Hunting season is almost over and I was hoping it would be the first year since I have lived out here that there would be no 'tossed out' carcasses along the roadside.  Well, some inconsiderate hunter kept up with tradition.

Each year during the months that hunting is allowed, I've driven by garbage bags dumped into the ditch.  A few days later the scavengers have ripped the bags open to reveal the leftovers from a hunter that has cleaned his kill.  I've yet to understand why he/she would dump the entrails into the ditch instead of disposing of them properly.  All the residents that live on the same end of the lake that I live on, must drive past this everyday. 

There's my rant, now onto more pleasant things.  I've had more sightings of the pileated woodpeckers this year than I've ever had.  I glanced out the patio doors yesterday and saw this beauty clinging to the suet holder.  I watched for at least 10 minutes while it pecked at the fat covered seeds.  When it finally let go, it flew over to the decaying stump that is beside the feeding station.  There is now a number of very large holes in it; compliments of that big beak.

My little deer friend came to visit again last night.  She glanced up at me but didn't run when I turned on the exterior light and opened up the door.  

I managed to get one not bad night shot out of about 40.  It's difficult to get a good shot when 'Bambi' is moving her head while eating and I am having to shoot with a long shutter speed and an ISO of 1600 due to the low light conditions.  

This little creature has given me many hours of enjoyment.  If she keeps coming back, I'm going to have to come up with an original name for her.  

Since November 21, a single doe has been visiting my yard.  Yesterday, she brought friends; three to be exact.  I glanced out the window and saw the silhouettes.  They glanced up when I turned on an outside light but made no attempt to leave.  I watched as they raided the bird's feeder tray.  When that was empty, they found the tub of grain.  After 30 minutes of eating and frolicking in the snow, they filed out of the yard one by one.

I was off today. The sun was shining.  There was a long to-do list on my table but I just could not waste a perfect outdoor day.  I packed up and headed out the door at 8:15am for some trail adventures.

The sun was just coming up when I left.  As I drove through Elk Island Park, the sun's rays created millions of sparkling crystals on the hoar frost left from last night's fog.  The trees along Amisk Wuche trail wore white coats on their branches.  The contrast of white against the bright blue sky was amazing.  It was so peaceful.  It was Christmas card perfect. 

I got back to the trail head parking lot and knew that I didn't want to head home just yet.  The day was too beautiful to spend it inside.  I drove straight to the Strathcona Wilderness Centre.  I hadn't visited the snowshoe trail since it snowed.  It was packed down so I managed to walk it with boots and cleats.  

As I made my way along the trail, I heard the chickadees calling from the willow thickets.  A slight breeze blew through the tree tops, creating enough movement to shake the hoar frost loose.  It fell from the branches covering the trail like a blanket.   The peaceful silence was broken by the sound of the groomer.  I was glad that I was close to the parking lot.

My final destination for the day was the Cooking Lake - Blackfoot Recreation Area.  The trails have been groomed and track set.  I tried the Neon/Lost Lake trail.  The skiing was perfect.  I met up with a couple of hikers but no other skiers.  I'm proud to say that there were no wipe outs today!

As I traveled home, I noticed one of the deer that visited my yard last night.  I knew it was the same one by its size; double the size of the single doe that has been visiting.  She was making her way up an acreage driveway.  It will be interesting to see if the visitors come back this evening.

When I got home, I realized that I had spent 5 glorious hours in the fresh air.  I visited all 3 of my favorite places.  As I listened to the news this evening, the weather forecaster was warning everyone of an approaching winter storm.  Tomorrow morning should still be okay but freezing rain is to move in during the afternoon.  A snowstorm with big winds and lots of snow is to follow.  I'm hoping that I can get to the ski trail in the morning before the weather changes because it looks like hibernation is on the horizon if the storm hits as predicted.



 

Driving in to work yesterday turned out to be challenging in some areas.  There were patchy areas of fog that were so thick that it was difficult to see a car length in front of me.  It turned out that there were areas to the south of town that had zero visibility which caused a vehicular pile up of 40+ cars and trucks.  The RCMP report said that luckily the worst injury was a broken leg.  

