Spanish Banks

view of Vancouver skyline to the east as seen from Spanish Banks

Spanish Banks facing west

Spanish Banks are a series of beaches on the south side of English Bay in Vancouver.  They are a reminder of the early Spanish explorers to the area.  Many areas along the coast are named for them, particularly islands in the Strait of Georgia such as Galiano and Valdes.

Happy holidays are over

View from school this morning. Sun breaking through.

Back to colleagues, kids and routine. Snow is melting in the streets and drops dripping from the roofs, and people are changing too...

La Nina

skier... unusual sight in Stanley Park

... albeit her gentler side.  While snow storms ravage the rest of the continent, Vancouverites are treated to a very unusual, but still, lovely, and fairly warm winter wonderland this morning.

snowy calm at Second Beach, Stanley Park

that's not a puddle...

a strange sight on Vancouver turf in late February.....

While the west coast of Norway warmed up, we were setting record low temperatures last night at minus eight!  Lots of snow today, but instead of melting when it hit the ground like it's supposed to, it started to build up!  Brrrr.

Spent the afternoon visiting with my lovely cousin, recently home from world travels.  Beat the weather by making crafts and drinking tea.

by the way, Trine, note the poster in the background :-)

Slow motion

Temperature is rising from minus five to plus five. Icy, wet and drops dripping everywhere.  Including from this branch.

The dog and I have watched The American with George Clooney. Beautiful pictures, few words, and a slow pace...

Patriotism

Kick off in Oslo. The World Ski Championship in Holmenkollen just started.

And there is already a war on Sweden.

staying in from the cold

For lunch, lamb shank with dijon sauce at Argo Cafe... yum!

  It has been unseasonably cold for Vancouver as of late, which was my excuse today for staying inside with rib-sticking food or hot coffee.

... and at coffee time, watching the world go by over a warm latte.

   Check out the Argo Cafe if you get a chance... great food and unique atmosphere:     http://www.argocafe.ca

Discohola

Rain and warm weather coming in. I am going to miss the crunchy sound from the hard packed and wind blown snow.

Creekside

A cold, clear and windy day draws to a close.

facing northeast from the new Southeast False Creek community development
built on the site of last year's athlete's village.

Good morning, Lissa

Matja in her playground says hello :)

Good morning, Matja!  It's a sunny day here, too! Lissa

happy holidays.... except here

view of the greater Vancouver area from the north shore, with the
glaciated volcano, Mt. Baker, in Washington state visible in the background.

  Well, it's Monday morning and in Vancouver it's a regular work day, but for our neighbours to the south in the US it's Presidents Day, and for our neighbours to the east in Alberta and Saskatchewan, it is Family Day.

   Mother Nature has been gracious, and the weather's been beautiful for visitors to our fair city from those jursidictions this weekend.  Nice for us, too, but they get to sleep in.

Sometimes when you wake up in the morning, you wonder what happened last night

Ordinary people

The family Johnsen on their way to an even more remote area. The mountain Kjeringi, 1314 meters above sea level.

snowshoeing on Cypress Mountain

Whiskyjack guarding the skis

shadows and light

Fate

Poor fellow. He could stand the winter, but not my window

i can see clearly now the rain has gone....

taken with Hipstamatic app,
Kodot XGrizzled "film" and Roboto Glitter "lens"

nothin' but blue sky...

S Granville shopping district... my 'hood

VINTERFERIE

Cold, windy, sunny

and off for a week :)

Breakfast

Ordinary food

for ordinary days

and back to wet....

boats in False Creek

Looking West

Strolling back home last night