Winter has continued mild with mostly above zero temperatures and very little snow in the valley until very late in the month but lots on the ski hills. Been doing some winter sports, writing letters to the Globe and Mail, working on projects with the neighbors and on the stair railings.

Snowshoeing with Taisho (who loves it). Last one was 4km at the Nordic Center, one of the places we also cross-country ski. About 45 minutes from us, it has 75kms of ski trails and 65kms of snowshoe trails, and great views.

Neighbor Al has cut down some samplings on our property to use as fence rails and then helped out our new next door neighbor cut down a large tree that was leaning over his pool. New neighbor bought a large fast quad and has been plowing his, our and Al’s driveways.

A local grocery has a sale on pork legs each year for $1/lb. We bought 150 lbs and another 20kgs of pork butt to make 400 sausages (brats, spicy Italian and smoked), cured pork knuckle, a few roasts, some speck and lots of scaloppini shared 3 ways. Klaus has the equipment and knowledge, while we provide the manpower. It has become an annual tradition.