The winter light is so nice it's hard not taking more photos

We've been here in Le Bic, Quebec Province, for three weeks now. Most are surprised to hear we've gone north, to Canada, for an extended visit in the middle of winter. Especially, when the polar vortex is making an appearance. After spending parts of several summers here, and enjoying it immensely, we wanted to experience other seasons, including winter. In our travels, I often ask, what is your favorite season. Here in Quebec, some answer winter! How could that be? Isn't it really really cold? Of course! For many winter enthusiasts, a love of outdoor activities/sports including ice hockey, ice skating, skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, etc. trumps the cold. A professional painter, in a nearby village, told me he liked winter best because there weren't any biting insects. Having experienced the black flies of summer, I can appreciate that sentiment. Some marvel at the light in winter. At this high northern latitude, the light in winter is special, so much so I think I'd come to Canada for that reason alone. As an amateur photographer, who's only current camera is an iPhone, I can't resist taking photos every day this winter season, especially in the early morning, or late afternoon, when the sun is low in the sky.  Here are some of today's photos.

Sunset view from our back yard

A slightly different view of the setting sun

We're lucky to have a west-facing window for viewing the sunset

Our yard at dusk alongside the empty railroad tracks

Heading west towards Montreal, the train passes alongside our yard

Our little road ends at the 'T' while the railroad tracks continue to Montreal and beyond

View out window at our storage shed

Our neighbors house in the snow

From sunrise to sunset: a few photos from our house in Le Bic, Quebec Province

Today was cold....the high was 5 F with high winds, making it feel like -23 F according to the weather channel. We've gone cross-country skiing nearly everyday this month, but not today. In the early morning, I shoveled the snowbank that appeared overnight behind our car, from the snowplow clearing our street of last night's snow. Otherwise, I spent the day indoors doing various odds and ends, including adding insulation to the window sills to cut down on cold infiltration and feeding the wood stove.

Sunrise with empty horse pen; about 7:15 a.m. 28 January

Sunrise with edge of neighbor's horse barn

Farm house and barns up the hill

Street view of farm house up the hill

The previous owner of our house was an antique dealer;
this sign is part of his legacy

Woody looking alert

Woody off duty

Lisa on the laptop in the living room

Emptying the compost and recycling bins

Dragging the trash bin through the snow on trash pickup day can be pretty good exercise 

The sun getting low in the sky, probably about 3 pm

Sunset at about 4:30

Winter scenes near our house in Le Bic

Our house and outbuildings with snow-covered ridge in Park National du Bic

Early morning view of snow covered ridge in Parc National du Bic.
Photo taken through living room window

Another view of ridge of Parc National du Bic, this photo taken down the street from our house.

Large white birch next to sign marking our house

Woody sniffing around snowbank;
note row of white birches in distance.

Sunrise view of fields east of our house

Barns in neighborhood with a light snow falling

Train passing by our house in early evening

The Sentier Le Littoral trail in winter, Rimouski, Quebec Province

The day began sunny, clear, and crisp with a temperature of 2 F. Lisa checked the forecast - a predicted high of 20 F, with clouds and light snow in the afternoon. The blue ski and low temperatures of morning won out over afternoon clouds and warmer temperatures. So, after a quick breakfast off we went. Our destination - the river front community of Sacre-Coeur in Rimouski and the trailhead for the Sentier Le Littoral trail. It's a trail we've enjoyed hiking in summer, but had yet to visit in winter. With lots of new snow this past week, we were looking forward to some good cross-country skiing and scenic views along the trail.

Checking the map at the trailhead for the Sentier Le Littoral Trail

Just up from the trailhead looking back at houses in Sacre-Couer with the Saint Lawrence River
and Parc National du Bic in the distance

Skiing through the forest

We saw a number of homemade bird feeders like this one along the trail.
We observed chickadees actively foraging for seeds in one of the feeders.

One of several vistas along the trail looking out at the Saint Lawrence River

The River was frozen over in the foreground but with ice free areas further out.

A spur trail ended at the River's edge.

Skiing through a forest of stunted spruce and fir along the ridge top

Lots of snow clinging to the branches of the spruce and firs

Heading back to the trailhead

Houses along the beach in the community of Sacre-Couer
with the frozen river and Parc National du Bic in the background

Lots of snow: more photos of home landscape and neighborhood

Snow clinging to the steep roof of our house

Snowplows pack snow on side of our road; it's getting pretty high

Living room

Hot embers in wood stove

View from living room at former antique shed

Outbuildings with accumulating snow; the old antique shed is on far left

The far end of our landscape in foreground;
the ridge in background is part of Parc National du Bic

Neighbor's house and horse barn

Side of horse barn with snow-covered fields

Small barn in nearby field

Sunset view from living room window