Snow in March

Victoria doesn't get much snow, some winters not at all, but this March has seen big winds, much rain, hail and a couple small snowfalls. Spring is arriving officially in a week and our February Victoria flower count this year was five and a half billion, but most of the blooms were under some snow a bit this March. Last night, we got lightning and thunder, no rain, and then snow flurries again.

We like seeing snow and take full advantage of the fleeting white scenery with dog walks and pictures. We had snow flurries in sunshine the other day. It's all good.

Tim's birthday was March first. He spent most of the week recording with his two marimba bands but we got a chance to party with him twice. He got a beautiful blue green Betta fish from his friend Tara and we had fun selecting it and giving it its new home. Tim named him Lukin from a Pearl Jam song. Lukin is busy making happy bubbles.

Mufaro and Chikoro were laying down tracks for a local musicians' compilation disc coming out this spring. Mufaro will record a full length in April. It will be great to have new music for summer.

We attended an Oscar party at Pagliacci's Sunday night. I was delighted with Ang Lee's directorial win for Brokeback Mountain and disappointed Walk the Line was snubbed except for Reese Witherspoon's popular win. George Clooney was a treat as a winner and I felt sad Matt Dillon did not win nor Joaquin Phoenix. They will have other years, their acting is brilliant. I have a film recommend for everyone, go see or rent Transamerica, Felicity Huffman is fascinating.

Tim and Pat went to Saltspring Island to celebrate their tenth anniversary. Honeysuckle Cottage at the north end was perfect. They went up Mount Maxwell with a stunning Gulf Islands view in beautiful weather. They had some great local food. Their cottage hosts gave them flowers and chocolates for their anniversary and provided them with breakfast materials. They had fun and shopped too and were at a beach for sunset. They drove home over The Malahat in a challenging rainstorm the next day.

We are one of the windiest cities in the world and this winter it has been most blustery and chilly. I will take this winter over other folks' winters any day, but we look forward to gentler temperatures and less wind. The clouds have been incredible, though, wind makes for exciting cloud action.

Tim and I had quite the adventure this week. Walked Cal to Saxe Point Park and overhead we saw three eagles and a hawk and one eagle was carrying a small animal in its talons which we later would identify as a squirrel. Also, eagles have been frequenting our back woods park often as have hawks. We have unlimited birds and squirrels for their enjoyment. One of the eagles settled on a branch two trees over from their giant nest and proceeded to eat every last bit of the squirrel, innards, bones, tail. It took quite some time and we watched for twenty minutes until he was finished and flew away. National Geographic, Esquimalt style.

Just this morning, I saw a flock of pigeons hastily escaping our back yard and one collided with the corner of our deck so I looked down to see how it was doing. A hawk had him in his grasp eight feet below me and flew off when he saw me. He landed near our back fence and proceeded to defeather the poor pigeon. We were watching the drama unfold and finally the hawk wanted some privacy and left our yard to retreat into the woods with breakfast.

Sad news Friday, our up island friendly whale Luna who loved people and boats too much got tangled in a tugboat's propeller and lost his life. We are really sad. This Orca, somehow separated from his pod five years ago, had been living the good life up island off Gold River. First Nations people thought he was the reincarnation of their chief who had just passed on.
The whale delighted many and frustrated others, Luna was quite the mischievous animal, perhaps too playful with some boats, and now he is gone.

Spring break is upon us and spring around the corner, hopefully.

EnJOY, everyone.

Allison