Tomorrow

Tomorrow is a day I will never forget. 

January 29. 

I will never forget where I was and what I was doing when my sister called me to tell me that my mom had died in a car accident. I heard the news sitting on Henry's bed. 

I remember strange details vividly. What boots I wore outside to tell Rick. I could not find my winter boots and threw on my rain boots, walking out in the snow with no coat. Nothing. 

After, other calls were made and received in absolute shock. I didn't crash until the day after. Spending the day in my pajamas, sobbing, and taking phone calls and visitors. I am so grateful to those who visited me and called me that day. 

So. Tomorrow. Tomorrow I will remember, as I do every day. But tomorrow especially. Tomorrow I will visit my mom, and spend time with two of my three siblings. 

Tomorrow I have also planned some enjoyable things to do for myself. My mom would not want me wallowing. She would want me to enjoy my life, and do things that she would also enjoy. 

Tomorrow is a day to remember. 

Making Ice

As I mentioned in a previous post, this time last year the ice was in and here to stay.  The season has been so mild that we are still pretty far away from "ice in".  The lake is cold, though, and ready.  All it takes is a few hours of below zero temperatures for the ice to start forming.  Below is a picture of a calmer area near the shore where you can see thin patches of ice forming on top of the water.  This thin ice moves with the water, wind and currents and if the lake gets too rough, it will dissipate once again.  

Smaller ponds and marshes were frozen this morning.  The photo below is of the marsh below Swords.  Winter is trying to take hold, and may this weekend with snow and colder temperatures in the forecast.  Come Monday, it will all go away again, there are more mild, rainy days on the way.

Just a Little Bit Easier

A few weeks ago we had some lovely snow and I thought it was the beginning of a white Christmas season.  It has however, been raining ever since.  I love snow for Christmas, but I just can't complain about this.  The last two winters were so brutal, so cold and snowy, that I really feel like I can't handle another winter just yet.

It has been raining most days, with temperatures ranging from just above zero to ten degrees Celsius.  One again, I'm not complaining.  I am enjoying this extended fall weather.  It is easier to do things outside, go places and to keep the house warm.

This time last year we had a frozen lake and two feet of snow,  We did experience a thaw right around Christmas, but winter came back with a vengeance in January.

While I have grown to love snow since moving here, and will miss a sparking white Christmas morning, the mystery and loveliness snow adds to Christmas Eve, and all the winter activities that we enjoy so much, if the trade off is an easier winter season...well, I'll take it, but just for this year.

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.

 

 

From the Weather Book

February 1

February 2
Six more weeks of winter!  Afternoon lovely and sunny.

February 3

February 6

February 7
Snow, both light and heavy, all day.


February 9
Milder, with more snow.


February 10
Sunny, -20 in the morning.

February 15
Sun and wind.  Another cold night.

February 16

February 19

February 20
Sunny and warm!

February 21
Rain and snow.  Zero degrees.

February 23

February 27
Back into the deep freeze.

February 28

March 1
Snowy, -10C

March 2

March 4
Light snow.  Still cold.

March 5

New Haunts

I set out for an afternoon snowshoe not knowing where to go.  I had visited all my old haunts recently, and was craving something new. 

 

I went through the swamp and climbed up a small valley.  From there, I just walked through the woods.  The hardwood forest made for easy walking and the sun was making the snow shine and sparkle all around.

 

Eventually I came across a creek bed.  I followed it down to the river above the falls.  I am so glad I found this creek as it serves to add to my knowledge of the geography back there.  I look forward to visiting it in spring, when it is overflowing with melt water.

 

The next time I visit this creek, I will hike up away from the river to find it's source.

 

 

 

 

Onward, Winter

Winter soldiers on. 

 

Yesterday I set out in the blowing cold and snow to visit the falls.  Getting there this time of year can be tricky, and I wouldn't recommend it to someone who hadn't visited in other seasons.  The water is quite high right now, and you never know what lurks beneath the surface of deep snow.  I stick to areas I know are safe, give wide berth to spots I know have water in other times and watch where the bigger animals are making their paths. 

 

It was a rewarding trip, although I am ready to see what Spring will bring.

 

 

Quiet

Early this afternoon I set out in the brilliant blue and sparkling white to hike through the woods to the place we call the second beaver pond.

 

As always, I came out of the forest feeling refreshed and so lucky to live in such a beautiful place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finding Peace

I don't really feel like myself unless I'm engaging in regular physical activity outside.  Snowshoes have recently saved my life.  The vast amount of snow, and until very recently, the temperatures have kept me inside, running only on the treadmill.  That's just not enough.  I need to be outside, among the trees and breathe in clean, fresh air. 

 

In the past week, I've visited almost all of my spring, summer and fall hunts

in the fields and forests across the road.  Yesterday I made it back to the beaver pond and way up high above the marsh.

 

Moving through the forest, in the soft, deep snow, there is just the shush, shush, shush of my snowshoes.  At the pond it is completely silent.  A place to be alone with my thoughts.

 

Something has been missing since Christmas, but I've found it again, and all it took was for me to get outside.

 

 

 

 

Afternoon Snowshoe