Winter - 'nuf said.

This is our garden shed which we commonly refer to as "Arkansas.' This is where we sit in the afternoon sun from mid-Feb. to May and Sept. to mid-Nov. On sunny days with the temperature between -5C and +10C, the sitting area on the deck is extremely warm. It's also nice having the house stereo blasting through the speakers under the roof eaves.

A few weeks ago there was a major fire on Main Street. Here is what the old building looks like today. I'm hoping, but not holding my breath, that the building can be saved.

More examples of waiting around our place.

Ball hockey nets waiting for next year already.

Serene Buddha, even in winter.

The stump by the lake has solar lights that brighten up the shore a bit at night.

There must be a whole lot of heat leaving this house through the roof to create all these icicles.

At the end of our "dead end" road is this little old seasonal cottage. It sits empty all winter, and its owners spend a month or two at in the summer - very quiet and relaxing.

Recently my pal Mike (Silverpixel - http://mdemoree.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2012-01-11T16:56:00-05:00) posted a photo with an oak tree that still retained its leaves in the winter. Here's a young oak tree in the bush with most of its leaves, even after heavy snow, freezing rain and blizzards.

Sunny and I just got back from a walk in the blizzard - we're due for 15-20cm of the stuff.

Sunny and I went for another frigid walk in the bush this afternoon. It was quite nice; although it was cold, I did over-dress somewhat. The snow was knee deep as we plowed through the untrodden paths.

The snow hangs heavy in the trees, and it makes the normally clear paths a bit more closed in.

Not sure what type of critter lives here, maybe a partridge?

Where the sun can get through, no matter how cold, it can warm the rocks enough that snow and ice can't form.

After I got off the frigid lake, I continued my walk through the bush. Out of the wind, it felt much warmer, even though it was still minus twenty-something.

Went for a very short frigid walk out on to the ice this afternoon. The windchill was vicious!!

-26C this morning on the lake without windchill - COLD!! It will be a while before we're haulin' the canoe out for a spin on the lake, unless we literally spin it on the ice.

Got a bit carried away with the filters here, but what the heck. It will be a while before the chairs are enjoyed on the dock over the water.

Fun with panoramas - the view from our beach this afternoon.

They finally opened Main Street in front of the site of last week's fire at the Cochrane Building. As I drove by the site this afternoon, I snapped a photo. I'll have to take the time to stop and check it out soon as it's a real mess.

Another quality business on North Bay's Main Street. The new book selection is quite good.

The Chicago Restaurant on Main Street, North Bay, across the street and 100m west of the fire at the Cochrane Building.

This is Oak Street, North Bay. These buildings face Lake Nipissing.

North Bay's Main Street lost another "heritage" building last night due to fire. Over the past few decades there have been a number of old buildings that have gone up in flames. This one, the Cochrane Building built in 1911, also lost 2 great vibrant businesses in the fire - Vested Interest Trading and Lefebvres.

New Year's Eve 2011

Happy New Year!!!
Here's a New Year's Day photo of the ice and open water in front of our place. With all the cold weather that's around the corner starting tomorrow, the lake should freeze over soon.