Snow Day!

Yesterday we awoke to a SNOWY scene outside our door.

Before long, Terry headed out for a day of "play" (with his snowblower)!

I plan to stay indoors...

Hopefully it will be a productive - and fun - day! I don't think I'll leave the house!

Beautiful Sky!

There are storm warnings in the forecast...

But looking out the window at the beautiful sky gives me a sense of peace!

My window to heaven!

More Daylight!

Last Monday, I slept in till 7 - and when I awoke, the sun was already shining... strongly. On clear days, even through the blinds, the sun has a different, warmer feel.

Mid-afternoon the sun is higher in the sky than it was a few weeks ago. It's still winter out there, but we've moved out of the darkest days, when the sun rose a around 7:40 and set  at 4:20 in the afternoon - and we had 8 3/4 hours of daylight then.

Now the sun peers over the horizon around 7:15 AM and sets around 5:25 PM, giving us about 10 1/4 hours of daylight. I really enjoy those longer afternoon hours!

In some parts of Northern Canada, there is total darkness for days - and when the sun again peers over the horizon, people celebrate with a party!

I feel like celebrating sunny days, too!

Indoor Flower Update

I was pleasantly surprised to see one of my orchid buds begin to open up...

There are still lots of buds on the stem, so - unless I mess up - I hope to have a long period of blooming.

I mentioned "messing up" because I noticed that one of my peace lilies - the one with a new bud - was drooping the other evening. I had watered it, together with the two other lilies (which seemed to be fine)... So I watered it again...and within a few hours it had perked up. 

(Do buds take more moisture than leaves?!)

I'm happy to see that the large African violet is  also still in bloom. I've messed that one up in previous years by overwatering - so now I make sure that the soil is REALLY dry to the touch before I add water.

The Christmas (or is it Easter?!) cactus is also still in bloom... with new buds flowering... Hope it blooms till Easter!

As an aside, my doctor wants me to record my blood pressure at least once a week. I find that looking at flowers lowers my blood pressure! Having them around is therapeutic.

Icy Fun!

Last Saturday was a perfect day for outdoor play, so Terry and I - and our youngest son's family - headed over to Jacques Cartier Park, across the river in Gatineau, Quebec, to the children's ice park that was built there for Ottawa's annual winter festival - Winterlude.

The big attraction was the tube ride down the ice slides. It was free... But wait time in line was an hour and a half! 

As a few of us held our group's place in line and waited, a few wandered off. 

Our granddaughter enjoyed a ride down the zip line (above) while grandpa and her dad threw soft snowballs at her!

I don't know how she mustered the courage! The structure to get up to the zip line was an obstacle course as well! At the top level (above) she is crossing a swinging canoe!

Grandpa checked out the maze and ground level obstacle course... And we all enjoyed watching (and at times participating in) impromptu tug-of-wars.

Our grandson watched ... then tried "snow climbing."

The weather was perfect for an outdoor winter "play day"!

Fun for everyone!

Winter Weather

Winter is more than half over... 

According to Terry, it ends on March 10, when the average daytime high reaches 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit). 

We have currently gained about an hour and a half of daylight since the darkest days of December.

Every day, we gain 2 to 3 minutes of daylight. It adds up!

It's been cold... so I  haven't been spending much time outdoors. But - through the window - the world is still a beautiful place!

Phenology Calendars

January is done... 

Time to look back...

Anne - who inspired me to start this project - takes daily nature walks...

She sees more wildlife than I do...

Birds and animals peer out of her pie chart.

So beautiful!

I walk indoors... and only see animals through the window. 

Days of bright sunshine bring me joy - so I noted sunny days. 

I couldn't resist highlighting in pink the wonderful day in Winchester that I enjoyed so much! 

My chart has a lot more "words" than hers does. I do enjoy her phases of the moon...