DINOSAURS GALORE

Just as we thought winter was on the downhill slide .... we awoke this morning to what looked like fog but upon closer inspection was a steady snowfall. 

And - it's still falling.... 

Actually, it's good. Things were warming up a bit and melting - the snow was getting crunchy and dirty looking. So - now we have a new dusting and it looks pretty.

The first two weeks of 2016 have been more of the same for us - we are getting really good at laying low. We've been to town exactly twice and have chosen well since they have been pretty much the only two days so far with some blue sky and sunshine. I would have to say that the constant cloud has been the most difficult thing to deal with this winter.

To start us off I have to go back to a week ago - in addition to grocery shopping, we had made a date.

But first - here is the ride into Vernon. Although it's a pretty drive - it's long - 45 minutes. The road is narrow and winding - Cas and I generally get car sick since the driver, at times, thinks he's actually in a race!

The road travels along the lake but goes up and down and side to side to maneuver through and along the hills and trees. 

It was a partly sunny day..... I was a little late with this picture - I was trying to capture all the ducks, geese and swans hanging out in this area of the lake. Cassia figures that since we stayed home so did some of the geese!

This is a cabin community along the lake.

Our favourite area when the landscape changes from forest to farmland. 

Our main destination was the Towne Theatre in downtown Vernon. We had a date with Cassia's friend Emily, her Grandmother Jean and our good friend Rob. Sorry - completely forgot to take anymore photos with all the excitement. We saw The Good Dinosaur which really wasn't all that good. After that we all headed over to the library for a while.

When we got home Cas and I got to work on finishing Derek's Cake! 

Cas is always there to lick the beaters.

We MAY have gone a little crazy with the sprinkles!

The Wood Clan always seems to find fun ways to wear Birthday Hats!

Happy 51st to Derek!

Cassia and Derek continue to find new hiking areas. Here they found where the deer overnight.

It's hard to tell but with all the melting the waterfall is running again.

Another of Cas's forts.

Cas and I finally finished our paper mache dinosaur land. With all her dinosaurs I thought they needed a hang out better than our floor!

I did most of the paper mache but Cas was there for the painting.

She could have used a dinosaur land 5 times the size - and this is only a small sample of her dinosaur collection. After all she has been collecting them for three years now....

Apparently there were airplanes and soldiers during the dinosaur age....

This is along the creek towards the lake - definitely some melting going on. And - some more blue sky yesterday.

A pretty neat picture by Derek.

Cassia has been busy drawing spring last night and this morning. That's a dragon fly by the way....

This one shows our creek. 

Boy I can't wait until this is happening. I'm working on my seed order right now ..... lots of plans for our gardens this year. 

Last year was a good start but we ate all that we grew - this year I'm hoping to have enough frozen and canned to enjoy next winter. In addition to the regular crops, this year I'm adding Holy Basil, Watercress, Catnip, Purslane, Goji Berries, Daikon Radish, Micro greens and much more I'm sure.... This year I will be focusing more on growing flowers and herbs for tinctures, infused oils and to use in my skincare concoctions.

If you had or have little ones in your life you've undoubtedly heard of the Magic Tree House Series. Derek and I are working through them with Cassia. We take turns reading while I work through the worksheets with her. They are a great way for kids to learn about history. This is the first book which of course Cassia just loved. We have also finished the Mummies in the Morning, so while we were at the library the other day I picked up a history book about Egypt.

We just started the MTH as we first read through the Canadian Flyer Adventure series by Frieda Wishinsky. We highly recommend these stories for those interested in Canadian History!

Well, I've been working my way through this post for the last few hours and it's still snowing!

Derek is out shovelling and Cas is out playing!

Spring may still be awhile.....

Teresa

By the way - we'll be looking for Volunteer Park Hosts here at Fintry for the 2016 camping season. The term runs from April 1 to mid October. The hosts need their own RV but are provided with full hook ups. If you are interested or know someone shoot us an email - alifemadesimple3@gmail.com! More info is at Kaloya.

MY HIKE TO THE WATERFALLS

Hi!

This is Cassia! Cassia Wood.

Mom says that maybe I should do the blog post this time because the pictures are from me and my dad's waterfall adventure. Good idea Mom! Mom doesn't go with us to the waterfall - she stays home. Just Dad, Rufus and Me! It's our thing.

We go to them almost everyday - usually in the morning after breakfast - that's why mom says to eat a big breakfast. It has been warmer so the creek is mushy on the way to the lake but it's really frozen going up to the waterfall. We get to the waterfall by going up the creek. The water is frozen so we can slide on it.

Dad takes the pictures. These pictures are from three different trips but I just put them all together.

See - here we are going up the creek. I stay to the side - it's easier that way - and the water isn't all frozen here.  I'm walking on the side leading Dad to the trail - Dad has to catch up to me. He goes the long way.

To get here we have to climb up and over - up and over. Trees .... rocks .... that sort of thing. 

Got me?! I jumped over the creek and then walked along.

I like all the snow on the branches. There is a lot of snow now! We had to go under some of these branches.

These are the helicopters seeds.

Dad does the same thing as Mom - takes weird pictures of things.

This is where we had to go up and over a log. Dad had to pull me up here. 

Next time I found a way around.

This is closer to the waterfalls. Here I had to go on my knees because it was slippery - then we had to crawl under a log.

That's me!

