Freezing Friday - OMG it's so cold

Of course it is cold, it's winter, right.  So actually everyone that we spoke to prior to our move here in Vernon, were lying.  What they kept saying to us was that winters are very mild here, like it might snow one day and then after a few days it will melt.  No one ever said that it will be get down to -23C.  Although I have had much more severe freezing weather when I lived in Yellowknife and Whitehorse, that was many moons ago.  Prior to moving to Vernon, I was living in San Jose, California.  Now you are going to say "what were you thinking".  So everyday my hubby goes out to shovel once, twice maybe even three time per day.  The snow bank on the side of the driveway is so high, you can't see the oncoming cars from the street.  This morning a truck from the city public works stopped by in front of our house to shovel a path to the fire hydrant and also brushed all the snow on top of it.  I had to check online to see what the bylaw is regarding this.  So apparently we have to make sure there's a clear path for fire fighters to get to the hydrant in case of real fire.  At first I thought that we will get a citation because we didn't clear it.  Actually my hubby was going to do it but the guy beat him to it. Oh bother.  Anyway, I thought I would share some photos of our winter wonderland in our area.

Snowy Sunday - I don't like snow

"I don't like snow" that was my daughter's message on Monday when the Greater Toronto Area received quite a bit of snow.  It was cold and the roads were slippery.  I understand what she was talking about as I used to live there for over 20 years.  It was even more snow when I temporarily relocated in Ottawa.  I did not learn from the first time, I did it again a couple of years later.  When you think of where we relocated the first time in Canada, one would think that we wouldn't mind the snow.  But I guess after residing in the Northwest Territories and the Yukon Territory, one might get tired of the cold winters.  The difference is that Ontario has the four seasons and it is beautiful specially in the fall.  Leaves changing their colors is amazing and spectacular.  After having a chance to live in California, it's truly difficult to return to a city where snow is available sometimes from November to March.  But sometimes in life, you really have to weigh everything.  Sometimes you have to give up more than what is important because even if it's only a couple of things that the other city can provide, it is something that is life changing.  If you think of how others have to put up with flooding, tornado, hurricane, typhoon, etc., having a few months of snow is actually not so bad. So far we had one day of snow but it did not stay.  Hopefully we will have a shorter and milder winter.  Are you willing to give up everything you have currently and move somewhere without a winter but has all of the other issues?  Here are some winter wonderland photos.

Freezing Friday - It's too cold

For most of the month of January, all you can hear on the evening news is how cold the weather has been in many parts of the USA as well as Canada.  During those times, our temperature were truly mild.  We might have some snow but the next day when the sun shines, they all melt and roads are clear again.  For whatever reason this week, the forecast was not very nice at all.  We can get down to -24 C or -11 F.  However you look at it, it is freezing. The benefit about being retired is that you don't need to go out until you really need something in the store or maybe have an appointment.  Otherwise, I am very happy at home and when I get really cold, even when the heater is on, I get under my electric blanket and everything is warm and cozy.  Out east, where I have a lot of friends and family, their weather has been nasty too.  Their snow banks are at least 5 feet or higher. After chatting with one of my friend, she mentioned layering and using long john, etc.  And sometimes you have so much snow, they have to take and use their SNOW Leave.  I am not sure if you have heard that, but we do have that leave and employees can use it.  But before this post end, I just want to wish my BFF from Ontario a very very happy birthday.  I will have to wait until I see him next time so we can have drink to toast this year's birthday.  Until then I wish that the weather gets warmer and that spring arrives sooner than soon.  If you are experiencing some really cold weather, please dress warm, stay safe and if you don't need to go out, stay at home and enjoy a cup of warm beverage, a good book and a thick fluffy blanket. 

Saturated Sunday - When it rains, it pours

A year ago today, our first winter began on the first day of November.  This year it seems like the weather is holding really good.  Although the temperature has been single digits, if it's dry, it is still a golf day for me as long as it does not rain.  When I checked outside this morning, it was cloudy on one side and a bit of blue sky peeking on the southern part.  I opened my email and there's a tee time for me.  Of course, I'll play.  Then an hour later showers.  OK, no I am not golfing.  Half an hour later, the clouds started moving and the sun is really trying hard to beat the clouds.  I called my golf buddy and he said, we should just go.

