Deep Snow

Good morning everyone!

I am extremely happy to announce that we have four days of forecasted snow, 5-15cm each day!!! We have already had a very decent season so far, and now another big dump is on it's way.  I haven't been up touring for a week or two and plan to head up today or tomorrow to do a couple of laps in the alpine.

Touring up Hudson Bay again

Little baby snow ghost

It feels good to hike up and earn your turns!

Life in Telkwa has been good. It's always pretty quiet around here, so we went out for sushi (I had vegan sushi... nothing to write home about) with some friends last week in Smithers, and this past weekend we went to Prince George to visit other friends and do a big Costco shop.  It's nice to get out for a change of scenery every so often.  And getting to hang out with friends really fills the old cup up.  It's so hard to meet new people here - unless you belong to a church, it's very hard to get into the community and make friends.  That being said, I'm happy having my friends spread out as well, so I always seem to have someone to visit in another place.

My friend Sara in Prince George has just been engaged and she's already planned half of the wedding.  They have a budget, know how many people are coming and have a whole plan in place.  And then there's us... Just taking it slow and easy.  We've got a few ideas up our sleeves but don't have anything concrete set in place.  Still trying to teach Bruce how to carry wedding bands on his tail.... just kidding!

After a hiatus from work, my last boss called me up the other day and asked if I would be interested in coming back in a part-time capacity.  They need some help getting contractor packages out the door, and making up maps. This would only be a fraction of the workload that I had before, and only three days a week.  I'm going to take it on and hope that I can hitch a ride to and from Houston with someone else from the office, so that I don't have to do that drive anymore.

For the days when I don't work, I'm hoping to get back into yarn dyeing, which I only dabbled in during the summer. I would love to boost my skills and entertain the idea of selling some skeins at farmer's markets.

As I'm looking out of the kitchen windows, it's not yet light outside and my eyes keep tricking me into seeing big fat snowflakes drifting by... the snow hasn't started falling quite yet... Tom isn't as thrilled by the prospect of snow as I am, because that means he'll have to go plowing.  A task, we're learning, that makes his butt hurt from sitting in a truck all day hahah . I've offered to switch positions with him a few times - I'd love to push a big blade around town clearing snow!

I've applied to a few positions back home and Tom is applying to some today. We're not sure when we will get jobs and be able to move home, but recently we've started looking earlier than anticipated.  Originally we wanted to stay here for the summer to hike but now we're ready whenever.  That being said, I am NOT doing the cross-country drive in the winter again.  That was bonkers.  And as this will be my 11th time crossing the country.. or 12th??... it is most definitely time to hang up the road trip hat.  How many times have I said I'm never doing that drive again?! lol As my mom says, every Canadian should do it once.. but I think maybe only once. haha

I'm trying my first ever pair of hand-spun socks, and knitting them two-at-a-time for the first time!

My knitting mojo is in full swing.  To the point where I'm having to wear my wrist braces on a regular basis and ask Tom to massage my wrists and hands.  It's a dangerous addiction, this knitting.  Along with these socks, I'm working on a BIG wrap, and after a trip to the yarn shop with Tom this past weekend, he's requested a new pair of socks too! Wrists, don't fail me now!

I have really, really enjoyed my time off from working.  I've had the opportunity to catch up on some things that I love, and really think about what I want my next steps to be.

Here's hoping this post finds you safe and sound, healthy and happy wherever you are.  I hope the first month of your 2018 is off to a great start .

xoxox

Welcome 2018

Good afternoon from the first day of the new year! I hope everyone had a safe and fun New Years' Eve.  We had grand plans to hike up the hill by our house to watch fireworks over the town... but got a bit too cozy in pj's and didn't stay awake until midnight.  Still a nice night in.

I got Tom a vegan cookbook for Christmas - not that he needs one, since he's a natural chef - and we cooked our third meal out of it last night.  Sooo yummy. We are still about 90% vegan and I'm loving it.  I don't miss meat AT ALL (sorry dad), have been able to get around no eggs and no dairy and really only miss a sharp crumbly cheddar cheese.  I feel much more focused and energized too.  Tom has lost weight which we didn't think was possible, but he's excited that now his muscles are even more defined haha.  The only place I seem to have lost weight is in my arms (weird) which I'm liking - I'd fallen off the gym wagon but my arms still look ripped! hahah

Speaking of the gym, a very small gym has open honestly only 100m from our front door.  We got a "couples pass" the other day, to try for a month and have been twice so far.  Just got back from a workout this morning and man oh man do I feel it!  Looking forward to getting back into the swing of the gym, which I really think makes a difference in how I feel from day to day.  Much less sluggish and it definitely helps my posture too by snugging up my muscles around my back.

I have a much more positive and relaxed outlook on the year ahead, now that I have left Canfor.  Again, nothing against the company at all (!!!) but for me, I'm finding it's important to have a better work/life balance, and I need that time at the end of the day to unwind and do the things that I love.  I found that after the commute from Houston and after either a day in the bush (wrecking my back) or a day sitting at a computer (also wrecking my back) I felt like garbage at the end of the day.  I also never saw the sun when I worked in the office.  ANYWAY, moving forward, I feel so much better now and am filling my time with knitting, spinning, getting things in order and trying to find a more relaxed job close to home. 

As it's New Years' Day, I'm probably clearing the Christmas tree out of the house today, so I thought I'd take some pictures of the house for you before the warm glow of the tree's lights are gone.

Bedroom... pretty self explanatory haha

Yoga room with my finished sweater drying!!!

Living room complete with tree

Same room, tiny difference in angle.  Pls note Tom's new playstation controllers on the foot rest.... my fiance is turning into a teenager.  And yes, that's me in the mirror with a towel on my head... what a pair we are.

Tom chatting on the phone in the kitchen

Kirtchen

There you have it!  And the house is actually staying pretty clean now that I'm home.  Tom keeps calling me the crazy German lady because I'm constantly cleaning. I've noticed that by keeping on top of our tidiness, I'm finding "things" that we don't need or use and can just get rid of them on the spot.  I downloaded a new book that you may have heard of; Soulful Simplicity  by Courtney Carver.  Since it's a book about "being more with less", please note how I downloaded it onto my Kindle in an attempt to have less... not just a pretty face over here haha!  I've become interested in the minimalist outlook and way of living, so thought I would do some reading into the subject.

Another thing I've become interested in, is Ali Edwards and her project called "one little word".  It's all about her idea of choosing one word that means something to you, and living with that word in mind, for the entire year.  So for example, I've heard someone choose a word (which I can't remember) that reminded them to take time for them self and take care of them self, but at the same time reminded them to take care of those around them that may need a little extra time.  I think I might give it a shot and use the word "intention" to remind myself to do what makes me happy, do it with an intention in mind, only purchase things I have an intention for... on and on.  I think it will really help me get the most out of each day too, which I feel like I've been letting slip through the cracks recently.  Every day just melting into the next with nothing exciting happening.

Anywho... cue the random plant photo.

I was trying to get the snowflakes in the background... but in any case here is our plant who is so happy to have a real window in our house (compared to the basement we were in)

The cats are so happy that our -30/40 degree weather seems to have left, and have been going outside a lot to play with the neighbour's cat.  They still don't last too long in the snow, and eventually come in to warm up on the floor.

Bruce cat-mat

Odin and his well-loved box nearby. I haven't been able to bring myself to recycle it - Odi loves it so much

So! There you have it.  Still cozy and happy here in the mountains and living by the river.  I'll have to get some pictures of the river for next time.  Very chilly looking these days.

I hope you're starting the new year in the right foot, and taking some time for YOU!

Until next time, xoxo