Bruce the Great Had His First Battle

Good morning to you from sunny Telkwa.

This past week saw Bruce battling it out with a can of bear spray.  You read that correctly.  He snuck out on Wednesday night and was found later in the neighbors' backyard, in the rain, soaking, covered in bear spray, and was unrecognizable!  I didn't even know it was him.  The poor thing.

He got back into the house finally and couldn't open his eyes.  I thought he smelt funny and hadn't yet clued into the bear spray.  I started coughing out of control and then my eye started burning.  When I went to rinse my eye at the sink, some of the water ran down my face and onto my lips and then that whole path was BURNING!  That's when I realized what was covering the little guy.  Bear spray is oil based, so even if you try to rinse with water, it can actually just spread the nasty stuff!

Tom was away at camp and I had come home late from two days at camp, myself.  I was so tired and so upset.  Odin didn't know what to do and just followed Bruce and I around.  I bathed Bruce in Dawn and water (#1 recommendation according to Google) and tried drying him off as best as I could.  But both of us were coughing from the fumes and both had tearing, closed eyes.  It was horrible.

After talking to my dad last night, we decided to believe that Bruce was in a fight with a dog or coyote and it looked like he was going to be eaten, so someone sprayed them to break up the fight.  He has cuts all over this face. Bruce loves other cats and has never tried to hurt them.  But he hates dogs with a passion and has gone after them in the past.  So the story seems pretty likely.  Otherwise there is some low-life on my street who dislikes cats so much that they spray them with a deterrent made for 600lb animals.

Sigh.  So that was pretty much the excitement from last week.  Thankfully other than that we are all doing fine here in Telkwa.  Spring keeps trying to come around but we get little snowfalls every once in awhile.  The daytime highs have been around 6, with sun : )

I've given up on ski season coming back, so I'm ready for spring.

Last week, as I mentioned, I was in camp for two days (one night) where I got to see Tom and his crew! It was great to have a mid-week check in with Tom.  I was so tired after that, though.  The snow had turned to heavy, wet mush and my back was SO SORE by the end of the day.  Even my knees hurt - which has never happened before!  The snow just sticks to the snowshoes in huge clumps and gets so heavy.  So I made sure to ice and stretch and do some physio.  And now things seem to be back to normal.  Except for a pesky neck problem that won't seem to go away... I'm getting old haha

Snowshoe hare prints... and some snowshoes!

I'm heading back to camp this Wednesday-Thursday so hopefully the snow isn't as bad.... although it just seems to be getting warmer.  At least I'll be at camp for steak night on Wednesday night! Bonus.

After next week, all of the logging and hauling shuts down for "breakup".  The ground will be getting too soft and muddy and driving machines in that can really wreck the ecosystem (and leads to machines getting stuck).  Breakup can last around a month.

So during that time, camp and the barge to camp will be shut down -- meaning Tom will be at home!! hooray!!!  He will be working out of town and coming home every night.  PLUS Jill said she will probably send me out with his crew to work!  So we get to work together!  I can't wait.

One of Tom's views last week.

My sweater is coming along slowly still and I'm crossing my fingers that I'm following the pattern correctly... Oh dear.  In the meantime I finished a pair of socks for myself, and got some cool yarn to make Tom another pair.  I bought a book on yarn dying and can't wait to try my hand at it once the weather gets warm and I can do it in the backyard.  Still trying to figure out how to heat a pot outside... any ideas are welcome! I have a tiny camping element but would have to go through a lot of gas to boil a big pot, I think.

Things at work are still going well.  But still a little strange to think that I have more qualifications than the guy who supervises me (in my old position).  I try to remind myself that the pay is better than it was back home, I know what I'm doing, and I don't have responsibility for anyone but myself, which is a nice change from supervising others.  The new guy is pretty anal and can be a bit obsessively by the book.  I just try to do my own thing and keep everyone happy (recipe for disaster, I know haha).  I'm not sure if anything full time will be coming around.  Canfor and the whole forest industry is going through budget cuts thanks to Trump and his views on trade.  But that doesn't mean that someone who has a full time position at Houston won't transfer into another role or another office, opening a full time position here.  So I'll wait.  And in the meantime I'm in the glorious mountains, getting ready for hiking season and before that spring skiing season! So I'm happy : ) : )

Odin is pretty happy, too.