It was amazing the front nine was sunny and started to get warm.  We finished the nine holes and started our way to the back nine.  The clouds started getting a little too dark for my liking.  On #12 we started hearing thunders and by the time we teed off on #13 the wind had picked up and the rain really poured.  We found a little shelter behind the small wood structure and the rain turned into hail.  Now we are stuck for at least 15 minutes waiting for the rain/hail to stop.  Then finally we got a little break and started heading for the club house but halfway to our shelter, the rain started again.  Everything was wet, cold and freezing.  It was hard to believe how an hour and a half ago, the weather was so beautiful and then it became really nasty.  I guess we were trying to take advantage of the last week of golf.  This is really the part that I miss about living in California.  Golf available the whole year round, of course except when it rains.  And you remember the song, "It never rains in  California, but when it rains, it pours.

Magnificent Monday - Just views and more

During our most recent RV camping escapade, I have taken some pictures that are very colorful but a little sad because summer is definitely over.  All the leaves have changed and some trees have lost their leaves.  Some of the plants that I saw were still pretty healthy and showing bright reds.  On our way home, I noticed that the colors of the water of the Kalamalka Lake also have changed.  I don't think that I noticed it last September.  Enough of the talking and description, let me just show you what photos are just magnificent at this time of the year in the beautiful, British Columbia.

Smoky Sunday - Every where we go it's smoky

For the past couple of weeks or maybe even three weeks the area where we live was getting a little too smokey.  We thought it might be nice to go away for a few days to take a break.  I know it's weird having to say that we need to take a break, because when you are retired, everyday is a break.  Anyway, it was timely since it was Jeff's birthday so I booked a resort somewhere in the East Kootenay.  The resort offered a stay and play which is my type of get away.  Although it's not Jeff's, he went along with it because I did all the booking and he just needed to get us there.  On the way there and back was just smokey.  So technically we did not get a break from the smoke.  It's so sad to see the Beautiful British Columbia is so smokey.  When we spoke to some of the other guests at the resort, they were also trying to get away from the smoke and they were from Calgary.  I am sure you also have heard of all the California fires which we experience some smokey days but not like here. Here's some of the photos we took.

This was taken on the way home when we stopped to stretch our legs. 

This was the day we got home.

Frozen Friday - Baby, it's cold outside

There's only 61 more sleeps and hopefully that white stuff that has been hanging around our area will be gone.  Some of our neighbors mentioned that they could actually golf by the end of February.  I am a little skeptical about this because they also said that the snow does not arrived until around Christmas.  Well, this year the snow arrive at the beginning of November.  Some of our friends from Eastern Canada is asking "what were you thinking".  They are the ones who were able to spend some time in San Jose with us and enjoyed the warmer weather even in February.  While our friends from California were feeling bad because each time they see the photo of the snow, it's all the same comments "it looks very cold" or just "BRRR".   We are not the only ones feeling this arctic chill, my daughter in Toronto, friends in Mississauga and Ottawa and sister in Edmonton, are all complaining about this frozen cold temperature.  Not sure if that's even a correct description.  My aunt who is spending the holidays in Yellowknife, said "you know whether is -15 or -25 or -35, they are all the same - it's very very cold".  

For days, every morning was like this and very cold.

I shoveled the backyard ones and by the end of the day, it had another 3 inches.

 

And the snow kept coming down, I watch the snow plow going by every couple of hours.

One day the sun came out and it was nice, still cold but nice.