It was foggy overnight as well.  Thick hoar frost covered the branches this morning.  The only thing missing was sunshine to make that frost sparkle.  The weather man said that areas in the northwest of the province are going to experience freezing rain today.  One just does not know what to expect from day to day.  All the snow-haters out there would probably agree that the snow would be better than zero visibility fog and freezing rain.

My furry forest friend continues to visit the backyard.  The doe has been wandering in under the cover of darkness over the past couple of days.  Last night I was awake at 1:45am.  I glanced out the back window and could see her silhouette at the feeding station that includes a tub of grain for her.  She glanced up when I turned on the outside light but that did not deter her from finishing her meal.

The night before, the doe came to the tray feeder closest to my bedroom window.  I got a front row view of her shenanigans.  The snowbank alongside the feeder has melted down and she can no longer reach the seeds when she stands on it.  She proceeded to veer up with her front legs so her hooves were in the bottom part of the tray.  Five minutes later she was done and off she went.

Since the addition of the tub of grain, my bird feeders have not been totally emptied.  When the sun comes up in the morning, they are still half full.  She's filling up on her grain treat so the birds still have food left when the sun rises. 

On the drive home yesterday, a young buck was walking on the roadside, a couple of kilometers from my yard.  I wondered if by chance the two of them will eventually meet up.  He appeared to be a lone wanderer as well. It would be a sad day should that happen.  The doe has been providing a wonderful opportunity to closely observe her habits.  She is very entertaining to watch and is leaving me a gift in return; frozen, fertilizer 'pellets'.

 

 

I stopped at the feed store before work yesterday to pick up a couple bags of food; one for my feathered friends and one for the doe that has been visiting my yard.  It was dark when I got home but I could see that the feeders were empty.  I was excited to put the grain out for the deer but couldn't decide where to put the tub so she would find it.  Well, I must have chosen the right spot because the tub was empty today.

I was feeling under the weather and spent today inside, at home.  It wasn't until this evening that I made it outside to refill all the feed stations.  Not too long after that, Bambi reappeared.  She went straight to her grain.  I guess she needed some extra fiber so wandered over to the tray feeder that I filled for the birds.   She couldn't reach the seeds on the opposite side so jumped up so her front legs were on the stand and remained that way until she had her fill.  I wish it would have been light enough to take a photo.  That would have been a once in a lifetime shot.

It's been 6 days now that the doe has been coming into the yard.  I feel sorry for her because she is alone and not part of a herd.  She's behaved herself so far; eating only the sunflower seeds and her grain.  I hope she keeps visiting.  I have some of her habits figured out but she continues to entertain me; especially with her feeding antics today.

 



 

What a beautiful day!  Sunshine and mild temperatures brought x-country skiers galore to the Wilderness Centre.   Too bad that I was not one of them.  

When I drove in to work today, there was a convoy of vehicles coming and going from SWC.  Most had ski totes on their roofs.  I could only guess that trail conditions were ideal with all the snow that fell over the past couple of weeks.  I'll be heading to the ski trails tomorrow morning before driving in to work.  Can't wait!

Before I left home, I filled the bird feeders.  Last night at 10:30pm, I looked outside to see if the sky was clearing out and I noticed my deer friend doing a night raid.  She went from feeder to feeder, cleaning them all out.  She's not afraid to come near the house.  The tray feeder is just outside my bedroom window and she climbed the snowbank to reach the top of that one as well.  That little lady is going to eat me out of house and home.  Maybe she'll be more satisfied with food that is formulated for deer rather than sunflower seeds.  I'll be stopping at the feed store tomorrow.  My rationale is that she'll leave my shrubs alone if I provide her a few handfuls of grain each day.  So far so good.

 

The temperature rose overnight.  The sky cleared.  The sun was shining and the fluffy snow that fell over the past few days was waiting to be played in.  I left home today at 8:30am.  By 9am I was at the Beaver Pond trail head at Elk Island Park and was ready to venture out with my snowshoes.

I saw a coyote along the highway on my way to the park.  It was romping in the snow; rolling, jumping, rolling some more.  That coyote was enjoying the fresh snow as much as I was planning on enjoying it.

I was the first on the trail this morning.  The chickadees kept me entertained as they searched for seeds.  I'm always amazed at how they can hang upside down from the branches.  

