Well, we are in winter!  As reported yesterday, we had well over a foot of snow fall in one day!  It is -7 at 8am so it won’t be melting today or probably any time soon.  We had one big fall already but it was warm and after a few days, most of it had melted.  Im pretty sure this one is here to stay.  We are ready!  We have brand new studded winter tires!  Nice!  We didn’t get any extra wood this year.  Barry had a back problem and is just healed now, a little late to be getting wood.  This is why we have 2 years stock piled!  We will have to go out in the spring and fill the shed instead of waiting until the fall.

 

The kids are doing great!  Shooter is so happy and playful everyday, he is like a young dog.  I call him Benjamin Buttons cause he’s  less of an old man now than he was when he was a puppy … He was pretty grumpy.  He loves his sisters even if he wouldn’t admit loving Mini!    I think he is happier now than he was as an only child… He seems to thrive on the pack dynamic.  And speaking of Mini, she is still the life of the party!  She is so full of fun and adventure.  She loves to sleep curled up right between us (not under the covers) and she is fast to wrap her little arms around your neck and give you kisses, very affectionate!  She is smart too!  But the most love comes from Lily!  She is the most loving dog either of us have ever experienced!  She is so dedicated to Barry, she does not leave his side and if he leaves her behind, she sits in the window and waits for him to return.  He steps on her toes from time to time because she literally is right behind him every step he takes!  We have found out that she LOVES to curl up in front of the fire, her and Shooter take turns.  She doesn’t like to go to the groomers (remember the story of her hanging onto Barry’s leg when we dropped her off) So we are working on doing it ourselves.  We think she should keep her long coat for the winter but she can’t see half the time but we are getting better at trimming her eyes.   We need to learn to do her chin, every time she gets a drink, she gets soaked then comes and gives you a big hug… Slobbery love.  We are pretty sure she likes it here with us, she seems happy and is very healthy.  they are a happy little trio!

 

 

Lily Hangin by the fire

Miss Mini in the snow

 

I have switched from pastels to acrylics.  When I was in Penticton in September, I started a painting of the Hong House when I spent the weekend painting with Sandy Hucman (a featured artist in our gallery).  I have been working on it almost every weekend and am finally getting close to finishing.  I can do the acrylic at the house so I am putting in more time.  This painting is large so a bit awkward on our 3’x3′  dining room table so I will do some small ones after this.  I am in Penticton again at the end of the month and attending a one day workshop with Terry Isaac!!!  (I’m not worthy)  I am so excited!  I’m gonna want to come home and paint paint paint!  I already have a few things lined up that I would like to attempt but I might change my strategy after a day with Terry.   It is going to be a fun winter, I love that I can paint at home.  I do miss the studio a bit but now that the snow has come, the lack of indoor plumbing has become a bit of a deterrent  for me.  I will be posting my paintings as they are finished… I also plan to update the gallery site (hydecreekgallery.com) with all of the art work that is available for sale, I will keep you posted on that.

 

As soon as the snow came it dawned on us that opening on the same weekend as the Barkerville Christmas weekend is not realistic.  We have no heat in the gallery (4 stoves but not one hooked up) and even if we used an electric heater, it’s gonna be cold in there!  Also, as soon as the snow starts to slide off the roof, it’s hard to walk past the house and if it’s sliding at the time, it can be dangerous.  It’s not worth trying to clear it, we tried the first year to keep it open, doesn’t work.  People would have to go thru the studio to get to the gallery and we are’t too keen on that idea.  Anyways, it just isn’t gonna happen this year but it isn’t off the table for next year.

 

We are still going to be putting a boot room on the front deck, Barry’s bad back delayed everything but he can do that at any time so he will start framing it in and slowly piece it together over the winter.  It is going to increase our living space by 150 sq ft!!!  That is exciting when you live in 400 sq ft!  just to get all the coats and boots out of the living room will be awesome but I can move the freezer from the kitchen out and I’ll have shelves for pots and pans etc… OMG!!!  I am hyperventilating thinking about it.  Hahaha.  Can you imagine my reaction when we actually add onto the house!  Barry might need to learn CPR.  We are doing some more work for the ski hill (I will post photos once it’s all done) and they have so graciously offer us access to all of their equipment etc… if we need something we are just to ask.  They are such nice people and so amazing to have as our closest neighbors.  I feel pretty secure knowing we can call them at any time if we are in a pinch.

 

I better get off the computer and to work, making Christmas gifts today.  Seems appropriate with all the snow outside.  Hope you all have a great weekend!