"I survived!" says Bruce.  You can see a cut on his nose.  Healing up, though!

Well, it's 11:00am and I'm still in my pj's... time to get outside and get some fresh air!

Talk to you all again soon,

xoxox

My First Week of Work: In the Bag!

Good afternoon everyone!

My first week of work is all done and I. Am. So. Tired. I must have been a BEAST to have done this job day in and out! Give me a few weeks and hopefully I'll be back up to speed.  It's felt good to be back out in the bush with the whiskey jacks (those are birds...not drinks!) and snowy trees.  I was thrown right back into things after only one day of paperwork on Monday.  Tuesday saw snowmobile training all day... I blacked out as soon as my head hit the pillow that night Zzzz! Then Wednesday it was off on a long drive towards Moricetown (to the West of Smithers) to flag out CMT's in the bush.

A CMT is a culturally modified tree and has been "modified" by the first nations in the past.  Some trees have a strip of bark missing from a hatchet strike: these are known as Blazes, and usually mark a significant trail.  Another form of CMT is a pine tree with bark stripped/pulled up from the bottom; the inside of the bark (cambium) would have been eaten for it's nutritional value.  In the field, after an archaeologist has deemed the trees to be CMT's but not super old (pre-1848, I believe), we can wrap ribbon around the trunk so that the harvesters don't cut them, and leave them for cultural significance.

Then Thursday and Friday I was out snowshoeing north of Smithers checking on our contractor's timber cruising (basically inventory) of a few blocks.  I was out with Maciej (the guy who has my old job.. and a Polish name that is pronounced matche) and thought it may be awkward working from the bottom of the totem pole with someone who has my old work truck and my old job... but it really wasn't that bad.  He seems eager to talk about just about anything and is good with my peppering of questions as I try to remember my old processes and ways of doing things.  He's also from Ontario - Guelph.  So we've connected on a few topics from the 'homeland'.

Jill just got back from New Zealand, so I'll be able to catch up with her tomorrow at work.  Thankfully I have an office day tomorrow, so I'll be able to rest the old muscles a bit more and see what she has in store for me this upcoming field season.

Both Jill and I are worried about my back - the last time I did this job, my back gave me some grief and has been sore this week.  So I've promised her that I'll do my physio exercises and stretches daily... something that I'm not very good at keeping up with... which is probably why my back bothers me in the first place! hah!

It was almost spring here... then got very cold... just last night it snowed for the first time in a while, and now the forecast says we will be around plus 6 degrees into the foreseeable future! All over the place!  On Thursday and Friday we were working in -20 degree weather.

Everyone is happy when Tom comes home!

Tom seems to be liking camp more and more.  It's hard having him away for most of the work week, but he's loving having Fridays off, and he gets paid for So.Much.Overtime!  This past week he was paid for a total of 52 hours in four days! That's more than I did in a week, back home!  The other good thing about his set up is that he isn't sweating through the bush that whole time - they spend a good chunk of the day driving to and from the bush.  And then when they get back after work to camp his food is already waiting for him!  Lucky guy.  Breakfast is made as well as bring-along-lunches.  He's got it made.

Tom's Office

Out for a hike up the ski hill

Which brings us to your favorite baker-and-definitely-not-a-chef... me.  This past week was a bit of a failure for having food organized for the week.  I get up around 5:30 am and am not home until 5:30pm... so I REALLY don't want to go grocery shopping or cook anything complicated.  SO today I have already made some quinoa balls (like meatballs but meatless), Tom made me some energy balls, and I've prepped some veggies for stir-fries throughout the week.  Let's hope the food and motivation to stay organized, persists!

Enchiladas from last week - they completely fell apart haha! But hey were s good.  The cilantro avocado sauce on the top was AMAZING.

I'm still working away on my sweater and am loving it.  I've made a silly mistake in the cabling that I hope you won't notice... but it's pretty obvious haha . By the time I noticed I had knit far enough past that I didn't want to rip back to fix it.  So I'm going with it.  It makes it even more one of a kind.  Now that I'm back at work, the sweater may become more of a weekend project... slowly but surely I will get there.  I've been knitting socks as well just to have something mindless to knit if we are watching a movie or TV show.

