Sointula in December

Thursday, December 20, 2018

It’s the stormiest day yet in Sointula with blasting southeast winds changing mid-day to a northwester packing freezing pelting rain mixed with snow. The worst storm of the decade hit us at the north end of Vancouver Island but was more concentrated south of Campbell River all the way to Victoria and over the Lower Mainland,  knocking power out to hundreds of thousands and causing considerable damage and even loss of life.  We were lucky!  On Malcolm Island we only had a few trees down and didn’t hear of any damage.
I’ve always loved winter storms since I spent my entire youth playing on the beach year round at Gonzales Bay in Victoria.  When I was little, during the dead of winter my Mom, my sister Moe and I would bundle up and head to the beach after dinner to collect bark, drag sticks in the sand, pull kelp behind us, and run from one end to the other at low tide.  Sometimes the winds were so strong that we had trouble making any forward progress walking in the park just above the beach. My big sister, Moe and I would stand at the top of the park steps, arms extended out on both sides of us (like that well known Titanic scene) and let the wind support our weight.  We hoped to lift off but it never happened.  Such fun and some of my most favourite memories.

I also remember one other particular tradition each year.... when Jim and I and Brendan bundled up and headed to the beach on Christmas Eve or another evening during Christmas week. Seasonally low tides occur in the evening during December.  Any family and friends over for dinner joined us on our mission. Which was...to decorate the beach from one end to the other with lanterns made out of tea candles placed in small paper bags.  Every house along the beach had a view of the lanterns, which stayed lit for a good hour or so.  I wonder if someone is still doing it.

I'm felling pretty warm while I work in fairly mild temperatures.  Part of routine yard maintenance is digging out buckets of silt from our run-off troughs.  This was my turn to get the troughs ready for the next rainfall.

Our steadfast awning has survived high winds and driving rains til now so we’ve left it up protecting a bit of outdoor space from the elements so I’m dry at least in the outdoor kitchen space.

Catching up on dishes.  The awning has been amazing though we wondered if we were going to loose it a couple of times!

Winter Solstice, December 21, 2018
Jim and I drove to Courtenay and Campbell River to pick up our new bed (Yes!), bathroom tiles and kitchen flooring.  It was a crisp, cool drive with sunshine blanketing the northern island for the entire day.  We stayed overnight south of Courtenay at a nice hotel and enjoyed watching the setting sun over the coastal mountains on the shortest day of the year.

Sunset on Winter Solstice looking from Courtenay towards Powell River and pink tinged mountains beyond.

A full moon over Georgia Strait on Winter Solstice.

December 23, 2018
Today in Sointula it's stormy and cold so I dressed in many layers to wash the lunch dishes outside. As I washed, I revelled in the loudness of the wind, the powerful gusts swirling leaves and twigs with evergreen branches dancing all around me.  I listened to rushing water next door where a seasonal waterfall follows the slope of land. Later, as I walked between our house and trailer I spotted three eagles gliding in the air currents.  They clearly loved the wind too. How blessed we are!

This waterfall next-door to us.  In the summer it dries up but this time of the year we have
the wonderful constant soothing sound of running water in the neighbourhood. 

That's Jim at the top of 6th Avenue.  The steep waterfall runs parallel to the pavement, from the mountain beyond down next to the road allowance and then it enters a culvert that takes it under a driveway and down to the ocean. 

Our house with sunshine pouring in on one of the shortest days of the year.  This is a great passive solar house
that takes full advantage of facing southwest and catching all the solar energy we can on sunny days.
The white pipes are aiding with temporary drainage around the house.  

Jim cut some holly from our property to make a Christmas tree for me.  Next year there might a 'real' tree.  

See the light dancing off the back wall? This winter sun will warm the house and brighten the space even on dull days.

Snow in Sointula - taken December 2017 by our neighbour, Jim.

2019 will see big changes for us as we continue to work on our home.  We'll do updates when we can in the new year.

Wishing everyone a peaceful and happy season of love and acceptance.

Tricia and Jim Bowen
tandjbowen13@gmail.com