poplar road

The first view is looking east towards the hills, outside the dining room French doors. The trees both in our yard and behind in the 10 acre wood are stunning in fresh snow, and the hills are just high enough to get snow when it's raining down here. The second shot is looking north from the same doors. The neighbour has lights up on the A-frame cabin in his back yard, and at dusk it looks like Hansel and Gretel could come skipping home through the trees. Wish I had time to do my gingerbread house this year.

The two photos above are from my front entrance, looking southeast across the street. We're near the end of the block and it doesn't take long going north or east to get into wooded hills and farmland. I'm thinking cross-country skiing; Richard is dreaming of snow-mobiles. Snow-shoeing would also be great around here.

This last photo is of the unusual crab-apple tree, which has attracted several varieties of brightly coloured birds, not to mention squirrels, as the fruit is still firm, bright red and glossy. If they remain frozen a little longer, I am going to pick the last of them for my Christmas centrepiece next week. If it gets really cold, and if I have the time, I may be able to decorate one of the trees outside with berry & leaf decorations molded of ice. That would make up for not getting lights up this year.

No Christmas cards this year, either, and I still cannot say when we'll be back in Vancouver to see everyone, though it's looking more likely that we will come closer to New Years. Sushi on the 30th, perhaps? So I'd like to say Merry Christmas, a joyful, peaceful holiday, and a happy and prosperous New Year to all our friends and family from Richard and I. Cheers!