Now That's Entertainment

We've haven't had much of a winter this year. Actually, it's pretty much sucked. A little snow followed by mild temperatures and rain pretty much sums up the season. Until today, that is. 

They'd been calling for about 10 to 15cm of snow up in these parts - more than we've seen in a single dumping this year. In the end, we got close to ten. The roads weren't great, so I stayed in at lunch even though I'd forgotten to bring something to eat. By afternoon, I had a headache and we were all thankful that it was Friday. What we needed was some entertainment to see us through to the weekend.

Around 2:30, maybe 3 o'clock, two guys with snow shovels walked through the field across the road. I watched them, kind of puzzled as to where they'd be going with these shovels. The City takes care of the sidewalks and the roads and they'd come from the parking lot of an empty factory. Halfway across the field, they dropped their tools and each started rolling a snowball. In no time, they had a couple of huge white balls. After trying to lift the smaller of the two on top of the big one, they gave up, broke it and put it in place. From there, they added snow and soon they had a pretty darn good sized snowman. Around this time, a camera person from our neighbours at CHEX TV arrived and started filming.

The guys disappeared for a bit and then reappeared with branches.  Soon, two more people with a bag of goodies joined the scene. Out came a carrot for a nose, a cucumber for a mouth and some unknowns that became eyes and buttons. Cars drove by honking and giving them thumbs up. Once finished, the snowman-crew left and CHEX reappeared.  They had a bit more filming to do.

Tonight, at 6 o'clock, the kids and I watched the local news and, sure enough, there were our friends, back to entertain us. Best snowman I've seen in a long time. 




(Be sure to watch right through so you can see how the snowman turned out.)

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

+7 Degrees Means It's A...

Wood stacking...

Testosterone emitting....

Apple smushing.....

Dog poop scoopin' kinda day.......

(I'll spare you that picture)

I'm Dreaming of a White New Year

It's been one mild fall in these parts, let me tell you. Mother Nature has provided a couple little snowfalls - enough to turn the ground white but not enough for excited kids to run a toboggan down a hill. Until Tuesday. 

We did wake up to a barely white Christmas and then the snow melted through the day. Tuesday made up for it all. The snow started around lunchtime and continued through the day and night. By Wednesday we were looking at about half a foot of the white stuff.

Paul pulled the sleds down from the rafters in the garage yesterday and the kids finally got to have their fun. Down the hill they'd slide then up the hill they'd climb. Over and over as dogs ran excitedly about them.

Come on; throw the frisbee, throw the frisbee...

We've had an extra dog in our midst lately. Genny, a German short-haired pointer, is with us for a few weeks while her people bask in the warmth of the Sunshine State and hang out with a mouse called Mickey. Not a bad way to spend Christmas. 'Though, I still think I'll take the snow over the sand this time of year.

With all those missing teeth, the wind tends to whistle through the gaps.

I'm happy to report that we had a very local side of beef delivered this morning. Usually we get the year's supply around August and were beginning to worry that they had reduced the size of the herd and we may not make the cut, so to speak. Turns out some people wanted to give beef as gifts for Christmas so they went into the butcher in December. We're well stocked once again. Amazing what you can find in the bottom of the freezer when you're forced to go through it. "Hey! I remember that sale!"

Right now bread is baking and I think I see an Apple Betty in our future. Brother Enos is coming over today along with Dad and Elizabeth. Wouldn't want to disappoint Enos.

The Sticking Kind

Last Friday, brother Enos and I were in Oshawa with Dad for the Remembrance Day service. It was a cool day made worse by the wind and occasional drops of rain. But, while it was spitting in Oshawa, the kids, in their Peterborough classrooms, were watching little white flakes descend from the sky. Despite the visions of toboggans and sleds dancing through their heads, the snow didn't stick and winter disappeared as quickly as it came.

Yesterday was a different story. The snow came and it stuck. Not a lot but enough to resurrect those visions just a little longer. The high expected for today is 4 so the snow won't be around for long. Soon enough, though. Soon enough.  

First snow of the year that stuck.

Fries and Snow

Ri's been working hard at school. (Math? Don't be silly.) The drama dept will be presenting Shakespeare's A Mid-Summer Night's Dream in March and rehearsals have moved from the mini-variety at recess to full-scale on Saturdays. Yesterday, Paul took her into town and dropped her off for her two-and-a-half hour gig and then did his running around. He even got a snazzy hair cut out of the deal. As she was finishing up there, the boys and I loaded into the truck and made the short trek to the ski hill for Cameron's lesson.

A Local Ski-bum

We waited for his instructor, Jesse, reminded Cammy not to have fun (and more importantly, not to smile) and then Nolie and I wandered into the chalet. Nolan pretty much had one thing on his mind - fries and gravy. We made a beeline to the cafeteria lineup, ordered lunch (I went for the egg salad on a pita and a hot chocolate) and found ourselves a sunny seat by the window to enjoy our meal.

Mmmm. Fries and gravy. Life is good.

After the lesson, we met Cammy, returned his rentals and rushed home. We had a busy afternoon ahead of us as we headed west to...