The morning was calm.  No rustling leaves.  No people sounds.  Just a peaceful, silent world.  Every now and again a pack of coyotes would call to each other.  Their haunting calls echoed through the forest.

 

There was some fresh snow on the ground.  Hare, deer, coyote and squirrel tracks criss-crossed the trail.  Bits of bark were left laying beneath the shrubs that the hares were nibbling on.  A squirrel was upset that I stopped underneath the canopy of some large evergreens.  As I enjoyed a water/snack break, it jumped from one snowy tree to another; creating an avalanche that almost ended up on my head.

I spent 1.5 hours on the trail.  The timing was perfect.  As I approached the parking lot, five other snowshoers were headed out.  Another group was gearing up by their vehicles.  My timing was impeccable this morning.  I beat the rush and thoroughly enjoyed my quiet time.

When I got home, I noticed that the doe that has been visiting my yard, had emptied 2 out of 3 feeders that I filled prior to going to the park.  I refilled the empty ones for my feathered friends.  The deer had a well worn path from station to station so I didn't have to walk through the really deep snow.



The sun was shining and the sky was blue.  I made a cup of coffee and enjoyed it on the deck while watching the flurry of bird activity.  Four bluejays flew in and shared the seeds at the tray feeder at the same time.  Nuthatches and woodpeckers enjoyed the suet feeders.  The chickadees were not fussy.  They fed at the suet, tray and hanging feeders.  


 
I went inside to tend to some chores.  As I walked past the patio doors, the bright red crowns of two pileated woodpeckers caught my eye.  I could not believe what I was seeing.  Each woodpecker sat on a fencepost, side by side.  I ran for the camera and hoped that the pair would still be there when I got back.  Jackpot!  I managed to get a shot of them as proof that the two beauties were in my yard at the same time.


After the sun went down this evening, I turned on the outside deck light with the hope of catching the doe sneaking into my yard after dark.  She didn't let me down.  As I watched from the window seat in my room, she visited the tray feeder that the blue jays frequent.  For 30 minutes she moved all the way around the tray, using her tongue to reach the seeds.  When she couldn't reach anymore, she proceeded to forage for the seeds that dropped into the snow.  I'm sure she would have remained longer but a car door slammed and scared her off; her white tail in the air as she bolted to the back of the yard.

The past three days off have been fantastic.  The new snow made for some great outings.  The wildlife in the backyard made for some great entertainment.  The wood stove provided some cozy warmth at the end of each day.  It's been a relaxing mini-staycation!  

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.  Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.  The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.  ~John Muir

 





 

"It's a marshmallow world in the winter..."  It snowed all day yesterday but the flakes were small and fine.  The big flakes started falling today.  I love the big ones!  So far there has been another 10 inches of snow over the last couple of days.  It is a winter wonderland and I'm enjoying it.

After the driveway was shoveled out, I packed up the snowshoes and headed to Elk Island.  The bison were out along the highway.  Their furry winter coats were encrusted with snow and ice.  There were no other vehicles driving on the parkway.  

I got to the Amisk Wuche Trail parking lot and found myself to be the only person there.  Looking at the trail, nobody else had ventured onto the trail after we were on it yesterday.

Tree branches, shrubs and stumps wore white winter caps.  As the flakes fell silently to the ground, I stopped, took in the beauty and enjoyed the silence.  The birds were not even out today.

In addition to the snowshoe tracks that we made yesterday, the deer, hares and squirrels made their own tracks.  I could see holes in the snow where mice came up to the surface from their winter homes.

There is a bench along the trail that I usually stop at for a few moments for a bit of a break but I didn't make it that far today.  I stopped for a break at my favorite area along the trail.  The tall spruce trees create a canopy over the trail making me feel like I'm in an outdoor room. Each branch had a wintry blanket.  It was a beautiful sight.

On the drive home, a large herd of elk were grazing in an open area.  I was almost back to the highway that would take me home and two mule deer lifted their heads to watch me as I drove by.

When I got home, I checked the bird feeders to see if my backyard deer friend visited while I was gone.  They were still full.  I could hear the chickadees and the woodpeckers enjoying their time at the feeders.  

I purchased my annual x-country ski pass today.  The groomer was out while I was at the Wilderness Centre so the trails should be perfect tomorrow.  The temperature is supposed to rise overnight and the sky is supposed the clear.  I think tomorrow will be a ski day!

