Pure Winter Fun!

A week ago - on Family Day weekend - our whole family headed out into the country for an afternoon of cheese tasting and sledding fun.

We had heard that a small local artisan cheese factory called "Back Forty" was having an open house... They also have a hiking trail and a sledding hill.

A beautiful place, near a river. On a nearby sliver of open water, we noticed swans out swimming...

After eating our grilled cheese sandwiches - made with locally produced cheese and sour dough bread, we headed out to the sledding hill - where all (except Terry and me!) trekked up and sled or snowboarded down (again and again and again)...

The same winter fun I remember enjoying  as a child!

Then home... on snow-covered country roads! A perfect day!

More Snow!

Yes, we have more snow!

Terry hasn't been out a lot during the past two weeks. First he injured his wrists, shovelling - and was in a lot of pain. Then he picked up a cold...

So I wasn't sure how we would handle this significant snowfall. But he decided to go out and do "just a bit" of shovelling.

Fortunately we have kind neighbours! Ken and his ride-on snowblower came over and did most of the heavy lifting!

Maybe we should get Terry one of those ride-on machines for Christmas! (Maybe I could even learn how to use it myself...  It could be fun!)

Year of the Horse

Terry often asks me what I learned walking in the mall that day.

Well, yesterday I discovered that the new Chinese year is ... the year of the horse. 

Online some call it the year of the "fire horse"...

Not sure what all that means... but the sign nearby calls it a symbol of strength, freedom and success... All good things!

Nostalgia

Our visit to the college last week - to watch our granddaughter dance - was full of nostalgia for Terry.

A year after retiring, he started to teach at the college in the social service worker program. So it was exciting to return... 

He wanted to have his picture taken next to the photo of his (now-retired) friend and colleague who encouraged him to apply.

Hard to believe that Terry taught here, part time, for 10 full years! It definitely added interest to his life!

Dance Competition

Last week, our granddaughter participated in a dance competition at the college near our house.

Terry and I walked over to watch.

It was a "pairs" competition - just Ivy and her partner on stage....

I pulled out my phone and managed to snap a few pictures.

Later, when we joined up with her in the lobby, Terry said: You were great! But when she lifted you up, upside down, I was so shocked... Your partner must be very strong!

WHAAT?!! Ivy was in the air upside down?! I didn't see that!

That's the problem with taking pictures. You sometimes miss important things when you're fiddling with your camera! 

Surviving Winter

I've never really LOVED winter. I didn't mind it so much, as a child. I liked to build snowmen and make "snow angels" on fresh show. We built our fair share of winter "forts" to hide behind when throwing snowballs.

But I never enjoyed winter sports. 

I tried skating and skiing - the old-fashioned way... Not on a ski hill with a lift... After we slid down the hill on our skis, my uncle Knut taught us to step sideways to walk back up again.

This year, we've had a lot of cold, snowy weather. I haven't gone for outdoor walks - but I do continue to walk (and shop!) in a nearby mall. 

I've also surrounded myself with things I love to do - like knitting and crocheting.

I try to capture the world outside my window in a tiny daily sketch - focusing on the sky.

I blog... I've started a new eating plan to help me control my type 2 diabetes. So I'm full of optimism... in spite of the snow and slippery roads! 

I'm happy, content. I'd say, I'm not only surviving... I'm thriving... in this, my least favourite season of the year!

A "Soup" Kind of Day!

Yesterday was ALMOST warm ... warmer than last week - but not quite spring...

Terry was lying low with a cold...

A perfect day for making my favourite chunky vegetable bean soup! I like to make a large pot - so there's lots for another day.