After-School Skating

Nolan and I arrived home with some daylight to spare so we dashed into the house and Nolan yelled out, "Who wants to go skating?" Big grins crept across his older siblings' faces and then, "I do!" We gathered up skates and helmets, toques and mitts, hockey sticks and ball, then grabbed the shovel and made our way to the rink.

There's a plastic lawn chair that resides, both summer and winter, back there. Patiently it sat, waiting for its first customer to be laced up. Ri, then Cameron and then Nolan all took a seat as I tied up their skates. And then off they went. What a difference a year makes.

I managed to get a little more of the rink shoveled as the kids showed off their skills. Twilight set in and I found myself looking out for coyotes as I added snow to the pile. A little paranoid, maybe, but the tracks in the snow don't lie. As darkness neared and the skates came off, the boys played a quick game of hockey. "He shoots, he scores!" I heard several times, as the crowd went wild. The big league may have their all-star game but they've got nothing on us. This weekend, I think we'll have our own little hockey tournament. The first annual all-rats game. Go team!

First winter skate

Like Dad Always Says - It's Refreshing Out There

One of the (few) problems with walking out in winter to a driveway cleared by your neighbour, driving on plowed roads and parking in cleared lots, is that you don't always realize just how much snow is on the ground. 

After curling this morning, the kids and I grabbed shovels and headed out back to hunt for ice. Turns out, we have about a foot of the white stuff on the ground...as I found out when my ten-inch tall boots sunk into the accumulated snow. That's always fun. Despite the setback, we trudged out to the bog and got to work. Well, I got to work. Cammy lasted about four-and-a-half minutes before heading back to the centrally heated house. Ri stayed about nine minutes longer. Something about being cold? Babies. -15C ain't that cold. Sheesh.

I spent about an hour-and-a-half shoveling before I decided to call it a day. I was becoming slightly chilled myself. Oh, and my muscles were starting to seize up. The good news, though, is we've got ourselves a rink. And we plan to try it out just as soon as things warm up a bit. -5 would be awfully pleasant, I think. Expansion of the rink will occur once I can lift my arms again.

Houston, we are a go for skating. Oh ya.

Badge of Honour

Cameron has been wanting to take ski lessons this winter. He'd been asking, no, pestering, for awhile so last Saturday, Paul called up the hill to see if there were any spaces left. Sure enough, there were. Out came the Visa, the online form was filled out and Cammy was in. The lesson started within the hour.

It's funny. In the city, there's lots of extra-curricular activities within a short distance. Swimming. Skating. Bowling. You name it. Not so out here. Now, don't get me wrong; we've got the best that Mother Nature has to offer right outside our door and we're most thankful for it. But swimming lessons are in Peterborough, bowling is in Millbrook and skydiving is in Toronto. (Cammy has to wait 'til he's 18. We checked.) But skiing. Oh, the skiing. We're looking at a seven minute drive - eight when the roads aren't cleared - to a fabulous local ski hill that's been around forever. How many people can say that? (Alright, granted, people in the Rockies and the Alps can but this is southern Ontario, people.)

Cammy's off to his skiing lesson this afternoon and is thrilled to pieces. He'll be bundling up today to ward off the chill on those north-facing slopes. We're looking at a high of -12 and it's snowing lightly. He'll get his lift ticket and proudly wear it for the week on his coat. "I'm a skier," it says. A badge of honour.

... only fell twice today

On The Lookout For A Rink

The temps warmed up to a balmy +5 yesterday and the snow's been melting. Today we're about the same, with rain. Cameron was a little upset when we started our trek out back because the sled run has completely disappeared. Nothin' but brown grass. I explained as we walked that this could be a good thing. With the melting snow and rain, mother nature is working her annual magic. Fingers crossed, we'll soon have a skating rink out back. Conditions have to be just right - frost in the ground, snow-melt sitting in the bog, rain and then a freeze. The forecast looks good, I just hope the early snow this year didn't insulate the ground. December snow doesn't usually stick around this long. Guess we'll find out soon enough.

Examining the bog - hmm, slushy ice

This one looks better - too bad it's so small

A-ha! One of the reasons for my dirty floor

Oh, and, hey - Happy New Year!

Laughing All The Way

Once the gifts were opened on Christmas day, breakfast was had and I woke from my impromptu nap on the couch - ahem - we bundled up and went outside. The hill this year is the best it's ever been. The snow's well packed and there's a bit of a shine to it where the flying saucers have traveled it's slope so many times. It had ended towards the top of the facing hill but, by the time we were finished with it this day, the run curled and made its way back down into the cattails. Turns out the ground isn't frozen there and where there's cattails, there's water. And mud. Nolan's coat is proof of that. Yep. Another fine day on the hill...

School's Out For...Christmas

The kids were rife with melancholy this evening. Poor dears. You see, school finished up today and now my grief-stricken children must go without for two whole weeks. No long bus rides. No lurnin'. No homework. It pains me to see them so downtrodden. Unaware of my presence, I snapped this heartbreaking photo...