We feel cold, but we don't mind it, because we will not come to harm. And if we wrapped up against the cold, we wouldn't feel other things, like the bright tingle of the stars, or the music of the Aurora, or best of all the silky feeling of moonlight on our skin. It's worth being cold for that. ~Philip Pullman, Northern Lights

What a great day!  For some reason I woke at 4am this morning so by 9am I had all the laundry done, the majority of the housework complete, the driveway shoveled, the deck swept off, the bird feeders filled and all the dishes washed.  

As I sat at the kitchen table drinking my second cup of coffee for the day, I glanced to the back of the yard.  A white tail deer was helping herself to the sunflower seeds in a feeder.  When I got home from work yesterday, I noticed some deer tracks in the yard.  I also noticed the feeders were empty.  After some investigation, I put two and two together.  Bambi made her way from feeder to feeder, emptying each one.  This morning she was back for more.

I was hoping that she would stay put long enough that I could get a couple of photos.  Not only did I get the photos, but she wandered to each feeding site, emptying all of them so I got many photos.  When she finished the seeds, she did a little pruning as well.  I won't have to trim the dogwoods in the spring; that is if she leaves me some branches.

It was great entertainment for me, watching the deer meander through the yard.  She had a difficult time trying to reach the higher feeders so had to stretch her neck up and use her tongue to try and retrieve the seeds.

The chickadees swooped in, trying to get at the seeds but swooped out quickly when they noticed the deer.  She stayed in my yard for about 30 minutes.

During the time that I was at the window watching her, a pileated woodpecker decided to visit as well.  I couldn't decide if I should keep photographing the deer or try and get a few shots of the bird.  I ended up with 3 of the woodpecker and about 40 of the deer!  I filled the feeders again and am hoping that she will return.  If she does, I'll drive into town tomorrow to purchase a bag of deer feed so she leaves my bird feed alone.

The woodpecker came back for a second visit later in the afternoon.  It landed on a decaying tree trunk that was close to my patio door.  What fun it was to watch while it searched for food beneath the bark.

There were snowflurries all day today.  There is another heavy snowfall warning for overnight.  I was hoping for the fluffy flakes during a snowshoe outing today but that didn't happen.  The tree branches were holding 'snow puffs' in all the crooks from the last big storm.  There was only one hardy soul that had walked the trail ahead of us so there was a nice fluffy blanket that we trudged through.

I still have two days off and I plan on making them outdoor days.  Fresh snow and decent temperatures will make for an extended stay outside.  With any luck Bambi will be back before I leave.  My camera will be ready for tomorrow's adventures.

 

 

The weather has given us a variety of wet, frosty and snowy days over the past couple of weeks.  Two days of pouring rain that melted the first big snowfall, turned to snow last weekend.  A foot of fluffy white stuff fell; creating a beautiful blanket over the yard.

The forecast at that time was for three days of 'flurries' later in the week.  Instead, there were a

couple of very frosty nights.  The hoar frost on the branches in the morning was spectacular.  As I drove in to work, the light from the headlamps caught the crystals and the trees glistened.  I had my own 'twinkle lights' to look at.

The flurries that were supposed to happen, turned into another foot of snow.  The snowbanks on either side of my driveway are now as high as they usually would be mid-winter. 

It looks beautiful outside.  The evergreen branches are laden with snow.  The fence posts are wearing little white caps.  It looks peaceful and serene.  The bird feeders are getting a work out.  I'm filling them every couple of days.

The temperature has dipped to a low of -25C overnight.  This isn't a new phenomenon.  It happens every year yet I hear the same complaining.  "It's cold."  Well, yes it is but this is winter in Alberta.  It happens every year so one would think to prepare for it.  

I would imagine it would be cold when instead of wearing a jacket made for the -20s; a light autumn jacket is being worn.  There were others this week wearing fashion boots with spike heels and no lining to keep feet warm.  I hate to break it to those fashionistas, but yes, your feet are going to get cold and yes, you are going to slip on the ice and snow.

