Home-made hot chocolate includes star anise and Dutch cocoa

January 17th , 2012  

       Snow falling on Pine trees.

By Simone Erickson

I stand still and hold my breath. 

Silence.

Going for a walk just after it has snowed is one of the joys of winter. The snow is of the fluffy dry kind, like powdered sugar that creaks under your feet.

An insulating white blanket of shimmering crystals which cuts down any potential noise, and for that hour in the snow the world you know is far away indeed.

 Although our summers in Osoyoos are of the warmest in Canada, in winter we still get a skiff of snow on the mountain here at Regal Ridge.

This winter has been filled with sunny days and  periodic light snowfall,  just enough to remind you we do have four seasons here. It is still cold enough to enjoy a hot chocolate and a winter fire when you come home after a walk.

As I toss out our Christmas tree, time has come to pot some paper-white Narcissus bulbs and Amaryllis to carry us to spring.