Tracking the wilds

Afternoon walk.The weather has warmed up slightly. It's gone from -20 to -6 or so, so we went for a tracking walk.We took Duke the Wonderdog and of course Ruby...who just ran on ahead scouting for what she could smell.We rounded on the road around our friend's ranch......and headed into the woods.Ruby was wearing her Cowichan sweater but soon got it caught on a barbed wire fence so off it came.We followed coyote tracks all the way.At one point we saw moose tracks and possibly bear. Well, we thought it wasn't as big a paw print as a bear should be, but we know the bears are out now and it was a BIG paw print.We also saw a rabbit and deer, but mostly coyote.After about 20 minutes, we came out of the woods onto the meadow.And we looked over moose tracks paralleling Whitehorse creek by the ancient cabins.We let the dogs investigate a coyote party involving yellow snow and apparently delicious scents......while we took in the glorious panorama.On the way back, I found a bit of fur caught up in the barbed wire and thought about what that might be. Coyote? Fox? Too high for a rabbit.In my eagerness to investigate, I stepped into thigh-high snow.Duke laughed. Fatty human

At Lac La Hache at a friend's ranch

Chloe and I are visiting our friends at Lac La Hache.It's magical here in B. C.'s Cariboo; even if we've caught a cold spell of -20 for a couple of days.The horses here at the ranch don't care one bit.They have their beautiful velvet coats on.This is Duke. He's the ranch dog and the most obedient, friendliest, snuggliest thing on 4 legs.He loves chasing ice and snowballs. Actually, he'll play fetch forever.Just as we got here, Doug finished a massive hike thru knee-high snow back to the ranch because his snowmobile got stranded miles away.He enlisted Chloe as copilot and they rescued the wayward sled.This was the first time Clove ever drove a snowmobile and she loved it to pieces.We were originally going to ranch-sit for a few days while our friends went on a Las Vegas holiday, but the world being what it is, they decided to be safe and cancel. Instead, they went out for dinner and a movie and a lovely stay overnight in the nearest city.This meant that Chloe had the responsibility of holding down the fort ranch for a couple days.The house is heated via this wood burner which needs fueling every morning and night. This means 4 sledges of wood daily.But there's always time for tea.The horses need tending to and moved from one pasture to another.After their morning feed, Chloe has to try to move them.Happily, all she has to do is ask Duke for help.He barks and herds them to exactly where they should be.Ruby tries to help, but all she wants to do is eat the horse treats.I'm completely in love with these purple shadows cast on this gloriously white snow. I know that purple shadows on snow are a bit ubiquitous, (kinda like sunsets), but who can resist them? I can't.But just as I get a pristine shot lined up, one of the pups runs or digs thru it!Ruby has been a bit of a city dog while Bryson has been in UBC, and is not quite used to the temperatures up here in the North, so we make sure we run the dog around a lot to keep them warm outside.I did have a few hours to dedicate to a little sprig of ponderosa pine in my nature journal. (Note to self: get the photos up there on Instagram!)This is the first layer of watercolour. One or two more layers to go. Intricate little paintings like pine needle branches take so much time!Our first day went by in the blink of an eye.Soon it was sunset and time for all those stars not obstructed by city lights.Tell you something.I could get used to this.

In Wales, helping Catherine with her new house

Robert's sister Catherine is in the middle of a big project.She has bought this beautiful but derelict cottage in a rainbow valley in Walles and we've been visiting her to help her sort the cottage out.The cottage had been unoccupied for several years, untouched since the owner died, and was in desperate need of heating, cleaning, repairing and updating and bringing it into the 21C.So much has been done to it since Catherine bought it; such as washing and cleaning mould and damp off all walls and ceilings, ripping out stained carpets, taking away a wheelchair stairlift, cutting down an overgrown garden, hours of work to get the wood burner working, new boiler and refitting the central heating, and throwing away mounds and mounds of hoarded junk.Then came the ripping out of the built-in 1970s kitchen. This was the best fun for me because it's something I always wanted to do. Catherine's new kitchen will be centred around her gorgeous farm table, a huge armoire, a freestanding Belfast sink, and this new cooker.As usual, the kitchen table is the central hub of all activity.Here is the starting point for endless cups of tea and plans for the cottage futures.And there's always time for a walk in this gorgeous valley.Welsh sheep like to follow you around and then stop just a few feet away and stare you down!Behind the cottage is the most beautiful church.There's nothing I like better than to explore churches and castles and other such old buildings.This church has a couple beautiful old masters type paintings and Medieval tiles on the floor.Then it's back to the cottage for more work...more views...and endless cups of tea.Painters have come this week and will be there painting walls, floors and ceilings for the next few weeks.What a transformation Catherine!I'm so proud of you.