"Brigid" sweater

First sock in a pair complete

It was International Women's Day this past week!  So a shout out to all of the lovely ladies reading this.  Gotta love the girl power!

And finally, I have started learning German!  My dad is German and I have always wanted to learn but never have... until I found the free and fun app called DuoLingo!  SO far I am just learning the basics, but the app promises that I'm already 14% fluent. Hee hee hee.  It's set up similar to a game.  Once I've passed a certain level, I can do more with the app, like have actual conversations with others, through the app (not sure if these are other people or a computer...), learn phrases and compete with others. It's fun and quick and I've been trying to practice on Tom all the time; "Er trinkt Bier" or He drinks beer! : )



Well, time to sign off and do some knitting!  Enjoy the rest of your Sunday! xoxox

Crater Lake on top of Hudson Bay Mountain

Went touring up the ski hill last week, to get some much needed vitamin D

The view out the kitchen window... with the upcoming spring weather, this view is sure to change soon!

Stay at Home Mom

Well, Tom went off to camp yesterday morning, leaving me at home with the "boys" until Thursday eve.  I feel like a stay at home mom!  I spent the first few hours of the day yesterday looking through cooking books since I will now have to fend for myself... yikes.

Photo cred: Tom
Bruce sucking up and posing for his close-up

This morning saw fresh breakfast muffins, a hike on Jill's property, and this eve has Caribbean Rice on the menu... I'll let you know if I burn down the place in the process.

Back to Jill's property for a moment; at the last minute she sent the dogs to the boarding kennels, as they were having major issues with their septic.  She said the septic field froze and backed up and the basement was dirty to say the least.  Ewww.  This all happened the day before they were to leave for their New Zealand trip!!  The problem was fixed but just in the case that it came back, she didn't want us to be stuck in a house with three pets and crap all around.
So now it's just the cat "Princess".  She is one of those cats that you can pet twice but if you go for the third pet you get a swat! I went to top up her food and let her outside this morning and took a nice long walk on the property.  Jill has 100 acres! So there's lots of forest to explore.

I had an update from Tom's first day, yesterday.  The guy that's training him is also from Ontario and has already invited us by to his place this weekend! They had a short day in the bush yesterday since they had to do the long drive out there first, but will be doing a long day today.  I feel guilty just hiking at Jill's and relaxing at home...   He loves the food at camp, just as I knew he would.  Camp is the best.  He had ribs, roasted potatoes, veggies, salad, the list goes on.  The guys even hung out to watch a movie together last night.  Seems like a pretty relaxed and fun crew.

I start work on the 6th and am looking forward to it.  I'm a little uncertain what the job will hold for me this time around, however.  My old position (Supervisor of Field Operations) has been filled and I was going to be on the field crew with my friend Kara until a higher-up position becomes available for me to apply to.  But Kara has gone back to Ontario and they can't send out a solo field crew member... so maybe I'll be going out to the bush with the new guy in my old position?  The little tidbit that I'm holding onto is that I have my professional affiliation with the ABCFP (Association of BC Forest Professionals) and this kid doesn't, yet.  So I have my fingers crossed that if a higher position presents itself, I'll have a better shot!  Or best case scenario would be if this guy decides he'd like to take another position and I get my old job back hee hee

In any case, I'm just thankful to have a job lined up and a paycheck in the foreseeable future.  Unfortunately when I am left to my own devices at home all day, I tend to daydream about things I'd like to invest in.... my latest obsession is the idea of dying my own yarn.  I have been watching tutorials online and it is possible to dye gorgeous yarns in your own kitchen! And then if you decide to sell your yarn, you can make a killing!!!  I think I will wait until spring, when I a) have a paycheck and b) could maybe set up something outside.  I just need an element or burner out there.... hmmmm.

The house is coming together.  Still just some random furniture and no couch to speak of, but it feels like home already.  And very cozy.  The cats have both settled in and have their routines down to an art.

