Saturday I noticed that ice was forming on our pond. It's so dark when I arrive home I hadn't noticed it forming. This little stream also feeds into the lower pond and you can see the ice forming around the rocks.

I made this arched attic windows quilt several years ago. The designer is Jacque J. Holmes. It is made with black and white fabrics only. I call it "A Winter's View", it was challenging to make but I like the effect a lot.

Here is my current winter view. The snow started falling this afternoon and is gradually accumulating in our courtyard. Our walks have all been salted.

The beauty berry looks delicate in the snow.

The new shoots are already forming for next year.

Definitely a glimpse of more to come. It is quite cold and blustery along the river's edge.

The roses are trying so hard to hang in for a few more days.

This little palm is already covered in the snow.

The side stream rocks are covered with snow and more ice has formed on the lower pond.

My door welcomes you to the wintry season almost upon us.

Merry Christmas from the white wintry west coast of Canada...for the first time in 40 years we are white from coast to coast! Saturday I took some pictures of the ice in the Fraser River. The ice made some interesting patterns on the river and you could hear it moving about if you listened closely.Sunday night it started to snow and by Monday morning we were blanketed by snow. I took this picture of the parking lot at work as the sun was coming up.

I walked over the berm to look at the street where I usually parked. Just a car of one of the homeowners across the street was seen.

Looking down the other way, a few brave souls decided to try and navigate the unploughed street. There is a small roundabout that made for tricky navigating.

The evergreens looked stately with their mantles of snow.

Wednesday we had another storm through the night, I took public transportation to work for the second time that week. The side street and trees were even deeper in snow.

Then evergreens are starting to get weighed down with their snowy coats.You can just see the Central station sign on the old train station behind the trees.

This Christmas morning I woke up to a snow covered courtyard. About 11 a.m. the snow started to fall again.

The pond and waterfall are still flowing, despite the cold weather.

The snow has been falling on and off this morning, the turkey is in the oven and beginning to smell wonderful. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and hopes you are spending it with family and friends.

Beauty berry looking lovely in the snow... The snow starting falling again after my first venture out. I went for a second walk to the west end of the quay this time.

This Japanese maple is looking like delicate lace with the snow amongst its branches.

I you click on the picture it should enlarge and you will see some loons swimming down the river with snow on their backs.

By the time I got my telephoto lens on they were almost out of sight, but click and you will see them just before the the solid wall.

The river is filled with snow covered ice along this smaller arm. Port Royal is the community across the river from us. They are planning on starting a small ferry between them and our side of the river in the future.

This small island may be made into a park that you will be able to access from the future ferry.

This fountain is still spewing water, but if you look at the second picture below you will see all the ice forming on the base.

The ice makes quite a pretty design on its own. It will be interesting to see what it looks like in a few more days.

The Winter Solstice has arrived in the northern hemisphere...just before it arrived I went to lunch on Friday with friends at Horizons restaurant on top of Burnaby Mountain. The view to the west looking at Vancouver, North and West Vancouver was spectacular. The totems in the picture above are from Japan. The twin trees have been trained into two magnificent birds in the lower picture.

The body of water you see winding up the right side is Burrard Inlet, it separates Vancouver from North and West Vancouver. You might be able to see the Lion's Gate Bridge linking Stanley Park and North Vancouver. On a clear day you can see the Gulf Islands and sometimes even Vancouver Island from this area.

The North Shore mountains are a popular ski destination at this time of year.

This morning I woke up to almost 10 cm. [5 inches] of fresh snow that fell overnight. This is a view from my deck.

This polar bear looks like he is right at home even though he is miles from his usual habitat.

The packages by the tree look ready to be opened and shared with friends.

The rhododendrons have curled up their leaves to protect themselves in this cold weather we are having.

It was a cold, cloudy morning walking along the river. You can see the ice forming around the paddle wheelers. The first bridge is for the skytrain, the second for cars and the third is a train bridge.

This crow was working hard to get something out of a bag to eat that was down on the ice in the river.

The river is filled with ice, some of the tugs are still managing to make their way through with log booms.

The world's largest tin solder is standing on guard over the snowy banks of the boardwalk.

Here is another view of the three bridges across the Fraser. We have 7 major car bridges crossing at various points in the lower mainland. Not to mention other train and smaller bridges for cars.

The Palm trees are showing off the latest in snow designs.

Yesterday the pond was flowing despite some ice forming on the lower level and the right side of the waterfall.

This morning there is more ice covered by snow and the waterfall is getting a bit more frozen.

There is also a little stream that feeds the system and yesterday it had just a bit of snow and ice covering it.

Today there is again more ice and snow covering the lower pond and rocks.

We have several groups of pampas grasses, this seed head had bent over the walkway. When I touched it all the snow came off and the stem stood back up.

This smaller ornamental grass looks delicate with it's snowy shawl covering it.

The snow started up again this morning about 2 hours ago and we are expecting another 10-15 cm [5-7 inches] today. Tomorrow they say it may get sunny before more snow on Tuesday and Wednesday. Guess we'll have to wait and see.