A $5 sled from the Salvation Army Thrift Store provides a ton of fun on a rare snow day in south Burnaby, BC.
Look at that core!
More core!
Snow angels to finish the outing
All posts by Paul Cipywnyk
Updated Snowy View From Our Balcony
So far we’ve had 11 cm of snow accumulate on our balcony in SE Burnaby since it began falling again yesterday morning. I know that’s not much compared to many other places, but it’s unusual for our neck of the woods.
Snow donut ready for balcony picnic
Careful on the Byrne Creek ravine trails — those trees look awfully heavy with snow
Snow Returns to Burnaby
We’re into another round of snow here in SE Burnaby, BC.
Foyer Display Updated for Setsubun
Yumi has the foyer display set up for Setsubun — you can see the Oni, or Demon, cowering at the sight of a box of roasted soy beans, knowing they will be thrown at him to drive him away… : -)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setsubun
Super Birding Day at Reifel Sanctuary
Yumi and I went to the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary today, and saw tons of birds, including a couple of eagles up close. I left my DSLRs at home, the better to enjoy walking with my lovely wife, but ended up taking 458 photos with my wee Canon 520HS pocket cam!
Male Wood Duck
Male Wood Duck with a couple of females vying for attention
Female Wood Ducks duking it out
The Sandhill Cranes have become very accustomed to people over the last several years.
Crane feather closeup
They can be rather intimidating!
Love those curls!
Chickadees are bold and accustomed to hand feeding
This eagle was on the viewing tower and strangely unafraid of people
It sat there with lots of people coming up and down the tower
Red-Winged Blackbird
This American Coot appeared to be ill
Another bold eagle that allowed people to get within meters of it
Heron in the fading light
More lovely curls
Splashdown!
The end
Burnaby Lake Birding Walk
Yumi and I joined birder George Clulow’s bird and nature walk today at Burnaby Lake, one of the City of Burnaby Parks Department nature tours.
The day began moody and grey, but by the time the three hours were up, the sun had broken out and skies were blue. We are so fortunate to have this gem of a park right in the middle of our city.
I left the DSLRs and big lenses at home, bringing a pair of binoculars and learning as much from George as possible, for he’s a fount of knowledge about birds and the natural world.
All these shots taken with my wee pocket Canon SD520HS.
Forest Walks Rejuvenate Muscles, Mind
A brisk afternoon below-freezing walk in Byrne woods in SE #Burnaby does wonders to rejuvenate one’s stiff muscles and overtaxed mind.
Nature in general, and forests in particular, are my lifeline. They alleviate general blahs, stiff muscles from sitting too much at the desk, brain stupor from too much office work, and more. Get the blood pumping, muscles moving, and it’s amazing how much better you feel.
We are so fortunate to have this wonderful ravine park just out the back gate to our townhouse complex.
Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park Winter Birds, Berries & Leaves
Took a slow, careful ramble along the icy trails in Burnaby’s Fraser Foreshore Park this afternoon.
This Great Blue Heron posed patiently while I shot again and again in changing light.
This bald eagle was hotly pursued down the river by a hawk and a couple of crows. Dunno what it had done to get them all so riled :-). Unfortunately I didn’t get any usable shots of the hawk, but I think it was a Red-tailed.
Bald Eagles at Frozen Centennial Beach
It was a cold, windy day, but bright and blue. I headed down to Centennial Beach in Tsawwassen, figuring there’d be eagles there, and I wasn’t disappointed!
Vocalizing
Checking out the photographer
In flight
Coming in for a landing
Tearing at some meat
Post-lunch beak cleaning
Hanging out
Ready for takeoff
Up, up. . .
Up, up, and away!
Killdeer
Wigeons in the icy surf
Hey, give me a lift?
Celebrating an Accomplishment
I’ve lost nearly 50 pounds this year, or about 22.5 kg. That’s about a pound a week. A slow, steady, disciplined approach of counting calories and exercising regularly worked.
I had help from an app called My Fitness Pal to count calories and track exercise, and there are lots of other apps out there.
I never felt horribly hungry, and I always ate well from all food groups. This was no fad of only certain foods, or oceans of liquids, or anything like that. And it wasn’t about completely eliminating anything from my diet. I still ate meat, potatoes, bread, pasta, and still enjoyed beer and wine.
It was just a healthy, well-rounded diet with a combined calorie target not to be exceeded every day. And about an hour of aerobic exercise a day five times a week. I simply walked — a lot! And I greatly enjoyed those walks, too, exploring various parks and neighbourhoods.
I’m down two pant sizes and am wearing jeans that hadn’t been touched in ten years.
Feels great!