SNOW

When I was a kid I spent hours checking outside the living room window just waiting for that first snowflake every year.  I was so excited to see it and so happy when it came.  Winters were snowy in the 70s in the Okanagan.  They were cold and did we have snow!  (This photo of the house I grew up in is from 1971 - love the turqoise house, eh?  And those poor eavestroughs - but did we have GREAT icicles to play with)

So, I'm kind-of sad that this blizzard we just had has turned from an exciting, beautiful experience to one a little less positive.  Let's face it, it's still beautiful.  There is something rather exciting about seeing the snow dripping off the roofs - maybe it's because you know you're not going anywhere and can hibernate.  Some of life's obligations are automatically removed - you can't do anything about it, so you might as well give into it and enjoy the time off.  It's a snow day after all.  But, of course, with adulthood come the adult responsibility of clearing the snow and getting around in it.  And that is never fun.

Everyone will have their own story after this past weekend.  For those of you who haven't heard, the Canadian Prairies got hit with a rather major snowstorm this past weekend.  Here in Central Alberta, the numbers vary anywhere from 18.5cm to 28cm between Friday night and Sunday (20cm is 8 inches).  And the wind was blowing, so it was a blizzard.  I'm just glad we decided not to go to Calgary like we planned.  Sorry Erin, really want to see your new place, but this weekend wasn't a good one.

However, our other friend Erin came up here from Calgary on Friday and then had to drive back down yesterday.  She made it, but sounds like it wasn't a lot of fun.  Erin, by the way, has her own blog that you artsy types out there should check out here.

It was fine for us until this morning.  Over the weekend we just stayed close to home.  Noel did walk to the grocery store, but we're lucky because it's just around the corner.  But this morning I had to get Daniel to school.  The car was useless.  It wouldn't move forward or back even a couple of inches.  So, in -18C weather (thankfully, little wind), Daniel and I trudged the 12 or so blocks to school.  It would have been better if I wasn't fighting off a cold.  But that's okay, it was good to get exercise.  Daniel's face was VERY red when we got there.  I felt bad for him - but he was a trooper after slogging through some drifts.  When we arrived, I think there were 6 kids in his classroom - obviously other people aren't dug out yet - or chose to stay home like sensible people.  (let me just say this - if you haven't shovelled your sidewalk yet, and you aren't over 70 years old, you're an asshole!)

When I got home, I remembered another thing that I hate about the cold.  Remember when you were a kid and tobogganing for far too long?  When you got inside your legs would start to itch?  Well my thighs were cold as ice and then started itching like crazy.  And now, for the past hour or so, they have been hot to the touch.  Serves me right for going out in -18C weather with just jeans on my legs.  Hello stretch pants under the jeans when I go to pick him up.  I really do need snow pants!


Wish us luck getting the car moving again.  At least it started.  That's one hurdle down. 

Why DO we live here???  Mind you ... this winter there isn't any place that hasn't had weather issues, is there?  At least the snow is beautiful. 

And just a reminder to people to be careful out there.  People die in weather like this - driving, walking - it can happen.  And just last week, a father from our school slipped and broke his ankle in two places. 

Have fun digging out!!

Comments

  1. AnonymousJanuary 10, 2011 at 1:09 PM

    What a great post. I love the picture of your old house. Was it really ever that color? Too cute!

    Ronda

    ReplyDelete
  2. ErinJanuary 10, 2011 at 7:32 PM

    Poor Daniel! One thing I miss about teaching in Wetaskiwin are the snow days! We don't ever get snow days in Calgary.

    Thanks for the shout out!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJanuary 10, 2011 at 8:31 PM

    Car started and is in the garage. Supposedly more snow on the way for Thursday (another 5 to 10 cm) so your posting might need Part II.

    And yes, when we get into MEC we'll get you some snow pants.

    Noel

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Titanic Connections

Image
100 years ago today, my Great-Grandmother, Nellie Steele, must have been grieving the fact that she had missed the most exciting trip of her life.  Her fiance, my Great-Grandfather, Jack McCurrach, had travelled to Canada 1 1/2 years earlier and was awaiting her arrival so they could marry.  But her sister was very ill and expecting a baby, and as it turned out she died about a month after the baby was born.  My Great-Grandmother stayed behind to support her sister and then take care of the baby girl until she could be adopted out.  The original plan was to take the Titanic to Canada.  Families on both sides of the Atlantic remember the story.  The disappointment that she felt in being delayed in her trip and missing the most celebrated sailing of any ship in history must have been devestating.  And the relief felt when she found out about the sinking of the ship must have knocked the wind out of her.  Talk about feeling somehow blessed - she must have been thanking God.  She end
Read more

Flea Beetles! ... and leaf miners.

Image
When I went out to the garden this morning, I found little holes in several tomato plant leaves.  "Argh", I thought.  "Flea Beetles!"  I hadn't heard about flea beetles until last year when our friend, Justin, lost all his tomato plants to the darned little things.  His plants were seedlings at the time, and apparently that is when they are most vulnerable.  He told me that you could trap the beetles with sticky yellow traps - and that was the extent of what I knew.  Flea beetles are about the size of a flea, and have long back legs and jump (just like a flea).  I hate fleas.  And I suspect that I'm going to learn to hate flea beetles, too.  So I went online quickly this morning before going to work.  Yes, flea beetles are fairly common and attack tomatoes, potatoes, and some of the cruciferous plants.  I'll let you know if they get into my leafy veggies - apparently they like them, too.  Sticky traps might help, so might Rotenone powder - which I am
Read more

Recipes from the summer of '35

Image
With the economy going the way it is, I thought looking back at some Depression Era recipes might help people save some money and maybe think about eating in a different way. It may also cause a laugh or two - which we can all use. So here are some examples from The Daily Province in Vancouver, British Columbia, printed 25 July. The weekly menu was suggested here: Just looking at the menu shows us how different things are now. This was meant for a housekeeper (whether a domestic goddess or hired staff). Here is one of the main dish recipes (Monday Supper) that we all might have the ingredients for: Scalloped Tuna Fish and Potatoes. 
Read more