Mid March

The kids are on spring break. I have been lucky to spend my days off with them hiking a few trails. They move faster than me and go ahead, stop and let me catch up. Every once and awhile Scarlett stops and proclaims she can’t go on. Cooper encourages her, and then she is off running again. I wish I could get a second wind so fast.

Yesterday we hiked north of the lakes and spotted a large flock of swans floating in the wetlands. Today we went to the start of the lake to assure the ice was completely gone from the two lakes.

This is early for the ice to be off the lakes. It was as late as anyone can remember freezing over (after Christmas), making it the shortest time ice has covered the lakes. The ice was never that thick through the winter. I didn’t even try to get the truck out on the ice this year.

Today was warm, clouded over, windy with a spit of rain here and there. Amazingly, we saw several ant hills with the red ants on the top moving slowly getting their house in order. The ice may be off the lake but the frost is still in the ground. These insects are early. Amazing creatures. We also saw several caterpillars crawling about. It might just be my imagination but the lake seems a different colour at ice out then in years gone by.

It’s nice the kids let me tag along.

Snow

About 8 inches of wet snow fell last night. The roads turned slick. We were due in Calgary, but decided to reschedule.

I have included another couple of pictures of the eclipse. I was happy to be able to capture some of the stars around the moon, usually impossible during a full moon as its shine drowns them out. Regulus can be seen above the moon and several stars from the constellation Leo.

***

I changed the oil and filters in my truck yesterday. I haven’t done that in a real long time. I usually take the truck down to Cranbrook an hour and a half down the road for service. People ask why I don’t get it serviced closer to home. The answer is: I’ve always done this. At one time I knew most of the mechanics in the valley and I didn’t want to dislike them. Mechanics are notorious for fucking up and it’s never their fault. Granted they have to keep up on ever changing technology and it can’t be easy. So I drive 150 km out of my way. That way if I’m pissed off at the quality of the work it is at a place out of sight and not at a mechanic I play hockey with on Sunday night, or see at the school picking up their kids.

Now, I have to admit, it probably cost me more to change it myself. First, I bought synthetic oil and a good quality filter.

Second, I had to make a trip to the hardware to buy a six point 15mm socket because the goddamn oil plug was in so tight. The wrenches I had were twelve point and I didn’t want to round off the plug, or I would have been going to the mechanic for a real big bill, and the mechanic would not have spared me from letting me know what a fool I was.

Third, I checked online to see where to take the old oil for recycling. The first place I took it wouldn’t take it, the second place said they stopped taking it. So I drove it over to the landfill who said they don’t take it, but gave me the name of a place that did, and surprise, an hour and a half later and a few litres of Trumps expensive gas, I finally got rid of it.

And fourth, my pants and jacket become thoroughly dirty from lying on the ground, requiring me to spend more time and detergent washing them. Actually, I’ve kept them hidden waiting for a good time to show them to Lisa.

So there you have it, done in by my own hard headedness. Which is a common occurrence.

Early 2026

Scarlett, Lisa and Cooper skating on a freshly frozen Lake Windermere.

Cooper practicing his one-timers (look at the whip in that stick).

Lisa teaching the kids Grandma still has it!

Lisa about 40 years ago skating in the same spot.

Cooper takes Scarlett for a ride.

The Old Man rings in the New Year. Two posts and in!

On Thin Ice

Fresh ice under a waxing gibbous November moon.

A thin layer of ice formed on Lake Windermere in the last couple days of November. Very late compared to years past. Since I usually skate on the lake in November, and wasn’t able to due to the thin ice, I took the opportunity to get in a final swim. More of a dunk actually.

I creeped out on the ice until it cracked and I went through. I had an axe with me to chop my way to shore if needed. Willow wasn’t happy with my choices. Even she knows thin ice can’t be trusted. Lisa took the photo and told me explicitly beforehand not to expect her to save me.

