Moving Through Time

It's 5:50 a.m. and I am awake, drinking coffee in my kitchen.  The ice is so loud this morning that I can hear it inside.  It's -14C.  The ice becomes louder as the temperature drops. 

The Christmas tree glows behind me and the coffee maker continues on it's annoying tick, tick, tiiiick that I only seem to hear when no one else is up.  Time is ticking, too.  It's now 5:53 and I wait.  This morning I am waiting for the phone to ring - hoping that I will be called to teach.  Supply teacher worries.

I haven't written in six months.  It's not because I haven't had anything to say, and it's not because I have been too busy.  I don't know.  My attention is divided, I suppose.  Time slips away and while I am constantly filled with words, I often struggle to let them out. 

This morning I was moved to pick up a pencil and put it to paper, which is the way I used to start all of my writing.  A simple pencil and paper.  And with that, Clare is stirring and my time here is done.  5:57 a.m.

Same

At the moment it is pouring rain outside.  It' a dull and dreary day, and I don't mind it one bit.

 

Why?  Because it's something different.  We have had endless strings of gorgeous, sparkling days, but enough is enough.  This winter and early spring I have learned that, while beautiful, the same weather day after day gets monotonous.  Boring.  It seemed we were stuck in a rut of winter.

 

I crave the change in seasons.  It is so nice to see the great wheels of the seasons turning once again as we creep ever closer to warm weather.

 

 

Snowy Days

I really dislike weather complainers.  You know the type- those people who complain about what's going on outside no matter what.  Too cold, too wet, too hot, too snowy. 

 

I try hard to not be a weather complainer, but this winter is wearing on me.  It's almost always too cold to be out and about with a tiny little girl, and if it's not too cold, it's too snowy or too windy or...you see where I'm going here.

 

 

I try to get out when I can, but even then, there isn't anywhere to go!  The snow is far too deep.  Up and down the driveway we go. 

 

I long for spring days when I can put her in the back pack, pull on my boots and head off across the fields.

 

 

 

 

A Bad Winter?

I'm not sure what everyone is complaining about.  Is this a bad winter?  I suppose it depends on your point of view. Winter is just doing Winter's job.  Winter is working very hard this year.

 

 

 

Record -breaking snowfall?  Check.

 

Record-breaking cold temperatures?  Check.

 

Days upon days where families with very young children are stuck inside?  Check.

 

Multiple school bus cancellations?  Check.

 

Snowfall even when it's ridiculously cold?  Check.

 

Constant snow squall warnings?  Check.

 

 

 

You see, this Winter gets an A+.  It just won't quit.  It barely took a break for the January thaw.  You can't knock this Winter.  It's working overtime.

 

 

 

Let's just hope Spring and Summer have caught some of Winter's work ethic.

Old Fashioned Winter

In case you hadn't heard, it's snowing.  And it's mighty cold.

 

It's snowing much that my husband is spending the better part of many days just plowing and snow-blowing.  I do love it all, but I don't love the work it creates, and if I wasn't on maternity leave this year (meaning, I don't have to go anywhere if I don't feel like it), I'd be cursing it.

 

 

Many people are calling it an old-fashioned winter, and while I don't really agree with that statement, it has been a very different year.  It has been incredibly cold and we have received an unbelievable amount of snow.  Those two things generally don't go hand in hand. 

I wonder what the remainder of winter will bring.  Every time I think it can't possibly snow more, or get any colder, it does.  I hope you are able to snuggle up warm and safe out of the blustery days.

From the Weather Book

 It's been an unreasonably cold and snowy December and we are certain to have a white Christmas!


December 5
Snowy morning.

December 6
A bit of a warm up.  Water over the ice.

December 7
Cold again, with snow in the evening.

December 8
Light snow.

December 9
Wind and snow.

December 10
Piles and piles of snow! Still under a snow squall warning.

December 11

December 12

December 14
Flurries most of the day.

December 15
-25C in the morning.

December 16
-30C!

December 19
Much warmer, and much easier to keep the house warm!  -5C.

And the Sun Returns

After a week of rain and ice (yes, ice) the sun has returned this morning. 

The blackflies are still nagging us with their presence and temperatures have been less than favourable for getting rid of them.

I really don't mind the rain - and we needed some, and the cooler temperatures don't bother me, but I am pleased to see the sun this morning.

From the Weather Book

February 8
- snow!

