How cold is it? It's -36C with the wind this morning. If it seems like all I talk about is the weather, it's because I am currently trapped in my house and there is not so much to talk about. Not in the literal sense that I cannot open my door, (although that is almost true) more so trapped by the will to survive. We had so much snow yesterday and it is so cold that to go to the store may require a lot of digging, possibly being stuck, the high probability of a traffic collision, or being stranded in a car at frigid temperatures. Yesterday I had to shovel the snow just so I could close the door, it was trying to invade my house! This morning Francis had to go rescue the Chihuahua from the yard as he attempted to poo. The crying like a small child as he scurried through the door and ran to his warm bed made me laugh. That's the dog I'm speaking of, not Francis.

   We remain optimistic because we have to, we know that it could get colder still. So why do I stay? Why don't I choose a warmer part of Canada? After all it is a big country. I feel as though this picture will speak for itself.

 










 It was a very cold experience to get this shot, even with snow pants and long johns (and hat, mitts, scarf, sweater, coat, you get the idea). When the flakes are flying, who can resist? I wish you could all know the difficulty in capturing these images. I fear you could never really know until you are sitting in a pile of snow with your camera and cheeks literally freezing, slowly turning into blocks of ice. My Shih-tzu whom I lovingly refer to as the Snow Beast, found it hilarious to sneeze on my subjects, sending them back into the storm from which they came.
I can hear every relative who ever moved away telling me it's not worth it. All I can say is that I have no choice, I feel the calling, I dream about crystallizing water droplets, I cannot stop.