If you are reading this today (December 19) and live in the lower mainland, now is the time to get outside and shake your branches, hedges and small trees. Although the rain has melted much of the snow, many of the branches are heavily weighted down and may snap. At least that’s the way things are at my house.

I walked through the garden with an umbrella and a broom. Some of the smaller trees and hedges needed only a gentle shake to remove the snow. The large rhododendrons and the hemlock hedges required a stronger force; some of those branches were already bent to the ground under the snow. I tied up the flat-top hemlock hedge near the front door to weeks ago to keep the snow from splitting it, and it is still intact. If you have ever had a hedge damaged by heavy snow, you know what I am talking about.

My awesome kids have shovelled the entire block as well as our next door neighbors’ runway. (Thanks guys!) Now I am back inside the house drying off and charging up my devices for when the power goes off later today or tonight; I’m not a pessimist, it just seems to happen every time it snows or when the wind blows.

This Thursday is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, and a nadir for those of us who suffer from lack of light. This year’s winter coping strategy involves high intensity interval training (HIIT), minimal alcohol and foolish books, a strategy that seems to be working well so far.

Thanks so much for reading my blog this year (as infrequent as it has been) and I am sending you warm wishes for a wonderful Christmas and all the best for 2018.