Wishing everyone a very Blessed Christmas. Sharing my decorations and more that have brighten our home this Christmas. I hope whatever meaning Christmas has to you, that you find it in your heart to share the gift love.
Merry Christmas
and a
Happy New Year
Let love find a place in your heart so that you may help light up someone else’s life.
Good Morning… Good Afternoon… Good Nights…
whatever it is to you.
Photos & Words
by
Here I Am/Carrie
On todays walk we encountered a momma moose, baby moose, fresh cougar tracks along with tracks from so much more wildlife and a quick hello to the beaver. Since our big dump of snow over 2 weeks ago we have not really had much new snow, but have had beautiful weather. So I have had time for long walks a few times a week. Always with camera in hand discovering new winter wonders which I mostly share at God's Garden of Nature. If you haven’t visited there already and enjoy nature and photography please stop in for a look.
But on todays walk, hubby came along. We were gone for a good 2 hours again venturing to our back field that is almost a 1/2 mile from our house. Half way there fresh cougar tracks were spotted. But we venture on seeing tracks from deer, moose, coyote, bobcat, squirrel, rabbit and grouse. Finally reaching the back field I headed down to the creek wanting to see how it hand changed since fall and heard rustling in the bushes near by.
Now I knew the moose could be down here as fresh tracks were everywhere and this is the wintering ground for a mother moose that has had many young ones here over the years. And there she was. Now some of these photos of the moose are not so good as I only have my small pocket camera which doesn’t zoom so good.
Well at this point she and her young one were separated as the mother ran off up the valley leaving the baby moose behind. We decided to continue on as not to scare them any more. So on up the beautiful creek we went.
A site to behold as winter has now taken hold and signs of fall are long gone.
So glad we ventured here to see this frozen winter scene. You can see many different animals tracks around here.
Soon we came across more very fresh cougar tracks as we had a dusting of snow last night these had to be made just this morning. Seems a huge cougar by the tracks.
Also with this set we noticed this cougar had a younger one with her or possible 2.
Leaving the creek and heading back along the road.
Well on our return trip we took the road that borders our property when across the field on the hill side I saw the young moose trying to climb up the steep mountain side. Seems her mother had circled around and was calling from above for the baby moose to come up to join her. I couldn’t believe my eyes when suddenly the baby moose lost his footing on the steep terrain and tumbled down the mountain side for about 30 feet coming to a rest with his back against a tree and legs facing up hill. A position in which a big animal like that can’t get his legs under him to get up. In this photo he is right in the middle you can barely make him out against the tree. Mother was above calling for him, he struggled a few times then just gave up. My heart was broken I thought for sure he would never be able to get himself up right again.
Momma moose realizing her baby couldn’t get to her worked her way back down and was now just 25 feet below him on the valley bottom and continued to call to it. Finally after 15 minutes he struggled again and was able to roll himself somehow and get himself up again. Mother moose is just below now on level ground. I was so happy.
We watched as the baby moose very carefully descended down the steep bank.
During all this a friend had come by on the road and we were all watching this take place. Quiet cheers when the baby moose reached the bottom.
Meanwhile momma moose just watched us the whole time. Baby moose did not go join her while we were there but stayed hidden about 15 feet from her. We decided it was time to let them alone again.
Just in front of our place near a big beaver dam we were greeted my Mr. Beaver.
So that was my natured filled day here. All these animals are a normal part of our area, but to see so much in one day and so many animal tracks. With that cougar in the area I won’t be venturing so far alone. Can’t believe just a few days before I was stomping all over the forest by myself. Some people think I am crazy, but I know there is so much food available for all the wildlife here. When there is an imbalance that is when I will be more concerned. As the cougar may have a young one to feed as well I will be extra cautious. But for now I have been so enjoying the weather and snow. So nice to spend time outside that doesn’t involve work. Seems in the summer there is always work to be done outside. Of course there is all those little cleaning jobs that don’t get done in the summer that I am also trying to get done here in the house. I have been keeping up with my yoga and enjoying it and limbering my body slowly.
