The light dusting of snow fell quietly, dampening my hair and squeaking under my crocks. We’ve just finished a west coast Christmas Eve dinner, salmon, prawns, perogies and meatballs. Were it not for Tucker I might not even have stepped outside this evening. The view from our balcony is of an empty, quiet street that is normally busy and bustling, the lights of the Red Barn turned out and the biggest ever Christmas tree growing in the courtyard. Inside our condo is full of laughter and family.
We spent the day strolling along the ocean in the most amazing dog parks, Saxe Point and Macaulay Point. The “kids” continued on from there to wander around downtown for a few hours while we deposited the dog at home and spent the afternoon at the local Rec Centre. There had been a rumour bantered about everywhere we went that there might be a white Christmas. That seemed too much to ask for. By the time we all gathered again, darkness prevailed and the salmon was under the broiler. It wasn’t until I walked the dog that I entered this winter wonderland.
We woke Christmas morning to a scene right out of a Christmas card; a white Christmas, a housewarming gift for the couple from Manitoba so they wouldn’t feel homesick. On our walk Tucker acted like he’d never seen snow before, running and jumping in circles like a puppy. 
It occurred to me he may never have seen snow this warm before. This is the kind of snow you play in, make snowmen in and wear nice winter fashions in (fashions I don’t own yet). This is the kind of snow you hike mountains in.
We drove out to Mount Douglas for some hiking, along with droves of Victorian families and tourists and then came home to clean up the leftovers. If our first Christmas in Victoria set out to hook us, hooked we are. Time to settle in for a long winters … wait – it’s almost spring here 🙂
