24 hours later

Same photo as yesterday, but 24 hours later.

Today is a beautiful day. Many people who live outside Ontario may not realize that we get a lot of sunny days in the winter.

It's nasty out there

I can barely see the woods for the snow.

We're staying home today. Weather is really nasty. Snowing hard, high winds, low visibility. Road was plowed, but it's covered in snow again.

There's about 7 inches of snow so far, and our backyard has about 12 inch snowdrift.

It was so nice and mild last week, but it seems winter is back with a vengeance.

Winter's back!

Photo: CTV site. Winter not quite over for Southwestern Ontario. Another snowday.

In answer to hubby’s question “Is it Spring yet?”, well, technically yes. It snowed again last night, and it’s snowing now. It’s quite a heavy snow.

So, let’s just call this a spring snowstorm.

The roads are treacherous, many have not been plowed. Snow is about 4 inches deep so far and still snowing.

Kids have a snow day today.

From backyard pools to backyard rinks

Many of our neighbours in Florida had backyard swimming pools. In Ontario many of our neighbours have backyard hockey rinks like this one. Often when we go for a walk we will see kids playing hockey.

Yesterday was just one of those days

Yesterday was just one of those days where the snow was powder perfect. We took a long walk in the woods and it was so beautiful.

There are several ponds nearby with hockey nets set up. We heard a “whacking” sound, and found a pond with some kids slamming pucks into the net.

Enjoying winter

Sophie enjoying her walk in the snow.

Ontario experiencing tropical like temperatures

Photo courtesy Douglas R. Clifford, St Petersburg Times.

The weatherman said Southern Ontario will experience tropical like temperatures today. Or rather, he said after the sub-zero temperatures we have become used to, it will feel like sub-tropical temperatures.

Today’s high will be 9C (48F). It feels warm, and we’ve thrown the windows open for some lovely fresh air. Much of the snow has melted, and we are left with mud. With the warm weather, and the evenings getting lighter, hubby thinks spring is here, but I told him, not yet. Weather is due to turn cold again tonight, -6C (21F) and more snow is expected. This is just our little warm spell before more winter, and the snow was getting dirty and needed refreshing.

Now, look at the above picture. Looks better than the mud, doesn’t it? It was taken yesterday at Clearwater Beach, in Florida, where it was hot 25C (77F) and sunny. It’s tourist season in Florida now. The beaches are too crowded for the locals, and we stayed away from the beaches until later when there were less people and the temperature was warmer. We prefered going to the beach when the temperature was in the 90F (32C) range and the water was hot! Still, looks like fun, when we are in the middle of “mud season”.

Cool way to go to school in Ontario

School children take this Air boat across a portion of Lake Simcoe from Georgina Island so they can get to school. Before the airboat, the children had to live on the mainland during the week so they could go to school.

De-Icing Planes at Pearson Airport Toronto

This is interesting to watch. Courtesy Chris So, Toronto Star

Click to large screen for full effect.

CAN DO 12 NARROW BODY AIRCRAFT TO 6 WIDE BODY AIRCRAFT AT ONCE

FLUID TEMPERATURE 75c

FLUID CAPACITY PER TRUCK 8,000 LITERS

STOCKPILE FOR A MAJOR STORM 1,000,000 LITERS

FLUID TYPE: ETHYLENE GLYCOL (CUSTOM BLENDED ON SITE)

AVERAGE NUMBER OF PLANES DE-ICED IN A SEASON: 10,500

From hot climate to cold climate

From recess on the beach, when the younger two were homeschooled, to playing in the snow in the backyard. 

Is he really going to dump that snow on his brother's head? I hope not!

As far as moves go, we couldn't have gone for a bigger change. Moving from a very hot climate to a very cold climate. Sometimes it fun to compare the two. It's hard to believe it was only a few very short months ago we were on the beach in Florida.

Tobogganing at recess

Local children tobogganing during recess, under watchful eyes of their teachers. I heard one teacher saying to a child that he mustn’t roll down the hill, it was safer that he ride down the hill on his sled.

There was much laugher and happiness until the bell rang, and then there was a collective “Aw”, as they had to go back inside again.

Snowdrifts

Snowbanks are getting really high along the side of the road. It makes the neighbourhood look a bit like a lunar surface. We’re having lots of beautiful sunny days, but they tend to be the coldest days.