Crisis

Brief explanation:There is no art and there hasn't been in quite a while.I can't make myself "do" art. I end up staring at a piece of paper, tools, lino...whatever, spend four hours trying to "do" art, and end up throwing the thing away.The regimented push-pull of my days have become so extreme (with mom's recovery from her broken hip, with my relationship with Robert and my children, with my must-do-art-and-not-just-any-old-art-meaningful-art mindset, with finances, cats, housesitter, house, Trump, a burning planet, isolation, disillusionment) that I was just managing to hold it together without tearing myself apart.And then, a routine mammogram revealed a shadow.One more week of tension while I waited for further testing, a couple more days of tension while I waited for results.Turns out the shadow is a fibroid which attached itself to some tissue.Then, relief, tears, a crisis of the soul.I tried to keep it together. I tried just to pick up the broken pieces of my soul and carry on.So here at the cabin in my fortress of solitude, (read: no electricity, no phone signal, no landline), I stare into my eyes rimmed red and blue, and grey with undereye bags.I've felt disconnected to art for the past year - indifferent and empty around it. I did not care what I painted or printed or drew. It was like being out of love.But there's a deeper problem which underpins all of that and it has to do with subjugation.I walk for miles along the railroad tracks thinking about how to take care of myself in the pursuit of freedom. I bemoan the long labour littered with incremental successes and failures. The freedom I'm imagining has no form, no prescriptive path. I can't get it if I'm better at art, smarter with my money, get a job, quit a job, lose weight. People think about freedom as lightness, liberation, but I think it's really quite heavy. The heft of absolute personal responsibility.So many of life's choices are simulated for us. Encoded in the shimmering illusion of choosing from the complex bastions of culture; fashion, religion, politics, the wellness industry...These forms tell us what to look like, what to believe, who to vote for, etc, and it's a lighter way to be in the world. And it feels safe, tribal, comforting.Real freedom is terrifying and dangerous because it opens a chasm into unlimited potential repercussions.Also, it turns out that knowing what one wants and choosing for oneself is quite hard.Time passing is the only way to sort it out.As I write now, (days later), I see where I want to go. I think about the power of solitary, of ambiguity, of limitlessness. This is supposed to be the way to soul healing, but it's hard to talk about. It's a slippery fish.Book read: The Book of Help: A Memoir in Remedies by Megan GriswoldAudiobook: Practical Deamonkeeping by Christopher Moore

A stop at North Arm Farm on the drive home

Stopping by North Arm Farm in Pemberton has been a tradition for near on the whole 25 years of our cabin life.North Arm Farm began as a very small seasonal fruit and veg stand and has morphed into this lovely destination!And can you imagine a prettier place for a farm than under Mt. Curry on these sunny Pemberton Valley meadows?Look at this glorious, huge barn which leads out onto a picnic area.The farm was busy with people. I think this was the last open weekend for the season and so everyone was out taking advantage of the lovely weather.I love the giant, metal firepit where everyone was toasting marshmallows and roasting hot dogs.Concord grapes...my favourite!Here is the outdoor snack shop, and inside there is a small bakery/lunch counter where I always buy a few butter tarts.And in the farm produce area, I bought a rainbow of carrots and beets, and, of course, I had to pick out a couple pumpkins to bring home.

Closing the cabin for the winter

I got out of town this weekend guys.I jumped in the car and drove the 200km up to my cabin.It's really too bad that I haven't had more time for the cabin this year because I love it so much, but I'm about to make up for that.The main reason I came up here is to winterise and protect the cabin. Remember this spring's pack rat?Here is the cabin thermometer and what it read when I got here. The right side is the outside temp and the left is the inside temp. Not a lot of difference!But I soon had a cheery fire going and this new wood stove is so efficient, that the cabin was warm in no time.Then I went for a walk around the property, checked the lake, and walked out across the meadow to the river.The moss is so luxurious thia time of the year.I walked around the lake. What a stellar day! But then, it's semi-arid here and so we have loads of these sunny days.This land is in a valley next to a river, so the dew just never dries at this time of the year. Soon my boots, jeans and even my socks were soaked.Here's the Gates River. My cabin property goes steeply up a hill on the other side of this river, so I usually walk back at this point.I walked across the place to the railroad which borders the other side.That's looking east.And that's west.Back inside the cabin, I let my shoes and socks dry at the fire......and made myself a little supper.It's amazing how well and how fast bread toasts up on the stove top.Then I grabbed a large paper pad, some conti crayons, graphites and chalks, and sketched some gathered reeds, grasses and branches.I sketched until it got too dark, and then I sketched by candlelight.Sunday morning I looked down from the loft at all my sketches. I like them.I'm hoping some might lead to a new series of paintings.The sun started lighting up the mountains but the sun doesn't really come into the valley in the winter, so I put some more wood in the stove.Even first thing in the morning the temp inside was much more agreeable than yesterday!One more cabin walk. This time from east to west along a communal path shared with my three cabin neighbours.I was surprised that there were hardly any mushrooms in the forest. Maybe it's a little late now.When ever I get here, one of the first things I do is go out for a walk and gather a bouquet of what ever is growing at the moment. Then the custom is to leave the little bouquet on the table until next cabin visit, but for the winter, anything containing water must be either emptied or filled with antifreeze, and so my bouquet had to go. It was too pretty to throw away, and so I put it in a milk bottle to take home.I also gathered up my sketches......pack my gear, locked up the cabin, and drove back home.

