It's Easter

 A very early Easter this year and I have more things blooming in the garden than I've ever experienced in 62 years!  Came home from the west coast last night and today was able to enjoy some crocus, iris reticulata, heather and a couple of pulmonaria (in hot micro climates) in bloom.  It really does feel like spring here.  It had definitely arrived in the Columbia River Gorge and southern WA state.  Yesterday, we visited our favourite people in Rossland and there's still a good pile of snow but you can pretty much walk around on the roads in running shoes or sandals.  I was thrilled to be able to work in the garden today - getting ready to plant peas tomorrow - and most of the perennials are starting to grow.  I know that all my SK friends are waiting for mountains of snow to melt.  I sympathise.  I remember it all too well.  Happy holidays to my teaching friends in SK and let me remind you about Connie's Kaldor's song, "Spring on the prairie comes like a surprise."  Let's hope that it is soon. 

Back At 'Er

 It's springtime in the Kootenays today and we rototilled the garden.  This is actually going to be the area where we plan to do raised beds but it gets the most sunshine in the summer and we haven't managed to figure out the soil around here so we'll buy a bunch of bagged soil and try to grow stuff like we used to do in SK.  One thing I LOVE about here is that we get about two more months of gardening time.  It's a bit early this year compared to our past 6 years, but it is nice to be able to garden from the end of March through October. 

Carrying the Colours

 I've been given the honoured request to knit Christmas stockings for the grandchildren.  It's complicated!  Yesterday, my friend Effie loaned me some bobbins and taught me how to do this task correctly.  I can't say that I yet find it easier than my old tangled mess, but it does make the back side look neater.  Carrying 5 colours is a complicated business to me.  I'm going to learn some patience and there's only 15 more rows to go on the first stocking and I can get back into 'cruise' mode (thanks, Elizabeth).  I hope to have this mastered before too long.  A big thank you to Effie for her support in knitting with many colours.

Champion Lakes

 Thursday afternoon we had our second chance to ski at Champion Lakes, maintianed by the Beaver Valley Nordic Club.  There isn't an extensive range of trails, but it's lovely for an hour or hour and a half ski.  We got there on a very sunny day this time.  One trail,  which I have yet to try,  heads up to the Huff 'n Puff Cabin - I think this is one trail I'd prefer to try in spring as a hike so I can determine if it is truly skiable.    I'd recommend this ski spot to all if you're in the mood for a short ski.

Falling In Love Again

 I've spent enough time in Rossland this winter to realize how much I really do LOVE to x-country ski.  Yesterday, I tried out a new trail at Nancy Greene Park and had a lovely ski - snow conditions were perfect, bits of sunshine appeared, and there was no one out there!  The sign here shows the variety of trails in this park.  Last week we tried out Champion Lakes Provincial Park and it was a fine ski as well.  I get many benefits with the weekly trips to Rossland - the "boys", an extra night of duplicate bridge and a good ski.  Last Sunday and Monday, Dave and I had spent a night at the high country hut near Kaslo.  It was beautiful to be up there, but getting there is becoming a problem for me - the skis are heavy and my knee hasn't been happy since our journey there.  This year, x-country skiing is tops!

Survivor!

 I spent 4 days in Rossland with the twins and here I am to tell abou it.  Friday, I had Dave to help out for the morning and everything went so well - they love Grampa!  Saturday, the boys went in the chariot behind their skate-skiing father and had a good walk at Black Jack.  Andrea figures Atley walked about a km on Saturday.  Saturday afternoon I looked after the boys while A & D ski toured.  We played for an hour and then they slept for two so that went well.  Monday, I looked after them on my own and we had some challenges.  Getting them ready to go outdoors is the formidable task - while one is getting dressed the other is playing with the floor lamps.  They love those lamps and really want to see some breakage, I fear.  At Strong Start everyone played well although Miro did manage to bop himself with the small snow shovel they had at playtime.  Glad to see he's getting ready for snow shoveling in his future - Rossland gets snow! I had two sleeping and tired guys by the time we walked home from play time.  Luckily, a bright sunny day allowed them to have a sunny snow snooze in the chariot.   The boys love walking around in their parents' hut booties as shown here.

More NJ

 We took Callie for a walk at Great Swamp, a fine birdwatching place in NJ.  It's amazing how many "wild" places you can find in NJ when there are roads EVERYWHERE.  There's a couple of feeder stations where we observed, chickadees, nuthatches, a titmouse and juncos.  We saw several cardinals while visiting, but only in the residential areas.  I do like Great Swamp; it's got a few km of hiking trails, some good observation posts, and plenty of birds.  The din of civilisation is constantly heard, however.