Who is ready for spring? This was not the harshest of winters to live through however it did feel like the longest due to the pandemic. We are hardy people and have gotten through it – yay! The Oxford English Dictionary says a pastime is “a diversion or recreation which serves to pass the time agreeably; an activity done for pleasure rather than work…”. That kind of sums up the scene here. Grab a hot chocolate, sit in the sun, and watch the ice melt.
Sunrise after 7am on morning #1 of what we were hoping to be a 6 day ski trip with family. The conditions on this first day were even better than the sunrise – clear and sunny, -5 deg C, great snow – and so we thought far away from the COVID-19 developments occurring back home. Day 2 (another amazing day outdoors) ended with a thud when Big White announced it was closing immediately and we had to clear out. Now that’s a shocker! This was the same day provinces implemented limitations of groups greater than 50 people. In hind sight a week on now, it was the right thing as we all needed to get home and hunker down.
Merry Christmas and best wishes to your family and friends. I tried to get the natural elegance of this house to come through, and not sure the picture does it full justice. Light snow and low clouds are providing the nice glow. And kind of wish I could pull that telephone pole out… but maybe that’s what helps make this house feel ‘real’ in the neighborhood.
Can someone call up Cottage Life magazine and tell them we have their next front cover right here? Sometimes the lighting and mother nature just works in your favor… Very thankful to our friends for hosting us this weekend at their cottage on North Muldrew Lake, south of Gravenhurst. Sunset was at 4:56pm and this is around 5:15pm Saturday, during a period called blue hour. It works particularly well when there is fresh white snow to reflect the light. Going to print this on canvas as a thank you gift!
I find this picture both calming and exhilarating at the same time. The stillness of the air and clarity across the snow and between the trees, plus the depth of view makes it easy to look at and pretend you are there in person. And then there is the adrenaline rush from making first tracks through snow as your heart beats, legs ache, and you are screaming with delight in your head!
This is the peak of Big White looking West to the Monashee mountains across what they call the ‘Enchanted Forest’. The previous day it snowed like crazy, and this next day it was powder top to bottom. The trees when covered with snow are locally known as ‘snow ghosts’ – great name!
The view back up ‘Village Way’ ski run with peak of Big White Mountain in background, and high alpine skiable terrain. Highly recommend this back country mountain on the border of the Kootenay region British Columbia, for the pure fun of skiing.
Surprise! April 15 and we find 2 feet of snow at our friends cottage. We planned to open it up for the summer, however found ourselves tobogganing down the driveway, building snowmen and having snowball fights. Highlight was having a drink on the snow covered dock, in a Muskoka chair, surrounded by frozen Bay Lake.
life art images 