We were told winter is cold, dark and bleak plus it goes on and on. However, unlike the eastern side of the continent, we have had a very mild winter.
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| January was a month of fog. Rays came through the trees this way... |
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| ..and that way... |
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| ..and then this way. |
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| One day an amazing fog bank formed between us and Marnia and Cortes Islands. |
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| As it began to clear, the tips of Cortes appeared. |
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| A foggy day at the beach. |
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| Suddenly fog began to slip away. |
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| All was calm and all was bright. |
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| We had Mia and John, Gary and Josie, Bart and Berta, Linda and Wally over for dinner and a welcome to Canada celebration, complete with gifts, broke out. |
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| Buck watching TV with his new girl friend - thanks to Bart and Berta Fletcher |
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| A group of my gal pals come over for a pot luck and a hooray for Permanent Residency celebration. |
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| A few of the wonderful and hilarious gifts they brought for us. |
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| Aine's second birthday - she has a doctor kit and is cutting Buck's finger off. |
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| Saoirse singing a tune. |
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| Watching kids on the trampoline. |
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| The very excited birthday girl. |
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| The Community Centre full of kids, teachers, parents and volunteers on Literacy Day. I did theater games with several groups of kids. Fun. |
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| Baby winter lamb down the road. |
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| Two trumpeter swans floated by one day. A rare sigh in these waters I am told. |
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| Guess what came back. |
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| A coupe of days later - sunshine for the start of our trip to Deer Valley, Utah. |
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| Quadra from the air. Gowlland Harbour on the near side of the island and Rebecca Spit on the far side. |
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| Vancouver |
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| Not sure which mountain this is but it is pretty. |
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| We arrived at Perry and Sally Sorenson's home wearing our finest Canadian attire and trying to sing Oh Canada. |
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| Sally, Buck and Doni hot tubbing on a sunny afternoon. |
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| Settling the world's problems..Dave Hall to the left and Dee Lowrey between the two of us. |
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| Super Bowl..Perry, Buck, Dave and Dee..Sally doing a jigsaw puzzle. |
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| Beautiful frost |
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| The whole gang: Sally and Dave Hall, us, Lizzy and Dee Lowrey, Sally and Perry Sorenson. |
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| Cross Country skiing is hot work, but fun. |
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| Here come Sally and Dave |
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| Heading home after 6 wonderful days - some downhill and some cross country skiing and lots of good times. There's that mountain again. |
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| Fishing boat and its feathered entourage. |
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| One of the neighborhood deer |
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| Our mountains on a sunny, chilly evening. |
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| Despite the sunshine, it is still winter. |
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| Who lifted that tree up there? Paul Bunyan's grandson? |
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| When the rain cleared after a couple of days we were treated to the sight of lots of fresh snow on the mountains. |
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| Off we went again - this time to Hawaii. There are Honolulu and Pearl Harbors. |
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| Dinner with some of the Galloping Gourmets (missing Sally and Perry Sorenson.) Back row: Roger Whitlock, Judy Van Zile Front row Buck, Doni, Pete VanZile. |
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| And there is Claudia Whitlock. |
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| The dim sum gang: Doni, Carole Tarlington, Wendy Grant, Lizzy Lowrey and Roie from Australia |
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| Dee Lowrey, Carole, Buck |
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| Off to the Big Island to stay in Hawi with Sarah and Randy Stoddard. Photo of their crater at Puu Pueo (Owl Hill.) |
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| One of the beautiful green hills of the Kohala/Waimea area. |
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| Morning at Puu Pueo |
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| Buck whale watching. |
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| Sarah whale watching. |
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| Whale! One of the many we saw. It was very exciting. |
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| Randy, Sarah and Buck |
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| The volcano haze lifted and we could see Hualalai Mt. wearing a lei of clouds.. A treat to be sure! |
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| Sarah being coached by Mousse. |
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| Back to Honolulu - Wendy, Doni and Cosette at Hill Top House. |
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| Koolau Mts from Hill Top House |
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| Kailua beach from Hill Top |
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| The From Here To Eternity beach next to the blow hole..one of Thad's favorites. |
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| Sorenson's house our home while home:) Thanks Perry and Sally! |
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| A visit to 3290 - Erin and Jed Gushman are taking good care of the place |
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| Thursday at Foster gardens with the painting group. Doni with dear sweet Meg Stone. |
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| Everyone shares their work at lunch time. Mine are the heron and the two to the left of it. |
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The gazebo and the artists
It was a great trip to Hawaii. We were able to connect with friends and get caught up with what is happening in their lives. |
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| After Hawaii I recuperated at Kingfisher resort with some friends. Perri, Karen, Shirley and Gail. |
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| Cate, Doni, Carol, Perry, Gail and Perri |
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| Carol and Gail in the uniform of the day(s) |
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| A unique way to get your RV up north. |
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| Chef Buck presenting his delicious pork chops. |
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| I came home one afternoon to see this all set up for the chef to make a shrimp pasta dish - also delicious. |
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| Baby goats! Triplets and two sets of twins. Saoirse petting on of the babies. |
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| Saoirse and Aine in goat heaven. |
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| Cute! |
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| More cute! |
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| Mama, papa and some of the babies. |
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| The fence is doing its job: deer out, garden in! |
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| A beautiful sunrise. Days are longer, temperatures are warmer, buds are budding and robins bobbing...spring is on its way. Stay tuned for spring flinging. |