Living room!  Pictures still need to be hung

QUEEN SIZED BED! Luxurious

Sniffing daffodils while I make tea

Kitchen... note: the cats' new favorite place.  Can you find Odin?

The weather has not been nearly snowy enough.  That is my only complaint. I'm hoping there is still time left in the season for another huge dump on the ski hill.  The season usually lasts way into April, but who knows what will happen this year.  Fingers crossed for another dump of powder and then bring on the spring skiing if you must.  Beers on the deck of the ski chalet are welcome : )

Tom and I hiked the mountain the other day.  Me on skis and him on snowshoes. It was wild up there - into the clouds we go!

Speaking of beers, before leaving Ontario I had been testing out the gluten-free life.  I like it! I have been able to find gluten-free beers and bake with "gf" flour.  I don't miss many things, and if something delicious comes my way that has gluten, I eat it.  I've really just cut back on the gluten, I guess.  I've been doing lots of reading into the subject, and gluten is an inflammatory food.  Unfortunately our flour and grains have been heavily modified since the old days, and now aren't really all that great... I've found that by cutting out/cutting back on gluten, I don't feel bloated or tired after eating like I used to, I have a clearer head and better concentration, and I even sleep better!! As long as you are making most of your own food at home, it really isn't hard to cut back on or cut out gluten.  I highly suggest giving it a shot for a week and seeing what you think!

Anywhos, sorry this post is a little heaving on the rambling.  Maybe I'll have some fun pictures after this weekend with Tom and his new buddies!

Take care and pray for snow!!!

Ski touring and knitting

Good morning from the mountains!

We are settling in well in lovely Telkwa.  Tom has a lunch date with his new boss next week
 and we've been hanging out with Jill (my boss) and her husband.

Last Sunday I went for a quick jaunt up the side of the ski hill with Jill and Mick.  Man am I out of shape.  I always find climbing hills to be hard - I was totally gassed by the top.  Jill of course was leading us to the top and just powered her way on up.  During one of my frequent stops to "take in the view" (a.k.a. I can't breathe and am gasping for air), I told Mick that she was a machine!! She later told me that since I'm the youngest and should have been first up the hill.... maybe after some more practice.

Jill and Mick taking the skins off of their skis at the top of our hike.  

Finally made it to the top! Out of breath and taking pictures of my thumb.

We still have yet to find some decent furniture and desperately need a couch.  In the meantime we've borrowed two chairs from Jill - one of which the cats have claimed.  We have a futon as a "couch" but it makes our butts sore, so we are always on the look-out for something better.  Once we get a real couch we can re-arrange the living room but for now it's.... open concept hee hee

Thou shalt not sit

Our mattress should be arriving any day now and I can't wait to have a new cozy bed!

Next week we will start living part-time at Jill's place while she is in New Zealand. And then Tom starts work on the 16th!  So soon I will be flying solo during the day until I start work in March.  Can you say knitting and skiing 24/7 ?!?!?  We discovered a new yarn shop in Telkwa!  It's featured in this promotional video for Telkwa that Tom stumbled upon:

Hopefully this video works.  If not, here's the link

I finished the mittens that I was knitting.... but think I'll have to re-do the first one as it seems to be QUITE a bit smaller.  Frustrating.  I think I'll take a break from the mittens for a bit and have my sights set on finding a sweater pattern.  I've knit a few sweaters but they've always followed simple patterns.  This time I may try something more complicated and cabled.  We'll see what I can handle.

That left mitten... sheesh.  I can't fit my hand into it very easily so it'll be re-knit... eventually.

I have become OBSESSED with watching knitting podcasts.  Knitters will show off the projects they are working on, review yarns and patterns, and sometimes do give-aways of free yarn!  Poor Tom has been listening to all of them in the background as I sit and knit and watch and talk to the computer screen as if the other knitters can hear me...

I'm looking forward to practicing my ski touring again soon.  Going up the side of the ski hill means that I don't have to worry about avalanches and can go on my own.  It's just a quick hike up, but I can do a couple laps if I have the energy.  We haven't had any new snow in eons, so venturing out into the real backcountry doesn't seem as exciting at the moment.  But we still have a few months left in the season, and there's always next year.