February 9
- bright, cold, sunny day

February15
- snowy then sunny
- lovely

February 16
- gorgeous sunrise, cold morning

February 19
- lots of snow!
- mild

February 20
 - clear
- cooler, temperature drop late afternoon

February 21
- cold
- clear day

From the Weather Book

January 19
- mild, snow

January 22
 - -30C

January 23
- -32C

January 28
- milder
- big, fat flakes of snow for most of the day

January 29
- mild, rain

February 2
- Groundhog did not see his shadow (early spring?)
- COLD

February 3
- cold!
- sunny morning

Trying

I'm trying to like winter.  I really, really am.

 

 

 

And I do.  I love it when I get to stay home and only go outside when I choose.  I like it when the flakes fall softly down, and there are skaters silently gliding on the lake.  I love the snow covered tree branches.

 

Last year, I was a winter-lover, but this year, having to drive so much more, and having to go outside when I don't want to, well, I am seeing the bad side of winter.  The slush and ice covered roads.  The frigid temperatures.  I'm longing for spring, but trying to live in the moment and take in the beauty that surrounds me.  I'm going too fast these days, though, and am finding it difficult.

 

 

Cold

Beams creak and ice booms. 

 

It's cold. 

 

The temperature is forecasted to reach -32C tonight.  Sunny skies today and a clear sky tonight mean there is literally nothing to keep any sort of warmth close to the earth's surface.

 

 

 

Now, I know that for some of my readers, this is positively balmy.  That's fine.  This cold will more than suffice.

From the Weather Book

January 7
- cold (-25C)

January 8
- very mild (2C)

January 9
- Mild - JANUARY THAW!
- rain, wild, windy stormy night

January 10
- warm, rain

January 12
- warm, rain, run

January 13
- rain, mist, mild, grey

January 16
- -20C

January 17
- -22C

January 18
- -24C
- snowy afternoon and evening

January 19
- 0C
- mild, snow

Don't Forget!

For all those complaining about the heat - a quick reminder:

Be careful what you wish for...you're sure to get it! 

From the Weather Book

February 23
- gorgeous morning
- thick blanket of new snow

February 24
- a whole load of snow - allll day long!

March 1
- in like a lion....

March 3
- windy
- stormy
- snow
- ice
- rain
- tree down
- crazy, crazy weather

March 4
- cold, clear
- Happy Birthday Henry!

March 5
- cold!

March 6
- windy
- milder


Now that Henry's birthday has passed (cry, cry) I'm hoping that I can find more time to write and blog.

A Letter to Winter

Hey Winter -

I've really enjoyed you this year.  More than ever before.  You continue to be beautiful, and for that I am grateful.

I am growing weary however, of ice, of my husband having to plow, and of more grey days than not.  I also think that I may have a slight case of the February blahs.  Totally not your fault, you're still doing a fantastic job.  Snowstorms, frigid temps, sparking snow, impressive icicles.  I'm just putting it out there.

I long for fresh breezes, melting snow, running water washing away winter grit.

While you're still here I'll admire you, enjoy you and feel nostalgic about you (my son was born in a March snowstorm), but consider yourself served. 

 This is your eviction notice.

We are officially waiting for Spring.

How to Feel Like a Pioneer Girl in Five Easy Steps

1.  Move to an old house on a lakefront in the middle of a forest.  It helps if you are seven weeks post-partum and aren't planning on working outside the home.


2.  Do zero in the way of upgrades to said house.  Watch the icicles form along the eaves and feel the cool breeze from your crappy windows.

3.  Start relying on a wood stove to partially heat your home.  You also have an oil furnace, but the wood stove helps take the edge off.  Plus oil is brutally expensive, and since most of the heat is escaping from the roof anyway (see #2), you'll need the wood stove.

4.  Have your husband go away for business for an extended period of time to a fun, big city and get to do fun, exciting things.  Like see other humans.


5.  Start hauling wood inside because it's freaking cold.  Viola! You're a pioneer! 

Stay tuned for other posts in this series - "Things I Shouldn't Have to Do"

From the Weather Book

January 14
- -24C in the morning
- horrifically cold all day

January 15
- another bitterly cold day
- brilliant sunshine

January 16
- up to -10C in the morning - a reprieve!
- 2ft + icicles

From the Weather Book

January 7
 - a thaw
- dramatic skies

January 8
- loud ice in the morning
- very cold!
- spectacular sunrise

January 11
-a beautiful afternoon, continuing mild temps
- major fox activity all over the property

January 12
- snow, snow, snow
- amaryllis bloom