After weeks of preparation, the night is finally here. Bridge bust. Stories abound of how much weight the popsicle stick bridges have held. Josh is the hero, holding enormous records. He's out of the running this year since he grew too old (you know--13). Our boys have discussed the fact that they won't win since it's their first time but they have worked away anyway, asking advice and taking whatever help they can get. They hope to gain ideas from the night's proceedings.

The rules of the bridge bust

making the bridges

CTM's final

K2's final

The bridges span a space and then have weights hung off them until they break. The strongest bridge wins a small prize and huge bragging rights. There are also categories for bridge with the most sponsors and best looking bridge.

The test--this is K2's

CTM's about to crash

Family Day

I am nearly alone in my cold, drafty house. I have hymns playing in the background and the sound of the little electric heater instead of our furnace keeping time. I have an endless supply of hot drinks at hand and a scarf around my neck with multiple layers down to my wee little toe. Pieman is out with the kidlets borrowing a large heater. Today is of course a holiday and the oil company won't come fill up our tank with its defective gauge until tomorrow. Too bad all that wood we have is sopping wet and buried under snow and ice. At least we have electricity. And with an oven that heats we have had soup, lots of cookies, granola, and whatever else takes a long time to cook. I'm about to make bread. My nose is cold.




Still, we have passed the halfway-to-March mark. Spring will come. I found two pots of daffodil and tulip bulbs in the basement still with dirt from last winter's splurge into colour when I was also cold. They were actually starting to grow so I took them out of the dark corner and into the light. Hope!

And despite the cold, there is great beauty. I'll leave you with a glimpse. These are some of my favourite early morning shots.

Triumph of Subaru over Ford

Another winter favourite! For reasons other than the great beauty. Although the lighting is nice....it's late afternoon on a fairly mild day. Silly truck was stuck on........nothing. Just stuck. Tires clear of snow. Car pulled it out with little effort.