The winter weather is more enjoyable if you are comfortable.  It does mean having to wear the gear; a good hat that covers the head and ears, a scarf, mittens instead of gloves, an insulated jacket, snow pants and boots that are actually made for ice and snow.  One is not set for the fashion runway with all of this on, but you will be warm.  I'm not saying that you will become a winter lover but you will be more comfortable and safe.

I'm looking forward to enjoying that snow later this week.  The -20C temperatures don't bother me but the weather man seems to see a warmer trend as the weekend approaches.  I'm hoping to get the skis and the snowshoes out for some winter fun.

 It is the life of the crystal, the architect of the flake, the fire of the frost, the soul of the sunbeam. This crisp winter air is full of it. ~John Burroughs, "Winter Sunshine"

 

When the rain turned to snow, it kept falling and falling and falling.  Most of the previous snowfall melted under the raindrops but it was soon replaced with more than we had before.  A winter wonderland appeared over the weekend.

My grand-daughters were sleeping over.  When they went to bed on Friday night, we talked about what it would look like in the morning.  We were expecting it to be white but were not expecting the 6 inches of snow that fell.  I had to push the back door to get it to open.

The snow continued to fall through the day.  We bundled up and headed outside.  I shoveled and they had great fun in the deep, fluffy snow.  The sand toys that we used to take to the playground, turned into snow toys.  The dinosaurs were getting lost in the snowbanks.  The girls wondered how we would have a picnic if the table was covered in snow.

The evergreen branches drooped under the weight of the snow.  Each fence post wore a white cap.  "Gramma, the moose can't see."  I have a moose lawn ornament constructed from 4x4 landscape ties and its head was covered with flakes.

I could hear the neighbors clearing their driveways.  The laughter of the children echoed through the air.  They were having great fun in the snow as their parents toiled at getting access to the main road.  Someone had a wood fire going.  The smell of smoke wafted into my yard.  I love that 'campfire' smell.  It's the best aromatherapy ever!

The snow created some bad conditions for driving but it sure was pretty to look at and fun to play in.  The girls jumped, shoveled and ran in it.  They played with their dinosaurs in the snowbanks and pretended that the playhouse was an igloo. 

News reports showed people complaining about the weather conditions.  There should be no complaining. Winter happens every year.  The snow is covering the ground and the roads are not in good condition but our situation does not compare to the areas hit by the typhoon in the Philippines or the tornadoes in the United States. 

Our wintry condition will last a few months making for slippery roads and lots of shoveling but there is no destruction.  Homes are standing and roads are passable.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those living in the areas of destruction. 

 

The rain that fell over the past few days has melted all the fluffy snow.  Six deer were taking advantage of that yesterday morning.  I could see their silhouettes in the field as they fed on the grass in the open areas.

There is a lot of ice on my driveway and the hiking trails.  At this very minute there is snow falling on top of the ice.  It's going to be treacherous for walking.

I got the bird feeders filled and the suet cakes out before the snow started falling.  The birds must have been waiting in the tree tops.  As soon as the feeders were full, they swooped down and there was a feeding frenzy happening.  Woodpeckers, nuthatches, bluejays, chickadees and magpies took turns at the sunflower seeds and peanuts.

The wood box is full and supper is in the oven.  I'll be heading out soon to pick up my grand-daughters for a sleepover weekend.  The weather will determine how much outside time we will have.  If the forecast is accurate, we are in for a few centimeters of snow and cooler temperatures.

When it snows, you have two choices:  shovel or make snow angels.  

~Author Unknown

It's November 13 and I had to have my windshield wipers on high for the duration of my drive home.  The rain was coming down as if it was mid-summer.  This, combined with the warm temperature, played havoc on the fluffy snow that covered the ground.  There isn't much left.  Most of the ground cover is ice.

The rain began overnight, stopped and then froze.  It started again just before I left for work this morning.  I opened the backdoor and noticed that the deck was wet.  I did not notice the ice under the water and proceeded to do a few 'figure skating moves' on my way to the stairs.  Each stair was coated in ice.  I side-stepped each stair all the way to the bottom.

As I tried to stay upright on the way to the garage, I wondered what happened to the beautiful morning that I witnessed the day before.  I watched the sun come up while enjoying my morning coffee.  The colors were bright and beautiful; a sight to behold.
This morning was grey and damp.  

