Perfect morning for snowshoeing!

The following photos are from January 8.  Remi and I did our usual hike up Mt Seymour.  We left early and had amazing weather.  Clouds hiding the city and beautiful sunshine above. Our only complaint was that the snow was a little crunchy.  Oh, and there were hoards of people!

Just getting started.  Maggie was still on leash at this point - because of all the people!

Apparently the avalanche risk was very high.  We didn't attempt the third peak because of this.  Some experienced-looking guys at the top said they wouldn't try it and we didn't have our ice axes so we certainly weren't going up there!  Sliding off the side of a mountain would sure ruin MY afternoon!

But the back-country was STUNNING!

 

 

 

 

A panoramic, of course!

We're still accepting visitors :)

Sarah & Remi

Night snowshoeing

Remi and I have been getting out to snowshoe quite a bit this winter.  Here are a few photos of our night snowshoes!

This first is from Black Mountain at Cypress.  We went just the two of us and Maggie. 

The video is just to show how dark it is!

That same week, we went up Dog Mountain at Seymour with a couple of friends.

 Star gazing with Nicole & Al.  The air and sky were so clear!  It was incredible!

More snowshoeing photos to come!

Masson Family Vacation (Christmas 2010)

Ann and Alain were nice enough to treat us to a trip over to Bowen Island for a couple of days before New Years.  This is taken while we waited for the ferry in White Cliff Park (I think it's called) in West Vancouver. As is the photo below.

The little harbour at Bowen was very cute and had a great view of the Mainland.  Bowen is only a short ferry ride from the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal.  People actually commute from here to Vancouver for work!

 

 While there I tried my hand at knitting.  Is it obvious I have no idea what I'm doing?  I'd like to say that I've gotten much better, but there's not much time to practice during my pharmacy residency.  I've had to put knitting on hold until I'm done this program (can't wait for June!).

We started our days on Bowen with amazing gourmet breakfasts!  The place we stayed at was far off the beaten track and very quiet.  Our view was also lovely.  If you're looking for a place to stay over there, we'd certainly recommend it.  Bowen Island Hideaway B & B.

We'd then head out to see the sight.  The island is cute but we were very disappointed with the "art" on the island.  Many of the "artists" who were selling their "work" were often jacks of many trades who seemed to do art as a hobby rather than a profession and it showed in the work!  Head to Salt Spring if this is what you're looking for, not Bowen!

There was a great restaurant on the island - Italian/French food.  VERY yummy pizza and mains.  The restaurant was very homey and the chef was great.  It was called Tuscany.

After returning to Vancouver we kind of bummed around, doing day-hikes and relaxing (as you can tell from the next two photos).

 

We went out to the dykes at Pitt Lake which is where the following photos are from.

 It was a chilly day!  Ann and Alain clearly brought the cold weather from Toronto!

 I never tire of seeing bald eagles.

 And we were lucky enough to run into three river otters.  Remi took more pictures of these little guys than he did the family!!  So cute!

 A blue heron.

 The family :)  This photo was taken by some guy who didn't seem to want to leave us for a quiet family walk.  He then proceeded to show Ann and Alain all his pictures!!  Remi and I kept our distance ;)  We later saw him selling some of his photos to some suckers!

 The timer took this one :)

We also went to Stanley Park and Granville Island while Ann and Alain were here.  The usual haunts we take all the tourists who visit us.  Our door is always open!!

Sarah & Remi

Christmas Morning 2010

 Boy, we have some catching up to do on this blog! We'll start waaaay back with Christmas day :)

We Skyped my parents EEEAAARLLLY! And opened presents with them online. Maggie was spoiled as usual and set to destroying the toy my parents bought her almost as soon as it was out of the wrapping paper.

 This is the best cookbook ever.  A great gift from my Mom (who should also buy it for herself and Kristin!).  I'd recommend it for anyone actually.  It has a lot of everything in it - easy meals which you usually have the ingredients around for, healthy cookies and breads...  It's been great.

Ann and Alain joined us after lunch and spent the week with us (see future blog).  And Remi and I made a traditional West Family Christmas Dinner.  Homemade cranberry sauce canned by Remi :)