Happy new year to everyone!  May 2013 be the year wherein you achieve at least one of your personal goals!

Life has slowed down on Dogstar Farm.  Keeping the sheep fed and watered and safe is the main task during these short, cold winter days.  Socializing does seem to pick up, though, as people tend to have more time to visit and enjoy good food.

I spent the first week of January in Vancouver and Victoria with my sister Kathleen, who lives in Mexico.  We meet in Vancouver, spend the night in the Fairmont at the airport (courtesy of Kathleen - thanks Kathleen!).  Kathleen rents a car and off we go to Victoria.  We shop, visit our sister Claudia and nieces Lauren and Claudia, eat good food and generally have a good time.  It is a nice break for me and a chance to do some city stuff, like go to a movie (Skyfall was terrific!) and eat sushi.  I had a great time and look forward to doing it again next year.

It is good to be home too.  The air is fresh, the pace slower.  We have been snowshoeing lately.  It's a good way to exercise ourselves and the dogs.  We boarded a couple of puppies over Christmas so here are a few pictures of the fun:

The puppies learned the snowshoes helped stop them from sinking in the snow.  This little girl even sat on the shoes while I was on the road.

Here are a few pictures of the lake cooling down, getting ready to freeze:

And, last night it was calm and cold enough so the whole lake is now frozen.  It seems the spot in front of our house, which is in Tom Allin Bay, is the last to freeze:

Yes, that's all ice.  It's too bumpy for skating, but a light layer of snow will make it terrific for skiing.

I smell lamb chops and rosemary and garlic potatoes so I would say my supper is ready.  That's it for now.  Have a good weekend, everyone!
Bye for now!