 On the trip I get really hot in my snowsuit! Mom calls me a little furnace. Yup that's me.

Look at the waterfall! Here I am trying to climb up closer. It's pretty slippery but some places not so much.

I grab on and pull myself up.

Isn't this fun! Look how close I am to the waterfall!

Look at the icicles!

 I love them - we have them on the house too! Dad took a huge one off for me and put it on my Viking ship that we made in the driveway.

Here's Dad - can you see me behind him?! 

Silly Rufus! He loves to roll in the snow! Me too!

Grandma says it looks like sea foam! She's right it does! Good one Grandma!

Then we go back down the creek to get home.

The water is still running under the snow and ice! Good shot Dad!

Dad also took some movies - here they are! Dad says sorry they are so shaky - it was hard for him to stand and take the movie plus he had to take his gloves off! Plus it was hard work getting to the falls!

This movie was from a few days ago....

and this one was from today! It was fun!

I love going up to the waterfall. It is so much fun! Perfecto!

Now that I'm finished this we are going again.

I love the beach but I love the snow too!

Bye. See you later.

Cassia

Mom wanted me to remind everyone that we need Park Hosts here at the Park next summer! You would need to be here from April 1 to mid October. I love this park - it's a great park. It has lots of places to walk and even a playground. You get a site and get hooked up. If you want to do it send a letter to mom at alifemadesimple3@gmail.com! There is also information on our bosses site - Kaloya.

THE CLAN'S CHRISTMAS

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!! - or at least the type of Christmas or holiday that you planned and hoped for. 

The Wood Clan had a very quiet easy going Christmas - just the way we like it. Oh sure - if we had family around we would have been more then happy to spend it with them - but since we don't - we enjoyed our days like all the others have been. Hanging out, enjoying each others company - the three of us have fun together and enjoy 'a life made simple'. 

So - even though it was our first Christmas home in years, it wasn't a crazy over the top event!

This is how it all went down......

Christmas Eve - homemade hot chocolate, popcorn and a movie - The Polar Express! Here's my assistant - errrr - product controller I mean.

Thankfully Cassia let us sleep in until 7:30am. Two things she had to wait for - the fire to be started and coffee - then we told her let it rip - literally.

This wasn't really a surprise for her - she chose this puzzle. I mean what was a parent to do when faced with the huge selection at Vernon Teach & Learn where we purchased most of Cas's gifts. 

From Grandma - this gift went over really well. 

As did Candyland which was completely unexpected.  We also got her Scrabble Jr. which didn't get a positive reaction. However, interestingly enough now that she has played them both she prefers Scrabble. 

And ... the gift of gifts.....

the 85 piece Mega Dinosaur Park set up!

Here's a picture from yesterday - the set up is a mobile Park apparently, as it seems to move around the house. 

With a nice blue sky - Christmas Day meant an afternoon walk to the lake.

The rose hips really stand out against the dormancy.

A guy and his dog ... it reminds me of the one I got of the two of them in Zihua - remember?! Ha! We only looked slightly different a year later!

I was trying to take a picture of this branch in the water - nice of Cassia to haul it to shore for me.

A photo op not to be missed - right?! I mean - amazingly beautiful!

I was completely left behind while I was taking the ice photos - I may have gotten a bit carried away. Cas is always a good sport though - she waited ahead for me in the trees so she could jump out and scare me!

Then ..... we got a dump of snow overnight! Derek always goes for a walk in the morning. He headed down to 'the road' for this picture. Actually, he's a real trooper - he didn't have the camera the first time so came home and went back - which is really saying something - it's not close...

So obviously Derek had his afternoon's work lined up. We weren't going anywhere but better to get the driveway clear.

30 seconds into our afternoon walk and the first time Cassia has worn a snow suit - she finally decided that it was time. I guess the ability to maneuver in a snowsuit is a learned skill - not based on the genetics of Canadian raised (in snow) parents! 

Our winter wonderland here at Fintry.

It is actually snowing pretty good still which was beautiful - but - you can't really tell.

Lots. Of. Snow.

Not many people visiting the park these days!

The fir and pine trees in loop one look amazing with all the snow!

Lovin' it!

Cassia just can't seem to stay out of trees - she definitely gets that from Derek.....

Lots of pictures of Cassia in the snow - it's hard to pass up so much excitement!

I don't think I've mentioned that just before Christmas she lost a second tooth.

And then..... going.....

going.....

gone.
I'm impressed looking at the pictures now that she had a smile throughout. She did hurt her head though but one thing about Cassia - she is a trooper.

The next best thing to watching your kid play in the snow - is your Husky ....

The first time the creek has completely frozen over.

Yesterday, Derek took these next few shots on his early morning walk. It's been pretty cloudy here the last few days so nice to see some blue sky.

The majestic Manor House. 

More tree climbing yesterday afternoon....

Ha!

So - we've been snowed in of sorts and have been really enjoying it. Thankfully it's been snowy but not too cold - hovering around 0°C during the day.

Tomorrow, or the next day, we'll have to head back into the real world .... it's been two weeks since we've been to Vernon. Our grocery supply has definitely dwindled. 

See you next year!

Teresa

And by the way - we'll be looking for Volunteer Park Hosts here at Fintry for the 2016 camping season. The term runs from April 1 to mid October. The hosts need their own RV but are provided with full hook ups. If you are interested or know someone shoot us an email - alifemadesimple3@gmail.com! More info is at Kaloya.