The Day the Mighty Tree Fell

After a short intense wind storm the ninety-six year old spruce tree on our corner was down. 

Witnesses say that it was rocking back and forth and then rocked too far one way pulling it up from the roots. 

Here are pictures from the clean up. 

Pushing

Sectioning

Rootball

When the stump slapped back into place we could feel the "tremor" and hear the echo at our house.

Limbing

Log removal

Window watchers from next door

Mowg needed to get in on the picture taking here's his shot:

That night our week of winter began and the next morning the stump looked like this:

Never underestimate the power of mother nature to simply move on.

So part of what we've been up to has to do with

Auntie Lou and Uncle D coming down for a visit.

We enjoyed Uncle D's cooking and just had fun.

Auntie Lou was busy loving on little ones and taking care of the lame.

As for the littlest one hard not to gobble up

Coloring with cousins is so fun!

(just a little note those are coloring book pages slipped into plastic sleeves colored on by dry erase markers.  Isn't that brilliant?!)

I happened in on this card game.  Oh my!

And was invited to play.

You don't believe me?!

Lest anyone of the other cousins should feel bad that their pictures aren't here may I remind you,

 you  were:

playing with friends, riding bikes, playing hide and seek, going to school, reading books and playing games.  Did I miss anything?  Please don't think I don't love you because your picture's not here.  I didn't take one picture in the whole time I spent with you after Auntie Lou and Uncle D left.  Don't worry I'll get you another time and if your mother ever consents to me publishing pictures again I'll do it. 

Thanks for letting us visit and enjoy being with you!

Winter's Kiss

A procession

Ever watchful

Tempers flair

Anger even in the Good King's face

Good-bye Good King we have need now of Spring.

The Winter King's Last Ball

The Fairy's begin arriving

Someone already lost a shoe.


Hurry! Hurry! Don't be late!

Guests bearing gifts

A Dance Begins

The Watchful Gent

(could it be the man in the moon down for a visit?)

                                       Pause for a Drink

Fairy Dance

Captured

A Gift

Hello! I know it's been a very long while.

How is Spring in your end of the world?

Most recently ours has been nearly a week of winter.

Truly winter. Snow. Snow. Snow.

or "No" as it's often called by a cute little girl.

So this is what we've been up to once the weather finally broke:

A little spring wheel barrow mixed in with the snow

"This is supposed to be fun. So I've heard."

Snowball Fight!

Who knew building a snowman could be such fun!

Sliding with a little help .

"Hep!" "Hep!"

Rescue Party arrives

"Look I'm a penguin!"

In other news Our neighbor had a giant 96 year old spruce tree get blown over by the wind. We also got a glimpse of some of the Winter King's Fairies. They made his elongated stay quite a bit more tolerable. More on that another day.