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.

  As I watch the temperature drop, I wonder when it's safe to shovel yet. Is it even worth it? Will the snow drift three feet up the door by the time I finish? One thing I know for sure,  -29 C with the windchill is going to make photographing snowflakes very chilli. I almost hope they are all clumpy and broken. Here is a shot of some ice on the garage window, reminds me of delicate feathers.

   I managed to get a few more good flake shots. I'm starting to feel a bit crazy, every time my hand melts some snow as I steady my hand for another photo, I worry about what new marvel I am destroying. There were so many perfect flakes, the torture was not having the perfect conditions to capture them, I just need to get closer!

   New favourite thing: snowflakes. It's as if the other day while I was photographing the tiny miracles I was transported to another world, and it is all I can think about. Tiny particles of water arranging themselves into majestic shapes and sprinkling from the sky like confetti. Like confetti in a snowy windstorm…
   Today we went cross country skiing, on a grey windy snowy day. Weather was at a -27 if you are taking into account the windchill factor, which I certainly am. It's getting pretty cold outside but I was still just glad to be out there. The sun will be setting a 4:20 today and winter is letting itself be known.

    I found myself outside anyway, freezing in my ski pants, snapping pictures as natures cruel wind ruffled my subjects out of focus. After many nearly good pictures, I managed to get these two nice ones before I succumbed to the promise of warmth. Even now, knowing conditions are not favourable, I will attempt another outing, in the hopes of snapping a perfect unicorn. I mean, snowflake.

 Life is all about the simple things, like snowflakes. Anyone hoping to disagree with me need only to look at these beauties I snapped yesterday. As the tiny perfectly formed flakes were so softly landing on my cold head, I was crouched, my face within inches of the fence, my chilled fingers steadying the camera, my neighbours wondering what the heck I'm doing.  It seems to me that a snowflake rarely makes the journey all the way from the heavens down to our earthly plane unscathed, their majesty on display for all of us to enjoy, while we stomp all over them with our winter boots complaining of the weather. 

   I guess sometimes life is about having fun toys to express yourself, like this amazing camera. You would imagine to get macro shots like this I might need a huge camera with a fancy lens. These were taken with my beloved and trusty Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T9, an eight year old model that is about the size of a deck of cards, and has been dropped a time or two. It has it's 'quirks' like sometimes it vibrates, which really make a picture like this tough. But it works, and the new cameras do not have great macro settings. If anyone does know of a currently for sale camera with a great macro setting that is not the size of a lunchbox, you must let me know, or gift it to me for being awesome. Trade for a picture? Or eternal gratefulness? 

I must read this Blog post tomorrow as I shovel an estimated shit-ton of snow, it seems we are under a snowfall warning. A forecast of -23 C for the weekend, which is getting pretty cold. I think I may invest in some wool underclothes this year.

   I love my dog... now. It wasn't always this way. Presently she is snoring so loud, (in the other room) I keep thinking the garbage truck is going by or my washing machine is off balance, and that is the best sound ever. She has the well deserved moniker  'Crazy Maggie' that after five years, she is finally growing out of. The house she came from was minus drywall and baseboards in places thanks to Maggie. She has a taste for leashes and has had the pleasure of sampling about twenty of them, same goes for mitts and of course, socks. In the middle of the night I wake to hear blankets being torn and shredded by a certain someone, locked in her cage, being all sad that she cannot sleep on the bed. Needless to say, we go through a lot of blankets, and dog beds. Our house always looks like the shadiest on the block, screen flapping in the wind because she just jumped through it, again. (She always saves it for when you begin to trust her again, you finally fixed the screen and there's something really good outside.) She can zero in on your most cherished wool blanket, (received as a wedding gift,) and eat holes in it on numerous occasions. Getting into serious trouble after each incident did not deter her, I had to hide it in the closet, never to be used again. Curiously she left the second hand shabby wool blankets untouched. She has thieved a pound of butter off the counter. She has knocked over a strangers small child.
   I would be lying if I said never have I had a moment of regret in taking this beast. I see people post that they would love love to have a Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog (weird breed, I know) and I just laugh and laugh.  Oh, you will love them, just look at those eyes. It's your house, your clothes, your house guests that will suffer. It's all worth it though.

   Even worth the time she knocked me over at the knees, bolting right through me at mach one, sending me barreling down a snowy hill...
 

   I could go on all day!

 

   It's official, I have a problem.
    Below you will find a picture of a wooden spoon with my face burnt onto it. Oh yeah. This is something that I feel everyone should own, with their personal visage.

   The question begs to be asked, is the problem stemming from the fact that I like to place my mug on all manner of random articles, or the part where all wooden objects in my home are now under intense study, fearing for their safety.
   It is a good thing I don't live in a wood house, or maybe it's a bad thing…
   Maybe that's where it starts to get interesting, when crazy risks are taken, when you get such a fantastic yet ridiculous idea and you just go for it.
   Speaking of crazy ideas, I'm going to need one for the tile in my shower, it's almost time.


 
 
 

   So this year I'm going for it, I'm going to have two Christmas trees. (Who doesn't have two trees lying sound?)This has been a life goal of mine for quite some time. I mean, if one is good, two will be great! Perhaps I will add one more each year until there is one in each room! I always have too many decorations anyways and now I can have themes. Where to put two trees in a small house? Why on a table of course.
   I can already hear the naysayers telling me how silly of an idea this is because it will cause my tree to fall over. Well I have news for you, it falls over every year. My mischievous cat enjoys nothing more than leading the chase around and around the tree, three over zealous dogs careening behind in perfect order, from smallest to largest. At least this table arrangement minimizes the pet's enthusiastic display, as well as ensures the sparkly wrapped gifts are decorated in tinsel instead of pet hair. (No guarantees I guess.)
   Now just waiting for the special day, the perfect moment when I make hot chocolate and cookies, maybe a little rum, and put the decorations on the trees!