Winter Wednesday - It's beginning to look like Christmas

White fluffy snow reminds you of Winter Wonderland, right.  But not at the beginning of November. It's too early.  Everyone said that they don't get snow until about a week before Christmas.  Well, they are all wrong.  It arrived on the morning of November 2. You might ask, were we prepared?  Of course we were.  We put on our warm pants, -32C boots, Hudson's Bay Canadian mittens, toque aka beanie, bola and ear muffs, turtleneck, fleece jacket, winter jacket, OK you get the picture.  We had to get out that day as we had a couple of appointments to get too.  So first Jeff shoveled the driveway so we can leave.  When we came back he shoveled again. Then before he took me to my volunteer training and then after we got back.  The next day more snow arrived.  Not really sure who ordered them because we definitely did not.  So Welcome to Canada is what it said.  Today more of that white stuff arrived and I can't decline the delivery. I know it's free but it's just way too early for such.  Honestly, I think Jeff is taking this really well.  It's me that has become a WUSS or woose, doesn't matter how you spell it, that's me at my age.  I don't like cold, slipper stuff anymore. OK I made my declaration, winter is not my favorite season.  But we now live here, so there.  Actually I don't mind being stuck at home since we don't have to go outside. I keep myself truly busy with my crafts, sewing, blogging, baking, music and of course tennis and golf on TV.  Yes, I found my winter sports and it's not outdoors.  There's a sports center that offers Squash and Racquetball, with a small gym and a nice bar (a little too noisy for us).

Snowy Saturday - That white stuff

Really! November 3 that white fluffy stuff arrived and stayed.  Welcome to our first winter in the beautiful British Columbia.   It has been seven years since I last live in Ontario where we have winters.  Yes, I admit, that I have lived in much more colder areas like Yellowknife and Whitehorse where you will have to put up with seven or eight months of winter.  But I guess your body adjust to whatever climate you are experiencing.  So now it is time to toughen it out again.  Back to layering clothes, warm socks, hat aka toque or for Jeff it's called a beannie or maybe even wearing a bola.  Not to forget warm gloves or mittens and scarfs.  It is definitely much more time needed to get out of the house.  You maybe wondering, how much snow came down - a lot.  The first day Jeff shoveled 4 times and the next day, he only did one time in the morning after we got up.  I helped him with the little tiny blue shovel he bought for me. Truly, I needed a much bigger shovel to make a different.  Anyway hopefully none of my followers or readers experience what we went through for our first day of winter.

The first morning of winter for us.

Our back yard, still early in the morning.

Reminded me of the part of Santa's coat.

On the road looking over the mountain.

Jeff shoveling the third time that day.

Almost sunset and the roads have been cleared.

Frigoriffic Friday - It's getting really cold

If you can see some snow on top of the mountain, it means that it's getting cold, right.  For me, I don't need to see that white stuff.  I just know when I go outside and feel the cold wind and the chill in my bones.  Yes, that means winter is around the corner.  Although we are still experience some warm days, the evenings are getting cooler.  I am truly hoping that I can still golf until the end of the month.  When the sun is out and the sky is blue, I get so excited and then I check the temperature, ooops, it's cold, sometimes really cold.  What will I do indoors?  So far I have about six potato bag order from my friend.  Then I will need to do a couple of bottles, painting the base coat and then designing using acrylic paint.  There's also some other sewing project that I need to finish for my collection.  I was planning of having a small Christmas boutique for the ladies of our neighborhood.  In order to have gift items for the holidays, I truly need to get busy sewing items for the sale.  But here's what I have done lately as well as some stuff my sister and I did while she was visiting.

Placemat, bib, binkie holder and a bowtie for a baby shower.

The bed scarf that my sister made while she was visiting.

Beer batter bread that Jeff baked this week.

Flooding Friday - No more drought

Rain and more rain is the latest forecast.  My prediction - we don't have drought, in fact every day in the news, there's flooding every where, mudslide and dam overflowing.  Even the golf course that I play weekly has some sections that are just filled with water even crossing the cart path.  The state have been wishing for rain and now there's way too much that it causes more damage.  Everything is so green and the grass are growing so fast.  Of course the problem will come in the middle of summer when all the grass become brown and dry, now the will be fire hazards.  It's like you can never win with what mother nature brings.  Here's a few photos to share.  

Last September that gully was so dry and empty.

Ducks are just having a great swim.

That's actually the cart path towards the 9th hole.

My new orchid that I got from Jeff for Valentines.

Most of the days the sky look like this, so gloomy.