School's out

Oh, hey! What do you think of the tree? I came up with the idea of the dark stripe through the middle all by myself. That's right; I meant for it to be like that. Ya. I think it gives it a rather festive air of, um, je ne sais quoi, don't you?

Oh ya, the kids. I think, in time, their grief will pass. The poor souls went outside for a few runs down the snow-covered hill tonight. They assured me they'd be okay.

School's out!

I do hope so.

A Chocolate Chip Cookie Day

We awoke to snow this morning. Oodles of heavy wet snow. The chickadees have been flitting and flying about, stopping at the feeder for a sunflower seed and then off they go, into the the pine and cedar forest, causing bird-size avalanches as they disappear through the snow-laden branches. Now and again, a blue jay drops in, stirring up an impatient chorus as the smaller birds await their turn from the shrubs below.

Can you spot the chickadee?

The kids bundled up this morning and headed out into the snow. There was talk of a snowman and a fort - it's the ultimate packing-snow out there today - but in the end, there was great fun to be found just standing under a tree. And pulling on a branch. Oh-ho, that snow's cold when it lands on your head and finds its way inside your coat.  Summer's great, but there's nothing quite like winter's playground.

The chickens weren't much interested in leaving the Stanley Coop today

Sunday is baking day. So, what to make for the week ahead. Could bake muffins or brownies or squares. Nah. Today feels like a chocolate chip cookie day. Definitely chocolate chip cookies. And pear bread, too.

Let's count how many times Mum yells, "Git!" today.

I Was Gonna Build An Ark...

...because it's been raining nonstop for a day and a half. Good thing we don't live in the middle of a swamp. Oh, wait. We do. Anyhoo, you just never know what you're going to get this time of year - rain, snow or, my personal favourite, the ever-popular freezing rain. Nothing quite like driving on a skating rink. But today, oh, mid-morning, after 40 days, or whatever, the rain started to turn to snow. Big, fluffy, white snowflakes. Beautiful.

Oooh, Christmas card material

That's Not...Snow, Is It?

Shortly before packing things in last night, I checked the Weather Network for the forecast. A little cold, it said, but no chance of precipitation. This morning, as I lay half asleep under a bevy of warm blankets, I heard gasps and screams as the kids made their way from their rooms to the stairs. Looking down and out the front door they were greeted by a world of white powder. "Oh ya," Nolan exclaimed. It was a darn good thing we took care of new winter boots last weekend 'cause they sure were put to good use today. Now, if I could just remember where I stashed my boots...

"I'm okay, Mum!"

Ain't life grand?

The Changing Face of Mother Nature - Down at the Bog

Winter fun on the frozen bog

  Spring has sprung...the snow has melted...and the weather's warm

Dog days of summer - lush and full of colour

Sign of the Coming Winter?

According to folklore, lots of berries and pine cones on the trees means the coming winter will be a hard one. The cedars this year are heavy with cones - a favoured food of white-tailed deer. Guess we'll find out soon enough...

More signs of a hard winter here...

Where the Fun Never Ends...

Elaine was up for an overnight stay and we made sure to show her a good time at the backward homestead.

She arrived with Paul around 5 on Saturday and we sat down to a piping hot pan of homemade meatloaf, mashed potatoes and, um, caesar salad. Okay, okay, the caesar salad didn't exactly go but I didn't hear any complaints. Except from Cameron...but that's typical.

After supper, we cleaned up and played Mouse Trap. Then Nolan won a rousing game of Go Fish. He's getting so good at his numbers.

This morning we were up bright and early and on the road to Omemee for the kids' weekly meetup at the curling rink. There are enough kids now to provide non-stop action on two sheets. Future Olympians there, I'm sure. Once home, we had some lunch whilst playing another game of Mouse Trap and then out we went to breathe in some of that fresh country air.

Paths had been cleared through the bulrushes and swamp grass so today, the boys laced up their skates and glided (I use the word loosely) through the icy trails.

Nolan's helmet needs a little work

Next, we hiked back to the winter fort for a look around and finally we followed a little trail to the south where we found some hawthorns and downed fences. Great for climbing. Well, the fences are, anyway.




As I drove Elaine home, she mentioned that it was a very different weekend.

"Good different or bad different?" I asked her.

"Definitely good," she replied. She'll sleep well tonight.

A Slippery Slope

Tonight when I got home from work, I wandered into the house and asked the kids if they wanted to go for a walk and check out the rink. We had lots of rain here earlier this week. It's since moved out and been replaced by a bit of snow and increasingly colder temperatures. The kids grabbed their saucers and we headed east. While I took my time walking down each slippery slope, the kids flew down the hills grinning, as usual, from ear to ear. They do make me laugh. Back at the frozen bog, the rink has definitely expanded. It's rough around the edges but is wider than it had been a week ago. Ri and I both heard cracking in spots as we started to walk across it. Another couple nights of frigid temperatures should fix that.


Last winter, the portion to the south was cut and made for great skating. This past year was too wet to do anything with it and the bulrushes have again taken over. But the rain that enveloped the rushes has turned to ice and we may be able to clear a path for skating. That'd be kind of fun, I think.