***

The good neighbour was having vehicle trouble and broke down a few miles from home. He asked if I’d give him a ride and help him get it going.

A little tinkering and we got it going. It sounded like shit. Which isn’t totally unusual as the good neighbour has always driven beaters. He usually got them through a trade of one sort or another. At one time he would drive them until they died and then leave them in his yard. I guess his thought was he may get them going again. Then he would start filling them up with other stuff that wasn’t working, but he might get going again. Kitchen appliances, screen printing equipment, even big stuff that made you wonder how he got it too fit. He had a 60 inch TV in one of them. He called them his treasures and reminded me he’s never had a car payment.

Once we had his car going and we let it idle for a while I followed him home to make sure it didn’t break down again.

He says he has some travelling to do over Christmas so he is going to have someone look over the vehicle.

A few days later he texted me and said Grant took a look at it and it still starts. Grant is one of his drinking buddies and is a retired grocer. I, as well, have drank with Grant and if there is something I know it’s that he is not mechanically inclined.

I texted back, ‘You had Grant the grocer diagnose your vehicle? Most people in the same situation employ a mechanic.’

He texted back, ‘That’s a little harsh. If I only had your looks.’

There you have it. The good neighbours vehicle has been given a clean bill of health by Grant the grocer and he is set to take it on his Christmas tour all over British Columbia in the dead of winter.

As long as it rolls out of his driveway he is good to go.

Garden Planted

Damn it feels good to have a few days off. The rest of the garden is planted. The tomatoes started in the basement are on their own and look healthy. They looked happy to be planted. Of course we had a short windstorm today that knocked them around. It’s up to them now.

We’ll see if anything comes up. The birds are enjoying the sprinkler as it has been dry with not a lot of runoff due to low snowpack in the mountains.

***

The other day Lisa thought she heard something in the basement. She was right, it was a scratching and banging in the stove pipe. I opened up the pipe and nothing. I checked the chimney and stove, still nothing.

That night the banging and scratching started back up. Willow did her job letting us know of potential intruders. We didn’t get much sleep.

In the morning I took it all apart again and nothing. Once I put it all back together the noises resumed.

We went to Cooper’s soccer game. When we came home the noises were still coming from the pipe but now they were coming from where the pipe joins the stove.

I opened it up and there was an American Flicker, a type of woodpecker hiding in the flume. It must of, somehow flew down the chimney. When I had opened everything up it would go back into the chimney where we couldn’t see it. Once it went down the pipe to the stove it couldn’t get back up.

Lisa opened the basement door. I reached in and gave it a nudge. The Flicker burst into flight and flew across the room and straight out the door.

We couldn’t have been happier. I’m sure the bird felt likewise.

March 31

Dad and I used to go up Shuswap Creek. The road was always bad. Perfect for the old Scout. The road followed a narrow draw that rose quickly to the foot of Mt. Baldy. The creek was just off the side of the road, 10 or 20 meters below. As a youngster, it seemed like a special place to me. Perhaps so, because large Cedar trees grew beside the creek, these trees seemed rare and majestic to me. Or maybe it was the abundant rabbit and grizzly bear tracks Dad would point out along the way. I remember once, Dad and I were stuck up there while we coaxed life back into the Scout. At the time, it would have bothered me naught if we were ever to return.

By the time I was a teenager the lower bridges had washed out and slides devoured the road. To conquer Baldy meant a sturdy walk through the Cedars. I did it often. I considered planting tracks beside a Grizzly’s an honour.

When I was young I made plans for the city. I wasn’t sure if I would ever come back. It was the middle of winter. Before leaving, I grabbed my skiis, skins, tent, bag and pack. I was determined to have one more look. I skied as high as I could and pitched a saggy tent. The night was long, starry and beautiful at the foot of Baldy.

The next day on the way back out I took a nasty fall and was lucky not to tumble into the creek.

