First off I would like to send a 

Happy Birthday 
to some one very close to me. That is the container that carries me around. After all these years it is still doing OK. Sure the back is always sore and the knees are a little wonky but at least it still holds water, and that's pretty important I would say. The gigantic brain is still firing on most cylinders although some of the re-memory circuits are a little fuzzy. So, enough of the public service announcements and on with Christmas.




You all know that we were worried that the lake might not be ready for the Bishop Super-kids to come for a visit. On the 24th Grasshopper and I snowshoed to Bedrock while Mr. Slate and Pebbles came the other way. Then Mr. Slate was the first to cross on a sled. 

By the end of the day.

Christmas morning.

Over night we were visited by Jack and Burl, that's Frost and Ives to you, who painted the whole center like a Christmas card.

George helping to open gifts.

Boxing day.

Kurt and Ellia get ready for a ride.

Me and K-Dude.

Then K-Man and I went to pack down the Don Fraser By-pass on snow shoes.

Trying to feed the Whiskey jacks. Too much commotion for the birds.

Athena turns on Rudolf.

Ellie bellie with Grasshopper's Grinch.

Sun set that night.

On the ice Monday morning.

Restarting the fire in the morning.

"May I have some more please?" Bah Humbug, it's gruel for you!

Athena has an owl.

It's MINE!

"But I don't want to go for a ski doo ride."

This is a quilt that my daughter made for us. It is a map of Little Tomiko, the important part any way. It also has stitching emitting from our property signifying the center of the universe.  

We got some unexpected sun last Monday, and none since. "They" keep promising sun the day after tomorrow, but tomorrow never comes.

I was sucking up the vitamin D.

I call this one "a big, fat, lazy bird hunter".

The photo-phobic red breasted nut hatch.

We spent yesterday putting up the tree.

chick-a-dee-dee-dee.

Some snowy pics for those of you suffering on the sandcicle beaches of Florida.  We have about 50 cms of snow in the bush. That's over knee high to Y'alls. 

Merry Christmas to all from Little Tomiko.

This sky greeted Grasshopper when she came back from town Thursday.

Yesterday morning I saw these tracks on the lake right behind the boat.

Wolf tracks, a big one.

You can see that the lake is still a bit slushy, but is getting firmer.

Later on we watched this wolf cross the lake. If you blow up the pic, you will see a raven harassing the wolf. I have seen the ravens do the same thing to Kita. Sometimes they would come behind and almost bite him in the butt.

Jogging.

"I looked back to see if he looked back..."

Later on, the wolf went back the other way while I was on the lake working on the snow ramp. 
 
"They" are calling for another 10 Cm's of snow today. We have enough snow, now we need some real good cold. The Sand Dam road is open to one lane. The Notman is open with a few little drifts in spots.

Grasshopper went to town today. She has to sled around the lake to Bedrock. We spent the past two days breaking trail to the A5 road. The first pass thru the Skidoobeedoo was plowing snow up to the windshield.

There she goes down the driveway.

Grasshopper normally feeds the birds first thing in the morning. I guess I was late this morning.

And then my Whiskey Jacks came for breakfast too. They disappeared for about four or five days around the time we took the boat out, and I was a little worried, but they have been back every day now for the past week.

Mrs. Downy was hungry too.

So, you might be wondering how we made out with all the snow storms that hit Ontario. I must admit that we have had a  flurry or two that have added up to some accumulations. Not near as much as what the Queen of London has at her Summer Palace. The worst thing was the wind. And it would play tricks on you so sometimes you would think some one was talking behind you or tapping you on the shoulder. One time, I swear I heard "Blimey Mate, that's enow snow now. Heat up the bangers and mash and open an ale. Maybe next year we'll go down under for the season."  

Last weekend I could/would have walked across the lake in an emergency. I was sure that we would be sledding across by now. Now, the lake is really slushy due to all the snow on top. Hopefully it will freeze up before the Bishop Superkids come.

 

We have had no sun for ever. Yesterday started out OK, but this was as good as it got.