Visiting Waddesdon Manor. I could live here...already have part of what it takes - 1/2 of the name...lol

Hi everyone,I love my friend Elaine. Each summer, she takes me out on a visit to some lovely manor or stately home.This year we went to Waddesdon Manor; a French château built between 1874 and 1889 for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild.It was his weekend home and his place for entertaining."Oh," he would say, "let's away to the country for the weekend...don't you know."This next photo pretty much sums up the manor.Think gold, think rich velvet, think jewel tones, and imagine a priceless collection of paintings, furniture, and knick knacks.Everything in this manor is so over the top that it couldn't be any more over the top if it tried.It feels like you stepped into a museum.This is the ceiling in the front reception room.It's Hercules received into Olympus by Jacob de Wit (1695-1754)It's done in three panels and fixed to the ceiling.Here is a ginger jar, Mrs John Douglas by Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1728), and an art deco lamp.And we've only just walked into the first reception room!This room had four life-sized Gainsborough portraits.There is a view from this red reception room to the grey drawing room.This was the ladies' drawing room.And in the opposite direction, is a dining room.Frech tapestries, marble walls, the hugest crystal chandeliers, and roses and roses and roses for days.Can you get any more opulent than that?Well, yes, as a matter of fact, you can always get 4 Titian paintings for the top of your 4 gold mirrors!At this point, I thought I might just die and go to heaven...but these were only the first two of the 30 rooms open to visitors, so I decided I better not die just yet.Down the hall is a little private library. This was the Baron's personal space.All along the carved marquetry of the walls are these small jewel-like paintings in opulent gold frames.This one is Pastoral Conversation Under the Statue of a River God, one of seven John-Baptiste Pater (1695-1736) paintings in the house.Here we are in the Baron's drawing room under Dorothea Bland, 'Mrs Jordan' as 'Peggy' in 'The Country Girl' (1762-1816) one of four paintings by George Romney (1734-1802).Under the Romney painting is Queen Victoria, who stayed in the house, plus family portraits and small treasure paintings. That's Baron Ferdinand on the right.Here is the tower room.I can't even begin to describe the treasures and the gilding and tapestries.But these two beautiful portraits by John-Baptiste Greuze caught my eyes.Here is the Morning room.It was added so the weekend gentlemen and ladies would have a place to write and read their correspondence.Here's the brilliant thing about antique treasures and modern technology. Often sunlight has to be kept out of rooms to prevent further damage to tapestries, wood and painted surfaces, but modern LED lights offer bright light without any of the harmful sunlight effects.Do you see those slim LED lights above and below the paintings? Look how they illuminate the paintings without disturbing the eyes.I need those!The Tête-à-Tête: A Lady Playing a Lute, and a Cavalier, by Gabriel Metsu (1626-1669)Here is one of the desks you could use to write your correspondence at.A Girl with a Basket of Fruit at a Window by Gerrit Dou (also known as Douw, 1613-1665)Here is a view from one of the tower staircases down to the small library.Me, looking absolutely overcome!This, you guys, this is an automaton.It was made in 1768 and plays a tune and various parts move.It is rarely wound up these days but there is a movie playing so everyone can see it move.here is a brief description: ""The elephant is operated by two keys inserted in the belly of the elephant and the base. The base plays a musical tune. The triumphal Emperor riding the elephant and the four musicians on the base move to and fro. The paste flowers, designed to imitate diamonds, rotate and open and close. Glass roundels in the base reveal revolving snakes and stars, as well as architectural scenes."Also, the elephant moves his trunk and tail and eyes from side to side.Small sad story: Baron Frederic's wife and child died in childbirth and he never remarried.His sister took over the running of the house, and his sister decided that proper Victorian gentlemen didn't smoke in the main part of the house and certainly, bachelors didn't stay in the main part where the ladies were, so there is a dedicated bachelor's wing of the house.Here is one side of the sitting room in the bachelor's wing...John Nost Sartorius (1755-1828)...and here is the other.Tell you what, I might just be tempted to stay here the whole time!Jon Nost Sartorius again.Here is the play room in the bachelor's wing.Walking out and around the house to get to the wine cellars.And deep under the house there are 15,000 bottles of historic wine!Labels painted by Dali, Warhol, HRH Prince Charles!I'll leave you with this last painting deep int he wine cellars.It is God's Banquet by Gillis van Valckenborch (1570 - 1622)I had to search for that one painting since there was no name on the frame. It seems that it was acquired by the estate a few years ago at auction for approximately $400K.I guess if you have a Rothschild wine cellar it only makes sense to have an old master's painting in it.Sigh.Hope you liked this glorious little peek into this French chateau.I couldn't get enough so I dragged Robbie back for a second look.I came away with over 400 photos.Still blissfully looking thru them.

