It was cold on the lake yesterday afternoon when we went ice fishing off Deep Water Point on Lake Nipissing. The wind chill was nasty, and the snow and ice crystals in the air made visibility low. Thank goodness for the ice shack! The catch: 1 perch, 3 pickerel (1 returned because it was a beauty in the slot size).

OK, winter does seem long and crummy this year. So here is a classic summer photo - beautiful day on Trout Lake with a rainbow spilling onto Brophey's yard across the lake.

I post this photo today for my pal Mike (Silverpixel). He's tired of winter and asked me to post a summer photo with leaves, water, sun and heat. So, here you go, Mike, and anyone else who would rather be pushing a lawnmower rather than a snow shovel. This is looking west out over Lake Nipissing from the North Bay waterfront.

The song by Gordon Lightfoot, "Pussy willows, Cattails ..., " comes to mind, 'cept I don't think he was writing about wintertime.

I'm thinking Les Canadiens could use a bit more of #10's "flower" power if they really want to make a run at the Cup in this, their 100th year anniversary.

Family photo at Mr. P.'s birthday bash on Saturday night.

Last night Mr. P. threw a party in honour of his 50th birthday. It was quite the bash. There were many "old" familiar faces in the crowd, and lots of laugh lines visible. The Buffalos re-united to play a set that travelled back in time 20 years. A lot of "same as it ever was" and nostalgia. Cheers, Mike!

Last night, Mr. P.'s birthday game night, the Killer Strawberries won their game, and in between periods they assembled for a team photo since all players were in attendance. The referee obligingly snapped the team photo. I didn't do any "photo-chopping" to the picture to demonstrate that taking a good photo really has more to do with the person taking the photo than the equipment. I set the photo up, composed it, and then turned my camera over to the ref. You can see the result - Mag Boy, who was standing on the far left of the photo is nowhere to be seen, not unlike his play, kidding. I don't know how the ref did this. He took 4 photos of the team, and every one cut off Mag Boy. Now, maybe the ref had a reason for that, I don't know. Fortunately, his game refereeing was better than his photography work.

Today is our daughter, Jade's birthday. Happy birthday, Jade!!

Say it ain't so ... Mr. P. turns 50 today!! All the best as you enter your 6th decade, Mike.

In front of Roy Thompson Hall on the Walk of Fame in Toronto is this plaque dedicated to local North Bay/Corbeil artist/cartoonist Lynn Johnston.

Here we are after a pond hockey game either last year or the year before. The chances appear very slim that we will be able to resurrect the rink for a match this year. I was out on the lake yesterday, and there is over a foot of dense, fine snow on the rink. Even though we've had days last week where the temperatures were at -40C, there is slush buildup under the snow. It looks like a huge effort and some luck would be required to get the rink going. I doubt if the "users" will be able to lend enough of a hand to make it happen.

When it's cold outside, there's nothing like a fire to warm you up, even if it's a photo of a fire from when it was warmer outside.

Recently, it's been too cold to get the camera out and take pictures, so here are a few more shots from our Costa Rica holiday last year. I tell you +35C beats the crap out of -40C.

After 3 days of -40C temperatures (and this morning it's -19C), I figured a few photos of warmer times were in order. Here are a few shots from our Costa Rica holiday last winter. Man-o-man, would it be nice to be back there right now!!

Following Claude's 50th birthday party, the Urban Cowboy, our Host and I retired to the "office" for our usual late night/after party. We didn't go for an hour walk in the -30 night this time, but did our usual mess and substituted the hike for a hot tub. This photo appropriately captures the aftermath of our almost sunrise soiree.

Here are a few more photos from Claude's 50th birthday: lots of relatives, cousins, daughters, friends etc.

I was in the Ottawa area on the weekend, Oxford Mills and Merrickville to be precise, for my friend, Claude's surprise 50th birthday party. Our Mainstreet Restaurant host Mike and his kids whipped up the soiree for wife/mom Claude. Claude's family made the 8 hour drive from Chicoutami, PG, while Jim and I had journeys that were half that. The locals were even less challenged for travel time. It was a great time, and Claude was surprised. Lots of laughter, tears and a bit of "parlez vous" filled the hall. Yeehaw!! Bonne fete, Claude!!!

A man and his dog.

My mom snapped this photo over the Christmas holidays as Sunny and I were shovelling some of the winter dump of snow. The date in the photo is way off, by the way.

When I took Sunny for a walk yesterday afternoon, I noticed this pilliated woodpecker boring a pilliated woodpecker head sized hole in the top of the hydro pole. It was very intent on its mission, and it was there "drilling" for over an hour. I'm curious to see how large the hole is today, and I'll get back to you on that.

Looking east down Four Mile Bay.

Road Hockey Warriors 2009

Yesterday we played in the annual Walpole Road Hockey Tournament. It was, as usual, a battle to the last goal. One side won the match, and the other also won by playing. Much laughter, beverages and chili were "consumed" afterwards.

Happy 2009!!

Got the rink made yesterday, the Urban Cowboy and I. It's about 120 feet by 80 feet. We flooded it yesterday afternoon, and I did another flood this morning, so it is pretty much ready for today's outside New Year's Day Levee activities.