Harbingers of Spring

I saw an awesome sunrise this morning! Which I think boded well for the weather... And I was right, because I got to go for a hike today!

Hmmm... little bear vs. big kitty... hmmm... Oh well, as long as I don't stray too far from the humans I should be OK...

There were some big trees that came down after those 18" of snow. Guess they weren't used to all that weight.

And look!!! Green leaves - real ones (not those evergreen things like arbutus and holly).

And some Canadians are back home from over-wintering down south. I bet they are looking for a nesting spot.

Ooohhhh... letters painted on rocks underwater... I wonder what it was supposed to say...

I also found as skunk cabbage! They don't smell beary nice but they are the first indicators that spring is really here.

I have to say, they do look pretty...

But then it started to rain and so I got tucked into Mama's jacket... I hope we keep going on our hike...

Oh my goodness... can it be???? I think it is!!! Pussy willows!!!

Under the big power-lines (always a good place for pussy willows). These are in the shadow of the mountain so spring must be a bit tardy here. I got a bunch of little scraggly ones.

And then found another bush with long, straight branches.

Finally... pussy willows!!

Update on the Garden

Hullo!! This is an update on the state of our garden... apologies to those of you still buried up to your arm-pits in snow... These are crocuses in our front yard! They are attracting all sorts of bees...

And some primroses - aren't they colourful??

I have to say... the snow that we had played havoc with the pruning yard clean-up. These piles of branches still need to be put away... 

During the winter, we had a mini-greenhouse where I planted spinach, radishes and scallions... They look pretty good and are enjoying some fresh air and sunshine.

That's spinach in the front, scallions on the right and radishes in the middle (lettuce mix to the left).

The radish leaf bases look pretty thick so I'm hoping that there are some healthy radishes down there. I have to wait a few days to give them some more time to enjoy the sunshine...

In the fall I did an experiment with some rose cuttings. The garden nursery guy said to just stick the cuttings in the ground in the fall and they would sprout in the spring... and they are!!! We are going to have to transplant them at some point.

And these are some mystery bulbs that I found last summer... they look kind of like tulips... maybe.

This lavender plant I found growing next to the highway where it was always getting mowed down... it looks much happier here.

And the snowdrops are thriving!!! They managed to survive under the 18" of snow quite well...

And finally... the garlic that I planted in October... it will be ready in July. I have to keep wire over top because otherwise the deer might eat them. Hmmm... a deer with garlic breath... maybe they wouldn't like them?

Great Pussy Willow Hunt

Another walk - this time with a goal... I am on the hunt for pussy willows! Mama says she's seen some from the truck so we are going to go and find them... they are such cute indicators of spring...

These are alder catkins and they are also indicators of spring, but not as cute as the pussy willows...

There it is - that's the bush!! I can't wait to go over there!!

Uh-oh... one tiny hiccup - a 2 foot deep ditch with flowing water... Hmmm... I suggested that Mama throw me across with the clippers. I could then harvest the pussy willows and... hmmm... how would I get back? Good question... I thought Mama could wade across the stream but... no go. Sigh.

A zoom-up with the camera showed that the pussy willows are already too old - they are getting their poofy bits with pollen - we waited too long!

Oh well... there are some leaves starting to come out - which is nice too.

And the ants were super busy...

I wonder if they have a honey stash down there?

Hey!! Another pussy willow bush/tree! But this one too is a bit far gone...

And it is surrounded by blackberry brambles which means it would be a painful adventure to pick them.Oh well... I guess I will have to make do without pussy willows this year. Do you have any yet where you are??

A Walk!

I got to go out for a walk today! (Finally...) The weather was nice and sunny and it was good to get out and stretch my little bear legs.

Oh look, do you see that, down in the gully? It's a shopping cart!

I think Mama should go and get it and then she can push me down the trail - because after so many weeks of inactivity, my little bear legs are pretty tired! Mama frowned a bit and muttered something about this little bear needing some exercise cause he's getting a fat butt!

Eh?? Do I look like my bum is getting fat?? I don't think so! Little bears are notoriously skinny after their winter hibernation (not enough honey)...

Hmph... I ask you... was that a nice thing for her to say about me?? Hmph...

But I forgive easily so... our next stop was a cool rock formation - you can see that is a conglomerate - made up of ancient gravel deposits...

And most exciting - there is a fossilized tree trunk in there!! Isn't that neat?? I can't wait to go on more walks (hint hint)...

An Outing to the Islands

Oh boy!! I am going on an outing today!! We drove in the truck... wonder where we are going?? Oh, it's a ferry terminal!

It's beary foggy out this morning... but I know where we are going!

Somewhere out there in the fog... it is out there...

The island where I spent five months last winter!! We are going for a visit...

And the fog cleared up... it's so nice to see blue sky again.

These are some derelict boats in the harbour.

They had snow too... but their snow drops look like they survived OK... I hope mine do too!

Ooohhh... crocuses...

And daffodils! There was a bee snooping around the daffodils but she took off as soon as I showed up. I think she didn't want me to follow her back to the hive!

Time for some breakfast... let's see... do I want over-easy eggs with toast, sausage and potatoes...

Or green eggs and ham (scrambled eggs with basil pesto and ham), plus potatoes and toast. Hmmm...

I think I'll hold out for some honey and just enjoy the view...

It is nice and warm in the sunshine...

Well... that was a good visit! There was lots of shopping but I just napped in the truck... shopping can be boring for a little bear. But... when we got home I learned that someone had bought something for me!! For me!! As a reward for all my hard contractor supervision.

I wonder if it's honey... or salmon... 

Nope... doesn't smell like food... phooie...

Wait a minute!! What's this... could it be???

IT IS!!! It's my beary own little door!!! Someone on the island makes them but when I was there we couldn't find a single one for sale! Oooh.... It is Beanie Blue and Hammie Red!! With a wooden door that I could paint with something....

Ohhhhh... it is perfect for me!!

I is such a lucky bear!! Thanks to anntee for buying it! Now I just have to post pictures of the kitchen so y'all can see why I got rewarded so awesomely!