Snowmageddon 2025

 The city of Ottawa, our closest big city, had 200 collisions over 24 hours. School busses weren't cancelled! They were cancelled here in rural Ontario. Thursday, after two days of snow, it's a bit of a mess. As I wrote this the temperature went from -9 at 5:45,  to -10 by 6:45. 

💊We are OK. I neglected to request refills of my blood pressure pills. I ran out two days ago. We aren't getting into town until the roads are cleared. Joe is on the identical prescription, so he donated some to me. The power is on, no worries about that. It's just a matter of pacing ourselves. Sidewalk, back deck, driveway need doing. The TV Satellite needs to be brushed off. Bird feeders, same. 

I stuck my snow stick in the ground Wednesday. There was 20 cm snow cover,  Thursday morning, 28 cm.

NOTE TO SELF: with a storm warning get gas for the snowblower. In the cold wear a long coat or sweat pants, my knees were killing me with arthritis in the cold. What is good for arthritis? Exercise! The blower had to go in 1st gear, though in the deep snow. It's not fast enough to work up a sweat.

Squirrel #75, or his friend, were looking for scattered seed.

AC would be proud of me, I thought. I played with it a bit.

Poor birdies! 

The two of us worked on the snow. Joe did the front sidewalk, three times. It just kept falling!

I used a long-handled tree saw, tapping it gently.

I couldn't do it without this machine!

We had some wind, after the storm blew over. 

Some of this snow came off the weary trees. I'll have to shake them off. The roof rake works well. 

Here is Joe's updated, tweaked decor.

I put my creche out. This dates back to 1987 or so.

More to come!

Snowy Crumbly Acres

That was a snow storm! It snowed all night. We are snowed in! No TV Satellite (horrors!), and we've some work to do to get dug out. The roads are bad. Our high today is -9℃, with it plunging to -12 today. 

Grampa was gifted with these beautiful bears. Baby bear seemed tipsy! I readjusted her. 

The trees are heavily laden. I'll need snowshoes to go around today. (Wait'll you see today's photos!)

🪓I took note of this the other day. It's buried under ground cover of 20 - 30 cm snow! Non-mental note, we've a tree down in the meadow. I shall have to clean it up. I plugged in the reciprocal saw battery. We need kindling, so this is good. Sort of! I did chop some kindling Monday, we're good for a time. 

I made sure the feeders were filled the night before. We've tapped snow off of the feeders 3 or 4 times. I'll have to do it again today.

Junco:

We've 3 males and one female cardinal. 

I finally got its read head. 

Sharing: cardinal and sparrow

Tuesday there was an unusual visitor. A starling. They should have migrated. I'll keep an eye out. It seems to like the cracked corn, as do the mourning doves. I'll keep refilling that.

Barb asked about our Vancouver grandies' Panto: East Van Panto: West Van Story. It is a 'pantomime', as far as I know. Jesse doesn't have a moment to talk! There is much singing and choreography. I found a photo on FB of the whole group. I found Cluny and Bryony. Usually their Vancouver Nana posts photos, but everyone is busy. 

This is the whole crew, it's on their Facebook page. The kids rotate and take turns in performances, there are 15 kids in the cast. 

Cluny has the orange shirt in the middle, 
Bryony is two kids to the right, pink pants.
AFAIK!!!

Last year's panto!
Bryony and Cluny ever did the promo shots for last year's show.

🎄Christmas Decor

Joe has been busy rearranging.

It's beginning to look a lot like winter!

 ❄️ This was our lovely snowfall on Sunday. It snowed last night, Tuesday, and we're back to square one!

This is what it looked like in the dark last night! 

It's warmed up here. In Mayo, Yukon, where my kids father was born, not so much! The CBC Climate Dashboard shows an oncoming storm. We've supplies in, and the snowblower is ready.

🐈 Do you know Larry the Cat at 10 Downing St? 

He has a BlueSky account. Larry has been singing the 12 Days of Christmas. 

Joseph Brian and I were were reflecting on our aging issues. I keep telling our kids that once you hit 40 it's all downhill! (All three of them are in their 40s!) My parents found it difficult accepting their decreasing physical abilities. Joseph Brian cannot operate the snow blower these days. I've slowed down. 

 

Joe was searching for a former colleague who'd made the news, and Googled himself!  His last week of work before retirement he'd testified in front of the Senate Transportation Committee. Both of us are having difficulties retrieving nouns. He was incredibly articulate during these hearings, as the transcript shows! 

One forgets one's knowledge and skills we required, and our contributions to society. He was articulate, and knew the operations of the airline. Whether we worked (in and/or outside the house), raised kids, volunteered, or looked after family, we all made contributions.

I used AI, just on a whim. AI offered to summarize my findings for me and made JB into 'Senator Racine!' He wasn't a senator... he was a Government Relations Manager. DON'T TRUST AI!

🎂 Jordan, at Queen's U, turned 18 on Tuesday. Apparently his extended family sent stuff! Parental unit, maternal grandparents, paternal grandparents, in both Canada and the US! 

What a hoot. Each box has a cookie with his name on it. 

Jordan posted the photo (above) and I tried to have a Facetime chat, but my hair dresser took me in early! We did Facetime last night, after I returned from my haircut, and after dinner. He's doing really well.  

Jordan and his friends group went to a friend's concert. They have lots of clubs at Queen's. There are more than 300 clubs, that have diversity and inclusion at their core.  The future is bright, with these young people. They don't make the news. 

One friend plays in the orchestra club. They played show tunes! Jordan is thriving! These young people, studying astrophysics, have many talents and skills.

I haven't heard much from Jesse, my second born. I texted him, and have proof of life! They have bought a new house in Vancouver and are preparing to move Dec. 20th! Cluny and Bryony are in a Vancouver Panto. Things are hopping.