Winter Snows, Sunshine Coast, BC, Canada

Winter Arrives, Sunshine Coast, BC, Canada

After a spring-like December, Winter has arrived on the Sunshine Coast. The car is parked, and we take this opportunity for longer (and much colder!) walks. All the roads are either free, or at least much freer, of traffic, and it is quite lovely to walk through the nearly silent white landscape, flakes of snow covering our shoulders.

For me, too, it is a reminder of why the wind chime orders normally fall off a bit through the winter. It is easy here on the Sunshine Coast to forget what most people in North America are dealing with through these winter months. These current days are a reminder!

A customer who custom ordered two very long blue glass and copper rain chains just sent pictures of what they look like in a Nebraska winter: Wow! I actually never had this sort of weight of ice in mind when I designed them, and I am very happy to see that they were able to withstand this winter extreme. The picture is below.

Coast Chimes Rain Chain in Nebraska Ice

Winter Finally Arrives on the Sunshine Coast, BC, Canada

Cold Beach Combing!

What a change! It felt like spring through most of our 2018-1019 winter here on the Sunshine Coast, walking with a light coat while reading about extreme cold back east. Now while what just arrived could never be described as extreme cold, it is definitely winter!

The picture above was taken while the snow was still lightly falling. Now there are blue skies, and below freezing temperature: very beautiful. The cold will be hanging around apparently, and perhaps a bit more snow to fall. It's very enjoyable, but I am hoping that a thaw comes before too long, as I can not take pictures of my creations with snow on the ground, and new works are pilling up.

Aside from long treks in the snow, it's wonderful to be snug in my workshop making all sorts of wonderful new works. Pictures soon (I hope!).

Snow Time! Sunshine Coast, BC, Canada

Snow Time!

Actually, I was hoping for at least a little taste of winter here on the Sunshine Coast. It's February, and not a single snow flake! Until now. Temperatures have finally dropped below freezing, and snow has fallen. It looks like it is going to be hanging around for a bit, too.

The best is that I got all caught up on my picture taking for work just the day before. I can't take my work pictures below freezing with snow on the ground, as those don't look great a bit later in the year when people are shopping for their spring / summer yards.

The picture below is one of those I took just hours before the picture above. You can see what I mean!

Now I can work on the pictures, and on some new works in my cozy, warm studio. Oh! And also get out for a refreshing snow walk!

Taken Just Before the Snow
Freestanding Chime at Coast Chimes

Snowy Beautiful BC Holiday, Back at Work Now

Backcountry, Beautiful Snowy British Columbia
Near Apex Mountain

British Columbia truly is beautiful, and a short holiday in the snow made this crystal clear once again. We spent 5 nights at Apex Mountain, with some of the group X-country skiing, others downhill skiing, others snowshoeing, and still others simply hiking without any special equipment. Everyone enjoyed everyday.

I personally was thrilled to discover numerous trails that had been packed by snowshoers where I could walk quite easily without sinking too deeply, and without marring the trail for future skiers and snowshoers. One day we went on a nearly 4 hour hike, and we never saw another soul.

It was really cold (minus 17 C, or 1 F), and sometimes snowing, but hiking was an easy way to warm up, and infact get warm enough to remove gloves, unzip jackets. Absolutely awesome!

Now back home, and the work begins. I need to put my whole workshop back together (it has been stored away since the big art crawl back in mid-October). My stock of wind chimes and suncatchers is seriously depleted after the art crawl, and the Christmas rush. Oh, I will  have busy days ahead! But I am looking forward to making new, beautiful works.

There is still a good selection on my website, if you feel like adding something beautiful to your life, or a friends life: Coast Chimes. Happy 2018!

More Snow Pacific North West

An updated picture from my last posting, which showed the start of the snow. There is more on the way today. According to the forecast, it looks like we will be enjoying a rare, white Christmas on the Sunshine Coast.

Below, some pretty early morning sunlight illuminating the trees. The clouds are rolling in, and the snow looks to start soon. I'm heading out to turn the heater on in my workshop, as I need to finish some copper chimes before taking a couple of days off.

To all my friends and customers, Season's Greetings!

Snow! More Snow! Sunshine Coast

Snow sticking to the skylight. Blah!

I guess I deserve this. After doing my little dance, singing my little song, clapping my... well, you get the idea ~ in celebration of an early spring on the Pacific West Coast, look! Snow!

I thought it was cold this morning on my hike. It was the first time in weeks I wore a hat. And I thought it was cold, as I worked finishing up my new workshop. But never, ever, did I think it would snow.

Well, at least the new shop seemed all that nicer, in this cold weather. It's going to be great! Even the dog came in. I guess he has had enough of the cold and snow this year, too.

The Snow goes On and On and...

The view out my packing room window. Since I mostly work outside in unheated spaces, it is really not the least bit tempting to go out there and get to work. It is pretty, though, and very nice hiking weather. I have more pictures, including recent ones of the cold snowy landscape, in a slide show on my website: Click here to see pictures of the Roberts Creek, Sunshine Coast area.

This has been a very cool, wet, snowy winter so far, for this area. Most years, it might snow once or twice, and that usually melts within a few days. Then usually it's back to pretty bearable temperatures. Not this year.

We have lived on the Sunshine Coast, British Columbia for thirteen years now, and I never have seen the snow hanging around this long. It's not a lot; but it's there. Not only does this make it too uncomfortable to do much work, but the white background is not ideal for taking pictures of my work. So things are kind of on hold.

Now I'm starting to run out of chimes, though, so whether I like it or not, and whether it warms up or not, I will soon have to go out and there. I am really hoping for some warmer weather!

Here is my dog Yukon, who has the right idea these days.

Neat Suncatchers

I have several new neat suncatchers. These sit on a windowsill and look beautiful. I especially enjoy the early morning and late afternoon, when the sun is low in the sky and filters through the glass. I've made this large one with mixed media, and a large one and a medium one with my beach glass inspired glass. Great gift! For more information, or to buy, Click here.

Here is the medium size one, with my beach glass inspired glass:

To view or purchase this one, Click here.

Finally, we have early snow this year. It's pretty and nice for hiking, but tough for working, as I do almost all my work outside. Cold! Here is a picture taken this morning through one of our new skylights~