A ski resort holiday weekend part three

Our last day up at Big White and we reluctantly packed the car and checked out of our condo, but we were not leaving the mountain. Not when the day dawned sunny and bright. The best of spring skiing.Since Sunday was the children's day, Monday was going to be the challenge the mountain in full force day!So we put our youngest two into the Big White day care for the day,Put Ever into a two hour lesson,Got our kit on,And hit the serious slopes.Kerstie and I went up to the top together.Up where the beautiful snow ghost trees were. Up into the powder.And we took one of the more challenging runs down.And then we did it again!The runs from the top down took about 30 minutes each and soon Ever was finished with her lesson, and it was lunch time, so we took a little break.A small hot chocolate and that hit of sugar was so good!Then we took turns skiing with Ever and hitting the more challenging runs.I snapped this selfie with the little Binky on the chair after one of our runs.Turns out this is may be my most favourite photo of the weekend. I loved skiing with her so much.And then, after everyone's thighs were burning and feeling like jelly, I took one more chair to the top by myself.Chose a challenging run,Looked around one more time,And headed down.

A ski resort holiday weekend part two

Sunday morning promised a bit of fresh snow and we couldn't wait to get outside, so after breakfast, Kerstie put a pork roast into the oven for a slow cooked pulled pork for supper.And, since we were all excited, after some morning cuddles......we suited and geared up and went to the Big White lodge to rent the children's boots and skis.And onto the bunny hill. We picked up our RV, which we'd given to Good Sam rv repair, before we headed to the hillock.Chloe was excited to learn how to snowboard. In Kerstin's pre-baby life she spent some seasons as a snowboarding instructor, so she taught her sister how to ride!I skied with Ever, who just took over the bunny hill! I was so proud of her and so happy to be able to ski with my oldest grandchild.Selfie on the magic carpet with three of us!These magic carpets are so fantastic for the kids. Just ski on and ski off little flat escalators.So after a full day on the easy slopes and at least 30 runs, we had enough and headed back to the lodge and hung up all the wet gear in the laundry/drying racks room.Where was Chloe? Lol.We took the pork out of the oven and it was so fragrant and so perfect.And before supper and before baths and showers, we jumped into the hot tub.Family soup!Then, supper, cuddles, a little snack and bedtime for the little ones.And we took out the pictionary and played till midnight!

A ski resort holiday weekend in three parts

Part one:Hello there from us over here with jelly legs and arms.We've just returned from a long weekend at the most beautiful resort in my daughter Kerstin's town.Chloe and I drove the 300 miles to Kelowna, and, after a rest, all seven of us (Chloe, Kerstie, Adam, our three little girls Ever, Isla and Zoe, and me), drove another 40 miles above lake Okanagan to the Big White ski resort for the weekend.Up from the sunny, spring lake country, into the snow.And into the loveliest three bedroom condo, room 313, at The Copper Kettle Lodge.With a 180 degree view, we couldn't get Chloe away from the windows!Not only the view, but also a private balcony with a hot tub. We were all excited about that.We used funny wheelbarrow type trolleys and got all our overnight suitcases, and our ski and snowboarding kit inside and made up the beds for the children.And then, because it was a holiday weekend and spring break, and because it was a long day, Kerstie sat the children in one of the bedrooms in front of cartoons and gave them a rare sugar treat.While Adam sorted out some snacks and supper.And where was Chloe? Yup, still at the window.But there were great games and puzzles in the suite, and soon we were building a puzzle of Hawaii.Then evening came......and children's baths, story and goodnight hugs and bed.But just as we got them to bed, the fireworks started over the resort and so everyone got up again!And finally the children went to sleep, Adam went to visit with some friends, and Kerstie, Chloe and I had a lovely puzzle evening which turned into a Karaoke singing evening.