Merry Christmas.

Our best wishes to you all for this holiday season and a safe, healthy, and contented New Year. 

Unusual Timing

This is the first time in ten years both of my Christmas cactus have bloomed at the same time. 

This Can't be our Forecast

+10 on Saturday?!?

Mixed Emotions

With the installation of the corner pieces, the kitchen cupboard doors, a project started in 2011, are completed.

I am delighted. Tthe Geek doesn't like them. 

The Brussel Sprout Mystery

Don't get me wrong; I like brussel sprouts, but unlike some other fruits and vegetables that are a pretty colour, or smell delicious, brussel sprouts are...green. And usually they are so hidden in the leaves of the plant, you can't see them. Who was the first cook who decided to give them a try?

 

These ones were kind of tiny, not big enough to prepare my favourite way with balsamic vinegar, olive oil and pecans, so I put them in a pot with a can of stewed italian tomatoes and a can of pork and beans. That may sound odd and somewhat disgusting, but it was pretty good.

We odd ones must stick together.

Lest We Forget

Frosty Morning

Extreme Pruning

Apple Tree before

 We had the apple tree and a very sick cottonwood tree removed on Thursday.

Cottonwood before.

Not at all healthy.

 The cottonwood was very diseased and rotten and it was unlikely it would survive the winter. When (not if) it went down, it had the potential to take the telephone and hydro lines as well as one of the three garages immediately adjacent.

 The tree removers came...

... and removed in stages...

 ...both trees.

The forked tree on the right is in danger.

 One forked oak in the front is starting to split as well and may fall. We are consulting an arborist to see if it can be splinted somehow. We are very partial to those oaks.

A long rod is inserted to prevent splitting.

  A long rod was inserted between these two forks to keep them from splitting further.

firewood

There is a pile of firewood from the cottonwood alone.

Very large fungus

A very unwell tree indeed.

Former ant habitat

Morning Mist

I love calm fall days. At sunrise the most rising off the river is magical. 

Autumn

The beginning of Autumn

Last week the leaves started to change colour 

And now in places they are totally yellow. 

We Had A Lot if Rain Last Night

Someone got their feet wet. 

Tomato Stems

Always look like spiders to me. 

Midsummer

Echinacea

When You Turn Your Back

Things can grow out of control.  We had a burst of hot weather and this burdock went crazy. It took the both of us to pull this out. 

Burrs and slugs. 

Sand Sculpting

In  Parksville BC