As I turned off the exterior lights this evening, it was dark and damp.  The temperature is supposed to drop and the rain is expected to turn to snow.  The forecast is for up to 4cm of snow.  That, combined with the ice covered road, is going to make for an interesting drive in to work tomorrow morning.



 

Almost a year to the day, I lost a good friend after cancer stole his life.  He had to expend the last bit of his energy battling for his life in a hospital bed instead of chasing his golf ball.  I found out last night that another acquaintance of mine lost her battle 364 days later.  She was able to see one of her daughters get married this past summer but won't get to see her second daughter marry or spend time with grandchildren.  She would have been a wonderful grandma.  Why is it that people can be sent into outer space for months on end but there is still no cure for cancer?  It continues to silently steal lives.

I had some extra time this morning before leaving for the city.  I could have spent it doing chores around the house but decided to head outside.  

The sound of the forest and a brisk walk in the fresh air is what I needed.  When I got to the trail, the clouds parted and the sun's rays shone through.  It brightened a grey day.

The snow glistened and crunched underfoot.  I heard the blue jays and the chickadees in the tree tops.  Animal tracks in the snow on the pond surfaces, looked like roads on a map.  Those simple things give me such pleasure.



Hiking the trails allows me the time to clear my head.  Today I contemplated what was important.  Spend time doing things that have meaning; things that make a difference.  Spend quality time with loved ones where you are unplugged from technology. Give them your undivided attention even if it's only for a short time. Spend time doing things that make you happy.  Don't waste your energy on things that you cannot change.  Make the most of each day because you never know if it will be your last.

I don't know what made me look out the window at 1:30am but I am sure glad that I did.  The light show going on in the sky was the brightest that I have ever seen.

The greens and purples danced together across the sky, creating a canvas that changed every second.

It's 2:15am and my alarm is going to go off at 3am.  I may have to fight to keep my eyes open at work today but this was one light show that I was not going to miss.  

Christmas Card Perfect

The snow stopped falling and the temperature has dipped from what it was yesterday.  The wind left cheeks and noses a little rosy today.  I'm glad to say that there are no long-lasting after-effects from the two days of x-country skiing.  My leg muscles were in fine form today and my arms felt normal by noon.

Help!  I've fallen and can't get up.

My son sent a couple of photos from our ski adventure.  When I saw them, I yearned to go out and play in the snow even though I knew I couldn't fit an outing in today.  I could 'smell' the fresh air and feel the peacefulness of the forest just by looking at the photos.  I also had a good laugh at my wipe out!

Since I couldn't make it to the trails today, I'm going to share some of Mother Nature's art.  I love going out during or right after a big snow.  There is such beauty to be found amidst the trees.  The last time that I was out, I watched for 'snow sculptures' in the branches.

Flying bird.

Fortune cookie on a stick.

There were so many works of art to see!

Reaching hand.

Quacking duck.

The next time that the snowflakes start falling, take some time to go outside for an art walk.  You never know what you'll see.  There will be something new everyday.

What got into me?  I'm still attempting to figure that out.  Why, on only the second time out on x-country skis this season, would I suggest a 13km trail?  Why would I suggest a 13km trail on the day after going out for the first time?

Last night we narrowed down our choices to a couple of trails.  The fluffy snowflakes falling from the sky must have been drawing me to the Moss Lake trail at Elk Island Park.  Now that I think about it, that trail was the shorter of the two picked out.  The other one was 16kms.

On the way to the trail head, we saw a large herd of elk on the top of a hill to the west of the parkway.  They watched as we pulled over to snap a few photos.  As the window rolled down, they stampeded to the bottom of the hill.

Further up the road, a coyote lopped through the snow in search of a morning meal.  He wasn't about to stop while we slowed to watch him.  The scene itself was beautiful.  Large flakes were falling as the coyote ran through the snow.

There were no other vehicles in the trail head parking lot.  We gathered our gear and headed out.  There was about four inches of fresh snow and we had to break trail.  Thank goodness my son took the lead.

At the beginning of the outing, there were a number of BIG hills that we had to climb.  My legs were not sore from the night before but they were certainly fatigued after completing the climbs.  I wanted to continue forward, rather than turning around.