Many years later, long after I was back from the city, I went back to find a couple items I left behind up Shuswap Creek. One was a tent pole. It was easy to find. It was right where I left it. The other item was a knife that fell out of my pack when I took the tumble. It was harder to find. But there it was about ten meters below the spot.

On that trip back into the Shuswap, I noticed a large Cedar that seemed to be growing leaves. On closer inspection, I discovered, it was a dead Cedar and a Birch had grown up through the rotting center.

I went back and told Dad. He was beyond hiking at this time in his life. He wasn’t surprised I found the pole or the knife, but he was interested in the tree. Where exactly was it – before the second bridge?

Later, over crib or coffee, between laughs we would talk about that tree. How phenomenal it was to find.

The knife, the pole, leaving home, youth, old-age – all of it was left behind and unimportant. We talked about the trees, the Grizzly, the drumming chicken, slides and runoff.

All this time later – I miss those conversations.

The Plunge

A great day for the Polar Bear Plunge. Everyone had a great time. It was Hunter, Eddie, and Scarlett’s first time plunging through the ice into the frigid waters of Lake Windermere.

The crowds and participants just keep getting bigger each year, and why not, it is great fun and quite invigorating.

Here are a few pics of The Walrus Water Society 2025.

Hunter doesn’t waste any time getting in.

Scarlett does it the hard way be going down the steps. Very brave.

Hunter & Breanna

A very happy day in our family to watch Hunter and Breanna get married.

Bree has been a big part of our family for awhile now, She is not only beautiful but kind and smart. Hunter is very lucky and we are all lucky to have this wonderful couple in our lives.

Lisa and I have watched them care and support each other. We have often remarked how much they make each other laugh. Very important in a life.

These photos were taken by Kim Payant Photography who did a wonderful job. I took the liberty, I hope she doesn’t mind, of turning a few B/W and toning them as a tribute to Hunter’s grandmother who photographed in B/W. She would have been so proud of Hunter and Bree.

Our family continues to strengthen with the addition of our children’s spouses. It is a tremendous feeling for Lisa and I. Sometimes we wonder how we could be so lucky.

Photos by Kim Payant Photography

60th

A very eventful weekend. All of the kids came home to celebrate Lisa’s Mom and Dad’s 60th wedding anniversary. As well, Friday night was the opening of an exhibit at Pynelogs Cultural Centre that I have several photos on display.

Dave and Florence, Mom and Dad, have been married 60 years. Incredible! They are wonderful loving roll models in our family. They demonstrate daily how to treat each other with respect, how to work hard and how important family is. We are all as proud of them as they are of us. To be all together to celebrate such a special occasion was significant for each of us. We took pictures, had a BBQ with plenty of food, laughed, watched the dogs play and cried happy tears, knowing how special these times are.

The art show was great. Plenty of familiar faces that put me at ease. Deb, Kurt and Brian provided the fantastic music which also eased my mind. It was so good to have my Sister and Brother there to share their musical gift.

None of the weekend would have been possible for me without Lisa’s encouragement and constant optimism, who I thank and love. With luck and good health, maybe someday we will celebrate our 60th.

Christmas Season

Decorating the tree. Lisa picked the topper. She said it looked like us in our prime.

It has been a whirlwind. We have had all of our kids out. They have some time off which is great. Kids and dogs have occupied our house, just like old times.

Getting the spuds ready for Christmas dinner. Norlands and Russet. The Norlands think it is spring and have sprouted.

Work at the resort is busy. It has snowed quite a bit, lately we have had a melt which means ice.

Some of the kids and Willow enjoying cocktails.

My brother-in-law Kurt had a heart attack a few days ago and is in the hospital in Calgary. My sister Deb and I made the trip in. He seems good. He is in good shape and very strong. He will have to be on medication and eat only lettuce for awhile. It’s the shits, but better than the alternative.

I picked up a rack of lamb in Calgary for Lisa and I for our New Year’s Dinner. All the kids will be at parties. It will be just us and the dogs. We will probably be in bed by 9.