First snow day!

Photo courtesy 11alive.com

We’ve had “hurricane” days in Florida where the schools close. Today the kids get their first “snow” day. They are so happy.

From Hurricanes to Blizzards

Photo: courtesy noaa.

We have gone from preparing for hurricanes to preparing for a blizzard. All of southwestern Ontario is under a severe winter storm watch.

Having lived in Florida for years, we have lots of experience preparing for hurricanes. There would be several days warning of a hurricane, and everyone would rush out to the grocery store, or Home Depot/Lowes, and buy supplies. Shelves would be stripped bare of water, batteries, plywood, in a few hours. There were long lines at the gas pumps as people filled up in anticipation of evacuating if the hurricane was very strong. If you didn’t go early you were out of luck. The pace was frenetic. The neighbourhood sounded like a construction site as neighbours sawed plywood and hammered it in place over their windows.

Preparing for a winter snowstorm has a much calmer feel to it. We went to the grocery store yesterday to get groceries to make sure we had food in for a few days. There were no special stocks of batteries, and water. The store wasn’t busier than usual. No line ups at the gas pump.

What I appreciate is I don’t have to worry that my house is going to blow away or agonize over whether to evacuate. If the weather gets bad all we have to do is stay home. The biggest concern seems to be loss of power, so we will make sure the house stays warm, we have flashlights and batteries, and our cell phones are charged.

The kids are really hoping they get a snow day.

10 degrees below freezing

Photo of Igloo on Vermillion Lakes, outside Banff, Alberta, courtesy of Banff Lake Tourism on Flickr

A few months ago we were living in a hot climate (Florida). Last August the weather was so hot that the car registered 106F (42C).

Now we are at the opposite end of the spectrum.

We have had several cold alerts recently. January and February are the coldest months. It’s been really unpleasant outside with highs ranging
-13C (8F), and the low hovering around -19C (-3), and a wind chill making it closer to -26C (-15F).

So, we have gone from 106F (42C) last August to -15F(-26C).

A couple of nights ago I took the dog out. For some unknown reason I decided not to wear my gloves. Well, I could just put them in my pocket, couldn’t I? I forgot that I couldn’t put my hands in my pocket because I had the leash. By the time I got home with the dog, my fingers were bright red, and I had trouble maneuvering my fingers to manage the leash. My hands hurt from the heat when I got inside, and for some time afterwards.

This morning on the way to the gym the car registered a temperature of 23F (-5 C). Compared to yesterday, it was a welcome change.

I cannot believe (at 23F or -5C) Eric and I were talking about how mild and pleasant the weather was this morning!

Extreme weather alert!

Up until now the weather had been very mild. Traditionally January and February are the coldest months.

There is an extreme cold weather alert out. We could feel the temperature dropping yesterday afternoon. Last night the dog had a very quick walk before bed. I don’t think she minded, she was glad to get back inside the house, poor little Floridian thing.

Overnight temperatures were -19C (-3 F), and with a wind chill -25C

(-13F). Everyone talks about wind chill when describing temperatures. The cold is not bad, but the wind chill is.

We imported our car from the US and the temperature reads in Fahrenheit. Today we got into our car the temperature read a balmy

-7F (-22C). We are at the opposite end of the spectrum. Last summer in Florida it was so hot, the temperature in the car read 106F (42C).

There is a school across the road from us. We hear the kids twice a day playing outside during recess. Even on a cold snowy day they are outside. Today – silence! The kids are being kept inside today.

Diary of a Demented Snow Shoveler

Snowed in car Photo courtesy of Liz at Picasa Web CC.

December 8 6:00 PM

It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!

December 9

We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the whole world? Moving here was the best idea I’ve ever had!
Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life!

December 12

The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment! My neighbor tells me not to worry- we’ll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we’ll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I’ll never want to see snow again. I don’t think that’s possible. Bob is such a nice man, I’m glad he’s our neighbor.

December 14

Snow, lovely snow! 8 inches last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn’t realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I’ll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn’t huff and puff so.

December 15

20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4×4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife’s car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that’s silly. We aren’t in Alaska , after all.

December 16

Ice storm this morning. Fell on my ass on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel.

December 17

Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should’ve bought a wood stove, but won’t admit it to her. I hate it when she’s right. I can’t believe I’m freezing to death in my own living room.