The snow fell silently and steadily the entire time that we were out.  The trail wound through aspen forests, spruce forests and along the shore of a frozen lake.  It looked like a Christmas card.  The tree and shrub branches wore blankets of white.  It was so peaceful.

Moose had been out on the trail.  Their tracks criss-crossed from one side to the next.  They stopped every so often to paw at the ground.  In a couple of spots, they had laid down to rest in the snow, leaving an indent in the fluffiness.

Two flocks of geese flew overhead.  Their honking echoed through the woods.  Squirrels were accessing their stores and woodpeckers were out in search of food.  The chickadees were flitting from branch to branch.

The trail flattened out as we came to the areas where the forest was thickest.  I had to stop every now and again to give the old legs a rest and to take in the beauty around me.  I was impressed with myself, my legs were beginning to feel like rubber, just as my arms were but I only had one wipe out.  It wasn't even because I lost my balance on a hill which is always an expectation of mine.  We crossed a wooden boardwalk and my ski caught something under the snow as I came off the end of the walkway.  Down I went.  All I could think of was 'Help I've fallen and can't get up.'  I had a good laugh and my son got a good picture.

We did not meet up with anyone else during the entire time that we were out.  This has become my new favorite trail for x-country skiing.  I'll practice a little before the next outing and make sure that I take some extra snacks and water along.  If I would have been by myself today, I would not have made it all the way around; having to break trail.  My son did a fine job of that.

The laces on my ski boots had huge icy snowballs on them.  My socks were soaken wet.  I could barely lift my legs up the back stairs but it was a glorious day.

I spent the remainder of the afternoon on the couch.  The wood in the stove crackled and the fire warmed my bones; that coupled with the fuzzy blanket that I was cuddled under.  A nice two hour nap ensued after which I made a big cup of tea and read for the remainder of the day.

The outings over the last two days have left me filled with gratitude.  I love the area that I live in.  All my favorite activities can be found within a short drive from home.  My weekends are mini-vacations each week.  I couldn't ask for anything better.

 

I spent three glorious hours this morning on the Amisk Wuche trail at Elk Island Park.  Huge, fluffy snowflakes were falling lazily to the ground.  There was no wind.  The forest was silent.  It was so quiet that the only sound I could hear were the flakes as they landed on my nylon jacket.

I couldn't decide whether to take snowshoes or skis.  It turned out that I didn't take either.  My hiking cleats did the job today.  

There were two inches of fresh, fluffy snow on top of the packed trail.  It's beginning to look like a winter wonderland.  Each little crook in the branches was filled with snow.  The broken tree stumps wore white caps.

As I made my way along the trail, I could hear the woodpeckers and blue jays calling out.  The squirrels were busy digging out their food from under the snow.  

The decaying, mossy logs that I photographed last week are covered with a thick layer of snow.  The rose hips were wearing snowflake caps.  Today, they provided the only glimpse of color in a forest of brown and white.

On the drive home, the bison were foraging for grass along the roadside.  They looked up as I passed by and I noticed that they had some very snowy 'beards'.  A coyote was laying on the snow on top of a beaver lodge.  I wondered if it was waiting for some unsuspecting beaver to surface through the thin layer of ice.

Once I got home, I had some shoveling to do.  That was rather pointless as the flakes kept falling until mid-afternoon.  The wind picked up for awhile; forcing the leaves from my neighbor's willow tree to let loose.  They danced across the top of the snow, finally coming to rest against a stack of wood.  

The morning outing was fantastic but my outdoor time didn't stop then.  I got to dust off the x-country skis today.  The first ski outing of the season just happened to be a night ski.  What fun!  We headed to the Strathcona Wilderness Centre where we donned our headlamps before setting out.  The trails were groomed but not track set.  The snow condition was perfect; no too fast and not too sticky.  I'm feeling rather proud of myself; no wipe outs this evening.  That usually happens on the first time out for the season.  It takes me awhile to get coordinated with the skis and poles.

There were a lot of animal tracks on the trails tonight; moose, deer, coyote.  We didn't see any animals while skiing but we did see a deer in the ditch on the way to the park.  

We were not the only ones that took the opportunity for a ski run in the dark.  As we were coming back to where we had parked, another skier was headed out on the trail.  It would have been even better if there would have been a starry night but I'll take any outside time I can get.