So wishing everyone a beautiful day
and a
Good Morning… Good Afternoon… Good Night…
What ever it is to you
Photo & Words
by
Here I Am/Carrie
We have over 1 1/2 feet of snow. But that doesn’t stop the gardening at our place. Plants are still growing in the greenhouse. So follow me as we take a glimpse of our winter wonderland outside and what’s growing in the greenhouse.
Our garden house built into the hillside sits just below our log home. It is more then just a greenhouse we also have complete guest living area in it as well as a sauna. For more all about our greenhouse visit my posts Building Dreams The Garden House Part 1 and Building Dreams the Garden House Part 2 where you can see us building the garden house in stages and a better look inside.
I had moved all my container tomatoes and most my flowers into the green house in late October. Here in November with snow outside and temperatures as low as –20 Celsius or 5 Fahrenheit the plants are thriving. I also transplanted some lettuce that has already bolted.
Nasturtiums peeking out the window at the snow outside.
On this particular day the sun was shining, heating the greenhouse to a warm tropical climate. Our other source of heat is a wood stove that has to be lit if the sun doesn’t come out during the day and nights are expected to go below 15 degrees or below –10 Celsius. This day I was working in a tank top. Bathed in the sunlight tomatoes are also enjoying days like this and continue to turn red.
More flowers are still blooming.
My little winter get away place. Where the garden still grows.
Outside my garden is blanketed with snow. It came so early this year that many of our fruit and ornamental trees still have their leaves on.
But hidden under this blanket of snow along with another layer of cloth lies the last of my lettuce. I was able to harvest enough for another 5 or 6 more salads. I still have some Kale undercover in a couple places left in the garden for fresh winter greens.
But when the sun is out this is really where I love to be. Outside in our winter wonderland.
We have no proper snow plough this winter, it got broke last winter so it is done towing a V wood plough with our 4X4 truck, going down our driveway it went wacky the 1st run going back and forth. How we have gone back in time. Here also is a photo from over 20 years ago with the same V wood plough loaded with friends and their kids to help add weight after a heavy snow fall. Those were the days when keeping the driveway cleared was a fun thing to do. There was no electricity, running water, TV or internet. I use to be so adventurous back in the first years we leaved here. We also have one of the best sledding runs on our driveway as you can see. But with my back my sledding days are over.
We still have our neighbour's cows here which hubby goes down and feeds in the morning and I go down and feed in the evening. I really enjoy the time out and watching them munch on the hay. They will be picked up soon.
While out this sunny day I was trying to find a little texture on something and found this lovely aspen tree and realized there was even a glimpse of the house in the background.
Well here I am with my snow pusher clearing all our trails to all the buildings around the house. For anyone with back problems get on of these. It requires no lifting of the snow. I do about 200 feet of walking paths and clear parking for 2 cars. It takes about 1 hour if less then 5 inches. About 2 hours if we get a bigger dump. I always start the trails extra wide so later when the snow gets real deep I don’t have high narrow sides.
Well I did finally see the specialist about my back. I do have a partially slipped disc. As I haven’t pushed myself doing to much for almost a year now and I haven’t had any problems. But as I would like to get back into shape again he recommended I do yoga 5 times a week and later start doing exercises on one of those big balls to strengthen my core area. I am soooo out of shape from being afraid to do anything till I saw the specialist. At least now I know what exercises I can do to help my back and not hurt it. I found on You Tube Yoga with Esther Ekhart who has many yoga videos to follow with. Right now I am doing Beginning Yoga part 1 and part 2 of a 5 part series. Perfect for a slow start and getting myself limbered back up again. Finding the time to squeeze that in isn’t always easy. Of course I will always have to be careful and not over due or lift heavy stuff anymore. So even though the snow is here my days are filled and now hubby is on the computer more every evening. We won’t be heading south to the desert at the Salton Sea in California till almost February so I still have lots of winter here to experience ahead of me.
May all your experiences in life be varied and something new to learn and have a
Good Morning… Good Afternoon… Good Night…
Whatever it is to you.
Photos and Words
by
Here I Am/Carrie
