Tag Archives: winter

Blogs, Gratitude, homeless

A calm wintry day –

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This is the view onto my balcony showing off my favourite tree. It sits in touching distance and I love it stripped for winter as well as in full dress in the summer. You may notice the inside door is open. I do this a couple of times a day so Miss Rosie can sit and look out. I have the heat shut off for that period of time and the burst of fresh air and the visual benefits both of us.

And yes, it is a true winter day -7C currently. Roof tops covered in a light layer of snow and no wind. The wind is an important factor. Walking in -7 is invigorating if you are warmly dressed. A plus 10C is unbearable in a strong wind.

Yesterday was -4C when I was out and there was wind. Lots of wind.

Yesterday was a difficult day. I take public transit and I love it. I can go anywhere. Sure it takes more time than driving a car, but I can catch up with my reading when I ride.

Yesterday was such a sad day I could not post a blog.

I was out to get my flu shot and waiting at a bus stop near our downtown. There was a group of different aged people probably from 20’s to 70’s (me) of five. We were standing in the bus shelter.

A man walked in front of us, in his late 50’s or mid 60’s. He had a winter coat on but only socks and sandals on his feet, and one sandal was broken so he had to sort of drag his foot. Then across the street I saw a tall thin man walking trying to hold a rolled up sleeping bag.

And tears fell down my cheeks and I did not know if it was because of extreme cold or was true crying.

Someone, later, told me I can’t do anything to help, but I can’t accept that. To make it worse I used to spend the summers knitting hats, and mitts, and scarves that I would carry with me and give away to people on the street, and this past summer difficulties with health prevented me from knitting so I had nothing to give.

I do know if I had millions of dollars I would not donate to charities where the first five or six hundred thousand dollars goes to a CEO. I would put an army on the streets carrying a supply of boots and coats to give away.

I may not have millions but you can bet that this summer I will be knitting. Between now and then I have other projects on the go.

There are good things happening in my son’s little church in a little village.

I  can’t believe all the good things this little church does in this little village….Free Christmas Day Dinner and transportation supplied for those who need it.

Dec. 25th, 1:00pm

St. Alban’s is once again offering a free Christmas Day dinner! This meal is for anyone – absolutely anyone – and particularly good for people alone or who can’t mount a big dinner. Transportation and delivery available if needed. Email of call (905-877-8323) to make a free reservation. Volunteers also welcome!

I can only imagine what a difference it would make to my city if every church in town did the same thing.

But today there is gratitude here.

Blogs, Seasons

Thoughts from AWA

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A Winter Bite, the Number 8, and Christmas Cometh

I felt the first deep bite of winter today

And I know the cold is here to stay.

ABC Australia reported this and I am not sure exactly how they came to this conclusion – I mean the decline predicted in the next hundred years – but follow the link and let me know what you think.

It’s less than six weeks when Christmas cometh, and for some reason I am already in the Spirit **Spirit not spirits (not yet)

Quite unusual for me. Bought two small gifts and couldn’t understand why I couldn’t find a decorative sweater to wear, then realized it’s not even December yet. I don’t have a lot of gifts to buy, and none are expensive, but I look forward to it this year.

Good grief. All this is quite unlike me. But I think I shall embrace whatever this is, and on the happy note bid you adieu from North of 43!

Blogs, Seasons

Old Dog, Old Woman, Old Friends

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It’s strange to think of summer, patios, and reading books in the sun, as I sit looking out at roof tops covered in our first snow of the winter. But that is exactly what is happening below the equator in summery New Zealand.

Once again, I am visiting my favourite dog. My son and his wife have left for 10 days to visit their youngest son who now lives in Brisbane in …

Old Dog, Old Woman, Old Friends
Blogs, countries, Seasons

You Can’t Beat Wellington on a Good Day

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Some folk would envy Judith, going into summer. But me? I also like the winter but summer just won’t leave me. Yesterday was 22C!

So say those of us who choose to live in our little Capital city. And today has been one such day. Well to be honest, we have had a short run of good…

You Can’t Beat Wellington on a Good Day
Blogs, Family, Seasons

Hurray! It’s Monday

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Hip Hip Hurray
Hip Hip Hurray (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

And a fine crisp morning with a scattering of snow on the ground but the winds have abated and even in the stillness it is -7C (19.4F).  Meteorology predicts that even with less harsh gusts the real temp is -13C.  Still it is a fine morning.

