Snow- Flakes

Out of the bosom of the Air,
Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken,
Over the woodlands brown and bare,
Over the harvest-fields forsaken,
Silent, and soft, and slow
Descends the snow.

Even as our cloudy fancies take
Suddenly shape in some divine expression,
In the troubled heart doth make
In the white countenance confession,
The troubled sky reveals
The grief it feels.

This is the poem of the air,
Slowly in silent syllables recorded;
This is the secret of despair,
Long in its cloudy bosom hoarded.
Now whispered and revealed
To wood and field.

        Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Snow Day: Part Deux

If you will remember about a week ago Vancouver got a skiff of snow- a light dusting if you will- Friday however was the really big show- snow: part deux if you will! In fact it could have been a bonafide snow day in the eyes of many Vancouverites- it was just that much snow! By now it will most likely have melted and become a distant memory to many of us- but I thought I would share Miss Lo's and my magical snow adventure-AKA how it took us almost three hours to get to Granville Island!

  
        We had a bit of last minute Christmas shopping to do and so we set out for Granville Island early on Friday morning- we walked over to the closets bus stop to wait for the direct bus to the island- we waited and Miss Lo frolicked in the snow- we waited and our mitts became sodden- we waited and our toes grew numb- the bus never came. Not to bore you with all the details but we ended up walking from the closest sky train station to our destination. Once again with much thanks to serendipity what was just a run of the mill day became magical.

       One of the things I love most about Vancouver is that as soon as the snow starts falling folks disappear- aside from a few intrepid souls Miss Lo and I had the streets to ourselves- down through the slopes of Fairview we wandered down to the sea wall. making snow balls and playing along the way- enjoying how the snow becomes the universal equalizer- making all spaces clean and white. Aside from the occasional whir of stuck tires and the shrieks of school children on recess the air was quiet with the falling snow.

       We made finally made it to Granville Island- had our hot chocolate- bought our books and caught a bus home. By the time you read this the snow will be melted and life in this coastal city will be back to normal- but for one day we had this winter magic- a gift- perhaps just what we needed!
       

Snow Day!

          Please excuse my super late post this morning- but it is snowing and the snow is sticking! Downtown Vancouver this is a major weather event- we live only a few blocks from the ocean and so while most of the upper levels of this fair city will get a dusting or two of snow a year we rarely do. So it was with great excitement that Miss Lo and I set out to wander Gastown for a bit this morning- I am just as excited as my Littles- then again I don't drive!

        Gastown is a magical place regardless of time of year but there is something so very special about seeing our neighbourhood receiving a fresh coat of snow- mostly untouched- the historical brick buildings catching the snow on their ledges. The first day it snows downtown every person passing us by has a smile on their faces- it is the most perfect of Christmas magic with the lights, trees and now snow!

         It has been so cold here- which I know will make many of my friends and family across Canada laugh- but it has been cold! The snow today sort of makes up for the crisp, freezing cold weather- almost like a bit of a reward! I know it is fleeting and is barely sticking around now- so if you need us today we will be outside- catching snowflakes on our tongues and trying to make a snowball!

Cozy

      This week is quickly drawing to a close and we have been spending as much time as possible soaking in the outdoors as well as our family. Hiking, snow fights, bonfires and lots of wool layers has been our reality this week- next week sitting back in the city I will hold onto this feeling- the quiet punctuated by the squeals on kiddos flying down a hill at top toboggan speed!

      I am a super lucky lady- Christmas morning I found a box under the tree just for me which contained this lovely nubby wool blanket that I have been eyeing at Le Marche for several weeks. This will be my new go to wrap for chilly evenings out on the deck or on the beach. Yesterday I took this yummy blanket for a test drive by the fire and found it does the trick!

      Yesterday found us once again headed to the woods across the street from my parents house - these are the woods that my sister and I played in when we were kids and later I spent a great deal of time working on earth installations for a sculpture class. The Littles trooped up the path complaining the entire way- it has been decided that perhaps they are not so fond of hiking in the snow- they would like some skis please!

       So into the woods we go- Daddy, Poppa and the Littles pausing in a clearing to build a snow man and roll around in the snow- I continued to hike up to the top of the hill and just stood in the clearing listening to the quiet. The forest swathed in snow is the quietest place to be- just for a moment watching the pattern of the trees and catching a glimpse of Okanagan lake in the distance.

     We have one more day here at my parents before we head back up the valley to my In Laws for a few days. We are going to have one more bonfire this afternoon with home made marshmallows and lots of chocolate for the Littles- Hot Buttered Rum for the adults. 

   

     Friends it is Friday all ready- I am not sure where this week has gone to- the sort of week that you sort of emerge from and wonder if you have been through some sort of time warp. It doesn't really need to be said how much fun we have been having these past few days- but I will say it anyways! Not only is it the end of the week but also the end of the year draws nigh- a very special day of the year for my Mr. and I - the night he came back into my life all those years ago! This weekend we will be taking it easy- again- enjoying our last few days of vacation- Friends may your weekend be full of light, love and laughter- you know... cozy!

Let It Snow!

       One of the things I miss most about living in the Okanagan is the snow- granted I don't drive and so I never really worry about that side of things- but I miss seeing it- the variation in tone, the undulating softness of a backyard transformed. Don't tell my parents but I even miss shovelling it- for a gal who is none too fond of exercise an hour shovelling the driveway was a perfect way to keep fit. Of course what I miss the most is playing in it- the winter is so much fun when you have snow to play in!

      Since my sister and I were small I can remember being bundled up and thrown ( OK ceremoniously escorted) outside- I can remember after reality set in (that mom was not going to let us back in) we would find so much fun out in the snowbanks. Digging tunnels through our front yard the one year the snow was as high as my shoulders, building forts out of the huge piles at the end of our driveway, trying to balance precariously on top of the crust of snow to see who could walk the furthest. Those were some good yet cold times!

      Some things don't change- as I sit here typing this in my warm wool socks, my trusty hot latte at my elbow, the men folk of the neighbourhood are all coming out like small boys to shovel the driveways. I watch them one at a time peak out their door, go back in to grab their gloves or a hat and then head out- of course these are boys with toys now and I can see a few snow blowers making fast work of last nights snowfall. I wonder if when clearing the driveway they feel like they are a kid again- outside in the fresh snow?

       So, yesterday, when one is faced with such a gift as a backyard full of fresh, untouched powdery snow we did as any "good" Canadian would do- grabbed the toboggan and headed out for some fun! Even Momo and Poppa got in on the action going down the run a few times- Miss Lo has decided she prefers to be pulled on top of that snow rather than walk and I can't say that I blame her!

       Yesterday it snowed and snowed- had we been at the Coast it would have just been one of those rainy days that you tuck in and watch movies, read and build forts- but here at this elevation it turned into a magical day. We have big plans for the snow today- a bonfire with cousins, another walk in the forest and of course more tobogganing!