchips hashtag, started in 2014 in eastern Canada. Something about snowstorms causes potato chip yearnings. Who knew? 

This weekend will be fairly slow. I have cupboards I'd like to reorganize and some housework to do. I'll likely bake cookies. There's a stack of books to read. I'll putter. And I'll make sure to stock up for next week's predicted storm - milk, eggs, and storm chips. 

Back from a Little Jaunt

On the second-to-last day of 2017, we boarded the ferry for a trip to the mainland. We spent a couple of nights in Vancouver, with our youngest daughter and her husband. I didn't take a single photo. The weather was chilly and sunny. 

We brought in the New Year with a crab dinner, watching Star Wars on Netflix, and headed to bed shortly after midnight. 

On the first we wound our way through Vancouver, crossed the Port Mann Bridge and drove along Highway 1 towards Chilliwack. As we approached Abbotsford, the scenery beside the road changed dramatically from greens and browns to crystal clear and white. 

The ice coating caused by the storm a few days earlier was preserved by the cool weather. The first photo shows a blank billboard along the highway that I decided to write in. 

My grandfather once owned a raspberry field alongside the highway. I spent a summer picking berries there and always think of him, and that summer, when I drive by. It's now a blueberry field, and although the second photo is blurry, the sea of white ice covering the plants is still dramatic. Each branch appears coated in clear crystal. 

Before driving to my parents' home, we stopped at the Great Heron Reserve along the Vedder River for a short walk and some photos.

As we walked along the trail, the sharp snap of ice cracking overhead accompanied us. Small shards fell and stabbed into the snow on the ground. The beauty was breath-taking, but also treacherous. Many were without power for several days. Branches and entire trees snapped under the weight of ice. 

It's amazing to me that more trees didn't collapse. The ice is so thick compared to the delicate thin branches. 

A larger view - a winter wonderland!

I'm looking forward to a few more quiet days at home before school begins. I've not had time to reflect on the year behind and ponder the year ahead. Some time writing in my journal and updating calendars will happen. Simple cooking. A little stitching. Quiet days. 

And now a huge storm is forecast for the east coast of Canada and the USA. One of my work colleagues is stranded in the UK with his son who played for Canada in a rugby match. We're assuming it's because of the impending weather. I hope and pray that those of you affected will remain warm and safe.