Mondays, as I have said before, My Favorite Day.  This day is filled with enthusiasm for all I shall accomplish this week.  Goals are set, engine is running, and we are off!

I hope your day goes well and for those who are less enthusiastic about the beginning of the week – hang in there for another weekend looms around the corner.

My son just emailed me this photo, taken not so long ago at a local park and I just had to share it with you.

photo

Blogs, Family, Winter

I Am Canadian! So saith G1

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Snow!
Snow!

Well I got my preChristmas wish for snow a couple of days after that day.   And it was wonderful!  About a week or ten days of wonderful.  But yesterday things took a turn.  Big warm thirsty winds carrying us about the freezing mark are sweeping through and icicles began dripping yesterday and the white stuff on the ground is disappearing.But Monday and Tuesday after school has been fun. The boys preferred playing in their own front yard rather than the park. The weather was the perfect chill.  Some people may think of perfect chill when talking of fine wines.  Me?  When its crisp enough to play outside in fresh air and cheeks turn  that lovely pink and tunnels, forts, and igloos are all that occupy busy young minds.Jan 5th 2013 006

 

When I picked up the children from school Monday G1 was not wearing his gloves.  They are in my bag he said, too wet to wear. On arrival home there was no consideration of coming into the house.  First on the agenda was about an hour of play, romping, jumping, sliding, imaginations afire of great conquests.

I will  go into the house and get you dry gloves I told G2.  And then he said – Okay Grandma but if you don’t its okay.  Do you know why?

Well I could not think of an answer.  Who wouldn’t want warm dry hands?

Do you know why I said that Grandma, he asked again.

Because I AM CANADIAN.  I am Canadian grandma and do you know what that means?

No, said I wondering where all this was going.

I AM CANADIAN and that means I don’t really need gloves in snow.  Because I AM CANADIAN do you know I could be out here playing naked and it wouldn’t bother me.

I didn’t ask.  All I thought was how much pride he had in saying it.  Obviously he believes Canadians are a heartier sort of people than others.  Good for him.

Me?  The only time I have uttered those words with such glowing pride  – I am sad to say – is when I am ordering beer! molson canadian

Blogs, Winter

Ah The Adventure of Weather

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A couple of days ago I stepped out to greet a new day and watched as a few snowflakes did a wild dance above my head.  I am pretty sure I heard them calling out, “We want to dance to the ground and make a winter wonderland.”  But mighty winds roared forcing the small flakes higher into the sky and growled, “This is our day to play, so leave us!  The snowflakes left, forced away, and the winds played.  They played mightily for a long time and like naughty, screaming, out of control children, left a swath of destruction in many places.  Not even close enough to the upheaval their American cousins, the tornados left in many states that week, just enough to remind us that mother nature Rules the fate of many a poor creature on this little blue marble.

Yesterday I woke to snow.  Lots of it, falling in such  a thick blanket I could barely see across the street.  It lasted one hour and departed leaving an invitation to come play.  In the next hour while G2 and I got ready to accept the invitation that not so lazy old sun came out and took it all away and in fact brought the temperature all the way to a lovely spring day of 15 (C) or 59 (F).  Okay, thought I, spring play it is!

Well an hour later old man winter gathered enough strength to battle the spring prone sun to lay another blanket of the fluffly white stuff.  “Snow angels,” yelled G2, “Lets make snow angels!”

Ah but this time of year the forces of nature support a more springly appearance and once again the sun bore down with warmth and summoned the winds to carry away the old man and his mantle of winter.

It was quite a display of changing seasons again and again all within a few hours between breakfast and lunch.

This morning I went out to greet the day and its sun.  It is minus 7 (C) or 19 (F) and all seems calm but since tomorrow is supposed to be 13 (C) or 55 (F)  I expect there will be another battle and this time I think Spring will hold the line.  In fact this very morning I am pretty sure I saw the first robin.  Her orange breast looked pretty puffed up so I quickly did the traditional lick of my right folded underfist and slammed it into my left palm while making a wish.  I kept wondering after if it really was to soon for the harbinger of spring and hope I have not wasted a perfectly good spit and wish on a masquerading dove!