Well, not too much else to report on for now.  I'm sure I'll have more to share once we are house-sitting for Jill and hanging out with her dogs - exploring her +100 acres of land!

Take care and we'll talk again soon!

Our New Home!

I am happy to report that we have found our new home, in Telkwa.

We found a basement apartment, two bedrooms, private entrance, washer and drier, big kitchen... and I can't believe how much light there is down there! The basement is really only half-way underground so we have big windows and lots of sun.  The gal that owns the house is away in Dawson Creek working with her boyfriend until spring break-up (that's when everything starts melting and getting really muddy) and then she goes to work as a camp cook for six months in the summer! So basically never home.  Which means we will have peace and quiet and the use of the backyard, fire pit and bird feeders!  Hoping to grow some veggies this year, too!

There's even enough head-room for Tom!

The kitchen looks out into the backyard 

"The Blue Room" looks out to the street in front of the house... not sure which room will be our bedroom yet. This one has the most sun.

This back room looks out onto the trees but it a wee bit smaller.

Open living/dining room.  Any tips on furniture arrangement are welcome...

It's such a relief to know that we have our own spot and don't have to search anymore, or live out of our duffel bags.

Tom's work is only about a 5 minute drive from our door, and in the summer he could bike to work! There's a pub on the way so I've been teasing him that he will probably stop for a pint after work before heading home.  He's been very happy to try all of the micro-breweries out here! There weren't many at all when I left, but now we can get beer from Prince Rupert, Terrace, Vancouver, Revelstoke, Quesnel and Vavenby to mention a few.

This week we drove to Terrace to shop for a mattress.  The Brick had a sale of 60% off mattresses! Couldn't pass that up.  Our new QUEEN (big-girl bed!!) mattress will be delivered to our door in about a week.

En route to Terrace - South Hazelton mountains

Next I need to get a doctor's appointment, apply for BC Health Insurance (no free health care like Ontario, but thankfully Canfor will pay for mine and I should be able to cover Tom through common-law), get a PO Box in Telkwa and then switch all of our licenses, addresses, mail blah blah this is probably boring for you to read...

Most importantly.... being in Telkwa brings me MUCH closer to the ski hill! Today we are moving some more things into the new place and then hitting the slopes for the afternoon!  It was absolutely GORGEOUS here yesterday and I was bummed that the hill wasn't open.  The past few days have been super chilly in the morning (-17 right now) but that means that the skies are clear and blue and the snow is blindingly bright, and then warming up to a balmy -6 during the afternoon.

Snow on the top of Hudson Bay Mountain

Tom on the top of Hudson Bay Mountain

The avalanche hazard has stayed high in the area so I won't be out backcountry anytime soon unless it's on quite mellow terrain.  Maybe I can talk Jill into going with me.

The ski hill from Jill's house

Knitting has started back up again and I am almost finished my first ever pair of mittens!  Unfortunately, because it was my first time knitting stranded (color changing) the left mitten was knit first and my tension was off, causing it to be tight and a bit small... after I wash and block it, it should be fine, but meanwhile the second mitten is great so far.  So one may be bigger than the other.... Not sure if it will bother me down the line, or I may have to make another left-hand mitt to fit.

I'll post more pictures of our new place as we get more furniture and it starts looking more lived-in!
Off to move some stuff and then ski the afternoon away : )

Houston, we have completed our mission!

Hello!  We have made it! All four of us are safe and sound in Houston, BC.

The trip has been an adventure and we have learned lots along the way.  We've seen beautiful scenery and had our ear drums pierced by the howling of cats.  All in all it was a successful trip and we are all so happy to have made it safety and soundly to our destination.

We met up with Jill and her husband Mick two days ago, to grab the key for Kara's house.  It was so great to see her again and she and I were bouncing around all excited.  She has just taken up backcountry skiing and wants to go out touring soon!  I doubt we will go backcountry anytime in the near future, as the avalanche ratings are dangerous right now, but I'll watch the forecast and see what next weekend brings!  Jill also has asked me to teach her how to knit!  I think I've found my soul mate.....

It's pretty cool to think that she was my mentor (and will continue to be) and now I can be her mentor too!

