poplar road

It was a windy drive but the roads were fairly clear, and the only time Richard hit the brakes was when drivers behind us pulled moron maneouvers like tailgating us with their highbeams on. More than once. But the stars were out and the snow from earlier in the week was still on the trees, a beautiful night.

We got back to our very snowy home just before 11pm. Richard had been fighting off sleep for half an hour and was in bed by 11 o'clock. Which is when I took my turn in the bathroom and discovered there was no water. Now we know: turn the heater on in the well pumphouse if we're not going to be using the water for a while. Or if it's -22 out like it was on Sunday night. The pipes from the well froze up, and it took all morning Sunday to get them warmed up again. In the meantime Richard got out that gigantic seafood boil pot of his with the gas burner, and melted snow so we could use the toilet. Unfortunately the sediment left over from the freeze clogged the washing machine and the valve in the toilet, so we've had some challenges since getting things running.

We had a lazy afternoon on Sunday, worn out from driving and visiting and holiday eating, and we put off the plans made the night before to clear out the garage for the Dodge and finish another coat of paint in the office. Then Monday it was back to work for both of us. Monday night, cousin Greg arrived to join Richard on the Unimog circuit, and is spending tonight with us as well. I'm able to get at the computer tonight because this time he elected to sleep on our couch rather than on the mattress on the floor in here. It will be much nicer when I've moved into the new office and this space becomes a proper guest bedroom.

We had other visitors today: Shana, Derrick, and their daughters Gwenyth and Eva arrived at dusk and got the tour, but couldn't stay long. At about the same time, Rob B and his brother Andrew arrived to borrow our flat deck trailer, and spent a chilly half hour in the -15 darkness clearing the snow off it and making sure the taillights worked. When I said goodbye at 5:30 they were on their way to catch the 9pm ferry to Victoria. Cutting it close is an understatement - I hope they made it safe and sound.

And not to forget the wildlife, we had another, unseen visitor in the wee hours of the morning. Based on the hoof-prints I found in our yard when I went for a walk at lunch today, and the grassy knoll cleared of snow and clipped to the ground, I'm guessing a deer wandered in through our front gate last night. And judging by its mad loping pattern around the yard followed in circles by dog prints and tail streaks, I'd say the three mutts from across the street got their jollies chasing the poor thing for a while. It's a wonder we never heard them. The snow was pristine at dusk yesterday, so it had to have happened while we were at home and we missed it. Apparently deer, moose, coyotes, and a mother bear visit regularly this time of year. The neighbours say the bear lives just up the mountain and will often wander down the middle of our street.

So that's Poplar Road in this bright new year. No new photos just yet, but we've got an office, hallway, and bedroom to finish painting before the month is out. Bring on the colour! And I'm back in Vancouver again, for work this time, as early as Saturday. So if I missed you over the holidays, maybe we can catch up this weekend. And we'll be more ready for visitors next month. Come up and enjoy the snow!