My "Winter" painting depicts one of many cedar trees that grow in Cliff Park, in Maple Ridge, BC. These trees are probably around 120 to 140 years old, having survived as seedlings after the logging operations stripped away all of the old-growth forest by the late 1800s.

It is rare to be in this park after it has snowed, but I lucked out one afternoon and was able to walk about while it was snowing. We rarely get snow, and when it does snow, it only lasts around 48 hours before it disappears under the rain.

I was given photos of an owl a long time ago by someone who volunteered at the animal rescue shelter in Delta, BC. This is a Barred Owl, one of the many species of owl we get in my area. Owls are interesting because you rarely see them during the day, but when you do, they are often in a tree, keeping their movement to a minimum, and aware of your presence.