It feels strange to be back in Houston seeing the same sights again, but from a slightly different perspective.  It's also strange to be seeing them with Tom beside me.  Being in the same places where I was mostly on my own, but now with this person who I've only ever known as being in Ontario... weird.  But I wouldn't want it any other way.

Seeing Meighan (my brother's girlfriend), in Calgary for dinner was a big treat.  We haven't seen her or Stefan since the summer.  We had a nice catch-up and I hope they can come up and visit us in the North this summer!  Lots of hiking and camping await.

Meighan and I about to drink some yummy Bellini's

Our visit with Stefan in Revelstoke was just as short and sweet.  I wanted to stay longer but he would be working the next day anyhow, and we were going bonkers by that point - just wanting the routine of waking up and sitting in the car with white knuckles to be complete.

"Litlle" brother

And now it is!! I took Tom for a tour of Smithers, and today he had his first ever day skiing!  I couldn't believe it - the first run we did, he was skiing parallel and following me into the powder at the side of the run! He is a natural!

View of the Telkwa Range from the Canfor turn-off on the Hwy in Houston

First ride up the chairlift with Tom

We had hit the gym yesterday - first time in probably two months or more for me... so we were both very sore by lunch time and had a nice pint of local beer at the ski hill before hitting the German bakery in Telkwa and driving back to Houston.

The search for our own place continues and I can't wait to update you once we find something.  Hoping to get a little house in Telkwa so Tom can be close to work and I can be closer to skiing ; )

And as for this blog:  I've had a few people telling me that they can't leave comments and I am happy to report that I've figured it out.  When you go to leave a comment, the blog will ask you who you want to leave the comment as: ie.Google account name.  If you do not have a Google account, just drop down the menu and choose Anonymous.  But please sign the end of your comment so that I know who you are!  Hopefully that works... let me know if it doesn't.

Alright, well I am going to sign off for the night.  Tom and I are about to make local Smithers sausages and potatoes for dinner... a German's dream haha

Hope all is well where you are!  Please try to leave a comment!

Miss you all,

Danielle

Updates from the Road

Hello! After only three days we have already had many adventures!

Day one saw tears as we left home, then dicey ice south of Sudbury.  We made it safely to Sault Ste Marie and stayed the night with two very tired cats.

Day two began once the highway was reopened after an overnight closure (instant nervousness). Unfortunately Tom's truck decided it needed some fixing so we only made it to Terrace Bay. I was so ecstatic that a simple fix was all we were faced with, and no one was hurt/sick/etc. However, due to CAA not putting our tow request through while we waited 30-45 mins.... we ended up waiting for two hours in my Civic. Tom, Bruce, Oden and me... and all of our stuff. Poor Tom was in the shape of a pretzel just trying to fit in. Once the tow truck finally arrived we began following it to Thunder Bay but after stopping to help someone who had spun out on black ice and ended up in the ditch backwards and in the dark.... we decided to stop driving ASAP and ended up in  Nipigon. In one of the most sketchy motel rooms. I admit I was so ready to call it a night that I didn't care where we stopped. But let me tell you-forget bringing a black light into one of those motels... bring two cats! They were smelling invisible spots on carpets, table tops, bed spreads.... so gross haha

Which leads us to day three. Today we saw three bald eagles on the way to Thunder Bay. Tom's truck was finished by lunch and we hit the road once more. The bush beside the highway had moose tracks all through the snow but we haven't seen one yet. The past two days have been GORGEOUS. Fresh snow on the trees,  clear blue skies and mostly dry roads.

We've stopped a bit early tonight in Dryden and got ourselves a very nice and CLEAN room at the Comfort Inn. After a hot bath, we're looking into ordering pizza and snuggling in.

Bruce is definitely a stress case in the car. Thankfully we bought calming treats today, and Tom  reports that Bruce slept the whole afternoon beside him in the truck, until Dryden. Oden meanwhile... ate a few too many treats I think. He looked stoned all day and snored while he slept.

Looking forward to getting into a new province tomorrow! Stay tuned for more updates on our adventure!

I have pictures to share but can't figure out how to load them onto the blog without my computer (I'm on my phone...) so more photos to share once I can fire up the laptop.