December 20

Electricity is back on, but had another 14 inches of the damn stuff last night. More shoveling! Took all day. The damn snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they’re too busy playing hockey. I think they’re lying.
Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they’re out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they’re lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he’s lying.

December 22

Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white shit fell today, and it’s so cold, it probably won’t melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to piss. By the time I got undressed, pissed and dressed again. I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter, but he says he’s too busy. I think the jerk is lying.

December 23

Only 2 inches of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she, nuts?!! Why didn’t she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she’s lying.

December 24

6 inches – Snow packed so hard by snowplow, I broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the son of a bitch who drives that snow plow, I’ll drag him through the snow by his balls and beat him to death with my broken shovel. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I’ve just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching for the damn snowplow.

December 25

Merry xxxxing Christmas! 20 more inches of the damn slop tonight – Snowed in The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God, I hate the snow!

Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she’s a fricking idiot. If I have to watch ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ one more time, I’m going to stuff her into the microwave.

December 26

Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She’s really getting on my nerves.

December 27

Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze; plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him, he only charged me $1,400 to replace all my pipes.

December 28

Warmed up to above -20. Still snowed in. The WITCH is driving me crazy!!!

December 29
10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That’s the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?

December 30
Roof caved in. I beat up the snow plow driver, and now he is suing me for a million dollars, not only for the beating I gave him, but also for trying to shove the broken snow shovel up his rear. The wife went home to her mother.  Nine more inches predicted.

December 31

I set fire to what’s left of the house. No more shoveling.

January 8

Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

100 Words for Snow

Photo of snow plow at local school taken at 7.30am this morning. Still dark, and the days now are very short.
Legend says the Inuit have over 100 words for snow. Whether it’s true or not I don’t know, but the boys are learning that there are different types of snow.

We are having our first real snow fall. It started Saturday evening with a freezing rain.

Yesterday we had sleet all day. Not fun! When the temperature is hovering around freezing, you get a mixture of snow and ice. As the day progressed, it turned into a wet snow that resembled a proper snow on the surface, but was soggy underneath.

The boys had waited all day for some decent snow, and about 8:00 pm last night they could wait no longer and got their sleds to try the snow out. It was very pretty, Christmas lights, snow falling, street lights illuminating on the snow. There were my kids, the only ones, trying to sled down a slushy hill and going really really slow. Kids that have grown up in Canada know to wait for the better quality snow. You know, that powdery sort of snow that everyone loves. They had fun, and know that soon they will get better quality snow. Besides, you can always throw snowballs at Mom.

The first sound I heard this morning about 6:00 am was a scraping sound. I looked outside the window, and my street was a hive of activity with a little snow plow shovelling the sidewalk, and the salt men, and it was still snowing. The car was covered in a white blanket.

Last week everyone else got a lot of snow, Buffalo, and even London, which is 1 hour west of here. London got a couple of snow days. Kids are so excited to have their first snow day. Double bonus! You get the day off school, and you get to play in the snow all day – how wonderful is that!

I didn’t think the school board would cancel today, since this is only the 1st snowfall and I don’t think it’s that heavy.

We checked the school board website anyway and the site said “decision pending” check back at 6:30. When we checked back the site said there would be school today, so, no luck yet kids.

Temperature is -11C (12F), but with a wind chill it feels like -23C (-9F).
Florida comparison, today 7C (42F) and cloudy so it’s not warm there today either.

Our brand new ice skates

This is a photo of the fountain at Toronto City Hall which doubles as a skating rink in the winter.

Ok: History alert! Toronto has 2 city halls that are side by side. "Old" city hall and "new" city hall. In the photo you can see "old city hall" which is a beautiful piece of gothic architecture (complete with gargoyles). In 1965 "new city hall" was built next door, and is the current city hall and houses this fountain/skating rink. "New" city hall, as you can see by the rink, is very modern in style.

Toronto is only just under an hour drive from home. Yesterday we took the children with their new skates to the rink. They have only been skating a couple of times, so they don't skate very well, and are intimidated by toddlers whizzing by them skating backwards. Many Canadians learn to skate almost as soon as they walk. Even the man who sold us the skates at Canadian Tire told the kids he got his first pair of skates at age 2!

I told the kids the only way to learn is to get on the ice and go. They had fun, and nobody fell down - which for us is good. Skating at this rink is free.