Another major snowfall - after most of our snow had melted!
Once it stopped snowing, I THINK the sun came out... (Didn't see the sun - but I did see SHADOWS...)
Here's hoping that this is our LAST snowfall of the season. I'm ready for spring!
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!
Yes, we have more snow! In fact, I stayed indoors all day yesterday to avoid it...
One of our neighbours came over to help clear the driveway. (With Terry's sore wrist, it was very appreciated!)
I notice that, even with new snow, there isn't enough on the ground to totally bury the grass growing under the trees (in the picture above).
Nor is there enough to cover the sedum stalks in the flower beds.
Terry tells me that next week the weather will warm up a bit. That's good. But what I really want - what I'm looking forward to - is bare, walkable roads and sidewalks! I want to enjoy the outdoors again!
(I wonder how many weeks I'll have to wait...)
Seeing the sun more, especially in the morning, is part of the reason, I'm sure!
Regardless of whether the groundhog saw or didn't see its shadow last Monday - depending on where you live - the squirrels in my neighborhood have been very active this week...
Those invigorating signs - and more sunshine - are enough to boost my mood!
The month of January brought lots of snow...
So much, in fact, that Terry injured his wrist shovelling...
Now his shovelling days may be done for this winter ...
So we're particularly thankful for our son, who drops by and helps. Also for all our kind neighbours!
I read last week that the "Snow Moon" was coming... and that it would be extra bright.
I looked up the definition of "Snow Moon" - and discovered that it was the name given to February's full moon.
My daughter saw it in Toronto - commented on it, and sent me the picture below.
I saw bits of the moon between pine branches in our back yard early yesterday morning.
But it was our neighbour Mary who captured the first two amazing photos - the first, while driving on Fallowfield Road, south of our neighborhood at 5 pm last Sunday; and the second, the following morning, shining over our house!
Thank you do much, Mary!!
February has arrived!
Here is my phenology calendar for January... a summary of weather and activities in January 2026.
Lots of indoor time - though I did walk most days (indoors), aiming for 10,000 steps.
My calendar has a new look... (And it will probably continue to change!) A little sketch of the view outside my window on top: a snowy berm, leafless branches on a tree.
Didn't see many animals - mainly squirrels (and dogs out on their winter walks).
But - good news! - we have gained an hour more daylight since December's darkest days!
The sun now sets a few minutes after 5 PM. The picture was taken on west-bound highway 417 - after the glare of looking into the sun disappeared.
I woke up in Ottawa this morning, my brother messaged me from Texas last Sunday...
He sounded happy - excited!
Enclosed were scenes of snow taken through the window.
A few days later, I asked: Are you still enjoying Ottawa winter?
Yes, but hopefully not for much longer. It's really slippery out there!
(Don't I know it! I haven't walked outdoors on my own for weeks!)
It's been about a month since we had our shortest hours of daylight..
Now in Ottawa, the sun rises around 7:30 AM and sets around 5 PM - giving us about 9 1/2 hours of daylight, compared to 8 hours and 42 minutes in our shortest says.
What I find fascinating is that the sun rose at 7:40 AM on our "shortest day" - only 10 minutes later than it does now, even though we have gained 48 minutes of daylight since then.
The other 38 minutes have been added in the afternoon!
I also notice that the last time we had 9 1/2 hours of daylight - in mid-November - the sun rose and set half an hour earlier than it does now. It then rose at 7 AM and set around 4:33 PM. Now it sets around 5.
I have no idea why these differences occur, but I think it would be interesting to know. At times I wish I had studied more geography - not only rocks and rivers around us - but also the movement of the earth and our moon.
Terry's wrists have been sore for several weeks, but he won't stop shovelling. Like crumbs on the floor - he just has to pick them up... or, in this case, move that snow away.
Our son offered to do it - but he won't be here for several hours.
"I'll just shovel a path to the shed," Terry tells me as he heads outdoors. "Maybe this is the day I'll teach him how to use the snowblower,"
When I check on him, a few minutes later, he's done more than a little path. I suspected he wouldn't be able to stop...
But when I look out again, I see "all hands on deck"... Neighbours have appeared to help him!
It's gratifying to live among caring neighbours! I'm so thankful for them all!
By Sunday morning, it was all over - except for the shovelling!
The forecast for the next few days is for sunny days - but snowy evenings. More shovelling ahead!
We've reached an important milestone in the year for me...
We've started to GAIN that much in the afternoon. Soon that will change to two and then three more minutes! Morning and afternoon!!
How I look forward to dawn happening - not at 7:30 am - as we have now... but at 5 or 6 am! And dark arriving - not at 4:30 pm - but at 8 or 9!
The joys of "longer days"!
A week ago, winter arrived in full force and beauty!
Terry predicted that the snow would be here until April...
But unexpected things have happened!
A lot has melted over the past few days...
Not all of it - but enough for me to feel safe walking up the street to our community mail box!
I wonder what the next few days and weeks will bring!
Last Saturday, we had a large snowfall.
Terry and I didn't go far - but we did run a few errands.
The roads were snow-covered...
And in the midst of all this... a cyclist wove his way through the traffic!
Crazy!! He looked confident - as though he was no stranger to biking in snow.
I just hope he arrived home safe and sound!
